BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting November 17, 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 6:30 P.M. with the following in attendance: Selectmen Kowalyshyn & Blessington and residents. First Selectman Mailhos led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Blessington moved to approve the minutes of November 3, 2014 as written.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Present to Speak:
Stuart Cobb, Willington’s Emergency Management Director was present. He stated that he has done some research on the naming of the Senior Housing driveway and found that certain roads can have a numbering system without being considered a town road. He added that the phone company does not recognize the “A, B, C” concept – they did away with that in the 1980s when the 911 system went into place. Also, when a 911 call comes in with the way the address is currently set up, the emergency crew is left to guess where to go. Kelly Trueb agreed and stated that this past Saturday, a call came in from dispatch, but only listed 60 Old Farms Road – they had to go into both buildings until they figured out where the alarm was coming from.
First Selectman Mailhos noted if we decide not to change the name, she thinks it will add more confusion when the two new buildings are in place. Mr. Cobb suggested renaming the driveway and then go with an odd/even numbering system. The Senior Citizens Association has also offered to help the residents with the change and to fill out the appropriate forms, if it comes to fruition. He added that he understands that it might be painful to change it, but the Town went through a renumbering configuration back in the 1980’s and it was difficult at first, but was the right thing to do back then. He then stated that we have an opportunity to fix it now and we should. In the meantime, the Senior Center is holding a contest to see what the name of the driveway should be.
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 Housing Authority is still in the infrastructure stage of this project. A construction meeting was held today. First Selectman Mailhos was in attendance, and noted that the road has been cut in and the drainage work has been done as well; however the Housing Authority has run out of funding. They are going to wait until the grant comes in to continue on with phase 2, which is expected to be in the spring.
*Polster Bridge – The bridge has arrived and the contractor will begin constructing it as early as tomorrow.
*Turnpike Road; Phase 3 – the Town Engineer has prepared the plans and will submit them to the IWWC at their first meeting in December.
*Tree removal on Michalec Road - The town of Stafford is now in agreement that the trees can be removed at our discretion. Derek will finalize some research before moving forward.
*Land purchase on Hancock Road – The closing should be held in the next few weeks.
*STEAP 2015 Application – First Selectman Mailhos and Robin Campbell will work on the application this week.
*Needs Assessment for the Town Office Building – The contractor has supplied us with a preliminary set of drawings. They are preparing photographs of each of the rooms and will submit that on a disc. First Selectman Mailhos has asked them to give us an estimate for a structural analysis of the common room (former senior center) as we know there is an issue in one of the beams in the ceiling (we are not sure when it happened, and could have been from the major snow in 2011).
*MS4 Permit Changes – The public hearing will be December 17th. First Selectman Mailhos stated that the DEEP plans to send a revised copy of the proposed draft, but will not do so until after the public hearing, to avoid confusion.
Public Works:
Derek reported that the Crew has been busy with the following tasks:
- Digging out culvert ditches
- Brush removal along roadways
- Sign repairs
Vehicle & equipment maintenance
- Rebuild stairs & landing at Bus Lot, which was damaged by tractor trailer.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we have had problems with tractor trailer trucks who use the bus lot as a turn around, once they figure out that they have missed the turn for the Travel Stop. We do not have a camera system there, and we have been asking the drivers to close the gate, once they leave for the day. Selectman Blessington suggested putting some signs on the road to inform those drivers that they are still able to access I-84 if they just keep going along Route 320, which might alleviate some drivers from going into the bus lot.
- Grading of gravel roads
- Maintenance at TOB
- Roadside mowing
New Business
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $106.56 to Wadee M. Admin; Mansfield Center, CT for an excess payment.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $57.14 to Robin Widger; Vero Beach, FL for a credit of a sold vehicle.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $74.93 to Wadee M. Admin; Mansfield Center, CT for an excess payment.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
- Resolution to join the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG) Metropolitan
First Selectman Mailhos moved to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION TO JOIN THE CAPITOL REGION COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS (CRCOG) MPO
WHEREAS, as the result of the State’s reorganization of regional planning organizations and councils of government the Windham Region Council of Governments (WINCOG), of which Willington was a member, was dissolved as of June 30, 2014, and
WHEREAS, the Town of Willington has voted to join the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), effective July 1, 2014 and
WHEREAS, the CRCOG is the region’s Transportation Management Area (TMA)/Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and
WHEREAS, the Federal 23 CFR 450.310, MPO Designation and Re-designation Process requires that units of general purpose local government vote in favor of MPO Re-designation in order for such Re-designation to take effect;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Willington Board of Selectmen hereby votes to join the Capitol Region Council of Governments Transportation Management Area / Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Dated at Willington, this 17th day of November, 2014
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Selectman Kowalyshyn asked for clarification regarding the CFR450, 310 means. Stuart Cobb clarified that this process is similar to the Homeland Security program that we (the Town) are involved. Each Town has representation in the budget process as well as a vote. He believes this is the same type of process.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint Steven Vera as a regular member of the Capital Improvement Program Committee; effective November 17, 2014; expiring December 1, 2015.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint Stuart Cobb as a regular member of the Capital Improvement Program Committee; effective November 17, 2014; expiring December 1, 2016 (filling Tyler Millix’s two year vacancy).
