Town of Old Saybrook, CT - 9/18/2008 Minutes

9/18/2008 Minutes

MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Thursday, September 18, 2008

6:30 p.m.

First Floor Conference Room

MINUTES

Present: First Selectman Michael A. Pace, Selectman William Peace, Selectman Velma Thomas, interested citizens and a member of the Press

I.	CALL TO ORDER First Selectman Michael Pace called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II.	PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE First Selectman Michael Pace led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III.	COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC A correction to the comments from Jean Castagno to identify her as the writer of the letter thanking the Police Department and neighbor with help when her husband fell. A correction to the prior comments regarding WLIS, Jean Castagno, Bob Day and Wayne Orsni were on the air on August 22, 2008. A question was asked of First Selectman Michael Pace regarding the letter from Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. First Selectman Michael Pace stated that the Town still has options. Mrs. Castagno questioned the continued construction and future plans for the old Town Hall building; and that there are potential buyers for the building to turn into elderly housing. First Selectman Michael Pace stated the building is not for sale. First Selectman Pace noted the construction will continue, with revisions to final construction to fit the remaining budgeted amount. Questions were raised regarding as to who elected the Building Committee, what the relationship is between the Town and the Board of Trustees, and the Operating Agreement. First Selectman Michael Pace responded that the Board of Selectmen had appointed the Building Committee and the initial Board of Trustees. There have been several delays and the Town is looking at the cost of the delays and any remedies it may have legally. Selectman William Peace noted that delays that might be found to have been caused by negligence of a third party would only result in recovering the cost of the delay not the entire cost. First Selectman Michael Pace noted that construction will resume and the target date for completion and issue of the Certificate of Occupancy is December 31, 2008 and then the Board of Trustees will be able to start on the interior portion that will be their responsibility under the Operating Agreement. Selectman Velma Thomas stated that she could not set a firm date when the interior would be finished, but everyone is hoping the Theatre will be open by the summer of 2009. The Operating Agreement will be made public as soon as the Town Attorney finalizes it and until that time the Town and the Board of Trustees are acting in good faith that an Operating Agreement will be signed. Mr. Goduti raised a question regarding the Ferry Road Grant, for Harbor Management, and how the grant was funded. First Selectman Michael Pace responded that Request for Proposals went out and the ones that came back were reviewed. First Selectman Pace noted that the project requires engineering data to insure proper construction is completed as part of the STEAP Grant requirement and that data was not contained. Mr. Goduti was made aware of that at that time, however, wanted to give a contract to “someone” who needed the work. First Selectman Pace stated that he told Mr. Goduti at that time”No that would jeopardize the grant.”
IV.	COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN Selectman William Peace noted that the Bike Committee had met and there were additional individuals that wished to become members. Founder’s Park grand opening will be held on September 22, 2008. First Selectman Michael Pace acknowledges a letter from the Connecticut Water Company commending Larry Bonin. He noted that the Summer Program to hire high school students was a success and one student even found a job through their experience. He has received a letter from Merrill Lynch confirming their take-over by Bank of America.
V.	APPROVAL OF MINUTES Board of Selectmen Meeting of August 21, 2008 THOMAS/PEACE Motion to accept the minutes of Board of Selectmen Meeting of August 21, 2008 with the friendly amendment to Paragraph G, second sentence, note of Selectman Velma Thomas regarding a fee raised by $100.00, twice as much as the other fees and three times as much as the original fee. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
VI.	BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD A. Authorize First Selectman Michael A. Pace to sign Right of Entry- Ferry Road between the Town of Old Saybrook and Department of Transportation. First Selectman Michael Pace noted the deed of transfer from the State has not been executed yet and that the State was granting the Town access to the property to do any necessary soil testing. The dates on the document were old and new dates were being added. PEACE/THOMAS Motion to authorize First Selectman Michael Pace to sign Right of Entry-Ferry Road between the Town of Old Saybrook and Department of Transportation with changes to the dates. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY A1. PACE/PEACE Motion to add to the agenda Reduction to Rankin Neely Bond. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY Selectman William Peace asked if the issue of visibility had been cleared up. Director of Public Works, Larry Bonin, said it had and the bond reduction at each stage was standard procedure. PEACE/THOMAS Motion to accept recommendation of Town Engineer for the reduction of the Rankin Neely Bond. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY A2. PACE/PEACE Motion to add to the agenda discuss and act on the State Department of Social Services Grant. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY PEACE/THOMAS Motion to accept resolution to authorize First Selectman Michael Pace to sign documents necessary to accept the State Department of Social Services Grant. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY A3. PACE/PEACE Motion to add to the agenda letter discussing Saybrook Commons/Jandim Realty Co. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY PEACE/THOMAS Motion to authorize First Selectman Michael Pace to advise consent to the signing of the document necessary to the OSWPCA. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY B. Discuss and act on Town of Old Saybrook Retirement Plan revisions. First Selectman Michael Pace stated that the Town Attorney and the Pension Board have reviewed the revisions. THOMAS/PEACE Motion to accept recommendation of the Pension Board to the revisions of the Town of Old Saybrook Retirement Plan. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY C. Discuss and act on motion to refer Proposed Blight Ordinance to the November Town Meeting. First Selectman Michael Pace noted that a paragraph regarding dead, decaying and diseased trees had been omitted from the final Proposed Blight Ordinance. He also stated that Christine Costa of Zoning Enforcement and Chris Nelson have agreed to be the designees for the complaint filing process. PACE/THOMAS Motion to accept final draft of Proposed Blight Ordinance and present to the public at the regularly scheduled Annual Town Meeting in November. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY D. Discuss and act on motion to refer Golf Cart Ordinance to the November Town Meeting for repeal. First Selectman Michael Pace is recommending the removal of the town Golf Cart Ordinance in agreement with the Town Attorney and Police Department. Selectman William Peace expressed wanting to wait until the State Legislators review the issue. PACE/THOMAS Motion to refer the issue of repealing the ordinance to the regularly scheduled Annual Town Meeting in November. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY E. Appointments 1. Youth & Family Service Commission. Term expiration. Re-appoint Jennifer Welsh and Peggy Viggiano. Both are 4-year terms due to expire 9/2012. First Selectman Michael Pace noted that Jennifer Welsh and Peggy Viggiano have expressed the desire to continue serving on the commission. PEACE/THOMAS Motion to re-appoint Jennifer Welsh and Peggy Viggiano to the Youth & Family Service Commission, both are 4 year terms due to expire 9/2012. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY E1. PEACE/PACE Motion to add to the agenda the appointment of Janis Holland and Bob Lorenze to the Bike Committee. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY PEACE/THOMAS Motion to appoint Janis Holland and Bob Lorenze to the Bike Committee. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
VII.	COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN None taken
VIII.	QUESTIONS BY THE PRESS None taken
IX.	ADJOURNMENT THOMAS/PEACE Motion to adjourn at 7:40 p.m. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Respectfully submitted,

Tracy Masterson