BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes
Regular Meeting December 15, 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:
First Selectman Mailhos moved to approve the minutes of December 1, 2014 with the following edits:
Page 3 (Vibrant Communities Initiative Grant) third paragraph replace “deliverable” with final study.
Page 5 (Parks & Recreation request) – second paragraph; after the third sentence, add Selectman Blessington asked if the Commission went out to bid for the shed.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & 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 Housing Authority
*Polster Bridge – The Bridge was opened this morning. First Selectman Mailhos noted that although this project took almost a year to complete, it was still done pretty quickly, considering all of the approvals needed. The bridge came in less than we had originally budgeted for. She thanked everyone involved, including Karl (our Town Engineer) and Derek Dimmock, (Public Works Director.) This item will be removed from the to-do list.
*Turnpike Road; Phase 3 – the Town Engineer was planning to go to the December IWWC meeting, but ended up re-vamping the plan. He will present at the January meeting.
*Land purchase on Hancock Road – The closing will happen this week.
*Needs Assessment for the Town Office Building – we have received the building plans. The next step will be to add layers to the drawings (for the ducts, network, wiring and plumbing). We currently do not have anything on record for this building.
*MS4 Permit Changes – The public Hearing will be held on Wednesday. First Selectman Mailhos has prepared her testimony. She is also planning on attending the CCM Legislative Meeting tomorrow in Cromwell, which they will hold a press conference on the matter. Selectman Blessington asked the minutes to reflect that the State has already revised the permit, but will not publicize it at Wednesday’s Public Hearing, which he feels defeats the purpose of the hearing.
Public Works:
Derek reported that the Crew has been busy doing the following:
- Replace damaged curbing
- Grading gravel roads
- Mailbox Repair
- T.O.B. maintenance
- Vehicle maintenance
- Clean out culvert ditches
- Roadside brush removal
- Sanding Roads
- Equipment repair
- Guardrail repair
- Old Town Hall maintenance
Weld in new chain conveyer tray on unit 13
- Roadside mowing
- Remove barricades and detour signs for Polster Bridge
New Business
- Review and approve EDC Study RFQ
The Economic Development Commission has prepared the RFQ for a study and has submitted for approval. First Selectman Mailhos stated that it looks great. Selectman Kowalyshyn (who also sits on the EDC); asked what the next step is. Robin Campbell will post it on the DAS website, in the paper and on the Town’s website.
Submissions are due back to the Selectmen’s office by 4PM on January 26, 2015.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to approve the EDC RFQ and put it out to bid.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint John Patton as a regular member of the VCI Panel, Effective December 15, 2014; expiring once the VCI Grant has been exhausted.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint Tom Buccino as a regular member of the VCI Panel, Effective December 15, 2014; expiring once the VCI Grant has been exhausted.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint Joe Froehlich as a regular member of the VCI Panel, Effective December 15, 2014; expiring once the VCI Grant has been exhausted.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to appoint Kim Kowalyshyn as a regular member of the VCI Panel, Effective December 15, 2014; expiring once the VCI Grant has been exhausted.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Blessington moved to appoint Nicole Martin as an alternate member of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Effective December 15, 2015; expiring December 18, 2017.
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Ms. Martin was present. She stated that she has lived in Willington her whole life, with the exception of the last 6 years, where she lived in South Carolina but is glad to be back home. She currently works with John Sullivan and also knows Andy Marco who both serve on the Planning & Zoning Commission. She is looking forward to becoming involved and also learning a bit about the zoning laws in town.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Ed Taiman as a regular member of the Recreation Commission, effective December 15, 2014, expiring December 14, 2017.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint William Bilyak as a regular member of the Recreation Commission, effective December 15, 2014, expiring December 14, 2017.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Greg Suchy as a regular member of the Recreation Commission, effective December 15, 2014, expiring December 14, 2017.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
- Schedule BOS Budget Workshops
First Selectman Mailhos has sent a letter to the Department Heads requesting their budgets be submitted to Donna by January 2, 2015. The Selectmen’s budget will be due to the BOF by February 12th (which also includes CIP). CIP submissions were due to the Finance Office today.
The BOS budget workshops will be held on the following dates:
12/22/14 – 5:30 PM (to review current year budget as the submissions will not be ready)
1/5/15 – 5:30 PM
1/9/15 – 10 AM
1/12/15 – 5:30 PM
1/26/15 – 5:30 PM
The Selectmen may also add additional dates to the schedule if need be.
