TOWN COUNCIL
TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
Minutes Page 1 January 3, 2000
TOWN COUNCIL – Regular Meeting
Council Chambers – South Windsor Town Hall
Members Present: Deputy Mayor Havens
Councillor Aman
Councillor Burnham
Councillor Fine
Councillor Pelkey
Councillor Streeter
Councillor Williams
Members Absent: Mayor Lassman Fisher
Councillor Delnicki
Also Present: Town Manager Matthew B. Galligan
Town Attorney Barry Guliano
The Meeting was called to order by Deputy Mayor Havens at 8:00 p.m.
ITEM:
5. Public Input - None
6. Environmental Health & Safety Message - Councillor Pelkey reminded Town residents that the collection for Christmas Trees by Public Works personnel would be through January 10, 2000. The discarded trees should be placed by the curbside by 7:00 a.m. for collection; and there will be one collection per street--more collections will be scheduled, as necessary.
7. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meetings
Motion to accept the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 15, 1999, and the Work Session of December 20, 1999.
Was made by: Councillor Fine
Seconded by Councillor Williams
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ITEM:
7. (Continued)
Councillor Burnham moved to amend the Minutes of November 15, 1999 to reflect that Councillor Burnham was present; and former Councillor Morin was not. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Aman; and approved, unanimously. The Deputy Mayor then called for a vote on the Amended Resolution. Councillor Pelkey moved to adopt the Amended Resolution; it was seconded by Councillor Fine; and approved, unanimously.
8. Public Petitions - None
9. Communications from Officers and Boards Directly Responsible to Council
Marge Anthony, Chairperson, Economic Development Commission, said she was “wearing two hats this evening--one as a representative of the Postal Advisory Committee; the second as Chair of the EDC. Reporting for the Postal Advisory Committee, Mrs. Anthony stated that problems with the Post Office were continuing--first, regarding the “signs” which problem, she said, have not been addressed and corrected. Secondly, she continued, the previous “rumors” that were making the rounds regarding the fact that some businesses in South Windsor were having problems with mail delivery have turned out to be true.
Mrs. Anthony said she spoke last week with an official at the South Windsor Post Office about a “large corporation” in Town that spends between $90,000 and $100,000 on postal services each year who is currently having problems with their mail delivery. Mrs. Anthony felt that complaints regarding postal service, brought to the Post Office’s attention, “seem to fall on deaf ears”--particularly with regard to accommodating Town businesses.
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ITEM:
7. (Continued)
Continuing, Mrs. Anthony said that the Postal Advisory Committee will be meeting with the Chamber of Commerce to obtain support from that agency with this problem. The next step, she said, will be to approach the Post Office’s Regional Manager to see if some of these problems can be resolved. When the time comes to present letters from the Chamber and local businesses, Mrs. Anthony requested a letter, too, from the Town Council adding its concerns regarding this matter.
Of major concern to the Postal Advisory Committee is the fact that if there are problems accommodating “existing” businesses, how would the Post Office accommodate “new” businesses as they come into Town. Mrs. Anthony was of the opinion that the new Post Office was still operating as it did when it was “a small Post Office on Sullivan Avenue.” She felt this problem had to soon be addressed.
The Deputy Mayor asked the Town Manager to take a look at this situation. He even suggested that, perhaps, our local U.S. and State representatives should be alerted to this problem. The Deputy Mayor stated that, from experience, he has been aware of problems with postal services to Town businesses. He cited, as an example, that after continued appeals to deliver mail to Sullivan Avenue businesses “early” in the day, it continues to be delivered at “about 2 o’clock in the afternoon.”
Councillor Fine stated, as a point of information, it was not only businesses being affected; that, most days, she did not receive her mail at home until 5:30 p.m.--some days as late as 6:30 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. The Councillor also cited, as a major part of the problem, the lack of continuity with delivery time. She felt that if a business could depend on mail delivery the same time every day (whether in the a.m. or p.m.) it could regulate its business around that time.
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ITEM:
7. (Continued)
Councillor Pelkey passed along concerns expressed to him by elderly citizens while he was campaigning in October regarding their inability to go out to the street, each day, to pick up their mail. He asked Mrs. Anthony to inquire into the process if a resident was unable to go out for their mail and wished it to be delivered to his/her door.
8. Communications and Reports from Town Manager
Town Manager Matthew Galligan reminded the Town Council that on January 10 there will be a Joint Meeting between the Board of Education and the Town Council to take a look at 1) the Budget Process; 2) an update on Strategic Planning and budget-process suggestions that came out of that Committee; and take a look at anticipated problem areas, and guidelines, for the 2000/2001 Fiscal Year Budget.
Also included in the package was information regarding the Contingency Fund. There is currently a $172,000 balance in this fund.
