These minutes are for informational purposes only. For official minutes, please contact the Town Clerk's Office.
MEETING MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Regular Meeting
June 25, 2001
CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen for June 25, 2001 was called to order at 7:35 PM in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices.
Present were Anita Mielert, First Selectman, Joel Mandell, Deputy First Selectman, William Garrity, Madeline Gilkey, Tom Vincent, Bob Dicrescenzo, Town Attorney, Gerry Toner, Director of Culture Parks and Recreation, Howard Beach, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, and other interested parties. Board member John Romano could not attend.
I. PUBLIC AUDIENCE
Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, stated her concern over a variety of issues. She stated the need for professional town management. She cited what she felt were poor and inadequate working conditions in Town Hall. Employees, she feared, are at risk from a variety of health problems. She wished pictures she presented to the board of examples of the poor conditions be added to the minutes. They are attached as Addendum A.
Jim Gazzola, 9 Briarwood Drive, warned the town about the dangers of unknown contaminates on the newly created athletic fields along Ironhorse Boulevard. These contaminates could possibly originate from the dry cleaning establishment or the Getty gas station that are up the hill from the fields. Mr. Gazzola stated that young people, who would ultimately be using the fields the most, do not have the immune systems to be able to fight diseases they could contract from the contaminates on the field. He does not want children to start getting cancer. Mr. Gazzola stated that there needed to be more testing on the field conditions before events are held there.
Ms. Mielert responded to Mr. Gazzola’s statements by saying that while she does not usually immediately respond to statements made in public audience, but that these allegations warrant a response. Ms. Mielert stated that the town has done everything to ensure the quality of the fields. There are no contaminates, and the public need not worry about health risks from field usage. Ms. Mielert thanked Mr. Gazzola for his concern, but stated that the town has acted responsibly.
II. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
a. Talcott Mountain Music Festival Reminder - June 29; July 6, 13 & 20 - Gates
Open at 6:30 pm. Show begins at 7:30 p.m. June 29th will also be the ribboncutting
for the new facility.
b. Memo regarding proposed name for the park on Ironhorse Boulevard.
Mr. Vincent stated that he felt it was not a necessity to name the park right now. When the time comes to name the park, Mr. Vincent suggested that the town open seek out a corporate or business sponsorship. Mr. Vincent stated that a business or corporation could name the park, and it would be an opportunity for the town to draw revenue.
Ms. Mielert proposed that Metacomet Meadows be the name of the new fields, as well as the rest of the 300 acre parcel. Ms. Mielert stated she was against selling the right to name the park. She stated that it would be more appropriate to choose a name that reflects the character of our town. Ms. Mielert stated that she was open to the idea of a public contest to name the park, if that approach was more agreeable to the board.
Mr. Mandell stated that the board should consider Mr. Vincent’s suggestion, and if they disagree, then a citizen’s contest is in order.
Ms. Gilkey stated that she was pleased with the originality of Ms. Mielert’s suggestion of naming the park “Metacomet Meadows”. She also stated she was open to a contest.
It was the consensus of the Board that a vote need not be taken at this time to determine the name of the park, but to rather continue discussion at a later meeting.
III. FINANCE
a. Request to authorize issuance of tax refunds as certified by the Tax Collector.
Mr. Mandell motioned to authorize the Tax collector to issue refunds as listed.
Mr. Garrity seconded.
Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.
IV. PLANNING AND CONSERVATION
a. Review and approval of 2001 Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act proposals.
Mr. Mandell motioned to approve the 2001 Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act proposals.
Ms. Gilkey seconded.
Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.
b. Request for a letter of support and a $1,000 commitment for Phase 1 of the Biodiversity Plan.
Howard Beach stated that the town needs to prioritize open space, and that this Biodiversity Plan is the first step toward doing so. He stated that while the cost for the entire project would run about $30-40,000, the actual cost per town per phase would be very affordable.
Ms. Mielert stated that she wished to add the importance of the natural corridor made up of the flood plain of the Farmington River, the Metacomet Ridge, and West Mountain. Working together, she said, is essential to preserving our communities unique natural environment.
Mr. Garrity asked if the town would ever have to halt development due to a discovery made from the proposed Biodiversity study. He stated the he didn’t want to see the valuable information found in the study be used to the detriment of the town.
Mr. Beach stated that Mr. Garrity was not alone in his concerns, but that the scenario he proposed was unlikely. He stated that the plan is designed to give towns the tool and information they need to development responsibly, not to arrest development all together.
