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Board of Selectmen Minutes  |
REGULAR MEETING OF THE LITCHFIELD BOARD OF SELECTMEN
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| Call to Order: eLeo Paul, Jr. called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Also present were Selectmen Jack Healy, William Dranginis, Ernest Bunnell and Martha Bernstein. Approval of Minutes: a) Special 8/13/09 Meeting: Motion: E. Bunnell moved to approve the special meeting minutes of 8/13/09 and J. Healy seconded. All voted aye with the exception of W. Dranginis, who abstained because of absence. Motion carried. b) Regular 8/18/09: Motion: E. Bunnell moved to approve the regular meeting minutes of 8/18/09 and W. Dranginis seconded. All voted aye and the motion carried. Public Requests/Comments: B. Putnam, Chairman of Planning and Zoning, thanked Betsy Glassman for calling attention to inconsistencies in the permit for the school parking lot regarding oil separators. She has been in touch with Public Works and recommends the more exhaustive maintenance schedule be adhered to because of concern for the public water supply. Selectmen's Requests: L. Paul asked for five Public Works items to be added to the agenda: New Business c): Award Engineering Bid for Woodruff Street Bridge New Business d): Award Center School Snow Removal Bid New Business e): Award Annex Snow Removal Bid New Business f): Award Dump Truck Body Bid New Business g): Award Engineering Bid for West Morris Road Bridge Motion: W. Dranginis moved to add the above items as listed to the agenda, and E. Bunnell seconded. All voted aye and the motion carried. L. Paul then said an error had been made at the last meeting in regard to adding a Probate discussion at a future meeting. It does not take a 2/3 majority to add an item to a future agenda not yet posted. He asked that if it is again requested that the focus of the discussion be specified. M. Bernstein requested adding the discussion to the present agenda because of the mistake last time. She specified the focus be on the First Selectman giving a statement at the Probate Redistricting Commission's hearing on 8/20/09 without notifying the Selectmen of his plans, and then not distributing his statement to the Selectmen in an effort to keep anyone from knowing about it. He did mention at the last meeting that there was a public hearing, but did not say he was planning to go. She wished to discuss what meetings he goes to that he doesn't bother to tell the other Selectmen about and gives testimony in the name of the Town. L. Paul said he would leave her beratement of himself alone with no further discussion. If she wishes to add this item to the agenda, she can do that; or if she wishes to add it to a future agenda to berate him in two weeks, she can do that again. He said there are a number of times he goes to Hartford and a number of times he testifies, and he doesn't tell the Selectmen about every incident he goes to Hartford for. It's unnecessary for him to do that, and he did mention the public hearing in Hartford to the Board. If anyone wanted to go, they should have asked about the details. Motion: M. Bernstein made the motion to add this Probate discussion to the present agenda and W. Dranginis seconded. Upon voting, M. Bernstein, W. Dranginis and E. Bunnell voted aye and L. Paul and J. Healy voted nay; motion failed for lack of 2/3 majority. Motion: M. Bernstein then moved to have the Probate discussion added to the next meeting and W. Dranginis seconded. L. Paul asked what the motion is. She replied the motion is on when the Selectmen should or shouldn't be notified of the First Selectman making statements at public hearings. She thought the Board should always be notified when the First Selectman attended a hearing in Hartford. No vote took place. W. Dranginis then asked about the Town Hall Building project placed on the back burner and thought it should now be moving forward. He asked to either add the discussion to the present agenda or to a future agenda. L Paul said he would add it to the next agenda. Motion: M. Bernstein moved to add to the present agenda under Correspondence, a copy of L. Paul's statement to the Probate Redistricting Commission and her statement that she forwarded to the Commission last Thursday. W. Dranginis seconded, all voted aye and the motion carried. Northfield Firehouse Update: M. Bernstein said things are moving along. They hope to schedule the inspection for the TCO next week. J. Healy said he and David W. Wilson met at the firehouse and they looked at all the items on the list. He continues to call the glass vendor to get glass delivered that will satisfy one item on the list. E. Bunnell said the fire department will be done with everything they said they would do by next Tuesday night (about 1,500 man hours total). L. Paul said he met today with Jack Healy and David Wilson to review remaining P & Z issues and suggested that someone from the Building Committee go to the next P&Z meeting to see if modifications can be made to the plan. The TCO will have to be delayed until after the Zoning Enforcement Officer releases a letter that says the site plan modifications are approved. There is also some electrical work that is promised to be complete by 9/9/09. It was suggested by W. Dranginis and