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. 1, 2005
TOWN OFFICE BUILDING 6:30 P. M.
First Selectman Eldredge called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Blessington & Patton, L. Nicholls, Jack & Shirley Lewis, C. Lyons, G. Prusak, G. St. Louis, R Tulis
First Selectman Eldredge led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SELECTMAN BLESSINGTON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 7/18/05.
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (ELDREDGE, BLESSINGTON & PATTON) 0 NO
SELECTMAN BLESSINGTON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING 7/26/05.
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (ELDREDGE, BLESSINGTON & PATTON) 0 NO
PRESENT TO SPEAK
CORRESPONDENCE
A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office.
PUBLIC WORKS
Lynn Nicholls said that chip seal is ready to be done. The crack sealing is done and the trees have been taken down. We finished paving the curb on Latham and the rest of the areas on the chip seal route. We will be sweeping the rest of the route this week so that will be ready for Monday. We will be working on Turnpike Road. I walked part of it today with Karl. We will contact some of the residents to see if we can edge it back in some areas and smooth out some of the areas and skim coat it with asphalt for now. We should investigate grants for that road since it is a main route into Ashford. We are not touching the Senior Citizens Center for now. We got five inches of rain and it really cannot take it. We looked at the problem on River Road and Fisher Hill. We do not see anywhere that the water is coming in. We received at response from the state about the Hall School turnout. They seem to indicate that they do not want the turnout removed. The school wants it
removed so that vehicles cannot stop there. We will get back in contact with the state to see where the traffic could be relocated. In the past weeks we have cleared off about fifteen little items on the “to do” list.
SNOW PLOW BIDS
The bids were opened and read. Sadow Excavation Inc., Hipsky Construction LLC, and Knight & Sons Construction Corp. all bid the same amount of $85.00 per hour. Hipsky and Sadow each bid two trucks and Knight bid one truck. First Selectman Eldredge commented that we had been paying $70/hr. Selectman Patton said that the price of fuel is going up. Lynn Nicholls said that she talked to Tolland. They do not go out to bid. They only supply the cutting edge but not the plow, blades, calcium tanks or radios. This year they are paying $77.50 this year. First Selectman Eldredge asked how we could do this with four routes and three bidders. Lynn Nicholls said that it is not even just the routes but also the budget. We did not increase the budget this year. This
is an additional $15/hr. We had about 360 hours of subcontractor time last year with a four-hour minimum call in. There was much discussion about how to fairly divide the contract. All contractors are from Willington and they all bid the same thing. Options included dividing the four routes into three or five, including municipal lots, eliminating one company or one truck from one company, flipping a coin or using one company as a backup if one of our trucks go down. Hipsky and Sadow have been plowing for many years and are equipped already if they use the same trucks. Knight would have to be outfitted. Only Sadow bid on stand-by/back-up plowing.
SELECTMAN BLESSINGTON MOVED TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO HIPSKY AND SADOW.
Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE: 2 YES (ELDREDGE, BLESSINGTON) 1 NO (PATTON)
CONNECTICUT BROADBAND
The schools have used Ct Broadband for long distance service for the past three years. The offer from them contains no change in service or the way we do business. They show that they can reduce our expenses by $205 monthly or $2463 annually.
SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED THAT WE GO WITH CT BROADBAND FOR THE TOWN AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE COST SAVINGS. The motion was not seconded.
Selectman Patton asked if the fire departments had been contacted. It was decided to postpone this issue to the next board meeting until the fire departments can be contacted. SBC should also be contacted for their latest prices for comparison.
PERSONNEL POLICY
Selectman Patton asked when and why we are changing personnel policies and if we are going to vote on it tonight. First Selectman Eldredge stated that we are only discussing it tonight to see where we want changes. We would like the people in here to have the same benefits /insurance premiums (these are increasing for the people) same thing as the union.
