Town of Old Saybrook, CT - MInutes 9/6/2007

MInutes 9/6/2007

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Thursday, September 6, 2007

6:30 p.m.

Old Saybrook Town Hall

Main Level Conference Room

MINUTES

Board of Selectmen met in Special Session on Thursday, September 6, 2007 at 6:30 p.m., First Floor Conference Room Town Hall.

PRESENT: First Selectman Michael Pace, Selectman William Peace, Selectman Velma Thomas, Town Counsel Michael Cronin, Treasurer Robert Fish, interested citizens and the press.

I.	CALL TO ORDER – First Selectman Pace called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II.	PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Selectman Pace led those in attendance in the allegiance.
III.	COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – Resident Mathew Rubin reviewed documentation that he states lists numerous deficiencies in compliance with FOIA by the Selectmen’s office. First Selectmen Pace stated that he will have staff investigate and report back to the Board.
IV.	COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN Selectman Thomas – Sated that she is in contact with Adam Stuart of the Chamber to setup a meeting to discuss office usage. There will be a presentation to the Town Hall Restoration Building Committee concerning seating options for the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. Selectman Peace – The tree committee is preparing to plant 70 trees throughout town. Wrote a letter to Governor Rell requesting a reduction in the number/brightness of the streetlights along the long driveway to the DOT garage near the entrance to Route 9. The request was denied. An Eagle Scout candidate as part of his Eagle project has planted a butterfly garden at Saybrook Point. First Selectman Pace – Received an email stating that based on an Internet poll Old Saybrook is number three of the 10 most Popular Retirement Communities in the US. Met with Marilyn Giuliano concerning Anchorage Lane. Will be meeting with the Commissioner of DCF. Reviewed content of letter that he will send. Revaluation will be starting soon. Mosquito control is an on-going project that the town and the Health District are coordinating.
V.	APPROVAL OF MINUTES Special Board of Selectman Meeting of July 16, 2007 PEACE/THOMAS Motion to approve the minutes of the Special Board of Selectman Meeting of July 16, 2007 with the following amendments: Under the section that lists those present for the meeting, remove Suzanne Pascoe as she did not stay for the entire meeting. Under Section A of BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD, add that Suzanne Pascoe arrived at 10:00 a.m. REPLACE SEOND PARAGRAPH OF SECTION A WITH THE FOLLOWING: Tim Oppenheimer confirmed to make whole to try to change supervisory structure so this does not occur again and suggested mental anguish and stress this caused with proposed damages to equal leave with pay. Selectmen Peace questioned remove supervisor from position, asking for supervisor’s termination? Tim Oppenheimer responded, “No”, believes a different supervisory structure. Wayne Wysocki stated that the Union is certainly not asking the Board of Selectmen to terminate Larry’s employment. Selectman Peace stated that in the beginning the Union did ask for his termination. Wayne Wysocki replied, “I believe so.” Selectman Peace stated the arrangement is a contractual arrangement with the Board of Education and they have no interest in changing it. ~~and is pleased with the Agency.~~ Suzanne Pascoe responded that she was under the impression she was removed from supervisor prior to this and that Sal Bruzzese could stand in and that she received supervision from Kathy Long. Lisa Lazarek asked if there was clinical supervision at the meeting referenced and/or any allegations to clinical supervision. Suzanne Pascoe responded, “No.” Suzanne commented that Sal Bruzzese, a psychiatrist at ACE’s, would be a logical solution to the supervisory structure and is willing to change her schedule to meet with him once a week or twice a month. Selectman Thomas asks if Larry sits in on clinicals. Suzanne Pascoe responds that at times he and Linda assign cases to the staff and if feedback is needed she will go to Sal or Kathy. On Page 2 – Joanne Messner Replace the entire section with the following: 11:00AM Joanne Messner enters the meeting. Selectman Peace notes that the grievant is looking for compensation for call-in hours under Section 5.3, immediate cease of continued harassment; make employee whole and Social Services a stand alone department. Wayne Wysocki stated employee, Joanne Messner was called into work on May 5th from an ambulance call to a Town resident; the Police Department requested assistance from Youth & Family Services. Joanne Messner responded and mitigated the situation through her department and put in for 3 hours call-in. Supervisor, Larry Freundlich questioned the hours. Correspondence was then retuned to Larry with the 5.3 Call-in Policy. Wayne Wysocki will provide a copy. Selectman Peace questioned if the employee makes out the timesheet. Joanne