Town of East Hampton
Town Council Regular Meeting
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Eaton E. Smith Meeting Room – Town Hall
Minutes
Present: Chairperson Melissa Engel, Vice Chairman John Tuttle and Council members Thomas Cordeiro, Christopher Goff, Barbara Moore 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
Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance: ~Chairperson Engel called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. ~
Cub Scout Pack 8 Den 1 presented the colors and all stood to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. ~
Approval of Minutes:
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to approve the minutes of the Town Council Regular Meeting of April 13, 2010. Voted (5-0-1). Mr. Tuttle abstained as he was not present at that meeting.
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Ms. Weintraub, to add item 3A Discussion of a Noise Ordinance to the agenda. Voted (6-0).
A motion was made by Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to add item 3B Approval of MTBE Settlement Resolution to the agenda. Voted (6-0).
A motion was made by Mr. Cordeiro, seconded by Ms. Weintraub, to add two proclamations to the agenda under items 8B & C. Voted (6-0).
Ms. Engel asked that the Town Manager provide his update on Barton Hill sewage issues at this point in the meeting. Mr. O’Keefe asked the residents if they have attended a Water Pollution Control Authority Meeting, as they are the Board of Directors over the Water Pollution Control department. Several residents of the Barton Hill homes affected by the sewage issue provided a background of the issues. Council suggested that the residents attend the Water Pollution Control Authority meeting in June along with Jeff O’Keefe.
Mr. O’Keefe reported that the Royal Oaks Water System changes were approved by the Department of Public Health with the work being started the first week in May.
Student Council Reports:
Brandon Goff, Middle School representative, reported the following:
- Baseball and softball season has started
- May 7th is the 8th grade Semi-Formal dance
- May 7th is the Teacher/Staff Appreciation breakfast
Discussion of a Noise/Nuisance Ordinance:
Ms. Engel reviewed the letter received from Fran Klein regarding a noise ordinance. The Council reviewed their thoughts on a noise ordinance. Ms. Engel, Ms. Moore, Mr. Goff, Mr. Tuttle and Mr. Cordeiro are not interested in a noise ordinance at this time. They would like to see how the noise mitigation efforts at Angelico’s work once the construction of the band shell is complete. Ms. Weintraub feels the town is in need of a foundation for a noise ordinance that is enforceable.
Ms. Engel asked that Ms. Weintraub and Mr. Goff work on a sub-committee with Jim Carey, a member of EDC, Fran Klein and Chief Reimondo regarding noise control efforts.
Resolution for MTBE Settlement:
A motion was made by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Goff, to authorize Jeffery O’Keefe to sign all MTBE settlement documents involving Getty Properties and Buckley/Santa on behalf of the Town of East Hampton. Voted (6-0).
Public Remarks:
Scott Sanicki, 102 Quiet Woods Road, commented on rain wash-out issues on Quiet Woods Road. He also commented that the driveway in the Skinner Street cemetery was asphalted, asked why some town roads are not asphalted and how are the decisions made on what is being asphalted.
Fran Klein, Bellevue Street, commented on the structure being built at Angelico’s with the direction facing northwest noting that it will not alleviate the sound going up North Main Street and Lake Boulevard. She also noted that she had asked to have Mr. Cote re-assess the noise levels after the structure is complete but was told no due to budgetary constraints.
Michelle Kronick, 3 Lake Boulevard, asked about the location of the band shell structure at Angelico’s.
Phil Wielgosh, 79 North Main Street, commented that the band shell at Angelico’s will probably send more noise in their direction and asked why the volume cannot be turned down.
Susan Wielgosh, 79 North Main Street, commented that she told Planning & Zoning that a 90 degree angle on the structure at Angelico’s is not going to work. She asked why the Lake Boulevard area was not addressed.
Angel Tammaro, Lake Boulevard, asked why Mr. Angelico was not required to go to Planning & Zoning and noted that something needs to be done about the noise.
Mary Ann Dostaler, 56 William Drive, commented on Mr. Angelico’s original project being rejected by Planning & Zoning and why they think a smaller project will work to manage the noise as opposed to the larger project.