Section two: First Selectman Eldredge elected to remove the word “non-elected” from the employee section. It was changed three years ago. Selectman Patton objected stating that we are not employees but elected officials. Elected officials cannot be disciplined or fired. You expect them to act in a certain manner, however they do not report to the Board of Selectmen. The board cannot regulate elected officials (only the voters can). That is what this Personnel policy is…a regulation of the activities of the employees. Selectman Eldredge stated that he serves as an elected official and takes a paycheck and he should be under the same regulations (minimum) that I ask my employees. At the end of the year, the federal government states that I
am an employee of the town of Willington. I consider myself an employee. Why would we not hold ourselves to that standard or higher? Selectman Patton responded that “we” (Selectmen) do not hire the elected officials the townspeople of Willington do and they “fire” the elected officials with their votes. Penalties and separations, causes of disciplinary actions, demotions, suspension or dismissals …are you able to do anything of that to an elected official? Of course you cannot. There is nothing you can do to an elected official. These are policies that cannot be applied to elected officials. If you can’t enforce the policy, why have it? First Selectman Eldredge stated that “non-elected” was changed three years ago and he never liked that change. Selectman Blessington said that he didn’t know why that was changed in the first place and he agreed
with Selectman Eldredge that removing that causes no problems. Much discussion followed. Selectman Blessington recommended that we move on to the next section.
Accumulated sick pay. Change would increase the sick leave paid out depending on years of service. Selectman Patton stated that he had a problem with paying out sick time. It was intended to help people if they are ill and not a pension bonus. First Selectman Eldredge stated that it is part of the union contract and he wants to bring it in line with that. Selectman Patton wanted to know the financial ramifications of the change. First Selectman Eldredge asked if there was a question of fairness or should it just be based on financial ramifications. Selectman Blessington said he almost agreed with Selectman Patton except that he did not think it was fair to not give non-union employees the same thing as union employees. Discussion followed about the pros
and cons of union employees and dues and benefits.
Page 23 Definitions: Taking out “non-elected”. We have already gone through that already.
Page 30 Correcting that workers compensation carrier is MIRMA not CIRMA. That could be taken out all together. It doesn’t really matter which one it is.
Appendix A Benefit policy: proposed change to bring non-union into line with union benefits. There was some confusion about the number of hours of part time employees. Discussion to change part time from 20 to 25 hours per week and keep it topped off at 35. Discussion to change sick days from 12 days to 15 days for salary employees. Decided to keep at 12 days a year because salary employees can be more flexible with time off.
Selectman benefits vs. salary employees: All other elected positions considered full-time shall have the option of buying into the Town health insurance according to the Insurance Companies regulations. First Selectman Eldredge said this subject had been discussed in 2003 and he agreed to put it off until after his term. Selectman Patton told First Selectman Eldredge that he tried to give himself the benefit in 2003. Selectman Blessington is tired of Selectman Patton attacking First Selectman Eldredge of trying to give himself benefits. First Selectman Eldredge said that when this was discussed previously he thought they were in agreement that we could put in something that after the next election, whoever becomes First Selectman could have the right to buy the benefits at the cost of
benefits like other full time employees. He thought this would be fair. Selectman Patton said it would have been fair if the First Selectman had done this a year ago but now that the cross endorsement has taken place he has said that now he is going to get insurance benefits. Selectman Patton said it was never discussed with the board until tonight. First Selectman Eldredge was trying to upgrade the personnel policy so that the elected positions could be in line with the other employees. He feels that if this is offensive the effective date for the ability to receive benefits could be 2007—it doesn’t matter to him. First Selectman Eldredge explained you must have medical benefits to protect your personnel assets.
GRANT ADMINISTRATION
The EDI Grant for $99,000 we just need sign offs for. A portion of this will go to Engineering and a percentage will go to construction for the well system.
We need to find out what the regulations are to sign off and get approved for the $150,000 STEAP Grant. First Selectman Eldredge suggests we have the Financial Department do the work for the grants. Selectman Patton suggests we seriously look into consulting a professional so that we do not get into any trouble with the language of the grants. It was decided to get a copy of the EDI grant and First Selectman Eldredge, Terry Hoffman, and Donna Latincsics will meet to decide if they need to hire someone and if it’s in the budget hire someone.
GOOD & WELFARE - None
SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 8:30 P.M.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
VOTE: 3 YES (ELDREDGE, BLESSINGTON & PATTON) 0 NO
Respectfully submitted,
Valerie Pelletier
Acting Secretary
Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100
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