BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting February 3, 2014
Lower Level Conference Room 6:30 P.M.
*Minutes are not official until approved at the next regular meeting
First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to order at 6:34 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Kowalyshyn & Blessington and residents. First Selectman Mailhos led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to approve the minutes of January 22, 2014 regular meeting with the following amendment: time in the top corner should read: 5:15 PM.
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Vote 3 Yes (Mailhos Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Blessington moved to approve the minutes of January 22, 2014 special meeting as written
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Vote 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington), 0 No.
Selectman Blessington moved to approve the minutes of January 27, 2014 special meeting as written
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Vote 2 Yes (Mailhos & Blessington), 0 No, 1 Abstain (Kowalyshyn)
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 stated that she was not able to update the report.
Robin Campbell updated the Selectmen on the Old Town Hall bids, which came in today. A total of 7 bids were received. The bids ranged from $154,400 to $284,000. The architect will review the bids and have a recommendation for the Board by the next regular meeting.
Public Works:
First Selectman Mailhos noted that today’s snow storm has been most challenging for the crews and stated the snow and ice was worse than we had expected.
First Selectman Mailhos added that the new compactor has been delivered and installed at the Transfer Station. It is working great.
Lastly, we are accepting applications for the Public Works Director position until Friday, February 7th.
New Business
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $320.35 to Vault Trust, Cockeysville, MD for a credit of a sold vehicle.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we have received a recommendation letter from the Parks & Recreation Commission to appoint Ed Taiman to fill a vacancy.
First Selectman moved to appoint Ed Taiman as a regular member of the Willington Parks & Recreation Commission; (filling a vacancy). Effective February 3, 2014, expiring on December 15, 2014.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that Mr. Taiman has served on this commission before.
Vote 3 Yes (Mailhos Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Donna was not available. First Selectman Mailhos recapped the highlights and changes:
Salary increases (at 2.25%) are at $25,000. We have been offered a student intern at UCONN for 15 hours per week during the school year. The cost associated with this would be $13,000. First Selectman Mailhos stated that she sent out an email to the department heads to see if there was any interest and she received responses from a few of the departments with many ideas. Selectman Blessington suggested having someone come in to help with IT support. First Selectman Mailhos noted it would be nice to have someone come in to do the smaller tedious tasks that need to be done, but don’t always have time for, but warned that it cannot take away any union work.
The snow budget was increased by $16,000. Insurance place holders have been increased to $84,000, which includes an addition to the insurance plan and two place holders; one for the vacant Public Works position, and for the Treasurer position, if it is approved in the Personnel Policy. Pension funding was increased by $20,000.
The increase in the Building Inspector position was discussed. Our Building Inspector, Jim Rupert was present to discuss the proposed changes. He has been with Willington for 2 years. First Selectman Mailhos clarified when he was hired, it was at a lower hourly rate, with the understanding that we would enter into a contract for shared services with the Town of Bolton and that has taken longer than anticipated. She stated that she has received a draft agreement from Bolton that will now offer additional office hours for us here and the option of him being able to do work for Willington when he is in Bolton. He currently has limited hours, and either performs work first thing in the morning, or last part of the day during the week, or in some cases during emergency situations such as structure
fires or any type of structural damage. He must make a determination whether a house is inhabitable or not. His office hours are also limited, where he is only in the office on Monday evenings. The new agreement will offer additional office hours to the Monday evening hours as well as the option of Mr. Rupert being able to take telephone calls in the Bolton office. Mr. Rupert clarified that the Land Use department is happy with the Monday hours, but would like to see him here more. He added that he has had to use vacation and personal time to cover Willington during normal Bolton hours and is not an ideal situation for him.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that the agreement entails a quarterly billing cycle by Bolton and the miscellaneous charges on that line item (such as training and dues) would be eliminated Mr. Rupert suggested trying the system to see how it works for a year and it can be re-negotiated.
First Selectman Mailhos noted all of the increases add up to $170,000 = 5.79% (over last year’s budget). Selectman Kowalyshyn clarified that sometimes things have to go up. Selectman Blessington noted that it goes up every year and the Building Official line item is quite a jump. He asked if what we have had the past few years has not been working? First Selectman Mailhos agreed that it has worked out well, but warned that we are at risk of losing him and it would be an added benefit to the department as well as the residents to make him available more hours than he is already. Selectman Kowalyshyn added he would be available to our residents while in Bolton as well, but wanted to know exactly how much more the program will be. First Selectman Mailhos stated that the budgeted amount is
for an additional 38% and noted we have been lucky as we were able to keep him on for an additional year without a contract to Bolton. She added if we were to hire someone else, the going rate would be between $35.00 and $40.00 per hour, which would end up costing around $22,000. Selectman Kowalyshyn added that we would no longer need to pay travel expenses as well as insurance. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that we are just bringing this to the Board of Finance right now. Selectman Blessington warned that the contract has not been negotiated and it could end up costing more. Selectman Kowalyshyn clarified that we don’t have to sign it if it is more than we want to spend. Selectman Blessington stated he will reluctantly go along with it.
