The Stonington Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting on this date at 7:00 p.m. at the Stonington Police Station. Present were First Selectman William S. Brown, Selectman Stephen E. Bessette and Selectman Peter L. Balestracci. Also present were members of the public and the press.
(1) Call to Order
Mr. Brown called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
(2) Comments from the Public - None.
(3) Bid Awards / Letters of Agreement - None.
(4) 9-1-1 Street Numbering
Joe Larkin, Zoning Official, forwarded the following recommendations for assigning street numbers in accordance with the Street Naming and Numbering (Emergency 9-1-1) Ordinance. The Assessor concurs with these recommendations.
Map |
Block |
Lot |
Address |
174 |
9 |
7A |
3 Elm Place, Mystic, CT 06355 |
8 |
3 |
1A |
325 River Road, Pawcatuck, CT 06379 |
A motion was made by Mr. Balestracci, seconded by Mr. Bessette and unanimously voted to assign these street numbers as recommended by the Zoning Official.
(5) Correspondence
(a) Letter requesting to increase the number of members of the Permanent Building
Committee from five to nine.
A letter was received on June 8, 2006 from David Christina, Elm Street, requesting that the Board of Selectmen appoint all nine applicants who applied to be members of the Permanent Committee to Study the Needs and Use of Town Buildings, including Town Hall Facilities. Brief discussion was held regarding this request. Mr. Bessette commented that the Board has already made its feelings known with regard to the number of members (5) to be appointed to this Committee. Mr. Balestracci commented it is not necessary to increase the number of members from five to nine. No further discussion was held.
(b) Petition from property owners re: paving
A petition dated May 19, 2006 (received May 26, 2006) was received from Property Owners on Heritage Drive, Squire Drive and Penny Court. The petition states that existing pavement surfaces are severely cracking and failing, and the petitioners request a road overlay to preclude further deterioration of the roads.
Mr. Brown stated he checked with William Stewart, Superintendent of Highways, regarding this matter. Mr. Stewart indicated he has these roads on his schedule and they will be done by mid-August. Mr. Brown stated that the petitioners have been so notified.
(c) Request to use Pawcatuck Park for “River Glow”
A letter dated May 10, 2006 was received from the Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Area Chamber of Commerce, requesting permission to utilize the grounds at Pawcatuck Park for their “River Glow” event on July 1, 2006 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, July 2, 2006.
Board of Selectmen
(c) Request to use Pawcatuck Park for “River Glow” (cont’d.)
A motion was made by Mr. Balestracci, seconded by Mr. Bessette and unanimously voted to grant permission for the use of Pawcatuck Park for “River Glow” on July 1 (or 2) as requested in the Chamber of Commerce’s letter dated May 10, 2006.
(d) Request to use Stonington Town Dock field for Stonington Farmers Market
A letter dated May 5, 2006 was received from the Stonington Village Improvement Association, requesting permission to use the Stonington Town Dock field on Saturday mornings from June 10, 2006 through October 14, 2006 for their Stonington Farmers Market. The Market will be open every Saturday from 9 am to 12 noon (rain or shine). They also request permission for their vendors to continue to sell on Saturday mornings beyond the official closing date for the year. The SVIA supports this practice and it has worked well in the past. Therefore, they respectfully request permission to allow their vendors to use the town dock field through the month of December, 2006.
A motion was made by Mr. Bessette, seconded by Mr. Balestracci and unanimously voted to grant permission for the use of the Stonington Town Dock field for the Stonington Farmers Market as requested by the SVIA in their letter dated May 5, 2006.
(6) Proclamation for CT AIDS Bike Tour 2006
Mr. Brown read the following Proclamation:
“WHEREAS the global epidemic of HIV infection and AIDS requires local, statewide and worldwide efforts to increase communication, education and united action to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS; and,
WHEREAS the Connecticut AIDS Bike Tour is committed to promoting local and statewide awareness to support those infected and prevent further infections by riding throughout the State of Connecticut over 5 days, September 13 - 17, 2006; and,
WHEREAS the Connecticut Department of Public Health estimates that over 20,000 people are currently infected with HIV, with over 6,500 now living with AIDS; and the number of people diagnosed with HIV and AIDS in the United States continues to increase, with over 1.1 million people in the U.S. now infected; and
WHEREAS the organizations involved in the Connecticut AIDS Bike Tour are encouraging a greater understanding of the challenges of HIV/AIDS as they recognize that more people with AIDS are living longer and healthier lives, which requires more resources, greater prevention efforts, housing, and enhanced services; and,
WHEREAS the Connecticut AIDS Bike Tour provides an opportunity to focus local and statewide attention on the HIV/AIDS crisis and to disseminate information on how to prevent the spread of HIV while supporting those living with the disease;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Town of Stonington will observe the Connecticut AIDS Bike Tour 2006 during the week of September 13 - 17, 2006; we urge all citizens to take part in activities and observances designed to increase awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS, to take part in HIV/AIDS prevention activities and programs, and to join the effort to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS.”
