Meeting Minutes 12/10/2012

DRAFT

TOWN OF SIMSBURY – BOARD OF SELECTMEN

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES – DECEMBER 10, 2012

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen was called to order at 8:20 p.m in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices.  Present were: First Selectman Mary Glassman; Board members Moira Wertheimer, Nancy Haase, John Hampton, Sean Askham and Lisa Heavner.  Others in attendance included Tom Cooke, Tom Roy, Colleen O’Connor, Chuck Howard, Bob DeCrescenzo, Gerry Toner, and other interested parties.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE

Joan Coe, 26 Whitcomb Drive said the taxpayers are paying for a new Town website which links to an advertisement.  Is this appropriate? There are other links that give the rules of the Board of Selectmen meetings dated 2007 with an end date of 2009.  These rules have now expired and she asked once again about professional Town management. 

Ms. Coe said the Board should take some responsibility in the management of the restaurant at the Golf Course.  She wants an RFP to be sent out for a manager.  She feels there should also be a no alcohol policy on Town owned property.

Ms. Coe feels an RFP should go out for legal services to review the “landscape”. The Town should ask for scope and fees for various services.  The Town should review all options.

Ms. Coe spoke about the Performing Arts Center Board and their financial statement.  She feels this operation is a failure and taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for their failures.

Ms. Coe spoke about the Bicycle Friendly Community members who are asking for the Town to pay for concrete for the bicycle sculpture and trails maintenance expenses.  The Board needs to spend money on better issues.  Ms. Coe said there is still a lamp-post on the ground at Eno Farms.

Ms. Coe said the Simsbury Police assisted the State Police for alleged drug activity in Town on 12/2/12.  She asked if an arrest has been made and what other action has taken place.

Ms. Coe questioned the use of Simsbury security guards at out -of- town activities.  She asked why this was happening.  She said there are also three different security companies being used in schools and doesn’t understand why.  She wants justification for all this security.

Ms. Coe wants the walk-on fees, at the paddle courts, to be rescinded.  The office is often closed when people want to play and they don’t know where to pay.

Ms. Coe spoke again about Powder Forest and feels that younger people being allowed to purchase these homes will cost taxpayers more money for their children’s education.

Wooda McNiven, August Road said he has worked for SCTV for 8 years now, and is now part of the Board of Directors.  SCTV is holding their annual funding raising campaign shortly.  He said donations do make a difference.  They have been able to update the camera systems, etc. due to donations.  Donations are tax deductible and can be made on line at Simsburytv.org or residents can wait for the campaign letters to come in the mail.  He thanked everyone, in advance, for their help.

PRESENTATIONS

* Donation of CVS gift cards from St. Catherine of Siena Parish

Ms. Glassman said Father Whyte had to go out of Town, but the Board would like to thank the Parish for their generous donation to the Social Services Department.

            * Update of Pavement Management Program - Tom Roy, Director of Public Works

Tom Roy gave a presentation on the pavement management program.  He said they spent over $630,000 to maintain the roadways.  In 2009 they started to evaluate the roadways and putting them into a computerized data base - a pavement management system.  In 2010 there was a referendum vote that passed for a 2.4 million dollar bond to get the roads back to where they should be. 

Mr. Roy said pavement management applies to good engineering principals to the roadways.  They evaluate every road every few years.  In the last three years, they have worked on approximately 109 miles of roadway.  Moving forward, they are looking at new techniques and how to better notify the residents on what is going on.  They will be looking at bonding for fiscal year 2015.

Mr. Hampton said that the State economy is so bad and wondered if Mr. Roy has looked in to regionalization.  Mr. Roy said there is cooperative sharing of equipment, but every Town manages their roads differently.

Ms. Heaver asked that all of this information be put on the Town website.  She said street conditions do influence home values.

FIRST SELECTMAN’S REPORT

Ms. Glassman wishes everyone a very happy holiday season.  She said there will be an open house at Town Hall on December 17th from 3:00 p.m.. to 5:00 p.m and everyone is welcome.

Ms. Glassman said the Simsbury “Stuff a Cruiser” will be held on Wednesday, December 12th from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Stop & Shop.

Ms. Glassman also noted that the Skate and Share will be held December 21st with many events planned.

 SELECTMEN ACTION

a) Pharos Farm - motion to table pending Town appraisal of property

Ms. Heavner made a motion to table this item until the next Board meeting.  Ms. Haase seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

b) Senior Center Plan Update - discussion of next steps

No action taken.

c) Approve Tax Refunds

Mr. Hampton made a motion to approve tax refunds in the amount of $17,750.66 as requested and approved by the Tax Collector.  Mr. Askham seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Ms. Wertheimer made a motion to amend the agenda and move item (j) to this position.  Ms. Haase seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

j) Authorization to enter in to an agreement with C-PACE

Mr. Hampton made a motion to authorize the First Selectman to enter into an agreement with the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) on behalf of the Town of Simsbury enabling C-PACE financing in Simsbury.  Ms. Heavner seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

d) Approve the removal of the requirement for 6 “affordable” homes in the Claremont and Saxony neighborhoods in The Powder Forest Homes community; the current restrictions are really future “price appreciation restricted” upon resales and not income related

