MINUTES
ANNUAL MEETING
Thursday, December 19, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.
Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room
302 Main Street
Vice Chairman Diane Aldi DePaola called the Annual Meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.
Members Present
Diane Aldi DePaola
Jeffrey Meotti~
Mary Kennedy
Eugene Creighton
Donald Brigham
Richard Peters
Members Absent
Randi Bradbury
Staff Present
William Smith, Recording Clerk
D. Aldi DePaola gave an update on the HDC informational brochure, which is for new people in the area and those visiting town. She has met with Christine Nelson, Old Saybrook Town Planner, about this. They have scanned it and typed it up on the computer. D. Aldi DePaola will continue formatting the brochure this winter, with pictures to come in the spring.
D. Aldi DePaola requested an update on the signs that are planned for either end of the district to identify its location. Eugene Creighton has no new information.
- Certified Local Government
A discussion was held on whether resumes were still needed to become a Certified Local Government.
Guardrails
The majority of this meeting focused on what to do about making the guardrail less of an eyesore.
J. Meotti learned that you cannot use wood to cover up guardrails because the town becomes liable for any additional damage caused by splintering wood in the event of a crash. Commissioners need to ensure that the solution meets DOT standards.
J. Meotti suggested the use of some kind of plant, such as ivy, be used as cover. This is referred to as “Softscape”. He feels softscape will be the only solution that will get anywhere on this issue.
E. Creighton queried whether if salt on the road would be a factor.
Richard Peters responded that the guardrail is recessed far enough back from the pavement that it shouldn’t be.
J. Meotti has some pictures he took to a nursery. They gave useful suggestions, such as Rosa Bergosa, as a hardy plant.
In addition to improving the look of the guardrail, the right kind of plant will also deflect headlight lamp from the resident of the house nearby, J. Meotti. He suggested something three or four feet high would be sufficient.
D. Aldi DePaola recalls that they did try to plant them once, but no one watered them.
R. Peters cautioned against using up too much depth since it is also parking for the clothesline.
J. Meotti suggests googling guardrail landscaping to find additional ideas.
R. Peters volunteered to will help water the plantings. J. Meotti mentioned that the area is too far from a hose, which is why they will need some watering cans or containers to use.
J. Meotti priced it at roughly $1000 and added that the greenhouse offered to give 25% off since it is for the town.
D. Aldi DePaola asked what the next steps are to bring this project forward. M. Kennedy said someone will need to bring estimates in and pass them on to Carl Fortuna, First Selectman.
D. Aldi DePaola will check with Randi Bradbury, HDC Chair.
D. Aldi DePaola suggested that this could be a good project for a grant as a Certified Local Government.
D. Aldi DePaola will plan on looking into where the funds will come from, whether it is from Public Works, the HDC budget or some other source.
J. Meotti noted that planting should be done early spring to get the best results.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
There was no new business this evening.
V. REGULAR BUSINESS
A. Minutes (May 16, 2013)
MOTION: to approve the minutes of May 16, 2013 as presented; MOVED: E. Creighton; SECONDED: M. Kennedy; IN FAVOR: D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, R. Peters, D Brigham; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
B. Correspondence
The only correspondence received since the last meeting was the resignation of Mark Carruthers, who was a Regular Member. This creates an opening for someone to fill this position. D. Aldi DePaola asked if one of the alternates would qualify and R. Peters does. D. Aldi DePaola informed him he will need to write a letter to the appropriate people to make it official.
If R. Peters moves to Member from his current position as Alternate Member, this will create a vacancy there. It was requested that Commissioners bring forward suggestions for another alternate to fill this spot. R. Peters may know someone who could qualify and be interested. He will follow up.
C. 2014 Meeting Calendar
MOTION: to accept the 2014 Historic District Commission meeting calendar as presented. MOVED: M. Kennedy; SECONDED: E. Creighton; IN FAVOR: D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, R. Peters, D Brigham; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
D. Election of Officers
MOTION: to re-elect existing officer Randi Bradbury as Chair, MOVED: D. Aldi DePaola; SECONDED: J. Meotti; IN FAVOR: D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, R. Peters, D Brigham; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
MOTION: to re-elect existing officer Diane Aldi DePaola as Vice Chair, MOVED: M. Kennedy; SECONDED: E. Creighton; IN FAVOR: D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, R. Peters, D Brigham; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
MOTION: to re-elect existing officer Jeffrey Meotti as Secretary, MOVED: D. Aldi DePaola; SECONDED: M. Kennedy; IN FAVOR: D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, R. Peters, D Brigham; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
E. Committee, Representative & Staff Reports
There were no reports.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: to adjourn the meeting at 7:51 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, January 16, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall, 2nd Floor Conference Room; MOVED: M. Kennedy; SECONDED: J. Meotti; IN FAVOR: D. Aldi DePaola, J. Meotti, M. Kennedy, E. Creighton, R. Peters, D Brigham; OPPOSED: none; ABSTAINED: none; APPROVED: 6-0-0.
Respectfully Submitted,
William Smith
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