Town of Willington
BOARD OF SELECTMEN ° 40 OLD FARMS ROAD ° WILLINGTON, CONNECTICUT 06279 ° (860) 487-3100 ° FAX (860) 487-3103
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING AUG. 6, 2001
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING 6:30 PM
First Selectman Patton called the meeting to order at 6:32 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Ennis & Knight, K. Bugbee, W. Gangaway, J. Lewis and reporter from the Chronicle.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SELECTMAN KNIGHT MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 7/16/01 & 7/30/01.
Selectman Ennis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT)
PRESENT TO SPEAK
Wilbur Gangaway was present to report on the progress of the Transportation Committee. They are in the final stages of the 5-year plan but would like an extension until November for their final report. They also need information on insurance coverage for volunteer drivers. They are putting together a resource brochure and will give it to the Board to see if they would like to mail it. Mr. Gangaway asked the Board if the money was available tomorrow when could we build senior housing, would it take 3 years? First Selectman Patton commented that contractors have said it could be done in a year, maybe a year and a half. Mr. Gangaway commented that it would affect the transportation plan. First Selectman Patton commented that you could say 2 to 3 years to be safe. Mr. Gangaway
commented that at the senior’s meeting, they were told the Town could apply for $500,000 but he read an article in the paper that said Windham was getting $700,000.
First Selectman Patton commented that the $700,000 is not just for senior housing. Senior housing is limited to $500,000 on that grant. Mrs. Bugbee asked when applications would be taken for senior housing and First Selectman Patton commented that the Housing Authority would do that but probably not before the ground breaking. Another needs assessment will be done. Mr. Gangaway asked if we had applied for the $500,000 yet? First Selectman Patton commented that he has a meeting regarding that on Wednesday. First Selectman Patton commented that he talked to our insurance agent regarding the volunteer drivers and they would be covered by their own insurance first and then the Town’s umbrella policy. He will ask Ms. Parker to attend the next Transportation Committee meeting and
get this in writing.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED THAT WE EXTEND THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REPORTING DATE UNTIL NOVEMBER 5, 2001.
Selectman Ennis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT) 0 NO
CORRESPONDENCE
A report of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectmen’s office.
UNION CONTRACT
First Selectman Patton commented that the wage increase agreed upon for union members is 3¼%, the insurance co-pay goes to 7% now and 8% in 2 years and we removed the caps. We agreed to look at the
pension plan; it is a defined benefit plan. The contract has been increased to 4 years to eliminate category II. Those are the major issues in the contract. The Board was given copies of the contract last week.
REGULAR MEETING -2- AUG. 6, 2001
First Selectman Patton commented that it was a good negotiation, it was fruitful for the union and the Town did okay, we ended up with a good compromise. Category I & II was always an issue, now it is full time and part time.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE WORKING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF WILLINGTON AND LOCAL #1303-121 OF COUNCIL #4, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO, FISCAL YEAR 2002-2005.
Selectman Ennis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT) 0 NO
LAND DONATION – LIBRARY
First Selectman Patton commented that Daniel North has proposed a gift of two parcels of land totaling 80 acres to the Town on the condition that the land, or the proceeds from its sale, is used for the benefit of the Willington Public Library Building Fund. The Board must let the town attorney know if they are accepting this gift and authorize her to proceed with a title search. A Phase I environmental site assessment has been done and the report came back with everything clean. Selectman Knight wondered why Mr. North did not sell the property himself and just donate the money to the library. First Selectman Patton commented that it is a gift and we do not know why he is doing it this way, it is probably better for him
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED THAT THE BOARD INSTRUCT THE TOWN ATTORNEY TO PROCEED WITH THE TITLE SEARCH AND TO ACCEPT THE PROPERTY FROM DANIEL F. NORTH, MAP/LOT: 06-001-00, 46.00+/- ACRES, V.59, PG. 183; MAP/LOT: 11-030-00, 34.17+/- ACRES, V.59, PG. 183.
