The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, January 5, 2004 in the meeting room 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, 8 members of public, two members of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION: Ms. Barbara O’Connor, 36 Little Brook Lane, stated that she does not want to see money spent on another survey for the Fairfield Hills Master Plan. Regarding the bridge work on Huntingtown Road, it was supposed to be passable by last week but still is not open. The guiderails being installed are crooked.
Mr. Wayne Addessi, 28 Old Farm Hill Road, sent a letter regarding Fairfield Hills (attached). He feels that Newtown needs a “downtown” area and that Fairfield Hills is a good location for a central business district.
Mr. Matt Coughlin, 12 Sweetbriar Lane, asked whether Mr. Addessi is suggesting moving existing businesses up to Fairfield Hills? Mr. Addessi replied that he is not suggesting that.
Ms. Ruby Johnson, 16 Chestnut Hill Road, feels that there is a difference between Fairfield Hills and the 38 acres adjacent to Commerce Road that the State is giving to the Town. Any businesses at Fairfield Hills will be subsidized by the taxpayers because we are purchasing that property. She is concerned that there are no definite plans for Edmond Town Hall if town offices were to move to Fairfield Hills.
Mr. Wayne Addessi asked how he could become more involved with this process. First Selectman Rosenthal advised that once the Board of Selectmen makes a decision regarding the Master Plan, it will go to the Planning & Zoning Commission for approval. Their process involves holding public hearings so there will be plenty of opportunity for more input at that time.
Mr. Larry Whippie, 20 Great Hill Road, asked if there will be another vote after modifications are made to the Master Plan. First Selectman advised that there will not be another vote. There is nothing in the State Statutes or the Town Charter that required any vote to approve a Plan.
Ms. Lillian Stickler, Tamarack Road, feels that Newtown is unique and it “would be horrible to change that uniqueness”.
ADD TO AGENDA: Selectman Brimmer moved to add Release of Driveway Bonds to the agenda. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to add Legal Matters to the agenda. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Rosenthal advised that the Board of Selectmen and Legislative Council had voted to join with attorney generals from Connecticut and nine other states bringing legal action against the EPA to prevent changes being made to the Clean Air Act. On 12/14/03, the motion to stay was granted.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Brimmer, the minutes of the 12/15/03 meeting were unanimously accepted as presented.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Modifications to Fairfield Hills Master Plan
Selectman Bojnowski still favors some sort of poll in order to get some direction from a significant portion of the taxpayers. It is time to move this process forward. The Master Plan will evolve over 20-40 years. More involvement will occur at the Planning & Zoning level and beyond. Fairfield Hills should have some modest provision for commercial use with a primary objective of municipal use. He favors a new town hall, ballfields, and a community center. He also favors more demolition of buildings. It could be another 5-10 years before something is done with the buildings which means even more deterioration will occur. Some governing body should be involved with development as time goes on, within the Planning & Zoning approved Master Plan. The Master Plan,
overall, is good. His recommended adjustments would be: 1) Plymouth Hall should be demolished. A new community center should be considered, not rehab of this building, 2) Stamford Hall should be demolished, or kept but left unspecified as to use, 3) Norwalk Hall and the single family dwellings should be demolished, as stated in the Plan. His preferred options include: 1) Shelton Hall demolished and a new town hall built on that site, 2) the old entranceway be one-way and improved with a walkway and landscaping, 3) Stratford Hall be preserved, possibly with town funds.
Selectman Brimmer stated that the most feedback he received after the referendum was regarding a new town hall. He feels there are three options: 1) a new town hall, 2) renovating Shelton Hall, 3) using Newtown or Woodbury Hall and maintaining Edmond Town Hall with First Selectman and Town Clerk offices. Regarding open space, there is already 250+ acres of open space at Fairfield Hills, he feels the Plan satisfies the town needs. He is not against more demolition in addition to the seven buildings in the Plan. He feels that the police department and Hook & Ladder fire company should move to Fairfield Hills. The prior two surveys gave the Fairfield Hills Committee a lot of input. Between these surveys and the workshops, he
feels there has been feedback from interest citizens and another survey isn’t necessary. Perhaps we could consider a public session with a panel including the Board of Selectmen, Chairman of the prior Fairfield Hills committee, Chairman of the Legislative Council and our consultant. The Master Plan is a “work in progress” and will be for many years to come.
First Selectman Rosenthal agrees with a lot of the comments by both of the other Selectmen. He feels that the new town hall was probably the thing that “tipped the scales” in the vote last August. He feels Shelton House is a good location for a town hall but due to the continued deterioration of the building, he is not certain whether we should renovate or build a new building on the site. He would propose that site but before a final decision is made, have an architect and/or engineer provide more information as to costs and advantages. He also favors the demolition of the seven buildings in the Plan. He agrees that Stratford Hall is a beautiful building. Bridgeport has a lot of potential uses. Regarding relocating
Hook & Ladder fire company, we would need to talk to the Board of Fire Commissioners. Hook & Ladder has always been resistant to moving to Fairfield Hills.
Selectman Brimmer stated that he was misquoted in a newspaper, dated 1/1/03, stating that he was proposing an addition to Edmond Town Hall with all town offices remaining on Main Street. That was never his plan and he has discussed this error with the newspaper.
A member of the public asked if the Board of Selectmen agree on the amount of commercial development? First Selectman Rosenthal stated that the Plan allows for some professional offices. When the Legislative Council made modifications to the Plan, they added that if there was to be any additional commercial to what was allowed in the Master Plan, it would require approval of a modification to the Plan. Selectman Brimmer stated that we have discussed the commercial development over the years. He believes that the Town needs an immediate care facility. Mr. Rosenthal and Mr. Bojnowski agreed.
Mr. Don Morrissey, 3 Spring Road (was not present during public participation) wants to see full public participation. First Selectman Rosenthal replied that there has been a lot of public participation over the past several years.
NEW BUSINESS
EDC Vacancies
There are several unaffiliated voters interested in serving on the Economic Development Commission and they have submitted resumes. It was decided that the Board of Selectmen will interview these candidates.
Reappointment
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve the re-appointment of (R) George Wheeler, 26E Nunnawauk Meadows as a member of the Building Appeals Board for a term to end on 01/06/09. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Driveway Bonds
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve the release of four (4) driveway bonds as outlined on attachment. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Legal Matters
Selectman Brimmer moved to enter executive session to discuss a legal matter and to invite the Finance Director and clerk to attend. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. The meeting entered executive session at 9:30 p.m. and returned to open session at 9:35 p.m.
Selectman Brimmer moved to authorize legal action regarding a wetlands violation at 48 Mile Hill Road South (Lee Haskell). Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:36 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment – Letter from Mr. Addessi
Attachment – Driveway Bond Releases
| 
