The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, August 18, 2008 in the meeting room oat the C.H. Booth Library, Main Street, Newtown, CT. First Selectman Borst called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: First Selectman Joseph Borst, Selectman Paul Mangiafico, Selectman Herbert Rosenthal
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Robert Tait, Town Attorney David Grogins, Attorney Monte Frank, Town Engineer Ron Bolmer, Public Works Director Fred Hurley, Health Director Donna Culbert, Registrar Lereine Frampton, John Kortze, Pat Llodra, Harry Waterbury, fifteen members of the public and two members of the press
VOTER COMMENTS: Barbara O’Connor of 36 Little Brook Lane, Newtown, CT, 06470 asked Mr. Borst to periodically remind Town employees to be pleasant and civil to tax payers that pay their salaries. “Smile instead of a scowl”. Mr. Borst stated that he speaks to the Department heads every month and expects the employees to treat the residents as customers and to treat them properly.
Ruby Johnson of 16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook, CT 06482 expressed frustration with the assisted hearing device stating we are still not in compliance. She asked the Board to consider taking money left over from the schools budget to fix the schools assisted hearing devices. She asked them to move “post haste” to get this done. $1,000,000 bond issue: “Be considerate of the tax payers; what is it we can afford?” Mr. Rosenthal responded that Town has not ignored the issue with the assisted hearing devices; on the contrary, Mrs. Johnson was appointed to a committee and chose a device that was brought to every meeting it was requested for. Mr. Mangiafico also expressed frustration and would like the problem resolved. Mr. Borst commented that he has been in touch with
Elanah Sherman, at the State and has received the Type II guide book and will be actively pursuing this problem. Mr. Rosenthal agrees there should be something done to correct the problem but wanted to point out it isn’t something that has been ignored in the past.
Bob Merola of 22 Ashford Lane, Newtown, CT 06470 agrees the problem should be solved. The original system was tested at the Middle School, it worked there but that doesn’t mean that it would work at another school or the library. It is not a simple problem and may cost more than what the school has left over. Get the whole story about the communications of the hearing impaired and then try to solve it. If you are going to do it, do it right.
COMMUNICATIONS: Board of Education Year End Financial Reports, no comment by Board Members. Mr. Rosenthal could not elaborate on the latest HRRA meeting because it was almost entirely held in executive session regarding the transfer station in Danbury. He did say the eleven member towns are hopeful for support.
Fairfield Hills opening of bids has been extended to Friday, August 29, 2008. There were 23-30 contractors at the prebid conference. Bob Tait received a call from O & G saying a few contractors requested an extension.
Westport Resource pension item will be continued at next meeting. Westport representatives were unable to attend tonight’s meeting. Mr. Mangiafico and Mr. Rosenthal both thought it was a good idea if one of the officers from the pension committee also attends the meeting. No comments on the National League of Cities.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: The minutes of the regular meeting of August 4, 2008 were accepted with a typo noted, the date of the meeting to be accepted on the agenda is August 18, 2008, that should be August 4, 2008. Also noted was a change under Communications: David Wedge of O & G should read David Wedge of the School Building Facilities. In addition, page three, line six, the word grated should read granted.
Selectman Mangiafico moved to accept the minutes as amended. Selectman Rosenthal seconded motion. All were in favor.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. Selectman Rosenthal moved that the RESOLUTION APPROPIATING $1,000,000 FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF A PARK AND RECREATION COMMUNITY CENTER/SENIOR CENTER AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $1,000,000 BONDS OF THE TOWN TO MEET SAID APPROPRIATION AND PENDING THE ISSUANCE THEREOF THE MAKING OF TEMPORARY BORROWINGS FOR SUCH PURPOSE Mr. Rosenthal moved to waive the reading of the entire resolution. Seconded by Selectman Mangiafico. All were in favor.
Mr. Rosenthal noted the voters overwhelmingly approved this in April and it would be out of line for the Board not to support this.
