Town of East Hampton
Town Council Regular Meeting
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
East Hampton High School Library
Minutes
Present: Chairperson Susan Weintraub, Vice Chairman Glenn Suprono, Council Members Kyle Dostaler, Ted Hintz, Jr., Derek Johnson (arrived 6:35 p.m.), Barbara Moore (arrived 7:15 p.m.) and George Pfaffenbach. Also present were Town Manager Michael Maniscalco, Recording Secretary Cathy Sirois, members of the press and citizens.
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. Hintz, seconded by Mr. Pfaffenbach, to adopt the agenda. Mr. Dostaler requested the addition of the following items under Appointments - Housing Authority, Commission on Aging, Arts & Cultural Commission and Brownfields Redevelopment Agency. Ms. Weintraub requested the addition of an Executive Session for the Potential Purchase of Property at the end of the regular meeting. Voted (5-0).
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Mr. Dostaler, seconded by Mr. Pfaffenbach, to approve the minutes of the Town Council Regular Meeting of November 27, 2012 as amended. Voted (5-0).
Public Remarks
Angela Sarahina, 37 Old Middletown Avenue, commented on a recent ethics complaint regarding the number of members voting and other actions the Ethics Commission could take based on the Ethics Commission Ordinance. She asked that the Council or Town Manager look into the November 14th meeting and other meetings that did not have four members present.
Mr. Johnson arrived at the meeting.
Presentations
None
Bids & Contracts
Approval of SLAM bid for High School Building Committee
Approval of CREC Proposal for High School Building Committee
Michelle Barber from the High School Building Committee was present to answer any question regarding the SLAM and CREC documents. 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. Suprono to approve the SLAM bid and the CREC proposal as written in the agenda report. Voted (6-0).
Resolutions/Ordinances/Policies/Proclamations
Review Changes to Fire Department Ordinance
Mr. Maniscalco provided an overview of suggested changes to the Fire Department ordinance changing the number of Fire Commission members from five to seven. Ms. Weintraub reviewed a document from the Glastonbury Fire Department which included an organizational chart. Mr. Maniscalco will review the existing Fire Department ordinance and proposed changes with the Fire commission members and determine if any other changes should be proposed. Mr. Maniscalco will provide an update at the next meeting.
Continued Business
Continued Discussion of Fire Truck
Mr. Maniscalco reported that the Fire department has brought forth the proposed demo fire truck to the Board of Finance. The Board of Finance has not made a recommendation at this point. He indicated that the purchase of the demo could be done without going out to bid if the Town Manager determines that the purchase is a good value. Mr. Maniscalco has spoken to some other communities recommended by the Fire department who have recently purchased trucks and based on their input he noted it is difficult to say that the purchase of the demo is a good value. He did note the Fire department needs a truck but maybe not the demo truck. He indicated that the town will move forward with the bidding process and purchase a truck that is fair and equitable to the taxpayers.
Mr. Maniscalco will also be talking with third party consultants to review the Fire department.
Fats/Oils/Grease (FOG) Ordinance
Mr. Maniscalco provided an overview of the Fats/Oils/Grease (FOG) ordinance that was reviewed by the town attorney as well as a letter from the attorney with his comments.
It was recommended that the memo and proposed changes to the ordinance be reviewed by the Council and alternatives to the FOG system be obtained from the town attorney.
Ms. Moore arrived at the meeting during this discussion at 7:15 p.m.
2012 Sewer Use Rate Increase
Mr. Maniscalco reviewed a memo from Vincent Susco and a response to that memo from the town attorney regarding the need for a public hearing prior to a rate change for sewer use charges. It was determined that a public hearing is required. Mark Barmasse, Chairman of the Water Pollution Control Authority Board, indicated that the protocol that is followed has been the practice since the 1980’s. The WPCA will schedule and properly notice a public hearing for the sewer use increase.
New Business
Wastewater Pumping & Permit to Discharge Regulation – Chatham Health
Mr. Maniscalco provided an overview of the Wastewater Pumping and Permit to Discharge Regulation documents. These documents will be included with the minutes filed in the Town Clerk’s Office. Thad King, Director of Health, was not able to attend the meeting. The Council had questions on the fee being charged for the Permit to Discharge. The Council requested a presentation from Thad King at the January 8th Town Council meeting.
82 Main Street Parking Lot
Mr. Maniscalco reviewed a memo from the town attorney for the allowed or not allowed uses of the 82 Main Street parking lot. The agenda report outlining the uses will be included with the minutes filed in the Town Clerk’s office.
