SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
January 19, 2006
A Special Town Meeting of the Town of East Windsor was held at the East Windsor Town Hall on Thursday January 19, 2006. The meeting was called to order by First Selectman, Linda Roberts at 7:30 P.M.
Motion was made by Tom Sinsigallo and seconded by Bill Loos that George Butenkoff preside as Moderator. Motion was made by Ken Crouch and seconded by Ed Filipone that Linda Roberts preside as moderator. Motion was made and seconded from the floor to close nominations. Motion to close passed unanimously. A standing vote was taken and Linda Roberts was declared Moderator by a 37/34 vote.
Town Clerk, Karen W. Gaudreau, read the call to the meeting.
Moderator read the statement of eligibility to vote.
Prior to introducing the resolution, First Selectman Roberts gave a brief background on the proposed project & introduced Paul Anderson Chairman of the Water Pollution Control Authority and Kevin Leslie WPCA Plant Superintendent.
Mr. Anderson reiterated that the project will go forward with out the agreement. Town won’t pay for connection, it will be totally at developers expense to connect to the North Road Gravity System.
Mr. Leslie explained that North Road Sewer Project dates back to 1985 and that funding has been denied every year, both Town & State. Grant money is requested every year, however this project is always at the bottom of the DEP list for grants. He further stated that the replacement of a pump station is included in this proposal, approximately $125,000-$150,000. There is a 5 year payback beginning one year after completion. If taxes are not raised in any given year, we can defer payment for one year.
Mr. Leslie provided a graph presentation for those in attendance.
Mrs. Roberts then asked for the resolution.
Item #1
The following resolution was introduced and read by Ed Farrell
Resolved: To authorize the First Selectman to enter into a developers agreement with Sumner L. Chapman for the installation of sewers on North Road, cost not to exceed $1,600,000.00 and payable as follows; no more than $1,100,000 as a credit to facility connection fees and $500,000 in monetary consideration to be due and payable within five years of the transfer of ownership of the sewer line to the Town of East Windsor. Said monetary payment to be offset by benefit assessments, connection fees and tax revenues generated by this project.”
Mr. Farrell moved the resolution, seconded by Tim Dickinson.
Discussion:
Sam McGill, Wells Rd
Stated the Town will never have the money for this project. Let the developer pay and pay him back, we need the sewer line, it is important to the Town. Every year department heads have to cut their budgets, the Town isn’t going anywhere. This opportunity won’t come along again.
Ed Farrell, Meadowview Drive
Disappointed that Town Meeting won’t be able to vote on this proposal, the need for a referendum departs from the purist form of democracy. The group that promoted the referendum seems to have a desire to can the project. There should be an audit to certify that petition signers are electors. Dead set against the referendum.
Mike Koczera, Wells Rd
Stated he is a resident and a business person. Where sewer stops on North Rd, business stops. He is for the project, stated without the project we won’t get industry on North Rd.
Bill Loos, Melrose Rd
Stated the project started in 2003, developer asked the town to change ordinance to allow apartments. Stated the project was in Sewer Avoidance area. Developer wanted 240 units and was cut to 220. Said to let the developer run his own line from the project to Broad Brook. Said we need to uphold the zoning regulations, and not allow developers to circumvent the regulations. This project could jeopardize further grants for sewers. Is against the project. We could open ourselves up to lawsuits from rejected developers. This should be voted down.
Kevin Leslie, WPCA
There are no more sewer avoidance areas. The map Mr. Loos has is from 1992, showing no more sewers until the treatment plant was upgraded. OPM & DEP now classify land as sewer service (growth) and conservation (avoidance). He further stated that any new development since 1992 automatically becomes part of the growth area.
Laurie Whitten, Town Planner
Planning & Zoning reviewed the project at great length and approved it. The only way to stop the development now is if the developer pulls out.
She further stated that avoidance is only a guideline. Two major roads need to be restructured into Business Zones, Route 5 and Route 140. We need to increase our tax base with shopping and businesses.
Paul Anderson, WPCA
Clarification, none of the sewer line is in an avoidance area. Project will connect to the town line with a private line. The town will not own that connection. The agreement only applies to the North Road Sewer, not the private line. The developer will be paying user fees to process. The town will own the gravity line, any connections to it will be paid by those connecting.
The line to Broad Brook is a forced main, 100% privately owned and no connections will be allowed. The line to Broad Brook is not part of the agreement. The original plan was to go to Broad Brook. The town suggested the North Road line-we get the benefit. There are 9 pump stations in town, to assist the gravity lines.