New Business:
Award Flanders Road Phase 3 and Haddam Neck Road Contracts:
A motion was made by Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Ms. Weintraub, to award the contract for Haddam Neck Road Rehabilitation to Charles Pasteryak, Jr. Inc. in the amount of $137,560 and to award the contract for Flanders Road Reconstruction Project Phase 3 to CAS Construction Company in the amount of $227,400. Voted (6-0).
Review Social Media Policy:
Mr. O’Keefe asked the Council to review the social media policy document and it will be discussed at the May 11th meeting.
Discuss and Approve Change in Project Scope for STEAP Grant:
The Council discussed the change in location for the Governor O’Neill Memorial from the corner of Route 66 and Main Street to an amphitheater at Sears Park. The building committee for the project and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board are both in favor of changing the scope of the project. The Department of Economic and Community Development approved the modification to the scope of the STEAP grant for this project.
A motion was made by Mr. Cordeiro, seconded by Ms. Moore, to change the scope of the STEAP grant project for the Governor O’Neill Memorial to an amphitheater at Sears Park. Voted (5-1). Ms. Weintraub against.
Old Business:
Presentation of Charter Revision Commission Final Report:
Terry Concannon, Chairperson of the Charter Revision Commission provided an overview of the final report of the Charter Revision Commission. The report will be included with the minutes filed in the Town Clerk’s office. The Town Council must hold a public hearing prior to approving the proposed changes and sending them to the voters for approval.
A motion was made by Mr. Tuttle, seconded by Mr. Goff, to accept the Charter Revision Commission Report and schedule a public hearing for Tuesday, May 11, 2010. Voted (6-0).
Report of the Town Manager: ~~
Mr. O’Keefe reported on the following:
- Grants have been received for $200,000 for EPA assessment, $50,000 for a wind turbine project and $4,000 for continued education for the Clean Energy Task Force.
- Angelico’s reported that the work on the band shell should be completed within approximately two weeks
- The RFP for the lake aeration system is almost ready to go out
- The wayfinding signage program has been approved by DOT
- A memo will be forthcoming from Planning & Zoning regarding permitted use as requested by Ms. Weintraub
Ms. Weintraub asked for the legal fee breakdown for the Town Manager’s office for March, 2010, asked about a litigation policy and reported deteriorated sidewalks on Governor Bill O’Neill Drive near Chatham Acres.
Resolutions/Ordinances/Policies/Proclamations: ~
Adoption of Resolution for Submittal of CDBG Grant:
A motion was made by Mr. Cordeiro, seconded by Ms. Moore, to adopt the certified resolution for the submission of the Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program application through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Voted (6-0).
Proclamations for Chuck Stickler and Phil Visintainer:
Proclamations were prepared for Chuck Stickler for his years as a firefighter and Fire Chief and for Phil Visintainer for 50 years as a member of the volunteer fire department.
Ms. Weintraub asked that letters be sent to the Brownfields Redevelopment Agency and the Clean Energy Task Force for the grants they pursued and received.
Bids and Contracts: ~None
Appointments: ~None
Financial Statements and Transactions: ~ None
Tax Refunds:
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Ms. Moore, to approve tax refunds in the amount of $273.61. Voted (6-0).
Communications, Correspondence & Announcements:
A packet of communications was provided to the Council members.
Public Remarks:
Fred Hansen, 2 Keighley Pond Road, commented that he approves of the amphitheater at Sears Park as a tribute to Governor O’Neill.
Kyle Dostaler, 56 William Drive, commented that the STEAP grant was very specific for economic development for the continuation of the Streetscape project. He feels it is a lost opportunity for the town to not pursue the property at Route 66 and Main Street.
Mary Ann Dostaler, 56 William Drive, commented on the change in scope of the STEAP grant. She noted that the long term 3 phase plan for the Streetscape project was widely embraced by the community and the Council. She feels it is frustrating that the project is not moving forward. She also has a concern that the STEAP grant requires public hearings throughout the process and the change in scope had no input from the community.
Fran Klein, Bellevue Street, noted her concern that the Distefano property is off the board for the grant. She is also concerned about traffic and other issues at Sears Park if the amphitheater is built there.
Mary Ann Dostaler, 56 William Drive, commented that it is frustrating to come to meetings and voice opinions and not see any discussion given to the resident’s comments.
Reserved: ~None
Adjournment:
A motion was made by Mr. Goff, seconded by Mr. Cordeiro, to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Sirois
Recording Secretary
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