THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, June 7, 2010 in the Council Chambers, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown, CT. First Selectman Llodra called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.
PRESENT: First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra, Selectman William F.L. Rodgers and Selectman William F. Furrier.
ALSO PRESENT: Public Works Director Fred Hurley, Deputy Director of Land Use Rob Sibley, Technology & GIS Director Scott Sharlow, Director of Building and Grounds Gino Faiella, four members of the public and two members of the press.
VOTER COMMENTS: Barbara O’Connor, Little Brook Lane asked the board members to please lean into the microphones.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Selectman Rodgers moved to approve the minutes of the Special Board of Selectman meeting of May 24, 2010 as amended. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor. Selectman Furrier moved to approve the minutes of May 17, 2010. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor.
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Llodra presented two items of communications from the pension committee, the first asks for approval on the rate of return on investments from 8% to 7.75% (Att. A). The second asks for a recommendation to increase the equity portion of the portfolio to no more than 10% in commodity mutual funds (Att. B). She suggested meeting with the pension committee to discuss these two items prior to a Board of Selectmen meeting. There was also communication from the Land Use Agency regarding the preliminary stages of updating the Plan of Conservation and Development (Att. C). First Selectman Llodra asked the board to review for further discussion over the next couple of months. An update of appointments made through May 10, 2010 was handed out.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Discussion and possible action:
1. Senior Center Fees: item will be continued to be carried as a reminder that this is work that has to
be done. Not discussed.
2. Legislative Council Ad Hoc Facilities Committee request to the BOS & BOE: Mr. Bob Merola
explained that he met with Mr. Hurley and Mr. Faiella earlier this year to collect data on both municipal
and school buildings with the hope of having it in a data base allowing the town to better manage maintenance and strategic planning (Att. D). Once the data is collected the hope is to have it input into a database to report more effectively. First Selectman Llodra said the Legislative Council Facilities subcommittee hoped that there would be clear work order tracking, electronic record for better decision making. Mr. Sharlow reported that the work order system contract has been terminated after ten months because of the company’s inability to address the number of software bugs. This is being readdressed with renewed vigor. The benefit of a work order system, from an IT prospective, would integrate the work orders and the permit system with the GIS system, reducing costs. Mr.
Faiella said that this can be used on major building projects. Mr. Sharlow said not having integrated payroll may be a problem in terms of figuring the cost. Selectman Rodgers asked that once this is available that there is follow through to make sure it is used by boards and department heads.
3. Policy, Vending Permits: First Selectman Llodra noted additions to the vending permits: the vehicle registration number, model, color and state of car registration, if the vendor is selling for a company, the address of the company and the expiration date of the vending license. Background checks will apply to everybody. Selectman Rodgers moved to ratify and republish the vending policy as previously brought before the Board of Selectmen and as supplemented further by proposed license and applications tendered to us tonight (Att. E). Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion and possible action:
1. Facilities Assessment: This was covered in item #2 unfinished business.
2. Appointments: Selectman Rodgers moved the appointment of Maureen Will and Donna Culbert as Deputy Director of Emergency Management for a term to end 01/06/13. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor. Selectman Furrier moved the appointment of the following Lake Lillinonah Marine Patrol Officers for the 2010 Season: Tony Augustine, Kevin A. Brooks, John G. Puglisi, Christopher Rosado, Kevin J. Seeley, Douglas N. Vane and Jameson A. Zaloski. Selectman Rodgers seconded and asked if any are auxiliary police officers. That is not known. All in favor. Selectman Rodgers moved the appointment of Ron Wilcox, from an alternate member, to a full member of the Board of Ethics with a term to expire 01/06/14, the appointment of George Schmidt to the
Board of Ethics for a term to expire 01/06/14 and the appointment of Janice Butler as an alternate member of the Board of Ethics to expire 01/06/12. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor. First Selectman Llodra announced that appointments for the Fairfield Hills Authority and Conservation will be made on July 6. There is a vacancy on the Economic Development Commission for a republican or an unaffiliated voter, there is a vacancy on the Fairfield Hills Authority for a democrat or an unaffiliated voter and there is a vacancy on the Commission on Aging for a republican or an unaffiliated voter. The last date to submit interest is July 6 with appointments made July 19.
