BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting August 20, 2012
Town Office Building- Common Conference Room 6:30 P.M.
First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to order at 6:33 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 Blessington motioned to approve the minutes of July 16, 2012 as written.
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Littell motioned to approve the minutes of August 7, 2012 with the following amendment: under the Animal Control Vehicle; second sentence should read: Fluid has gone into the engine…….
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
Present to Speak:
No one was present to speak.
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:
*Senior Housing Phase III – Senior Housing Cottages – the Resolutions regarding fixed tax assessment and land lease passed at the Town meeting held on July 17th. The Housing Authority is now in the process of seeking funding for the project.
*Town Offices Building Roof RFP- The Town Engineer is working to draft an RFP for work to be done on the roofs at Town Office Building. The project details will be shared with the BOS as we get them.
*Performance Contracting – Preliminary visits have been completed. CCM will schedule a presentation in September.
*Old Town Hall Renovations – A meeting was held on August 2 to discuss the draft findings. Another meeting will be held on August 22 to discuss the recommendations.
*Turnpike Road Phase I – Phase I has been awarded to Folsom Construction. We will hold off on detail #1 until more funding is available. We have made a request to the BOF to appropriate the $400,000 STEAP grant funding to use some of the funds to complete this task.
*Turnpike Road Phase II – we will need to approve the project a Town Meeting as part of the appropriation process. The Town Engineer is working on the design. Plans will need wetlands approval, documents will be prepared along with project estimates.
*Turnpike Road Phase III - Has not begun yet; is drainage.
*Turnpike Road – future phases – Estimates were compiled a few years ago for the resurfacing of the road. The cost estimates will be updated.
*Reapportionment Committee- As part of the reapportionment, it is required that a Town Hearing be held in October and a question will be added to the ballot in the November election.
*Union Contract Negotiations – meetings are ongoing.
Public Works:
Lynn reported that the crews finished chip sealing today. They will now begin working on the bus turn-arounds in preparation for the first day of school as well as clearing the water ways. The crews will return to the chip sealed areas to sweep the loose stone in about three weeks.
- Award Winter Road Sand Contract
We received four bids. First Selectman Mailhos opened and read each bid for 3,000 – 4,000 tons:
Rawson Materials: $13.99 per ton delivered as needed
Desiato Sand & Gravel:$15.00 per ton delivered as needed
Becker Construction: $11.50 per ton delivered as requested
Herb Holden Trucking: $11.60 per ton (delivery date was left blank)
First Selectman Mailhos moved to award the winter road sand bid to Becker Construction at $11.50 per ton as per their bid.
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
8.New Business
- Tax Collection – Title XIX Issue
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the Tax Collector has forwarded a letter regarding a resident who has recently gone on Title XIX benefits and is no longer able to pay the taxes on a property, which is a commercial property. The request is to defer the taxes until the property is sold. The daughter of the resident was present. She stated the property belongs to her mother, who is 99 years old and is in a nursing home. The property has been on the market since 2007 and are hopeful it will sell. First Selectman Mailhos stated that in most cases, people who are in this situation just let the taxes fall into arrears, rather than ask for help. It is admirable that they are taking this step as it helps us plan better.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to allow the deferral of taxes at 22 Tolland Turnpike Willington per affidavit from taxpayer’s lawyer requesting said deferral. Property owner is receiving title XIX benefits and said property is for sale. Taxes will be paid when property is sold.
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
Peter Tanaka was invited to the meeting to discuss a position on the Solid Waste Advisory Commission. Mr. Tanaka stated that he is interested in serving on this Commission because Selectman Blessington suggested he join. He goes to the transfer station regularly. First Selectman Mailhos stated that it is important that this Commission gets up and running again because there are ordinances that will need to be updated and the Commission is responsible for doing so. The Commission is also responsible for suggesting improvements at the Transfer Station.
Selectman Blessington moved to appoint Peter Tanaka as a regular member of the Willington Solid Waste Advisory Commission effective immediately; expiring November 7, 2014.
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Laurel Millix as a regular member of the Willington Housing Authority effective August 1, 2012, expiring August 1, 2017.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
- Award 2013 Revaluation Contract
Willington Assessor, Mary Huda sent a letter of recommendation to the BOS to award ther 2013 contract. The letter states that she received two bids for the revaluation. The two companies and bids were:
Tyler Technologies Total bid: $48,300; Litigation/per diem $975.00 and Vision Government Solutions Total bid $47,000; Litigation / per diem $900.
Ms. Huda has recommended for the BOS award the contract to Vision Government Solutions as per their bid.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to award the 2013 Revaluation contract to Vision Government Solutions as per their bid of $47,000 with a per diem litigation fee of $900.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $47.87 to Margaret Gankofskie for a sold vehicle.
