TOWN OF SIMSBURY
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
MAY 10, 2004
CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen for May 10, 200 was held in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were First Selectman, Thomas Vincent, Board Members, Madeleine Gilkey, John Romano, William Garrity and John Hampton. Also present were Brandon Robertson, Assistant to the First Selectman, David Holden, Richard Sawitzke and other interested parties.
Mr. Vincent called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Mr. Vincent said two hand-outs were distributed prior to tonight’s meeting including minutes from the April 26, 2004 meeting. Mr. Vincent said he would also like to add the request for a special revenue fund establishment from the Board of Education to I c. Mr. Romano made motion to add this request to I c. Ms. Gilkey seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
Ms. Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, said the Board had the responsibility to convene a Charter Revision Commission. She would like to have a Town Manager position made available for the future of the Town.
Ms. Coe asked who would cover the Building Inspector’s position when the Inspector is off. She feels more Inspectors are needed. She sees a lot of non-compliant buildings in Town. She wants to know why younger people move into elderly housing complexes.
Ms. Coe said Mr. Vincent said the Simsbury Farms revenue fund was not responsible for the capital improvements. Why should a self-contained unit not be responsible for all debt attributed to the complex?
Ms. Coe said that there is a new flip chart with five questions to be asked during a 911 call. Protocol is needed for 911 calls to prevent a delay, but are the officers trained efficiently.
She also spoke about the Board of Education budget. The Town approved an increase in the operating budget by transferring money from a grant. She feels the Board of Education should live within their means.
Ms. Coe said she read an article in the Hartford Courant, Page 13, about Marshall Long receiving a badge. She would like this article included in the meeting minutes.
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Ms. Gilkey asked to clear-up a point Ms. Coe made at the last meeting. She said Ms. Coe was speaking about the budget process. Ms. Gilkey said no employee names were ever discussed in a public forum. That is strictly a personnel issue and names are never discussed, only positions.
FINANCE
a. Mr. Garrity made motion to approve the tax refunds in the amount of $1,817.31 for the period covering April 22 thru May 5, 2004. Mr. Romano seconded. All were in favor and the motion passed.
b. Mr. Garrity made motion to approve the Board of Education requests for a supplemental appropriation to the 2003-04 operating budget in the amount of $269,785 to be funded wholly by a state special education excess cost grant per Section 908(a) of the Town of Simsbury Charter. Ms. Gilkey seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
c. Mr. Vincent said there is a request to establish a special revenue fund entitled “Board of Education Program Fund”. Mr. Holden said with the budget cuts the Board of Education initiated, programs that were fully funded before are now being funded by parents and children. The Town still has to having nursing personnel and others to run the programs. The compensation has to go through payroll. The Fund would enable him to expense the charges associated with the program directly against the revenue that comes in with the families.
Mr. Hampton made motion to approve the “Board of Education Program Fund”. Mr. Garrity seconded. All were in favor and the motion passed.
LEGISLATIVE
a. Ms. Gilkey made motion to approve the revisions to the ordinance entitled Article 6 “Property Tax Exemption for Qualifying Veterans” to Chapter 141 of the Code of the Town of Simsbury. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. Mr. Garrity said he felt this was a worthy ordinance. He feels the program should be tried at half the $25,000 first to see how it is working. He would like to be conservative in the beginning and then move forward.
Ms. Gilkey said Mr. Garrity’s proposal makes sense, but there are a lot of people who need this now to stay in their Town and homes.
Mr. Romano is in favor of the increase as older veterans won’t come forward all the time. They do need it and there will be a demand for it.
Mr. Vincent recused himself, three members were in favor and one was against. The motion passed.
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b. Mr. Vincent said Attorney DeCrescenzo was available to discuss the Charter Revision process. Attorney DeCrescenzo said Charter Section 1108 requires that the Board of Selectmen review the Charter every five years. He outlined the procedures under the general statute in his letter of May 10, 2004.
Attorney DeCrescenzo said the initiation of amending the Charter begins with a two-thirds vote of the membership of the Board of Selectmen. A resolution of the Charter would be adopted of Charter Revision initiation. Once the resolution is adopted, the Board has 30 days to empanel the Commission. The Commission can be no fewer than five nor more than fifteen electives. No more than a bare majority can be from the same political party.
Attorney DeCrescenzo said the Board of Selectmen can direct that certain topics be considered, but the Commission can also consider their own topics. A deadline must be set for the draft report no more than 16 months from the appointment of the commission.
