The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, January 6, 2003 at the C. H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown, CT. First Selectman Rosenthal called the meeting to order at 7:35 PM.
PRESENT: First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal, Selectman Joseph Bojnowski,
Selectman William Brimmer
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Ben Spragg, Town Engineer Ron Bolmer, two members of public
VOTER PARTICIPATION – Ms. Barbara O’Connor, Littlebrook Lane, asked about procedure for calling plows out when it snows. First Selectman Rosenthal advised that the police on patrol notify the dispatchers if the roads are getting slippery. Dispatch notifies the on-call person, who is supposed to come in to assess the situation and call the highway superintendent and public works director. They make the decision whether to call in the entire crew. Ms. O’Connor felt that during the last storm, the trucks were out too early. Mr. Rosenthal agreed and advised that he has a meeting set up for tomorrow with police and highway personnel to discuss procedure.
Mr. Charles Spath, Jr., 22 Cobblers Mill Road, requested reconsideration of two driveway bonds on Hearthstone Lane, which the Board of Selectmen had declared forfeited. He advised that one of the driveway aprons was finished within the timeframe but he did not request an inspection in a timely manner. The other driveway apron was not finished during the allotted 18 months because the property owner was expected to pave the entire driveway. He did receive a letter in 2001 advising that the bonds were expiring.
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Rosenthal received a letter from Attorney General Richard Blumenthal requesting that towns become a legal party to his challenge to the proposed changes to the federal clean air act regulations. There will be no legal costs involved for the town. It was the consensus of the Board that the First Selectman should sign this petition.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Brimmer, the minutes of the December 16, 2002 meeting were unanimously accepted as presented.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None
NEW BUSINESS
Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Selectman Brimmer moved to reconsider two bond forfeitures and to release these bonds for 1 Hearthstone Lane, Map 24, Block 6, Lot 15 ($500) and 7 Hearthstone Lane, Map 24, Block 6, Lot 12 ($500). Motion seconded and carried: 2 YES – 1 NO (Rosenthal)
Selectman Brimmer moved to release three driveway bonds as outlined on Attachment A. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Bond Reduction, Bobcat Road, “Wildcat Hills” Subdivision
Selectman Brimmer moved to reduce bond for Bobcat Road, “Wildcat Hills” Subdivision from $137,000 to $80,900.00, as recommended by Town Engineer. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Bond Reduction, Cider Mill Road, “Cider Mill Farms” Subdivision
Selectman Bojnowski moved to reduce bond for Cider Mill Road, “Cider Mill Farms” Subdivision from $280,800 to $112,000, as per recommendation of Town Engineer. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Transfer – Winter Overtime
After a lengthy discussion of the status of the winter overtime account due to recent storms and the anticipation of more snow to come, it was decided to increase the amount of this transfer.
Selectman Brimmer moved to transfer FROM Account 01570-2000 Contingency $75,000 TO Account 01510-1003 Winter Overtime $75,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Legal Matters
Selectman Bojnowski moved to enter executive session to discuss legal matters and to invite the Finance Director and clerk to attend. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Meeting entered executive session at 8:15 p.m. and returned to open session at 8:35 p.m.
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve funds for legal defense in Raffie Aryeh vs. Planning & Zoning Comission (Newtown Heights). Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Driveway Bond
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