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BOARD OF SELECTMEN 3-19-07
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                                                                                                           MAR. 19, 2007
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 Patton & Lewis, L. Nicholls and residents.  First Selectman Eldredge led the Pledge of Allegiance.


APPROVAL OF MINUTES
SELECTMAN LEWIS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 3/1/07.  
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE:  3 YES (ELDREDGE, PATTON& LEWIS)    0  NO

SELECTMAN LEWIS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 3/5/07.  
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE:  3 YES (ELDREDGE, PATTON& LEWIS)    0  NO

SELECTMAN LEWIS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 3/8/07.  
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE:  3 YES (ELDREDGE, PATTON& LEWIS)    0  NO

SELECTMAN LEWIS MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF 3/12/07.  
Selectman Patton seconded the motion.
VOTE:  3 YES (ELDREDGE, PATTON& LEWIS)    0  NO

PRESENT TO SPEAK – No one.

CORRESPONDENCE
A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office.

PUBLIC WORKS
Lynn Nicholls gave the Board job reports and a list of the GASB roads completed, 55 miles have been completed.  The weather will be a factor on when she can finish up.  Saturday morning there was something going on at Hall School and Public Works did not know about it so it was plowed late.  Lynn commented she needs to know what is going on and where so they can schedule the plowing if an event is not cancelled.  First Selectman Eldredge commented Inland/Wetlands Commission is looking for a maintenance schedule and wants us to go to their April 23rd. meeting.  Lynn commented Karl and I are going to PZC Tues night.  Selectman Patton asked how do you define traffic flow?  Lynn commented by looking at the traffic on the roads at
REGULAR MEETING                                         -2-                                                                  MAR. 19, 2007

different times of the day.  First Selectman Eldredge asked about the chip seal intervals and Lynn commented that’s when they were done.  Selectman Patton commented we had discussed about getting someone to investigate the boom mower indecent; we all agreed to do this but didn’t have a name.  I contacted Eileen Miller, she worked for the Town before, she does safety investigations and is certified by OSHA, is a trainer that trains the trainer.  First Selectman Eldredge commented he got a name from Karl, someone who does stress analysis.  Selectman Patton commented I gave her what I had and asked her for an estimate; she figured the
research, the investigation and the report would take about 10 hours, about $1,000.  First Selectman Eldredge asked do we have all the pieces?  Lynn commented I can get them back.
SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED THAT WE HIRE EILEEN MILLER OF EILEEN MILLER CONSULTING TO PERFORM AN INVESTIGATION OF THE BOOM MOWER ACCIDENT AND REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE:  2 YES (PATTON & LEWIS)    1 NO (ELDREDGE)
First Selectman Eldredge commented I was not personally satisfied with what she did on the other projects.  Selectman Patton commented when I dealt with her she did a bang up job.

