Board of Selectmen Special Meeting May 11, 2015

TOWN OF SIMSBURY – BOARD OF SELECTMEN "Subject to Approval"
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES – MAY 11, 2015

CALL TO ORDER

The Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen for the Town Survey Forum was called to order at 5:01 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, and Michael Paine. Also in attendance were: Tom Cooke, Director of Administrative Services and Sean Kimball Deputy Director of Administrative Services.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

All stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

PRESENTATION

• Great Blue Telephone Survey

First Selectman Lisa Heavner gave the history behind why the town is conducting a formal survey of residents. The survey was requested by the board of finance, specifically about the senior center, but the board of selectmen requested including other topics in the survey. This forum was to give residents a chance to say what topics they would like to see covered in the survey. Then Ms. Heavner turned the meeting over to two representatives from GreatBlue, who described their background and experience and a bit about their methodology.

PUBLIC FORUM

Resident suggestions included topics on:

• Mike Jennings – Accessibility
• Economic Development/Development o Wanda Colman

a) plans for Performing Arts Center area
b) what happened to the charrette
c) how much more growth can Simsbury tolerate and keep its small town character
d) route 10 through town
e) the Economic Development Committee
f) the Tourism Committee o Tom Graboski
a) the Hartford Insurance Company leaving
b) economic development questions

• Wanda Colman – Environment – the conservation and wetlands committee
• Wanda Colman – Government/Town Manager – town manager and hiring of consultants
• Mark Orenstein – Internet – broadband access, for commercial and residential
• Wanda Colman – Open Space/Recreation

a) East Coast Greenway extension through Tariffville, alternate routes
b) the Farmington River and development in Simsbury

• Tom Graboski – Public Safety – how many new police positions
• Tom Graboski – Public Works – hazardous road conditions/intersections
• Wanda Colman – Residents – community meetings
• Senior Center/Community Center

o Wanda Colman – where should the senior center be located　
o Tom Graboski – questions regarding locations for senior center
o Dick Ostop – how important its location, hours of operation, programming, how much willing to spend

• Tom Graboski – Taxes – would you like to see a tax cut

ADJOURN

The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.