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that we still have one vacancy on the CIP Committee. The first meeting will be next Monday, November 24th at 7PM in the Old Town Hall. She added that she would like to show the Committee the work that has been done on the building so far.
Old Business
- Firefighter tax abatement clarification
First Selectman Mailhos has drafted a letter to the Chiefs of each department to clarify what we are looking from them, from the past discussions. The section that needed further clarification was about documenting the record keeping for going to calls. We need to determine what constitutes an event; and who gets credit for it.
Chief Snyder had emailed First Selectman Mailhos with a response to her inquiry. His response states that the Chiefs should be trusted to determine who gets credit and what constitutes an event; we should run with it and see how it goes for the first year. Selectman Kowalyshyn clarified that there still should be a checks/balance on that.
Stuart Cobb stated that the dispatch center creates incident numbers. There are some cases where a single responder might show up to a small incident (for example, a transformer that is burning) – they should then call the dispatch center to get an incident number right away. He warned that it is time sensitive and must be processed within a half hour of the incident.
He has also done some research on tracking devices. One option would be to look into a “Salamander System”; which is cloud based. It is a smartphone app, and costs $50 per phone in addition to an $1,800 initial fee and $1,200 each year thereafter. Each firefighter is assigned an ID card with a serial number on it and they carry the cards with them at all times, which would then be scanned at each event.
Discussion was held on how many devices would need to be purchased and whose phone would get the app. He stated that the company would come out to do a demo on the product. Instead of a scanning system, the alternative would be to review the manual reports, submitted by each of the Department’s Fire Chiefs. Bob Wiecenski suggested having each department submit reports once per month, that way you are not reviewing a whole year all at once.
Kelly Trueb stated that WHFD has several ways that they can track events, but they do not prepare monthly reports. She added that there is no sure fire way to do it – it comes down to trust in the people. She then said that a hand written sheet is almost more trustworthy. Robin Campbell suggested having the Chief who signs off on the sheet tally the final number at the end of the event. Selectman Kowalyshyn clarified that somewhere and sometime, there is going to be someone out there who is going to try to alter the system – there are people out there that are dishonest and our job is to make sure that the Town of Willington is protected.
First Selectman Mailhos then asked who is going to review the reports. She then stated that is another thing we are going to need to be asking for – as it currently is not being done. Mr. Wiecenski clarified that WFD#1 already creates the monthly reports. Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that it would be so much easier if each of the departments did the same thing across the board. She clarified that they don’t have to combine, but it seems like it would be easier to work together. Kelly Trueb clarified that WFD #1 has a paid staff to write their reports; and WHFD is made of volunteers.
Selectman Blessington stated that he believes the way it is going to happen is we will trust the chiefs that sign off on it, until something glaring shows up and brings attention to it. First Selectman Mailhos stated that it could happen and is hopeful that it won’t happen.
Good & Welfare
Robert Shabot mentioned that the Historical Society and Board of Selectmen will host a tree lighting on December 5th at 7PM on the Town Green. The HMS Select chorus will perform as the tree is lit and then everyone is invited to go to the Daniel Glazier Tavern for refreshments. First Selectman Mailhos thanked Mr. Shabot for putting this together, as well as Walter West, who assembles the lights on the tree annually for the Town. She also thanked the Historical Society, who will also be putting on a tour of the Tavern. First Selectman Mailhos noted that the tree lighting will kick off the holiday season in Willington, as the Nursery Co-op and the Federated Church will hold their annual bazaars the following day. The library will host their annual open house the following weekend.
Mr. Shabot also added that Edward Williams, the gentleman who gifted the Daniel Glazier Tavern to the Historical Society, has passed away. Mr. Williams was a resident of Wellesley Hills, MA (the tavern was his summer home). He was 103 years old.
Our Animal Control Officer would like to thank Ainsley Bourbeau for her generosity in supporting the impounded animals of Willington. She celebrated her 7th birthday and asked her guests to bring donations for our animals resulting in over $100 worth of food, treats, toys and collars. She is an outstanding young lady!
First Selectman Mailhos noted that the State has revised their regulations regarding bazaars and raffles. She will be sending out a letter to inform the various boards of the new process along with the sample forms. The part that has changed is that the application must go to the State first, rather than through the Selectmen’s Office.
Selectman Kowalyshyn received a letter from the Marine Corps thanking her for helping out at the car show, which donated $701 to their Organization. They have awarded over $63 million in scholarships and humanitarian aid since 1995.
First Selectman Mailhos thanked the Scouts for holding their annual “Scouting for Food” program. They received in 4050 items of food. The Thanksgiving baskets will be assembled this week and will be ready for the families next week.
Our new Youth, Family & Social Services Director will start on Monday, November 24th but we ask people not to call her on the first few days as she will need to get acclimated and the Thanksgiving baskets will be distributed. We welcome Camber McCue to Willington.
Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:51 P.M.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant
<paste body here>
| 
