Call to Order: Leo Paul, Jr. called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. with all Selectmen present: Ernest Bunnell, Christopher Blake, Paul Parsons, William Dranginis and Mr. Paul.
Approval of Minutes: Motion: E. Bunnell moved to adopt the regular December 1, 2009 meeting minutes and P. Parsons seconded. All voted aye except W. Dranginis who was absent, and the motion carried.
Public Requests/Comments: Barbara Putnam, Planning and Zoning Chairman, commented about the proposal to change the makeup of the Capital Improvements Committee to replace the P&Z member with a citizen at large. She urged the Selectmen to keep the P&Z member because the Plan of Conservation and Development is part of the P&Z Commission and does take a ten-year view of the future. If there were a P&Z member on Capital, it could result in a good financial plan included in it. She pointed out another reason is that POCAD had been a Capital project previously. She said according to State Statute, it is a recommended use of Capital funding to support POCAD. She recommended adding the at-large citizen, but keeping the P&Z seat on the Capital Improvements Committee.
Selectmen’s Requests: Motion: P. Parsons moved to add under New Business f), “Adopt Revised Capital Improvement Plan Policy”, and C. Blake seconded. All voted aye and the motion carried. L. Paul noted that the Capital Committee will have its final meeting Wednesday and has already reduced the budget quite a bit, with about $500,000 more in reductions expected.
E. Bunnell said the Northfield Fire Department has been paying for a street light at the old Northfield Firehouse for a long time. He has checked with the Housing Trust, and unless the Town wants that light to remain, they will have it disconnected. L. Paul suggested having it eliminated. E. Bunnell will call Northeast Utilities to make the request.
Northfield Firehouse Update: L. Paul mentioned the dedication ceremony that was held at the new firehouse last Saturday. The Northfield Firehouse Building Committee has almost completed its work, but Mr. Paul suggested keeping the committee active at least until all payments have been made and any concerns with contractors; e.g., electrical, have been settled.
School Building Committee Update – Jack Healy: Mr. Healy said the Committee will meet Thursday night to approve the last two invoices: Allied (roof), and for the parking lot. W. Dranginis asked about the result of the gym roof discussions, and Mr. Healy said they negotiated receipt of a yearly report for 20 years and a five-year maintenance agreement for the entire building.
Resignations: None
Interviews, Appointments & Reappointments
a) Reappoint Edward J. Weik to Milton Historic District Commission, term expiration 1/2015
b) Reappoint David R. Wilson to Water Pollution control Authority, term expiration 1/2015
Motion: W. Dranginis moved to reappoint both Mr. Weik and Mr. Wilson as above, and E. Bunnell seconded. All voted aye and the motion carried.
Liaison Reports/Commission-Committee Minutes: 10/28/09 and 11/25/09 Economic Development Commission minutes; 10/19/09 Planning & Zoning minutes; 11/10/09 Board of Education minutes; 12/9/09 Northfield Firehouse Building 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: One regular member 12/2012; one alternate member 12/2012
Economic Development Commission: One alternate member 6/2011
Board of Ethics: Two regular members 6/2012; two alternate members 6/2010, 6/2011
Litchfield Housing Authority: One member 8/2012
Milton Historic District Commission: Two alternate members 1/2012
Northfield Firehouse Building Committee: 1 member
Park & Recreation: 1 alternate member 6/2013
Recycling Committee: One member, 2/2012
Sandy Beach Commission: One regular member 12/2011
Veteran’s Advisory Committee: One regular member 8/2012; two alternate members 8/2012
Water Pollution Control Authority: One alternate member; 1/2010
Tax Refunds: L. Paul said the refunds were due to either disposal of a motor vehicle or because of an overpayment. Motion: W. Dranginis moved to approve the 13 refunds, for a total of $748.07. C. Blake seconded, all voted aye and the motion carried.
