TOWN OF SOUTH WINDSOR
WORK SESSION MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2012
COUNCIL CHAMBERS TIME: 7:00 P.M.
1. Call Meeting to Order
Mayor Delnicki called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Mayor Tom Delnicki
Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano
Councill M. Saud Anwar
Councillor Cindy Beaulieu
Councllor Ed Havens
Councillor Kevin McCann
Councillor Cary Prague
Councillor Janice Snyder
Councillor Keith Yagaloff
Also Present: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
3. Public Participation
Mr. Mark Lillis, 667 Griffin Road came before the Town Council to request meeting space for the Robotics Team. They would need a space 35 x 70 with 15 foot ceilings for practice.
4. Communications
None
5. Town Manager’s Report
Mr. Galligan reported on the following items:
- The Town is looking for the Robotics Team to use the old Post Office.
- The Town refinanced the bonds and there was a savings of $1.2 million dollars.
- The Town will have to have s special election to elect a Probate Court Judge. The Governor makes the decision when election is held. There will be a meeting to discuss this issue and the Council will be informed of the process after it has been determined.
Mayor Delnicki questioned if the Town of South Windsor is showing the Town of Windsor the Animal Control Facility so they can try to pattern that facility? Mr. Galligan explained that Windsor requested to be a part of South Windsor’s regionalization, but it was explained that the cost to shelter their animals would be costly. Town of Windsor will be taking a tour of our facility and will be trying to partner with another Town.
ITEM:
5. Town Manager’s Report (Continued)
Mayor Delnicki felt that South Windsor should get some experience before another Town is being brought into the regionalization.
Mr. Galligan explained that the Windsor Town Council is very adamant on having their own facility.
At 7:15 p.m. Mayor Delnicki recessed the Work Session in order to hold a Public Hearing. The Work Session reconvened at 7:17 p.m.
6. Items for Discussion
A. Design Improvements to a section of Avery Street
Mr. Jeff Doolittle, Town Engineer came before the Town Council. Mr. Doolittle explained that the project consists of reconstructing Avery Street between Kelly Road and Woodland Drive. This project was funded under an application to CRCOG for funding in January of 2007. It was selected as one of ten projects out of twenty-two submitted. A public meeting was held to seek input on the concept in late 2006 before the application was submitted. In 2011 the Department of Transportation reviewed the project for the start of design work and sidewalks were added on the west side of the road to the project. Also in 2011, the Town applied for and was selected for funding under the same program to reconstruct the next section of Avery Street which is south of the section that is proposed at this
time.
Mr. Joe Perna, Project Engineer came forward to describe the project. The project is to reconstruct Avery Street which consists of approximately 1,850 feet from south of Kelly Road to north of Woodland Drive. Also included with the project is the realignment of Beelzebub Road to Woodland Drive at the intersection. The roadway will be 28 feet wide with curbing and proposed storm drainage structures to control the drainage. As part of the project a new culvert would be constructed at the Avery Brook crossing and also there would be drainage improvements at the intersection. There is approximately 8,500 vehicles per day that use this roadway. Sidewalks will be connected to the existing sidewalk system on Gray Road. A crosswalk will be installed on Avery Street to Kelly Road where the
sidewalk system will continue. There will be minor impacts to properties because the Town has a wide right of way requirement, but the Town would need temporary rights to reconstruct driveway aprons. There would be one partial land taking on the church property.
Mr. Doolittle explained that the estimated total cost of this project based on the current plan is approximately $3.27 million dollars. The project is funded through the STP Urban program which is a federal program. The federal government will contribute 80% of the funding for the program, the State contributes 10% and the Town would contribute 10%. The Town share of the project would be approximately $327,000. Construction would not begin on this area under spring of 2015.
ITEM:
6. A. (Continued)
Answering questions from the Council, Mr. Doolittle stated that the construction area is approximately 2,000 feet so it is just shy of one lane mile. The Town would have to take a right of way on the church property and easements to construct drainage across the road. The island on Woodland Drive would remain because there are utilities located in the island. After reconstructing Beelzebub Road to match up with Woodland, a island will be constructed on Beelzebub Road. At this point traffic signals are not being looked at for this area.
