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 JUNE 2, 2003
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING 6:30 P. M.
First Selectman Patton called the meeting to order at 6:32 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Eldredge & Lewis, J. Blessington, S. Cobb, E. & E. D’Agata, L. & R. Hisey, R. Knight, M. Makuch,
J. Semmelrock and B. Wiggins.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 5/19/03.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
PRESENT TO SPEAK
Mrs. Wiggins was present to discuss access to the Senior Center on Mondays if someone needed to use the ramp. The front door is locked until 12:30 and the seniors’ lunch is earlier. The president of the seniors has a key but if she is not there the door can’t be unlocked. Tax Collector Gay St. Louis commented that anyone who needs to can knock on her window, which you pass as you come up the ramp, and she will let them in. Mrs. Wiggins commented that some people are uncomfortable with that and will not come for lunch on Monday. First Selectman Patton promised something would be arranged.
CORRESPONDENCE
A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office.
AWARD CHIP SEAL CONTRACT
First Selectman Patton read the bids received: Gorman Brothers-$1.05, Dosch-King-$1.09, All States-$1.27,
Comer-$1.28 and CT Tar & Asphalt-$1.41.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO AWARD GORMAN BROTHERS THE CHIP SEAL CONTRACT FOR THE TOTAL PRICE OF $1.05 AS PER THEIR BID.
Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
FIRE DEPARTMENTS
First Selectman Patton congratulated Eddy D’Agata on being elected chief of the Willington Hill Fire Dept.
Eddy reported that Tom Schneider is Deputy Chief, Dick Claus & Robin Knight are 1st. & 2nd. Officer. Eddy commented that they are trying to work closer with the Board of Selectmen, be informed and told the truth. The Fire Commission Study Committee was supposed to be a study committee; the minutes don’t say anything and the ordinance is being pushed by one person. Individual taxpayers have the right to say something; this looks
REGULAR MEETING -2- JUNE 2, 2003
like a railroad job. He tried to talk to members of the committee but it falls on deaf ears. He looks forward to helping the Town; we do pretty well with what we have, the budget is lower than years ago. He is not seeing any help or encouragement from the Town to try to recruit volunteers, and everything is becoming political. Our deputy chief is tired of going to meetings and not having anyone listen to what he says. We will keep going along and try to do the best for the Town. Some people want to know how we spend our money; it is all in black and white. Lets put an end to rumors, it is creating hard feelings, and he wants to work with Willington Fire Dept. #1, be in the same book, never mind the same page, do more drills and things with them. We have a bunch of good
volunteers at the Hill; he does not know what the answer is. Selectman Eldredge asked if there is more animosity? Eddy commented not among the general members, just the higher up. Selectman Eldredge asked how is the study committee coming? We voted to have a study done to see if it was viable to have a commission and how it could be worked out. Eddy commented that he feels a study committee does not write the ordinance, they should study the pros and cons of doing it; go back to other departments and say this is why we should do this; this is why we shouldn’t do it, not to just come up with an ordinance. Selectman Lewis commented that you should come to the meetings, we discuss different things and if someone has an objection we take the objection and work with them. We come to a consensus. We have a list of other towns that have Fire Com. and their ordinances. Eddy asked if they have talked to other towns on whether the Fire
Com. are working? The minutes are written in a pro Fire Com. way, if there is a question it should be in the minutes. Things should not be rushed. Selectman Lewis commented that we discuss different facets of the Fire Com., if the ordinance passes the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance it would go to Town Meeting. Ed D’Agata, Sr. asked if they looked into how many people would be on it and what the taxes are. The minutes just say that I was critical; I was just asking questions and should not have been labeled as critical. When asked about the cost, Selectman Lewis commented that we don’t know what the cost will be; there will not be paid personnel. We did talk about line items and how they would be handled. When a representative of Willington Hill did not like the idea of going to the Board of Finance every time they want to change a line item but there must be some accountability so we agreed the Fire Com. could
do 10% of a line item once a fiscal year; he agreed. Another question was who will be on it. We don’t know who will be on this commission, we talked about fire dept. members inactive for 1 or 2 years, the Hill wanted 3 years inactive and we said okay, we are working together. Eddy commented that he is not here to discuss the ordinance; he is here to discuss his disgust in the way things are going. Rob Hisey asked about the Board of Finance being involved and was told there is a representative from the Board of Finance on the committee. Mike Makuch commented that their concern is that to put in the time we have, we are obviously passionate. Some concerns of other towns are that the Fire Com. is made up of people with an grind to axe. The Board of Selectmen have been concerned for years about consolidation, this seems to make a 3rd volunteer group. Is this a good idea? First Selectman Patton commented that he thinks it is a
good idea, because being on both sides of the fence, and he also see that every year the fire depts. go to the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance with capital requests. Every year he sees people that are well intentioned, even on the Board of Finance side, not really understanding what the fire dept. does, not really understanding what the requests are, not really understanding what is going on at the fire depts. What I see a Fire Commission doing is the fact that you have some people that basically are specializing in that; that can handle capital requests/long term planning; that can handle the budgetary requests. People that take a little more active interest in how the fire dept./emergency services work. Looking at it from the Town’s prospective, that’s really what the Board of Finance is supposed to do, they don’t have that expertise; the Board of Selectmen doesn’t have that expertise. What he sees is the fact that you
have volunteers, however many there are, there to oversee from the Town’s prospective to make sure the emergency services are being done correctly. It is not meant to be an additional burden; from his prospective, it is looking at it and saying yes we feel comfortable with how the emergency services are working; if there are issues over territories and you need to look at if the territories make sense as the Town grows. The Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen does not know. That’s where you have a body of knowledge from the Town’s prospective, the Town’s point of
