Town of East Hampton
Town Council Public Hearing and Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Eaton E. Smith Meeting Room – Town Hall
Minutes
PUBLIC HEARING
ABOLISHMENT OF CURRENT LAKE AND CONSERVATION COMMISSIONS
Present: Chairperson Melissa Engel, Vice Chairman Thomas Cordeiro and members, Christopher Goff, Scott Minnick and Susan Weintraub. Also present were Town Manager Jeffery O’Keefe, Recording Secretary Cathy Sirois, members of the press and citizens.
Not Present: William Devine and John Tuttle
Call to Order: Chairperson Engel called the Public Hearing to order at 6:15 p.m.
Public Comment: None
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to close the Public Hearing at 6:17 p.m. Voted (5-0).
REGULAR MEETING
Present: Chairperson Melissa Engel, Vice Chairman Thomas Cordeiro and members, Christopher Goff, Scott Minnick and Susan Weintraub. Also present were Town Manager Jeffery O’Keefe, Recording Secretary Cathy Sirois, members of the press and citizens.
Not present: William Devine and John Tuttle
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: Chairperson Engel called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. All stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes:
A motion was made by Mr. Cordeiro, seconded by Mr. Goff, to approve the minutes of the Town Council Public Hearing and Regular Meeting of May 12, 2009 as written. Voted (5-0).
Student Reports:
Brandon Goff, Middle School liaison, reported that there are 20 school days left for this year. The baseball and softball teams are doing very well this season. The 7th graders are going on a field trip on Thursday, May 28th to Sturbridge Village. The Middle School production of Canterbury Tales will be held on Friday, May 29th and Saturday, May 30th.
Eric Harper, High School liaison, reported that there are less than 20 days left of school for this school year. The students have been interviewing seniors about their times at East Hampton High for the Senior Edition of the Bellringer school paper. Sports are coming to a close as shoreline competitions are coming up. All advance placement students have taken their tests. The Ferrigno-Bell chapter of the National Honor Society inducted new members into its ranks. The Junior/Senior Prom took place on May 16, 2009. The prom prince was Walid Ahmad, princess was Chloe Cyr, prom queen was Alex Almeida and king was Tony Vicaro.
Special Presentations:
Consolidation of Probate Courts – Judge Anne McKinney
Probate Judge Anne McKinney provided an overview of the bill regarding the consolidation of probate courts in Connecticut. Probate Judge Stephen Kinsella of Portland and Probate Judge Paul Buhl of East Haddam were also in attendance. The bill has already passed through the House and is now with the Senate. East Hampton, East Haddam and Portland have been in discussions regarding consolidating their probate courts before the government redistricts the courts on their own, if the bill passes. This consolidation would keep the court more local and the State would be more likely to add to their group than to break the consolidation apart.
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to approve the resolution in support of the consolidation of the East Hampton, Portland and East Haddam probate courts. Voted 5-0). A letter will be prepared to send to the State.
Cultural Exchange Study with Rotary Club – Sergeant Michael Green
Sergeant Michael Green of the East Hampton Police Department presented a slide show presentation of his trip to Guatemala and Honduras in January/February with the 2009 Rotary International Association as part of a cultural and vocational exchange.
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to add the acceptance of a proclamation to the agenda. Voted (5-0).
A motion was made by Mr. Cordeiro, seconded by Mr. Goff, to accept the proclamation as read. Voted (5-0).
Public Remarks:
Ellen Steinbuchel, 59 Haddam Neck Road, commented that a petition was given to the Town Manager’s office, signed by 60 residents of Haddam Neck Road. She noted that some potholes were filled today and assumed more repairs will be done. The road is in need of drainage and repairs. CT Yankee fixed the road about 20 years ago. The decommissioning of CT Yankee took a great toll on the road. She requested a car counter for the road as well.
Tim Smith, 36 Haddam Neck Road, noted that Haddam Neck Road deteriorated after the decommissioning of CT Yankee but was still in bad shape before the decommissioning. There is a 3 ft gully near the end of the road near Rt. 151.
Cindy Pond, 28 Haddam Neck Road, provided photos of Haddam Neck Road after a storm. She also noted a speeding issue on the road.
John Robida, 57 Haddam Neck Road, commented on the need for drainage and repairs on Haddam Neck Road. He thought that CT Yankee was supposed to fix the road after the decommissioning.
Eric Casciano, 45 Haddam Neck Road, commented on the condition of Haddam Neck Road and provided photos. He noted the entire road portion at the end of his driveway has washed away.
Tim Smith, 36 Haddam Neck Road, commented that he built his own drainage so his driveway would stop washing away.
Clara Condron, 32 Haddam Neck Road, commented that the drain at the beginning of the road is apparently on the wrong side as it does not catch the water, the water is on the other side of the drain.
Donna Mae Peterson, 61 Haddam Neck Road, commented on car issues she has incurred due to the road and thanked the town for whatever they can do.
Fran Klein, 12 Bellevue Street, commented on noise issues at Angelico’s over the weekend. She noted her two phone calls to the police regarding the issues. She complimented the police department and the dispatcher on their attitude and promptness. She asked what the Council will do to protect the residents in that area. She requested an ordinance that limits the noise, defines the area where the band can play, the time it can play and who will oversee the implementation.
Eleanor Wood, Member of the Regional Mental Health Board, requested support financial support for the Regional Mental Health Board as requested in a letter sent to the Town Manager’s office.
