BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes April 6, 2015
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 Kowalyshyn moved to approve the minutes of March 16, 2015 with the following edits: page 4 under “First Selectman Salary Increase” third paragraph; first sentence should read: Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that most of the elected positions stipends are not terrible. Also; fourth paragraph first sentence should read: Peter Tanaka stated that he was under the impression……… Lastly, under Public Works update: second sentence; Widen roads with Holder Mower.
Selectman Blessington 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 – cottages – the Housing Authority is moving along and is planning to break ground as soon as their funding source comes in and the weather breaks.
*Turnpike Road – Phase 3 / 4 –Derek is working on getting prices for paving and plans to move along ASAP. In the meantime, our Town Engineer is preparing the bids for the Phase 3 drainage portion of the project.
*Needs Assessment at TOB – the Structural Engineer will be at the next meeting to discuss his findings.
*MS-4 Permit Changes – First Selectman Mailhos has a meeting this Thursday, as part of the bi-weekly meetings. The DEEP may change what is required of us, and may only require that we comply with the permit in the “urbanized” area( that houses the apartment complex in question) part of town. They will continue to meet regularly.
*Sidewalk Study – CIP has approved money for the engineering portion of the project in the next fiscal year. In the meantime, we will wait to see how the South Willington VCI study comes along to see if there are any recommendations on what should be done in that area.
*Daleville Road Bridge – has been added as it is in need of repairs. The Town Engineer is preparing the drawings and plans. Derek believes it should cost less than the Polster Road Bridge as a new superstructure is not needed.
*Rename Municipally owned driveway at Senior Center – A name has been chosen and we will need to figure out the next steps to move forward.
*Fire Fighter Tax Abatement – the clarification letter will go out this week to the departments.
Public Works:
Derek reported that the crew has been busy with the following tasks:
- Gravel road repair (add stone to muddy rutted sections)
- Vehicle, equipment repair
- Pot hole patching
- Replace stolen street signs
Also the sweeper was taken out of winter hibernation and was serviced. The crew swept a portion of Old Farms, Y Road, Willington Hill Fire Dept. and Center School lot prior to the Easter Egg Hunt.
New Business
First Selectman Mailhos moved to Appoint Jason Bracich as a regular member of the Economic Development Commission; effective April 6, 2015; expiring January 1, 2020.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to re-appoint Carol Larson as Revenue Collector; effective April 2, 2015; expiring April 2, 2019.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to swap items B and C on the agenda to allow time for members of the EDC to arrive.
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
C. Discussion – Youth Family & Social Services Bureau Board with WYFSS Director
Jennie Arpin was present. She brought the Selectmen up to date with the WYFSS Office since she began a few weeks ago. She has met with the food pantry volunteers and will begin to work on outreach to the community to advertise the food pantry at an upcoming meeting on April 13th. She has also set up meetings with the YMCA, ACCESS Agency, members from the school system as well as the Eastern Region mental health board and the Eastern Region Youth Service Bureau. Ms. Arpin noted that she has secured a spot for the Flea Market and is working on the upcoming Willington Day event. In the meantime, she is looking to gather quantifiable data (which will be helpful in the grant application process) and has also begun networking with other Youth and Family
Services in Tolland County and beyond.
She is looking to rejuvenate the Youth Family & Social Services Board and has been in discussions with resident, Ginger Halle, who has served on the board for several years in the past. They have discussed the structure of the board and who might be interested in serving on it. Ms. Arpin added that we may have trouble finding a police officer (which is a requirement) to serve. First Selectman Mailhos noted that although we do not currently have a Resident State Trooper, we may be able to find a Trooper, who resides in town that might want to sit on the board outside of their capacity; or perhaps a retired police officer. Other seats (totaling at least 7 seats) would include a member of the library, the school, a person from another social service agency as well as a High
School student (or two). She is actively looking to recruit people and the Selectmen will create the board and appoint the people. Selectman Blessington warned by creating a new board might open up a new bureaucracy. He added that if we require professional people to sit on the board, we may have to compensate them.
Ginger Halle clarified that this board was active for many years, (but has not been recently); and we wouldn’t be starting from scratch. She added that the board met regularly and filed minutes back then. Robin Campbell and Jennie Arpin said they would research in the Town Clerk’s vault to see if they could find any trace of what that board discussed, and who served on it. Ms. Arpin and Ms. Halle will try to find people who would be interested in being appointed.
- Economic Development Commission presentation/ recommendation
Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that Chairman Silverstein was not able to attend the meeting and she brought the Selectmen up to date. The EDC interviewed two companies; Fairweather Consulting and Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. The EDC has decided to go with Peter Fairweather of Fairweather Consulting. First Selectman Mailhos noted that the money has been appropriated as well, so the project can begin ASAP.
Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to award the Economic Development Market Study to Fairweather Consulting in the amount of $15,000.
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund Ed Gaffey; 15 Spak Road Willington $116.82 for a sold vehicle.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to add item E. to the agenda called “Budget Update”
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that this is our first BOS meeting since the last BOF meeting, where $75,000 was cut from our (Public Works’) budget. The Public Hearing is tomorrow night, and they could make more changes to it (the budget). The reduction of $75,000 was a result of the BOF Members deciding that we should not asphalt until they get more information on it rather than chip sealing. First Selectman Mailhos noted that we do not have to act on this right now, but we will need to decide which line item we are going to reduce that money from.
First Selectman Mailhos then noted that another issue that is most likely going to be discussed is the MBR (Minimum Budget Requirement) for the Education side. She and Superintendent Harding have been discussing this regularly. In the proposed fiscal year 15-16 budget, we are currently approximately $60,000 away from the MBR, but next year (fiscal year 16-17), we will have a large reduction in the Region 19 budget; meaning we would likely have to spend extra money just to meet the MBR; and then the year after that is a large increase. First Selectman Mailhos stated that she and Superintendent Harding have been trying to figure out a way to keep it stable over the coming years. One of the suggestions was to move the shared service of IT over to the General Government side, and then next year, move it
back to the Education side. She added that it is very confusing and we need to budget based on what the school system needs and what the tax payers can afford; yet we also need to keep in mind this state law can work against that.
First Selectman Mailhos added that this year we are looking at a zero mil increase and it is not controversial; but it would need to be done tomorrow night at the public hearing for the upcoming budget year. Selectman Blessington said he would be behind First Selectman Mailhos at the discussion.
Good & Welfare
Selectman Kowalyshyn noted the Tax Sale is this Thursday at the Town Office Building. Although several of the properties have been removed, there are three remaining.
First Selectman Mailhos mentioned that we received a letter from Crown Castle regarding the cell tower on Cosgrove Road. The letter states that they will be upgrading the antennas at the site.
Robin Campbell noted that the Donate Life Flag is flying at the Town Office Building. April is Donate Life month. Residents are encouraged to talk to their family members about organ donation. For more information or to register to become a donor, please go to: http://lifechoiceopo.org .
First Selectman Mailhos heard the Joe Green Memorial Easter egg hunt was a huge success. Members of the Green family were in attendance.
Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that she attended the Ryan’s funeral last week; Mr. and Mrs. Ryan were tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident the week prior. Condolences go to the family.
The Willington Day committee is in the planning stages. Letters have been sent out to the vendors. There is no rain date this year. The event will be held on Saturday May 23rd.
Selectman Blessington moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:31 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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