BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Meeting Minutes December 19, 2016
Town Office Building 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 stated that he had an edit to the minutes of December 5, 2016:
Page 6 (Town Clerk Appointment Ordinance Suggestion): last sentence of first paragraph She then noted that we have a unique opportunity to make – add “ changes if the Town wants”.
First Selectman Mailhos moved to approve the minutes as amended by Selectman Blessington.
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 noted that several of the items on the list have not changed since the last meeting. She went over a few of the items that have had progress:
*Senior Housing Phase III – Construction continues to move along; however we have a concern about the parking lot at the Senior Center, which has been compromised to accommodate the construction. Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that sometimes inconveniences are made to make progress and it is going to be much better once it is done. Selectman Blessington added that an easement is needed for Eversource. First Selectman Mailhos stated that she has been discussing with the attorneys and has asked them if she can sign off on it, or if it needs Board of Selectmen approval first.
*Village Hill Drainage Engineering – This item has been added to the list of CIP requests. We are hoping to go out to bid in the spring.
*Selectmen Wing Renovations – the scope has been altered and we are accepting bids for construction costs. This item has also been submitted to the CIP Committee.
*VCI – The State review Board recommended increasing the area of interest to include Hall’s Pond as outlined by the consultant. We are in the process of working with the Fish & Game Club to get feedback . The consultant will then re-submit the application once a decision has been made.
*Library/Town Green parking lot proposal – we are still negotiating a price with the Historical Society. If the Selectmen agree to the price, it will be brought to the townspeople to discuss and vote on.
*Appointed Town Clerk Ordinance – We are still collecting information from other Towns as well as sample Ordinances. This item will be discussed further and be brought to town wide vote.
*Nutmeg Network – the fiber has been installed. The computer vendor has ordered additional hardware to connect. We are hoping to connect within the next few weeks.
Public Works:
Derek Reported the crew has been busy with the following:
- Roadside mowing
- Add aggregate and grade Kucko, Michalec, Trask
- Plowing and sanding of roads
- Make sand/salt mixture
- Clear sidewalks
- Plow municipal lots
- Deliver senior sand
- Wash trucks
- Equipment/vehicle maintenance/repair
- Dispose of item from Halls School at Transfer Station
- Install calcium chloride tanks on plow trucks
- Sign repair replacement
Public Works~had a few winter events this past week, Derek would like to remind the residents that the crew have large~ routes to plow( average route is ~29 lane miles). Their routes during a winter storm dependent on the amount of snow fall,~will takes 3 hours to open the ~routes (just the centers) without refuel and sand/salt reload. After the storm ends it's a six hour cleanup from beginning to end, the routes are plowed the same way every time so one road is a starting point~and one road is~a ending point.~The crew do their very best to keep all roads passable during winter storms. If a resident has a complaint please~feel free to ~call Derek at 860-684-9313 and he will discuss any~concerns ~you may have.
First Selectman Mailhos thanked the crews for their work noting that they do plow more miles than any of our neighboring towns plow drivers and they do a good job.
New Business
Building Fee Refund Request – Crumbling Basement Replacement
First Selectman Mailhos noted that we received two requests for refunds.
The first request is from Clyde & Nancy Smith (40 Laurel Drive) in the amount of $200.00 from March 28, 2013. They have included a copy of the building permit and the engineers report.
Selectman Kowalyshyn asked when the Ordinance (to refund homeowners) went into effect. First Selectman Mailhos stated December, and we knew that we would be getting a few requests for past replacements; because there are only a small number of residences who have done so.
Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to refund Clyde and Nancy Smith $200.00 (per the building permit dated 3/28/13)
First Selectman Mailhos seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington.
The second request is from Randy & Janis Belair (170 Village Hill Road)
First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund Randy & Janis Belair $500.00 (per the building permit fee dated 8/17/16).
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Set Selectmen Budget Meeting Schedule
The Selectmen discussed the upcoming budget season as well as their regularly scheduled meetings.
