BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting July 19, 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, Kevin Maloney from CCM and residents. First Selectman Mailhos led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes:
The Joint meeting minutes are still pending as the other committees have not met yet to review.
Selectman Blessington motioned to approve the minutes of July 6, 2010 as written.
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Vote: 2 Yes (Mailhos & Blessington) 0 No. Abstain: 1 (Millix)
Present to Speak:
No one.
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:
*Center School Water Project – A pre bid meeting was held on July 13th. The bids are due back on July 28th. The committee will open and evaluate the bids at a special meeting, and will make recommendations to the BOS to award thereafter.
*Feasibility Study – Mike Makuch has forwarded the comments to Kaestle Boos on the first draft and are now waiting for response from Kaestle Boos.
*River Road Complex – The bids have come back and will be opened at the regular Recreation Commission meeting on July 27th, they will then make a recommendation to the BOS for awarding the bid.
*EECBG Grant – the first draft of the bid spec has been complete and has been forwarded to L. Wagner Associates for approval, they will then handle the bidding process from there.
*Senior Housing Phase III – The Senior Recreation Area ribbon cutting held on July 12, 2010 officially completes Phases 1 and 2. ASHoW (Assisted Senior Housing of Willington) is seeking predevelopment funds.
*Transfer Station – Updated signs have been installed.
*PCZ Notice of Violation – will be discussed under old business.
*Personnel Policy Review –will be discussed later in the meeting.
* Fire Department/Ambulance Service Contracts – The Attorney has provided a first draft of the agreement. We will present a final draft to the Board of Selectmen at the next meeting.
Public Works:
Lynn said the crew is done sweeping and the good news is that they did not have to store any material off of Town property. They are starting on the chip seal route.
Someone is dumping asphalt in piles in different places around Town, (Village Hill Park, near Fed EX etc.) . She is asking residents if they see any of this activity to please notify her immediately at (860) 684-9313.
Old business
A. Old Town Pit Update
First Selectman Mailhos said that we went before Wetlands last week. The project was remanded to staff, and is on the Planning and Zoning agenda tomorrow night. The Public Hearing date is set for August 17.
B. Material Swap Shed update
First Selectman Mailhos has received a letter of approval from the Department of Environmental Protection Waste Engineering and Enforcement Division to put up the material swap shed at the Transfer Station. Planning and Zoning will discuss tomorrow night as well.
New Business:
A. Connecticut Conference of Municipalities presentation
Kevin Maloney from CCM presented materials to the Board as to what CCM offers with membership, which costs $4,185.00 yearly. With a membership, CCM provides Towns with research and information resources, workshops & training, energy efficiency purchases, reverse auctions, legislative updates and lobbying at the Capitol on gehalf of Municipalities as well as other benefits. Of the 169 Towns in the State, 142 are CCM members, including our neighboring Towns: Coventry, Mansfield, Tolland, Chaplin and Ashford. Mr. Maloney answered various questions. John Patton mentioned that Willington used to be members of CCM and that they are a good resource.
Peter Latincsics of the Board of Finance was present to support a CCM Membership. Ken Schoppmann, Board of Finance Chairman stated it is worth a shot.
Selectman Millix moved to enter into the agreement and become members with Connecticut Conference of Municipalities for the 2010-2011 year at a cost of $4,185 and do not renew the membership with COST (Connecticut Council of Small Towns).
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos said she isn’t sure when the COST membership will run out. We will look into it.
B. Adopt Probate Court Agreement
First Selectman Mailhos has been working on the probate consolidation for several months with Steve Werbner, Town Manager of Tolland, Matt Hart, Town Manager of Mansfield and John Elsesser, Town Manager of Coventry.
