MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN Tuesday, September 10, 2013 3:30 P.m. First Floor Conference Room MINUTES
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Present: First Selectman Carl P. Fortuna Jr., Selectman Scott Giegerich, Selectman Steve Gernhardt,
Finance Director Lisa Carver, members of the public and press.
I. CALL TO ORDER – First Selectman Fortuna called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
- II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Led by First Selectman Fortuna
III. COMMENTS FROM PUBLIC
Tom Stevenson asked that keeping the website calendar of meetings updated be looked into.
First Selectman Fortuna indicated that there was a working group led by IT Manager Larry
Hayden that was reviewing updates to the website.
IV. COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN
First Selectman Fortuna distributed copies of the report of the Route 1 Corridor Study
Committee to the Selectman for their review. This Committee was approved a year ago
to study and make recommendations on the area beginning at the former Pat’s Country
Kitchen site to the I-95 exchange which is zoned for commercial and industrial development.
The Committee has worked diligently over the past year with good results. This report
will be distributed to various commissions and will be presented at the Committee’s October
meeting (second Tuesday).
The First Selectman also reported on a potential legal issue involving Connecticut Resource
Recovery Authority (CRRA) and the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC). The Town
of Old Saybrook along with other municipalities has a long term contract with CRRA for
solid waste disposal. The Town has received a letter from MDC stating that they are in a
legal dispute with CRRA and if a settlement is not reached, the towns will be responsible
to pay MDC. The Town also received a letter from CRRA that disputes the assertions in
the MDC letter. This is informational for the time being, no action required by the Board.
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Board of Selectmen Special Meeting August 27, 2013.
GIEGERICH/FORTUNA
Motion to approve minutes of the Board of Selectmen Special Meeting August 27, 2013.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting August 27, 2013.
GIEGERICH/FORTUNA
Motion to approve minutes of the Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting August 27, 2013.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
VI. BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD
A. Discuss and act on Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge.
Diana McCarthy-Bercury from CL&P gave a brief presentation on the Clean Energy Communities
program. The non-binding pledge is a commitment by the community to lower its energy usage by
a certain percentage in each year of the program. This includes reductions not only in usage by
the Town, but also local residential and business accounts. Achieved energy savings earns the
municipality points. When 100 points are attained, the Town receives a $5,000 “Bright Idea Grant”
to use for further energy saving projects. Old Saybrook currently has 90 points toward that goal.
The community can go retroactively back to 2008-2009 as a baseline to capture already implemented
energy saving initiatives.
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to participate in the Clean Energy Communities program by signing the pledge.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
B. Discuss and act on “No Texting While Driving Day” Proclamation.
First Selectman Fortuna reported this is an initiative by AT&T to further awareness of the
dangers of texting while driving. The proclamation names September 19, 2013 as No Texting
While Driving Day.
GERNHARDT/GIEGERICH
Motion to adopt the proclamation naming September 19, 2013 as No Texting While Driving Day in
Old Saybrook.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
C. APPOINTMENTS
1. Acton Public Library. Resignation Vacancy. This is for the unexpired portion of a six year
term due to expire 11/2015.
GERNHARDT/ GIEGERICH
Motion to appoint Nancy Walsh to the Acton Public Library Board to complete the unexpired
portion of a six year term due to expire 11/2015. Selectman Gernhardt stated that Ms. Walsh will
be a good addition to the Board
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
2. Municipal Veterans’ Service Contact Person.
First Selectman Fortuna reported that State Public Act 13-34 which becomes effective October 1, 2013
requires municipalities to have a Veterans’ Service Contact Person. The purpose of this is to have
a resource for veterans, particularly those recently returned from duty, to find any services they
are eligible for. Heather McNeill has agreed to serve in this capacity as she has already been
working with many of Old Saybrook’s returning servicemen and women.
FORTUNA/GERNHARDT
Motion to appoint Heather McNeill as Old Saybrook’s Veterans’ Service Contact Person in
accordance with P.A. 13-34.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
D. ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE ACQUISITION/PURCHASE PRICE OF LAND.
GIEGERICH/FORTUNA
Motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss possible land acquisition. Invited into Executive
Session are Lisa Carver, Finance Director; Kate Brown, CT Trust for Public Land (TPL), Alicia Betty
TPL and Linda Orel TPL.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
FORTUNA/GIEGERICH
Motion to return to the regular order of business from Executive Session
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
VII. COMMENTS FROM THE SELECTMEN: Selectman Giegerich was pleased to report that the newly
refurbished mini-golf course at Saybrook Point would have a grand re-opening on Saturday, September 14th
and he urged people to attend.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
GIEGERICH/GERNHARDT
Motion to adjourn at 4:49 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa Carver
Finance Director
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