The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, July 16, 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 William Brimmer
ABSENT: Selectman Joseph Bojnowski (away on business)
ALSO PRESENT: three members of public, one member of press
VOTER PARTICIPATION: None
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Rosenthal received a communication outlining a “Clean Energy Challenge” between the cities of New Haven and West Hartford. The challenge was a bet to see which city could sign-up the most customers to the CTCleanEnergyOptions program by Earth Day 2006. The Town of Ridgefield would be interested in doing something similar between their town and Newtown and any other interested towns.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
ADD TO AGENDA: Selectman Brimmer moved to ADD an item to the agenda – to Call a Special Town Meeting. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
The Legislative Council approved the sale of the .58 acre parcel of land on Commerce Road. The primary interested party is TUV Rheinland and since the parcel is not a building lot it can only be sold legally to an adjoining neighbor. This must now go to Town Meeting approval and if approved, then a sealed bid. First Selectman Rosenthal also advised that the Legislative Council put a contingency on the approval that the funds from the sale of this property go to a trust fund or if that is not legitimate, then the open space fund. The purpose of the plan was that any land sold in that tech park area would be used to develop the infrastructure for the tech park. The Town Attorney has given his legal opinion to the Council that if we create a trust
fund, you cannot put public money into it. The license agreement with TUV Rheinland expires in August so we need to go to the Town Meeting for approval to sell the land at this point.
Selectman Brimmer moved to hold a Town Meeting on Monday, August 6, 2007 at 7:00 pm at the C. H. Booth Library and to publish the notice in the form attached to the minutes. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Presentation by Community Energy, Inc.
Ms. Kathy Quinn of Community Energy, Inc., and a Newtown resident, was present to give a presentation on “clean” energy. The Town of Newtown has committed to purchase 20% of their electricity from clean, renewable energy by 2010. As part of the Clean Energy Communities Program, the town needs to sign up local residents and businesses to the clean energy options being offered to CL&P customers. So far, we have qualified to receive one solar panel as a result of Curtis Packaging going 100% wind power. Ms. Quinn advised that the town (schools, town buildings, sewer treatment plant) is currently using approximately 9,200,000 kWh annually. She would like to encourage the town to consider going with Community Energy and gave some clean energy options pricing. The town
could receive additional benefits if residents are encouraged to sign up for clean energy as well. Mr. David Stout, 9 Grand Place, stated that he works for Alliance Energy Solutions and was involved with installing energy efficient lighting in the police department and the high school. He would be interested in serving on a Task Force.
Formation of Energy Task Force
Selectman Brimmer moved to form an Energy Task Force and to appoint four members as outlined on attachment. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
More members will be appointed as volunteers come forward to serve on this Task Force. In addition, Selectman Brimmer agreed that we should participate in a “Clean Energy Challenge” with Ridgefield and possibly other towns.
Appointments
Selectman Brimmer moved appointments as outlined on attachment to minutes. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Driveway Bonds
Selectman Brimmer moved to approve the release of one driveway bond as outlined on attachment to minutes. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Correction of Road Name – Nighthawk Lane
At the last meeting, the Board of Selectmen accepted this road into the Highway System, however, it was accepted as “Night Hawk” Lane and the maps on file show the name as one word.
Selectman Brimmer moved to correct the name of the road from “Night Hawk” Lane to “Nighthawk” Lane. Motion seconded and unanimously carried.
Having no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Jan Andras, Clerk
Attachment A: Call of Special Town Meeting
Attachment B: Appointments
Attachment C: Driveway Bond Release
TOWN OF NEWTOWN
NOTICE OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
Electors and citizens qualified to vote at Town Meetings of the Town of Newtown are hereby duly notified and warned that a Special Town Meeting of the Town of Newtown will be held on Monday, August 6, 2007 at 7:00 o’clock p.m. (E.D.T.) at the C. H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown, CT for the following purposes:
1. To discuss and vote upon the following resolution as recommended by the Newtown Legislative Council: RESOLVED, that a parcel of land in the rear of Commerce Road and more particularly described as Parcel A on a certain map entitled “Site Plan Depicting Proposed Addition Assessor’s Map 38, Block 1, Lot 18, 12 Commerce Road, Newtown, Connecticut, Prepared for TUV Rheinland” dated March 21, 2007, scale 1? = 20' be conveyed by sealed bid to the highest responsible bidder who owns an abutting parcel which has access to Commerce Road. The parcel shall be sold for not less than $69,478.
2. To transact any other business proper to come before the meeting.
A copy of said map is on file and open to public inspection at the Office of the Town Clerk.
Dated at Newtown, Connecticut, this Sixteenth Day of July, 2007.
A Majority of the Board of Selectmen
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Herbert C. Rosenthal, First Selectman
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Joseph Bojnowski, Selectman
BOARD OF SELECTMEN – July 16, 2007 Meeting
APPOINTMENTS
Public Building & Site Commission - Alternate
(U) Robert Mitchell, 71 Osborne Hill Road 01/06/09
Ad Hoc Energy Task Force
Ted Kreinek, 3 Cadey Lane
Kathleen Quinn, 17 Scudder Road
Terence Ford, 45 Toddy Hill Road
David Stout, 9 Grand Place
Ad Hoc Long Range Strategic Planning Committee
Michael Floros, 32 Queen Street
Peter Marshal, 6 Sturges Road
Anna Wiedemann, 13 Clearview Drive
Kathryn, Fetchick, 18 Clapboard Ridge Road
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