Board of Selectmen Regular Meeting January 12, 2015
TOWN OF SIMSBURY - BOARD OF SELECTMEN "Subject to Approval"
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES - JANUARY 12, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices. Present were: First Selectman Lisa Heavner; Board members Sean Askham, Cheryl Cook, Nancy Haase, Christopher Kelly, and Michael Paine. Others in attendance included Carolyn Keily, Town Clerk; Tom Roy Director of Public Works; Jerome Shea, Town Engineer; Gerry Toner, Director of Parks and Recreation; Thomas Cooke, Director of Administrative Services; and other interested parties.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.
SELECTMEN ACTION
a) Accept the resignation of Lisa L. Heavner (D) as a Selectman of the Board of Selectmen effective January 11, 2015
Ms. Cook made a motion to accept the resignation of Lisa L. Heavner (D) as a Regular Selectman of the Board of Selectmen effective January 11, 2015. Mr. Askham seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Askham made a motion to amend the agenda to accept the resignation of Christopher Kelly from the Board of Education. Ms. Cook seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Askham made a motion to accept the resignation of Christopher Kelly from the Board of Education. Ms. Cook seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
b) Appoint Christopher Kelly (D) as a Selectman of the Board of Selectmen with an expiration date of December 7, 2015
Mr. Askham made a motion to appoint Christopher Kelly as a Selectman of the Board of Selectmen with an expiration date of December 7, 2015. Ms. Cook seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Mr. Askham gave sincere thanks to Mr. Kelly for stepping up to join the Board and he said they look forward to working with him.
c) Swearing in of Christopher Kelly
Ms. Keily, Town Clerk swore in Mr. Kelly as a Selectman to the Board of Selectmen with an expiration date of December 7, 2015.
Ms. Heavner officially welcomed Mr. Kelly to the Board of Selectmen. She said he brings a substantial background in public service as both a former member of the Board of Selectmen and Board of Education. He has also been a past chairman of the Public Safety Committee and has also served on the Personnel Committee.
Ms. Heavner said Mr. Kelly will be taking over all of her Liaison and Chairmanship assignments. She thanked him for also stepping up and taking over those positions.
Ms. Heavner said she is looking forward to working with Mr. Kelly and the full Board as they turn to the Town's business to work to deliver a fair, compassionate, open and effective government together. She has already started working on the budget with Town staff and looks forward to deliberations with the full Board.
Ms. Heavner said opinions matter and she said the Board wants to hear from the public about issues or concerns people might have. She told everyone to feel free to contact any member of the Board, at anytime, as they look forward to working with them. Ms. Heavner gave Mr. Kelly an opportunity to speak at this time.
Mr. Kelly said he was thankful for the opportunity to work with Ms. Heaver and the other Board members He said he appreciated the generosity they have all given him. He also thanked his wife, Sharon, for agreeing to let him do this.
Mr. Kelly said nothing happens by accident, whether is it having a great downtown or school system, there is a whole world involved of hard working people. He is committed to being a hard worker, and good partner to all.
RECESS - There will be a short break to recognize Mr. Kelly
Ms. Heavner said this meeting always starts with Public Audience. She said all comments are welcomed, however, because the meetings are formal with extensive agendas, the comments are limited to five minutes. Anyone who feels they need more time or want to discuss issues or concerns, the Board will be happy to meet with them if they call the office and make an appointment.
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
Robert Kalechman, 971 Hopmeadow Street, congratulated Ms. Heavner and Mr. Kelly. He said it is getting to be disgusting as he feels the 5th District is corrupt and has been for a very long time. He feels this Board should rejuvenate the Ethics Board and start to clean-up this corruption.
Mr. Kalechman said there will be a lot of talk on a new Town Manager and other adjustments. He said there is new Democrat now joining this Board. He said the people voted to have four Republicans to take over this government. It still hasn't happened and he doesn't know why they aren't fulfilling the elective duties. He said the First Selectman was not selected as an individual but as a position. There was also a consultant who came in and said the First Selectman only worked 5% of the time, etc. There needs to be change. He also feels it is unfair that the Selectman has transferred all her appointments to Mr. Kelly.
Ms. Heavner said she would be happy to discuss this issue with Mr. Kalechman at a later date as his time was up for Public Audience.
Dee Costelli, representing the Historical Society, the Martin Luther King Celebration Committee, and the Free Library, said they are jointly presenting a program on Martin Luther King Day honoring him. It will be at 2 p.m. at First Church. There will be a guest speaker, the daughter of Rev. Amos Breckin, who was a friend of Martin Luther King.
Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive, said the people of Simsbury have seen the elected officials fail to lead and take responsibility for the recent Board mess. Both parties are to blame. The recent Charter Revision Commission is so conflicted that they produced a Charter that assigned responsibility of government to the elected First Selectman and the pseudo Town Manager with the approval of the First Selectman. She said Section 502, Duties of the First Selectman, states the First Selectman shall be responsible for the administration of all Departments, agencies and offices. It says the First Selectman will be the Personnel Director for the Town. The Charter also says the First Selectman may, with the consent of the Board of Selectman, appoint another Town officer to Personnel Director.