confirmed by E. Bunnell that the first meeting of October be held in the new firehouse. All agreed. The meeting would include a tour of the building. School Building Committee Update - Jack Healy: The Committee is processing the last change order and paying the last retainage on several of the bills. The architect will not come to future meetings unless he is specifically required. Upon W. Dranginis' question about the left-over funds, $60,000 or $70,000, J. Healy said there is a difference of opinion on what to do with the remaining money, whether to use it for small jobs or return it because the project is complete. J. Healy feels the money should be held in case something comes up within the project. Resignations: a) Douglas Gouey-Guy from Economic Development Commission, effective 8/17/09 b) Francis Carpentier from Pension Commission, regular member, effective 8/12/09 c) John Morosani from Pension Commission, alternate member All resignations were received and accepted by the Board. Interviews, Appointments & Reappointments a) Reappoint Douglass A. Parker to NW CT Convention & Visitors Bureau, term 9/2012 b) Appoint Francis Carpentier to Pension Commission, alternate member, term 3/2010 c) Appoint John Morosani to Pension Commission, regular member, term 2/2010 Motion: W. Dranginis moved to make the above reappointment and appointments a), b) and c). J. Healy seconded the motion. All voted aye and the motion carried. Liaison Reports/Commission-Committee Minutes: 7/16/09 Sandy Beach Commission minutes; 8/13/09 WPCA minutes; 8/26/09 Northfield Firehouse Building Committee minutes; 6/24/09 & 7/29/09 Economic Development minutes; 7/20/09 P&Z minutes; 7/23/09 Special BOE minutes; 6/10/09 Special BOE Policy Sub-Committee minutes Vacancies: The list of current appointed vacancies is as follows: Beautification Commission: One regular member, 2/2010, one alternate 2/2010 Conservation Commission: Two alternate members 12/2009 Economic Development Commission: One regular member 6/2011 Board of Ethics: Two regular members 6/2012; two alternate members 6/2010, 6/2011 Milton Historic District Commission: Two alternate members 1/2012 Northfield Firehouse Building Committee: 1 member Parks & Recreation: 1 alternate member 6/2009 Recycling Committee: One member, 2/2012 Sandy Beach Commission: One regular member 12/2011 Veteran's Advisory Committee: One regular member 8/2009; two alternate members 8/2009 Water Pollution Control Authority: One alternate member; 1/2010 Tax Refunds: Motion: W. Dranginis moved to approve the 9 refunds, for a total of $2,811.18. J. Healy seconded, all voted aye and the motion carried. Transfers: None Old Business: None New Business: a) Consider Payment Request for Northfield Firehouse Building Committee - $54,153.16: L. Paul pointed out that detail on the invoices was available on the table. M. Bernstein said the Committee approved this invoice. Motion: M. Bernstein moved to approve the payment for $54,153.16 and W. Dranginis seconded. L. Paul asked what was left, and M. Bernstein said about $20,000 that will be used by Public Works for July and August work. W. Dranginis asked for confirmation that the total cost would not be exceeded by any Public Works expense, and C. Politano said no. There was $42,000 picked up by the general fund Public Works operating budget, offset by $23,000 of insurance proceeds. The net effect was $19,000. Then she said that $42,000 more than the project was spent, primarily on asphalt. The expense was part of the Public Works operating budget and was reported to the Board of Finance. The asphalt was under-budgeted. W. Dranginis said he didn't remember voting on the overage. J. Healy explained that it was part of the $90,000 that was approved by the Board at one point. However, the calculations for the asphalt were only for the apron and not the parking lot. The Board of Finance approved the expenditure in the Public Works' operating budget. Upon voting on the motion, all voted aye and the motion carried. b) Energy Group Discussion: Lynn Fulkerson began speaking from the Energy Task Force, and L. Paul explained that this was a discussion among the Board of Selectmen. There was a consensus of the Board to allow her to speak as in Public Comment, as she thought this item was for her group to speak. She then explained, after doing a cost benefit analysis, that the Town can save $350 in the Town Hall by replacing the incandescent light bulbs with the compact fluorescents. She also presented a mission statement and explained the group's goals. They have met with several agencies in town that all supported their efforts. She said they are volunteers and are not asking for a budget; however, they suggested that they become an official advisory board of the Town, working under the Director of Public Works. As an agency of the Town they would be able to negotiate a deal to offer energy audits for $75.00 with rebates through a company that does them for CL&P. Then every house and business that has an energy audit would receive a $25.00 rebate. She shared her cost benefit analysis with the Board. J. Healy said they are now putting together data from spreadsheets he provided on the Town's energy use, including electrical, oil, gasoline and diesel fuel. He shared an example of an old energy program he had written