MINUTES OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
OF THE TOWN OF EAST HAMPTON
HELD NOVEMBER 1, 2012
A special town meeting of the electors and citizens qualified to vote in town meetings of the Town of East Hampton, Connecticut, was held at the East Hampton High School, 15 North Maple Street in East Hampton, Connecticut on the 1st of November, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Also present at the meeting were the members of the High School Building Committee, former Superintendent of Schools Judith Golden, former Assistant Superintendent Kevin Reich, Alannah Coshow, Republican Registrar of Voters, Pauline Simko, Democratic Registrar of Voters and Dale Maynard, Town Meeting Moderator was also present.
Moderator Mr. Paul Hoffman opened the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and directed Town Clerk, Sandra Wieleba, to read the notice for the meeting which was published in The Rivereast on October 26, 2012, and which is recorded in these records.
Motion made by Mr. George Pfaffenbach and seconded to accept the Legal Call. Vote in the affirmative.
Moderator Hoffman requested the resolution prepared for this item be presented. Ms. Susan Weintraub made a motion to accept the Resolution,
“RESOLVED,
THAT THE TOWN OF EAST HAMPTON APPROPRIATE $200,080 FROM UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND BALANCE FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RENOVATIONS TO THE EAST HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL. THE APPROPRIATION MAY BE SPENT FOR ARCHITECTURAL, ENGINEERING, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, LEGAL FEES AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS RELATED TO PRE-REFERENDUM PROJECT COSTS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THE PREPARATION OF SCHEMATIC DRAWINGS AND OUTLINE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE PROJECT. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO APPLY TO THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION FOR, AND TO ACCEPT OR REJECT, STATE GRANTS FOR THE PROJECT. THE EAST HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO ACT AS A SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE FOR, AND TO CARRY OUT THE PROJECT”, which was seconded.
Sharon Smith, Chairperson of the High School Building Committee, introduced the members of the High School Building Committee and thanked them for their dedication and hard work. She requested that this resolution be approved so that the building committee can continue with its work. She provided background on the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) which had cited deficiencies pertaining to the physical building and educational programs. These issues need to be addressed and resolved so that the Town would not lose its accreditation. The resolution being voted on tonight would allow the architect to develop a physical plan and apply for a grant so that the town could be reimbursed on a portion of the renovations. The building committee would like to present a question to
the voters in the spring of 2013. She also mentioned a June 30, 2013 deadline in order to submit a grant to the State of Connecticut and obtain the current reimbursement rate of 52.5%. She further stated that the project would be managed by CREC.
Moderator Hoffman called for discussion of the resolution from the public.
PUBLIC COMMENT
A resident from Champion Hill Road asked about the risk of losing the 52.5% reimbursement rate. Cynthia Abraham, a member of the High School Building Committee indicated that she was unaware of any town losing this reimbursement rate once the grant was approved.
Don Coolican, a member of the Board of Education, 18 West Lane, did not support the entire scope of the project and felt that the high school provided a great education to its students based upon results from AP tests and the school’s graduation rate of 96%. He supported updating and adding more science labs and equipment. He pointed out that the project would be funded by borrowed money and that the NEASC was made up of teachers and individuals in the education field.
Cindy Abraham mentioned that the project would correct ventilation issues; an inoperable window designed as egress ways, etc. and was not limited to academic issues.
Dawn Jameson, 32 Seven Hills Crossing, pointed out the fact that good schools increase property values and attract residents to a town. She asked about the risk if the town lost its accreditation.
Sharon Smith was unable to address the issue of accreditation.
Judith Golden, former Superintendent of Schools, indicated that the town would be put on probation as long as the issues were being addressed.
Thomas Cordeiro, 32 Hog Hill Road, mentioned that he had graduated from the East Hampton High School and supported this resolution. He pointed out that the High School was used for multiple purposes such as a polling place for elections, community meetings, emergency shelter, etc. and the need to make improvements to meet all of these needs.
Jennifer Friday, 14 Valli Drive, supported this project and did not wish to see families relocate to surrounding towns that offered updated schools and curriculums. She stressed the need to be progressive and competitive with surrounding towns.
Fran Klein, 12 Bellevue Street, she supported this project and the need to do it now before the costs increase. She also pointed out that the school was not only used by the children of East Hampton, but was a multi-use building that needed to be upgraded. She commended the committee on its hard work.
Ray Moore, 7 Overlook Road, referred to a handout given out at the meeting and asked why floor tiles that appeared to contain asbestos were not remediated when identified.
Kevin Reich, former Assistant Superintendent of Schools, indicated that since 1985, all school buildings are inspected twice a year for hazardous materials and the results are documented. He confirmed the presence of PCBs in the material around the windows. He indicated that reports are available to the public concerning hazardous material issues.
Cindy Abraham stressed that environmental testing must be done.
Ray Moore also commented on proposed code updates that include a sprinkler system and the challenge involved because the town does not have a public water system.
William Marshall, 6 Fairlawn Avenue, made a motion to move the question.
Moderator Hoffman called for a vote on the Resolution. Vote in the affirmative. A second vote was taken in order to clarify that the public understood that a motion was needed to vote on the Resolution. A member of the public made a motion to approve the Resolution presented and it was seconded. Vote in the affirmative.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Fran Klein and was seconded “To adjourn the Special meeting” at 7:45 p.m. Motion passed.
Respectfully Submitted
Sandra Wieleba, Town Clerk
TOWN OF EAST HAMPTON
NOTICE OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING – NOVEMBER 1, 2012
A special town meeting of the electors and citizens qualified to vote in town meetings of the Town of East Hampton, Connecticut, will be held at the East Hampton High School, 15 North Maple Street, East Hampton, Connecticut on Thursday, November 1st at 7:00 p.m. for the following purposes:
- To discuss and vote upon a resolution, to appropriate $200,080 from unassigned General Fund balance for costs associated with renovations to the East Hampton High School; to authorize the Board of Education to apply to the Commissioner of Education for, and to accept or reject, State grants for the project; and to authorize the East Hampton High School Committee to act as a school building committee for, and to carry out, the project. The appropriation may be spent for architectural, engineering, project management, construction management, legal fees and administrative costs related to pre-referendum project costs, including without limitation the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the project.
- To discuss any other matter proper to come before said meeting.
Dated at East Hampton, Connecticut, this 23rd day of October, 2012.
PER ORDER OF THE EAST HAMPTON TOWN COUNCIL
Susan B. Weintraub, Chairperson
Glenn Suprono, Vice Chairman
Kyle Dostaler
Ted Hintz, Jr.
Derek Johnson
Barbara W. Moore
George Pfaffenbach
RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE $200,080 FROM UNASSIGNED GENERAL FUND BALANCE FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RENOVATIONS TO THE EAST HAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL
RESOLVED,
That the Town of East Hampton appropriate $200,080 from unassigned General Fund balance for costs associated with renovations to the East Hampton High School. The appropriation may be spent for architectural, engineering, project management, construction management, legal fees and administrative costs related to pre-referendum project costs, including without limitation the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the project. The Board of Education shall be authorized to apply to the Commissioner of Education for, and to accept or reject, State grants for the project. The East Hampton High School Committee shall be authorized to act as a school building committee for, and to carry out the project.
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