Town Office Building June 22, 2015
Common Conference Room 6:30 P.M.
First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. with Selectmen Kowalyshyn & Blessington, Derek Dimmock and a resident.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she put this on the agenda in the event we could come up with the proper wording for a referendum question regarding the proposed State Police Firearms Facility. After speaking with the Town Attorney, and others, she came to the conclusion that there is no way to word it without causing more confusion. The results would not be legally binding and would be superfluous as the town of Willington has already voted in opposition. She added any question we ask would be meaningless to the state.
First Selectman Mailhos added that the Town Attorney suggested doing an opinion poll, instead of a referendum which would give us an un-bias opinion for the entire town. She looked at the cost associated with doing that, after looking at three different options, and received one quote for $7,700. Selectman Kowalyshyn asked about doing a survey monkey survey. First Selectman Mailhos stated that there would be no guarantee that it is unbiased (we cannot guarantee that one person won’t submit more than one vote). Selectman Kowalyshyn added that we already know that the majority of the people do not want it here, so why waste the money or the time.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the residents always have the right to present the Selectmen with a question with a petition, but how the question is worded needs to be legal and “not frivolous.” Selectman Blessington clarified that they need 200 signatures to force a referendum; and if they really want it, they have to get 200 people to agree on the wording. He added that he really doesn’t want to spend $7,000. First Selectman Mailhos added that we could do a Survey Monkey survey where people could just submit comments, but we do not have personnel to collect the data at this time.
First Selectman Mailhos then added if we want to move forward with hiring some kind of and/or Legal Environmental Consultants, we would begin discussions at the July 16 Board of Finance meeting, which would then go to the next BOS meeting (on July 20th). The earliest possible date for a Town Meeting would be August 4th.
Selectman Blessington asked the point of hiring a consultant? First Selectman Mailhos said that we could have someone on board who would be poised to review the EIE that will come back from the State and advise us before and after we receive it.
Selectman Kowalyshyn clarified that the point of consultant is not to do our own EIE as we cannot get on to the property, it is private property. She noted that one of our residents has an access road that travels through the property, and we may get permission to go through there, but it is still not that property. Selectman Blessington added that he believes people have a great deal of faith that an expert is going to find an endangered species on the property, which would stop this, but cautioned that you are not going to find anything just walking through the access road that belongs to an abutter.
Robert Shabot stated that several years ago the IWWC did a site walk through the property for a proposed 68 house subdivision years ago. He stated that the topo map showed ledge, wetlands and other issues. Selectman Kowalyshyn asked if the state can build on wetlands. Mr. Shabot stated that the state can move forward if they wish. He added that the unfortunate thing is when the state side-steps things; it doesn’t strengthen a Conservation Commission’s point or even a Building Departments for that matter. Selectman Kowalyshyn added that they should play by the rules.
First Selectman Mailhos stated we will not call a Town Meeting now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be persuaded to do it again. She will also look at Survey Monkey one more time. Selectman Kowalyshyn stated she feels we are beating a dead horse – we already know what the people want and there is no question. We are spinning our wheels to find something we already know. Selectman Blessington said he agrees; and gets yelled at every day about this. The point is made.
- Discussion – Turnpike Road Construction
Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that she and Selectman Blessington had requested to table this discussion at the last meeting, because they had some questions for Derek, who wasn’t at the last meeting. She asked how much chip sealing we would be able to get done if he plans to cut $115,000 from the budget to use on Turnpike Road.
Derek stated that we will still have $176,823 left to do maintenance on the roads. He explained that he still plans to maintain 5 ½ miles of road by shimming them. He added that the shimming needs to cure for a year. Once cured, they will chip seal over this year’s roads, and shim the next set of roads; keeping us on track (or rather ahead). Derek also noted that the catch basins need to be raised when chip sealing – something that hasn’t been done in years. He added that the roads really need to milled out and paved, which is the proper way to do it. Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that is what we will be doing to Turnpike Road – it is going to be nice. Derek explained that we would be shimming what was done in 2007 this year.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to award the milling contract to Rafferty Fine Grading off of the State bid for $25,400.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to award the paving to Allstate Materials Group off of the State bid of $197,500.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
First Selectman Mailhos added that the Board of Finance approved a transfer of $20,000 from the Public Works’ budget from this year to next year to add to this project. The remaining $62,000 from the last STEAP grant will will also be added to this.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
- Public Works Director Compensation
First Selectman Mailhos stated when we hired Derek a year and a half ago, he had asked for more money than we were paying, which was all we could do at the time. The Selectmen had discussed reviewing the budget at the end of the year to see if they could come up with any money for a bonus at the end of the year. She had asked our Business Manager to see if there was any money and there is as Derek is coming in under budget.
Selectman Kowalyshyn asked First Selectman Mailhos if she had a figure in mind. First Selectman Mailhos noted that a 10% bonus of his salary would be $7,000. She added that the Selectmen are very happy with him and do not want to see him go anywhere. We need to realize what other towns are paying their PW Directors. She added that Derek has saved us a lot of money with various projects – the Polster Bridge, chip sealing and regular maintenance and has gotten a lot done in the last year and a half. Derek added that we have brought a lot of money in at the Transfer Station (due to the fees for mattresses, couches, etc.) – around $9,000. He stated that the cost to heat the garage went from $14,000 last year to $3,000 this past year, and the Senior Center tanks well
pumps were installed for $4,000 cheaper this past year than in years past. Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that his thrifty thinking deserves a raise.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that Derek’s background with water systems has helped the Town immensely and brought us up to compliance and on the right track.
Selectman Blessington asked if we have to go to the Board of Finance. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that it is coming from the operating budget, but will send them a letter to know that we did it, as a courtesy.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to award the Public Works Director a bonus of $7,000 which is 10% of his salary ($70,000) as long as we have that much money in the operating budget at the end of the year.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Selectman Blessington stated that is a strange way to word the motion. First Selectman Mailhos clarified if we find we only have $6,400 in the budget, then we will have to go with that amount and we won’t really know until the last bill comes in for the fiscal year. Selectman Blessington said that Derek has already saved us a lot of money.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Blessington stated that he hopes people will be understanding of this. Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that sometimes you need to compensate employees when they do a good job. First Selectman Mailhos clarified that we have a union who negotiates for most of the town employees, but the non-union employees have to advocate for themselves and we need to respond to that or we will lose valuable employees. Selectman Blessington said one of the bridge projects came in at half of the cost that was expected, which was more than Derek’s salary alone. He added this does not mean that he will be in favor of bonuses for everyone else.
Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:15 PM
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington)
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant
Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100
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