BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting June 4, 2012
Town Office Building- Common 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 Littell & Blessington, Lynn Nicholls and residents. First Selectman Mailhos led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Littell motioned to approve the minutes of May 21, 2012 with clarification under CCM Performance Contracting (page 3); he agrees with Selectman Blessington about performing the audit, but he is skeptical pending results of the audit; and the following amendment: page 5 – Good and Welfare - should read (P&Z had nothing to do with enforcement) should read that P&Z has nothing to do except enforcement.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
Present to Speak:
Peter Andersen, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, requested to have the board add an item on the agenda to authorize First Selectman Mailhos to sign a contract with Connwood.
They sent out RFPs to five forestry consultants and received two back. Connwood was the lowest bidder, ($2,000) and were recommended by Dan Donahue as well as Connecticut Forest and Park Association. They have performed forestry management for Fenton Ruby Park ten years ago. He is requesting to expedite the process and is requesting to have the Board authorize the First Selectman to sign the contract in the event it is passed at the Town Meeting tomorrow night.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to add to the agenda first item under new business; called Knowlton/Talmadge Management Contract.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
Christine Psathas stated that an article was recently published in the Journal Inquirer about the Reapportionment Committee. The article mis-represented her as the secretary of the Willington Board of Education. The article further went on to say that the current board will determine the changes and how the voting process will be agreed upon; where it is the Reapportionment Committee, who will decide that; the article is a bit misleading, where it does not give any information about the committee that was formed to vote on the subject. First Selectman Mailhos said she would send a letter to the editor to clarify the information.
Correspondence:
A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office.
First Selectman Status Report
First Selectman Mailhos stated that there is nothing new to report at this time.
Public Works:
Lynn reported that she is still waiting on a part for the sweeper. In the meantime, crews continue to work on grading, roadside mowing and moving road chips to halls pond and other parts around Town.
Old Business:
- Re-Subdivision Application
This item was tabled from the last meeting so the Board could get more information. Robin Campbell stated that she emailed the engineer, once again to invite him to this meeting to give his side of the story. He declined via email. Selectman Blessington referenced the minutes from the public hearing, which stated that they were not made aware of the regulation changes between the time they submitted the application and the moratorium was done. It was suggested that the applicant withdrawal and reapply and pay the fees again. He added that if the Engineer feels it is not important enough to come to the meeting to answer questions; [Selectman Blessington] he doesn’t feel it is important enough to make a decision. Selectman Littell agreed and said we asked for them to show up; they declined via email
and the email does not give any further information; he does not feel comfortable making a decision on a guess. First Selectman Mailhos added that the plans were submitted to the Land Use Engineer, who will most likely send us a fee for his review. Selectman Blessington noted that the Engineer referred to the regulations and said he would have to agree with him on that. The regulations are 376 pages and self serving on the department. They are dense and vague; and thus, not helpful to the public.
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First Selectman Mailhos moved to deny the request presented by Mr. Shannon
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
Vote 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
- Animal Control Officer search update
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the date has been closed and we have received 21 applications. Interviews will be scheduled soon. First Selectman Mailhos stated that she would like to have at least one Animal Control Officer involved in the process as well. We have contacted an Officer from two other Towns to see if they can be on the interview panel as well. First Selectman Mailhos has asked the other to Selectmen to look through the applications we have received and choose their top three to be interviewed. ~
First Selectman Mailhos added that this is a unique position. ~Although it does not require a degree, the candidate will need to have NACA training; there is a lot to know, and many facets to it.
New Business:
- Knowlton/Talmadge Management Contract
Selectman Littell asked Chairman Andersen what the Connwood Foresters would be doing on the properties. Chairman Andersen stated they will walk through the two properties (Talmadge and Knowlton) and give an analysis of the forestry; including wildlife management and suggestions of future harvesting and management of invasive species. They will also take an inventory of the forest composition and identify major timber; and lastly offer suggestions to protect water resources.
Chairman Andersen stated that people have been asking about hunting on the property, and the analysis will suggest if it would be allowable and how many hunters might be allowed.
Selectman Blessington moved to authorize the first selectman to sign the forestry management contract assuming the Town meeting authorizes such expenditure.
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint Tom Buccino as a regular member of the Willington Economic Development Commission; effective immediately, expiring January 1, 2014.
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that Mr. Buccino is not a resident; however he is a property owner. He owns the mills on route 32 and has been busy with the mills over the past year. The Town Clerk also stated that it is OK for this appointment, as he is a property owner in Town. She added that he will be a great addition to the commission.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that Susan Yorgensen has contacted the land use attorney about this. The last correspondence with the Warrior Dash people was May 11th, which was an email reiterating the application process. She still has not heard back from them. In the meantime, the website is still registering people and is up to 2,259 people. She had talked to Susan about enforcement; where Susan is the one who enforces; however, she cannot place a “cease and desist” on something that is not there.
Selectman Blessington stated they already have a few thousand people signed up, who have paid money. First Selectman Mailhos stated that the registration is not refundable; however it may be applied towards another race. She gave an example where Thompson has sold out, and they have added an additional day to accommodate the overage. It is assumed that the overage is from another race that was cancelled. Selectman Blessington stated that we will need to take traffic, sanitation and parking, medical care and parking into consideration. There is also a liquor requirement involved as well. Christine Psathas asked what the deadlines are. First Selectman Mailhos stated that it is up to the Commission if they decide they might hold a special meeting to accommodate.
