Town of Willington
BOARD OF SELECTMEN • 40 OLD FARMS ROAD • WILLINGTON, CONNECTICUT 06279 • (860) 487-3100 • FAX (860) 487-3103
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SPECIAL MEETING AUG. 31, 2006
SELECTMEN’S CONFERENCE ROOM 5:00 P.M.
First Selectman Eldredge called the meeting to order at 5:03 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Patton and Lewis and L. Nicholls, Supervisor of Public Works, Carlton Csiki, Mark Palmer and Attorney Duncan Forsyth.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
FIRST SELECTMAN MIKE ELDREDGE MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 23, 2006. Selectman John Patton seconded. VOTE: all yes (Eldredge, Patton, Lewis).
FIRST SELECTMAN MIKE ELDREDGE MOTIONED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 24TH MEETING BUT WANTED TO ADD THAT SELECTMAN LEWIS SLAMMED THE BOTTLE ON THE TABLE AND IT HIT HIM IN THE HAND AT THE SAME TIME IT FLEW OFF THE TABLE.
Selectman Patton was surprised at the level of detail in the minutes; it was a bit too much. There is no reason to have so much detail other than to forward any agenda Eldredge may have. Since we’re being so demonstrative and descriptive he might as well go all the way and continue with the drama and submit an alternate set of minutes.
“It was a sunny, mild August afternoon. Before the meeting began, the three selectmen were busily preparing for the upcoming 3:00 PM gathering. As the appointed hour approached, the Public Works Supervisor, Lynn Nichols, arrived along with her trusty crew leader, Lucien Bessette. With all of the members present, the meeting began moments before three. Lucien stated he was there because he was asked by the First Selectmen to report to his office. First Selectmen Eldredge looked at him suspiciously and said he wished to speak to him alone. Surprise flashed across the other selectmen's eyes. “Why would you need to speak to him privately?” asked Selectman Patton. “I am conducting an investigation and I still have the right to do that!” First Selectmen Eldredge answered loudly. As Selectmen Patton and Lewis
looked questioningly at Eldredge, Patton asked “Are you going to tell us what the investigation is about?” Eldredge quickly answered “I am not ready to tell you.” Just then, Lucien arose from the table and said quietly, “I do not wish to be a part of any secret investigation.” and left the room. The matter was dropped - for the moment.
The Public Works director then discussed the daily challenges which face her. Today, her small crew was grading roads and bus turn-arounds, mowing road-sides and the transfer station. Linden Tree Service was still cleaning up storm damage from the previous week. Even Lynn herself was investigating catch basins – some long forgotten and others just in need of repair or maintenance. Questions were asked and answered, the meeting going smoothly. Bills, timecards and leave requests were passed from selectmen to selectmen for their initials indicating approval without fuss. However, as sometimes happens, a bill from the attorney was passed back and forth between Patton and Lewis not initialed and unapproved. Questions surfaced about the $728.00 bill. No answers were forthcoming and Patton simply asked for a copy of an
analysis that was described in the bill. Patton and Lewis seemed perplexed by the content and amount of the bill incurred by the First Selectmen since no mention of this was ever made before. They all agreed to hold off processing this bill until their scheduled time with the attorney on August 31st where more light could possibly be shed.
The Selectmen progressed through their meeting agenda. Their minds and discussion focused on setting up future meeting dates. Monday, August 28th and Wednesday, August 30th were quickly identified as appropriate days and they would compliment the already scheduled August 31st meeting.