Mr. Hampton made a motion to authorize the First Selectman to enter into an agreement reflecting the release of the affordable housing restrictions with funds going to the Social Services Department for housing.  Ms. Heavner seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

e) Appointment of Town Attorney

Ms. Heavner made a motion to continue the retention of Town Counsel on the same terms and conditions for calendar year 2013, with an RFP to be issued in November, 2013 for selection of counsel for this role in January 2014.  Mr. Hampton seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

f) Appointment of Town Labor Counsel

Ms. Heavner made a motion to continue the retention of Town Labor Counsel on the same terms and conditions for calendar year 2013, with an RFP to be issued in November, 2013 for selection of counsel for this role in January 2014.  Mr. Hampton seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

g) Appointment of Town Pension Counsel - recommend approval of RFP

Ms. Heavner made a motion to authorize the issuance of an RFP for selection of counsel to advise the Town of Simsbury on pension and other retirement plan matters.  Mr. Hampton seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

h) Approve recommendations of the Culture, Parks, and Recreation Commission to enter a contract with Emmanuel Giarenakis to operate the Simsbury Farms Course Restaurant for 2013 and 2014

Mr. Askham made a motion to approve the recommendation of the Culture, Parks and Recreation Commission to enter into a contract with Emmanuel Giarenakis to operate the Simsbury Farms Course Restaurant for 2013 and 2014.  Ms. Haase seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

I) Approve entering into a contract with Thomas E. Vincent to serve as PAC Manager for 2013

Mr. Askham made a motion to approve entering into a contract with Thomas E. Vincent to serve as PAC Manager for 2013 as recommended by the PAC Board.  Ms. Heavner seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Ms. Heavner made a motion to approve the Financial Statement of the PAC Board, prepared by Mr. Vincent and reviewed by Finance Director Mary Ann Harris.  Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

k) Authorization for an RFP for advisors for the 457 Plan and the newly created Deferred Compensation Plan

Ms. Haase made a motion authorize the issuance of an RFP for an advisor to:

a) Assist the Town and the Board of Education with the design, implementation and oversight of their respective defined contribution plans; and

b) Provide oversight of the investment options in the defined plans once implemented as well as the Town’s existing 457 plan. 

Ms. Heavner seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

OTHER BUSINESS

Conservation Commission Correspondence - Farmington River diversion proposal

Don Rieger, member of the Conservation Commission, said he is very concerned about the likely environmental impact of the proposed Farmington River diversion proposal.  He has asked the Board to send a letter of concern to the University of Connecticut.  This proposal has as much as 1.93 million gallons of water, per day, being diverted from the river to meet the perceived needs of UConn and the Town of Mansfield.

Sally Rieger said there are a number of facts that raise concern including the fact that under Connecticut State Law, if you have a pipeline, the Towns along that pipeline have the right to use water from them at the going rate.  Some of those towns would have a way to develop and looking at ways to use this water.  The environmental impact would be great.

Mr. Askham made a motion to send a letter of concern, to the University of Connecticut, about the Farmington River diversion proposal and the likely impact on the Farmington River.   Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

No appointments or resignations at this time.

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES

a) Regular Meeting of November 26, 2012

Mr. Askham made a motion to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of November 26, 2012.  Ms. Heavner seconded the motion with changes and corrections.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

SELECTMEN LIAISON AND SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS`

1.  Personnel -

            a) approval of tentative agreement with CSEA

Mr. Hampton made a motion to approve the proposed Tentative Agreement between the Town of Simsbury and The Simsbury Secretarial, Clerical & Library Town Employees Association, CSEA, Service Employees International Union Local 2001 and authorize the First Selectman to execute the collective bargaining agreement as modified.  Ms Haase seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

            b) revision of job description and salary grade adjustment for Highway Superintendent position

Mr. Askham made a motion to approve the proposed additional revisions to the Highway Superintendent job description.  Mr. Hampton seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

2.  Finance - no report at this time.

3.  Welfare - no report at this time.

4.  Public Safety - no report at this time.

5.  Board of Education - no report at this time.

Ms. Heavner said Ed LaMontagne couldn’t attend the meeting but asked her to read something for him: “I would like to make a brief statement in my role as Executive Director of the Housing Authority of the Town of Simsbury.

In recent months, we understand that there had been some discussion regarding the Housing Authority of the Town of Simsbury taking over the ownership and consequent management of Eno Farms.  At this point in time, the State of Connecticut does not provide the Housing Authority of the Town of Simsbury with sufficient funding or support to consider the purchase

and subsequent management of Eno Farms.

That said the Housing Authority of the Town of Simsbury does not have the requisite staffing or relevant experience in multi-family housing necessary to support Eno Farms residents.  The Housing Authority of the Town of Simsbury’s experience and expertise rests with the elderly and disabled and the Housing Authority of the Town of Simsbury’s continued focus is directed towards serving that segment demographic.”

ADJOURN

Mr. Askham made a motion to adjourn at 10:10 p.m.  Ms. Wertheimer seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Kathi Radocchio

Clerk