The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on September 20, 2004 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: Town Engineer Ron Bolmer, EDC Chairman Chet Hopper, two members of public
VOTER PARTICIPATION: None noted
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Rosenthal distributed copies of article written by Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker for the New England Real Estate Journal regarding new industrial and commercial projects in Newtown.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Brimmer, the minutes of the 9/7/04 meeting were unanimously accepted as presented.
Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve release of five (5) driveway bonds as outlined on Attachment A. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Business Incentive Plan
EDC Chairman Chet Hopper was present to discuss the plan being proposed by the Economic Development Commission. First Selectman Rosenthal explained that any tax incentive type offers in this plan would have to be approved by the Legislative Council. Any non-tax type offers could be negotiated by the First Selectman, with authorization of the Board of Selectmen. Selectman Brimmer feels this plan is a big improvement over the past plan that was suspended by the Board of Selectmen.
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve the Business Incentive Plan as presented by the Economic Development Commission and pass on to the Board of Finance for their input. (copy attached to original minutes). Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Heritage Preservation Trust Request – Newtown Meeting House
The Heritage Preservation Trust is planning to restore the windows to the Meeting House and to add central air conditioning to the building, which they lease from the Town.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve The Heritage Preservation Trust plans to restore windows and add central air conditioning to The Meeting House, pursuant to section 16 of their lease with the Town of Newtown. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Professional Services Contract for Engineer/Surveyor for Technology Park
First Selectman Rosenthal advised that the funding to hire the engineer/surveyor has been carried over from the last fiscal year.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to authorize First Selectman Rosenthal to sign the Professional Services Contract for Engineer/Surveyor for the Technology Park with Spath-Bjorklund. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Special Appropriation for Renovations to HVAC System at Head o’Meadow Elementary School
Selectman Brimmer moved to initiate a special appropriation in the amount of $4,150,000 for renovations to the HVAC System at Head o’Meadow Elementary School and to recommend bonding as a means of financing. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Special Appropriation for Architectural and Engineering Services for Planning and Design of Renovations to the HVAC System at Hawley Elementary School
Selectman Brimmer moved to initiate a special appropriation in the amount of $290,000 for Architectural and Engineering Services for Planning and Design of Renovations to the HVAC System at Hawley Elementary School and to recommend bonding as a means of financing. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Transfer
Selectman Bojnowski moved to transfer FROM Account 01100-1073 Town Hall Salary Adjustment $38,320.00 TO Various Salary Accounts $38,320.00. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
This transfer is to cover annual salary increases for department heads and employees who are not members of a union.
Annual Town Meeting
Selectman Brimmer moved to hold the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, October 4, 2004 at 7:15 p.m. in the meeting room at the C. H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown, CT. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Disposition of Five Houses on Mile Hill South
First Selectman Rosenthal reminded that five residential houses on Mile Hill South were deeded to the Town at the time of the transfer of the Fairfield Hills campus. This was negotiated with the express intent to help defray some of the increased cost of the remediation of ground contamination.
Selectman Brimmer moved to sell the five houses on Mile Hill South that were deeded to the Town of Newtown by the State of Connecticut; to use the proceeds to offset the remediation costs at Fairfield Hills; and to refer to the Planning & Zoning Commission as per CGS Sec. 8-24. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Appointments/Reappointments – None
September/October Tax Refunds
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve September/October Tax Refunds in the amount of $26,039.04. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Legal Matters - None
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Selectman Brimmer would like to discuss the Fairfield Hills Authority at the next meeting. Also, he would like to ask the Open Space Task Force to make a presentation in November.
First Selectman Rosenthal advised that the Fairfield Hills Management Committee will be meeting tomorrow evening to discuss the problems at Canaan House and what should be done regarding town employees currently housed there. First Selectman Rosenthal has looked at another possible location in town that could be leased but did not want to discuss the specific location in public session.
Selectman Brimmer moved to enter executive session to discuss possible negotiations for leased space and to invite clerk to attend. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Meeting entered executive at 8:30 pm and returned to open session at 8:40 p.m., at which time the meeting was adjourned.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Town of Newtown Business Incentive Plan
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