BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting October 21, 2013
Common Conference Room - Upper Level* 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 noted that the meeting was moved to the upper level Common Room because Inland Wetlands was holding a meeting in the lower level. She then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Blessington stated that Selectman Littell was not at the October 7th meeting; but it states that he moved to adjourn.
Selectman Blessington moved to accept the minutes of October 7, 2013 as amended.
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Vote: 2 Yes (Mailhos & Blessington) 0 No, 1 Abstain (Littell)
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 stated that she was not able to update the report in time for the meeting. She noted that Turnpike Road Phase II is going before Wetlands tonight.
Public Works:
Lynn stated that the crews have finished sweeping and cleaning the chip seal routes and have moved on to cleaning culverts and fixing pot holes. Christine Psathas noted that there are a lot of tree crews around town and asked who takes care of the wood? Lynn said she was planning on posting a public notice about it and clarified that the property owners have first dibs on the wood, but if they are not interested in taking it, they should notify Public Works so it is removed in a timely fashion.
New Business
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the Board of Selectmen has received a petition and it should be discussed tonight.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to add “Town Meeting for petition regarding the Teachers Contract” as item C under New Business.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
A. CIP Requests for 2014-2015
First Selectman Mailhos sent an email to the Selectmen and the CIP Committee to start thinking about things that might need to be added to the CIP this year, noting that we just found out that the Polster Road Bridge is in worse condition that we had thought. She added that she would like to hire a consultant perform an economic development study in the area of the newly proposed truck stop as there are other lots for sale and we need to be proactive about what we as a town want there. Selectman Blessington stated that he is skeptical when it comes to hiring consultants. First Selectman Mailhos added that she would also like to add chipsealing of the parking lots as they are going to need to be done in the near future. She then stated she welcomes any other suggestions to add to the CIP plan.
B. Chipseal Plan
Lynn distributed packets in regards to the chipsealing process. The documents contained a list of the roads in town and when they were last chipsealed. The packet also included a breakdown of the cost of asphalt, equipment rental; a work list and a shimming worksheet breakdown and lastly, a list of roads that were done this year and what is planned for 2014. First Selectman Mailhos stated that this year the crews worked all over the place this year to catch up and they got it done. Lynn added that a lot more goes into it than just chip sealing; the roads need to be shimmed and then crowned (to allow run off/drainage) 4.45 miles but they also were able to asphalt the bottom of Village Hill and a portion of Potter School Road. Lynn noted that several years ago, the average chip seal route would be around 15-18
miles with every road getting done an average of every five years, adding that next year’s route is expected to total 7.12 miles, which will be concentrated to one area, rather than all over Town. Lastly, she added that the average is between 7 and 9 years that they get done.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she wanted to add this to the agenda because she fears that we will never be able to catch up. Lynn said we never will unless we plan on adding more to the budget. First Selectman Mailhos said we need to figure out what that number is and we need to plan out future years as well. She then asked if it makes sense to spend more and catch up. John Patton suggested looking at a plan where the heavier traveled roads are done every two years and the less travelled roads are done every five years, but it would involve a traffic study. Alan Ference stated that we are so far behind, we need to look beyond the number of years that certain roads were done and where . Selectman Blessington stated what Mr. Patton said makes sense and he is usually
against spending, but sometimes you have to look at the future.
First Selectman Mailhos said it is important to start thinking about this now, instead of in the middle of budget season.