Selectman Ennis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT) 0 NO
First Selectman Patton commented that this is a rare gift and well appreciated by the Library Board, it is very welcomed and is accepted with the understanding that it is to be used for the library only.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $506.70 TO MICHAEL FITTS, WIZARDS ADV. TATTOOING.
Selectman Knight seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT) 0 NO
PUBLIC WORKS
First Selectman Patton reported that they will start chip sealing at the end of the week, they are sweeping in preparation for that. Each section of Town is done on a 5-year cycle. Selectman Ennis asked about the dust and First Selectman Patton commented that it depended on the weather and the type of stone used. Selectman Knight asked if the road crew was back to full strength and was told that one is on light duty and Wes Beebe is on vacation. Brian French is working out good. First Selectman Patton commented that he wanted the opinion of the Board; Mike Eldredge is running for First Selectman and it makes it difficult for him to be his direct boss. The Transfer Station was under Public Works before and First Selectman Patton would like to put it back under Public Works. That
would prevent problems in the political season. If there were complaints about the Transfer Station it could be difficult to handle, it could be a very awkward situation. Selectman Knight asked about Mike functioning as the Recreation Director. First Selectman Patton commented that it is not the same thing. I am trying to let you know where I am coming from on this; I need feed back or ideas. Selectman Ennis commented that he will talk to Mike and Wes about it. First Selectman Patton commented that he did talk to
Wes. Selectman Knight commented that it would help to keep some of the stickiness out of the situation. Selectman Ennis commented that it has to be a Board decision for exactly the reasons you mentioned.
REGULAR MEETING -3- AUG. 6, 2001
Selectman Knight commented that he will talk to Wes about this. Gay St. Louis asked what other towns do and was told that the transfer stations is usually under Public Works. Selectman Knight commented that it does make sense under Public Works, even the Assistant Transfer Station Operator works half there and half for Public Works. First Selectman Patton commented that we will talk about this at the next meeting.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO ADD DRAFT OF PERSONNEL POLICY TO THE AGENDA.
Selectman Ennis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT) 0 NO
First Selectman Patton commented that you have a draft of the revised Personnel Policy. It incorporates various policies that were approved over time. He gave copies of this to the Department Heads for their comments and they will get back to him on Friday. One area to be considered is salaried employees, we now have about 7, this is a first stab at it, he tried to incorporate the new with the old. He tried to commingle vacation, sick and personal time. Selectman Ennis asked if this was circulated and was told that the Department Heads received it this evening. First Selectman Patton commented that he is trying to provide structure that is fair to the employee and fair to the Town, please read it and make changes and suggestions.
Selectman Ennis commented that he would like to discuss Mike Eldredge again; he feels strongly that he can go along with this only if Mike is willing to go along with it. We can’t pretend that it is simply a change on paper;
it affects his working relationships, the day to day nature of his job, it could be construed as a demotion for him if it is not in fact a promotion for Wes. On the other hand, he may feel the same as you, that it is a formality that increases the comfort on both sides. If he feels that way Selectman Ennis agrees but if he sees to much of the other flavor in it then Selectman Ennis is against it. First Selectman Patton commented that it is not a promotion or a demotion. It is not a promotion for Wes. Selectman Ennis commented that if you put another layer between a person and his current boss, that’s a demotion, unless you are promoting the other person into a position that now has responsibilities in that area. First Selectman Patton commented that when we separated
it out, it was not seen as a promotion or demotion for anybody, it was solving a particular issue that need to be solved right away. First Selectman Patton commented that he would talk to Mike too. He wanted to talk it over so no one felt it was retaliation. Selectman Ennis commented that he thinks we need to recognize that there is the potential for him feeling this changes the nature of the job. First Selectman Patton commented that this is a unique nature of a municipality. It is just going back to the way things were 2 years ago. This will be discussed at the next meeting.
GOOD & WELFARE
Selectman Knight commented that as far as the Safety Committee goes, he is waiting for the Board of Education. They have not had a meeting, as school approaches, they should have a meeting. They need to look over the package Selectman Knight gave them.
SELECTMAN ENNIS MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:33 P.M.
First Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ENNIS & KNIGHT)
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bowen
Mary Bowen
Secretary
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