A motion was made by Mr. Balestracci, seconded by Mr. Bessette and unanimously voted to approve the Proclamation.
(7) Re/Appointments Boards and Commissions
a. Retirement Committee
A letter dated June 5, 2006 was received from George Sylvestre, Chairman, Retirement Board, stating that the terms of the Retirement Board members expired May 31, 2006. He requests they be reappointed to another five year term. Mr. Brown stated that Selectman Stephen Bessette has requested he not be reappointed.
A motion was made by Mr. Balestracci, seconded by Mr. Bessette and unanimously voted to reappoint the following members of the Retirement Board: Frank Connolly, Edward Habarek, John O’Brien, and George Sylvestre.
(b) Recreation Commission
Mr. Brown commented that an application for appointment to the Recreation Commission was received on June 21, 2006 from Joseph Ciriello, Pawcatuck. He stated that Mr. Ciriello would be a good candidate for membership.
A motion was made by Mr. Balestracci, seconded by Mr. Bessette and unanimously voted to appoint Joseph P. Ciriello as a member of the Recreation Commission, filling the vacancy created by Mark LoPresto’s resignation.
(c) Waterfront Commission
Mr. Brown commented that an application for appointment to the Waterfront Commission was received on June 26, 2006 from Ethan Grimes, Stonington.
A motion was made by Mr. Bessette, seconded by Mr. Balestracci and unanimously voted to appoint Ethan Grimes as a member of the Waterfront Commission, filling a vacancy that will expire June 30, 2009.
(d) Permanent Committee to Study the Needs and Use of Town Public Buildings, Including Town Hall Facilities
Mr. Brown asked his colleagues for their recommendations on appointees to the Committee. Mr. Balestracci put forth the names of Charles Ballato and Steven Small; Mr. Bessette put forth the names of George Brennan and Stephen Singer; Mr. Brown put forth the name of John Gomes.
A motion was made by Mr. Balestracci, seconded by Mr. Bessette and unanimously voted to appoint the following members of the Permanent Committee to Study the Needs and Use of Town Public Buildings, with staggered terms as indicated:
Name Term Expires
John Gomes 06/30/07
Stephen Singer 06/30/08
Charles Ballato 06/30/09
Steven Small 06/30/10
George Brennan 06/30/11
Mr. Brown appointed Steven Small as Temporary Chairperson for purposes of organizing the first meeting and charged the Committee with looking at the facilities of Stonington Town Hall and coming back to the Board of Selectmen with a recommendation.
(8) Old Business - None.
(9) New Business
(a) Set Call for Special Town Meeting
Mr. Brown commented that the Board of Selectmen will set the date for a Special Town Meeting to consider and act on two new Ordinances and an amendment to an existing ordinance. The first new Ordinance will be a tax exemption filing extension for Fibrelite Corporation. The second new Ordinance will grant tax exempt status to the Lighthouse Community Baptist Church as of the date of purchase of real property in the Town of Stonington (October 5, 2005). The third item will be an amendment to the “Ordinance re: Tax Exemption On Motor Vehicles Equipped For Handicapped,” to include property owned by a non-profit ambulance company.
A motion was made by Mr. Bessette, seconded by Mr. Balestracci and unanimously voted to adopt the following Resolution:
“BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that pursuant to Section 3-3 of the Charter, the Board of Selectmen calls a Special Town Meeting for Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Stonington Police Station, 173 South Broad Street, Pawcatuck, Connecticut, to consider and act upon resolutions as outlined in the Notice of Special Town Meeting which will be prepared and attached to the minutes of the next Board of Selectmen’s meeting, at which time said Notice will be approved.”
(b) Resolution Authorizing Superintendent of Schools to sign for OPM Grant
A request dated June 20, 2006 was received from Michael McKee, Superintendent of Schools, that the Board of Selectmen adopt a resolution authorizing him to sign for a Grant Award from OPM. The award of $32,300 is for the Model to Improve Attendance program.
A motion was made by Mr. Balestracci, seconded by Mr. Bessette and unanimously voted to adopt the following Resolution:
“BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Stonington Board of Selectmen hereby certifies that Michael McKee, Superintendent of Schools, is authorized to sign for OPM Grant 05JS432081, Model to Improve School Attendance. Said grant is in the amount of $32,300.00.”
(10) Adjourn
There being no further business to come before the Board, the regular meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kathy A. Kent
Recording Secretary
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