Discussion was held on the intern position for $13,000. Selectman Blessington stated he would be in favor of getting an intern, who could learn something while helping our employees. Kelly Trueb noted that the position would end up being $33.00 per hour for someone who is not trained (based on the hours per week (15 hours per week) for 26 weeks), and as we have just learned, we do not pay our Building Inspector that much.. The Selectmen stated that is a good point. Selectman Blessington suggested looking into getting our own intern. The item ($13,000) was removed from the budget.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that the CIP projects in this year’s Plan is also part of the budget.~ The plan includes a transfer of $127,000~to the General Reserve fund and the projects that were recently approved by the CIP, such as, CES sidewalk repairs, HMS ventilation system, a new generator for WHFD, an EDC study, a needs study for the Town Office Building, replacement of the 2002 dump truck and renovations to the Public Works garage.~~ Some items are "off budget" items.~ Off budget items do not come out of the operating budget.~ They will be taken from the fund balance or funded with grant money or LOCIP funds.~
~
~
First Selectman Mailhos moved to accept run #4 of the Selectmen’s Operating Budget to go to the Board of Finance to be included in the Town Budget.~ This includes the local fund appropriations from the~CIP plan.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
~
Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that she read the CIP minutes, which reflected a discussion and request for sidewalk repair on Route 32.~ She asked if the town was obligated to fix them.~ First Selectman Mailhos noted that she was actually planning on holding discussions with the Selectmen at a future meeting, where the Town Attorney would be available to discuss his opinion on it~as well.~
Vote:~ 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington)~0 No.~
Selectman Blessington added he is approving the budget with reluctance because of the increase in the Building Inspector line item.
~
The Board of Selectmen will defer the approval of the CIP Narrative Report to townspeople at the annual budget meeting.~ This will give the CIP Committee to fine tune the document, which is still in draft form.~In the meantime, it will go before the Board of Finance.~
- Clean Energy Communities Municipal Pledge
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she had met with CL&P last week to discuss energy saving programs and incentives.~ If our town takes the steps to become a clean energy community, the Town will receive points towards~eligibility to receive a free solar panel.~ First Selectman Mailhos noted that some of our surrounding Towns have already received their free solar panels.~
~
CL&P will send out flyers to our residents, as part of the marketing process to inform them of the program.~ It would be endorsed by the Town, at no additional costs to us.~ First Selectman Mailhos will be asking the EAC to hold a meeting to discuss this soon.~ She then stated if anyone is interested in serving on the EAC, to please contact the Selectmen's office as we have a few vacancies.
~
Selectman Blessington stated that he knows some people who have done this and were happy, but warned that the pledge may be misunderstood.~ Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that we should look into it further, noting that a pledge is not binding us to anything.~
~
~~
Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that the EDC recently had a C-Pace presentation at their last meeting.~~C-Pace is a clean energy opportunity that will benefit local businesses in our Town and is being offered~by~the Windham Chamber Commerce of Business.~~ The process begins with a tour of a local business to see what the needs are in the building. The Town is involved in the payment process, where once the improvements~have been made to the building, it is tied into the assessment of the property and the Town collects the payment and passes it along to the carrier.~~She also noted if the business/building is sold, the payment process goes along with it.~
~
Selectman Kowalyshyn~stated that she had asked many questions and one of the questions is why the Town is involved, and~they were not able to give a clear answer.~ The EDC will be holding another meeting, inviting CEFIA and the BOS to discuss and receive further clarification on this, noting that a business is interested in the program.~~ Kelly Trueb noted that there are other types of incentives that are available that do not include the~Town (a local restaurant has recently participated in).~ ~ She stated that she will look into the name of it and report back to the Selectmen. Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that she would research it once she gets the information.~ The Selectmen will attend the meeting.~ First Selectman Mailhos suggested inviting the Energy Advisory Committee as well.~~~
Old Business
~STEAP Grant Application Discussion
~
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she had discussed the STEAP grant application with the CIP Committee and the general consensus was to apply for further funding for Turnpike Road.~~ We still have phase 3 to get done, where we will have $30,000 remaining from Phase 2, but the total phase 3 is expected to cost around $400,000.~ She then added once Phase 3 is done, we still need to pave the road~(phase 4), which could cost around $900,000.~~ She added it just makes sense to ask for more~money to help offset the cost.~~
~
Selectman Blessington stated that he hates to start a project and leaving it half done. He would like to apply for Turnpike Road.~ First Selectman Mailhos noted that the application is different this year. .~
~
Good & Welfare
Selectman Blessington stated that there was a fire on Moose Meadow Road over the weekend.~ Sadly, the family lost their chickens.~ First Selectman Mailhos added that a family in town had a chimney fire that spread into their basement last week.~ They will not be able to go back to their home for 3 or 4 months.~
~
Selectman Blessington reminded everyone of the upcoming Town Meeting, tomorrow night.~~ First Selectman Mailhos noted the items on the meeting:~ Center School Roof, funding for the Conservation Commission for the Fenton-Ruby Park Plan, refurbishment of ET113 and an Ordinance change regarding WINCOG/CRCOG.
~
Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 P.M.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote:~ 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington)~0 No.~
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant
| 
