Town of East Hampton
Town Council Regular Meeting
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Eaton E. Smith Meeting Room – Town Hall
Minutes
Present: Chairperson Melissa Engel, Vice Chairman Thomas Cordeiro and members, William Devine, Christopher Goff, Scott Minnick, John Tuttle and Susan Weintraub. Also present were Town Manager Jeffery O’Keefe, Recording Secretary Cathy Sirois, members of the press and citizens.
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. Devine, seconded by Mr. Goff, to approve the minutes of the Town Council Special Meeting and the Regular Meeting of October 13, 2009 as amended. Ms. Engel noted in the minutes of the regular meeting under Liaison Reports, the meeting with Steve Messer took place in Vin Susco’s office, not in Mr. Messer’s office. Voted (7-0).
A motion was made by Ms. Weintraub, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to add a resolution for the STEAP grant to Item 9B. Voted (7-0)
Student Reports:
Erik Harper from the East Hampton High School reported on the activities at the High School. The boys and girls soccer teams are starting their shoreline conference tournaments. The boys cross country team are shoreline league champions and the girls finished third. The girls volleyball team is on the way to their shoreline conference game as well.
The National Honor Society is hosting the Senior Superhero program where students can purchase a senior who dresses up as a super hero. The seniors go around with the student who purchased them and they do the purchasers bidding. The proceeds go toward a charity organization, which will be decided upon at the next National Honor Society meeting.
The seniors went on their trip to Washington during the week of October 5-9. The trip was fantastic, full of memorable moments, jokes and education. All participants enjoyed the experience.
The Music Department will be holding its fall concert on October 28th at the High School at 7pm. The event is free to all and everyone is encouraged to attend.
The Guidance department is working very hard to get all the seniors college applications and letter of recommendation into colleges. It is a very stressful time for seniors who are applying to college.
Special Presentation:
Council member Goff provided information on a partnership with the State of Connecticut regarding the property known as the Fireman’s grounds. With assistance from Senator Daily, Nikki O’Neill and Susan Bysiewicz, the State is willing to enter into a partnership with the town. Details of the partnership are still in process. Reservations for usage, the pavilion, maintenance and mowing will be discussed. A letter will be sent to the DEP through the Town Manager’s Office.
Public Remarks:
Laurie Wasilewski, Hog Hill Road, thanked the Town Council for their past two years of service. She appreciates their commitment to the town. She commented on the removal of Mr. Ciriello from the Conservation-Lake Commission. She feels the removal was wrong and questions the function of the staff liaison to the various commissions. She got the impression that the liaison has a higher status than the Commission members. She also commented on letters she has read in the paper and disagrees with some of the letters from Council members.
Don Coolican, West Lane, noted he is not representing the Board of Education. He commented on the land near the Middle School sport fields. He does not feel the town needs the land. He noted that the town should look at the total cost to turn the land into sport fields.
Kyle Dostaler, William Drive, wished all of the candidates good luck in the election. He hopes whoever is elected puts aside grudges. He commented that he is disturbed by letters in the Rivereast.
Rich Norkun, Sears Place, commented on the land near the Middle School fields. He noted that the student population is diminishing and students are paying to play sports, if the number of students playing sports has gone down, maybe the town should not purchase the land and put the money toward sports so there is no more pay to play. He also commented as the Chairman of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, they are fully behind the partnership with the State for the Fireman’s grounds.
Gail Hamm, 1 Spice Hill Drive, commended the Council for the position taken on the fireman’s grounds property. She noted that the State’s position is that the land will stay a state park and will be able to be used for passive activity.
New Business:
Receive Report on Affordable Housing Incentive Zone: Ray Zatorski, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, reviewed the report from Planimetrics on the Affordable Housing Incentive Zone. The grant was received to look at the opportunities for this zone. The town is under no obligation to create the zone. The next questions will be how it can apply to us, where can we put it, what are the criteria, what areas of town meet the criteria. A walk through will be done in the Village Center to look at the area.
Old Business:
Further Discussion on Land Purchase Proposed by Board of Education: Mr. O’Keefe provided updated information and a map of the land adjacent to the Middle School sport fields. The property was appraised for $75,000 however the town will need to get its own appraisal. The Council discussed questions that would need to be addressed. More information will be obtained from Parks & Recreation and the Board of Education such as the plans for the property, advantages/disadvantages of access to Route 66, an inventory of town owned property and what it can be used for, figures for enrollment in school and the participation numbers in sports activities. By consensus, the item was tabled until additional information is received from Park & Rec and the Board of Education.
