Simsbury, CT - Board of Selectmen Minutes

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

1. CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:30 P.M. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were First Selectman Thomas Vincent, Board Members Madeleine Gilkey, William Garrity, Joel Mandell, John Romano and Anita Mielert, Assistant to the First Selectman Brandon Robertson, and other interested parties.

2. RESPONSE TO PUBLIC AUDIENCE

In response to Ms. Coe's concerns expressed at the Board of Selectmen's meeting on March 25, 2002, First Selectman Vincent said that he had referred Ms. Coe's comments regarding class size to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Townsley; and that under Capital and Non-Recurring, $160,000 has been allocated to address air quality, pending budget approval.

3. KENSETT PAINTING

Mr. Mandell referred the Board to an article in the April 4, 2002 edition of the Hartford Courant regarding the sale of the Kensett painting "Niagara Falls" to the Wadsworth Athenaeum for $425,000. Mr. Mandell told the Board that the Town, according to the agreement, will receive $175,000 within a month and then about $19,000 a year for the next 13 years; that the money from the sale will go into the care and upkeep of Eno Memorial Hall; and that the Athenaeum will host a "Simsbury Day" annually for the next 13 years, and on that day Simsbury residents will be admitted to the museum free of charge.

4. PUBLIC AUDIENCE

Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, expressed her concerns regarding the Kensett painting and the associated legal fees, a grant from Ensign Bickford conditional on the Town's support of the Main Street Partnership, the Zoning Board of Appeals' decision regarding 10 Winslow Place and other alleged zoning violations, the court decision regarding Meadow Wood, a gas smell in Town Hall, the certification of boilers, the D'Agata files, the cost of the High School renovation, the Board of Education budget, and class sizes.

In response to Ms. Coe, Mr. Garrity stressed the importance of accuracy when addressing the Town during the public audience portion of town meetings.

Board of Selectmen

5. PERSONNEL/LABOR RELATIONS

First Selectman Vincent introduced Attorney Patrick McHale of the firm Kainen, Escalera and McHale, who will serve as the Town's primary labor counsel.

Mr. Mandell made a motion seconded by Mr. Garrity and passed unanimously to approve the appointment of the firm of Kainen, Escalera and McHale as labor counsel for the Town.

Review and act or correspondence from the Tax Collector regarding tax refunds

Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Ms. Gilkey and passed unanimously to approve tax refunds in the amount of $1,692.42 for the period April 1, 2002 through April 3, 2002 per memorandum from the Tax Collector to the Board of Selectmen dated April 3, 2002.

Review and act on proposed license agreement for the Talcott Mountain Music Festival

First Selectman Vincent said that, under the agreement, the Town grants the Talcott Mountain Music Festival the non-exclusive right to use the property at Simsbury Meadows for a five year period beginning May 15, 2002 and in return the Town will be designated as the official home of the Talcott Mountain Music Festival.

Mr. Romano made a motion, seconded by Mr. Mandell to authorize the First Selectman to execute the license agreement with the Talcott Mountain Music Festival to access land owned by the Town and to enter into any necessary agreements to carry out operational details.

In response to Mr. Mandell's concern, Mr. John Jepson, representing the Talcott Mountain Music Festival, said that the only times they are seeking exclusive possession of the location are during rehearsals and concerts.

Board of Selectmen

Ms. Mielert expressed her concern that the agreement does not specifically designate Simsbury as the "Summer Home of the Hartford Symphony."

In response, Mr. Jepson said that for the purpose of the Talcott Mountain Music Festival the Hartford Symphony has registered the name Talcott Mountain Music Festival with the Town of Simsbury and in Hartford in order to do business under that name, and that the agreement will be signed by the Hartford Symphony doing business as the Talcott Mountain Music Festival.

After discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

8. PLANNING AND CONSERVATION

Review and act on proposed Farm Land Ground License

First Selectman Vincent said that past agreements with Mr. Hall were renewed on an annual basis but the effective date of this agreement is April 15, 2002 and will expire on March 31, 2005, and that according to the agreement, the Town has the sole discretion to terminate the agreement upon thirty days written notice to the Licensee for the Licensor's convenience at any time and without cause.

Ms. Mielert made a motion, seconded by Mr. Garrity to approve the proposed Farm Land Ground License.

In response to Ms. Gilkey's question, First Selectman Vincent said the rate per acre is the same as in past agreements.

After discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

9. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS

Public Safety - Mr. Garrity reported that the Public Safety Committee conducted a table-top exercise along with the Fire Department and Police Department and that a full-scale exercise is planned.

10. MISCELLANEOUS

Review and act on proposed Selection Committee for Hometown Hero Award

Board of Selectmen

First Selectman Vincent informed the Board that the proposed Selection Committee, appointed according to the Guidelines for the Hometown Hero Program, is as follows:

Anita Mielert Board of Selectmen Member

Dawn Bobryk Member of the Historical Society

Thomas Horan Business Leader

Ferguson Jansen Previous Hometown Hero

Christopher Drew President of the Simsbury/Granby Rotary Club

Mr. Mandell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Gilkey to approve the appointment of the Selection Committee for the Hometown Hero Program.

In response to Mr. Mandell's concern, Mr. Vincent said they are working on compiling a list of past Hometown Heroes.

After discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 25, 2002

Mr. Mandell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Garrity and passed unanimously to approve the Minutes of the March 25, 2002 meeting as written.

12. PUBLIC AUDIENCE - continued

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Townsley addressed the cost per square foot of the High School expansion/renovation project stating that the cost per square foot for new construction is $158.91, the cost per square foot for heavy renovation is $75.00, the cost per square foot for moderate renovation is $50.00 and the cost per square foot for light renovation is $21.00.

Dr. Townsley also told the Board that Walter Zalaski, the Vice Principal of Simsbury Public Schools, has been recognized by the Principals' Association as Vice Principal of the Year for the State of Connecticut.

Board of Selectmen

13. ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

Ms. Gilkey made a motion, seconded by Mr. Garrity and passed unanimously to adjourn to executive session to discuss pending litigation at 8:05 P.M.

All of the members of the Board of Selectmen were present at the Executive Session. Assistant to the First Selectman, Brandon Robertson, was also in attendance at the Executive Session.

Thomas Vincent made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session at 8:20 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

William Garrity made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:21 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted,

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