With the meeting days selected, this get-together was headed towards adjournment when Selectmen Patton asked “What about that investigation you are conducting?” Eldredge stared at him and replied “I am just investigating and I'm not ready to report it to the board.” To the visible dismay of some, Lynn Nicholls then commented “I thought everything was going before the Board?” The First Selectmen reiterated “I am not ready to tell the Board anything.” Nicholls continued “I thought I was going to be able to schedule my crew but like today, I returned your call asking to bring Lou in to see you as soon as I got the voice mail.” Eldredge smugly said “I called you twice.” Frantically, Lynn said “My phone is on twenty four hours a day, I was inside
catch basins and I may have been out of service.” Eldredge then cocked his finger as if it was a gun and pointed at her accusingly and said “I called you at nine AM. and the message I got said your phone was shut off.” A look of amusement swept across Selectmen Patton's face because he realized there is no such message. Nicholls was becoming alarmed and upset at Eldredge's accusatory tone as she said again “My phone is never off!” Selectmen Lewis then spoke to directly to First Selectman Eldredge and calmly but firmly said “Mike, you should be careful of calling people a liar.” Eldredge responded, “I am not calling her a liar, I am saying her phone was shut off!” Lewis repeated himself in a stronger manner. Eldredge then pointed his finger at Lewis and said angrily “Jack, I'm tired of your threats.” Lewis sitting across the table from Eldredge pointed back and said “I am not threatening you, I'm telling you are
calling her a liar.” Selectmen Patton's head looked back and forth as the Selectmen verbally jousted. Nicholls and Bowen backed away from the table. Lewis rose from the table and the water bottle that he held in his left hand came crashing down onto the table and escaped his grasp. It flew off the table towards the First Selectmen's office. A cry of “It hit me” arose from Eldredge. “Call the State Police.”, “Someone call the State Police!” he bellowed. Bowen cried out for her deity and retreated to her office and Nicholls went to the nearest hallway. Eldredge whimpered “Look, it hit me here on my hand.” Patton looked at the scene with incredulity. From the other side of the table, Lewis cried out “Mike, you're an <deleted>. You're just an <deleted>.
Eldredge then begged for a motion to adjourn which Patton made and Eldredge seconded. All the selectmen were in favor of this motion. The echoes of the cries were still reverberating as all that were present scattered to their respective areas.”
First Selectman Eldredge took exception to when it said he rose from the table--he wants the minutes to say that he did not rise from the table. Assorted suggestions were given to how the minutes should stand: the addition to the original minutes as First Selectman Eldredge suggested or the new version.
Selectman Patton noted that we haven’t even had a motion to approve the minutes yet. Selectman Lewis felt the other set of minutes that involved what happened at the meeting, what the minutes cover and leave out the melodramatic stuff; otherwise use the second set of minutes. He feels we should stick to what happens at a meeting, what the business is that is covered.
selectman lewis motionED to approve the aMENDED version of the minutes deleting the part where it says first selectman eldredge stood up. SELECTMAN pATTON sECONDED. vote: 2 YES (PATTON, LEWIS), 1 no (ELDREDGE).
Discussion continued on keeping the minutes to the business that was conducted at each meeting.
SELECTMAN LEWIS MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 28, 2006. SELECTMAN PATTON SECONDED. VOTE: all yes (ELDREDGE, PATTON, LEWIS).
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOTIONED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 30, 2006. SELECTMAN PATTON SECONDED. VOTE: all yes (ELDREDGE, PATTON, LEWIS).
DISCUSSION OF PERSONNEL POLICY
Selectman Patton had emailed Attorney Forsyth his concerns; one is comp time and the other is Public Works. He had received Attorney Forsyth’s memo today concerning Public Works saying the motion passed on August 21, 2006 by the Board of Selectman was in fact legal. The First Selectman has no statutory authority concerning the First Selectman’s expressed belief that he had to meet statutory requirements that he had authority over Public Works. Selectman Lewis asks Attorney Forsyth if investigations will now be done by the Board of Selectman. The attorney noted that anyone of the board that has a concern or a problem can investigate an issue and bring it to the board—there is unilateral action.