Answering further questions, Mr. Doolittle explained that the roadway will be approximately 28’ wide with 4’ wide sidewalk. There is no plans for a dedicated bike lane but the road will be widened so bicyclist could use the street. During construction the roadway will be kept open for traffic.
At 7:30 p.m. Mayor Delnicki recessed the Work Session in order to bring a Public Hearing to order. The Work Session reconvened at 7:37 p.m.
Councillor McCann felt that the engineering of this project should consider providing bike lanes for this road. Bike lanes should be considered any time there is a major reconstruction done to a road or when constructing a new road. Another area that should be reviewed is putting utilities underground. If not with this project itself, then at least put the conduits in. One concern with this project is the history that the Town had further up on Avery Street when another portion of road was done, is the Town had to dig deeper than anticipated. Another concern with this project would be the traffic patterns when construction is under way.
Councillor Prague felt that something should be incorporated in the contract when road construction is being done which would make sure the roads are drivable when construction is not happening at the end of the day. Councillor Prague then stated he feels a new ordinance should be adopted for sidewalks which exempts new sidewalks for about a five year period from having to be shoveled in the winter time. Councillor Prague also stated that he feels the Town should be responsible for maintenance of the sidewalks unless a home owner does something to need maintenance done on that sidewalk. The Town Council needs to do something in order to encourage sidewalks.
Councillor Yagaloff felt that $327,000 to get 2,000 feet of Avery Street done is very good. Councillor Yagaloff requested that stakes be put on properties to show the property owners how this project will impact their property.
Answering questions to Council, Mr. Doolittle state that this would be the third improvement to Avery Street with one of the improvements being on the Manchester side. Mr. Doolittle explained the time line of this project. The staging area has not been identified.
6. A. (Continued)
Deputy Mayor Bazzano questioned if bids are based on timing of that contractor being able to do the job? Mr. Doolittle stated that something could be put into the bid and contract.
Councillor Snyder felt this is a great project and asked if this would be bid by the Town? Mr. Doolittle explained that this has not been determined yet. It may be bid by the Town or the State.
Mr. Doolittle then explained that the Town is going to go through a long design process. There will be opportunities for public input as well as the ability for the public to see what the Town is doing. Re-routing traffic gets done during the design phase and is part of the bid. The staging area will be determined and recommended as part of the bid process. Everything is reviewed with the contractor during pre-construction meetings. Then during construction, the contractor is monitored by the Town or by the State.
Councillor Havens stated that the success or failure of this project is how well the Town works with the residents. It is very important to have Avery Street done and Councillor Havens stated that he is in favor of sidewalks.
Public
Mr. Alexander Jones, 571 Avery Street came before the Council and stated that he is in opposition to this project and does not feel the road is in that bad of shape. Mr. Jones also stated he does not want sidewalks on his property that he would have to maintain. The neighborhood should have a voice on this project.
Ms. Edith Welles, 623 Avery Street stated that her house was built almost 100 years ago and she would be opposed to sidewalks being constructed on her property. Ms. Wells explained that her house is very close to the road and putting sidewalks in, would place her front porch very close to the sidewalk.
Mr. Drew Stolar, 630 Avery Street came forward and stated in general he is in favor of putting sidewalks along Avery Street. Both features of sidewalks and bike lanes add quite a bit to the quality of life. Underground utilities should be considered and then maybe the sidewalks could be moved to the other side of the street, where he lives.
Mr. Roy Normen, 158 Homestead Drive stated that he feels since the sidewalks are on Town property, the Town should be responsible for the maintenance of the sidewalks. He supports sidewalks but would like the Town to have the liability of the sidewalks, not property owners.
Mr. Tom Welles, 639 Avery Street stated that he is also opposed to the sidewalks.
Mayor Delnicki suggested that a workshop be held with the residents in order to get input.
ITEM:
7. Executive Session
None
8. Adjournment
At 8:03 p.m. Deputy Mayor Bazzano made a motion to adjourn the Work Session. Councillor Snyder seconded the motion and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Recording Secretary
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