TOWN OF WILLINGTON
MINUTES
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
APRIL 23,2001
Special Town meeting was called to order at 8:00 P.M. by John Patton, First Selectman.
John read the call of the meeting and asked for nominations for a moderator. A motion was made and seconded to appoint Carlton Csiki as moderator of the meeting and another motion was made and seconded to appoint Robert Lisiewski also. The motion for Carlton Csiki was approved.
Mr. Csiki, moderator made a statement and remarks. He stated we are all neighbors in the town. It’s a good town and we should conduct business in that light.
Mr. Csiki had 3 remarks:
Remarks and statements should be made on the call only
Remarks and statements should be directed to the chair
Questions and responses should be directed to the chair.
The moderator read the call of the meeting.
Item I
To decide, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes, Section 8-2, whether to exempt
40 Old Farms Road from the Willington Zoning regulations and propose to the Planning and Zoning Commission to lease the school bus parking there rather than at the Youngerman property.
Everyone should have the right to speak and may speak again if time provides after everyone speaks.
David Ennis made a statement and a motion and was seconded by Mark Bilodeau to approve motion Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes, Section 8.2 the municipal property at 40 Old Farms Road is hereby exempt from the Willington Zoning Regulations, and the town is directed to quit its plan to build a parking lot at the Youngerman site and to submit a proposal to the Planning and Zoning Commission for the leasing of school bus parking space at 40 Old Farms Road.
This motion was inconsistent with the call.
A second motion was made by David Ennis to amend the motion to Item 1 and was seconded by Mr. Hisey.
There was confusion on the motion and the amendment so a suggestion was made to with draw the motion and the amended motion by the four people involved and make a new motion. All four agreed to withdraw their action.
Mr. Ennis made a new motion to approve Item I and Mr. Bilodeau seconded it.
Mr. Ennis, the maker of the motion, chose to speak last.
Discussion followed.
Question would it exempt only 40 Old Farms Road or all town property?
The Statute was not completely clear and there is no case law, which establishes
a ruling.
This motion is to exempt only 40 Old Farms Road from P& Z regulations.
The site at the town office building has lighting, available bathrooms, ample room,
is plowed in the wintertime and activity in the area.
A near by resident has no problem with sound or smell.
A safety issue at the Youngerman property for the buses traveling on Ruby Road, the intersection of the buses pulling out and a security issue.
The cost of securing this property would be about $40,000.
Laidlaw will pay a fee as soon as the decision on the location of parking of the buses is made. They will sign a lease.
Many residents have an issue with the smell of diesel fumes at 40 Old Farms Road; the air quality is a concern. The noise of the buses starting up and running for a long period of time. The volume of buses up and down the road during the day. The parking spaces
available at the town office building limited.
Many residents thought it was a very dangerous move to exempt this property.
The Planning and Zoning Commission would have no input on what could be done at this site. This eliminates special permits, public hearings, no legal actions etc.
Substantial improvement would be the exception.
Other residents thought we should continue as it is now until the end of the contract and come up with a long-range plan.
A motion was made and seconded to call the motion.
The moderator recognized Mr. Ennis to be the last to speak.
Mr. Ennis concerns with the Youngerman property was the safety issue.
We should make the right choice to have the buses in the right place. When this issue was addressed parking the buses at the town office building could not be permitted.
If the Item is approved in 24 hours it could be reversed through a petition already presented to the selectmen for another town meeting.
Vote on the motion to call the motion was carried with three people opposed.
Vote on the motion to pass Item I.
Moderator appointed Tom Smith and Joe Philippi to count the hand votes.
The count was Yes 69 No 91
Motion not carried.
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:59P.M.
Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna J. Hardie
Donna J. Hardie, Town Clerk
April 24,2001
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