Selectman Patton explained to First Selectman Eldredge that if you are trying to gather information from someone in a department that is fine but in the in the case of Public Works Department things will be more sensitive. First Selectman Eldredge says that the attorney’s memo states that we are not in violation of CT State Statutes but that Public Works was always under the First Selectman and he thinks this will deter from the day to day operations of the town. He questions why should he have less authority than when Mr. Patton was First Selectman. Selectman Patton noted that there is disarray in the Public Works Department. People are stressed out-- not from overwork but from trying to figure out who is stabbing them in the back. There is paranoia in the department. The working
conditions in the department are intolerable—this goes from management down to the employees. This hasn’t happened since 26 years ago when the union was formed. First Selectman Eldredge said have been meetings with the union which he stayed out of—Selectman Patton noted that one was with Mr. Blessington so you’d have to check with him and a second time when they were going to do some sort of counseling—they were trying to figure out what they were going to do—you have a Public Works Department where the managers don’t get along and where the workers don’t get along;; whether the First Selectman wants to acknowledge it or not, the fact that his son-in-law works there is an issue for the employees who are there; the problem needs to be resolved. Eldredge feels he is being singled out but Selectman Patton sees no other practical way to do this. If he headed the department there would be complaints that this
was a conflict of interest. Selectman Lewis doesn’t have the time. It has been his experience that if the Public Works Supervisor was allowed to do her job things would get done—you offer the oversight and the direction. These meetings cut into Selectman Patton’s and Selectman Lewis’s work time but they will continue to attend them for the next 14 months because this needs to be done. First Selectman Eldredge thinks he should interface with the Public Works Supervisor. He doesn’t think it’s the root problem with Public Works. He doesn’t think this is best for the town. Selectman Patton understands First Selectman Eldredge’s reasoning but he thinks it is best for the town—we can get the employees working together so they don’t feel they are getting stabbed in the back all the time --there will be more productivity; it is the sane way to go. Attorney Forsyth and
Selectman Patton discussed personnel policy and personnel issues. First Selectman Eldredge noted that this bothers him—he can’t function as CEO of the town without that authority. The other selectmen could go over him so he has no authority. Selectman Patton said that they could but it would not make any sense. He is not here because it’s healthy for him; he’s here because there is a job to be done. The First Selectman is usually the one to take care of the day to day activities and not the whole board is because it makes the most sense—one person who supervises everything that goes on but when that doesn’t work as is the case now, it means you have to try something different. First Selectman Eldredge thinks they are setting a precedent and its not just over the problems with the Public Works Department—he sees in as going further than that—you cannot function as CEO of the town and
function to the best benefit of the town without that authority.
There was discussion between Attorney Forsyth and Selectman Patton about the liability regarding comp time. It was decided this would be discussed in executive session.
Selectman Patton is still questioning the Halloran & Sage bill for $728 on 8/22/06 listed as Personnel Matter (Lynn Nicholls). First Selectman Eldredge explained to Selectman Patton that it was a sit down meeting between Eldredge and Attorney Forsyth to discuss Personnel Issues. Attorney Forsyth said it was to discuss the analysis of the collective bargaining agreement. Selectman Patton is perplexed about what this exactly is and refers to the amended minutes. With a budget of $8000 for general legal fees, 10% has been used for invoice listed as 8/22/06 Personnel Matter: Lynn Nicholls; he is quite concerned about what is going on if you’re spending three hours discussing a collective bargaining agreement— the Supervisor of Public Works isn’t even a
union member. When asked Duncan Forsyth responded that the bill included the meeting and then he went back to the office to review the union contract. It involved other people who may have been violated the requirements of the contract. Selectman Patton is concerned, not that the firm doesn’t deserve the money. It was decided this issue would be discussed in executive session.
PUBLIC WORKS
One bill was presented. Lynn Nicholls reported that the new dump truck would arrive on Tuesday. The loader will be coming in the end of next week. Discussion was held on the payment for both. Selectman Patton reported that the money is in escrow; Lynn said that both companies know the money will be coming.
The fire department wants to use the Suburban—Lynn has given them a spare set of keys. The problem with the floor of the Suburban has been repaired. Selectman Patton and Lynn discussed the situation with gasoline.
After the Flea Market on 9/9 the Town Green must be mowed before the 9/11 service Monday morning. Lynn will work at the Transfer Station on Sunday so that Jeff Hansen can take care of the green.
Dale Cutler called today—they want to cut trees in front of the Library this weekend. This would be for the site line and a new sign. First Selectman Eldredge asked if it was State property; Lynn said this is a state road and the state should be contacted. Selectman Patton said Dale Cutler should know—they have a site plan on file. He noted that there may be a different set of rules since this is a construction project and possibly posting of this could be different.
Former First Selectman Carlton Csiki asked to speak to the Board of Selectmen. The selectmen have years of talent, experience and ability and he would like them to do what is right for the town, bury the hatchets and try to get along.
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVES TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 5:55 P.M. He asks Attorney Forsyth how this should be handled. It was decided that Lynn Nicholls was not going to be discussed. Selectman Patton seconded. VOTE: all yes (ELDREDGE, PATTON, LEWIS).
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVES TO GO OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AT 7:20 P.M. SELECTMEN PATTON SECONDED. VOTE: all yes (ELDREDGE, PATTON, LEWIS).
FIRST SELECTMAN ELDREDGE MOVED TO ADJOURN AT 7:22 P.M. Selectman Lewis seconded. VOTE: all yes (ELDREDGE, PATTON, LEWIS).
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Noyes
Acting Secretary
Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100
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