The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, June 6, 2005 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 William Brimmer, Selectman Joseph Bojnowski
ALSO PRESENT: Town Engineer Ron Bolmer, John Reed (Chairman of Fairfield Hills Management Committee), five members of public
VOTER PARTICIPATION: Ms. Jean Sander, Walnut Tree Hill Road, bought her historical house on the corner of Walnut Tree and Glen Road not knowing that it was on a motorcycle route. She has no objections to motorcycles that are obeying the laws but does object to those that blast past her home with modified mufflers and are violating federal and state noise levels. It is stressful and homes in the area are being devaluated. They counted 1,000 motorcycles going by yesterday (Sunday). Laws are not being enforced. The police are not taking action. She submitted a petition signed by Sandy Hook residents requesting enforcement by the town against motorcyclists who break the law.
Mr. Lincoln Sander, Walnut Tree Hill Road, stated that these motorcycles are louder than a car with a broken muffler. We need to tell people that Newtown is not part of a motorcycle route.
Ms. Anna Saterstrom, 7 Washington Avenue, feels something should be done about the level of noise from these motorcycles.
Dr. John Reed, 63 Main Street, feels part of the problem is that they rev the engines, which is similar to the tractor trailer trucks which seem to go untouched as they speed through town because the state police deal with them.
Ms. Patricia Curry, 189 Walnut Tree Hill Road, feels that the normal motorcycles are not a problem. The ones with the modifications wake her children up from naps.
Mr. John Linder, 80 Church Hill Road, when the motorcycles are coming down Church Hill Road, they down shift which is even louder. Trucks do this as well.
First Selectman Rosenthal advised that he would send comments from tonight to the Police Commission. They are the board that supervises the Police Department and are the traffic authority for the town.
Ms. Patricia Curry, feels there should be an effort to pull motorcycles over and check the muffler to see if they are within the law.
Dr. John Reed feels that the police should establish a traffic division. The average police officer does not join to give out traffic tickets.
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Rosenthal received a communication from the Board of Fire Commissioners advising that they voted to support the concept of designer fees for a Hook & Ladder firehouse that would be taken from the Selectmen’s budget.
First Selectman Rosenthal advised that the Conveyance Tax Bill needs support. He asked the other Selectmen to contact State Rep. Julia Wasserman and State Senator John McKinney.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Bojnowski, the minutes of the 5/16/05 meeting were unanimously accepted as presented.
NEW BUSINESS
Road Acceptance, River Run, “Little Brook Knolls” Subdivision
Selectman Bojnowski moved to accept River Run into the Town Highway System and to set the maintenance bond in the amount of $24,650.00 to be held by the town for a period of one year. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Selectman Brimmer moved to ADD Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions to the agenda. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve the release of five driveway bonds as outlined on Attachment A. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Update – Fairfield Hills Management Committee
Chairman John Reed was present and gave the following update:
· Regarding electrical problems, the state has been paying for the consumption of all of Fairfield Hills; the meters were not separate. The plans have now been prepared by Fuss & O’Neill and Fred Hurley and the state is reviewing them. Mr. Hurley hopes to go out to bid for the electrical work next week and have work done in August/September to update service. We will then have our own meters and will be paying for electricity on the campus.
· Aquarion Services is in charge of managing the water. Each building on the campus will be individually metered and billed for water usage. We know that right now 130,000 gallons per day are being used, the majority of that for the prison, school and horse guard. A subcommittee is working with Aquarion and the Police Dept. to develop a security package pertaining to water. The main concern is the two storage tanks.
· Bids are due today for fencing. We plan to seal off a large portion of the campus during remediation and demolition. There will probably be complaints from the public but there is tremendous liability.
· The driveway to the security/management building will be paved by the town public works crew, hopefully by the end of June.
· O&G has been selected as the project management firm. A contract is being reviewed.
· The Master Gardner Program is expected to submit plans for a landscaping model for the security/management building and the gate areas.
· The security subcommittee has met with the Tercentennial Planning Committee and resolved issues about the celebration on 8/6. There will be limited parking on the campus. Attendees must park at one of the schools and be bussed to the campus.
· The committee has recommended to the First Selectman for assistance to be able to enter into discussions with parties interested in leasing property. Mr. Rosenthal will be passing that on to the Board of Selectmen for action.
· The first phase of remediation will be abatement of asbestos and lead paint in the buildings, followed by excavation of contaminated soil around the foundations of the buildings and then demolition.
Transfer – Highway
Selectman Brimmer moved to transfer FROM Account 01510-4064 Overlay $52,000 AND FROM Account 01510-2033 Chains & Blades $6,000 AND FROM Account 01510-1003 Winter Overtime $5,500 TO Account 01500-2016 Equipment Fuel $63,500. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Appointments/Reappointments
Selectman Brimmer moved to reappoint the eight members of the Ad Hoc Fairfield Hills Management Committee as outlined on attachment for a term to expire on 06/07/06 or until they are replaced by the appointment of a Fairfield Hills Authority. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
June 2005 Tax Refunds
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve June 2005 Tax Refunds in the amount of $61,097.60. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Legal Matters
First Selectman Rosenthal distributed copies of the newly renegotiated Public Works Union contract for the other two Selectmen to look over. This will be on the next agenda for action.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Attachment B: Appointments/Reappointments
BOARD OF SELECTMEN – 06/06/05 Meeting
Reappointments
Ad Hoc Fairfield Hills Management Committee
Amy Dent, 10 Country Squire Road, SH 06/08/05 – 06/07/06
Robert A. Geckle, Sr., 35 Queen Street 06/08/05 – 06/07/06
William J. Lavery, 3 Franklin Court 06/08/05 – 06/07/06
John R. Reed, 63 Main Street 06/08/05 – 06/07/06
Moira B. Rodgers, 208 Hattertown Road 06/08/05 – 06/07/06
Donald T. Studley, 49 Hundred Acres Road 06/08/05 – 06/07/06
Richard L. Sturdevant, 6 Westwood Terrace 06/08/05 – 06/07/06
Andrew Willie, 51 Butterfield Road 06/08/05 – 06/07/06
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