Selectman Patton commented regarding the time line for Kechkes Road Bridge, I think we need to add more details like when we have to go to the Board of Finance and Town Meeting and how much money we need.  First Selectman Eldredge commented we got the agreement today.  Selectman Patton asked should we go to the Board of Finance and Town Meeting before or after we sign the agreement?  First Selectman Eldredge commented I believe this is in the 07-08 CIP, we have time to go to the Board of Finance, and we have to make the decision at 30% if we are going on or to back out.  Further discussion on this followed.  Selectman Patton asked have we given up on the idea of a one-way bridge without Federal money?  First Selectman Eldredge commented Karl designed a one-way bridge and it got expensive and we went with the bridge program.  The minutes will be researched.  Further discussion on this followed.  Selectman Patton asked Lynn did you tell me waste oil was picked up?  Lynn commented on Thurs 385 gallons were picked up, in Dec. 400 gallons were picked up and in Oct. 400 gallons were picked up.  First Selectman Eldredge asked who is picking up?  Lynn commented Western.  Selectman Patton asked was there a reason it was picked up?  Lynn commented it should have come to the garage but it was picked up without my knowledge.  Selectman Patton asked did you ask why it was picked up?  Lynn commented I did and they said the tank was full.  Selectman Patton asked First Selectman Eldredge do you see a problem with that much oil going out of Town?  First Selectman Eldredge asked what is the criteria for putting waste oil in there, was it contaminated?  Lynn replied no, it should have been brought down to Public Works; the attendants are not doing their job.  First Selectman Eldredge asked do you have a method of pumping it out?  Lynn commented they could bring it down a couple of times a day.  First Selectman Eldredge asked so no waste oil should be going in there, what kind of waste oil should be going in there?  Lynn commented only oil they are really skeptical of what it is.  First Selectman Eldredge asked when was the last time it was picked up?  Lynn replied Dec. and the one before that was Oct. Selectman Patton asked do you see an issue with taking 385 gallons of waste oil out in the middle of winter?  First Selectman Eldredge commented well if the criteria was that if they thought the waste oil was contaminated to put it in there; I don’t know each individual basis of why they put it in there.  Lynn commented like you just said Mike in all the years you worked there you didn’t have any contaminated oil.  First Selectman Eldredge commented it depends on what you call contamination, it you test it and there is benzene or water.  Lynn commented at Public Works we can burn everything, I think this is just a lack of wanting to do that part of their job.  They pay us $.10 a gallon; it is costing us over $2.00/gallon to put in diesel.  Selectman Patton commented it would be interesting to find out why we sent out 385 gallons in the middle of winter.  First Selectman Eldredge commented should I assume they are doing something wrong or should I assume that the oil they dumped in there was contaminated?  Selectman Patton commented you should assume it doesn’t sound right and find out why; why we are having
REGULAR MEETING                                         -3-                                                                  MAR. 19, 2007

someone pick up 385 gallons of waste oil when we burn it.  Selectman Lewis commented it could be 400 gallons free compared to paying over $800 it cost the Town for diesel.  First Selectman Eldredge asked Lynn to show him the paperwork on all this.  Lynn showed him the paperwork for Oct, Dec. and March.  First
Selectman Eldredge commented it comes to about 100 gallons a month, that’s a lot of oil for winter.  First Selectman Eldredge commented so what do we say, is there some reason why they felt they thought it shouldn’t be brought down, I don’t know the answer.  Selectman Patton commented I didn’t expect you to know that, all I wanted was for you to be curious as to why it happened, I want you to be curious to the point you will actually do something and find out.  First Selectman Eldredge commented all I can do is ask the gentlemen was that contaminated oil, if they went by the guidelines they must have felt it was contaminated oil.  I don’t assume they did not go by the guidelines.  Selectman Patton commented so you just assume everything works fine and just leave it at that like when Willimantic Waste calls up and says there is a contaminated load in the bulky waste; just leave it at that.  First Selectman Eldredge commented no, I investigated those loads; it was the time the compactor was down and they were mixing the loads and they were telling Willimantic Waste but they were calling over to the Route 6 dispatcher and the Route 32 plant was not getting the message; that’s why there was such heavy contaminated.  Selectman Patton asked did you think you wanted to share that with us?  First Selectman Eldredge commented you just haven’t brought it up.  First Selectman Eldredge commented he can ask these gentlemen if in fact the 385 gallons were contaminated or are they just pouring it off.  Selectman Lewis commented ask about the other pick-ups also.  First Selectman Eldredge commented I can’t believe they pumped exactly 400 gallons each time.  Lynn asked why would they pay us for 400 gallons if they did not pump that?  Selectman Lewis commented to buy that amount for Public Works is expensive, checking into it is worth it.  Selectman Patton commented do you really think that every batch they got was contaminated and that’s why they poured it in there?  First Selectman Eldredge commented it is my understanding that it only goes in there if they feel it is contaminated.  Selectman Patton commented you rarely found any contaminated oil the years you worked there but in 3 months they found 385 gallons.  First Selectman Eldredge commented because it went through testing, the thing that doesn’t make sense is 385 gallons in the winter.  Discussion on how and what the company tests for followed.  First Selectman Eldredge commented it amazes me that 385 gallons came in in the winter, I have a tendency to believe this was not emptied in Dec. Selectman Patton commented so they just came in and paid us.  First Selectman Eldredge asked how much did they pay us; they paid us for 400 gallons?  I don’t believe those two were exactly 400; just give me the receipt for that so I can see that they paid us for 400 gallons at $.10/gallon.  Selectman Patton commented don’t you think that oil would have been better used to heat the garage?  First Selectman Eldredge commented yes I do.  Selectman Patton commented okay, then look into it.  First Selectman Eldredge commented you are asking me how do I know if it was contaminated or not?  Selectman Patton commented I didn’t ask you that question, just asked you to look into why this is.  First Selectman Eldredge commented all I can do is ask the gentlemen, which I will do.  