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $100.75 to John and Maureen Peterson; 2192 Lewiston Lane; Villages FL, for a sold vehicle.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $22.33 to Jonathan Sleezer; Alstead, NH for vehicles registered in another state.
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $159.33 to Jonathan Sleezer; Alstead, NH for vehicles registered in another state.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $102.03 to Janice or Thomas Sastre, Greenville, SC for vehicles registered in another state.
Selectman Littell seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
- Emergency Services Efficiency Committee update
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she received a letter from Chief Millix of Willington F.D. #1, Inc. Chief Millix and President Gantick, both of WFD#1 were present to discuss the letter.
Chief Millix stated that he and President Gantick drafted the letter and made sure their thoughts were expressed in a respectful manner; however he stated that you get to a point where you feel like you are spinning your wheels and going nowhere. He added that Willington F.D. #1 took the appointments to the Committee very seriously. They made sure that the two people with authority were at the table. He added that the current set- up with the folks sitting on the WHFD side was going nowhere because they are not the Chief or President or members of the Board.. They do not have any authority, nor can they effectively contribute to the discussions at the meetings. It was basically a waste of time for everyone who attended the meetings.
Chief Millix added that the Committee will continue to go nowhere until the leadership from the other department steps forward. First Selectman Mailhos stated that is something she has been struggling with, as she has tried numerous times to get the leadership from WHFD to step up the level of imvolvement. Selectman Blessington asked if anyone from WHFD has seen the letter that was sent by Chief Millix. Robin Campbell sent a copy to the two members of WHFD who sit on the Committee, and also has invited them to this meeting to discuss, but did not get a response.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that they have been struggling with the SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures). WFD#1 has a document that they train their people on and use as a management tool and WHFD just adopted theirs, the problem is their membership has never seen it or trained on it, nor have they cross-trained on it. She added that she understands that she has requested a lot of data and documentation in the past year, but it is not just coming from her; the BOF is also looking for certain data from them. It is hard to have the discussions when certain people aren’t there. One of the topics that was going to be discussed at the next Emergency Services Efficiency Committee meeting was to have a guest speaker come to talk about how another Town went through the consolidating process and she feels that
the meeting can still be held and feels that there must be some way to have both departments interact.
Selectman Littell reflected back to when the members of the Committee were appointed. He specifically abstained from voting for this exact reason; they would not have any power to make any decisions. He added that he is surprised the Committee lasted this long. Chief Millix or President Gantick; they put up a good effort and does not blame them for their resignation. He then suggested to request to go to a WHFD meeting and ask to be added to their agenda. This will let them know that we are not playing games; eventually they are going to have to come to the table. The intent of this is to make sure the public is adequately protected and that both departments are working together. It is not fair to the people who pay taxes that expect something for their money.
The next Emergency Services Efficiency Committee will be cancelled.
Good & Welfare
First Selectman Mailhos reported that Clarence, the last of the long term dogs at the pound has been adopted. She added that our new Animal Control Officer has been active on facebook and has been posting about him on a regular basis. He has had quite a following. We Congratulate Clarence and his new family. There are currently two new dogs that now await homes.
We received an invitation from the Town of Coventry 300th Anniversary parade. Chief Millix stated that WFD#1 might participate in the parade; it will be discussed at their next meeting.
First Selectman Mailhos stated she would like to send best wishes to one of Willington’s volunteer Fire Fighters, who was seriously injured in an accident this past week.
Selectman Littell asked the status of the Direct Energy contract? He has had some people inquire about it. First Selectman Mailhos stated that she was waiting to get additional information and will look into it.
Selectman Littell then asked the status on getting flags? Robin Campbell stated that Tara Bergeron was getting prices, and found them to be expensive. First Selectman Mailhos added that she believes Tara was also going to check with the Business Manager to see where we can find funding to purchase them.
Robin Campbell added that the discussion about the proposed three way stop at Sharps Mill / Kollar Road was supposed to be discussed at this meeting, however the chip sealing project was extended to this week, and Lynn has not had time to review with the Town Engineer. Mr. Masinda was contacted to apprise him as well. It will go on the September 4 agenda.
Selectman Littell asked the status of the JAG (Justice Assistance) Grant that Bryan Hurlburt had suggested the Town go after. First Selectman Mailhos stated that she looked into it, but it looks like it is more for Towns who already have a resident State Trooper in place. In the meantime, she is looking into the costs of getting a resident State Trooper.
Christine Psathas asked if there was a possibility of changing the timing of the light at the junction of Jared Sparks Road and Route 74. When the light is green, it turns to yellow very quickly and when it is red, it takes a long time to turn green. Lynn stated that is seems to have changed when the State was milling and asphalting on Route 74 and she will contact DOT.
Selectman Littell motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
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