BOROUGH OF NEWTOWN
NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT
Minutes of the meeting of the Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at Town Hall South, Newtown. Warden Gaston called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m.
Present: Warden James Gaston, Senior Burgess Joan Crick, Second Senior Burgess Joseph Maher, Zoning Officer Jean St. Jean, Tax Collector Jodie Enriquez, Burgess Betsy Kenyon (7:37 p.m.), Clerk Ann Benore, Treasurer and Burgess Marie Walker, Tree Warden Rob McCulloch.
Absent: Burgess Anthony Baiad
Burgess Walker made a motion to accept the September 14, 2010 annual meeting minutes, seconded by Senior Burgess Crick and unanimously approved.
Burgess Walker made a motion to accept the September 14, 2010 special meeting minutes, seconded by Senior Burgess Crick and unanimously approved.
Public Participation: None.
Warden’s Report: Warden Gaston reported that he received a request from St. Rose regarding putting up a banner which he has approved. Senior Burgess Crick questioned whether the signs and banners at the Edmond Town Hall were properly approved. Zoning Officer St. Jean stated that she was away but assumed the proper channels were followed through Zoning and would verify the situation.
Warden Gaston also reported on the Borough’s move to Edmond Town Hall. He stated that the office was ready and the move will begin soon and should be completed over the next couple of weeks. Discussion followed.
Tree Warden: Tree Warden Rob McCulloch reported on the list of trees going out to bid. They include: Hall Lane (dead ash), Queen & Glover (island maple), 38 West Street, 36 Queen Street. Those that need pruning include: 1 Glover Avenue, hickory trees along Elm Street. Those that have been completed: Hanover Road (piece of wood that the town could not handle), Caraluzzi’s (maple), Wendover Road (elm), West Street (ash), King Street (two willows), West Street (dead maple). Also investigating: 1 Currituck Road and 18 The Boulevard. Mr. McCulloch reviewed the work done by Newtown Arbor along Main Street and everything is satisfactory. Mr. McCulloch provided a copy of a letter sent to him by First Selectman’s Office regarding CL&P
and the proper way to notify homeowners of work to be done. Warden Gaston asked Mr. McCulloch to call CL&P and get more detail of the schedule.
Tax Collector’s Report for September: Tax Collector Enriquez reported the following: Total taxes for the List of 2009: $168,506.04. Current Taxes: $156,900.59; Back Taxes: $1,655.89; Interest: $642.18; Lien Fees: $240.00; Return of Overpayments: ($1,081.83). Total Collected to Date: $158,356.83; Total Submitted to Treasurer to Date: $148,000.00. Current Taxes Collected: 92.5%.
Tax Collector’s Report for October: Tax Collector Enriquez reported the following: Total taxes for the List of 2009: $168,497.50. Current Taxes: $159,889.11; Back Taxes: $1,655.89; Interest: $784.70; Lien Fees: $240.00; Return of Overpayments: ($1,239.76). Total Collected to Date: $161,329.94; Total Submitted to Treasurer to Date: $158,000.00. Current Taxes Collected: 94.2%.
Burgess Kenyon made a motion to accept Tax Collector’s Report for September, seconded by Second Senior Burgess Maher, and unanimously approved.
Burgess Kenyon made a motion to accept Tax Collector’s Report for October, seconded by Second Senior Burgess Maher, and unanimously approved.
Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Walker reported the following: A deposit of $10,000.00 was made from Tax Collector Jodie Enriquez making a total of $158,000.00 as of October 1, 2010. A transfer of $4,000.00 to cover this month’s invoicing was made leaving a total of $286,906.70 in the NSBMM Account as of October 9, 2010. Capital Reserve is $1,894.13 as of September 30, 2010.
Second Senior Burgess Maher made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Burgess Kenyon and unanimously accepted.
Zoning Officer’s Report: Zoning Officer St. Jean reported that Newtown Congregational Church had a lot of signs posted. They are under special exception so they are allowed but she would like them to come into the office to make Zoning aware of the placement. They also have a piece of heavy equipment on the property and she made them aware that there is an application that needs to be filled out for such equipment. In addition, a boy scout troop has a trailer there (sponsored by the church) that Ms. St. Jean asked be moved to the back since it is in a residential zone.
Caraluzzi’s is having some drainage issues and Ms. St. Jean and Rob Sibley will be going out to do a field inspection. The Big Y shopping center looks great. Dr. Young has finished his building on Church Hill Road. Dr. Beck will be coming in when final plans have been made to take his building down on Queen Street. Ms. St. Jean understands that Lexington Gardens would possibly like to change the use of the nursery to a business building but plans are tentative.
The Inland Wetlands Department in now reviewing the firehouse application. Planning had a meeting on Thursday night and the application was approved. Ms. St. Jean reported that people are very concerned about the traffic conditions if the firehouse project is approved. She pointed out that Zoning has nothing to do with traffic situations. A traffic report was done by the state and it was approved. Discussion followed.
Zoning Officer St. Jean also reminded that contractors are allowed to put signs up while work is being done but they must remove the signs after completion.
Historic District: Burgess Kenyon reported that things are quiet. Newtown Savings Bank has finished their work and it looks great. There are no new applications.
Sidewalks: Burgess Maher reported that he was contacted by the new owners of 23 Main Street and they reported that a relative had tripped and fallen on the sidewalk there. Burgess Maher will meet with them and have the sidewalk repaired. He also has met with Rob Connor and they have set a time schedule for work to be done at the Rohmer residence (27 Main Street). The work is to start on November 1st. Also, he talked to Rob about the tree to be planted just north of 38 Main Street. There is also a missing maple at the property next to Edmond Town Hall and thought we should think about replacing the tree.
Streets & Parks: Burgess Maher reported that there is nothing new.
Old Business: Warden Gaston reported we received the Health Department’s annual report. Warden Gaston confirmed that the Tax Collector’s office depreciation expense would be $125.00 per month which would be submitted monthly.
New Business: Stephanie Gaston was reappointed for another five-year term as a Commissioner on the Borough of Newtown Historic District. The term will expire in July 2015.
A banner for returning soldiers from Afghanistan was also approved.
Burgess Maher made a motion to make a special appropriation of $9,500.00 for tree work completed on Main Street by Newtown Arbor, seconded by Burgess Kenyon and unanimously approved.
Public Participation: None.
The special meeting of the Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses will be held on Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the Borough Office at Edmond Town Hall.
There being no further business, Burgess Walker made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 p.m., seconded by Burgess Kenyon and unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Ann M. Benore
Borough Clerk
| 