Susan Yorgensen joined the meeting and stated that they still have not applied. They (Warrior Dash organization) promised they would have the paperwork in to her by May 4th. She stated that she has had to chase them, and has not gotten any other response from them. First Selectman Mailhos asked if they were to submit the application tomorrow (for example) what would happen? Ms. Yorgensen stated that the next ZBA meeting is scheduled for June 14th and if they submitted an application, it would be received at that meeting. The earliest date the public hearing could be held would be July 12th. She added that ZBA does not meet in August, so the public hearing would have to close by July 12. (in many cases, public hearings are continued, or have an extension, however they
cannot be open for more than 35 days; unless the applicant requests the extension).
Selectman Littell stated that since Ms. Yorgensen has tried to contact them twice already, and they will not respond, it seems like they do not want to comply. Lynn Nicholls added that we are talking about one organization, however, we have two property owners involved in this – why aren’t they getting involved? Ms. Yorgensen said that Jim Poole told her that he had told them (Warrior Dash) a long time ago that the permit process takes a long time, and they should try to begin the process soon. She added if they do not come to get permits, she is going to have to do something to protect the Town. She stated she plans to send a similar letter to the apartment complexes that hold keg parties, and copy the State Police. The letter states that it is not an allowed use in town; police take
notice. She also added that she has a hard time believing that Mr. Poole would allow this to happen, given his position on following regulations. Selectman Littell clarified Mr. Poole’s words at the P&Z meeting were, I could care less about what goes on; I already have been paid. First Selectman Mailhos stated that we are getting calls from abutters who want to know what is going on, and we cannot tell them anything, because we have no information. She added that they deserve to know more about it. Selectman Littell said that we aren’t necessarily against it; we just want to be prepared.
Discussion was held on liquor control. First Selectman Mailhos stated time is running out as the permits will take time to get and for ZBA to even make a decision. Ms. Yorgensen stated that ZBA could approve the permit with conditions if it came to that.
Kelly Trueb asked why they aren’t doing the same thing for us as they are in Thompson. First Selectman Mailhos added that Thompson is different. In our case, it affects at least three different properties – one for the race course, one for spectators and a third for parking. She added that this is all speculation at this point. Susan Yorgensen stated that she will be sending out a formal letter (stating that it is not allowed without having pulled permits) if we have not received an application by early August. Certified letters will be sent to the property owners as well as the event coordinators and State Police. Selectman Blessington suggested contacting the State’s Attorney’s office.
First Selectman Mailhos stated we have a few issues with storage. We used to have a storage unit on Route 32, (Stock and Lock) but it was decided a few years ago , before she started (when the budgets were being cut) to move the files to the basement on pallets on the dirt floor. The files have begun to deteriorate. Lynn said they were already deteriorating when they moved them back here. She suggested pouring a concrete floor and concrete walls, which would make a proper storage area. She added that it took the crew two days to move the boxes from the storage unit. First Selectman Mailhos stated that we have to do something about it. Lynn stated the attic should have room; there are a lot of boxes that have redundant information in them. First Selectman Mailhos said Carol goes up to the
attic when she has time and has organized it. She will type up the list of the contents of the box; put a copy of the list on the outside of the box as well as one inside. She and has done a great job. We need to fill out forms, which is a state requirement; before we discard the paperwork that is up there.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we need to look into creating a proper storage space and we need to consider that the Town Clerk’s vault might run out of room in the long term future. She added that she would like to seek help from some college students who are home for the summer. It would be a contracted service and we have some money left over (we are returning $40,000 to the general fund that has not been encumbered). She is thinking it should not exceed over a thousand dollars. First Selectman Mailhos will pursue it further.
Good & Welfare:
First Selectman Mailhos thanked Jen Jeffreys for chairing Willington Day again. She also thanked everyone who participated and volunteered as well as Lynn for helping out early that morning. The parking worked out well this year. Selectman Blessington added that we had nice weather; however he thought both Willington Day and the Parade had fewer people at each function this year than last. It almost seemed empty. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that this year, the booths were spaced out more to allow more room. Kelly Trueb agreed with Selectman Blessington and said that WHFD did not make any money this year. They order the same amount of food each year, and this year they had left-over’s. Selectman Blessington said in years past, the tradition would be to go to the parade,
and then over to Willington Day. First Selectman Mailhos stated that people do the same with the fun run. Lynn suggested moving the date and holding it at River Road Athletic Complex in the future. First Selectman Mailhos said that we will be looking to add more people to the committee next year and that any and all suggestions and offers for help will be welcomed.
Reminder, there is a Town Meeting tomorrow night at 7PM at Old Town Hall.
First Selectman Mailhos also wanted to thank the VFW for organizing the parade this year.
First Selectman Mailhos added that we have received a letter from an attorney regarding a proposed cell tower on Routes 74 and Old South Willington Road. This is the same proposal from last year, that was withdrawn. AT&T is re-applying at the two locations and the process from last year will remain in effect. Nothing needs to be done at this time. The Citing council will plan to hold a public hearing in September or October.
Lynn reminded everyone that Tolland County Relay for Life will be held this weekend.
Selectman Littell motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:09 p.m.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
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