Mr. Mandell asked where the money is coming from.
Ms. Mielert responded the $1,000 dollars would come out of the Plan of Development 2001-2002 budget.
Ms. Gilkey asked what the town’s total commitment would be.
Mr. Beach responded that it would be a commitment of three $1,000 phases.
Mr. Garrity made a motion to approve the proposal and the commitment to the Biodiversity plan in the form of $1,000 and a letter of commitment.
Mr. Mandell seconded.
Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote.
V. PUBLIC SAFETY
a. Request by Simsbury Land Trust to utilize Town owned land at the Simsbury Farms Recreation Complex on September 23, 2001
Mr. Garrity motioned to approve the request.
Mr. Vincent seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
VI. PUBLIC WORKS
VII. RECREATION
a. Request for proposed lighting for Memorial Park Athletic Field according to the proposal outlined in John Neagle’s memo dated 05/05/01.
Mr. Toner stated that the Board of Selectmen should have in their possession the memo pertaining to the proposal. He stated that the lights in the plan are the in keeping with past maintenance procedures.
Mr. Neagle stated that he has been involved in Simsbury Men’s Slo-Pitch Softball League for twenty years. He stated that the league has always been fiscally sound, and that they do several fundraisers throughout the year (i.e. winter softball party and golf outing). He said the league expects to raise at least $10,000.
Mr. Garrity motioned to approve the proposal for the town to be a signee to the lighting construction plan as proposed by Musco Corporation pending review by the Town Attorney.
Mr. Mandell seconded.
Mr. Vincent stated that approval of the proposal was important, because many sports teams would benefit from it.
Motion passed unanimously.
VIII. SOCIAL SERVICES
IX. APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
X. SUBCOMMITEE REPORTS
None
XI. LIASON REPORTS
PUBLIC BUILDING COMMITTEE
Mr. Garrity stated that he had a concern over the way the town conducted business with architects. He said that he would like to see consensus from the board saying that the town should hold off on drawing up plans for projects until a dollar amount has been agreed upon.
Mr. Vincent added that if no total cost for the project has been compiled, the town should not hire or pay an architect.
Mr. Mandell stated that it was his impression that the Board currently did what Mr. Garrity was suggesting. He cited the current school improvement proposals as an example.
Ms. Mielert stated that she would write a letter requesting information from the Board of Education and clarifying dollar amounts for their proposed projects.
It was the consensus of the Board of Selectmen that there should be clear financial figures establish at the outset of every project proposed.
XII. CORRESPONDENCE
None
XIII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Gilkey motioned to amend her statements in the Finance section of the June 11, 2001 minutes regarding the stainless steel tanker purchase to say that the original intent was to purchase a used tanker, but through some investigative work the department uncovered a great deal on a new tanker.
Mr. Mandell seconded the motion.
Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Vincent motioned to approve the minutes, as amended, from the June 11, 2001 Regular Meeting.
Mr. Garrity seconded.
Motion passed unanimously.
XIV. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. Garrity motioned to enter into Executive Session at 9:47 PM.
Mr. Mandell seconded.
Motion passed unanimously. Executive session was entered at 9:47 PM.
Mr. Mandell motioned to reconvene in Regular Session at 10:22 PM.
Mr. Garrity seconded.
Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session reconvened at 10:22 PM.
Mr. Garrity motioned to agree to lower personal property valuation at the International Skating Center of Connecticut per David Gardner’s memo.
Ms. Gilkey seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Ms. Gilkey motioned to settle Gyngell lawsuit by making payments of annuity amounts in contract under (b).
Mr. Garrity seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Mandell made a motion to settle the Jurczak Heart and Hypertension claim on the rating as found by his physician.
Ms. Gilkey seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Mandell motioned to settle for $191 a Super Fund claim with the Environmental Protection Agency on the New Haven landfill and authorize the First Selectman to sign the consent order.
Mr. Garrity seconded. The motion passed by a unanimous vote.
Mr. Mandell motioned to add to the agenda the consideration of a leave request by Paul Fetherston, former Assistant to the First Selectman.
Ms. Gilkey seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Mandell motioned to deny the request by Paul Fetherston for a 6-month leave.
Ms. Gilkey seconded. Motion passed 3-2.
XV. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Garrity motioned to adjourn.
Mr. Mandell seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting stood adjourned at 10:30 PM.
Minutes Approved July 9, 2001.
_____________________________ Anita L. Mielert, First Selectman
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