Minutes of the regular meeting of the Legislative Council held on Wednesday, December 7, 2005 in the meeting room of the C. H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, Newtown CT. Temporary Chairman Town Clerk Cynthia Simon called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.
PRESENT: W. Rodgers, T. Holian, D. Amaral, J. Borst, S. Boyle, D. Brown, J. Capeci, J. DiCandido, P. Llodra, F. Pennarola. ABSENT: M. Iassogna, K. Jacobs. ALSO PRESENT: two members of public, one member of press.
ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN.
Mr. Holian nominated Mr. Rodgers as chairman, second by Mr. Pennarola. There were no other nominations. Motion unanimously carried. Mr. Rodgers now chaired the meeting.
ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN.
Mr. Rodgers nominated Mr. Holian as vice-chairman, second by Mr. Borst. There were no other nominations. Motion unanimously carried.
APPOINTMENT OF CLERK.
Mr. Holian moved to appoint Ann Mazur as Clerk of the Legislative Council, second by Mr. Borst. There were no other nominations. Motion unanimously carried.
MINUTES. Upon motion by Mr. Borst, the minutes of the special meeting of November 17, 2005 will be amended to delete the second listing of Joann Peters as an attendee. Upon motion of Mr. Borst, the minutes were unanimously accepted as amended.
Mr. Borst moved to add to the agenda consideration of the minutes of the regular meeting of October 19, 2005. Second by Mr. Holian and unanimously carried. Upon motion of Mr. Borst, the minutes of October 19, 2005 were unanimously accepted as presented.
COMMUNICATIONS. Board of Education Chairman McClure sent a letter listing the Board of Education budget workshops which will be held on January 31, February 2, February 7 and February 9, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. in Room 265 of the Reed Intermediate School (A).
A letter dated December 6, 2005 was received from Liz Stocker, Director of Community Development, supporting the proposal to separate Conservation Commission and Inland Wetlands/Aquifer Protection Agency. Mr. Rodgers reported that Representative Wasserman will address the Legislative Council at its next meeting concerning this matter.
Mr. Rodgers referred to the Ordinance Committee the proposed ordinance to separate Conservation Commission and Inland Wetlands/Aquifer Protection Agency.
The memorandum from Board of Finance Chairman John Kortze and his attachment concerning municipal debt management will be distributed to the new members of the Legislative Council.
Last Monday a meeting concerning the high school expansion was attended by Mr. Rodgers, Mr. Holian, Mr. Kortze, First Selectman H. Rosenthal, Board of Ed Chairman Mrs. McClure and Superintendent Dr. E. Pitkoff. Mr. Rosenthal presented calculations for options, principally for a separate building. Mr. Rodgers said that the Board of Education was requested to provide input as to whether the curriculum could be adjusted to serve two separate buildings. There was concern that this expansion could reach capacity within a couple of years after construction; the Board of Education will review the build out. It was recommended to visit the next 4-5 years of the Capital Improvement Plan to se what we could borrow to stay under the desired debt service figure then look at space needs.
Mr. Rodgers reported that the General Code Book is being finalized. He distributed the Rules of the Legislative Council (B).
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. None noted.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
Education. Mr. Borst attended the Board of Education meeting yesterday. He thought that a study group was to be formed to look at the total capital needs of the town, not just the Board of Education.
FIRST SELECTMAN’S REPORT. Mr. Rosenthal was not present.
NEW BUSINESS
Committee assignments. Mr. Rodgers will assign members to the various committees. He asked the Council members to convey to him their preferences for committee assignments, for one of the major committee: Finance or Ordinance and two of the minor committees: Administration, Education, Public Safety and Public Works/Recreation. Mr. Pennarola said that the Ordinance Committee is considering ordinances for noise and for the Conservation Commission and may consider dog roaming, open space and review of the Plan of Conservation and Development. Mr. DiCandido reported that the Finance Committee is an overview of the Board of Finance. The Finance Committee did review and reject the Board of Education administrator’s contract. Mr. Rodgers said that the Board of Finance is an apolitical committee but the Legislative
Council’s Finance Committee can be broader and can include political considerations. Mr. Rodgers will remind the Board of Education that the bargaining units are to come to the Legislative Council before the bargaining process begins. The Board of Finance also provides input on the Capital Improvement Plan after reviewing the Board of Finance’s recommendations. Mr. Borst as Chairman of the Legislative Council’s Education Committee served as a Legislative Council observer for contract negotiations. He or a designee from the Committee attends Board of Education meetings. Mr. Rodgers said that the Education Committee is the Legislative Council’s liaison to the Board of Education. Mr. Rodgers reported that the Administration Committee reviews the Board of Selectmen’s budget, the Public Safety Committee is a liaison with the Chief of Police and the Police Commission, and the Public Works/Recreation is liaison with the Director of Public Works.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. Ruby Johnson, 16 Chestnut Hill Road, said you are the most representative group that we have. When possible, you need to get some elementary school parents involved because they will have a stake in the high school. She said that it is important that the Finance Committee communicates with the public.
ANNOUNCMENTS. Mr. Rodgers said that Mr. Jacobs is out of town and Mr. Iassogna had a business emergency. He thanks the members for their support of his leadership. Mr. Holian also thanks the members for their support.
ADJOURNMENT. Upon motion of Mr. Borst, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
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