CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM COMMITTEE
TOWN OF WILLINGTON
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING
January 7, 2016
Members present: Stuart Cobb, Donna Latincsics, Peter Tanaka, Jim Bulick, John Patton, First Selectman Christina Mailhos, Kelly Trueb (arrived at 6:39 p.m.) Mark Makuch (arrived at 6:42 p.m.), and Barry Wallet (arrived at 6:44 p.m.). Members absent: Steven Vera.
Others Present: Joe Colangelo, Bob Shabot and Kim Kowalyshyn, Selectman (arrived at 7:46 p.m.).
The meeting was called to order at 6:37 p.m. by Jim Bulick.
1. Election of Officers. After determining that there was a quorum, elections were held.
John Patton moved to nominate Kelly Trueb as Chairman.
Peter Tanaka seconded.
Vote: all yes.
First Selectman Mailhos wanted it reflected in the minutes that as Kelly Trueb isn’t here, she has the right to refuse chairmanship.
John Patton moved to nominate Jim Bulick as Vice Chairman.
Motion seconded by Peter Tanaka.
Vote: all yes.
At this time, Kelly Trueb joined the meeting and took over as Chairman after accepting the position.
The minutes were discussed. First Selectman Mailhos noted that the minutes were not listed on the agenda, and as this is a special meeting it can’t be added to the agenda; however, the minutes can be discussed today and voted on at the next meeting.
Bob Shabot spoke on the section of the minutes regarding the sidewalk project. Bob noted that the Vibrant Communities Initiative (VCI) study looked at the South Willington Village and one of the charges of the VCI was to identify the structures in the area and hopefully get those structures listed on the State and National register which then allows the owners of the structures to have access to State and Federal funds for maintenance, etc. of those buildings. The other two components of the VCI study were economic development and zoning overlook. Bob wanted it to be clear that the study had nothing to do with developing or starting another historic district. A historic district like the one around the Town Green has restrictions and the VCI is not talking about restrictions for South Willington. There may be some
restrictions tied in with the State and Federal grants that are made available, but it’s totally different from a historic district.
Kelly Trueb explained that her question to Selectman Kim Kowalyshyn was to see where we were with that study and what they had found. She states in reading that part of the minutes, she can see what might be confusing is where it states “a study was held focusing on the historical district” and that should be changed to area. Kelly said that could be confusing to the general public reading the minutes. She states that their intent was to see if they were any closer to another funding source for that project. Bob states they will be closer to another funding source as soon as the State culture and tourism group acts on the packet of all those historic structures in South Willington. That’s the driving force for the whole recognition of the VCI. First Selectman Mailhos says her sense is
that we will not get any grants for that in the next 18 months, and that the sidewalk project is not something that will happen in this fiscal year. Kelly Trueb stated that before we vote on the minutes, anywhere in those minutes were it says historic district will be changed to historic area, and she will table voting on the minutes until the next meeting when the minutes are on the agenda.
2. Economic Development Commission (EDC).
There was no one present from the EDC and there were no CIP submissions from them.
3. Parks and Recreation.
Joe Colangelo, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission was present. Joe stated that last year, the Parks and Recreation asked for $15,000 in fiscal year 2015-2016 for the fit trail and the Committee reduced it to $5,000. They have not yet used the $5,000 as they are trying to collect more money from fundraisers to add to the already appropriated $5,000. They would purchase a couple of pieces of equipment and get volunteers to install it in the spring. The Recreation Commission wanted to spread a few things out on the trail so that there would be four or five stations, but with only the $5,000 they are trying to do just a couple of stations.
The Recreation Commission is not submitting any new requests. Joe mentioned that they do get nice compliments on the River Road Complex when other teams are visiting. The parking is good and the fields are in good shape. He states they are going to install a new scoreboard in the spring. The shed has been installed and the Little League and Soccer Association can do concessions with the shed. This upcoming year they are looking to add power drops with four total outlets, and that will give them locations for local access to power without having cords running all over the place. They are looking to make the water system work this year as well. The water will be for irrigation; they will have a hose and portable sprinklers to water the fields and will also be able to hose off the pavilion and
playscape. The water is not potable.
Mark Makuch asked how their fundraising was going and if they could do some of these projects without the Town’s money. Joe stated that the fundraising money pays for operations and covers the loss of money at Hall’s Pond which loses about $1,800 per year on lifeguards. He states that a lot of the programs break-even but they are not making a lot of money. Kelly Trueb asked what the revenue advantage was to lighting the field to play night games. Joe stated he’s not sure of the revenue advantage, but it would allow them to host tournament games, parents would be able to attend games by having them start later than 6:00 p.m. and they would be able to have the games run longer if they did start at 6:00 p.m. and not have to stop them at dark. It will make the park more usable. He stated that if they
did have a tournament, they would make some money and it would make a great field better.
The money in fiscal year 2018-2019 is earmarked for a building that would house a couple of restrooms, possibly a kitchen, facilities storage and maybe a small rec office. They would need potable water for that building, and it would go where the shed is now. Jim Bulick asked if they are doing any synergies with the Economic Development Commission as other towns try to develop some kind of synergy to promote each other. Joe stated that they hadn’t thought about that, but they could talk to the EDC about it and connect with some businesses in town.
4. Conservation Commission.
Bob Shabot, representing the Conservation Commission stated in the past, the Conservation Commission always asks for either $50,000 or $100,000 to be set aside for open space each year. He added that they have been unsuccessful with having money set aside for them. He said, however, that the town has been able to find money when the Commission found land that was suitable for conservation and they were able to get grants from the State.