The final item, the Town Manager said, was just received Audit Report, in which the Town fared well. He said he felt it would be prudent at an upcoming Council meeting to have the Auditors come in and explain it to either the Audit Committee, or the Town Council. The third option would be to have the Town Manager explain the Audit. He asked for Council’s preference regarding this.
Councillor Aman said he, personally, would like to see the Auditor come in and go over the pertinent parts of the Audit with the Town Council. Also, the Councillor asked the Town Manager if a letter had gone out to the Public Building Commission regarding Capital Projects because that Committee will be meeting next week. He wondered if there had been any response from them to date.
Mr. Galligan said he would have to check with Judy Hall because he was sick last week with the flu. He said they had discussed that, but he wasn’t certain it had gone out.
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ITEM:
8 (Continued)
Councillor Pelkey, referring to a headline in the January 1, 2000 issue of The Journal Inquirer stating that “Manchester Has Year End Budget Surplus”. That surplus, he continued, was in the neighborhood of $750,000. Now that our Audit is complete, Councillor Pelkey asked what South Windsor’s surplus was in comparison to that figure. Mr. Galligan said he believed the figure was around $1.1 million.
11. Reports from Standing Committees - None
12. Reports from Temporary Committees - None
13. Communications and Petitions from Council
Deputy Mayor Havens said he receives, each month, the South Windsor “Senior Center News;” and part of the information provided by this newsletter are the “needs” and “wants” of the Town’s senior population. Several years ago, according to the Deputy Mayor, there used to be a “Senior Citizens Advisory Board” which met monthly; and which included a Town Council liaison. He felt that there was probably no better way to keep abreast of Senior needs, etc. than to have a Member of the Town Council meet with this group regularly.
Councillor Williams said that was exactly what was on tonight’s Agenda, at her request. (See Agenda Item.17. E.
On another item, the Deputy Mayor said he received a complaint from a resident about household refuse being placed at the curbside too far in advance of pick-up. He was surprised this was an issue; however, after speaking with the Town Manager, and Pollution Control Superintendent Fred Shaw, he discovered there were plans in the works to not only monitor this situation, but also to monitor the Town’s recycling effort. The Deputy Mayor requested that the Town Manager to explain further.
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ITEM:
13. (Continued)
Mr. Galligan said that they have learned, over the past year, there are still many residents who are not recycling as much as they should; and, also, there is much more “bulky waste” out there than originally estimated. He said the Town has received complaints from residents about--i.e., “people putting their garbage out curbside on Saturday or Sunday morning for a Monday morning pick-up. What will be included in the upcoming Budget, he said, is a “contractual” position (in conjunction with the trash haulers), whose job it would be to monitor such things as recycling, and how far in advance residents are placing their refuse at curbside.
Councillor Burnham referenced a “Letter to the Editor” in The Journal Inquirer from a South Windsor resident of “Briarwood.” This resident praised South Windsor’s Volunteer Fire Department and Police Department (and, in each case, a particular Fireman and Police Officer) for their efforts which spared the involvement of her’s and other apartments in that Complex’s recent fire
Councillor Pelkey, again with reference to refuse collection, referred to the “Hazardous Waste” pick-up, and asked if this is something that could be done more than once a year. The Town Manager said he would take a look at that possibility; however, he said, this was a budgetary consideration and had to be “cost effective.” When asked by Councillor Pelkey if there was any other recourse for a resident who had a quantity of such hazardous waste items much prior to that particular date, Richard Boudreault, Facilities Manager, replied that a resident could bring it to any other community that, at that particular time, was participating in the MDC’s Hazardous Waste program. According to Mr. Boudreault, our Public Works Department has the schedule of Towns participating.
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ITEM:
14. Public Participation
Mary Etter, South Windsor Library, said she was here this evening on behalf of South Windsor Cultural Arts to announce a new program of Concerts. This Saturday, she said, will be the first in a three-parts “Saturday evening” concert showcase, at South Windsor Public Library, at 7:30 p.m. Mrs. Etter announced that the programs would be held on Saturday, January 8; Saturday, January 29; and Saturday, February 12.
Deputy Mayor Havens asked Mrs. Etter if the Library Calendar is mailed out to every South Windsor citizen. Mrs. Etter replied that the regular monthly calendar is sent to all Members of the “Friends of the Library” group--or, about 350. One Town-wide mailing was supported by the “Friends” for the first time this Fall--that one went to all residents.
15. Consent Agenda - None
16. Unfinished Business
The Deputy Mayor asked the Town Attorney to explain, once again, why the names up for appointment or reappointment under this Agenda Item were again to be tabled. Atty. Guliano reiterated his reasons for requesting this additional “tabling” in order to allow enough time to clarify, and perhaps amend, the wording pertaining to membership restrictions currently contained in the Economic Development Commission’s Ordinance. More specifically, he said, whether the words “holding public office” referred to elected, or elected and appointed, officials.