2. Planimetrics Build Out Study: Mr. Rosenthal moved to add this item to the agenda, seconded by Mr. Mangiafico. All were in favor. John Kortze communicated on the report which was done to see what Newtown is going to look like in 30 years, to determine what the population would look like, what impact that would have on the municipal and educational services. The report is broken into two parts: 1.) Bruce Hoben, demographics and geography of the town, includes GIS maps. 2.) Dr. Chung, population. The report predicts 33,700 people will be in the Town of Newtown in the year 2030. Pat Llodra noted that the Town will be built out as a community by 2030, given today’s conditions. The report compares Newtown to Trumbull, a town already fully built out, that has
similar characteristics as Newtown. This report provides the basis for asking questions. Harry Waterbury was impressed with Planimetrics, each time an issue was raised, they answered it. Planimetrics was very specific about what had happened in Newtown. Mr. Rosenthal thanked the committee for their efforts.
3. AT&T VRAD Boxes: Mary Pat Healy of AT&T external affairs informed that AT&T offers an alternative to video cable service and are in 70-80 towns across the state. The VRAD (Video Ready Access Devices) boxes are four by six feet. A hearing with the DPUC says AT&T is required to provide notice to adjacent property owners and the City or Town Engineer. The interim decision states that VRAD boxes can stay if there is no safety issue. Ms. Healy stated that AT& T would like an internal meeting with the First Selectman, the Town Engineer and the Public Works Director so they can decide where they intend to build over 2008 and 2009. Mr. Mangiafico asked how many boxes are in Newtown and addressed the matter of them exploding since 2006. Ms. Healy did not know how
many boxes are in Newtown but could find out and explained that no boxes have ever exploded in Connecticut. They have exploded in Texas due to battery packs; all battery packs have been removed and replaced. Mr. Mangiafico would like Town Attorney, David Grogins to look into whether AT & T has a right to install these boxes. Mr. Rosenthal noted that boxes mounted on poles on Queen Street are at a dangerous location, overhanging the sidewalk where anybody can walk right into them. Mr. Mangiafico questioned if AT&T has the right to put these boxes in, referring to a press release from Atty. General Richard Blumenthal that states “ATT&T must follow the law requiring it to obtain property owner and municipality consent for installation of its VRAD boxes…” Ms. Healy argued that they are regulated by the DPUC and they are working through that process. Mr. Mangiafico asked the Town Attorney, David Grogins to look into
whether AT &T has a right to install these boxes and moved that Ron Bolmer, the Town Engineer, answer the letter of Aug. 12 from AT&T notifying him of plans to install, and any future letters, in the negative, pending a ruling from the Town Attorney. Mr. Rosenthal seconded.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Driveway bond releases – none noted
2. Appointment/Reappointment – none noted
3. August Tax Refunds #4
Selectman Rosenthal moved to accept the Tax Refunds in the amount of $8,288.53. Seconded by Selectman Mangiafico. All in favor.
4. Fairfield Hills Utility Contracts for Gas & Electric: Selectman Rosenthal moved to authorize the First Selectman to sign gas service installation and CL&P installation agreements. Seconded by Selectman Mangiafico. All in favor.
5. Executive Session
First Selectman Borst moved to enter executive session to discuss legal matters. Motion seconded and unanimously carried. Meeting entered executive session at 9:00 p.m. and returned to open session at 10:00 p.m.
Selectman Rosenthal moved to authorize the First Selectman to sign the release agreement with SBS relative to the Reed School. Seconded by Selectman Mangiafico. All in favor.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Discussion regarding three active reservists on the Police Department. Mr. Rosenthal would like the opinion of Fred Dorsey. Mr. Mangiafico wants to know what other towns do. This item is tabled until next meeting.
Discussion relative to scheduling of a possible Town Meeting and referendum relative to the High School contract.
ADJOURNMENT:
Having no further business, the Board of Selectman adjourned their regular meeting at 10:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Marcinek, Clerk
___________________________
Joseph E. Borst, First Selectman
Attachment A: Fairfield Hills Update Report
Attachment B: Resolution Appropriating $1,000,000
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