BOROUGH OF NEWTOWN
NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT
Minutes of the meeting of the Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at Town Hall South, Newtown. Warden James Gaston called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.
Present: Warden James Gaston, Senior Burgess Joan Crick, Zoning Officer Jean St. Jean,
Tax Collector Jodie Enriquez, Clerk and Burgess Darlene Spencer
Absent: Second Senior Burgess Jay Maher, Treasurer and Burgess Marie Walker, Burgess
Betsy Kenyon, and Burgess Anthony Baiad
There being no quorum, general reporting was conducted, no motions were made, and a working meeting ensued.
Public Participation: Paul Arneth and Tom Evagash representing the Newtown Lion’s Club were present. Paul addressed the Burgesses stating that the Lion’s Club would like permission to hang American flags over Main Street on each of 30 utility poles from Currituck Road to the intersection of Main Street and Glover Avenue similar to Brookfield. The flags would be hung on one side of the street only. The flags would be hung two weeks before Memorial Day and taken down a week or two past September 11th. Each 3 ft. by 5 ft. flag would be hung on a 6 ft. flagpole at a 45 degree angle approximately 12 to 14 feet above the street. A subcommittee of approximately 6 members of the Lion’s Club would be formed
to take on the project. The flags would be maintained by this committee. They will install, untwist, remove, and replace them as needed. Paul and Tom have received approval from the First Selectman as well as CL&P’s District Manager. If they receive approval from the Burgesses, they will attempt to have the 30 flags installed by the Labor Day Parade this September.
Some discussion followed. Warden Gaston and the Burgesses agreed that it was a great idea and approved the project.
George Schmidt, 12 Old Castle Drive, read a letter addressed to Warden Gaston and signed by several Borough residents. The letter requests that the Borough provide more information with regard to its financial reporting to the public in order to show the taxpayers how their tax money is being spent. Two items were specifically requested, (1) that the budget proposals (proposed and current) reported in The Newtown Bee include year-to-date actual and projected results for the current fiscal year including the operating reserve balance and (2) that the completed and audited fiscal year 2007-08 actual results against the budget by line item be published as well as the ending operating reserve balance for both 2007-08 and 2008-09 fiscal years.
Warden Gaston stated that he would review the requests. There being no quorum, no decisions could be made.
Warden’s Report: Warden Gaston stated that the Legislative Council’s Maintenance Subcommittee is conducting interviews of each town department. This is being done in an effort to learn what each department is doing and how they might be able to help each other. They are interested in interviewing members of the Board of Burgesses. Discussion followed.
Zoning Officer’s Report: Zoning Officer St. Jean led discussion regarding the controversy surrounding the Farmer’s Market and Lexington Gardens. The people involved with the Farmer’s Market and with Lexington Gardens were told that they could not hold the Farmer’s Market on the grounds of Lexington Gardens for zoning reasons, but they could bring their request to the Borough Zoning Commission for a possible variance. They did not come before the BZC and held the Farmer’s Market at Lexington Gardens in violation of zoning regulations. Discussion followed. Further discussion was held regarding an alternative place within the Borough to host the Farmer’s Market for next year. The back parking lot of the Edmond Town Hall was
suggested. Zoning Officer St. Jean and Warden Gaston will look into this possibility.
Zoning Officer St. Jean showed the Burgesses the picture of the proposed Newtown Hook and Ladder Fire House. Discussion followed. She stated that Mr. Weihl is moving forward with his plans for a medical building at the corner of The Boulevard and Church Hill Road. Also, Gas Stop was approved for a one-year extension. St. Rose Church is interested in putting another addition on their school. Trinity Church has expressed interest in what they might be able to do with the property behind the church.
Sidewalks: Senior Burgess Crick distributed copies of Burgess Maher’s proposal for the next phase of the Streetscape Sidewalk Project which focuses on 58, 60, and 62 Main Street. Discussion followed. It was decided that further discussion and a decision would be made at the August 11th meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Darlene M. Spencer
Borough Clerk
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