Town of East Hampton
Town Council Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
East Hampton High School Library
Minutes
Present: Chairperson Susan Weintraub, Vice Chairman Glenn Suprono and Council Members Kyle Dostaler, Derek Johnson, Barbara Moore and George Pfaffenbach. Also present were Town Manager Michael Maniscalco, Recording Secretary Cathy Sirois, members of the press and citizens.
Not Present: Ted Hintz, Jr.
Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance
Chairperson Weintraub called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the East Hampton High School Library.
Adoption of Agenda
A motion was made by Mr. Suprono, seconded by Mr. Dostaler, to add Proclamation for Bevin First Responders under Resolutions/Ordinances/Policies/Proclamations. Voted (6-0).
A motion was made by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Pfaffenbach, to adopt the agenda as amended. Voted (6-0).
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Dostaler, seconded by Ms. Moore, to approve the minutes of the Town Council Regular Meeting of September 11, 2012 as amended and the Public Hearing of September 11, 2012 as written. Voted (5-0-1). Mr. Johnson abstained as he was not present at the Public Hearing.
Public Remarks
Deborah Day, 49 Champion Hill Road, commented on the Chatham Historical Society Museum water request not being on the agenda. She asked for a status update on the water.
Cynthia Abraham, 47 Clark Hill Road, commented on future road repairs. She noted past issues of what she felt was non quality workmanship
Stephen Lockwood, 15 Beechcrest Drive, commented on the quality of the town roads and an issue with a catch basin near the High School.
The Council commented that maybe the Public Works Director could do a presentation on roads for a future Council meeting.
Bids & Contracts
None
Presentations
Arts & Cultural Commission
Monica Kangley, Chairperson of the Arts & Cultural Commission, provided an overview of the commission. She reviewed the ordinance that created the commission, the description of the commission, the membership, the goals and mission statement. Ms. Kangley reviewed past and future events. Some future goals include education workshops from the State Department of Tourism and a grant writing workshop.
Resolutions/Ordinances/Policies/Proclamations
Proclamation for Bevin Fire First Responders
A motion was made by Mr. Pfaffenbach, seconded by Ms. Moore, to approve the expenditure for proclamations framed in shadow boxes for the first responders to the Bevin fire. Voted (6-0).
Continued Business
ProAct Service Agreement
Mr. Maniscalco provided an overview of the agreement with ProAct which will provide prescription discounts to residents with no insurance. Stop & Shop pharmacy, Rite Aid and CVS are participating pharmacies. Mr. Johnson questioned ProAct’s financial status, their insurance coverage and is there any liability to the town.
A motion was made and amended by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Pfaffenbach, to enter into the agreement with ProAct pending research by the Town Manager regarding ProAct’s financial background, insurance coverage and HIPAA compliance. Voted (6-0).
2nd Reading Policy
A motion was made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Suprono, to approve the 2nd Reading Policy as amended. Voted (6-0).
Christopher Brook Road Project
Mr. Maniscalco provided an overview of the Christopher Brook Culvert Replacement Project. The agenda report will be included with the minutes filed in the Town Clerk’s office.
Tax Deferral Program
Mr. Maniscalco provided an overview of information related to the tax deferral program. Council members will provide comments to the Town Manager for inclusion in a draft ordinance.
New Business
Amendment to State Conservation & Development Plan
A motion was made by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Pfaffenbach, to exempt this item from the 2nd Reading Policy Voted (6-0).
Mark Philhower, Chairman of the Planning & Zoning Commission provided an overview of the recommendation that the area known as the “birches” be removed from the Future Sewer Service Area of the Town of East Hampton Plan of Conservation & Development. The agenda report will be included with the minutes filed in the Town Clerk’s Office.
A motion was made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Pfaffenbach, to approve the recommendation that the Office of Policy and Management amend the State of Connecticut Conservation and Development Policy, Priority Development and Priority Conservation Maps, to reflect the Town of East Hampton’s Existing and Future Sewer Service Areas as requested by the Planning & Zoning Commission on 8/1/2012. Voted (6-0).