Budget Policy Statement
Mr. Dostaler reviewed a draft Budget Policy Statement that he worked on with Ms. Moore. The Council will forward any changes on to Ms. Sirois to create a red-line document for the next meeting.
Town Manager Report
Mr. Maniscalco reported the following:
- A request was made to have trash receptacles in the Village Center. He would like direction from Council regarding utilizing All Waste or public works for emptying. The possibility of workers comp claims was discussed. By consensus the Council would like Public Works to empty the trash cans as opposed to All Waste.
- He met with the First Selectman in Haddam Neck regarding a mutual aid agreement
- At the recent Council of Governments meeting they discussed a new program for online permitting. They are considering purchasing the software as a group.
- He is working with the First Selectman in Colchester on the Joint Facilities agreement
Liaison Reports
Council members delivered two of the shadow boxes for the first responders of the Bevin fire.
Board & Commission Liaison Reports
Mary Ann Dostaler of the Board of Finance asked if the Budget Policy Statement will be shared at the Tri-Board Meeting.
Appointments
A motion was made by Mr. Dostaler, seconded by Ms. Moore, to reappoint to Inland Wetlands Jeff Foran for a full term and to reappoint Robert Talbot as a full member with a term through 2014. Voted (7-0).
A motion was made by Mr. Dostaler, seconded by Ms. Moore, to appoint to the Ethics Commission Mary Ann Meehl with a term through 2016 and Whitney Fielding with a term through 2014. Voted (6-0-1) Mr. Hintz abstained. He noted that the State has an Ethics Commission and they will review any case. He feels the Ethics ordinance needs to be reviewed by the town attorney and possibly training for ethics members. The Ethics Commission will be discussed at the January 8th Council meeting.
A motion was made by Mr. Dostaler, seconded by Ms. Moore, to reappoint to Housing Authority Patricia Dufour for a full term. Voted (7-0).
A motion was made by Mr. Dostaler, seconded by Ms. Moore, to reappoint to Commission on Aging Mary Jo Shafer for a full term and Sue Green for a full term. Voted (7-0).
A motion was made by Mr. Dostaler, seconded by Ms. Moore, to reappoint to Arts & Cultural Commission Shirley Brook for a full term, Melissa Pionzio for a full term and to appoint Bob Berlin with a term through 2013. Voted (7-0).
A motion was made by Ms. Moore, seconded by Mr. Johnson, to reappoint to Brownfields Redevelopment Agency Mary Ann Dostaler for a full term. Voted (6-0-1) Mr. Dostaler abstained.
Tax Refunds
A motion was made by Mr. Suprono, seconded by Mr. Pfaffenbach, to approve tax refunds in the amount of $1,823.01. Voted (7-0).
Public Remarks
Paul Hoffman, 11 Champion Hill Road, commented on the November Ethics Commission meeting and asked that the town attorney revisit this complaint.
Martin Voelker, Fire Department member, commented on the decision to not move forward with the demo fire truck.
Angela Sarahina, 37 Old Middletown Avenue, asked about the time of the Water Pollution Control Authority meetings.
Martin Swan, West High Street, commented on the number of fire commission members and that he is disappointed about the demo fire truck.
Rich Dufour, 19 East Hayes Road, thanked the Board of Finance for having a special meeting and noted his disappointment about the demo fire truck.
Mike Rich, 64 Long Crossing Road, commented that other towns such as Haddam Neck, Marlborough and Colchester recently purchased trucks around $600,000.
Irene Curtis, Wangonk Trail, commented on three good experiences her family recently had with the ambulance and fire volunteers.
Communications, Correspondence & Announcements
Ms. Weintraub handed out information from CCM regarding potential mid-year budget cuts. She also referred to a National Endowment of the Arts grant that is available that could applied for by Epoch Arts.
Mr. Hintz provided an article from the Hartford Courant about the arrest of a fire district chief in Manchester related to tax abatements for fire volunteers. He noted this calculation is coming up for the town at the end of the month.
Mr. Dostaler reported that CCM is having training on municipal budgets on January 12th.
Executive Session
Potential Purchase of Property
A motion was made by Mr. Suprono, seconded by Ms. Moore, to enter Executive Session at 9:03 p.m. Voted (7-0).
Present in Executive Session were Susan Weintraub, Glenn Suprono, Kyle Dostaler, Ted Hintz, Jr., Derek Johnson, Barbara Moore, George Pfaffenbach and Michael Maniscalco
Executive Session ended at 9:10 p.m.
Adjournment
A motion was made by Mr. Suprono, seconded by Mr. Pfaffenbach to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Sirois
Recording Secretary
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