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Board of Selectmen Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Meeting Minutes                                                                         
September 5, 2017
Town Office Building                                                                    
6:30 P.M.

*Minutes are not official until approved at the next regular meeting

First Selectman Mailhos called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. with the following in attendance:  Selectmen Kowalyshyn & Blessington and residents.    First Selectman Mailhos then led the Pledge of Allegiance.  

Approval of Minutes:

Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to approve the minutes of August 21, 2017 with the following edit: page 1 Status Report “PW Environmental Configuration” the project is shovel ready.

Selectman  Blessington seconded the motion.

Vote:  3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.

Present to Speak:

No one was present to speak.

Correspondence:

A list of correspondence was available at the meeting and in the Selectman’s office.  

First Selectman Mailhos noted that she received an email from resident, Tim Heim, asking the Board to add a discussion to explore funding options to perform core testing of the municipal buildings and bridges, septic tanks etc. for pyrrhotite.   Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that she would like to discuss at a future meeting – not tonight because this meeting is going to be shortened so the Selectmen can attend the PZC meeting to review the POCD and in addition, she thinks a discussion like that should be warned so interested public can attend. Selectman Blessington concurred stating that he does not like adding things to the meeting and would like to warn it in advance.  Mr. Heim, who was in attendance agreed.  It will be on the next meeting agenda, which is September 18th.

First Selectman Status Report

First Selectman Mailhos went over the list of updates:

The following items are on hold because they are dependent on State LoCIP funding:

  • *River Road Athletic Complex Lighting
  • *WHFD Parking Lot Replacement
  • *Pillars under Town Clerk Office
  • *Daleville School Road Bridge – the contractor is making good progress.  The water is flowing again under the bridge and the final work can be done from the roadside.  The project is expected to finish in September and within budget.  
  • *Senior Complex Re-permitting – the Consultant has recommended that we wait to drill the test holes until the cottages receive more residents.  Right now the flow is at a very low level because the apartments are only housing 9 people.  
  • *MS4 Compliance – First Selectman Mailhos and Derek will be meeting with NEMO in a few weeks to get the test mapping done.  
  •  *Transfer Station Parking Lot Paving – the parking lot was paved today and the item will be removed from the list.  We have been asked to freeze all discretionary spending, however this project was seen as a safety issue and needed to be fixed.   Also Jared Sparks Road was paved last week – it was the only road to be done this year because it had already begun prior to the freeze.  The rest of the road paving projects are on hold until further notice.
  • *2017-18 Lease items – truck and wood chipper –we are still waiting to see what is happening with the SCBA air packs; the Fire Department is anticipating a grant to cover the funding of the air packs, but has not received confirmation yet.   Selectman Kowalyshyn asked why we can’t just lease the truck and wood chipper, especially since Derek needs the new truck for winter.   First Selectman Mailhos noted that it has to do with the leasing rates and the amount have to be grouped a certain way.  The SCBA air packs also are in need of being replaced because they are expiring soon.
  • *Reval 2018 – The Selectmen will review the bids at the next meeting (September 18th)  and will make a motion to award the contract contingent of Town Meeting approval that will be held the following night (the 19th).
  • *Hiring new Town Clerk –The Selectmen will review a draft job description at the next BOS Meeting (September 18th).
  • *Website Upgrade – The vendor is working on the behind-the-scenes links and will have a second round of the prototype soon.
  • *PZC/ POCD – The Seectmen will review the draft and add input at tonight’s PZC meeting which begins at 7PM.    
  • *Sign for Senior Complex- The sign has been ordered and will be installed once received.
  • *Crumbling Foundations –We still haven’t heard anything on this as it is tied in with the State budget.  Once they pass a budget we will learn what the bill holds and what it means for the Town and our residents.
  • *Safety Committee – First Selectman Mailhos stated that this committee should be rejuvenated and is looking to see if the Department heads would be willing to serve on the committee.   Selectman Blessington asked if we even really have to have a safety committee and if it is required by law?  First Selectman Mailhos warned that it falls under recommended best practice.   Selectman Blessington said he was on the committee many years ago and they would walk the municipal properties and would review safety issues; adding it is sort of redundant.
  •    Selectman Kowalyshyn stated that she has some information regarding this committee and will bring to the next meeting.   
  • *Sexually Oriented Business Ordinance – the PZC will be discussing this at their September 19th meeting.  First Selectman Mailhos noted that it is the same date as the Town Meeting, but will attend both.

