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. 18, 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. Blessington, R. Hisey, P. Latincsics L. Nicholls and R. Tulis. First Selectman Patton led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 7/21/03
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
PRESENT TO SPEAK
John Blessington was present to discuss the letter to Peter Latincsics asking Peter to attend the PZC meeting and that the Board would await a recommendation from PZC on filling the vacant alternate seat. First Selectman Patton commented that he thinks that since the Republicans already have an alternate seated that maybe the Democrats would like a chance to fill the vacancy, that would be fair. Mr. Blessington commented that it was a Republican position and the Democrats are not running anyone for that spot. Rob Hisey commented that he read the letters and wonders why the First Selectman signed the letter when he recused himself at the other meeting. Selectman Lewis commented that letters are sent by the First Selectman. First Selectman Patton commented that he was responding
administratively saying you should go to the PZC meeting. Selectman Lewis commented that you are bringing your personal situation to a Board meeting. Mr. Blessington commented that his letter, as chairman of the Republican Town Committee, was sent to the Board, why is this personal for Mr. Hisey? Is it personal for anyone who speaks up at your meetings? First Selectman Patton commented that for you John it is political, for him it is personal. Mr. Blessington asked why it couldn’t be political for him? Mr. Hisey commented that it is political for him. Mr. Hisey asked why Mr. Latincsics was not sent to PZC after the first letter. First Selectman Patton commented that he should have asked him the first time, that is usually what is done so he corrected it. Mr. Hisey commented that this is political, it is not personal, he doesn’t think this was run right. First Selectman Patton commented that he should have asked
Mr. Latincsics to go to Zoning. Mr. Blessington asked if this was done for all appointments and was told yes they try to do this for all appointments. Mr. Blessington commented that politically speaking, he gets the feeling that this is a stalling tactic; what happens after he goes to PZC. First Selectman Patton commented that the short answer is that the motion has already been considered and it has been rejected so why bring it to the Board again but per your request the process is going through again. Mr. Blessington asked what happens if the PZC recommends that he not be seated, what would you do then? First Selectman Patton commented that he would probably recuse himself; he couldn’t give Mr. Latincsics a fair hearing. Selectman Lewis commented that he would probably do the same thing again. He does not believe that Mr. Latincsics, with his attitudes, is a good
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candidate to be appointed to PZC, my conscience will not allow me to appoint him. Mr. Hisey asked if the voters elect him is it okay? Selectman Lewis said of course. Mr. Blessington commented that he is disappointed, just to say I don’t like his attitude is not going on record as to what is wrong. Selectman Lewis commented that Zoning is so extremely in the face of every property owner that you have to go with your feelings and my gut feeling is that this is not a good person to put on there, this is my opinion. Mr. Hisey commented that he is concerned that the funds that are due to the Willington Hill Fire Dept. have not been disbursed to them. The voters said to give them $84,000; this is public safety and what happens when they run out of money? The Board of Selectmen is
in charge of public safety. Selectman Lewis commented that you should go to the Board of Finance with this issue, this was first brought up by the Board of Finance in March 02 and again this spring. Selectman Lewis commented that it is a Republican board; you have the majority on that board. Mr. Hisey asked who signs contracts. First Selectman Patton commented that the Board of Finance chair and the First Selectman sign that contract. Mr. Hisey asked who is in charge of public safety. First Selectman Patton commented that the chairman of the Board of Finance sent them a letter that said, here is your money, submit your bills and they will be paid, he doesn’t understand what the issue is. Mr. Hisey commented that the issue is that there was a contract when the money was approved. First Selectman Patton commented that they didn’t sign a contract. Selectman Lewis commented that they have the money; it is a Board of
Finance issue. First Selectman Patton commented that he knows about public safety, he was a member of both departments; he was treasurer of Willington Hill. Mr. Hisey asked if we are going to let them run out of money? Selectman Lewis commented that if they run out of money they are letting themselves run out of money. The Board of Finance has the money sitting there for them; you need to bring this up to the Board of Finance. Selectman Eldredge commented that we do sign the contract. First Selectman Patton commented that he does, the Finance chair and the Fire Dept. Selectman Lewis commented that the Fire Dept. has not returned the contract. Selectman Eldredge asked if that is the stipulation, that the Town controls the funds. First Selectman Patton commented that we are not controlling the funds; the Board of Finance said we would like to have the Town do the bookkeeping. Selectman Eldredge asked how do we feel as a
Board, would we be willing to sign a contract with them if this stipulation was not in there? Selectman Lewis commented that we do not have the prerogative to do that. First Selectman Patton commented that the Board of Finance can change it if they want. He does not see why Willington Hill has anything to hide. Selectman Eldredge commented that we as the Board of Selectmen would sign the contract either way, with or without the stipulation. First Selectman Patton commented that the Board of Finance keeps the books, it is their decision; personally I understand what they are doing and if I was still the fire dept. treasurer I would be tickled pink if the Town said they would do the bills. Selectman Eldredge commented that there is some reason why they are not. First Selectman Patton commented that he doesn’t know what that reason is. Selectman Lewis commented that Willington Fire Dept. #1 loves not being bookkeepers and being
firefighters, that’s what they are trained for and what they love doing. Selectman Eldredge commented that he hopes the situation doesn’t go on much further beyond Thursday night’s Board of Finance meeting. I am asking if the Board of Selectmen would be ready to agree to whatever terms they come up with, I believe the contract is identical to the previous one. Selectman Lewis commented that he didn’t believe the 2 Selectmen have a say in this, it is the First Selectman and the Chairman of the Board of Finance. Selectman Eldredge asked if there would be any action by the Board? Selectman Lewis commented that there never has been. First Selectman Patton commented that the original contract was developed by the Board of Finance. Selectman Eldredge asked if the First Selectman would be willing to go along with whatever they reach agreement on. First Selectman Patton commented that it is up to the Board of Finance,
they are the ones that keep the books, and they are ultimately responsible for the money. That’s their decision, they have to feel comfortable with how the money is being spent, where the money is going. There is a vote taken, it is an amount that is a bottom line, that’s what is voted on. The Board of Finance has every statutory authority to change money within line items. Selectman Eldredge commented that he agrees. First Selectman Patton commented that the Board of Finance is elected to run the financial affairs of the Town,
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a year and a half ago they felt that it was prudent for the fire departments to do their bills through the Town; that’s fine that’s their decision. If they decide to change it, that’s their decision. I perfectly understand why they were doing it. Selectman Lewis explained a little history; at one time the Board of Selectmen were responsible for everything, as things grew you couldn’t handle everything so a Board of Finance was created, they are a separate autonomous board. Some people think the Board of Selectman can tell Zoning what to do, you can’t tell Zoning what to do any more than you can tell the Board of Finance what to do, they are an autonomous board, elected individuals. Selectman Eldredge commented that he wanted to be sure that we were ready, or the
First Selectman is ready, when they resolve this issue, to go with whatever resolution. First Selectman Patton commented that it is their issue.
