BOARD OF FINANCE
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING
40 OLD FARMS ROAD
WILLINGTON, CT ~06279
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Thursday, July 16. 2015
Members Present: Members Absent:
Alan Ference, Chairman Annemarie Poole
John Patton, Vice Chair Vacancy - Alternate ~
Jim Bulick
Robert Wiecenski
Elizabeth Treiber
Geoff Prusak – Alternate
Also Present: Christina Mailhos, 1st Selectman, John Blessington, Selectman; Tish Ignatowicz, Treasurer; Tony Guglielmo, Senator; Many Town Residents
Chairman Ference called the meeting to order at 7:10 P.M.
SEATING OF ALTERNATES
Elizabeth Treiber motioned to seat Geoff Prusak for Annemarie Poole. ~Jim Bulick seconded. ~All were in favor, motion carried.
PRESENT TO SPEAK – no one
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of June 18, 2015 was made by Jon Patton, Robert Wiecenski seconded. ~All were in favor, motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Dial-a-ride Request
A memo was received from Jennie Arpin, Director of WYFSS requesting funding to WRTD - Dial a ride. Discussion was held. More information is needed and the matter was tabled till the next meeting.
Robert Wiecenski motioned to table till our next meeting. Geoff Prusak seconded. All were in favor, motion carried.
Board of Finance -2- July 16, 2015
Appropriation regarding the Connecticut State Police Firearms Training Facility Relocation
1st Selectman Mailhos presented the Board with a letter with a request for the appropriation of funds to cover the cost of professional services to oppose the facility sited on Ruby Road.
Caleb Hamel, Land Use Attorney, explained the need for the funds. They will be used to hire several consultants, appeals decisions and defensive actions.
Christina Mailhos mentioned forming a steering committee to take care of managing this.
Senator Guglielmo spoke to the group. He talked about political pressure and making it aware that we are not going away. He is in contact with a number of groups i.e. DEP, DPS, DAS, DPM and office of legal research and is putting together other options. He is concerned with the State of Connecticut spend money that doesn't need to be spent. He said that there is a state of the art facility at the Groton Sub Base.
Chairman Ference asked for comments from the audience.
Andy Matthews, Wilderness Way, said that he is speaking on behalf of his family and thanked everyone for coming. He told the Board that they need our support to help the Town and that time is of the essence. He's willing to pay higher taxes if need be.
Donna Cook, Common Road, states the quietness and serenity being what Willington is. They are looking to put up a 55,000 square ft building and the state is being secretive. She said that there will be a 30% decrease in property value and the water and air quality will be less. She asked that the board fund this request.
Donald Parizek, 70 Trask Road, spoke of the future of the Town being at stake. Children enjoy the peace and quiet. This is a huge facility and the critical time is now, we must be proactive now. We must send a strong signal to the State and back legal counsel.
Stef Summers, 4 Y Road, she is with the unwillington group. She feels that money speaks loudly. She appreciates that the Board keeps the budget under control but now we need this. There is secrecy and lack of detail and that this is dam scary. She is afraid of what this will do to Willington's character.
Diana Shain, 241 Jared Sparks Road, asked the Town to put out the money. The Governor has the power to stop this. They will keep going until a hirer up tells them to stop. We need to send the message that we don't want it. She added that the funds will not be spent immediately until the study s released.
Robert Testa, Meadow Lane, spoke of this being a classic quiet town. He has worked hard to pay off his mortgage early and if he stays here the property value will go down. He has written dozen of letters in opposition of this and stressed that Willington needs to stay the way it is now.
Winnie Hart, stated that the facility will ruin what the Town is and that people will move out. The State facility will not be revenue for the Town.
Board of Finance -3- July 16, 2015
Mary Kozicki, 79 Old Farms Road, echo's everyone's sentiments. This is a critical moment, Willington will not be what it is now. She is pleased that Mansfield and UConn is getting involved. It is critical to have legal representation to find out what this evolves.
Geoffrey Ecker, 242 Tolland Tpke, State puts us on a list and we need to spend money to put this in our favor, which is fiscally responsible.
Carole-Lynn Saros, is part of the unwillington group. They have their own lawyer who says that we have a chance of defeating this. There is a 45 day window after the EIS is released. There are 1800 households which would be $55 each. This is our town and Willington will be more.
Dave Lipman, Ruby Road, stated that he's counting on his house to retire. This is a small amount of prevention. He spoke about the effect on taxes and real estate that are no longer on deposit because of this potentially happening.
Mark moved to Willington and would not of considered it.
Jessica, Wilderness Way, feels grateful and blessed to live here. She has a 2 year old and is concerned with his education.
Chairman Ference said he's interested in this moving forward with the best process. The is a Town wide issue and he would like to see it go to referendum. Everyone should be given the opportunity to vote.
Elizabeth Treiber said that the Town should have the vote.
Robert Wiecenski mentioned the gun range in Mansfield and that we will get some taxes.
Mitzi Horowitz, Pine Crest, said that this will be federal and international, more than just a gun range.
Lisa Lugenbuel, Wilderness Way, asked how long the referendum will take. August 4th if the Board of Finance votes.
Selectman Blessington said that there are people in town that re in favor and urges this to go to referendum.
A Willington resident stated that we are behind the 8 ball because the state has been working on this for two years now.
Ralph Tulis, Village Hill Road, mentioned that the property is valued at $28,000. He is concerned with the future of our next generation. He liked the idea of approving $20,000 tonight and having $80,000 to go to Town Meeting. He strongly agrees that not just the people in this room should have a say and that this should go to referendum.
John Patton said that in the past when there has been a State project we have hired a consultant to evaluate what the State was doing. This is a very comprehensive project that we're trying to do, so maybe $100,000 is not a crazy number. He liked the idea of a referendum. There are people in town that are in favor of this project are afraid to make their voices known and they more or less have been shot down and told their stupid.
Board of Finance -4- July 16, 2015
John Patton motioned to call a Town Meeting to appropriate $100,000 from the Gen. Fund balance to 503 capital projects for the purpose of hiring legal and environmental professionals to assist the Town of Willington to evaluate the State Police Firearms Training Facility relocation project in Willington. Alan Ference seconded, all were in favor, motion carried.
Chairman Ference said that it's encouraging this many people come out for a cause that they're passionate about. There are many commissions and board in town that are in need of volunteers. Come to the town and see what is available. We have to make decisions on a eight million dollar budget and we don't have this many people.
OLD BUSINESS - none
CORRESPONDENCE
GOOD & WELFARE
Selectman Mailhos informed the Board that the Finance Server was flooded. 100% of the information has been recovered and the insurance will cover the cost.
She also informed the Board that the Town Clerk is out on medical leave for a while and the will need coverage.
ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra L. Lewis
Debra L. Lewis
BOF Recording Secretary
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