Bob said he wanted to update the Committee on the Farm at the corner of Village Hill Road and Blair Road. About three or four years ago they started working on conserving that farm; which is a 40 acre parcel. Before the owner of the property passed away, he made it clear to his family that he would like his farm conserved. His family approached the State last year to see if there was interest from the State to purchase the development rights. Because its only 40 acres it is no eligible on the State’s scale to conserve land (you need at least 100 acres). In the meantime, the abutting neighbors have come forward and said they are interested in conserving their farm (between 60 and 80 acres) as well on Schofield Road.
The Conservation Commission is working with both families to conserve their farms. The Commission contacted the State and has started the process of conserving both farms. The process starts with contacting the USDA and having a local soils mapping survey for farmland done on both properties and there is no cost to the Town or the family as it is government funded. That process has been started as the Selectman’s Office has sent that request to the USDA’s office in Tolland; based on the recommendation of the Conservation Commission. The Commission hopes by combining both farms (as they are contiguous), the land will be eligible for the State to consider buying the development rights. The Commission feels that the State funding would probably provide most of the funds to buy the development rights, and Bob
stresses that it is early on, but the Town is going to have to put some money toward this project to complete it in the future. The Commission is not looking to take possession of these properties, they feel the properties are best left in private hands; therefore, the families will remain in control of them. The families will only be able to lease or sell that land for agricultural purposes. The Commission is looking to preserve the properties as farmland. Bob feels at this time next year, they will have a better idea as to what funding might be needed; therefore, they just wanted to keep the CIP Committee informed of what funds might be needed in the future. A discussion was then had on the pros and cons of keeping the two farm properties as farmland, rather than housing development.
Bob also wanted to let the Committee know that the Conservation Commission is not interested at this time in buying the 325 acres that is proposed for the gun range.
5. Board of Selectmen.
First Selectman Mailhos wanted to update the Committee on the projects for the current fiscal year. Regarding the Old Town Hall, $100,000 was set aside for the painting renovation and the bid came in at $42,500. The contractor replaced a lot of the siding on the really bad sections of the building prior to painting. The project was done over the summer and it has been completed. $57,500 remains in the plan, which could cover some items on the assessment list. First Selectman Mailhos recently went to a Board of Finance meeting to see if the Board would like the Selectmen to come forward with the requests.
One of the items on that list is the electrical system in that building and the quote for that is $6,000. Other interior restoration work as well as windows needs to be done; however, First Selectman Mailhos feels the electrical work is the most important item on that list and it should be taken care of. A discussion was had as to whether the $100,000 was for just the painting or if that covered some of the restoration also. It was decided to wait until the CIP plan is finished and if they don’t have to plug the $57,500 in somewhere else in the plan, then it will probably be used to do some more needed work on the Old Town Hall.
The next update was the gutter and roof project at the Town Office Building for $80,000. The roof over the upstairs common room (the old Senior Center) cost came in under budget. The gutter that was installed between the original building and the Financial Office also came in at a lower price than originally figured. First Selectman Mailhos stated that a new roof is needed over the Financial Office that would slope up to the original building. Derek Dimmock, Director of Public Works, is working on coming up with a proposal for that.
The sidewalk repair in South Willington had $10,000 budgeted for engineering pending the outcome of the study and as previously reported that won’t be happening this year.
The projects that were approved last year for fiscal year 2016-2017 are the “Town Office Building Masonry and Door Replacement for $45,000, the Town Office Building Renovations” for $70,000 and the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) for $30,000 in fiscal year 2016-2017 and $30,000 in fiscal year 2017-2018. John Patton asked if LoCip funds could be used to pay for the POCD and Donna Latincsics stated she would look into that. The POCD was completed in 2005 and wasn’t approved until 2007; it was amended in 2008 or 2009 adding a couple of maps, etc. Having it amended bought the Town a year or two, but now the time is running out on it.
First Selectman Mailhos discussed the “MS-4 Permit” required by DEEP as this is a new CIP request in fiscal year 2016-2017 for $20,000. They have eased up on some of the requirements, but the Town is still considered having an urban community area because of the apartment buildings in a section of town. A consultant has to be hired to do the permit and there are sections of it where we have to show that we are compliant. Willington and nine other small towns are new to MS-4 and DEEP defines what has to be done and the Town will have to comply. In some areas we are already doing what they require and more often than they require it (cleaning catch basins, sweeping) and that won’t be an added expense. The added expense will be Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE). If our waterways
show up polluted, then at our expense, we have to either hire someone with expertise in that area (if we don’t have anyone with expertise working for us) and find out who is polluting the water and have DEEP go after them. First Selectman Mailhos states we will have to go through some of the process, and it will put a bit of a drain on our resources, but there’s nothing we can do about it.
The next project request is the “Senior Complex Septic Re-permitting” for fiscal year 2016-2017. The current permit for the septic system expires in November of 2017, and will need to be re-permitted as the permits are only good for ten years. This encompasses both the Willington Woods and Button Hill complexes. The rules have changed with DEEP since the system was approved 10 years ago, so the permit may not be a smooth process.
The last item is to “Update the phone system and voicemail system at the Town Office Building.” The current system is aged. If the voicemail system fails, it will not be able to be fixed, as it has been deemed obsolete. The request has been put in for the fiscal year 2018-2019 for $14,500. Peter Tanaka asked if it would be possible to integrate a new phone system into the new computer system (Nutmeg Network) and possibly save money that way. They might want to ask the IT person about that.
Lastly, a request for an “Online Permitting System” has been submitted for $20,000 for fiscal year 2016-2017. The new system would be used in most offices that offer permits, and it is something everyone should start thinking about as it could happen in the future.
Peter Tanaka moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by John Patton. Vote all yes.
Item 6 plan discussion was not discussed.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Eileen Smith
Eileen Smith
Recording Secretary
Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100
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