- Structural Assessment for the Town Office Building
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we received a proposal from LaRoche Builders to do a structural assessment in the Common Room. She added that we recently had a situation in the lower level where she thought the best thing to do would be to move the Land Use Office and the Registrars upstairs, but we are not certain it would be possible as we do not know the weight limit. The situation (which was a leaky pipe) has since been fixed, but she added that it still would be nice to know what that room could offer in the future. The cost of the assessment is $4,944.00. She noted that we had gone out to bid over the summer, and LaRoche was the only company to submit a bid.
Discussion was held on the current state of the building. The design of the finance office was not properly done and we have had leaks between the Land Use Department and the Finance Office. The proper way to fix it is to fix the roofline over Finance, but in the meantime, the roof over the Common Room needs to be replaced. First Selectman Mailhos referenced what Selectman Blessington had said a few months ago, how much should we spend on this building, only to find the best option (and cheapest) would be to build a new one? Selectman Blessington agreed and asked how much do we want to spend? We are going to spend $5,000 to do this, and then another $5,000 to do something else and then something else.
First Selectman Mailhos clarified that we also have storage issues in this building. For example, Land Use has several files in the back area of the basement. Some of which have begun to decay. By figuring out how much the upper level could hold, might offer a better office space solution for everyone; including their files. Selectman Kowalyshyn then asked if we could look into getting a grant for a new building. First Selectman Mailhos agreed that a grant might be possible, but cautioned that we would need to have a plan in place before placing an application.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that we have had to deal with leaks on and off, and Public Works needs to check the area (bucket) regularly to make sure it does not overflow.
Selectman Kowalyshyn said we should move ahead with the structural assessment to see what the room can handle. She added that we also need to figure out what we are going to do with this building, so we are not wasting our money and suggested looking into forming a committee to figure out the best solution.
- Nutmeg Network Grant for Municipal Connection Discussion
First Selectman Mailhos said the State is pushing town halls to get on the Nutmeg Network and they are offering grant money to cover the cost of the equipment and wiring to connect. Most towns are moving forward with this because the network is fast, and it is cheaper for them in most cases. In Willington, however, we are already connected to the Nutmeg network, because the Superintendent is located in our building. The State would like us to have our own separate connection.
If we were to connect, we would have to pay a subscription fee each year (approximately $1,500 per year); this is a fee that we have not had to pay before.
Selectman Kowalyshyn said maybe we should wait it out and save that money annually, and then we will have it once they tell us we have to. First Selectman Mailhos said she is afraid if we wait it out, the grant will no longer be available. The deadline is December 31st.
First Selectman Mailhos feels that we should put our name on the list because if we do not, we risk the chance of being mandated to switch over and having to pay for it out of our pockets. She added that the State might not offer the grant money past the deadline.
First Selectman Mailhos also has spoken with our computer technician about this. He said we should put our name on the intent to apply, thinking that it might be very costly to switch everything over. First Selectman Mailhos agreed and thinks that we have held off long enough, warning if we are not on the list, might put up a red flag. The Selectmen were in agreement. First Selectman Mailhos will send a submission of intent to apply.
Old Business
- Employee of the Season Program Discussion
Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that she has received some feedback from the employees and they are not favorable of the program. Some employees said that they do not want to have their picture placed on a plaque.
The Selectmen thanked Selectman Kowalyshyn for her effort in trying to improve morale around the building. Selectman Blessington stated it was a good idea, but wasn’t meant to be.
Good & Welfare
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the tree lighting event held on December 5th was a huge success. Robert Shabot stated that they are already planning the event for next year. He added that Jason Phillips would like to have the Select Chorus sing again.
First Selectman Mailhos thanked Walter West and family for decorating the tree on the green as they do every year.
Thank you to John Howe, who brought several bikes to the toy collection. He collects them throughout the year from the swap shed and restores them. They look brand new.
We have received a lot of toy and stocking donations as well. Thank you to everyone who has donated.
The library open house was last weekend. It was a success.
First Selectman Mailhos expressed condolences to Peg DuPilka, whose mother passed away on Sunday. Elanor DuPilka was the Town Clerk from 1965 to 1990. She was 98 years old.
Selectman Kowalyshyn said that the holiday open house at the Hilltop was successful.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:43 P.M.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant
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