The agreement was written by Mansfield’s Town Attorney, and looked at by the member Town’s Attorneys. A few edits have been made, and now everyone is comfortable with it. The agreement now needs to be signed off on and will be effective in January.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to approve the Memorandum of Agreement Tolland Mansfield Probate District as presented.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Selectman Blessington said that the important details are that the court will still be located in Tolland Town Hall, cost allocated pro rata for Willington is 12.87% ; fiscal year the cost for Willington will be $2,092 with a one time cost of $1,250-1,500 for the renovation of the facility.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
C. STEAP Grant discussion
First Selectman Mailhos said the deadline to submit the STEAP application is tomorrow by 4:30 P.M. She has come up with a few ideas as to what we should apply for. She has asked Tony Gugliemo to advocate for us, and she is sure that Bryan Hurlburt will as well. We have an opportunity to apply for up to $500,000. She recommends that we apply for $400,000 to upgrade the drainage and reconstruct Turnpike Road from the Ashford line to Moose Meadow Road. This has been on CIP for years. We have appropriated $110,000 to fix the drainage already. If we get the STEAP money, we might be able to do a bit further down the road.
The second part would be to request $100,000 to renovate the Old Town Hall to do a variety of upgrades and repairs. First Selectman Mailhos said that she has talked to a few people on the status of the building and what is needed is exterior and foundation repair. She talked with Bob Shabot today and they had spoken about hiring a historical Assessor to go over the building and get recommendations of what needs to be done and the proper procedures to do so; however it would cost approximately $20,000. Selectmen Millix and Blessington agreed that would be a waste of money. Ken Shoppmann said that there are plenty of contractors who have a lot of knowledge looking for work who would give estimates for free. Selectman Millix agreed, as long as they work with the Historical Society, it would most likely be in
compliance.
Selectman Millix moved apply for a STEAP Grant in the amount of $500,000; $400,000 to be allocated for Turnpike Road improvements and $100,000 to the Old Town Hall for improvements.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
D. Appointments
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Robert Campbell, Housing Authority – regular member, effective August 1, 2010, expiring August 1, 2015
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Walter Parsell as a regular member – Economic Development Commission, effective immediately, expiring January 1, 2015
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Mark Drobney as a regular member – Inland Wetlands Commission, effective immediately, expiring May 16, 2012
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Ken Metzler as a regular member – Inland Wetlands Commission, effective immediately, expiring May 16, 2013
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Greg Blessing as an Alternate member – Inland Wetlands Commission, effective immediately, expiring May 16, 2013
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint Donna Latincsics, Susan Yorgensen, Cindy Wilson, Robin Campbell, Donna Hardie, Lynn Nicholls and Brad Freeman as regular members – ADHOC Committee (Personnel Policy Review Committee), effective immediately, expiring upon completion of review.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Discussion was held. Lynn Nicholls suggested having someone who is not involved with the Town to be on the committee. Ken Schoppmann suggested that we could request input from CCM using our new membership. Mr. Palmer suggested that a Management position should be involved as well and it is the policy of the Board of Selectmen. John Patton said it is a policy of the Board of Selectmen to act on and modify the policy. Selectman Blessington said he agrees with Mr. Patton.
First Selectman Mailhos suggested that we should have all employees review the documents, give them a deadline to submit their input, and have the Board of Selectman review at a special workshop meeting.
First Selectman Mailhos withdrew the motion.
Good & Welfare:
First Selectman Mailhos said we received a letter from the Census, thanking all of the municipalities for their cooperation.
She also said that she had a lunch meeting with Economic Development Sub-Committee of the the Tolland County Chamber of Commerce last week. It was interesting to see what area towns are doing. They have been forwarding us information on joining. She hasn’t had a chance to check out Windham County yet. She plans to do that this week.
We received a new refrigerator for the Town Office Building upon the recommendation of the Energy Advisory Committee. We put the new fridge in the Town Clerk’s area, and replaced the one in the Common Room kitchen. We will only plug it in during the week that it is actually needed (around the holidays to store turkeys etc) The fridge we disposed of was costing us $248 per year to run and the one that was replaced was costing us $110 per year. The new one will cost us $38 per year to run. The one in the lower level will be replaced in a few weeks as well.
Selectman Millix said regardless of people’s opposition of the proposed truck stop, there was a huge number in attendance at the meeting it was great to see such a turnout. He wishes it was that big of a turnout at every meeting.
Robin Campbell said that she personally has not been, but her husband said that the transfer station looks great with the new signage. It looks very professional.
Selectman Millix moved to enter into executive session at 7:55 P.M.
First Selectman Mailhos invited Ken Shoppmann to join.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Blessington moved to come out of executive session at 8:19 P.M.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:19 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Robin H. Campbell
Administrative Assistant
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