Scott Sanicki, 102 Quiet Woods Road, commented on the new road issue brought up tonight. He asked about communications and how the town is doing on repairs on his road. He commented that he thought he would know when the repairs would be done but noted that he didn’t find out about the repairs until they were done.
Laurie Wasilewski, Hog Hill Road, asked about the progress on the implementation of the recommendations for the functional assessment of boards and commissions. She asked about seminars discussed regarding the “Characteristics of a Chairman”. She wants to see the recommendations put in force.
New Business:
Vote on Abolishment of Current Lake and Conservation Commissions
A motion was made by Mr. Cordeiro, seconded by Mr. Goff, to abolish the existing ordinances for the current Lake Commission and the current Conservation Commission. Mr. Minnick and Ms. Weintraub noted that they are still against combining the commissions. Mr. Cordeiro read the full ordinance abolishing the Lake Pocotopaug Commission and Conservation Commission. Mr. Cordeiro withdrew his motion. This item will be tabled to the June 9th Council meeting when all members are present.
Discussion of Plan of Conservation Implementation Checklist
The implementation table that is included in the Plan of Conservation and Development was reviewed. Ms. Engel asked the Council members to review the listing and bring their top 10 priorities to the next Council meeting. James Carey, Building/Planning/Zoning Administrator, noted that the other commissions and agencies will also be reviewing items that pertain to their group.
Discussion of Municipal Option to Delay Property Revaluations
Municipalities are required to revalue properties every five years but a bill was recently passed that would allow municipalities to delay the revaluations that were due in 2008, 2009 or 2010 to 2011. If a municipality wanted to take advantage of the delay, it would require approval by the legislative body. Town staff recommends that Town Council take no action to postpone property revaluation to 2011. By consensus of the Council no action will be taken to postpone the property revaluation.
Old (Continued) Business: None
Report of the Town Manager:
Mr. O’Keefe reported on the following:
- Audio recordings of Town Council meetings are now available on the town website as of the May 12, 2009 meeting.
- 4’ x 8’ budget vote signs will be posted in Cobalt on Route 66 and on Route 66 coming into East Hampton from Marlborough. Budget vote signs will also be posted on the sign board between Shaw’s and McDonalds and at Public Works.
- There will be a half page ad in the Rivereast on Friday, May 29th regarding the budget vote.
- 56% of local break-ins have been solved by the East Hampton Police Department.
- The application for the Senior Center expansion has been submitted. Thank you to Kerry Nielson for all of her work on this project.
- Mr. O’Keefe asked Gail Hamm to work on securing funds for an engineering study that will be required to help improve the lake.
- There is a home for sale next to Sears Park tennis courts. The town is looking at options for this property.
Appointments: None
Liaison Reports:
Ms. Weintraub reported that there is a waiting list of 12 for the Housing Authority. They currently have one opening which will be filled from the waiting list. The alarm testing has been done at each property. 250 Senior Housing surveys were received. They will be reviewed on June 3rd. Officers were nominated for the coming year. They will be voted on at the annual meeting on June 17th at Angelico’s. They will be working with ITN, Independent Transit Network, on community transportation for seniors and the visually handicapped.
Ms. Weintraub reported that the Streetscape Committee will be meeting with the Design Review Board and the Economic Development Commission on June 10th to review the signage design concepts.
Mr. Goff reported that there was no Economic Development Commission meeting due to lack of a quorum. The Commission on Aging will hold their first meeting on June 11th.
Ms. Engel reported that the Water Development Task Force has been discussing two properties, geothermal and hooking the Library/Senior Center up to the Village Center water system.
Resolutions/Ordinances/Policies/Proclamations: None
Financial Transactions: None
Tax Refunds:
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to approve tax refunds in the amount of $2,684.68. Voted (5-0).
Bids and Contracts: None
Communications, Correspondence & Announcements:
Ms. Weintraub made the following comments on the town website:
- She would like to see a community calendar on the town website to show all of the various community activities. Mr. O’Keefe noted we would need to create a policy statement for activities to be added to the calendar.
- Information needs to be added for Kerry Nielson, Director of Environmental and Community Planning.
- The Board of Finance minutes are not up to date.
- She would like to see a Natural Resource page with pictures to attract more people.
Ms. Weintraub also noted that there will be a Strawberry Festival on June 13th and 14th in the Village Center. There will also be an Artisan and Farmers Market in Middle Haddam on June 13th.
Mr. Goff will not be in attendance at the June meetings as he is having back surgery. Our best wishes to him for a fast recovery.
Remember to vote on Tuesday, June 2nd.
Public Remarks:
Irene Curtis, 13 Wangonk Trail, asked if she should continue her work she has done with the Lake Commission regarding the rain garden contest. Ms. Engel noted that she definitely should continue.
Laurie Wasilewski, Hog Hill Road, asked which departments would have cuts for the $50,000 reduction in the town government’s side of budget. Mr. O’Keefe noted the bulk of the funds will come from two vehicles that will be cut from the budget, one from Parks & Recreation and one from Facilities. Ms. Wasilewski also commented that she echo’s Ms. Weintraub’s comment about the need for a community calendar.
Scott Sanicki, 102 Quiet Woods Road, commented that he does not mean to sound negative in his public remarks to Council. He noted that the Council has done a lot of good things and a lot of great things that Mr. O’Keefe has done since he started.
Patience Anderson, 17 Anderson Way, asked if the Library can help with the community calendar since they have a lot of activities. Mr. O’Keefe noted that we will look at the processes available for community members to submit events.
Reserved: None
Adjournment:
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m. Voted (5-0).
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Sirois
Recording Secretary
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