MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
3:30 P.M.
First Floor Conference Room
MINUTES
Present: First Selectman Carl P. Fortuna Jr., Selectman Scott Giegerich, Selectman Steve Gernhardt,
Finance Director Lisa Carver, members of the public.
I. CALL TO ORDER – First Selectman Fortuna called the meeting to order at 3:34 P.M.
- II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Recited
III. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – None taken
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN First Selectman Fortuna noted the trains on Bokum Road have mostly been removed and the remaining four to five trains to be removed by train track to Chicago. Some of the train cars have gone to museums. The First Selectman of Suffield is responsible for organizing volunteers for the train removals.
First Selectman Fortuna received a letter from residents Frank and Diane Gilchrest who have worked the last three elections and expressed their experience to be pleasant with helpful and professional staff to work with. Also, received an email from Gratia Lewis, Financial Manager, WPCA, who praised IT Support, Sgt. Gardner, with restoring important files to her computer.
First Selectman Fortuna commented that the agreement between the Town and Connecticut Business Systems, Brian Pendleton representative, is running smoothly with positive feedback from employees.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Special Emergency Meeting of the Board of Selectmen February 11, 2013, Special Board of Selectmen Meeting February 15, 2013; Special Board of Selectmen Meeting February 22, 2013.
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to approve Minutes of Special Emergency Board of Selectmen Meeting February 11, 2013.
MOTION CARRIED 2-0
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to approve Minutes of Special Board of Selectmen Meeting February 15, 2013.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
FORTUNA/GERNHARDT
Motion to approve Minutes of Special Board of Selectmen Meeting February 22, 2013.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
VI. BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD
A. Discuss and act on Elderly Tax benefit recommendation to Elderly Benefit Committee.
FORTUNA/GERNHARDT
Motion to appoint Cornelius McCrudden, Sharon Tiezzi, Ruth Fitzgerald, Steve Gernhardt and Peggy Viggiano to serve on the Elderly Benefit Committee and the Board of Selectmen to recommend to the Elderly Benefit Committee to grant $75,000 in tax relief to qualifying elderly residents of the Town of Old Saybrook.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
B. Report from Estuary Transit District, Old Saybrook Representative, Roland Laine.
Roland Laine presented an update on the Estuary Transit District the public transportation provider to Clinton, Chester, Deep River, Essex, Haddam, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and Westbrook. Mr. Laine reviewed annual statistics, recent accomplishments and future plans. First Selectman Fortuna acknowledged Roland as Old Saybrook’s representative and thanked him for his service.
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to add to agenda Town of Old Saybrook Emergency Election Plan.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Registrar of Voter, Carol Conklin noted that every Registrar of Voters office has been charged with writing an Emergency Contingency Plan in the event of a crisis during an election and presented Old Saybrook’s emergency plan.
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to accept Town of Old Saybrook Registrar of Voters Emergency Contingency Plan.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
C. Discuss IT Director Position.
Finance Director Lisa Carver presented the financial implications and Management of the IT position. There will be an agreement on how the position will be managed, with salary and benefit safeguards, with Chief of Police as the direct supervisor even though this is a shared position and not a “Police position. First Selectman Fortuna stated the position will be labeled as Information Technology in the budget. Finance Director Lisa Carver noted the Town is trying to avoid hiring additional personnel, and felt this has a cost impact much less than if the town had to hire full time IT personnel. Chief Spera noted this is the most prudent way to go financially with a cost savings to the Town. Selectman Scott Giegerich stated his concern with the position being a 26th police officer verses
an IT position. Selectman Giegerich noted the availability of college graduates and others for an IT position at a much lower salary and benefit scale. Finance Director Carver researched comparable positions. The information was inconclusive. Selectman Giegerich noted he is not in support of hiring a police officer to fill the position and sees it as the town now having 26 police officers. First Selectman Fortuna also voiced his concern with the “26th” officer.
FORTUNA/GERNHARDT
Motion to forward to the Board of Finance recommendation for Information Technology position.
MOTION CARRIED 2 -1
- D. Discuss and act on Policy for Purchasing Card Program with JP Morgan.
First Selectman Fortuna stated that the Town has entered into agreement with JP Morgan Chase and cards have been distributed for use. A general outline of the policy for use of the card was reviewed to include safeguards for security of the card, process of payments and appropriateness of use. Each card has a daily and monthly limit. The program is active and is being used.
FORTUNA/GERNHARDT
Motion to approve Policy for Purchasing Card Program with JP Morgan.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
E. Discuss and act on removing property located at 33 Beach Road West from seasonal
classification recorded in Volume 200.
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to remove property located at 33 Beach Road West from seasonal classification recorded in Volume 200.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
F. Discuss and act on authorizing Board of Selectmen to sign resolution marking March 12, 2013 as the 101st Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
GERNHARDT/FORTUNA
Motion to authorize the Board of Selectmen to sign resolution marking March 12, 2013 as the 101st Anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
G. Discuss nickel deposits at the Transfer Station; Old Saybrook Boy Scouts.
GERNHARDT/GIEGERICH
Motion to authorize Boy Scout Troop 51 to begin collecting the nickel deposits at the Transfer Station.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
H. Discuss the Old Saybrook Garden Club interests in maintaining 1 Main Street.
Consensus of the Board of Selectmen that the Garden Club be permitted to landscape the Chamber of Commerce grounds at 1 Main Street.
Board of Finance. Vacancy appointment. This appointment is for the unexpired portion of a 4-year term due to expire 11/2013.
First Selectman Fortuna stated that the Republican Town Committee recommended Breckinridge Smith Lindley for the position.
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion made to appoint Breckinridge Smith Lindley to the Board of Finance. This appointment is for the unexpired portion of a 4-year term due to expire 11/2013.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
VII. COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN – None Taken.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to adjourn at 5:00 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Respectfully submitted,
Georgiann Neri
Administrative Secretary
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