C. Town Meeting for petition regarding the Teachers Contract
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the Board of Selectmen have been served a petition to call a Town Meeting regarding the Teachers contract, such as was done three years ago. First Selectman Mailhos read the petition; which has 24 signatures - all verified by the Town Clerk. She has been working with the Town Clerk to understand what is required of us at this point. She then gave a summary: The teacher’s contract was filed in the Town Clerk’s office on October 10th and State Statute says there is a 30 day period (from the date it was filed) for the townspeople to reject the contract. Once the petition is submitted, a Town Meeting would need to be called and then by the time the Town Meeting is held, a total of 200 or more signatures must be collected in order to force a referendum. She stated we do not have a lot of time to work with, because of the date the contract was originally filed, does not give us enough time to call a Town Meeting (using customary 2 week notice) and
Town attorney and referendum. She added another issue is the way the petition was worded; it is not clear. It states “we the undersigned, being qualified to vote in town meeting of the Town of Willington, hereby petition the Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 7-1 of the Connecticut State Statutes, to call a Special Town Meeting for the following purpose: To reject (or ratify) the contract entitled “Professional Agreement between Willington Board of Education and Willington Education Association July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018”. First Selectman Mailhos stated the last time (which was three years ago), the wording was to simply reject the contract. She added that the Town Attorney suggested a reasonable assumption would be to infer and use the same wording as the last Town Meeting in 2010. First Selectman Mailhos explained the process of calling a Town Meeting in a normal situation; where we allow 2 weeks from the
time the Town Meeting is going to happen and then we place the warning of the meeting in a local publication (the Reminder). She added that we might not have the option of using the Reminder because this is time sensitive to the closing of the 30 day period which is November 8th. First Selectman Mailhos added that she is not prepared to call a Town Meeting tonight because we just got the petition a few hours ago. John Patton clarified that the Board of Selectmen has the authority to call a Town Meeting and adjourn to referendum if they choose to.
Bob Wiecenski asked who generated the petition and First Selectman Mailhos responded it was resident, Alex Strong. Discussion was held on the scenarios of holding a Town Meeting, and potential dates. Questions were asked if 200 signatures are possible to obtain in such short notice. Selectman Blessington stated that some people got hurt badly from the last time and may have learned. First Selectman Mailhos stated that she doesn’t feel inclined to consider holding a referendum, because no one is present at this meeting to request it. Discussion was held on the cost of warning a Town Meeting. In this case, because we cannot use our regular publication, it is not clear, but assumed it could cost near $1,000. Discussion was held to figure out the best way possible to handle the situation.
Selectman Blessington stated he is surprised that no one is here who signed the petition to follow up on this. First Selectman Mailhos stated that it might be because it wasn’t listed on the agenda and that is a concern, however we are also dealing with a time limitation. Kelly Trueb clarified that this is a regularly scheduled meeting, and it is legally acceptable to add it because it is time sensitive. Selectman Blessington suggested calling a special BOS meeting on Wednesday to call the Town Meeting.
He added that he is nervous to call the Town Meeting tonight, because it was not on the agenda and none of the people who signed the petition are here. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that if we do not address it right away, it might make them upset that we let time slip away precluding them from getting a resolution in the 30 day period. Donna Hardie, Town Clerk added that Mr. Strong was aware of this regular meeting and she told him she would move quickly.
Discussion was held on the cost of the procedure for publication. First Selectman Mailhos stated it is going to cost hundreds to publish the meeting in the paper and then it is going to cost thousands to hold another referendum. A question was asked if the referendum question could be added to the election ballot. Christine Psathas clarified that the election ballots have already been published and would not be possible to hold it on the same day as the election, noting that absentee ballots would have to be sent out 19 days prior to the date of the referendum. Selectman Blessington clarified that right now we are required to call a Town Meeting and the fate of the referendum is unknown at this time. Discussion was held on the best date possible to hold the meeting. It was determined that
November 7th would be too late to be able to give them the opportunity to hold a possible referendum. Selectmen Blessington and Littell said we need to figure out the best way to handle this and we should spend the extra money to publish it in the Journal Inquirer and call the meeting for October 30th.
First Selectman Mailhos read and moved to call the Town Meeting:
TOWN OF WILLINGTON
NOTICE AND WARNING
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
The electors of the Town of Willington and all persons who are entitled to vote in Town Meeting on the matters mentioned in the following warning are hereby warned and notified to meet in Town Meeting at TOWN OFFICE BUILDING – COMMON ROOM (UPPER LEVEL) at 40 OLD FARMS ROAD in Willington on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. for the following purposes:
ITEM I
To hold a presentation of the Professional Agreement between Willington Board of Education and Willington Education Association; July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018
ITEM II
Should the legislative body of the Town of Willington reject the Professional Agreement between Willington Board of Education and Willington Education Association July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018.
