Minutes of Special Town Meeting – May 4, 2015
MINUTES of Special Town Meeting held May 4, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. in the Old Saybrook Middle School
auditorium, 60 Sheffield Street, Old Saybrook, Connecticut, with approximately 35 persons attending.
Carl Fortuna, First Selectman, called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance. A motion
was duly made, seconded and unanimously voted that Grant Westerson be Moderator of this meeting.
Moderator Westerson asked the Town Clerk, Sarah V. Becker to read the call of the meeting.
ITEM 1. To act upon the recommendation of the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen to
appropriate the sum of $49,750.00 for a “Making Places Grant” for a market feasibility study,
development of a preferred option and preparation of RFP (Request for Proposal) for the former
Shoreline Electric Railway Power House. The Making Places Grant is a collaborative pilot program of the
Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation Office, Department of Community and Economic
Development through the Community Investment Act. This is a reimbursable grant. Said funds are to
be taken from and initially paid out from the Town’s Unappropriated Surplus Account. The funds will be
reimbursed to the Town upon receipt and approval of the final report and budget summary and any
required attachments.
The Moderator called on First Selectman Fortuna to review this project. The grant will allow a
consultant to look at the property and decide the best use of it (redevelopment options). The building is
owned by The Bridges LLC and hopefully could give ideas to the owners and generate good development
and increase the tax base. The Town will also receive a full report upon its completion. Selectman
Fortuna advised he had additional information in his office if anyone would like to review it or contact
Susan Beckman, Economic Development Director.
On a motion duly made and seconded Item 1 was ADOPTED.
ITEM 2. To act upon the recommendation of the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance for
additional authorization of $78,372.71 for costs associated with the purchase of the property known as
the Preserve. Said funds reflect the cost of bond issuance as well as closing costs. Net costs needed for
this authorization, after the reduction of bond premium, are $68,616.71. The Town proposes to pay for
said sum with a tax refund adjustment to the seller for the period for the period April 1, 2015 to June 30,
2015 ($9,756.00), a transfer from existing off-budget fund #369-1005-00 ($46,107.03), and a transfer
from existing off-budget fund #368-1005-00, ($12,753.68).
First Selectman Fortuna and Town Treasurer, Robert Fish, explained the funding for this capital project.
On a motion duly made and seconded, Item 2 was unanimously ADOPTED.
On a motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 6:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah V. Becker, CCMC
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