BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting June 7, 2010
Town Office Building – Lower Level Conference Room 6:30 P.M.
First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Millix & Blessington, Lynn Nicholls and residents. First Selectman Mailhos led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Blessington moved to approve the minutes of May 17, 2010 as written.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Blessington moved to approve the minutes of May 24, 2010 as written.
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Vote: 2 Yes (Mailhos & Blessington) 1 Abstain (Millix).
Selectman Millix moved to approve the special minutes of June 1, 2010 as written.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
Present to Speak:
Bob Hockla of Daleville Road asked the status of his request to look at his property from the storm runoff problem into his pond. Lynn has planned to look at it on Wednesday and First Selectman Mailhos said she was also planning to go there on Wednesday with Lynn.
First Selectman Mailhos motioned to move New business before Old business on the agenda. There are a few members of the Board of Education, who are currently at another meeting, and would like to be present to discuss the Center School Water Project.
Correspondence:
A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office.
First Selectman Status Report
First Selectman Mailhos went over the updated report:
*River Road Complex – The Recreation Department has obtained approvals for the next phases of development at River Road. Zoning has approved to move the shed and that should happen this week. The Recreation Commission is preparing to go out to bid on the different projects. The bids for the playscape and landscaping materials are almost ready to go out this week as well.
*EECBG Grant – The appropriations have been approved at the Town Meeting, and we are working on bid specs with Ralph Tulis of the Energy Advisory Committee.
*Water System Treatment – The reports from the testing done in May show that copper and lead levels are under the action level. We are preparing a communication that will go to the residents at Willington Woods. Selectman Millix said we should go down there to communicate to the residents before they post the new reports.
*Bidding process for the 10-11 fiscal year –Donna is working on a list of the items we need to go out to bid on that the Town spends over $5,000. We will discuss the procedures.
*Personnel Policy Review – We recently had a special meeting and looked over the personnel documents. First Selectman Mailhos asked the other Selectmen for suggestions of appointees for the committee and said that she would contact candidates to be sure they are willing to join.
*Equipment purchases – First Selectman Mailhos would like to begin preparing for next year’s ordering process of new equipment (fiscal 2010-2011). She wants to review the bid process with groups purchasing new equipment to be sure we are going out to bid correctly.
Public Works:
Lynn thanked First Selectman Mailhos for putting the reminder out in the Willington Word about mowing caution. She also added that brush cuttings should not be allowed in the roads as it also can clog the catch basins. We have been getting torrential downpours, and they cannot be clogged in any way. Sweeping is about half way done. The sight line improvements between Routes 320 and 32 and elsewhere have been done, grading is done on certain roads as well.
New Business:
A. Building fee increase proposal
Brad Freeman, our new Building Inspector presented a proposal to raise the building fees. Currently the Land Use Department is collecting $10 per thousand. The only other surrounding Town collecting a $10 fee is Andover. Right now, 22 cents of the building fees goes back to the State for education training. In July, the fee will go up to 26 cents. Mr. Freeman is proposing a $2 increase on the minimum fee to be collected per thousand dollars. Also he would like to raise the flat fee for building to $35.00 to be consistent with the other fees (i.e.: plumbing; electrical and mechanical). The Town collects around $40,000 for building fees. Selectman Blessington asked if there are any compelling reasons to raise the fees? Mr. Freeman said that there are none, other than we
are one of the only Towns in the State with these low fees, and we will be losing more money in the flat fee with the State education fee hike. First Selectman Mailhos said we are looking at decreased revenues in general, so any revenue would be an advantage. She feels that by raising this tax the people who feel the burden would be those who use the service rather than spreading the Building Department operation costs to all taxpayers. Discussion was held on different ways to increase the fees to cover the State education fees. First Selectman Mailhos thanked Mr. Freeman for coming and said we will research further and keep this on the agenda for the next meeting.