Messner replied, “Yes.” Selectman Peace questioned if Joanne put in for overtime and Larry Freundlich changed. Joanne Messner replied that Larry asked for clarification and attached an overtime request form. Selectman Peace asks if Call-in hours happened in the past. Joanne Messner replied, “Yes.” Selectman Peace asks if she had been paid in the past. Joanne Messner replies, “Comp time.” Joanne Messner stated she had always applied for Comp Time, but Union President Wayne Wysocki informed her that she was in violation of the union contract. Selectman Thomas stated that normally compensatory time is applied for, but this time overtime (money) was. Wayne Wysocki notes that employee has the option to choose comp time. Tim Oppenheimer states that 5.3 indicates Call-in situations shall be paid 3.0 hours. Wayne stated that the Town’s position is if an employee is building up too much comp time an employee is entitled to the money. Larry Freundlich changed her overtime to comp time with no communication to the employee. Lisa Lazarek shows a copy of Joanne Messner’s timesheet indicating the overtime. Wayne Wysocki stated that Larry Freundlich continues to harass Joanne. Joanne read a note attached to the timesheet from Larry Freundlich, “Joanne, I signed your overtime request. No one has ever used this contract clause in the past, thus the questions. Please provide me with a report of the situation you dealt with and the time spent on the call.” Lisa Lazarek asks, “Standard overtime sheet for compensatory time too? Wayne Wysocki responds, “Yes.” Sam Barnes asks, “Don’t want comp time?” Joanne Messner responds, “No.” Selectman Thomas asks, “With your cases what is the average time frame to resolve. Joanne Messner responds that most clients are repeats, some 10 minutes, some 2 days. Selectman Thomas asks, “Are we supplying the Town’s piggybank as a year round process. Joanne Messner responds that cases are not always financial support. Selectman Thomas, “You can say for the record that clients are not a burden on the Town. Joanne Messner responds, “Yes.” Selectman Thomas asks, “Do you follow up with the counselors? Joanne Messner responds, “Yes.” Selectman Thomas asks, “How do you keep updated?” Joanne Messner responds, “Statewide organization.” Selectman Peace asks, “If made to stand as a stand alone department who would you report to?” Joanne Messner responds, the Board of Selectmen or YFS Commission. Selectman Peace states, “Looking for compensation to immediately make whole and social services stand alone anything more to add. Wayne Wysocki adds, “most logical to report to the Board of Selectmen but open to discuss option(s) that will be workable. Joanne Messner exits meeting. MOTION CARRIED, First Selectman Pace abstained due to the fact that he did not attend July 16, 2007 Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Special Board of Selectmen Meeting of August 2, 2007 THOMAS/PEACE Motion to discuss for approval the minutes of the Special Board of Selectmen Meeting of August 2, 2007. MOTION CARRIED, First Selectman Pace abstained due to the fact that he did not attend August 2, 2007 Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Board of Selectmen Meeting of August 16, 2007. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to approve the minutes of the Board of Selectmen Meeting of August 16, 2007. MOTION CARRIED
VI.	BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD A. Presentation by Great Land Conservation Trust to discuss 20% by 2010 clean energy campaign. First Selectman Pace asked resident Tenzin Namdol to address the Selectmen. Ms. Namdol stated that she is a student at CCSU and a member of the Great Land Conservation Trust and explains the 20% by 2010 clean energy campaign. This is a campaign to be using 20% clean energy by the year 2010. She asked that the Board of Selectmen approve a resolution to adopt the program. At this time First Selectman Pace asked Bob Fish to speak to about the campaign. Bob stated that the Conservation Commission has been discussing such a program. They proposed forming the “Old Saybrook Council on Environmental Quality.” First Selectman Pace stated that he supports the project and will review. He invited Tenzin to attend a meeting of the Conservation Commission. She agreed to do so. B. Discuss and act on approval of funds necessary to implement the May 8, 2007 settlement agreement between the Town of Old Saybrook and the Old Saybrook Police Union C.O.P.S Unit #106. First Selectman Pace reviewed the settlement agreement. PEACE/THOMAS Motion to approve the funds necessary to implement the May 8, 2007 settlement agreement between the Town of Old Saybrook and the Old Saybrook Police Union C.O.P.S Unit #106. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY C. Discuss and act on adopting a revised Certified Resolution authorizing the Town of Old Saybrook to make an application to the State for a $300,000 Small Cities grant. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to adopt a revised Certified Resolution authorizing the Town of Old Saybrook to make an application to the State for a $300,000 Small Cities grant. