The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, April 7, 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, Town Engineer Ron Bolmer, one member of public, one member of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION – None noted
ADDITIONS TO AGENDA: Selectman Brimmer moved to add Resolution for Historic Document Grant to the agenda. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
This request for a resolution was received after the posting of the agenda.
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Rosenthal advised that residents of Wiley Lane have submitted a petition requesting that the private road be accepted as a town road. The Town Engineer has worked up a rough estimate of the cost to upgrade the road to modified standards. The residents would be responsible for half of the total cost. We are waiting to hear if this will move forward.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Bojnowski, the minutes of the 3/17/03 meeting were unanimously accepted as presented.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Proposed Increase of Building Permit Fees – Commercial
Building Official Tom Paternoster submitted a revised Permit Fee Cost Comparison (Attachment A). Selectman Brimmer moved to adjust Commercial Building Permit Fees to $30.00 for the first $1,000 of construction cost and $11.00 per each additional $1,000 of construction cost. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing Plan
Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker is designated as the fair housing officer and as such has submitted the annual review of the Fair Housing Plan. At this time, she has not received any fair housing complaints but has answered questions from the public regarding the subject. She also participated in a fair housing training seminar a year ago and will continue to attend such sessions when they are available. At this time, she does not recommend any revisions to the Fair Housing Plan.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to accept the recommendation of the Fair Housing Officer not to revise the Fair Housing Plan. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
DRIVEWAY BOND RELEASES/EXTENSIONS
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve two (2) driveway bond releases as outlined on Attachment B. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve six month extensions for four (4) driveway bonds as outlined on Attachment B. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Proposed Discontinuance, “Old Still Hill” Road
Mr. Jason Petrelli of 16 Still Hill Road was present and has requested the discontinuance of this section of road that runs through his property. Town Engineer Ron Bolmer advised that this section of the old road, which was realigned, does not actually exist except on paper. The Town has no use for it and it should be discontinued.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to discontinue section of “Old Still Hill” Road as designated on As Built Plot Plan of Property Located at 16 Still Hill Road, Newtown, Connecticut, prepared for Shelley and Jason Petrelli by Lewis Associates Land Surveying and Civil Engineering, Dated 1-29-02, Revised 2-25-03. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
This discontinuance will be forwarded to the Legislative Council for their approval.
Proposed Discontinuance, Section of Lands End Road
Town Engineer Ron Bolmer was contacted by the State Department of Transportation about the status of this road. A year ago, we blocked off a portion at the end of the road to prohibit vehicle access to the insufficient bridge at the end of the road. The original road terminates in a cul-de-sac where I-84 blocks it and the property at the end of the road is cut off. The D.O.T. wants to know if we intend to keep this section as a Town Road. Mr. Bolmer sees no reason for the town to retain this section and recommends a formal discontinuance.
After some discussion, it was decided that the Town Engineer should measure the section and find out if the State has any maps available to designate the portion to be discontinued.
Maintenance Bond Release, Far Horizon Drive, “Cobblers Ridge” Subdivision
Selectman Brimmer moved to release maintenance bond for Far Horizon Drive, “Cobblers Ridge” Subdivision in the amount of $10,950.00, as per recommendation of Town Engineer. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
March 2003 Tax Refunds
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve March 2003 Tax Refunds, No. 11 in the amount of $50,548.13. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Recommendation from Fairfield Hills Master Plan Advisory Committee
The Selectmen were in receipt of the Master Plan, dated March 3, 2003, as submitted by the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Advisory Committee. The Selectmen also attended many of the meetings held by the Advisory Committee over the past year and were familiar with the final recommendations.
The three Selectmen all agreed that they favored the plan for a new town hall building as opposed to renovating an old building. After some discussion, it was decided to recommend reversing the proposed locations, making the first location the Shelton House site and the second location as the new location between Newtown and Woodbury Halls. The final decision to be made after architectural plans are prepared which would show pros and cons of each location. First Selectman Rosenthal does not feel that the “old” entrance to the campus should be left as a vehicular entrance but could be a pedestrian walkway crossing over to the new school, as well as an emergency entrance. The main entrance to the property has become the traffic light
across from Trades Lane.
First Selectman Rosenthal advised that he has spoken with the consultants and others regarding the sale of buildings vs. long-term leases. If you have a long-term land lease and sell a building on it, when the land lease is up, the building is turned over to the town. However, if some people perceive that as a problem, it isn’t a big issue. He talked to an attorney who advised that the only advantage to a sale rather than a long-term lease of a building is that the town could have less liability for clean-up. It was decided to change references to sale of buildings to long-term leases.
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve the Fairfield Hills Master Plan with two changes discussed at this meeting. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ADDITION TO AGENDA: Selectman Brimmer moved the following: RESOLVED THAT Herbert C. Rosenthal, First Selectman of the Town of Newtown, or Town Clerk Cynthia S. Simon as his designee, is empowered to execute and deliver in the name of and on behalf of this municipality, an application and contract with the State Library for an Historic Preservation Grant. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
This grant will have no financial impact or liability for the Town of Newtown. We will quality for $12,000 from the state to assist in preserving and microfilming some of our vital statistics and older records in the Town Clerk’s office.
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 pm and returned to open session at 8:30 pm. No action was taken at this time and meeting was adjourned.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Commercial Building Permit Fees
Attachment B: Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
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