The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, March 3, 2003 at the C. H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown, CT. First Selectman Rosenthal called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.
PRESENT: First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal, Selectman Joseph Bojnowski,
Selectman William Brimmer
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Ben Spragg, Richard Harrall (HMA), members of Ad Hoc Master Plan Advisory Committee – Chairman Robert Geckle, Jan Roman, Moira Rodgers, Charles Wrinn, Kevin Cragin, John Martocci and Alan Clavette, 25 members of public, two members of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION – Ms. Ruby Johnson, 16 Chestnut Hill Road and Ms. Linda Dunn, Old Bethel Road gave a presentation outlining a comparison of the Friends of Fairfield Hills recommendations vs. the Master Plan Advisory Committee recommended Plan. They submitted petitions obtained from December through February with 727 names to support their “point of view”. Ms. Dunn stated that they feel commercial development is important for Newtown but it should be done at Exit 9 and the 38 acres at the end of Commerce Road, or other areas designated for commercial development. There is 115,000 sf of commercial space for lease or sale in Newtown and over 25 acres of commercial land for sale.
Mr. Owen Carney, Berkshire Road, asked if the voters will be voting on the Master Plan as it is prepared. First Selectman Rosenthal answered that there will be a vote on the Plan approved by the Board of Selectmen and the Legislative Council. Will this be a “binding vote”? Mr. Rosenthal stated that it will be “politically binding”.
COMMUNICATIONS: The Board of Selectmen received a letter from Ms. Helen Bellagambe, a resident of Walnut Tree Village, who objects to the proposed telecommunications tower at Exit 10.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Brimmer, the minutes of the 2/18/03 meeting were unanimously accepted as presented.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
Ad Hoc Fairfield Hills Advisory Committee Presentation
Committee Chairman Robert Geckle thanked his fellow committee members for their hard work over the past year. Mr. Geckle and Mr. Harrall then gave a Powerpoint presentation outlining the Plan approved by the committee. Copies of the full 120 page Master Plan, dated March 3, 2003, were given to the Board of Selectmen.
Selectman Brimmer thanked the committee for a “terrific job”, stating that he realizes the members invested a lot of their personal time in addition to the 26 meetings held. Selectman Bojnowski also thanked the committee for their time and for preparing such a fine plan that meets the future needs of the town. First Selectman Rosenthal added his appreciation, pointing out that Mr. Al
Cramer and Ms. Moira Rodgers both also served on the previous committee and Ms. Jan Roman had served on the original committee in the early 90’s. He also expressed his appreciation to the members of the public who came to many of the meetings.
Since the ad hoc committee has now completed the charge given to them by the Board of Selectmen, they are now officially disbanded. The Board of Selectmen will review the Plan recommended by the committee and at some future meeting, will take action on a recommendation to the Legislative Council.
At this point, members of the committee, the consultants and the public all left the meeting.
Fire Suppression Tank Bond Release, Charter Ridge Road, “Cider Mill Farms” Subdivision
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve release of Fire Suppression Tank Bond, Charter Ridge Road, “Cider Mill Farms” Subdivision in the amount of $30,000, as recommended by Town Engineer. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve a six month extension for one driveway bond as outlined on Attachment A. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Proposed Increase of Building Permit Fees - Commercial
The Board of Selectmen recently approved an increase in residential building permit fees. The Building Official has now submitted a comparison of Newtown’s commercial building permit fees to other town in our area. This comparison was forwarded to the members of the Economic Development Commission for their review. Their recommendation is that the proposed fees increase not be approved. Selectman Bojnowski stated that although he realizes that we need to be sensitive to commercial development, he does not feel that a modest increase will have a significant impact on commercial development, especially when building costs are amortized over several years. After a brief discussion, it was decided to ask the Building Official to come up with a different scenario of fee structure that would
cause a lesser increase.
March 2003 Tax Refunds
Selectman Bojnowski approved March 2003 Tax Refunds No. 9 in the amount of $51,461.94. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Driveway Bond Extensions
| 