REGULAR MEETING -3- JUNE 2, 2003
view. The regulations continue to increase, fire safety or OSHA, it gets worse every year. What happens when we don’t care if the training is done properly or something happens. It is important, we need to make sure the Town is protected. He feels more comfortable with this than anything else he has seen. You have a commission of volunteers that specialize in this. Someone that can talk the budget and see how we can spend our resources, the next couple of years the resources are not going to get any better. First Selectman Patton commented that’s where I’m coming from, that’s why I think it is a good idea. Eddy asked if we have people that go to these meetings and ask questions, will it get in the minutes. Selectman Lewis commented to
E. D’Agata, Sr. that we let you speak all through the meeting. Mr. D’Agata commented that he was called critical. First Selectman Patton commented that we will get a paid staff member to take the minutes. Selectman Eldredge commented that this is a study to see if a fire com. would work. He gets the feeling that the Hill thinks there are more cons than pros. Eddy commented that he is not against it; he does not have enough information. He thinks this is making it a lot harder to do the job. Selectman Eldredge commented that he would like to feel that your people support this when we vote on it; he wants to know what pros and cons you see. Robin Knight commented that he does not mind a Fire Com. as long as it is done right. We must follow OSHA
regulations. He hopes the Town is doing something about other commissions in Town also. You need a commission where someone can go with a complaint without giving their name. Stuart Cobb, Willington Fire Dept. #1, commented that we like what we see in terms of the draft document and support the Fire Com. First Selectman Patton asked when their truck would be in and was told in a week and a half. Selectman Lewis invited everyone to attend the meetings; we are making sure that both fire departments keep their separate identities. Eddy commented that the way the ordinance is written is very important. Selectman Lewis commented that we have spent 12 hours wordsmithing it, it will go to the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Finance and the Town Attorney before it goes to Town Meeting. First Selectman Patton commented that people are human, if you have an objection and they can solve it, they will. Mr. D’Agata commented that the
questions I raised were economic concerns. Gay St. Louis, Revenue Collector, commented that she understands that anyone can go to the Board of Selectmen about a town employee. First Selectman Patton commented yes but the Planning & Zoning Commission controls the Planning & Zoning Office.
AWARD SMALL CITIES CONSULTANT CONTRACT
First Selectman Patton commented that we advertised for a consultant for the Small Cities Program. Only one firm replied, L. Wagner & Associates, and that is the firm we have now. First Selectman Patton recommends that the contract be awarded to that firm.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED THAT WE AWARD THE CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL SERVICES REQUIRED TO PREPARE SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS DURING THE PERIOD 7/1/03 – 6/30/05 TO
L. WAGNER & ASSOCIATES AS PER THEIR PROPOSAL.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
RESOLUTION FOR DEPT. OF SOCIAL SERVICES
First Selectman Patton commented that the Dept. of Social Services is giving a grant of ½ million dollars for the Senior Center. A resolution is needed for this.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED THAT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BE ADOPTED:
RESOLVED: THAT THE FIRST SELECTMAN, JOHN PATTON, IS EMPOWERED TO ENTER INTO AND AMEND CONTRACTUAL INSTRUMENTS IN THE NAME OF AND ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT FOR THE SENIOR CENTER, AND TO AFFIX THE CORPORATE SEAL.
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Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
PUBLIC WORKS
First Selectman Patton reported that they are milling, mowing and sweeping. The State has milled 320N and brought the mils to the state pit, we got them. Sweeping will continue until August, they have only been able to sweep two days a week; the weather is either too wet or too dry. First Selectman Patton commented that they are currently interviewing for the position of Supervisor of Public Works. Robin Knight commented that he hoped references would be checked thoroughly. Rob Hisey commented that that’s an important point; get someone they can work with, not someone who will tell them what to do and someone who will work with them. Everyone agreed that the Public Works department does an excellent job.
SET DATE FOR TOWN MEETING
First Selectman Patton commented that we need to set a date for a Town Meeting for a lease option for 75 years for the piece of property for the senior housing. The New Samaritan Corp. will apply for HUD 202 before June 15, 2003. They need to be the leaseholders. First Selectman Patton read the lease option. Rob Hisey asked if the tax abatement must be sold off? First Selectman Patton commented that the tax credit they are talking about is property tax abatement. Rob Hisey asked if New Samaritan is bound by HUD rules? First Selectman Patton replied yes.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO HOLD A TOWN MEETING, TO APPROVE A LEASE OPTION WITH THE NEW SAMARITAN CORPORATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SENIOR HOUSING PROJECT, ON JUNE 12, 2003 AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HALL.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
GOOD & WELFARE
Selectman Lewis commented that even though it rained the Memorial Day ceremony held inside the Town Hall was great. General Boomer and John Patton gave good speeches. A plaque was presented to Theresa Rada for Joe Rada. Discussion on the flags followed, many have been taken and had to be replaced. Selectman Lewis suggested leaving the flags up until the last Willington person comes home from Iraq. This will be done.
UNION GRIEVANCE
Selectman Eldredge recused himself and left the meeting.
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO SUSPEND THE MEETING TO GO INTO UNION NEGOTIATIONS AT 7:53 P.M.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (PATTON & LEWIS) 0 NO
SELECTMAN LEWIS MOVED TO COME OUT OF NEGOTIATIONS AND ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:10 P.M.
First Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (PATTON & LEWIS) 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bowen
Mary Bowen, Secretary
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