THESE MINUTES ARE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
The Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on Monday, October 18, 2010 in the Council Chambers,
3 Primrose Street, Newtown. First Selectman Llodra called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
PRESENT: First Selectman E. Patricia Llodra, Selectman William F.L. Rodgers, Selectman William F. Furrier.
ALSO PRESENT: Finance Director Robert Tait, Public Works Director Fred Hurley, seven members of the public and two members of the press.
VOTER COMMENTS: Barbara O’Connor, Little Brook Lane, Sandy Hook asked that the Board speak into the microphones and annunciate clearly.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: Selectman Furrier moved to approve the minutes of the Board of Selectman meeting of October 4, 2010 as presented. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor.
COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Llodra shared a press release relative to the Valley Council of Governments, the organization that has been a terrific partner, particularly when it comes to getting grants for brownfields work. Dennis Kyle has resigned his position as an alternate on the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee. The board had predetermined that if there was a vacancy in the alternate position it would not be replaced. First Selectman Llodra shared the updated list of appointments made during this administration.
FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT: Mr. Tait shared the Town of Newtown project status summary report (Att. A). It is a work in progress and the detail sheets will be revised into two sheets. First Selectman Llodra said the report was originally at the request of the Legislative Council but was shared with the Board of Finance also.
First Selectman Llodra announced that the board will go into a non-meeting after executive session to discuss negotiations.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
Discussion and possible action:
1. Town of Newtown Employee Handbook, Non-Union: Selectman Rodgers noted the repeated care put into the language relative to the nature of employment. Despite that care he suggested deleting the word “permanent” on page 8 under the categories of employment, saying just full time employee would suffice. First Selectman Llodra said she will pass those changes onto town council as a recommendation of modification.
2. Use of Municipal Space: item to be carried.
3. Implementation Plan – Plan of Conservation and Development: ongoing item to be carried.
NEW BUSINESS:
Discussion and possible action:
1. HEARTSafe Community Designation: Dr. Grossman, Chairman of the Health District, stated Newtown has been designated a HEARTSafe community. Health Director Donna Culbert has been doing a lot to instruct, inform and educate people, schools and other institutions on how to stay healthy and to care for issues that develop from heart problems. Ms. Culbert has been instrumental in getting defibrillators around town. This is a continuing program. He explained the heart association has recently changed the way to do CPR, doing the compression first, check airway and breathe.
2. Driveway Bond Release: Selectman Rodgers moved the driveway bond release for Gordon Anderson, Butternut Ridge, M5, B13, L18 in the amount of $1,000 as recommended by the Town Engineer. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
3. Appointments: Selectman Rodgers moved the appointment of Tom Murtha to the Economic Development Commission for a term to expire 01/06/12. Selectman Furrier seconded. Mr. Rodgers asked if there was a prohibition against being on two appointed boards; First Selectman Llodra confirmed there was not. All in favor. Selectman Furrier moved the appointment of Joseph Tarshis to the Economic Development for a term to expire 01/06/13. Selectman Rodgers seconded. All in favor.
4. Sustainable Energy discussion on collaboration: Chairman Dan Holmes and Desiree Galassi were present. Mr. Holmes said he would like to reach out to the community and other boards and commissions to put together an energy action plan for the town; a comprehensive plan of action for conservation and potentially for CIP projects. He feels it is an important topic for the town in terms of saving money and reducing our carbon footprint. He would like to maximize efforts with a working group comprised of people from various boards and committees. Ms. Galassi said she is encouraged that Oxford is replacing their Middle School roof with a steel and solar option. The town voted for the option even though it was more expensive because there was an 8% savings on energy costs. The hope is
that there is a serious discussion between the Public Building & Site Commission, Board of Education and the Board of Finance on what can be done for the Town of Newtown. Ms. Galassi said she believed the original bond for the Oxford roof was $1.8 million but was reduced to $750,000 with a grant from CT Clean Energy and a reimbursement from the state. First Selectman Llodra encouraged the Sustainable Energy Commission to keep moving in the direction of interacting with every activity in the community. Selectman Rodgers suggested getting a foot in the door with the CIP process. First Selectman Llodra said a reference to alternative sources of energy to support a project can be put on the project summary report that Mr. Tait spoke during his Finance Directors Report. Selectman Furrier said a pay back period should be included.
5. Information relative to Litchfield Hall and Trades Lane: First Selectman said that it is her understanding that some projects are supervised by Public Building & Site and some are not because maintenance projects typically would not come under the purview of the PB≻ there is also a dollar value that is taken into consideration. This is why the Trades Lane project wasn’t supervised by PB&SC. Selectman Furrier said he thought it would be big enough and referred to the charter that states it’s our obligation. First Selectman Llodra said it was the interpretation of the prior Council that referral to PB&SC was optional. First Selectman Llodra noted that what’s relevant to our activity is that we have consistently referred projects to the Public
Building & Site Commission and have no intention not to. First Selectman Llodra reported that Litchfield Hall was slated to be demolished and the bonding was collapsed into a $1,000,000 bond that was to cover the design of the Community Center and the demolition of Litchfield Hall. Mr. Hurley said that asbestos has been found in waterproofing material around the windows. This problem has not been encountered in the other buildings, so it was not anticipated. Because the exterior walls are also load bearing walls the removal and extraction is much more a delicate process. Because this wasn’t identified in the specs, as it was not anticipated, the town is responsible to bear the expense. First Selectman Llodra stated there will be a meeting on Wednesday to determine the next best course of action.
VOTER COMMENT: Barbara O’Connor, Little Brook Lane, Sandy Hook stated that she still had a hard time hearing the board members. She has misgivings about putting anything about Sustainable Energy in the charter.
6. Executive Session: Selectman Rodgers moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing pending claims and litigation. Nobody was invited to attend. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor. Executive session was entered into at 8:32pm and returned to regular session at 8:35pm with the following motion: Selectman Rodgers moved the First Selectman authorize the Town Attorney to defend the Town in the case of Cherrine Short vs. Jason Rivera and the Town of Newtown. Selectman Furrier seconded. All in favor.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: none
ADJOURNMENT: Having no further business, the Board of Selectmen adjourned their regular meeting at
8:36 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
____________________________
Susan Marcinek, Clerk
Att. A: Town Project Status Summary Report
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