BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes September 21, 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 a resident. First Selectman Mailhos led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Approval of Minutes:
Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to approve the minutes of September 8, 2015 as written.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to approve the minutes of September 9, 2015 as written.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to add an item B under New Business: “Tax Refund”.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Present to Speak:
Bob Hockla of Hockla Farms Road stated that he sent a letter a few weeks ago regarding a stormwater run- off problem on his property that has been ongoing for several years. First Selectman Mailhos stated that she had spoken with our Public Works’ Director about this. This has been an ongoing problem and the Town Engineer has been involved as well. Mr. Hockla stated that he has had a lot of damage to his property, noting that a culvert on Hockla Farms Road is most likely the culprit. First Selectman Mailhos stated that the crew has also known of this problem over the past few years and clean out the culvert each year. Mr. Hockla stated that he paid someone to clean the culvert last year; and added that this is going to continue to be a problem until the problem is fixed correctly. First
Selectman Mailhos explained that the problem began when a dam at the top of the hill broke and washed out the road a few years ago. In addition, the drainage had been blocked off and the culvert at the bottom is not working the way it was designed to, leaving excess run-off.
Selectman Blessington suggested having Derek come to the next Selectmen’s meeting to talk about this. Selectman Kowalyshyn added that we should ask the Town Engineer as well. First Selectman Mailhos suggested getting a second opinion because the Town Engineer thinks the way to fix the problem is to pave the entire road and add drainage, which is quite expensive to do. Selectman Kowalyshyn asked why things changed over the past 15 years. Mr. Hockla explained that a few houses were built on Hockla Farms and the Town widened the road by taking several trees out and the pitch of the road has been changed. Mr. Hockla added it is a very frustrating situation.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she will ask Derek to come to the next meeting to discuss.
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 Turnpike Road will be paved beginning tomorrow (Tuesday) on section of phases 1 and 2.
Public Works:
Derek reported that the crew has been busy with the following;
- Replace stolen street signs
- Roadside mow
- Vehicle/Equipment maintenance
- Install cold patch ramps at milling transition on Turnpike Road
- Dig out drainage ditches/ install rip rap on Hockla Farms road
- Replace two curbed catch basin tops with flat catch basin tops on Turnpike road
New Business
First Selectman Mailhos read the call of the meeting:
TOWN OF WILLINGTON
NOTICE AND WARNING
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
The electors of the Town of Willington and all persons who are entitled to vote in Town Meeting on the matters mentioned in the following warning are hereby warned and notified to meet in Town Meeting at the Old Town Hall; 11 Common Road, Willington, at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 6, 2015 for the following purpose:
ITEM I
To see if the townspeople, will accept a $33,000 Grant to Town of Willington for Connection to the Nutmeg Network -15-30.
ITEM II
To see if the townspeople, based on the recommendation of the Board of Finance will appropriate $33,000 from the Capital Projects Fund-Nutmeg Network Grant #03-3070 for connection to the Nutmeg Network.
Dated at Willington,
This 21st day of September, 2015
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $570.64 to Yiwen Ding; Brighton, MA for a vehicle registered in another state.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Old Business
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she has not received any feedback from the residents regarding the policy. Selectman Blessington stated that it is a town green, and the signs that are put up there serve a purpose. Selectman Kowalyshyn disagreed that we should have some control over it as it represents our town.
The Selectmen went over the policy, noting some changes, in particular that the approval will be at the discretion of the Selectmen; adding a maximum number of signs at one time; signs must be ‘free-standing’ and they must seek approval from the Selectmen’s office prior to placing signs on the green. The policy will read as follows:
Town Green Sign Policy
Approval of placing any and all signs on the Town Green is at the discretion of the Selectmen’s Office and must receive authorization.
- The sign must be from a Willington non-profit or other bona-fide organization
- The sign must be about an upcoming event (of interest to Town of Willington residents)
- The sign must be free-standing and of a temporary nature and not exceed 4’x 8’
- The sign must not obstruct any site line or traffic signs creating dangerous driving conditions
- The sign will be allowed to stay on the Town Green for no more than 3 weeks.
- The sign must be taken down 48 hours after the event in which was advertised
- No advocacy or political signs are allowed
- No more than five (5) signs are allowed on the green at one time
The Town of Willington Public Works’ Department or State of Connecticut DOT and/or any Town Official have authority to remove any sign from the Town Green if deemed inappropriate, or if it has been erected over the allotted 3 week timeframe. Signs will be brought to the Public Works / DOT Garage or the Town Office Building, where the person(s) belonging to the sign can retrieve it.
Adopted: September 21, 2015
By the Board of Selectmen
Selectman Blessington suggested posting the policy as a public notice to inform the residents that it is taking effect.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to accept the Town Green Sign policy with the changes.
Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the DEEP had held their public hearing, where they presented the latest draft of the MS4 (Municipal separate storm sewer system) permit. The revision was better received; as it has eliminated the Tier II requirements for small towns; but Willington and the 7 other small towns new to the permit are still considered Tier I.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she and our Public Works Director had met with DEEP Officials last week to ask them to interpret what it means for us and to have them understand what we have to go through to comply. First Selectman Mailhos stated she believes it is going to take a lot of proving to show them that we really are not polluting the waterways. She stated that she has set up a meeting with Attorney Branse and Hamel as well as our Zoning Agent and Public Works’ Director for tomorrow to see how we can argue of what is required of us.
Selectman Kowalyshyn argued that if we do the work to prove that we aren’t polluting the waterways, they will tell us that we should keep on doing it. First Selectman Mailhos agreed, and stated that the state is telling us that we won’t have to sweep our roads any longer as part of the revision; however we already do it, and it would be violating another statute if we stopped. She added that the other thing we have to do is map our “outfalls”, but she does not believe that we have that many in our “urbanized area”; noting that the troubled areas appear to be state property, or on the outskirts of town.
- Proposed State Police Firearms Training Facility Discussion
- Steering Committee Update
First Selectman Mailhos stated that the Committee met last week, and there has not been any change since then. The Bond Commission meeting date has been changed, but the Agenda has not been posted as of yet.
The “Unwillington, Inc.” group has changed their meeting day to Wednesday, and will be held every other week.
Good & Welfare
First Selectman Mailhos noted that the apartment complex on Burt Latham Road has been having trouble with partying. She said she received several phone calls regarding a party held there this past weekend. Selectman Kowalyshyn suggested that we should start fining the owner of the complex. First Selectman Mailhos agreed, and would like to do something about it as we have sent them correspondence about this over the past several years, and they do not seem to be doing anything about it. She added that we do not have a Resident Trooper, or an enforcement authority but would like to explore a way to get the parties to stop in Willington as they have in Mansfield.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that the Willington Hill Fire Department recently received a grant in the amount of $2,190.89 from the DEEP Division of Forestry. The funding can be used for training, water handling equipment, communications, prevention projects suppression gear and other related items. The Selectmen congratulated the Willington Hill Fire Department.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she had sent a letter to the Department of Transportation regarding a complaint we received from a resident who lives along Route 320 and Cisar Road. The resident has expressed concern regarding several accidents which have occurred in front of his house over the years. The resident’s house has almost been hit several times as well. We received a response from the DOT, stating they will be looking into the situation.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we may have a lead on the missing flag at River Road Athletic Complex. It appears that someone may have taken the flag down, folded it, and left it on one of the picnic tables under the pavilion. We do not have any further information as to what happened after that. If anyone has more information, please contact the Recreation Department at 860-487-3108.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 P.M.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant
Board of Selectmen
860-487-3100
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