The Board of Selectmen held a special meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 in the Boardroom at the C. H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown. First Selectman Rosenthal called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
PRESENT: First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal, Selectman William Brimmer
ABSENT: Selectman Joseph Bojnowski
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Ben Spragg; Town Engineer Ron Bolmer, Legislative Council member Dan Amaral, Library Board Treasurer Kelly Urso, two members of public, two members of press
Selectman Bojnowski had a last-minute out of state business trip and was unable to attend.
VOTER PARTICIPATION: None present
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Rosenthal advised that he attended a press conference with other elected officials to try to urge the Governor and legislators to reopen the second year of the bi-ennial budget in light of the surplus and to give more money to the municipalities. Towns’ shares of the state budget are shrinking while local budgets are increasing. Newtown will be losing $450,000 in state money from the current year.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Brimmer, the minutes of the 1/17/06, 1/24/06, 1/25/06 and 1/26/06 minutes were unanimously accepted as presented.
NEW BUSINESS
Fire Suppression Tank Bond Release, Rooster Ridge Road, “Rooster Ridge” Subdivision
Selectman Brimmer moved to release the fire suppression tank bond in the amount of $30,000 for Rooster Ridge Road, “Rooster Ridge” Subdivision. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Maintenance Bond Release, Road & Drainage Work Agreement, The Old Road, “Currituck Heights” Subdivision
Selectman Brimmer moved to release the maintenance bond in the amount of $2,000 for Road & Drainage Work Agremenent, The Old Road, “Currituck Heights” Subdivision. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Maintenance Bond Release, Road & Drainage Work Agreement, Dayton Street, Walnut Tree Village II
Selectman Brimmer moved to release the maintenance bond for Road & Drainage Work Agreement, Dayton Street, Walnut Tree Village II. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Selectman Brimmer moved to release two driveway bonds and approve a six month extension for two driveway bonds as outlined on attachment. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Fairfield Hills Update – This will be taken up at a future meeting.
Transfer
Selectman Brimmer moved to transfer FROM Account 01570-2000 Contingency $50,000 TO Account 01510-2032 Salt $50,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
The use of treated salt is reducing sand usage but has required more expenditure from the salt account.
Resolution – Grant for Open Space
Selectman Brimmer moved the following: RESOLVED, that Herbert C. Rosenthal, First Selectman of the Town of Newtown, be and hereby is authorized to execute on behalf of the Town of Newtown a Grant Agreement and Conservation and Public Recreation Easement and Agreement under the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program with the State of Connecticut for financial assistance to acquire permanent interest in land known as Laurel Trail OSWA-283 and to manage said land as open space land pursuant to Section 7-131d of the Connecticut General Statutes. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Appointments
Selectman Brimmer moved to appoint (R) Michell S. Bolinsky, 3 Wiley Lane, Newtown as a member of the Board of Ethics for a term to expire on January 6, 2010. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
2006/2007 Proposed Budget
ACCOUNT 105 SELECTMEN OTHER
Selectmen Brimmer moved Account 105 Selectmen Other in the amount of $1,012,523. Motion seconded.
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend by reducing line item 105-2013 Non-recurring by $100,400. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. This reduction is $50,000 from the revaluation; $18,000 for the PD Interface; $28,750 for the Town Hall Telephone System; and $3,650 for the EDC desk, chair and computer.
Selectman Brimmer moved to reduce line item 105-3051 Repair and Maintenance by $30,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. This reduction is for changing the hiring of a technology support specialist to mid year.
MAIN MOTION AS AMENDED ($882,123) UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED
ACCOUNT 310 POLICE
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend the Police Account by reducing line item 310-5002 Patrol Cars by $54,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. This reduction removes two of the requested patrol vehicles, leaving three vehicles.
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend the Police Account by reducing line item 310-4062 Capital by $23,575. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. This reduction removes the CCTV replacement system.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 310 Police in the amount of $3,414,980. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 330 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend Account 330 Emergency Management by reducing line item 330-5080 Capital by $4,533. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. This item may be eligible for a grant.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 330 Emergency Management in the amount of $20,068. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 580 DEBT SERVICE
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend Account 580 Debt Service by reducing Principal to $5,617,809 and reducing Interest to $2,737,038 for a Total Debt Service in the amount of $8,364,847. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
ACCOUNT 500 PUBLIC WORKS
Selectman Brimmer moved to amend Account 600 Public Works by decreasing line item 500-5081 Capital Roads to $1,900,000 and reducing line item 500-4064 Overlays to $334,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Brimmer moved Account 500 Public Works in the amount of $5,898,768. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
MISCELLANEOUS SALARY ADJUSTMENTS
Selectman Brimmer moved to adjust Building Department and Land Use Agency Salary Accounts by reducing by $2,066. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. These are corrections made by the Finance Director for salaries.
TOTAL SELECTMEN BUDGET
Selectman Brimmer moved a Total 2006/2007 Selectmen Budget in the amount of $35,433,352. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Legal Matters
Selectman Brimmer moved to enter executive session to discuss a legal matter and to invite the clerk to attend. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
The Meeting entered executive session at 6:30 p.m. and returned to open session at 6:35 p.m.
Selectman Brimmer moved to authorize legal defense in the matter of Kevin Fitzgerald vs. Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
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