Continuing, Atty. Guliano said he had tried to check the legislative history of this Ordinance to see if, when this Ordinance was initially passed, there was any discussion among the Council regarding this particular issue. He said he traced this back to about 1982 and was unable to find any legislative history that would be helpful. He pointed out to Council that this week’s packet contained a “proposed” amendment to that Ordinance that would specify that a member of EDC could not hold elected office (which, he said, would mean they could hold appointive office.)
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ITEM:
16. Unfinished Business (Continued)
Atty. Guliano said he had done this for the purpose of having it put out to Public Hearing for the next meeting (1/18). By that time, he said, he would provide Council with a “written” opinion, in which he would try to assess the pros and cons, in each instance, of how the Council might want to handle this issue. At the time of the Public Hearing, he suggested, the Town Council might decide how they wished the Amendment to read.
Again referring to the appointments and reappointments on this evening’s Agenda, he said they should be “tabled until after that Amendment is made.”
A. Reappointment of Marjorie Anthony (D) to the Economic Development Commission, and the Tabling of Same
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Marjorie Anthony to the Economic Development Commission for a term ending November 30, 2003, and hereby tables the same until a meeting after Section 2-322 of the South Windsor Code of Ordinances has been amended.
Was made by: Councillor Pelkey
Seconded by: Councillor Fine
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
B. Reappointment of Marilyn Morrison (D) to the Mass Transit and Highway Advisory Commission, and the Tabling of Same
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Marilyn Morrison to the Mass Transit and Highway Advisory Committee for a term ending November 30, 2003, and hereby tables the same until a meeting after Section 2-322 of the South Windsor Code of Ordinances has been amended.
Was made by: Councillor Williams
Seconded by: Councillor Pelkey
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
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ITEM:
16. Unfinished Business (Continued)
C. Appointment of Clifford Slicer (D) to the Public Building Commission, and the Tabling of Same
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby appoints Clifford Slicer to the Public Building Commission for a term ending November 30, 2003, and hereby tables the same until a meeting after Section 2-322 of the South Windsor Code of Ordinances has been amended.
Was made by: Councillor Fine
Seconded by: Councillor Pelkey
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
D. Reappointment of Marjorie Anthony (D) to the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Tabling of Same
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Marjorie Anthony to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term ending November 30, 2003, and hereby tables the same until a meeting after Section 2-322 of the South Windsor Code of Ordinances has been amended.
Was made by: Councillor Fine
Seconded by: Councillor Pelkey
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
E. Reappointment of Joseph Carino (R) to the Economic Development Commission, and the Tabling of Same
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Joseph Carino to the Economic Development Commission for a term ending November 30, 2003, and hereby tables the same until a meeting after Section 2-322 of the South Windsor Code of Ordinances has been amended.
Was made by: Councillor Pelkey
Seconded by: Councillor Fine
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
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ITEM:
16. Unfinished Business (Continued)
F. Update on Economic Development
Town Manager Matthew Galligan said there was nothing to report at this time. He said that Town staff was working on some leads on companies that have showed interest in the Town.
17. New Business
A. Reappointment of Edwin Lassman (D) to the Personnel Board of Appeals, and the Tabling of Same
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council reappoints Edwin Lassman to the Personnel Board of Appeals for a term ending November 30, 2002, and hereby tables the same.
Was made by: Councillor Williams
Seconded by: Councillor Pelkey
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
B. Resolution Introducing an Amendment to Section 2-322 of the South Windsor Code of Ordinances Regarding Eligibility for Membership to the Economic Development Commission; and the Setting of a Time and Place for a Public Hearing on Same
(Councillor Pelkey)
BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council introduces an Amendment to Section 2-322 of the South Windsor Code of Ordinances regarding eligibility for membership to the Economic Development Commission, said Amendment as highlighted on attached Exhibit A; and
(Resolution Continued on Next Page)
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ITEM:
17. B. (Continued)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council sets Tuesday, January 18, 2000, at 7:45 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the South Windsor Town Hall, 1540 Sullivan Avenue, South Windsor as the time and place for a Public Hearing to receive citizen input on said proposed Amendment.
Was made by: Councillor Pelkey
Seconded by: Councillor Fine
Councillor Aman said he was pleased that at the Public Hearing the Town Attorney would be addressing the potential legal problems of having appointed Board Members sitting on the EDC.
He then asked the Town Manager to look at this from a “developers” side of whether a developer would want to come before the EDC if he/she knows there are Members also on the Zoning Board of Appeals, or Water Pollution Control Authority if he may need ZBA or WPCA approval. Councillor Aman was of the opinion that there are probably six (6) Boards or Commissions directly involved in “land planning;” and he enumerated.
