TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL TUESDAY, February 16, 2010
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 6:30 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Pelkey called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor John Pelkey
Deputy Mayor Edward Havens
Councillor Gary Bazzano
Councillor Tom Delnicki (arrived 6:39 p.m.)
Councillor Janice Favreau
Councillor Kathryn Hale
Councillor Kevin McCann (arrived 6:42 p.m.)
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Keith Yagaloff (arrived 6:50 p.m.)
Also Present: Matthew Galligan, Town Manager
3. Public Participation
Ms. Pat Botteron a representative of the Open Space Task Force Committee came before the Town Council to voice the Open Space Task Force Committee’s support of the South Windsor Walk and Wheel Ways Master Plan.
4. Communications
None
5. Town Manager’s Report
None
6. Items for Discussion
A) South Windsor Walk & Wheel Ways presentation
Mr. Ray Favreau, Director of Recreation began discussions by stating that the Park & Recreation Commission is lucky to have a passionate group of volunteers serving on the South Windsor Walk & Wheel Ways Sub-Committee of the Park & Recreation Commission. South Windsor Walk & Wheel Ways Committee began meeting on November 7, 2007 and have met twenty-four times since then. The Committee has discussed this subject with other communities in the State of Connecticut about their biking and walking plans. The Committee has attended numerous CRCOG meetings, seminars and legislative forums. The Committee has also met with any Board, Commission and the town staff in order to develop a Master Plan that makes South Windsor a bicycle and pedestrian friendly community.
Work Session – Town Council
February 16, 2010
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ITEM
6. A. (Continued)
Mr. Robert O’Connell who is a member of the Park and Recreation Commission and Co-Chair of South Windsor Walk & Wheel Ways Committee came before the Town Council. Mr. O’Connell explained that the Committee is looking to make this town bicycle and pedestrian friendly. There is a presentation to go over the Master Plan. The title of the Master Plan is “Connecting Our Community”. Mr. O’Connell reviewed the Committee’s vision, mission, purpose, definition of South Windsor Walk & Wheel Way, benefits of walking and bicycling, and goals. South Windsor Walk & Wheel Ways began this quest by doing thirty or more site assessments that could be used to create a way to get through town. The Committee is looking to come up with across town trail system. To build a trail system that would travel through the town center beginning at Chapel Road and ending at Miller Road. The Committee has identified a network of streets that would allow bicyclist to ride safely within South Windsor.
Ms. Ginny Hole came forward and explained that the South Windsor Walk & Wheel ways would like to connect to other towns.
Mr. Robert O’Connell reviewed the funding sources and began discussions on the keys to success.
At 7:00 p.m. Mayor Pelkey recessed the Work Session in order to hold a public hearing. The Work Session reconvened at 7:16 p.m.
Mr. Robert O’Connell resumed the discussions regarding keys to success. Mr. O’Connell stated that the Committee feels that the creation and implementation of municipal policies and procedures would help to support the plan. The plan itself has the first steps that the Committee would like to take. Mr. O’Connell thanked Ray Favreau, Director of Recreation; Michele Lipe, Assistant Director of Planning; Dawn Mulholland, GIS Technician; Jeff Folger, Environmental Planner/Conservation Officer; Sergeant Dan Martin, Police Department; Cindy Yakoubian, Community Resource Coordinator; Jeff Doolittle, Town Engineer; the Open Space Task Force; Inland Wetland Agency/Conservation Commission; and the Park & Recreation Commission. Mr. O’Connell requested that the Town Council take a
leadership role and help the Committee advocate to make South Windsor a pedestrian and bicycle friendly community and adopt and endorse the Master Plan.
Answering questions from the Council, Ms. Hole explained that the trails would be stone dust or paved in order to give individuals with wheelchairs accessibility. The Committee will be building a website that will be connected to the Recreation Department in order for the public to get information regarding this issue. Also the Committee will be discussing this with students to get them involved. Ms. Hole stated that by having the Master Plan endorsed, the Committee would be able to apply for grants. The Committee will need easements and permission from private residents in order to complete the Master Plan.
Work Session – Town Council
February 16, 2010
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ITEM
6. A. (Continued)
At 7:34 p.m. Mayor Pelkey recessed the Work Session in order to hold a public hearing. The Work Session reconvened at 7:55 p.m.
7. Executive Session
None
8. Adjournment
At 7:55 p.m. the Work Session was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Clerk of the Council
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