Jim Garland, Rice Rd
Does project include Rice Rd. NO
Asked about water lines on Rice Rd. Was told water is not part of this project.
Attorney Hal Cummings, WPCA
The line will be under the jurisdiction of the WPCA, will be built to town specs and there will be a deed of conveyance to the town.
The sewer line must be completed before construction can begin. The upgrade of the pump station is due to the age of the pump station, not due to flow of less than 50% capacity. The benefit assessment will run 7-10 years with minimal interest. If the agreement is approved, costs will be lower than if town built line.
Kevin Leslie, WPCA
Will provide assessment costs if he is called.
Ray Noble, Woolam Rd
Will apartments use up capacity? NO there is plenty of capacity.
Marie DeSousa, Rice Rd
Asked if any additional growth would increase cost? The answer was any new growth would increase the General Fund.
Robert Cleveland, Melrose Rd
Asked who the consulting engineer was, J. R. Russo works for the developers, plans will be reviewed by the Town Engineer. Then asked who the bonding agency was. The developers will be paying the bond, and the town will be named as insured.
Lorraine Lafferty, North Rd
Said she sat on the Plan of Development years ago and North Road was supposed to remain rural. Asked why the developer was getting all of his money back.
Richard Covill, EDC
The best number is $1,600,000 cap. We have spent 20 years trying to get this. We shouldn’t let it pass by. We need to grow progressively.
Jim Richards, EDC & Chamber of Commerce
The development of Route 5 and Route 140 is the economic future of our town. State money is dying up. We get a $3 million project for $1,600,000. Need to look at entire town development. As a resident he is in favor of project. The town needs taxes to grow. We can grow economically or pay higher taxes.
Steve Dearborn, East Rd
We need more business. Surrounding towns have business and we have nothing in comparison. The most we will pay is $500,000 over 5 years. The project is a gift to the town, a favor to the town. He is in favor of project.
Tim Dickinson, North Rd
He needs a new septic system, which will need to be an engineered system costing anywhere from $18,000-$25,000. The lifetime of a septic system on North Road is 5-10 years. He is in favor of the project.
Bob Lyke, Rye St
The 200 signatures didn’t state if they were for or against.
Don Arcari, Harrington Rd
Stated he was a circulator and objects to statement regarding the signatures. He is for the sewer but not the way it’s being done. He will vote no.
Peter Nevers, South Main St
Complimented all who worked on the agreement, many hours were spent. The DEP ordered the treatment plant to be upgraded. Stated we need additional growth in the Grand List. Overloading the Broad Brook line is not a good idea.
Attorney Joseph Caposella, Vernon, representing the developer
Gave a brief description of the Chapman family and of their other projects.
Bob Lyke, Rye St
Questioned the original proposal and who would make the decision.
Gil Hayes, Board of Selectmen
The Board of Finance Chairman insisted it go to Town Meeting. The First Selectman and the Town Attorney were obligated to send to Town Meeting.
Attorney Hal Cummings, WPCA
The WPCA could, by statute, make the decision on their own. They never considered going it alone.
Attorney Joseph Caposella, Vernon
The agreement has a provision in it to go through Town Meeting.
Marie DeSousa, Rice Rd
Asked if Attorney Caposella was implying that the contract is already signed and is it binding. Attorney Caposella answered NO it can not be implemented without town approval.
Bill Loos, Melrose Rd
Asked if the Attorneys were aware of the sewer avoidance area. Mr. Loos was again told the map he had is obsolete. The Plan of Conservation and Development have been revised since that map was drawn.
Ken Crouch, Board of Selectmen
Stated the amount of the sewers has been paid over & over by people on North Rd in pumping fees. Stan Chester paid over a million dollars to pump his system frequently. People are foolish to think another deal like this will come along.
Sam McGill, Wells Rd
The apartments are approved, can begin tomorrow. Asked why some of the audience was against this project. Stated we need businesses to come in to pay taxes.
Marie DeSousa, Rice Rd
Still not convinced we should enter into an agreement with developers. She feels it is unfair to Mill Pond residents to criticize apartments. Feels we need good development.
Question was asked regarding widening of Route 140. It was stated that the widening would only be a turning lane.
Ed Farrell, Meadowview Drive
Stated the people that solicited his signature voiced their disapproval for the project.
With no further discussion, Bill Dove motioned to adjourn this Town Meeting to a referendum to be held on February 2, 2006 between the hours of 6am and 8pm. Motion was seconded by Peter Nevers.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:35 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted
Karen W. Gaudreau
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