CORRESPONDENCE
A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office. Selectman Lewis asked about the e-mail from Mark Bilodeau. First Selectman Patton commented that this was a request to have an Open Public Bulleting Board on the Town website. The Town Attorney recommended that we not do it.
CCM LAWSUITS AGAINST THE STATE
First Selectman Patton commented CCM is requesting $500 from the Town to participate in these lawsuits. He recommends not doing this. The Board agreed.
FINANCING OF CCM INTERVENTION IN DPUC RATE SETTING
This is requesting the Town to participate in the mutual financing of CCM’s intervention in proceedings regarding CL&P rates for streetlight services for municipalities. The Board agreed not to take part in this.
SET DATE FOR TOWN MEETING
First Selectman Patton commented that we need to go to Town Meeting for an air conditioner for Center School; the request is in the CIP and will come out of the reserve fund. He will go to the Board of Finance with this. The Board agreed to hold a special meeting on 8/22/03 at 8:30 A.M. to set the date for the Town Meeting.
PUBLIC WORKS
Lynn Nicholls, Supervisor of Public Works, commented that they have almost everything done at Center School. The new employee worked at the Transfer Station on Wed. and with the road crew on Thurs. We were able to do a lot of catch up, we are moving along, and chip sealing is going good. First Selectman Patton commented that we were going to have the National Guard do the River Road Recreation area but now we do not know if they can. Selectman Eldredge commented that he thought it was scheduled for a year from March. First Selectman Patton commented if they are back; his thought was to go out to bid and get done what the National Guard was going to do, flatten it out. Selectman Eldredge asked how much money do we have for it? Selectman Patton reported that we spent $67,000 so far
and we had $185,000 appropriated, and $6,000 in donations so we have $124,000. Selectman Eldredge asked what we would go out to bid for? First Selectman Patton commented that he would like to go to bid to make the field flat; finish some of the drainage, take the fill out, balance the site, bring the gravel in and put it on and put top soil on. Once the drainage starts then we can trench and do conduit. Selectman Eldredge commented that his concern is if we go out for bid and it comes in higher than the funds we have. First Selectman Patton commented that he thinks you are looking at $100,000 we have a lot of material there, you are basically looking at equipment time. Selectman Eldredge commented that if we can get done what we need to do with the funds we have he can support it. First Selectman Patton commented that there is $30,000 in the reserve fund for this project. Ralph Tulis commented that if you advertise for bids and they come in
high you could reject them. Lynn Nicholls commented that if you go to bid you probably would not get started until Nov. First Selectman Patton commented that if you get the right
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equipment it is not a lot of work. Selectman Eldredge asked if all the engineer work was done and was told yes. First Selectman Patton commented that he does not think the National Guard will be able to do this; it would be nice to get it started. He will ask John Sahi, Director of Recreation, to look into the National Guard situation and see if we can get a definite date.
TAX REFUNDS
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $81.81 TO SADHAKA B. AHLUWALIA.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $2,303.28 TO MARK S. & CHRISTINE H. COLEMAN.
Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $1,138.03 TO RUTH E. DELISLE.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $7.20 TO SHEILA M. ESTELL.
Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $59.62 TO JOAN GUSTAFSO.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $1,087.63 TO JAYNE E. HOLLOWS & JOHN E. GRUNDSTROM.
Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $1,507.97 TO JEROME J. & MARGARET E. MAAS.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
FIRST SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPROVE A TAX REFUND OF $14.11 TO DIANNE M. PALLO.
Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
REGULAR MEETING -5- AUG. 18, 2003
GOOD & WELFARE
Selectman Eldredge commented that his daughter walks on Navratil Road and there is a rottweiler dog that chases her. First Selectman Patton told him to have her file a complaint with the Dog Warden; he can then give a warning for the 1st incident and then a ticket if it happens again. First Selectman Patton commented that there are a couple of animals roaming on Cisar Road that the Dog Warden is trying to chase down. Selectman Lewis asked where the grievance filed against the Board stands? First Selectman Patton commented that the union should have sent a letter to the American Board of Arbitration requesting a date. Selectman Lewis commented that this could be awfully expensive. First Selectman Patton commented that our attorney said it could be 8 or 9 months, he will talk to the union
representative about it. First Selectman Patton commented that we have a new employee at Public Works and he is working out well.
SELECTMAN LEWIS MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:29 P.M.
Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (PATTON, ELDREDGE & LEWIS) 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Bowen
Mary Bowen
Secretary
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