Dated at Willington this 21st day of October, 2013
Willington Board of Selectmen: Christina B. Mailhos, Butch Littell & John Blessington
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Blessington then requested that someone contact Mr. Strong to notify him what transpired at this meeting and that we are using the same wording as the last time it was done, clarifying that there is no intent to undermine. The Town Clerk stated that she will notify him to explain why it was added to the agenda and the date was chosen to accommodate him to collect the signatures.
Old Business
A. Town of Willington Credit Card Policy Revision
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the Board of Selectmen adopted the policy on September 16th and the policy was mirrored from the Board of Education’s credit card policy. It was later found (after it was adopted) that there is no legal statute that refers to municipal purchasing; therefore the reference to the statute should be removed from the policy.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to remove the mention of the legal reference at the bottom of the Credit Card Policy.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Littell & Blessington) 0 No.
B. Youth and Family Social Services Directory Salary Discussion
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we received documentation from the WYFSS Director regarding the fact that the salary for the position is lower than our neighboring towns and other towns our size. Although it is a Director position, it is lower than the lowest pay scale in the union in our Town. First Selectman Mailhos stated that she researched it and is in agreement. She added that there is also extra money in the WYFSS special fund that could help fund a salary increase to rectify the situation.
Selectman Littell asked First Selectman Mailhos if she has brought this before the Board of Finance. First Selectman Mailhos stated that it is not a requirement to get approval from the BOF as the funds are in that department. Selectman Blessington cautioned that this would be an annual occurrence. He added that if we do this now, instead of going before the BOF, we will have a bunch of people lined up to do the same thing.
First Selectman Mailhos clarified that the union employees have negotiated their salaries for the next several years and the department heads negotiate their salaries when they are hired. She added there is a major inequity when comparing this case to other department heads, noting that the WYFSS fund has over $29,000 in it. Alan Ference asked if it is the intent to use that fund for a salary. He cautioned that it should be double checked to make sure it will not take away from special needs such as fuel or food assistance. It should also be checked to see if that type of transfer is allowed. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that the BOF has asked the Director to spend some of the money down, but it keeps generating revenue from program income, noting that there is an
additional $15,000 earmarked for fuel assistance. She also noted that many of the other departmental accounts (such as the Recreation fund, for example) have depleted over time but this one grows. Selectman Blessington asked if that fund ends up like the others, then what happens? First Selectman Mailhos stated that she would like to have the increase start in January beginning at $3,000 to the end of the year and in the meantime we will go before BOF to add it in the budget process as well as taking a percentage of the funding and wean it off over time. The total would be $6,000 for an entire year. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that we do not have a formal process of how we do this, except for when an employee makes the request. She added if we look at it and see that it is this inequitable, then we should act upon it.
The Director of Youth Family & Social Services was in attendance and stated that the Department Heads do not have collective bargaining like the teachers or our union does. Selectman Littell stated he received the information three days ago and would like to take time to review it further, adding that we have until January to make a decision. Selectman Blessington added this is difficult because we are not a private entity, where we can just decide to give someone a raise. He added he is not sure what the answer is and not sure where to go but would lean towards going along with the CEO of the Town unless this becomes a habit. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that there is a lot to look into and thinks this is a unique situation for this particular position. She added that we
can visit this again and can discuss in Executive Session if we will be discussing performance of a particular employee, however any votes taken will be in open session.
C. Town Meeting Reminder 10/22/13
First Selectman Mailhos reminded everyone that we are holding a Town Meeting tomorrow night at 7PM.
Good & Welfare
First Selectman Mailhos stated that Roby Passardi is retiring and the Library is hosting a retirement party on Sunday, October 27th from 12:00 P.M. till 3:00 P.M. Everyone is invited to attend. There will be shuttlebus service to the Library from the school. Brittany Jensen will be taking over as Library Director. Congratulations to both.
First Selectman Mailhos presented a recent newspaper article that warns that Halloween could be the next “spring weekend” for student partying; which is expected to be on the rise this fall. She encourages residents to call the police if they experience any students partying near their property.
Selectman Littell moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:14 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant
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