 Public Works:

Derek reported that the crew has been busy with the following.

  • Mowed D.P.W, Dog Pound, Transfer Station
  • Roadside mowing
  • Mow old landfill
  • Sign repair/installation
  • Equipment/vehicle repair
  • guiderail trimming
  • Mow Hall Pond
  • Cross culvert pipe repair
  • Sweep Jared Sparks for paving
  • Catch basin repair
  • Removal of unwanted items at Hall School
  • Install speed trailer on Latham Rd
  • Spill way repair at Larners Pond dam (Pond on Old Farms Road)
  • Install millings at driveway entrance Jared Sparks Rd
  • Sweep Transfer Station for paving

Derek added that Jared Sparks Paving was completed on August 31st.  The Transfer Station~was also paved today, the rest of the paving projects are on hold for now.

New Business

POCD Input from Selectmen

First Selectman Mailhos asked the Selectmen if they had a chance to review the document; noting that it will be reviewed in its entirety tonight (beginning at 7 PM).    She noted that she had some comments she would like to share with the PZC tonight.

In the Implementation section (at the end);  it states “Strive to encourage consistency between the long term goals of the POCD and the annual operating budget and the capital budget” as well as “strive to commit adequate resources, funding and staffing to accomplish the goals of the POCD and implement the recommendations.”

First Selectman Mailhos stated that she would like to have the verbage strengthened – noting that there are specific tasks and goals listed and we are not in compliance with.   She noted the current POCD that is still in place (until the new one is adopted); there are several items in the plan that are not being adhered to mostly because of budgetary constraints.  She added that it seems as though it is being ignored because of lack of funding.  

Selectman Blessington stated that he has always been skeptical of the POCD – feeling like we have to do certain things because the State wants us to – but also because we don’t know what the economy is going to be like or what shape the town is going to be in 10 years, so how can we say we are going to commit?

First Selectman Mailhos added that it looks like the town wants things but ends up to be at the mercy of those sitting on the boards who are not in favor of it, so it goes by the wayside; she feels that is unfair.

Robert Shabot cautioned that you need to look at the POCD as a plan, not an ultimatum.  It is for the building department, for example who can keep new development coming in to make sure they are in the scope of what the town wants and it is in the best interest of the town.

Selectman Blessington added that we would probably have the same regulations (people wanting more open space) even if we didn’t have the plan.

First Selectman Mailhos said that she would just like to see stronger language in the Plan regarding compliance and have everyone who sits on a Board in the Town review it periodically, not have it just sit on a shelf.  

First Selectman Mailhos then noted that we are the first town to implement a crumbling foundation section to our Plan since the crisis started.  

She added that she would like to add that we will monitor the impacts to the local real estate market and work with the CRCOGS to monitor trends as well as encouraging redevelopment and restoration of affected areas.

In addition, we need to have stronger language regarding house rentals to already crumbling homes to non-related people.    First Selectman Mailhos noted that she knows it is not allowed but we need to make sure it is enforced.  Selectman Blessington cautioned if we want to enforce it, then we may have to think about funding it.

First Selectman Mailhos stated that she will try to bring these items up at tonight’s POCD meeting.  

Tax Refunds

First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $5.48 to Wendy O’Bready of Willington CT on a Certificate of Correction.

Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.

Vote:  3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.

First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $418.48 to Erin B. Smith; of Willington CT for an overpayment.

Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.

Vote:  3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.

First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $210.03 to Jamie and Patricia Phillips of  Willington CT on a Certificate of Correction.

Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.

Vote:  3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.

First Selectman Mailhos moved to refund $21.96 to Nathan or Denise Wojtyna of  Willington CT on a Certificate of Correction.

Selectman Kowalyshyn seconded the motion.

Vote:  3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.

Old Business

Crumbling Foundation Update

First Selectman Mailhos noted that there is no new information on this as we must wait for the State budget to pass.

Budget Update

First Selectman Mailhos said she heard the Legislators are going to convene sometime next week (perhaps September  12thor 13th) to vote on a budget.

Selectman Blessington reminded everyone of the upcoming budget meeting on Friday, September 8th at 9AM .

Good & Welfare

No Good & welfare was reported.  

Selectman Kowalyshyn moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:06 PM

Selectman Blessington seconded the motion.

Vote:  3 Yes (Mailhos, Kowalyshyn & Blessington) 0 No.
 

Respectfully submitted,
Robin Campbell
Administrative Assistant