BUDGET – Not done.

First Selectman Eldredge commented we got the contract for the inmates please review it.  Selectman Patton commented he ran into the gentleman who works there and he would be happy to come to a meeting.

NEW BUSINESS
First Selectman Eldredge commented he had a meeting with the Department of Transportation regarding the Route 74 Bridge.  They are building a new bridge, which will be 5’ higher than it is now.  There will be a Public Hearing on May 1, 2007 for this.  They are going to build a bridge with a sidewalk; if the sidewalk is extended beyond the bridge the Town would have to pay for 20% of that and the property owners would be responsible to take care of the sidewalks in front of their property.  Selectman Patton asked why would we do that?  Discussion on this followed.  First Selectman Eldredge commented the construction should start late 2009, will
REGULAR MEETING                                         -4-                                                                  MAR. 19, 2007

take 2 years and the bridge will be shut down during construction.  Selectman Lewis asked could we tell them we want one lane open because this will hurt a lot of businesses?  First Selectman Eldredge commented hopefully people will go to the Public Hearing and bring that up.  Selectman Lewis commented as the Board of
Selectmen we need to stress that.  Lynn Nicholls commented look what happened on Depot Road when the bridge was closed and that is not a major bridge.  Bob Wiecenski asked can’t they do one way like they did in Ashford?  First Selectman Eldredge commented they say for some reason they have to pull the whole bridge.  Selectman Patton commented because it is easier and cheaper.  It sounds like they have to raise it up because of the river.  Selectman Lewis commented they need to keep something open or they could bankrupt some businesses.  First Selectman Eldredge commented we can present all these things at the Public Hearing, how much good it is going to do I don’t know.  Selectman Patton commented you may want to send a letter to our representatives and explain our concerns to them.  
SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED THAT WE CONTACT OUR REPRESENTATIVES AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND EXPLAIN TO THEM OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON THE BUSINESSES IN THAT AREA.
First Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE:  3 YES (ELDREDGE, PATTON & LEWIS)

APPOINTMENTS
SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO APPOINT TESS GUTOWSKI AS AN ALTERNATE ON THE INLAND WETLANDS & WATERCOURSES COMMISSION TO FILL A VACANCY, TERM EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY TO MAY 16, 2007.
First Selectman Eldredge seconded the motion.
VOTE:  2 YES (ELDREDGE & PATTON)    1 NO (LEWIS)     
  
GOOD & WELFARE  
First Selectman Eldredge commented Rita Masinda passed away on Sunday night.  Selectman Lewis commented Jean Hatch passed away also.  Selectman Patton asked are we going to appoint Carol Larson as the Tax Collector instead of Acting Tax Collector?  This will be done at the next meeting

SELECTMAN PATTON MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 7:35 P.M.
Selectman Lewis seconded the motion.
VOTE:  3 YES (ELDREDGE, PATTON & LEWIS)    0  NO

Respectfully submitted,

Mary Bowen
Secretary


Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100

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