Attorney DeCrescenzo said the proceedings are detailed in statute 7-191. The document the Commission produces is called a draft report, which is filed with the Town Clerk. The Town Clerk then transmits it to the Board of Selectmen. They are obligated to have two public hearings. The appointing authority must have one public hearing on the draft report and hold it’s last public hearing not later than 45 days after the submission of the draft report to the Town Clerk. He said not later 15 days after the last public hearing the Board of Selectmen must make recommendations to the Commission for changes on the draft report. If no recommendations are made within the 15 day period, the draft report becomes the final report and appointing authority will act on the final report. If
recommendations are made the Board of Selectmen must meet with the Commission to discuss the recommendations. The Commission will make it’s final report to the authority not later than 30 days after receiving the Board’s recommendations. Within 15 days of receiving the final report from the Commission, the Board of Selectmen, by majority vote of the full membership, approve or reject the proposed amended Charter. Attorney DeCrescenzo said if the report is approved the Board of Selectmen must schedule a referendum within 15 months of the approval of proposed amended Charter.
Attorney DeCrescenzo does not recommend that the Board pass that initiating resolution tonight as it starts the 30 days clock running. Therefore, there would only be 30 days to empanel a Commission. He agrees with the Selectman that an ad-hoc sub-committee be set up first. The Board has until August to start the process.
After further discussion, Mr. Romano made motion to set up a sub-committee to discuss the discharge of where the Commission is going to include Mr. Vincent, Mr. Garrity and Mr. Mandell. Ms. Gilkey seconded. All were in favor and the motion passed.
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Mr. Garrity made motion to notify the Republican and Democratic Chairmans to give the First Selectmen a list of perspective members for the Commission by July 9, 2004. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
3. ENGINEERING
Mr. Sawitzke said the High School addition is over 30% completed. The expectation is to deliver portions of the Media Center, Science Classrooms and Laboratories and main Gym, etc. beginning in late August or beginning of October.
Mr. Garrity said the Public Building Committee is doing a great job and is working in best interest of the people of Simsbury.
Mr. Sawitzke said they received five bids for the Waste Water Treatment Plant expansion. The low bidder was C.H. Nickerson Co. of Torrington. The State package has been submitted and they have a three month period for action to be taken.
Mr. Sawitzke said the Committee received seven bids on the Police Department renovations. The contract was awarded to Associated Construction Co. for a base bid of 1.3 million dollars.
Mr. Sawitzke said the Band Shell has been designed to meet the needs of several users. It is over budget and the contractors will resubmit prices. The Committee also redefined the scope. This project needs to go slowly to make it right. There will be no lapse in the grant funding that Mr. Sawitzke sees now. The biggest issue is ordering steel. He would like a start in August or
September.
Mr. Sawitzke said the Public Building Committee is reviewing qualifications of Pierce Builders, the lowest bidder for the Eno Hall Air Conditioning project. There should be a decision on that tonight, as they would like to start the project immediately upon the Board of Selectmen’s approval.
4. PUBLIC WORKS
a. Ms. Gilkey made motion to have the First Selectman make agreement with the M.D.C to make September 18, 2004 Hazardous Waste Pick-up Day. Mr. Romano seconded. All were in favor and the motion passed.
b. Mr. Garrity made motion to approve the filing of a petition for party status concerning an application of Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut to amend rates. Mr. Romano seconded the motion. This will allow the Town to receive all documents submitted to the D.P.U.C. in the defense of the rate case. After some discussion, all were in favor and the motion passed.
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5. CORRESPONDENCE
a. Mr. Vincent said he received a request to vend on Town property. This approval applies to Town property along Iron Horse Boulevard including Simsbury Meadows, to Weatogue Park and Curtiss Park. The effective dates are from May 10th until October 31, 2004. Mr. Garrity made motion to approve the recommendation. Ms. Gilkey seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
b. Ms. Gilkey made motion to approve the Girl Scout ceremony to be held on the Drake Hill Flower Bridge on Monday, June 7, 2004 with June 8th as a rain date. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
c. Ms. Gilkey made motion to approve the Woman’s Club to use Iron Horse Blvd. center parking lot for the Arts and Crafts Festival on September 18 and 19, 2004. Mr. Garrity seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
6. SUB–COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. No report on public safety
b. Mr. Romano said the Welfare Committee met on May 5th for their annual review for rents on Town property. There will be a minimal increase to set up a repairs and the maintenance fund.
c. No report on Finance
d. No report on Personnel
7. LIAISON REPORTS
Mr. Hampton said the Tarrifville Village Association said there has been some increase in vandalism. He would like this issue put on the next agenda for discussion.
Mr. Romano said at the Tarrifville Association meeting there was discussion into a neighborhood block watch.
Mr. Hampton said there was an article in the Hartford Magazine that the Simsbury 1820 House is the best bread and breakfast in the area.
Mr. Hampton said he will be hosting a seminar with the State Controller, Nancy Whymann on small business insurance on May 25th at 7:30 pm in the Arts Exclusive Gallery. Everyone is welcome to attend.
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mr. Garrity made motion to approve the minutes of April 26, 2004. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Ms. Gilkey made motion to adjourn to executive session at 8 p.m. Mr. Garrity seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Radocchio
Clerk
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