She feels the verbiage in the Charter is murky and should be re-written.
Ms. Coe said a consultant was hired to decide the duties of the Selectman's office and the salaries assigned to their tasks. The consultant was not asked to review the need for a Town Manager although he had experience to do so. She asked if this was political or self-serving. Ms. Coe said consultants have said that Simsbury has a need for professional management, however both parties have voted against having a Town Manager. Therefore, Ms. Coe said she will probably volunteer herself as a candidate for First Selectman for 2015 in order to promote the Town Manager issue. She will contact the Secretary of State for guidance and gathering signatures.
Ms. Coe asked if the Board was going vote to reduce the First Selectman's salary for 2015 budget.
PRESENTATIONS
• GIS Update
• Ethel Walker Open Space Improvement Plan
• Future Use of Dewey Farm Property
FIRST SELECTMAN'S REPORT
SELECTMEN ACTION
d) Approve Tax Refunds
Ms. Haase made a motion to approve tax refunds in the amount of $16,716.98 as reviewed and recommended by the Tax Collector. Mr. Paine seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
e) Approve 2015 Budget Workshop Dates
Ms. Haase made a motion to approve March 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, in the evenings, along with Saturday March 7th, all day, as budget workshop dates and to add March 10th, 11th, and 12th as additional
dates if necessary. Mr Paine seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
f) Approve License Fee Waiver not to exceed $100 for Marriage Licenses issued on February 13, 2015
Ms. Haase made a motion to approve a non-budgeted expenditure, not to exceed $100, to cover any surcharge to be remitted to the State and waive collection of the fee for Marriage Licenses issued on February 13, 2015. Ms. Cook seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
g) Acceptance of Proposal from L. Wagner & Associates for services relating to Small Cities Grant, Simsbury Housing Authority
Ms. Cook made a motion to accept the proposal of L. Wagner & Associates to provide professional and technical services in connection with the submission of a Small Cities Grant on behalf of the Simsbury Housing Authority. Mr. Askham seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
h) Accept donation of $5,000 from Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc. for the Keep Simsbury Warm Programs
Mr. Askham made a motion to accept the financial donation from Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc. in the amount of $5,000 for the Keep Simsbury Warm Programs. Ms. Cook seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
i) Adopt Resolution authorizing the First Selectman to execute a grant contract with the Connecticut State Library in the amount of $5,000 for Historic Documents Preservation
Mr. Kelly read the following motion: "RESOLVED, that Lisa L. Heavner, First Selectman of the Town of Simsbury, is empowered to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of this municipality a contract with the Connecticut State Library for a Historic Documents Preservation Grant." Mr. Askham seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
j) Approve the Public Gathering Permit Applications for 2015 Events
Mr. Askham made a motion to approve the Public Gathering Permit Applications for the 2015 events attached. Ms. Haase seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
k) Assign 1 Old Bridge Road Open Space Committee
There was no motion on this item.
OTHER BUSINESS
a) Liaison Appointments
b) Impeachment Process
c) MS4 DEEP Regulations Update
d) Veterans Memorial Project and Open Space
APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
a) Accept the resignation of Kevin W. Schultz (R) as a regular member of the Simsbury Farms Complex Committee effective December 27, 2014
Mr. Askham made a motion to accept the resignation of Kevin W. Schultz as a regular member of the Simsbury Farms Complex Committee effective December 27, 2014. Ms. Haase seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
a) Regular Meeting of December 8, 2014
No action was taken and therefore the minutes are adopted.
SELECTMEN LIAISON AND SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. Personnel
2. Finance
3. Welfare
4. Public Safety
5. Board of Education
ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
a) Review Hopmeadow Street, LLC vs Town of Simsbury with Town Counsel
b) Review of status of Town Negotiations with IBPO
Mr Askham made a motion to adjourn to Executive Session to review and take possible action on Hopmeadow Street, LLC vs the Town of Simsbury with Town Counsel and the status of Town Negotiations with IBPO at 8:35 p.m. Mr. Paine seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
a) Review of Hopmeadow Street, LLC vs. Town of Simsbury with Town Counsel
In addition to the Board of Selectmen, Town Counsel Robert DeCrescenzo and Director of Administrative Services Thomas Cooke per present. Mr. Haase recused herself and left the meeting. Discussion on the matter concluded at 8:51 p.m. Attorney DeCrescenzo left the meeting.
b) Review the Status of Town negotiations with IBPO
Ms. Haase rejoined the meeting at 8:51 p.m.
Ms. Haase made a motion to adjourn from Executive Session. Mr. Askham seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.
ADJOURN FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION
Ms. Haase made a motion to adjourn from Executive Session. Mr. Askham seconded the motion and the motion passes. The Board adjourned from Executive Session at 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathi Radocchio
Clerk