BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Special Meeting Minutes
Town Office Building February 3, 2011
Lower Level Conference Room 12:00 P.M.
First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to order at 12:02 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectman Millix & Blessington with Director of Public Works, Lynn Nicholls; Town Engineer, Karl Acimovic; Superintendent David Harding, Administrative Assistant Brenda LaFemina-Weber, Fire Marshall Richard Palmer, Bus driver Linda Boasa, Mike Collins of M&J Bus. Sargeant Sauve – Connecticut State Police arrived at 12:05 P.M.
*School Roof snow load update:
First Selectman Mailhos thanked everyone for coming today. When the agenda was created on Monday, we knew we were getting close to the capacity on the school roofs. The original plan was to discuss getting people on the roofs to clear them off over the weekend. However, this past storm made it clear that some roof-areas needed to be emptied off today. Hall School’s (roofs that needed attention) is almost done, and the crews will be heading over to Center School shortly. Karl Acimovic stated that we have addressed the roofs we had major concerns with. The older section of Center School will be done today as well as the long section of Hall School. Mr. Acimovic also recommended to keep the drains clear. At this point we will monitor the conditions on a regular basis. Hall School
gym is not in any danger. Superintendent Harding said all of our resources are working on the needed areas and wanted to be clear that there is a lot of roof area that will not being cleaned off today, but will continue to work on clearing throughout the next few days. He wants to be able to say with confidence that kids will be safe to go to school.
Superintendent Harding said he appreciates and thanks everyone for coming together; We have a crew of 10 made up of Public Works employees, Fire Department members, School employees; Tolland has donated snow blowers and other equipment; J.J. Mottes donated a boom truck. Every thing is going well and everyone is working nicely together. He added that we couldn’t have done this alone. He is optimistic that school will be open tomorrow.
*Road conditions
Lynn said she currently has 4 loaders, 4 backhoes, a holder (equivalent to a big snow blower), and a roll plow out on the roads. Our salt shed is empty. We are expecting to get some today, however there is a salt shortage. Sand is also low, but we have enough to sand tonight. The crew is working as much as they can today and tomorrow to widen the roads. She doesn’t see a problem with running the busses tomorrow. The accident on Lohse was because that road is a narrow road to begin with; the bus was stopped and the other vehicle came down too quickly. The bus was not at fault. Linda Boasa said that she has personally had problems with the roads being too narrow. The busses cannot fit with larger vehicles at the same time. Superintendent Harding said that we may be able to
contact the residents who live on the less populated roads (with only one or two students total on the roads) to request to have the children wait at the end of the road to alleviate the busses from going all the way down the roads. He also reiterated that the children are safer on the bus than being driven by their parents. Brenda La-Femina-Weber asked if there was a way to publicize the issues we have been having; with the narrow roads, or to be careful when coming around a corner because there might be a bus stop there. Superintendent Harding said we can use the notification system, and send a public notice. He and First Selectman Mailhos will work on that today.
Selectman Blessington asked if there was a way to close certain roads to thru-traffic and temporarily make them one way? Lynn said the problem is that people live on both ways, and people can’t even see the stop signs now. People just have to drive slow and use common sense. Lynn said she has every piece of equipment she can get her hands on working out there and she will have a better understanding of the conditions later in the day. Sargeant Sauve said every Town in Tolland County is in the same situation. They have been non stop with accidents in many Towns. Selectman Millix suggested to keep the crews out as long as possible to improve sight lines and widening the roads. They might be able to get more done with less traffic on the roads. Lynn said she will keep them as long as
they are willing to work, but does not want anyone getting hurt. The guys need rest at some point.
Lynn said her balances are as follows:
$28,627.44, on salt, but she has encumbered 25,627.00 on 11 loads, leaving a total balance of: $3,000
$1,595.20 on calcium
$1,097.15 on sand
$6,445.86 on overtime for the crew
She is over by$7,532.48 so far on contractors, not including today.
She has estimated she will need $19,000 additional for contractors.
First Selectman Mailhos said she plans to go to the Board of Finance meeting tonight and will ask for $19,000 to cover the additional charges.
- Closure of Daleville Road (Forest Section)
First Selectman Mailhos said the decision was made on Monday to close Daleville Road. The road is not passable. She wanted to make sure that no one had a problem with that.
- Continued closure of Old Town Hall
We originally closed the Old Town Hall for the winter back in November, but were letting the “regulars” who use it leave the heat at 55 degrees, however the Public Works crews cannot get to it, so it is now officially closed until the end of February or until the crews can get to clearing it out.
First Selectman Mailhos suggested that we meet regularly each Friday at 12 PM until conditions approve. She will also go to the Board of Finance to request a money transfer.
First Selectman Mailhos and Superintendent Harding will work on a communication to residents.
Stuart Cobb stated that he was contacted by the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and the National Guard will not come out. They stated they look at it as competing with contractors. They went to Vernon as a “one time only” instance. They also cost $20,000 per day to activate.
We will continue to keep the bus drivers in the loop including Region 19.
Superintendent Harding stated that his intent was to open schools tomorrow.
The meeting adjourned at 1:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant
| 
