The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, April 3, 2006 in the meeting room 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 Joseph Bojnowski, Selectman William Brimmer
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Ben Spragg, Town Attorney David Grogins, one member of public, one member of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION: Ms. Barbara O’Connor, Littlebrook Lane, asked if anyone could be held responsible for the damage to the traffic island at Orchard Hill Road and Route 25. First Selectman Rosenthal will check with the Police Department.
COMMUNICATIONS: A letter was received from the State Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security advising that they have reviewed Newtown’s Emergency Operations Plan and it is in compliance. Commissioner Thomas also expressed his appreciation to First Selectman Rosenthal and Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Halstead, stating that this document is a clear indication of Newtown’s commitment to public safety. Mr. Rosenthal commended Chief Bill Halstead and Health Director Donna McCarthy for an excellent job.
Copies of a “Draft Charge to Ad Hoc Strategic Long Range Planning Committee” was distributed. First Selectman Rosenthal asked if the other two Selectmen felt this is something we should look at. Selectman Bojnowski and Selectmen Brimmer will look this over and it will be put on the next agenda.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Mr. Brimmer, the minutes of the 3/20/06 meeting were unanimously accepted.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – None
NEW BUSINESS
Driveway Bond Extensions
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve two driveway bond extensions as outlined on attachment. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Resolution - Batchelder
Town Attorney David Grogins was present. He reminded that three years ago, the Board of Selectmen signed an agreement with Connecticut Resource Development Corp. to act as the Town’s agent in securing federal funds for the rehabilitation of the former Batchelder smelting plant. CRDC has been working with the bankruptcy trustees, along with First Selectman Rosenthal, Attorney Grogins and Elizabeth Stocker. This has been a difficult project because the property is seriously contaminated and at one time was a Superfund site. There has been some clean-up by the EPA. Community Development Director Liz Stocker has had a number of inquiries but no one wants the property as is, requiring $2 million for clean up. The property currently has a negative value. We now have a plan to get
it cleaned up but we need to get this out of bankruptcy without the property going back to the original owner, who polluted. The Trustees have moved to have the property transferred without liens to an escrow agent, possibly a title company. We can then try to get money for a clean-up and the town could be reimbursed for our costs to date, up to $50,000. We have been using money from a SCPRIF loan which may not have to be repaid. CRDC, as a non-profit, would get any profits over and above expenses for clean-up, which they can then use only to benefit other similar properties. Hopefully, the property can generate taxes again.
Selectman Brimmer asked if there will be any cost to the town. Attorney Grogins answered that he has been working under the town legal retainer and the SCPRIF loan has covered other costs to date. He does not anticipate any costs to the town.
Selectman Brimmer moved to authorize First Selectman Herbert C. Rosenthal to sign the Agreement between the Town of Newtown and Connecticut Resource Development Corporation regarding property at 40 Swamp Road. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Resolution - Dept. of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Selectman Bojnowski moved to authorize First Selectman Herbert C. Rosenthal to sign the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the Town of Newtown pertaining to federal Homeland Security Grant funding extending the utilization of funds to September 1, 2006. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Resolution to accept Interpretive Panel – Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
Selectman Brimmer moved the following: RESOLVED that First Selectman Herbert C. Rosenthal is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an Agreement on behalf of the Town of Newtown to accept an Interpretive Panel from the Commission on Culture & Tourism as part of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Project. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Transfer – Town Clerk
Selectman Bojnowski moved to transfer FROM Account 01570-2000 Contingency $15,000 TO Account 01105-2013 Non-recurring $15,000. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
These funds are to cover the costs of creation of Code Books and electronic version of Town Code.
Tax Refunds/Abatements
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve tax abatements in the amount of $17,573.01. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Selectman Bojnowski moved to approve March 2006 Refund No. 3 in the amount of $37,052.94. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Legal Matters
Selectman Brimmer moved to enter executive session to discuss a proposed land purchase and a labor contract and to invite the Finance Director and clerk to attend. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Meeting entered executive session at 6:30 p.m. and returned to open session at 6:35 p.m. No action was taken.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:36 pm.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Driveway Bond Extensions
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