TOWN OF SIMSBURY - BOARD OF SELECTMEN
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 11, 2010
A. Call to Order
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:07 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were: First Selectman Mary Glassman; Board members Moira Wertheimer, Tom Herlihy, John Hampton, Lisa Heavner, and Robert Hensley. Others in attendance included: Bonnie Therrien, Tom Roy, Rich Correia, Ed LaMontagne and other interested parties.
B. Pledge of Allegiance - Everyone stood for the pledge of allegiance.
C. First Selectman’s Report
Ms. Glassman said there was a meeting earlier to discuss how to put a budget together for Simsbury during these tough times of the Town and State. There was some discussion on the pension plan, health insurance and benefits.
Ms. Glassman said the Department Heads have to have their budgets to her by this Friday. There is about a $800,000 increase in the budget before even working on it.
Ms. Glassman said the budget goes before the Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance by February 15th. The Board of Education has to have their budget to the Board of Selectmen and Finance by March 15th. On March 22nd the Board of Selectmen gives their budget to the Board of Finance and by April 8th the Board of Finance will have to hold at least one public hearing to discuss the budget. Then there will be the Annual Town Meeting.
Ms. Glassman noted that property taxes and supplementary vehicle taxes are due by February 1st.
Ms. Glassman said the Town received an Energy Grant final payment for the exterior/interior lighting at the Library.
D. Public Audience
Robert Kalechman, 971 Hopmeadow Street said the budget is an issue of changes. He read a paragraph from a poem from Kipling called “The Young British Soldier”.
He spoke again about his Freedom of Information complaint and would like the whole thing done and over with without spending any more Town money.
Mike Rinaldi, 32 Pinnacle Mountain Road spoke about the Town pension plans. He feels the Town should go to 401k programs, which would benefit property owners. He feels if more benefits are given to employees than more benefits are used. He feels that more control is needed for benefits.
Rich Correia, President of Simsbury Main Street Partnership said they received a $10,000 preservation grant for Code Studios to come back for the Charrette process. Mr. Peck is working on getting them back to Simsbury for further study and Simsbury could become a role model for the State.
E. Presentation - Senior Center Survey - Ed LaMontagne
Mr. LaMontagne, Chairman of Aging and Disabilities went through the Senior Center Survey with the Board. He said there were 158 females who answered the survey with 73 males answering. The highest age group was 70-79 years.
The survey showed what programs were used and what additional programs were wanted. It showed if people were in favor of expansion of the Senior Center or if there was interest in the construction of a new Senior Center/Community Center.
Mr. LaMontagne feels the aging population will dictate the increase of services. There is already a waiting list for the Wednesday lunch program.
Ms. Heavner noted that they received a Wii Game Box for the Virginia Connelly residence through a private Abernathy Fund.
F. Hearings - None
G. Selectmen Actions:
1. Ordinances, Resolutions and Appointments for Action -
a. Acceptance of Resignations from Boards and Commissions - none
b. Appointments to Boards and Commissions - Appointment of Geoffrey Dale of 3 Canaan Way as the Citation Hearing Officer
Mr. Herlihy made motion to reappoint Geoffrey Dale of 3 Canaan Way in Simsbury as the Town’s Citation Hearing Officer. Ms. Heavner seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
2. Unfinished Business -
a. Review, discuss and possibly approve a request for the use of Eno Memorial Hall on Sunday, January 24, 2010 for a benefit concert (Tabled 12/14/2009)
Mr. Hampton made motion to take off the table the use of Eno Memorial Hall for a benefit concert on January 24th for the Faith Mulira Health Care Clinic in Uganda and to remove from the agenda, as the sponsors have no need for Eno Memorial Hall on that date. Mr. Hensley seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
3. Other Business -
a. Review, discuss and possibly approve a Regional Grant for an Energy Manager with West Hartford, Bloomfield, Avon, Farmington and Simsbury
Ms. Heavner made motion to authorize the First Selectman, Mary A. Glassman, to sign the regional grant application in an amount of $250,000 for an Energy Manager to assist the towns of West Hartford, Avon, Bloomfield, Farmington and Simsbury. Mr. Herlihy seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
b. Review, discuss and possibly approve the payment of $60,000 plus the erection of a fence on the Hall property for a public easement
Mr. Hampton made motion to recommend to the Board of Finance the payment from reserves of $60,000 to the Hall family for a 10' easement to the north side of the property and $10,000 for the Town to erect a fence in order for the Town to receive a State grant of $185,000. The Town would therefore receive $115,000. Ms. Heavner seconded the motion. Five were in favor with Mr. Herlihy against. Therefore, the motion passed.