3. Invasive Species Control Grant: Mr. Sibley reported the Land Use Agency applied for and received notification that they had been awarded an Invasive Plant Species Control Grant from the DEP. The plant that they will be working with is the Mile a Minute. Mr. Sibley will email mapping of invasive species. Selectman Rodgers moved to authorize First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra to enter and sign contracts with CT Department of Environmental Protection to obtain an “Invasive Species Control Grant”. Further move to authorize the First Selectman to enter into and sign contracts on behalf of the Town of Newtown pursuant to this grant. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
4. Animal Control Facility: First Selectman Llodra noted that the State of CT is interested in giving a parcel of land to Newtown. The results of soil testing show no indication of contaminates in the soil. The state requires four seasons of testing, we have gone through two. The decision to accept the property ultimately belongs to the Legislative Council. Selectman Rodgers moved the transfer of property located on Old Farm Road, L37-3-15 and the construction of an animal control facility located on that property as shown on plan dated 2/17/09. (Att. F). Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
5. Newtown Affirmative Action Plan: Selectman Furrier moved to accept the Newtown Affirmative Action Plan, revised 2010. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor.
6. Memorandum of Understanding: Selectman Furrier moved to accept the Memorandum of Understanding between the CT Department of Public Safety and the Town of Newtown regarding Regional Emergency Telecommunications Centers and to authorize the First Selectman to sign and enter into the agreement. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor.
7. Newtown Youth Academy/Food Service: First Selectman Llodra said the Board of Selectmen have the authority to approve modifications of the lease. This modification is minor and doesn’t change the content of the lease in any way. Selectman Rodgers moved to approve a lease modification set up by Newtown Youth Academy pursuant to Section 6.1 of the lease between the Town of Newtown and the Newtown Youth Academy and grant permission to license a concession facility. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
8. Resolution: Selectman Furrier moved to waive the reading of the entire resolution. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor. Selectman Furrier moved the Resolution Providing For A Special Appropriation In The Amount Of $4,257,690 For Roof Replacement At Newtown Middle School And Authorizing The Issuance Of $4,257,690 Bonds Of The Town To Meet Said Appropriation And Pending The Issuance Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose. (Att. G) Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor.
9. Set the Time & Date of Special Town Meeting: Selectman Rodgers moved to set Monday, June 21, 2010 at 7:00PM as a Special Town Meeting to consider and act upon two resolutions:
a.) Resolution Providing For A Special Appropriation In The Amount Of $4,257,690 For Roof Replacement At Newtown Middle School And Authorizing The Issuance Of $4,257,690 Bonds Of The Town To Meet Said Appropriation And Pending The Issuance Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose. and
b.) Resolution With Respect To The Close-Out Of Various Capital Projects And Reducing The Appropriations And Authorized And Unissued Amounts For Such Projects. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
10. Transfers: Selectman Furrier moved to approve the $3,000 transfer from 01260-2011 Services and Supplies to 01270-2001 Medical Benefits. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor. Selectman Furrier moved to approve the $25,000 transfer from 01570-2000 Contingency to 01500-3050 Highway Repairs. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor.
11. Mutual Aid Agreement: Selectman Rodgers moved to approve the Mutual Aid Agreement for Emergency Response and Recovery Activities within the Housatonic Valley Region and authorize the First Selectman to sign as such on behalf of the Town of Newtown. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
12. Tax Appeals: Selectman Furrier moved that the Town of Newtown defend itself in the action of Connecticut National Bank (Trustee for Otto Heise) vs. Town of Newtown and Newtown Board of Assessment Appeals. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor. Selectman Furrier moved that the Town of Newtown defend itself in the action of Helen M. Brickfield vs. Town of Newtown and Newtown Board of Assessment Appeals. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor. Selectman Furrier moved that the Town of Newtown defend itself in the action of Alisa Farley, 6 Pond View Drive Trust, and Nancy Carreira vs. Town of Newtown and Newtown Board of Assessment Appeals. First Selectman Llodra seconded. Motion passed (Yes: Furrier, Llodra) (Abstain:
Rodgers).
13. Tax Abatement: Selectman Rodgers moved to approve the Tax Abatements submitted by the Office of the Tax Collector for June 2010 in the amount of $101,788.86. Selectman Furrier seconded. Selectman Rodgers rescinded the motion. Selectman Furrier moved to approve the Tax Abatements submitted by the Office of the Tax Collector for June 2010 in the amount of $101,788.86. First Selectman Llodra seconded. Motion passed (Yes: Furrier, Llodra) (Abstain: Rodgers).
14. Tax Refunds: Selectman Rodgers moved to approve the Tax Refunds #15, June 2010, as submitted by the Town of Newtown Tax Office in the amount of $5,954.92. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
15. Driveway Bond Release: Selectman Rodgers moved to release the driveway bond in the amount of $1,000 for Tim Dent, 57 Philo Curtis Road. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: none
VOTER COMMENT: none.
ADJOURNMENT: Having no further business, the Board of Selectmen adjourned their regular meeting at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
____________________________
Susan Marcinek, Clerk
Att. A & B: Pension recommendations
Att. C: Land Use POCD
Att. D: Facilities Assessment Handout
Att. E: Vending Policy additions
Att. F: Animal Control Facility referral document
Att. G: Middle School Roof Resolution
Att. H: Close out Resolution
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