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 MAY 19, 2003
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING 6:30 P. M.
First Selectman Patton called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Eldredge & Lewis, J. Barrett, R. Bernard, D. Ketchum, J. Semmelrock, H. Shay and L. Yau. First Selectman Patton led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 5/5/03.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
PRESENT TO SPEAK
Robert Bernard, of Mirtl Road, was present to discuss the part of Mirtl Road that is closed to traffic. He finds it inconvenient to walk or bike there. Is it possible to remove the center stones? First Selectman Patton commented that there should be room for pedestrians and bikes to go through. Mr. Bernard commented that there is not; someone has piled branches and stones there. First Selectman Patton commented that that was not the idea, we will open it.
David Ketchum was present on behalf of Sean Ketchum. On April 15, 2002 Sean was given permission by the Board to do an Eagle Scout project on the Town Green. The project is now complete. The project included a pole-ground strap, new pulley system, new electrical box, nighttime spotlight system, flagpole landscaping and brush cleanup near the Town Hall.
CORRESPONDENCE
A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office.
OLD BUSINESS
First Selectman Patton commented that regarding the dog situation, he sent letters to the owners after he passed them by the Town Attorney, and she said to make sure they get their due process. Selectman Eldredge commented that it was a good letter. First Selectman Patton commented that he talked to Cheryl Laska; they got rid of the fence and expended the kennel. They keep the dogs in the house and let them out to the kennel one at a time. Selectman Eldredge asked if he had heard from the other person? First Selectman Patton said no; he also talked to the Commissioner of Agriculture. The Commissioner felt comfortable with what we are doing, there is discretion on the part of the Dog Warden, there is nothing that says you must take notes but it is good practice. The Commissioner
will call some of the people and he will talk to the Attorney General’s office about similar issues. First Selectman Patton commented that we will do what we can with it.
REGULAR MEETING -2- MAY 19, 2003
HAY BIDS
There was only one bid for the haying of the Fenton-Ruby fields after July 15, 2003.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO AWARD THE HAYING OF THE FENTON-RUBY FIELDS TO KEITH & JANE MAC DONALD FOR $61.25 AS PER THEIR BID.
CHIP SEAL BIDS
COMPANY CRS-2 SPREADER ROLLER
All States $1.09 $.09 $.09
Commer 1.08 .10 .10
CT Tar & Asphalt 1.21 .10 .10
Dosch-King .95 .09 .05
Gorman Brothers .86 .10 .09
The bids will be looked over and awarded at the next Board meeting.
PUBLICATION
John Barrett and Linda Yau publish monthly magazines for Coventry, Glastonbury and Tolland. They showed the Board some of the magazines. The magazines are community publications with information from the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Education, etc. it gives information and news and opens communication between the community and the Town, it pulls the town together. They would like to do a combined monthly magazine for the towns of Willington, Ashford and Mansfield, called WAM Horizons. They do take advertising to pay for it. They do a lot of articles on people, new business in town; they work with Eastern Highlands Health District and have a kid’s page. Selectman Eldredge asked if they publish monthly and was told it is actually 10 times a year. Linda commented that taxes
do not pay for this. Selectman Lewis commented that they should also get in touch with Valerie Pelletier, chair of the Economic Development Commission. First Selectman Patton commented that we use to have the Courant and the Chronicle, now we have nobody, my concern is how do you sustain it and who writes the articles. Linda replied that they write the articles. John Barrett commented that Tolland stopped their newsletter and uses the magazine. First Selectman Patton asked if they would be willing to work with others who do newsletters, like the seniors, etc. and was told yes. Selectman Lewis commented that we have been looking for something like this for a long time. Mr. Barrett commented that each town would have their own pages in WAM, we are looking for cooperation and for contributing articles, we are not political. Linda commented that we are not here to publish bad information. Selectman Eldredge commented that it
certainly seems good to him. Linda commented that they need help with hiring a sales staff. If anyone is interested they should call 860-742-1788, we also need support from the Post Office. Linda asked the Board what there needs are? Selectman Lewis commented that we need to get information out. First Selectman Patton commented that we have a website and people are reading it more and more. Mr. Barrett commented that we do press releases and historical articles also. Selectman Eldredge asked if they had gone to Ashford and Mansfield yet and was told not yet. Mr. Barrett commented that they need a list of community organizations. Selectman Lewis commented we need you. First Selectman Patton commented that he could see a lot of neat articles for this. Mr. Barrett commented that communities love us; we are a vehicle for information, not classifieds. Linda commented that we also have theme issues. The Tolland
magazine is about 32 pages but they think WAM would be about 48 pages. Selectman Eldredge commented that it sounds very good. The Board thanked them for coming.
GOOD & WELFARE
Selectman Eldredge commented that Al DeCicco is home and doing well. First Selectman Patton commented that Willington Day is a week from today.
REGULAR MEETING -3- MAY 19, 2003
UNION GRIEVANCE
Selectman Eldredge recused himself and left the meeting. First Selectman Patton read the grievances into the record:
A step II grievance has been filed by Mike Eldredge, Transfer Station Operator, article 4.0(B), 15.1 but not limited too. Violation: Reduction of 8 hours per week from 32 hours to 24 hours is in violation of article 4.0(B) which states “Transfer Station Operator: thirty one and one-half hours (31 ½) per week, four days per week. Adjustment required: Restore grievant to 4 days per week at the Transfer Station. Make grievant whole.
A step II grievance, Class Action has been filed by the Public Works Dept. for Driver/Laborer, article III; 3.3(A) but not limited too. Violation: The contract calls for the posting of all vacancies for a period of 5 days. The above stated position has not been duly posted. Adjustment required: The Driver/Laborer position shall be posted and filled as a 40 hour per week position within 30 days.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:42 P.M. TO DISCUSS THE ABOVE GRIEVANCES AND INVITED HELENE SHAY, AFSCME COUNCIL 4 AND JEFF SEMMELROCK, UNION REPRESENTATIVE.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (PATTON & LEWIS) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:45 P.M.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (PATTON & LEWIS) 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bowen
Mary Bowen
Secretary
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