c. Review, discuss and possibly approve the name for a regional Probate Court
Ms. Wertheimer made motion to request the Probate Court Administrator to name the Avon, Canton, Granby, Simsbury regional Probate Court area The Farmington Valley Probate District, with the second choice being the Simsbury Regional District. Mr. Herlihy seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
d. Usage of Hopmeadow Road Banner for November Event - Turkey Trot
Mr. Hampton made motion to endorse the current Town policy of a two week “shared banners” concept on the banner poles on Hopmeadow Street, unless there is no other request for a banner at the same time, then the sponsoring group can install two signs. Ms. Heavner seconded the
motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
e. Review, discuss and possibly approve acceptance of a $5,000 donation from Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming
Mr. Herlihy made motion to accept $5,000 from Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming Inc. as a donation towards the Keep Simsbury Warm Program with a heartfelt thanks for their generosity. Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
f. Review, discuss and possibly approve Tax Refunds
Mr. Herlihy made motion to approve the tax refund requests in the amount of $3,788.81 for the list of 2007 and $16,653.84 for the list of 2008, for a total of $20,442.65. Mr. Hensley seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
g. Review, discuss and possibly approve a resolution authorizing the First Selectman to sign a Small Town Economic Development Program (STEAP) grant for Simsbury Farms Recreation Complex Improvements
Mr. Herlihy made motion to transfer $200,000 from the General Fund reserve to the Recreation Department Account #100-46110-07310 and to forward this action to the Board of Finance for their approval. Mr. Hampton seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
h. Review, discuss and possibly approve an application for funding for the Community Farm from the Hartford Foundation for Giving
Ms. Heavner made motion -
Resolution of Municipal Legislative Body
Resolved, that Mary A. Glassman, First Selectman of the Town of Simsbury be and hereby is authorized to execute on behalf of this municipal corporation a Personal Services Agreement with the State of Connecticut for financial assistance to complete improvement at the Simsbury Farms Recreation Complex.
In addition, that Mary A. Glassman is hereby authorized to enter into such agreements, contracts and execute all documents necessary to said grant with the State of Connecticut.
Be it further known that Mary A. Glassman, Chief Executive Officer, was elected First Selectman. Her term of office began on December 7, 2009 and will continue until December 5, 2011. As the First Selectman, Mary A. Glassman serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the
Town of Simsbury and is duly authorized to enter into agreements and contracts on behalf of the Town of Simsbury.
Mr. Herlihy seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
I. Review, discuss and possibly approve an extension of the Shared Services Agreement with the Town of Canton for Technology Services
Mr. Hampton made motion to authorize the First Selectman, Mary Glassman, to sign the Extension of Technology Services Agreement with the Town of Canton for a period until June 30, 2010 in an amount of $22,206 per year which the Town of Canton will reimburse the Town of Simsbury. Ms. Heavner seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
j. Review, discuss and possibly approve an agreement for Shared Services for Building Inspections with the Town of Canton
Mr. Hampton made motion to authorize the First Selectman, Mary A. Glassman, to sign the attached Building Inspection Services Agreement with the Town of Canton for a period of June 30, 2010 in the amount of $38,000 per year which the Town of Canton will reimburse the Town of Simsbury. Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
k. Review, discuss and possibly approve revised Planning and Zoning Fees
Mr. Hensley made motion to approve the attached land use fee schedule to be effective on February 1, 2010 and to allow the staff to automatically increase the fees if they are mandated by the State as a cost to the Town, without further action of the Board of Selectmen. Ms. Heavner seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
l. Review and discuss the Use of Eno Hall Policy
Tom Roy said they are looking at a more efficient use for Town buildings. He said the hours at Eno Memorial Hall have changed and that the Hall will be closed on weekends. The weekend groups will be moved to the Library for energy savings.
Mr. Herlihy asked that No. 18 of the decoration guidelines be changed to read: A $50 charge will be assessed for any damage to wallpaper, etc. unless the cost for repair is more, than more will be charged. The proposed use policy is basically a clarification of language and no motion is needed.
4. Bids - None
5. Ordinances, Resolutions and Appointments for Introduction - None
6. Acceptance of Minutes
a. December 7, 2009
Mr. Herlihy made motion to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting of December 7, 2009 as presented. Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
b. December 14, 2009
Mr. Hampton made motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 14, 2009 with the correction of the spelling of Kilowatt on page 1. Mr. Herlihy seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
H. Selectmen Liaison and Sub-Committee Reports
1. Personnel - Mr. Hensley said he and Bonnie will have a meeting prior to the February 8th meeting of the Board of Selectmen.
2. Finance - no report
3. Welfare - no report
4. Public Safety - Mr. Hampton said there will be a Public Safety meeting next Thursday in the Main Meeting Room of the Town Offices at 7 a.m. Ms. Wertheimer would like an update on the new usage salt on the roads from Public Safety.
Ms. Wertheimer would like a status update on the proposed PAD at the next Board meeting.
Ms. Glassman said there will be a Bike Symposium at the Bushnell at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow. The public is invited.
I. Executive Session - Pending Litigation - Wise vs. The Town of Simsbury
Mr. Hampton made motion to adjourn to Executive Session at 9:20 p.m. to discuss pending litigation - Wise vs. The Town of Simsbury. Ms. Heavner seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Tom Herlihy was not in Executive Session. Motion by Ms. Wertheimer, seconded by Mr. Hensley to come out of Executive Session at 9:26 p.m.
Open Session – Motion by Mr. Hampton, seconded by Mr. Herlihy to reject the Robert Wise legal appeal. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Hampton, seconded by Mr. Hensley. All were in favor and the motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathi Radocchio, Clerk
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