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 Deputy First Selectman Joel Mandel1, Board Members Madeleine Gilkey, William Garrity, John Romano and Anita Mielert, Assistant to the First Selectman Brandon Robertson, Town Engineer Richard Sawitzke and other interested parties.

2. PUBLIC AUDIENCE

David Richman, 1 Saddle Ridge Road, distributed copies of a letter to the Board of Selectman dated May 29, 2002 stating his concerns regarding the timely issuance of building permits. Mr. Richman said that he has been waiting since May 16th for a building permit because of the shortage of manpower in the Building Department and asked the Board to look into the Building Department's lack of resources.

Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, expressed her concerns regarding Town cars without identifying logos, the need for official identification for Town employees dealing with the public; the satellite dish on the Simsbury Farms Golf Club House, the source of the topsoil for sale by Simscroft Echo-Farms; the selection process for Hometown Heroes, the delay in her husband's appointment to the WPCA; non performance of a Town employee; union contracts; and mold problems in Town Hall.

Ms. Mielert announced that the Hartford Symphony Chamber Orchestra would be performing on May 31st at Ethel Walker Chapel.

Ms. Mielert also responded to Public Audience stating that the topsoil removed from Simsbury Meadows was used by the Town of Simsbury to cap the landfill.

Deputy First Selectman Mandell expressed the Board's appreciation to the local VFW and American Legion Posts for their sponsorship of the Memorial Day Parades; and to the Committee for Flags for Simsbury headed by Don Paine, and said that anyone could purchase a flag with a name plate for a donation of $25.00 payable to Don Paine.

Board of Selectmen

3. CORRESPONDENCE

Review and act on correspondence from the Cobb School requesting the use of Town owned property

Alison Swain, Director of Development of the Cobb School, requested that the school be able to use property located at Weatogue Park for parking for the "Circus Smirkus" event July 19 through July 21, stating that they have already received permission from the Fire District to use their land for the event itself.

In response to Mr. Romano's questions, Ms. Swain said that they had agreed with Gerard Toner, Culture Parks & Recreation Director, to tape off the parking area from the new field so that there would be no vehicular traffic on the field; that the event would draw approximately 200-250 cars per show; and that there are two shows per day.

In response to Mr. Garrity's questions, Ms. Swain said there would be parking along the wooden fence, along the right and left side of the gravel road, and the parking area adjacent to the training building; that there were volunteers to help direct parking activities as well as an off duty police officer who will be in charge.

Mr. Garrity suggested that state owned commuter lot property be used for parking.

In response to Ms. Gilkey's question, Ms. Swain said there was no conflict with other events on the fields.

Mr. Romano made a motion, seconded by Ms. Mielert and passed unanimously to approve the Cobb School's use of Town owned property for parking on the parking surface and any other area approved by Director of Culture Parks and Recreation Gerard Toner with whatever supervision he deems appropriate.

Review and act or correspondence from Tax Collector regarding tax refunds

Ms. Mielert made a motion, seconded by Ms. Gilkey and passed unanimously to approve tax refunds in the amount of $8,954.52 for the period of May 1, 2002 through May 13, 2002.

Board of Selectmen

a. Review, and possibly authorize First Selectman, to execute a contract for consulting services required for the expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Facility

Deputy First Selectman Mandell said that the final agreement will incorporate the language of the draft and the revisions recommended by the Town attorney.

In response to Ms. Mielert's questions, Town Engineer Richard Sawitzke said that the design phase will take one year; that the lump sum definition is the contract style as opposed to percentage of construction style; will be broken down into sub-sections of work; and would be made in approximately fourteen payments.

In response to Mr. Romano's questions, Mr. Sawitzke said that Earth Tech was selected based on State of Connecticut DEP performance based criteria.

Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Ms. Gilkey, to authorize the First Selectman to execute a contract for consulting services required for the expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Facility with Earth Tech, Inc.

Ms. Gilkey referred to contract language in sections 5.2, 7.5, suggesting that the word "owner" is preferred over the word "Town."

After discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

b. Review and act on request for removal of a "future road access" note on a parcel located on Adams Road

Deputy First Selectman Mandell said only action to be taken was to remove the words "future road access" from the map and that it does not constitute abandonment.

Ms. Mielert made a motion, seconded by Mr. Romano and passed unanimously to remove the words "future road extension" from the Adams Road map.

c. Review, and possibly authorize First Selectman, to execute a contract with the State of Connecticut for the development of contract plans, specifications and estimates in conjunction with work to be performed on the Firetown Bridge over Bissell Brook

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Deputy First Selectman Mandell said that the Town's share of the total cost is 80% or $28,000 and is a FY 2003-2004 budget item.

Mr. Sawitzke said that it is an old bridge; is deteriorating from salt infiltration; and the design provides for full rehabilitation of the bridge.

Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Ms. Gilkey, and passed unanimously, to authorize the First Selectman to execute a contract with the State of Connecticut for the development of contract plans, specifications and estimates in conjunction with work to be performed on the Firetown Bridge over Bissell Brook.