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY D. Authorize First Selectman Michael Pace to sign Amendment to the 30-Minute Demand Response Program between the Town of Old Saybrook and Connecticut Light & Power. PEACE/THOMAS Motion to authorize First Selectman Michael Pace to sign Amendment to the 30-Minute Demand Response Program between the Town of Old Saybrook and Connecticut Light & Power. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY E. Discuss and act on the proposed HVAC Service Agreement from Temp Tech for the maintenance of the heating and air conditioning system for Town Hall. First Selectman Pace reviewed agreement and a memo from Building Official Don Lucas recommending proposal. PEACE/THOMAS Motion to accept recommendation of staff and authorize First Selectman Michael Pace to sign HVAC Service Agreement from Temp Tech for the maintenance of the heating and air conditioning system for Town Hall. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY F. Discuss and act on the lease for the Chamber of Commerce at the head of Main Street - Village Gateway Building. First Selectman Pace reviewed lease, he asked Town Council Cronin and Chamber representative Hugh Fiore to discuss lease. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to table to next Selectmen’s meeting MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY G. Discuss and act on authorizing First Selectman Michael A. Pace to sign lease on the Connecticut Water Tower for the new Communication System. Town Council reviewed lease with the Selectmen and stated that the cost is zero. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to authorize First Selectman Michael A. Pace to sign lease to install communications repeating equipment on the Connecticut Water Company Tower in Westbrook for the new Communication System. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY H. Discuss and act on the Board of Selectmen actions related the “outer lighthouse”. First Selectman Pace reviewed the facts concerning the lighthouse and the problems if the Coast Guard were to dispose of it. He reviewed a letter that he has drafted to send to Senator Chris Dodd, Senator Joe Lieberman and U.S. Representative Joe Courtney. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to send letter. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY I. Discuss and act to authorize First Selectman Michael Pace by resolution to sign all documents for a grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. First Selectman Pace asked Wally Hirsch to review the Grant. Wally stated that the committee had applied for a $200,000 grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism and have been notified that the grant has been approved. He further stated that he had attended a training session on August 30, 2007 in Hartford concerning the record keeping and tracking of the grant. There is a contract that must be signed by the First Selectman as the next step in the grant process. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to authorize First Selectman Michael Pace by resolution to sign all documents for a grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY J. Appointments 1. Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Inc., Board of Trustees additional members. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to appoint Carol McFate, Pauline Kezer, Clayton Spencer and Edie Gengras to the Board of Trustees of Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, Inc. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 2. Architectural Review Board. Kingman Snow term expiration. This is a 3 year term due to expire 9/2010. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to appoint Kingman Snow to the Architectural Review Board. This is a 3 year term due to expire 9/2010. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3. Ethics Commission. Kerry Knobelsdorff term expiration. This is a 4 year term due to expire 9/2011. PEACE/THOMAS Motion to appoint Kerry Knobelsdorff to the Ethics Commission. This is a 4 year term due to expire 9/2011. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 4. Housing Code Appeals Board. Ronald Bonaiuto and Robert Wendler term expirations. These are 5 year terms due to expire 6/2012. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to appoint Robert Wendler to the Housing Code Appeals Board. This is a 5 year term due to expire 6/2012. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 5. Historic District Commission. Vacancy. This is a 5-year term due to expire 12/2011. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to appoint Diane Aldi to the Historic District Commission. This is a 5 year term due to expire 12/2011. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
VII.	COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN – None were made at this time
VIII.	QUESTIONS BY THE PRESS – Were taken.
IX.	ADJOURNMENT PEACE/THOMAS Motion to adjourn at 8:40 p.m. MOTION CARRIED Respectfully submitted, Roland W. Laine Executive Assistant