in 1996, using it to establish a baseline to work from. He thought that this group, working in an advisory capacity, would broaden the thought process, attend seminars and do research which also gets the community involved. L. Paul said he supports the creation of a committee that would be endorsed by the Town as advisory to the Board of Selectmen, but he felt they were not yet ready for this. He would like to wait until the energy plan is devised with a baseline established by the Director of Public Works. At that time it would be better to create the committee and be able to give better direction as to what the Board needs from the committee in an advisory capacity. Then they could have the authority to apply for grants. It is a long process with the creation of an ordinance that addresses the number of members on the committee with term lengths and mission of the committee and would have to be approved at Town Meeting. E. Bunnell said he supported this group. M. Bernstein said the savings could be big for the Town and the time is now to begin, being careful it doesn't get lost in the shuffle with other conservation projects such as solid waste and recycling. Perhaps they could look into ways to consolidate other groups' work with this group. J. Healy said that environmental issues do cross over into energy issues, but they are different tasks that take a different level of activity. M. Bernstein contended that all groups working in town should still be looked at to see what would work the best going forward. M. Bernstein asked that the group post its meetings with the Town Clerk, even though it is not required, so people will be aware and can attend. Peter Tavino mentioned that their website is litchfieldenergytaskforce.org. E. Bunnell asked that the group update the Selectmen on a regular basis on the short term until they devise an action plan. J. Healy said that a well-defined mission statement and goals will be developed as work goes on now with activities already in motion. [At this point J. Healy recused himself from the quorum of the Board of Selectmen and acted solely as the Director of Public Works for Items c) through g). L. Paul clarified that the quorum is composed of W. Dranginis, M. Bernstein, E. Bunnell and himself.] c) Award Engineering Bid for Woodruff Street Bridge: L. Paul said there is a recommendation from Public Works to approve Anchor Engineering Services, Inc. to complete the engineering consulting services for the Woodruff Street Bridge at $36,961. J. Healy said the Bridge Committee interviewed four firms and selected Anchor Engineering based on abilities. The cost was negotiated after. Motion: W. Dranginis moved to approve the $36,961 bid fro Anchor Engineering Services, Inc. E. Bunnell seconded, all voted aye and the motion carried. d) Award Center School Snow Removal Bid: L. Paul said low bidder TMC Excavation of Washington was recommended for snow removal at Center School. W. Dranginis asked about the cost of sanding and why Village Grounds Maintenance was so much higher. L. Paul was concerned that TMC might not be able to do the job for the quoted amount, since his sanding price was so much lower than the other bidders. J. Healy said that TMC would have to do the job for the quoted amount. W. Dranginis said he hates to see a local contractor lose the job. J. Healy did get a good reference on TMC. Motion: W. Dranginis moved to award the bid for snow removal at Center School to TMC Excavation. M. Bernstein seconded the motion, all voted aye and the motion carried. e) Award Annex Snow Removal Bid: Motion: W. Dranginis moved to award the bid to local and low bidder, Haeley Property, for $$11,625. M. Bernstein seconded the motion. All voted aye and the motion passed. f) Award Dump Truck Body Bid: J. Healy said he is recommending W. H. Rose at $36,840, the second lowest of three bids, based on evaluation of the submissions. W. H. Rose met all the specifications that were sent out and the low bidder did not. Previous truck bodies have been purchased from W. H. Rose. Motion: W. Dranginis moved to award the bid to W. H. Rose for $36,840 and E. Bunnell seconded. All voted aye and the motion carried. g) Award Engineering Bid for West Morris Road Bridge: L. Paul explained that the recommendation of GM2 Associates is for engineering consulting on the West Morris Road Bridge project. J. Healy said they interviewed three different firms and selected GM2, who did the Shear Shop Road and Knife Shop Road Bridges. The bid is $150,227. There is $139,000 budgeted, but we also have a matching grant from the State for $64,000, so there will be enough to do the engineering. Motion: M. Bernstein moved to award the bid to GM2 Associates for engineering consulting for the West Morris Road Bridge. E. Bunnell seconded, all voted aye and the motion carried. M. Bernstein asked if Mr. Healy has a feeling on the favoring of local contractors for jobs, since there are no rules that favor them. He said he had definite views on that subject and would share them at a later date. Correspondence: a) 8/20/09 Letter to Office of Probate Court Administrator b) 9/1/09 Letter to Probate Redistricting Commission Motion: W. Dranginis moved to adjourn at 6:25 pm. and J. Healy seconded. All voted aye and the motion carried. Leo Paul, Jr., First Selectman |