6. PLANNING AND CONSERVATION

Review and act on a request regarding tree cutting/thinning at 23 Cobtail Way

Deputy First Selectman Mandell said that any tree cutting within the restricted areas must be approved by the Homeowner's Association and/or the Board of Selectmen.

Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Ms. Gilkey, to approve the cutting of five dead trees at 23 Cobtail Way.

In response to Mr. Romano's questions, Mr. Sawitzke said that the restriction regulates cutting even insignificant diameter trees and that the cut will be monitored by the Homeowner's Association and the Conservation Department.

Ms. Mielert said that the Hemlock trees have value if they are cut before they actually die and that chemically treating the trees for Wooly Adelgid is prohibitively expensive in the case of a large number of trees.

After discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

7. ENGINEERING - item c (continued)

In response to Mr. Sawitzke's request that the resolution be read into the record, Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Ms. Mielert, and passed unanimously to approve the resolution regarding the Firetown Road Bridge over Bissell Brook as follows:

Board of Selectmen

RESOLVED, that Thomas E. Vincent, First Selectman be, and hereby is, authorized to sign the agreement entitled Agreement between the State of Connecticut and the Town of Simsbury for the development of contract plans, specifications and estimates in conjunction with the use of Federal ISTEA funds for the rehabilitation of the Firetown Road Bridge (Bridge no. 04549) over Bissell Brook.

a. Review and act on amended license agreement with the Talcott Mountain Music Festival

Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Mr. Romano to approve the license agreement with the Talcott Mountain Music Festival.

In response to Ms. Mielert's question, Mr. Sawitzke said that construction on the Boundless Playground is scheduled to begin after the close of the Talcott Mountain Music Festival.

Deputy First Selectman Mandell referred the Board to an addition to the license in the fourth "Whereas" and explained that it is the symphony's intent to prevent people who have not purchased tickets for the event from setting up chairs along the fence line.

After discussion the motion passed unanimously.

b. Review site plan for Boundless Playground to be located at Simsbury Meadows

Mr. Sawitzke reviewed the site plan and expressed appreciation to the Rotary Club for their efforts supporting this project; said that the project has been approved by the Design Review Board and Inland Wetland Agency and will return to Zoning for final approval; that the playground will be located in the southwest corner of the gravel parking area and extend into the wooded area; that it will be composed of two areas, one for two to four year olds and one for five to twelve year olds; will be fully handicapped accessible; will be similar to the playground at Simsbury Farms; that the Rotary Club is working on the funding;

Board of Selectmen

that construction is planned for August; that there are plans to incorporate a jogging/exercise trail in the future; and that the surface area will be a shock absorbent material.

In response to Mr. Mandell's question, Mr. Sawitzke said the playground would be fenced.

Ms. Mielert said that the Rotary Club has raised approximately two-thirds of the cost of constructing the playground; that more donations are necessary; and that it is a valuable addition to the Town Center.

Mr. Mandell said groundbreaking for the playground will take place on June 3rd at 4:00 P.M.

9. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

a. Resignation of Katie Martin from the Health and Welfare Commission

Ms. Gilkey made a motion, seconded by Mr. Garrity and passed unanimously to accept the resignation, with regret, of Katie Martin from the Health and Welfare Commission.

b. Appointment of Warren Coe to WPCA

Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Mr. Romano, and passed unanimously to approve the appointment of Warren Coe to WPCA.

c. Appointment of John Barney to Economic Development Commission

Mr. Romano made a motion, seconded by Mr. Garrity, and passed unanimously to approve the appointment of John Barney to the Economic Development Commission.

d. Reappointment of John Stewart to Design Review Board

Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Ms. Gilkey and passed unanimously to approve the reappointment of John Stewart to the Design Review Board.

e. Appointment of Victoria Rogers to the Design Review Board as an alternate

Board of Selectmen

Mr. Romano made a motion, seconded by Mr. Garrity, and passed unanimously to approve the appointment of Victoria Rogers to the Design Review Board as an alternate.

f. Appointment of David Richman to the Insurance Committee

Ms. Gilkey made a motion, seconded by Mr. Romano and passed unanimously to approve the appointment of David Richman to the Insurance Committee.

10. LIAISON REPORTS

Mr. Garrity said there would be a disaster drill on Iron Horse Blvd. on June 8th from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. and will include all police, fire and ambulance.

11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. Approval of minutes from April 22, 2002 meeting

Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Mr. Romano, and passed with Ms. Mielert abstaining, to approve the minutes of the April 22, 2002 meeting as written.

b. Approval of minutes from Special Meeting on May 6, 2002

Mr. Garrity made a motion, seconded by Ms. Gilkey and passed with Mr. Mandell abstaining, to approve the minutes of the May 6, 2002 Special Meeting as written.

Mr. Romano made a motion, seconded by Mr. Garrity and passed unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:32 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

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