The Board of Selectmen held a special meeting on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 in the meeting room 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, Parks & Recreation Commission Chairman Larry Haskell, two members of public, one member of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION: None noted at this time
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Rosenthal received a proposal from The Trust for Public Lands. Mr. Tim Northrop had made a presentation to the Board of Selectmen about providing professional services to design a public finance measure for the purpose of land conservation. The agreement is for the amount of $3,000, which this Board had agreed was reasonable and that we should go forward.
Mr. Rosenthal received an e-mail from a citizen who is concerned about the Board of Selectmen spending money on a survey for revising the Fairfield Hills Master Plan. He responded with an e-mail that for several months this Board had indicated that there would be some sort of a survey because it was felt that a scientific sampling of all citizens is necessary before revising the Plan.
First Selectman Rosenthal received a proposal from the UCONN Center for Survey Research and Analysis to perform a survey to determine the opinions and attitudes of key issues facing the Town, including the Fairfield Hills Master Plan. The cost of the project would be $12,500. This proposal will be on a future agenda for discussion and action.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Bojnowski, the minutes of the 11/3/03 meeting were unanimously accepted as presented.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Resolution in Support of Smoking Ban
Selectman Brimmer moved the Resolution In Support of The Smoking Ban (copy attached). Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Maintenance Bond Release, Brandywine Lane, “Brandywine Estates” Subdivision
Selectman Bojnowski moved to release Maintenance Bond for Brandywine Lane, “Brandywine Estates” Subdivision in the amount of $9,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Road Work Acceptance, Road & Drainage Work Agreement, Hanover Road, “McLachlan” Subdivision
Selectman Brimmer moved to accept road work, Road & Drainage Work Agreement, Hanover Road, “McLachlan” Subdivision and to reduce the bond to a $7,200 maintenance bond to be held by the Town for a period of one year. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Selectman Bojnowski moved to release twelve (12) driveway bonds as outlined on Attachment B. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Boujnowski moved to approve a six month extension for two driveway bonds as outlined on Attachment B. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
The Board of Selectmen will advise the property owner that this is the last extension for Point o’Rocks Road, Map 30, Bl ock 2, Lot 35.
Parks & Recreation Commission Request for Appropriation from Surcharge Account
Parks & Recreation Commission Chairman Larry Haskell was present. The commission is requesting a $5,000 appropriation from the surcharge account to install irrigation on the infield of the Middle School baseball field. The Babe Ruth organization is spending $16,000 to correct drainage on the infield. The $5,000 will come from the fees that are paid for each participant in Parks & Recreation activities.
Selectman Brimmer moved to support the request for an appropriation of $5,000 from the surcharge account for irrigation on the infield of the Middle School baseball field. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Special Town Meeting
Selectman Brimmer moved the following, RESOLVED: That the resolution entitled “Resolution Appropriating $400,000 For The Planning, Design And Construction Of New Classrooms At Newtown High School And Authorizing The Issuance Of $400,000 Bonds Of The Town To Meet Said Appropriation And Pending The Issuance Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose”, a copy of which is attached hereto, is hereby adopted and recommended for adoption by the Town Meeting. Motion seconded and carried: YES – Rosenthal, Bojnowski, Brimmer
Selectman Brimmer moved the following, RESOLVED: That the resolution entitled “Resolution Appropriating $245,000 For Architectural And Engineering Services For The Planning And Design Of Renovations To The HVAC System At Head O’Meadow Elementary School And Authorizing The Issuance Of $245,000 Bonds Of The Town To Meet Said Appropriation And Pending The Issuance Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose”, a copy of which is attached hereto, is hereby adopted and recommended for adoption by the Town Meeting. Motion seconded and carried: YES – Rosenthal, Bojnowski, Brimmer
Selectman Brimmer moved that a Special Town Meeting be held on December 3, 2003 at 7:00 P.M. (E.D.T.) in the meeting room at the C. H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown, CT and that the notice of said Special Town Meeting shall be in the form as attached hereto. Motion seconded and carried: YES – Rosenthal, Bojnowski, Brimmer
Resolution for Children’s Adventure Center
Selectman Bojnowski moved the following: RESOLVED that First Selectman Herbert C. Rosenthal is empowered to enter into and amend contractual instruments in the name and on behalf of this Contractor with the Department of Social Services of the State of Connecticut for a Child Day Care program, and to affix the corporate seal. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
2004 Meeting Schedule
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve the 2004 Board of Selectmen meeting schedule (attached). Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Recommendation from Pension Committee
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve Pension Committee recommendation that “the target asset allocation (as stated on page 3 of the Investment Policy) be changed to 60% equities / 40% fixed income, with no more than 25% of the 60% in equities to be foreign, that is foreign investments not greater than 12.5% of the total portfolio”. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Public Hearing
Selectman Brimmer moved to hold a Public Hearing on December 15, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. at the C. H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, Newtown, CT to hear citizens views on the Town’s community development and housing needs. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Appointments/Reappointments
Selectman Bojnowski moved to reappoint seven members to the Ad Hoc Open Space Task Force, as outlined on attachment. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Legal Matters – None
Addendum Item – Hook & Ladder Co.
First Selectman Rosenthal recommends that this Board withdraw approval for Hook & Ladder to put an addition on the existing building behind Edmond Town Hall. He spoke to the structural engineer who feels that minor improvements could be made to the building but to spend $400,000 on a building with structural problems is not money well spent. The Board of Selectmen had authorized the addition contingent on H&L receiving approval of all necessary bodies. The Borough and the Board of Managers are not in favor of this project. In addition, there are problems with the driveway accommodating both the addition to the town hall and the addition to the firehouse. The attorney for Hook & Ladder submitted an “Exclusive Agency Agreement” whereby the Town would grant the Fire Co.
the exclusive right to act as its agent for the purpose of obtaining all necessary regulatory approvals for the addition. After some discussion, it was decided not to sign this agreement.
Selectman Brimmer moved to withdraw authorization for Hook & Ladder Fire Co. No. 1 to build a three bay addition to the firehouse located behind Edmond Town Hall. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: The swearing-in ceremony will take place on Sunday, November 30, 2003, 2:00 p.m. at the high school.
Selectmen Bojnowski and Brimmer requested having a presentation by both the Highway Department and the Parks & Recreation Department on projects during the past year. This will be arranged for the December 15, 2003 meeting.
Voter Participation: A resident who arrived to the meeting after Voter Participation, asked to speak. Mr. Kevin Fitzgerald, 24 Old Farm Hill Road is concerned about spending $12,500 on a survey for the Fairfield Hills Master Plan, when surveys have already been done. “I don’t believe you will get what you seem to be looking for. Why is another poll necessary?” First Selectman Rosenthal advised that this was discussed at the beginning of the meeting. During his campaign, he heard a variety of reasons why people voted against the Master Plan, some of these reasons were diametrically opposite. Some people thought there was too much economic development and some thought there should be more. Some people thought they were voting on a funding issue,
which was not the case. The Plan was voted down so it has to modified and we have to know what modifications need to be made before we go to the Planning & Zoning Commission with a final plan. Selectman Bojnowski pointed out that the surveys we have were done before the Master Plan was completed. They were done to complete the Plan, and were not “professional” or “unbiased” like the survey by UCONN would be.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Resolution in Support of The Smoking Ban
Attachment B: Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Attachment C: Bonding Resolution – High School Classrooms
Attachment D: Bonding Resolution – Head o’Meadow HVAC
Attachment E: Notice of Town Meeting
Attachment F: 2004 Meeting Schedule
Attachment G: Appointments
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