The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, July 2, 2007 in the meeting room at the C. H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown, CT. First Selectman Rosenthal called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
PRESENT: First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal, Selectman Joseph Bojnowski, Selectman William Brimmer
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Ben Spragg, Town Engineer Ron Bolmer, one member of public, one member of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION: None at this time
COMMUNICATIONS: None
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Upon motion by Selectman Brimmer, the minutes of the 5/21/07, 5/25/07, 6/05/07 and 6/12/07 meetings were unanimously accepted as presented.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS
Road Acceptance, Nighthawk Lane, “Berkshire Woods” Subdivision
Selectman Bojnowski moved to accept Night Hawk Lane, “Berkshire Woods” Subdivision into the Town Highway System and to set the maintenance bond in the amount of $25,300.00 to be held by the Town for a period of one year. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Maintenance Bond Release, Road & Drainage Work Agreement, Old Hawleyville Road, “Meridian Ridge” Subdivision
Selectman Brimmer moved to release the maintenance bond, Road & Drainage Work Agreement, Old Hawleyville Road, “Meridian Ridge” Subdivision in the amount of $13,040.00, upon recommendation of the Town Engineer. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve the release of one driveway bond and approved a six month extension for one driveway bond as outlined on Attachment A. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Appointments
First Selectman Rosenthal moved to appoint (R) Mitchell Bolinsky, 3 Wiley Lane as a member of the Economic Development Commission to fill a vacancy for a term to expire on January 6, 2010. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
VOTER PARTICIPATION: Ms. Elizabeth Lincoln, 34 Echo Valley Road, spoke regarding the Queen Street Area Traffic Study. She attended the presentations and feels that problems should be addressed by enforcement and drivers being courteous. She feels that most people there felt in agreement with that as well. She believes that people knew when they bought houses on Queen Street that it was a main artery and she objects to $2 million going to correct a situation that could be corrected with courtesy, although she feels sidewalks are a good idea.
She is also upset by the letters she reads in “The Bee”. People are always trying to find fault and litigate. She has never felt that any member of this board was “arrogant” or had anything but the town’s best interest in mind. “Don’t let the atmosphere in town discourage you from doing the job”. She was also disappointed at the Town Meeting (in 2001) when there was not more discussion about Fairfield Hills and the Town Hall and has now learned that Ms. Po Murray is the one who called the question and cut off discussion. She went to that meeting thinking she was going to learn more and cutting off discussion should not have been allowed, although she realizes that it was voted to call the question.
First Selectman Rosenthal pointed out that most of the cost of the Queen Street Area Traffic Study being recommended was for sidewalks, plus the issues around the flagpole could be costly. These recommendations would have been funded by federal and state funds, not town tax funds, although we all pay those taxes as well. The Police Commission needs to make recommendations before it comes back to the Board of Selectmen.
Legal Matters/Property Acquisition
Selectman Brimmer moved to enter executive session to discuss legal matters and one possible property purchase and to invite the Finance Director and Clerk to attend. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
The meeting entered executive session at 6:00 pm and returned to open session at 6:10 pm at which time the meeting was adjourned.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Driveway Bond Releases/Extensions
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