BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting August 15, 2011
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 motioned to approve the minutes of August 1, 2011 as written.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix, Blessington) 0 No.
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:
*EECBG Grant – New windows have been installed in the Town Office Building. Some caulking still needs to be done. Some money is left from the grant which may go towards a new front door.
*Senior Housing Phase III Senior Cottages – The Housing Authority is looking at plans. First Selectman Mailhos will be talking with them about the next steps—they will hopefully be giving a presentation to the Board of Selectmen in September.
*Turnpike Road Extension – We need to award the contract.
*Energy Advisory Commission—the Commission will be giving a presentation to the Board of Selectmen within the next two months regarding the performance contracting.
There was a discussion regarding the Building Board of Appeals. Selectman Blessington asked if contractors could become members of the Board.
Public Works:
Lynn said the crew has finished sweeping and is now on to shimming the chip seal route. The roads on the route are Luchon, Baxter, Depot, Fisher Hill, Sharps Mill, Adamec, Glass Factory, Kollar, and Trask. Brush cutting and mowing are also being done.
Burma Road is now passable, however, we have not fixed the underlying problem. Selectman Blessington asked if Lynn had taken care of the trees on Michalec Road. She needs to remove the stumps at the same time as the tree is cut. Public Works has mowed the Senior Center, moved the Recreation Department’s camp back up to the Town Offices, and have Turnpike Road Extension ready for pipelining. There is too much water now to install the liner.
Lynn noted that they are working on Potter School Road, plus working on changing over the fuel tank for Public Works to get ready for the buses.
Burma Road and Turnpike Road projects will be going out to bid.
Two catch basins have been repaired on Laurel Drive. There are other catch basin problems around town—they will need to go to Capital Improvement to discuss the situation.
The crew is also mowing the sightlines for the Katy Waugh Memorial Benefit Motorcycle Run which is scheduled for August 20, 2011. Part of the route runs through Willington.
New Business:
- Proclamation: Annual Day of Caring
First Selectman Mailhos read and moved to adopt the following Proclamation:
P R O C L A M A T I O N
UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN CONNECTICUT
20TH ANNUAL UNITED WAY DAY OF CARING
SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
WHEREAS: September 7, 2011, marks United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut’s 20th Annual Day of Caring; and
WHEREAS: In excess of 65,000 volunteers from 220 workplaces have shared their time and talent with more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations and schools in the 40 towns served by United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut; and
WHEREAS: United Way’s mission is to engage people to improve lives and change community conditions; and
WHEREAS: The Town of Willington wishes to thank all volunteers for their time and energy in joining the force to build a better community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT I, Christina B. Mailhos, First Selectman of the Town of Willington do hereby recognize and proclaim September 7, 2011 as United Way Day of Caring Day in the Town of Willington and commend all volunteers for their efforts and contributions in this great community event.
Signed and sealed this 15th day of August, 2011
Christina B. Mailhos, First Selectman
Town of Willington
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington)
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint Scot Rogers as a regular member of the Willington Energy Advisory Committee, effective immediately to fill a vacant position.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Selectmen Blessington mentioned that we used to have the potential commission member come to a Board of Selectmen meeting so that the members could ask questions. First Selectman Mailhos noted that Scot had met with the Energy Advisory Commission and that commission asked that he be appointed. Scot installs geothermal equipment as an occupation and they felt he would be an asset to the commission.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington)
- Award Chip Seal Truck Rental Contract
First Selectman Mailhos moved to award a contract for 1 truck to D’Agata Brothers, LLC as per their bid of $85.00 per hour and the recommendation of the Director of Public Works for the 2011 chip seal season.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington)
First Selectman Mailhos moved to award a contract for 3 trucks to Knight & Sons Construction as per their bid of $85.00 per hour and the recommendation of the Director of Public Works for the 2011 chip seal season.
Selectman Millix seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
- Award contract for Box Culvert Installation for Turnpike Road Extension
The bids were: Putman Welding $27,650
Knight & Sons 32,400
H M & E Co 42,116
D & V Morin 89,800
First Selectman Mailhos had met with both Karl Acimovic and Lynn Nicholls to review the bids and make sure everything was in order before the bid was awarded.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to award Box Culvert Installation for Turnpike Road Extension to Putnam Welding and Equipment Repair, Inc. as per their bid of $27,650.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
Good & Welfare:
First Selectman Mailhos led a discussion regarding a memo from DCS Energy which was a confirmation to schedule an on-site inspection for solar panel systems for town buildings. She has had great feedback from Mansfield and the town attorney has reviewed the simple standard contract. Other towns are also interested. Selectman Millix noted that it does not commit us to anything—we may not even be selected for the project. The Willington Library, Senior Center, Town Offices, Public Schools, Public Works and WFD #1 are also interested. First Selectman Mailhos said that even though we may not be selected, signing the contract means that if we are selected, that we are ready to go.
First Selectman Mailhos moves to sign off on the confirmation to schedule an on site inspection for possible solar panel installations by DCS Energy.
Selectman Millix seconded. Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Blessington wants to be careful dealing with these folks.
First Selectman Mailhos thanks Kathy Demers for forwarding a copy of CT Woodlands referring to an article by Dan Donahue on the Fenton River Watershed. She attended a meeting today with Tara Bergeron at WRTD. They had requested $16,000 last year and we had only approved giving them $6,000 which is more in line with previous years. They may have to reduce their service level either by cutting the year short or reducing the number of days they come to Willington. In 2010 they gave 1431 rides to 31 people. They have increased their rates, however, their grant money has been cut and they feel they are in a Catch 22. Selectman Blessington commented that everyone is in a Catch 22 these days. Selectman Millix wishes we could get a handle on who uses this program but due to the HIPPA laws we
cannot find this information. He feels we should revaluate the situation and see what happens.
Selectman Millix asked about the upcoming tax sale, especially the Moose Meadow Road property—40 acres. A discussion was held about the Town possibly having some interest in the purchase. First Selectman Mailhos will do some research on the details. Selectman Millix felt we should look into the 165 River Rd. parcel also.
He also reported that the Town’s new fire truck is in.
First Selectman Mailhos spoke about the recent death of Sonny Hipsky. She said the Town has certainly lost a good guy in Sonny—he did so much for Town of Willington. Lynn Nicholls reported that Sonny’s two boys, Mike and Joe, will carry on Hipsky Construction.
First Selectman Mailhos motioned to adjourn the meeting to go into executive session at 7:16 p.m. to discuss pending claims and litigation.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Millix & Blessington) 0 No.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol Noyes
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