On another matter, the question Councillor Aman had regarding setting a Public Hearing on this issue was whether the Town Attorney’s limiting the Amendment to the addition of the word “elected” would preclude adding the words “and appointed” in the final form. Atty. Guiliano’s recommendation was to conduct the Public Hearing--after which, if the suggestions of the Council was a significant departure from what was being suggested, another Public Hearing might be needed. However, if the Council only wished to change it to read “elected or appointed,” the Counsellor did not feel this change would be substantive.
The Motion was: Approved, unanimously
C. Discussion Item - Thermal Imaging Cameras - Fire Chief William Lanning was to make this report; however, he was not present because of illness.
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ITEM:
17. New Business (Continued)
D. Discussion Item - Formation of a Space Needs Subcommittee of the Town Council - The Town Manager said that he had looked at some of the space needs both for the General Government and for the Board of Education. Much of the information, he said, was coming from the Strategic Planning sessions. To address these needs, staff felt that a Subcommittee made up, perhaps, of two Council Members, two Board of Education Members, and staff could take a look at this entire office space need.
He asked for appointees from the Town Council.
The Deputy Mayor felt this was an excellent idea; however, he did point out that the Board of Education already has a Space and Needs Committee now to evaluate their “educational space needs.”
Councillor Williams saying that she knows Council has spoken of this “many many times,” again brought up the subject of the old Post Office building on Sullivan Avenue--together with the fact that at the Council’s last meeting she has asked what was being done about that building--asked if the Town Manager had spoken with the owner, etc.
Mr. Galligan replied that, apparently, there has been no sale on that property--only interest in it expressed. Again, Councillor Williams asked what the Town has done about this piece of property. Mr. Galligan said he felt that what needed doing was to look at the entire “square block area here” to look at our choice of options--expand this building; use the Post Office; everything--and what is most “cost effective” and provide the space we need.
Councillor Williams suggested that while the Town was looking at these options, they could lose their opportunity to purchase the old Post Office. The Town Manager agreed--the Town would be “dragging its feet” and lose this opportunity because the formation of this Space Committee, and receipt of its findings and recommendations, would take some time.
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ITEM:
17. D. (Continued)
Councillor Fine agreed that the formation of a Space Needs Committee was a good idea; and asked to be a part of that Committee when it was formed.
Councillor Pelkey, referring to a list provided by the Town Manager several months ago enumerating several possible uses for this old Post Office building, suggested that this list might be useful to the proposed Committee. The Town Manager said that list could be revisited.
E. Discussion Item - Provision of Additional Town Services to South Windsor’s “Senior Residence Developments” i.e., Porter’s Share, Collins Crossing, etc.) Requested by Councillor Williams
Saying this is another subject that keeps “popping up again,” Councillor Williams pointed out that the Town has a growing population of “seniors.” She said she contacted Human Services Director of Adult Services, Valerie Ballard, and asked her to coordinate a meeting with all the Senior Complexes to discuss common issues and concerns.
Councillor Williams said she hoped to be at that meeting to listen to their issues, and then return to Council with these concerns. She said this suggestion was entirely up to Ms. Ballard and the Presidents of the Associations of these complexes. She said if the Senior Complexes would like to have a Town Council representative attend their meetings, she felt it was an excellent idea.
Saying that she felt they had some “real” issues, she cited the following: When a developer comes in and builds these senior complexes why are they given permission to construct internal roads that are not up to the specifications of Town roads; why do the complexes have to worry about water hook-ups, when right up the street private homes do not have to worry about this sort of thing; etc.
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ITEM:
17. D. (Continued)
Councillor Williams then reminded Town Attorney Guliano that he was to look into different funding to assist them that the State may have. Valerie Ballard told the Councillor she would get back to her after the first of the year; and this is where her information stands right now.
Addressing the concern regarding the type of roads within the complex, Mr. Galligan said that he had looked at the roads at Collins Crossing, and it was his understanding that if the Town told the developer to put a “normal” road in, with the setback requirements of that road, the complex would have probably lost many of those units.
Consequently, he pointed out, if the Developer was cut back on the number of units allowed, the cost of the units built would increase considerably for the same square footage.
Councillor Williams asked who is responsible (the builder or the Town) to make sure that these seniors know exactly what they have to pay for; and who pays for what. Mr. Galligan and Atty. Guliano agreed that the responsibility was on the individual’s attorney at their closing--including the payment of common areas, etc. Further discussion ensued.
18. Passage of Ordinance - None
19. Communications and Petitions from Council (Continued)
None
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ITEM:
20. Executive Session - None
21. Motion to Adjourn
At 9:20 p.m., a Motion was made, seconded, and carried to adjourn.
Respectfully submitted,
Patricia R. Brown
Clerk of the Council
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