Final Review and Adoption of Volunteer Commission Handbook: Kerry Nielson, Director of Community & Environmental Planning provided a draft of the Commission Handbook. The Council discussed minor edits to the document. The initial draft of the document is geared toward the Conservation-Lake Commission. Comments from that commission will be taken into consideration for changes. The document will be updated as needed.
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Devine, to adopt the Commission Handbook with minor edits to be made. Voted (7-0).
Report of the Town Manager:
Mr. O’Keefe reported on the following:
- During winter storms, certain roads around the lake area will be treated with a new salt treatment.
- A Building Committee will need to be formed for the Memorial School Roof and for the Senior Center Project
- A reminder, the Organizational Meeting of the new Town Council will be held on Wednesday, November 4th at 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Minnick asked about the Watrous Street property and the vehicles parked there. Mr. O’Keefe reported that the owner has been arrested and goes to court in November.
Resolutions/Ordinances/Policies/Proclamations:
Resolution to Submit Energy Grant and Resolution for STEAP Grant: A motion was made by Mr. Devine, seconded by Mr. Tuttle, to adopt a resolution authorizing Jeffery J. O’Keefe to execute and deliver any and all documents for the Office of Policy and Management Municipal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant on behalf of the town; and to authorize Jeffery J. O’Keefe to execute documents with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development for the STEAP grant. Voted (7-0).
Bids and Contracts: None
Appointments:
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Devine, to appoint the following two individuals. Voted (7-0):
- Gary Aubin as a member of the Middlesex County Cable TV Advisory Board for a two year term through June, 20, 2011
- Scott Hill as a full member of the Inland Wetlands Watercourses Agency with a term through June 1, 2010. Mr. Hill has been an alternate on this commission.
Liaison Reports:
Ms. Weintraub reported that the Housing Authority has a waiting list for 12 singles and 2 to 3 doubles. She also suggested that the town should issue a press release for individuals appointed to boards and commissions. This could encourage individuals to volunteer for commissions.
Mr. Tuttle reported that there will be a Clean Energy Forum on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Middle School Library.
Financial Statements and Transactions: None
Tax Refunds:
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to approve tax refunds in the amount of $617.96. Voted (7-0).
Communications, Correspondence & Announcements:
Mr. O’Keefe noted that Rich Klotzbier, the new Emergency Management Coordinator, is doing a good job. He has secured over $20,000 in grant funding for emergency management.
Ms. Weintraub suggested a red light for the video recording camera in the Meeting Room to indicate when the device is recording.
Ms. Weintraub requested a listing of grants received.
Coming Up:
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd.
Public Remarks:
Scott Sanicki, 102 Quiet Woods Road, thanked the Town Manager for the update on the road salt. He asked about the property on Route 66 where boats are stored and the Main Street property where the trailer trucks are stored. Mr. O’Keefe noted that the property on Main Street is zoned properly for the storage of the trailer trucks.
Robert Foberg, Charles Mary Drive, commented that the Streetscape looks beautiful. He questioned the old bulletin board/map near the parking area of the realty office. Ms. Weintraub noted that it is not on town property. Mr. Foberg also asked about the Rand property at the corner of Route 16 and Hog Hill. He thought that there was an agreement that Mr. Rand was supposed to landscape the area. Ms. Engel noted that this item will be passed on to the zoning enforcement officer.
Fran Klein, 12 Bellevue Street, thanked the Council for their time and energy. She would like the noise ordinance request from May, 2009 to be re-visited. She would like feedback about the noise.
Mary Ann Dostaler, 56 William Drive, thanked the Council for their dedication to the town. She also wanted to correct the record regarding the Harlan Place property near Memorial School, noting that the Council voted not to move forward with the purchase and the property owner was paid $5,000.
Scott Sanicki, 102 Quiet Woods Road, asked about the new post/base for the bow and arrow sign at Lake Pocotopaug. He also thanked the Council for all the work they have done.
Reserved: None
Chairperson Engel thanked the audience for attending Council meetings.
Mr. Tuttle asked Mr. O’Keefe to check on the agreement made for the Rand property at Hog Hill and Route 16. Mr. Tuttle also clarified that the DiDomizio property and the Harlan Place property were two different issues. Earlier in the meeting comments were made that the DiDomizio property and the Harlan Place property opportunities were related and that the DiDomizio purchase fell through because the Council voted not to purchase the Harlan Place property. The Harlan Place property would have provided emergency access to the rear of the Memorial School property. The DiDomizio property is a separate parcel on the opposite side of the school.
Adjournment:
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Sirois
Recording Secretary
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