Fire Company #3 – Purchase of a Used 30kw Generator
A motion was made by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Pfaffenbach, to exempt this item from the 2nd Reading Policy Voted (6-0).
A motion was made by Mr. Pfaffenbach, seconded by Ms. Moore, to purchase a 30kw used Onan diesel generator from Higgins Electric for the price of $12,450.00 Voted (6-0).
Everbridge Policy
Mr. Maniscalco provided an overview of a draft policy regarding the use of the Everbridge alert system. Council members will provide comments to the Town Manager for amendments to the draft document.
Budget Policy Statement
Mr. Dostaler and Ms. Moore will work on the Budget Policy Statement again this year. The item will be placed on the Council agenda for the second meeting in October for review. The Council members will email comments to Mr. Dostaler, Ms. Moore and Mr. Maniscalco.
Design Review Board
Ms. Weintraub reviewed a motion made by Council in 2009 to sunset the Design Review Board. The Council discussed bringing the Design Review Board back as they were never fully sunset. The full commission would need to be appointed as the terms for all members ended in 2009.
IPads
Mr. Maniscalco reviewed the cost of IPads for Council members. After discussion it was decided not to spend budget funds on IPads. The Town Manager will research any volume discount opportunities that may exist and Council members as well as other Board and Commission members could purchase their own IPad at a discount.
Town Manager Report
Mr. Maniscalco reported the following:
- Interviews have been done for the Legal RFQ’s
- Engineering RFQ’s have been sent out
- More information is being gathered regarding GPS units
- The Police Chief is completing the safety review
- Paving will begin in October on Route 66 from Portland to Maple Street
Ms. Weintraub asked for job descriptions for Facilities Manager Frank Grzyb and the new position created for Kevin Reich.
Mr. Maniscalco reported that Larry Wagner is monitoring grant opportunities for the Chatham Historic water needs.
Liaison Reports
Ms. Moore attended the Board of Finance Meeting. They discussed the debt policy.
Appointments
The Appointments Sub-Committee interviewed 11 people for the Fire Commission. A Special Meeting will be held where the 4 finalists are interviewed by Council. The three open positions will then be filled for the Fire Commission.
Tax Refunds
A motion was made by Mr. Suprono, seconded by Mr. Dostaler, to approve tax refunds in the amount of $3,782.98. Voted (67-0).
Public Remarks
Mary Ann Dostaler, 56 William Drive, asked when the Budget Policy Statement will be finalized and that a Tri Board Meeting should be held before the budget process begins.
Patience Anderson, 17 Anderson Way, commented that IPads are a good idea but does not want to see taxpayer dollars used for their purchase. Also she feels a policy should be in place before any purchase of IPads.
Mark Philhower, Chairman of the Planning & Zoning Commission, suggested a large flat screen be utilized in the Town Hall meeting room to project documentation for projects being reviewed by Planning & Zoning so the audience can see the documents.
Stephen Lockwood, 15 Beechcrest Drive, commented on an issue with a catch basin near the High School. He also asked about a future policy on agenda items and if that will be on the website.
In answer to Ms. Dostaler’s question, the budget policy statement should be completed by the first meeting in November and a Tri Board meeting in early December.
Communications, Correspondence & Announcements
Ms. Weintraub received a thank you letter from Carl Gustafson regarding a stonewall that was repaired near his property on Flanders Road following road work that was done there last year.
The regular meeting ended at 8:40 p.m.
Executive Session:
A motion was made by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Suprono, to enter Executive Session at 8:48 p.m. Voted (7-0).
Present in Executive Session were Susan Weintraub, Glenn Suprono, Kyle Dostaler, Ted Hintz, Jr. (via telephone), Derek Johnson, Barbara Moore, George Pfaffenbach and Michael Maniscalco
Executive Session ended at 9:02 p.m.
A motion was made by Mr. Dostaler, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to choose to decline the right of first refusal for the purchase of the Goff House. Voted (6-0).
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Sirois
Recording Secretary
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