BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JAN. 16, 2001
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING 6:30 P.M.
First Selectman Patton called the meeting to order at 6:33 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Ennis & Knight, C.R. Csiki and W. Gangaway.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SELECTMAN ENNIS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 12/2/01.
Selectman Knight seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT) 0 NO
PRESENT TO SPEAK
Wilbur Gangaway was present to discuss the grant for a van that the Town has applied for. He is not in favor of it at this time. He is not opposed to the van but thinks we should wait until we have senior housing. The volunteer drivers program started around 1982/83 with a few drivers and grew to 20 drivers. It was run out of the Federated Church but the hours were 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Diane Becker volunteer their staff to field the calls since they were an all day operation. As the program grew Tom Smith asked the Willington Fire Dept. to field the calls and they agreed. The Fire Dept. has performed this service since 1997 at no charge. In 1996 there were 21 documented requests, they ranged from dentist, doctor, eye doctor, hospital and radiation. The towns were Hartford,
Enfield, Stafford, Vernon, Rockville and Willimantic. In 1997 there were 30 requests to the same towns, plus Newington. In 1998 there were 7 similar requests. In 1999 there were 7 requests to Willimantic, Farmington, Mansfield & Tolland. In 2000 there were 6 requests for Mansfield, Hartford and Manchester. Not all calls were documented because some of them were placed directly to the drivers. Some of the drivers are also drivers for the Cancer Society and have made trips to Uncas on the Thames, trips to the Hartford train station for a 6:00 A.M. departure. Three trips were made to Boston and trips were made to transport someone to the hospital in Stafford (sometimes twice a day) to spend precious time with a terminally ill spouse. This is a free service to Willington residents, with no cost to the Town. Mr. Gangaway asked the Board if the Town could provide a better service at a lesser cost? The cost of the van will be
offset by the grant but what will the driver, maintenance, insurance and gasoline cost? Will the service be available 24 hours a day and at what point will it change to 5 days a week from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. When will there be a request for additional staff to keep the necessary records for the state and a dispatcher to handle the calls and set up schedules? Mr. Gangaway checked into alternative modes of transportation. Laidlaw can provide a mini bus and driver for 20 to 30 passengers for $35.00 an hour. Champagne Rental has 7 passenger and 15 passenger vans. The 15-passenger van is $89.95 a day, plus $9.95 for insurance if wanted, 1 week notice is need for this van. The first 50 miles are free and additional miles are .25 cents a mile. The 7-passenger van is cheaper. Mr. Gangaway asked the Board if they believed the need for a van justifies the cost or can we wait a few years? Selectman Ennis asked about the initial
cost. First Selectman Patton commented that the van is free but the operation cost (driver, gas, insurance, etc.) could be around $15,000 for 5 hours per day, 5 days a week.
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES -2- JAN. 16, 2001
Selectman Ennis commented to Mr. Gangaway that part of your point is that the van is less flexible than what you have. Mr. Gangaway said yes, he talk to the Social Service Director and was told the van won’t go to Willimantic or Boston, it would go to Tolland, Vernon, Manchester and that direction. Mr. Gangaway commented that you would loose services and pay more; we have 20 drivers and vehicles. Selectman Ennis commented that in the beginning you had many calls but it has dropped off. Mr. Gangaway commented that many were going for chemo or radiation then. Our drivers would go in with the person if necessary. By the time we get Senior Housing the van will be worn out, this is not the time to get the van. Selectman Knight asked if we were getting the van. First
Selectman Patton commented that we do not know yet. Selectman Knight commented that we applied because of the deadline, if we are accepted, your points will be taken in to consideration. Mr. Gangaway commented that if the Town gets the van, the volunteer services will not be provided. We never asked the Town for any money, the Federated Church and the Cancer Society help and we are covered by their umbrella insurance. He would not be here tonight if we had the money to move forward with Senior Housing. Selectman Ennis asked if there would be any stipulations on the use of the van? If we get it are we obligated to anything? First Selectman Patton commented that we are obligated to meet the rider projections. First Selectman Patton commented that school buses couldn’t be used as livery. Mr. Csiki commented that school buses with S on the marker plate can be used as school buses only, without the S they can be used for other
things. First Selectman Patton thanked Mr. Gangaway and told him that he brought up a lot of good points.
CORRESPONDENCE
Report of correspondence available at meeting and in Selectmen’s office.
MALACK PROPERTY
First Selectman Patton commented that this is a gift that we must decide if we want to accept or not. There are old oil cans that need to be removed if we ever want to do something with the area. They have already leached out, but it is not high enough to be reported. The cost could be around $20,000. Selectman Knight commented that it is not rapid spreading contamination and will not change. Mr. Gangaway asked who put the oil cans there. First Selectman Patton commented that we do not know the generator; it probably was whoever was trying to build the road across the highway. The Conservation Commission looked at the 6 acres and said it would be nice to have. Selectman Ennis asked if there is any scenario for liability before trying to do anything, rather than paying
ourselves taxes on it. First Selectman Patton commented that some day we are going to have to face the problem but DEP will not come looking. Selectman Ennis asked if in the process of looking at this we haven’t established a record anywhere that could be tagged if some aggressive regulation came out? First Selectman Patton commented no, it could cost us about $20,000 to clean up, it is not a bad piece of property; it would be nice to have the 6 acres. Mr. Csiki commented that the property next to it could be bought cheap, it is 14 acres. First Selectman Patton commented that we have been working on this since the fall of 1999; he doesn’t think it will get any worse but we will have to deal with it eventually. The owner of the property did not realize this when he offered this as a gift. Selectman Knight commented that looking back, this is property that we want, and he does not see any reason not to accept it. We did our
homework and it is a piece of property we want. First Selectman Patton commented that the attorney said we just need a letter of agreement.
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES -3- JAN. 16, 2001
SELECTMAN KNIGHT MOVED THAT THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN ACCEPT THE MALACK PROPERTY.
Selectman Ennis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT) 0 NO
SUBORDINATION REQUEST
Case #01-1 is requesting the Town to subordinate a rehab lien in order to obtain a home equity line of credit, at a lower interest rate, to pay off some higher interest school loans. The rehab lien is under $3,000 and the Town is well protected by the value of the house. First Selectman Patton commented that although this is not to refinance an existing mortgage, it meets all other criteria and the person is going to school for a degree.
SELECTMAN KNIGHT MOVED TO APPROVE THE SUBORDINATION REQUEST FOR CASE #01-1 TO THE SAVINGS BANK OF ROCKVILLE.
Selectman Ennis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT) 0 NO
PUBLIC WORKS
First Selectman Patton commented that they are plowing and sanding, hauling sand and salt and fixing the trucks.
GOOD & WELFARE
Selectman Knight asked if the Youth Family &Social Services office was sound proofed yet? First Selectman Patton commented that the window is out and the rest is being done. He has obtained pallets for the basement and will be getting the intern’s schedules.
SELECTMAN KNIGHT MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:15 P.M.
First Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT) 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bowen
Secretary
| 