Selectman Blessington moved to schedule Board of Selectmen budget meetings as follows:
Friday, January 6, 2017 @ 9:00 AM
Monday, January 9, 2017 @ 6:30 PM
Friday, January 13, 2017 @10:00 AM
Tuesday, January 17, 2017 @5:00 PM (prior to the regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 PM)
Monday, January 30, 2017 @ 6:30 PM (if needed)
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that she would like to invite our Business Manager, Donna Latincsics to the meetings as well. She then noted if any of the department heads want to join us at these meetings (to make the selectmen aware of anything in particular), they are welcome as well.
Appointment
Selectman Blessington moved to re-appoint Tina Binheimer – Animal Control Officer effective January 1, 2017; expiring December 31, 2017.
Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.
Vote: 3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
Selectman Blessington noted that Tina does a great job and is an asset to the Town. The other Selectmen were in agreement.
Old Business
- Crumbling Foundation Update
First Selectman Mailhos stated that she does not have any new news on this, but she ran into Congressman Courtney earlier today, who told her that the Federal Delegation is working on different things. Everyone is gearing up for the new Legislative session, which is coming the first week of January.
First Selectman Mailhos also noted that George Colli (the reporter who originally started to cover the crumbling foundations) recently won a prestigious journalism award; which many are hoping will bring more attention and national exposure to the crumbling foundation issues.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that she sent an email to the groups who are involved with the Performance Contracting to let them know that we are thinking about canceling the M&V (Measurement & Validation) program. She has not heard back from anyone other than the Board of Education, who had questions. She also noted that the Board of Finance had canceled their December meeting, so they haven’t had a chance to get back to us.
Siemens is looking for an answer from us by the end of this month if we are planning to continue or not. Because she hasn’t heard back from any of the boards, she will request an extension. Lastly, it was noted that the Board of Selectmen have the final say as to whether or not we cancel, but she at least wanted the other boards to be informed and be able to have input.
Good & Welfare
First Selectman Mailhos stated that someone has approached her and expressed concern about the soil around the Evergreen tree on the green. The tree is infected with a fungus, and the residents do not want to see the new tree infected as well. They are asking for new soil to be placed around the new tree when it is planted. Robin Campbell noted that Robert Shabot suggested replacing the tree with a different type of spruce that is not susceptible to the fungus (this was noted in the minutes back in October).
The Selectmen’s Office received a phone call from a concerned resident who was cleaning up the side of Schofield Road a few weeks ago and found used needles. First Selectman Mailhos wants the residents to be mindful of what is out there, and use caution – especially when doing road side clean up or even when going to a public venue.
First Selectman Mailhos noted that we may have a vacancy on the CIP Committee; although we have not received a formal resignation as of yet.
First Selectman Mailhos stated that we received the legislative agendas from CRCOG and CCM of what legislation the other towns will be pushing for in 2017. She sent a copy to the Board of Finance.
We received our monthly letter from the CT State Police who investigated the following for the month of November:
6 Accidents
21 Criminal Investigations
1 burglary
1 Larceny
608 Non-reportable matters
2 DUI’s
257 Traffic Citations
40 Written warnings
First Selectman Mailhos noted that most of these reports are from the highway, rather than on town roads.
The Willington Seniors are selling 6” x 9” pavers that will be placed around the new flagpole outside the Senior Center. The cost for the Willington Veterans Memorial pavers is $50 each and can have up to 5 lines of print with 14 characters per line. The Seniors are looking to dedicate the flagpole on Memorial Day weekend next year. More information can be found on the Town’s website: www.willingtonct.org.
Robin Campbell noted a letter that was received a few weeks ago from the neighboring residents of the Willington Scout Hall, who have offered to take over maintenance of the woodlands behind the scout hall as they are concerned that the bushes have been trimmed back too far, and no longer producing raspberry or blackberries. The Scoutmaster then suggested having the scouts take over the maintenance, rather than have the Town or the residents do so. First Selectman Mailhos noted that this is because the woodland was maintained every 5 years, making it difficult for the public works crew to clean up, so the Public Works Director then decided to maintain it yearly to make more manageable. The Scouts will be invited to attend a future BOS meeting to discuss further.
Selectman Blessington moved to adjourn at 7:15 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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