TOWN OF WILLINGTON
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING MINUTES
January 13, 2016
The meeting was called to order at 7:01 p.m.
First Selectman, Christina Mailhos read the call of the meeting and asked for
nominations for a moderator. Suzanne Chapman made a motion to appoint Christine Psathas
as moderator and was seconded by Kim Kowalyshyn.
Motion carried.
There were 60 plus people in attendance at this meeting. The moderator asked if it would be ok with them if Item II was addressed first. There were no objections. The moderator read Item II.
Item I
Should the Board of Selectmen void their approval of the name, building-numbering and lettering of “Senior Way” (a driveway located on Old Farms Road) and appoint a diverse committee to review and provide the Board of Selectmen with a new name or names and new building-numbering and lettering?
Moderator read Item I.
A motion was made by Kim Kowalyshyn and seconded by Bob Wiecenski to approve Item I.
Discussion followed.
Concerns from the residents that live in Willington Woods are that they will be targeted as seniors having the name of the driveway “Senior Way.” They do not like the name and feel they didn’t have any input on the final decision and were not informed of the decision of what was going on.
A town resident stated that she felt it was not just the 32 people living in Willington Woods issue but a town issue. There are 6,000 people who live in town and it concerns of all the town’s residents. Anything going on in town for meetings of the boards and commissions is posted on the town’s website or bulletin board outside of the front door of the Town Office Building. It is the resident’s responsibility to get involved and attend meetings to express your concerns or thoughts about the issues being discussed.
First Selectman Mailhos outlined the history of the complex going back to when the land was purchased for the project in 1997. The Senior Center was built in 2006, Willington Woods next, in 2007 and in the near future the cottages will be built.
A suggestion box was available to drop in names for the driveway. The Senior Center, which held a survey, narrowed it down to the top five names.
The name was decided by the Selectmen, after the top five names were presented by the President of the Senior Center at the Selectmen’s meeting dated March 16, 2015. A vote was taken by the Selectmen to name the drive “Senior Way.”
A petition was presented to the Town Clerk’s office in December 2015 to have a town meeting to void the name of Senior Way and that the Selectmen appoint a diverse committee to review and provide the Selectmen with a new name or names and new building-numbering and lettering.
Stuart Cobb, the Town’s Emergency Services Rep. talked about the process in numbering/lettering for the 911 system. Emergency Services, whether it is the town or another town responding to a call, must be able to find the address quickly.
If this item passes it means the address would go back to 60 or 60A Old Farms Road until a new name was decided. There are concerns of the additional cost and time spent by the town. The selectmen would have to find and appoint a new committee to begin a new process for a new name.
The people who have already changed their address must change their address back to the old address and wait for a new address to change back again once it was finally decided on the name. DMV changes would also come into play about changing their driver’s license.
Motion not carried. The vote was 12 yes, 3 abstained and remaining 45+ voted no.
Item II
To see if the townspeople, based on the recommendation of the Board of Finance will appropriate $79,000 from the Non-lapsing Education Fund for the purpose of covering unanticipated additional outside student placements.
A motion was made by Erika Wiecenski and seconded by Bob Wiecenski to approve Item II.
Discussion followed.
David Harding Superintendent of Schools explained the need for using the Non-lapsing Education Fund. Last year there were two outside student placements and this year there are four students so he would like to draw on last years’ funds that were not used.
Motion carried.
A motion was made by Erika Wiecenski and seconded by Betsy Treiber to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donna J. Hardie
Willington Town Clerk
Dated January 14, 2016
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