B. Appointments
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Mary Huda, Assessor – effective July 1, 2010, expiring June 30, 2012.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint Mike Kozyra – Willington Parks and Recreation Commission; effective immediately – expiring December 15, 2011.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
C. Central Corridor Rail Summit
First Selectman Mailhos has been invited to a meeting to discuss the next steps in the establishment of passenger rail service that affects the different towns that it passes through. She cannot attend, because of the joint meeting between the Board of Selectmen, Planning & Zoning and the Economic Development Commission on that same date. She was hoping Mark Palmer could go in her place and as it turns out, he is already planning to go to this meeting, and has agreed to represent Willington. She is hoping he will report back to the Board.
D. Tax Refunds
First Selectman Mailhos moved to issue a tax refund to Michelle J. Duquette; 29 Lucerne Drive; Willington, CT 06279 for the amount of $10.21 for the refund of a sold vehicle.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to issue a tax refund to Diana M. Fields; 50 Elm Street; Apartment 16; South Windsor, CT of $17.26 for a refund of excess payment.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
Old business
A. Center School Water project update
First Selectman Mailhos said we have received two pieces of information since the last meeting. 1.) The water at the Senior Center pump station has been tested and the copper and lead levels that have been problematic now seem to be resolved. 2.) We have discovered that the existing abandoned well at Center School is 225 feet deep and producing 7 gallons of water per minute, which is more than acceptable yield. Laurie Semprebon from the Water Committee was present and passed out some information regarding pro’s and con’s on the proposed water line, versus using the existing well. Discussion was held. It was decided that the Town should move forward with the water main project. First Selectman Mailhos thanked Ms. Semprebon for putting the information together and
mentioned that such a compilation would have been helpful early on in the process.
Good & Welfare:
First Selectman Mailhos said Willington Day was a success. She thanked Jen Jeffreys for all of her hard work. We had perfect weather and everyone had a great time. The only objection heard was that it should have been a little bit longer. The committee will be sending out thank you letters and ask for feedback to those who participated.
The Town Clerk’s office has announced that Willington’s Top Dog has been awarded to the Salisbury family. Congratulations to Leo Salisbury – Willington’s Top Dog!
First Selectman Mailhos expressed condolences to Mr. and Mrs. George Palacko on Village Hill. They lost their home and 3 vehicles to a fire that appears to have been ignited by a lightning strike. Both of our Fire Departments responded to the fire. Selectman Millix said they responded in 6 minutes; however it was a total loss. We are trying to work with him to see if there is anything we can do to help him.
First Selectman Mailhos wanted to remind everyone about the joint meeting between the Board of Selectmen, Planning & Zoning and the Economic Development Commission on June 15 at 6:30 P.M.
Selectman Blessington said that Judy Anderson is retiring from the Republican Registrar of Voters position after 14½ years. Gail Kapinos will be the new Republican Registrar of Voters. He wishes Judy the best of luck in her retirement.
Lynn Nicholls said she would like to thank Hipsky Construction, for donating the top soil for the planters at the Senior Citizen Recreation area and Knight & Sons Construction, for donating the mulch used around the building and islands and Mike Cyr, for picking the Senior Citizens Center for his High School year end project. He took on planting, vegetables in the planters and landscaping around the building and islands. He was also able to get the plants donated.
Lynn Nicholls would also like to recognize and thank Peter Thompson, who takes care of the rocks on Hancock Road. He has been cleaning them and planting lilies for the past 3 years. Also thanks to Sheila Courchesne for saving the Chipmunk who chewed through the duct tape and got stuck in the diesel fuel pump.
Christine Psathas is the President of the Music Parent Association at E.O. Smith High School. The Association has given out 5 awards to Seniors who will be going on and pursuing careers in music. One of these awards has gone to Senior Alex Hunt, who is a trumpet player, and is also in the men’s chorus. Alex will be going to the Hart School of Music, and has received a $250 scholarship. Congratulations, Alex!
She also attended the awards banquet at E.O. Smith and said it was amazing to see the number of Willington students getting awards. Chopeta Lyons also attended and said that Willington Hill Fire Department and the Willington Scholarship Foundation (which she is a member) gave out 15 awards; 13 to E.O. Smith High School Seniors and 2 to East Catholic High School Seniors. They will have a reception for them at the library.
First Selectman Mailhos motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin H. Campbell
Robin H. Campbell
Administrative Assistant
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