Transfers: None
Old Business: None
New Business
a) Oliver Wolcott Library Mid-Year Update: Bobby D’Andrea, President of the Oliver Wolcott Library, introduced his Board of Trustees Susan Spencer, Bob Petricone and Ann Marie White, Library Director. Ms White presented a slide show with her talk that promoted the OWL as a solution in a tough economy. She reported an increase in demand on borrowing and visits from the public, as well as in program attendance, with 6,614 Litchfield OWL cardholders. They are collaborating with the Litchfield Public Schools to support their curricula. The staff also volunteered to initiate a fringe benefit cost reduction for their health insurance to make up for the shortfall. Matt Karpas, OWL Treasurer, arrived and mentioned that the annual fund drive was supplemented by a donor’s gift contingent on matching gifts by the Board of Trustees. Ms White then mentioned their management of all capital improvement projects, with all projects completed on time and under budget. She finished by saying that the OWL’s core values are reviewed constantly and they believe in and live by them.
C. Blake commended Ms White on a very complete and positive report and asked what challenges they face. Matt Karpas responded by saying risks include Town funding, annual fund drive totals, investment of assets and spending policy. R. Petricone added that the library lives in a changing world, and the staff must be willing to change with it.
David T. Wilson mentioned the presentation’s reference to the library receiving 266 visitors per day, and he noticed there were no capital requests relating to parking. They responded that it does get congested, especially during after school programs.
b) Approve Northfield Firehouse Advance Request for Payment: $400 for Public Works for Plantings: C. Politano said she now has the invoice, so it can be paid upon approval. Motion: C. Blake moved to pay $400 to Public Works for the plantings for the Northfield Firehouse, and W. Dranginis seconded. P. Parsons asked why they need approval when there is a budget from where bills are paid all the time. L. Paul said because it is a capital project and because it was voted on that every bill be approved by the Board of Selectmen. All voted aye and the motion carried.
c) Approve Northfield Firehouse Request for Payment: $103,338.95 for LaRosa and Public Works: L. Paul said this raises the issue of the $9,000 electrical bill from CL&P that the Committee thinks should be paid by LaRosa because it was during the construction phase. C. Politano said that until it is resolved, she will not pay the $98,979.28 retainage. This amount is contingent upon 1) the resolution of the $9,000 CL&P billing issue; 2) the receipt of sworn list of subcontractors and suppliers; and 3) receipt of final, paid-in-full lien wavers. Motion: W. Dranginis moved to approve the payment of $103,338.95 contingent upon these three above-mentioned stipulations, and C. Blake seconded. Amendment: W. Dranginis moved to amend the motion by authorizing the immediate payment of $4,359.67 to Public Works, and the remaining $98,979.28 to be paid to LaRosa contingent upon the three items mentioned previously. C. Blake seconded the amended motion. Upon voting all voted aye and the motion carried. Voting on the original motion as amended, all voted aye and the motion carried.
d) Request for Reclassification - $16,777 from General Fund to Northfield Firehouse Building Project: Motion: C. Blake moved to reclassify $16,777.00 from the Public Works General Fund to the Northfield Firehouse Building Project, contingent on the resolution of the CL&P billing issue. W. Dranginis seconded the motion. C. Politano explained that to prevent a possible overage in the Northfield Firehouse Capital Project, $42,000 for O&G asphalt was charged to Public Works General Fund budget. Now that the Public Works portion of the project is complete, there remains a balance of $16,777. Public Works has requested that its General Fund charges for O&G up to $16,777 be charged to the Northfield Firehouse Building Project. Upon voting all voted aye and the motion carried.
e) Litchfield Preservation Trust/Former Jail Building: L. Paul referred to the letter from David Dean explaining that the Litchfield Preservation Trust is trying to secure an in-kind matching grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. They needed to have a letter from the owner (State of CT) in order to have access to send an engineer in to determine potential future uses and costs for the building. The letter back from the State said they would not provide access to the building. On January 8th anyone interested will have the opportunity to tour the building, and their bids must be back to the State by January 29th. Once the bids come in, the State would approach the Town and offer a right of first refusal. From there the Town would have 45 days to make a decision. This is now a moot point as the Trust will not have the opportunity to apply for the grant. If they do, the Board of Selectmen can vote to support their endeavor for the matching grant, or they can table it or do nothing with it. Motion: W. Dranginis moved to support the Litchfield Preservation Trust in seeking the matching grant if they request it. E. Bunnell seconded, all voted aye and the motion passed.
f) Adopt Revised Capital Improvement Plan Policy: L. Paul explained the changes to the Capital Improvement Plan Policy, recently revised by the Capital Improvements Committee. E. Bunnell asked what the original rationale was in placing a P&Z member on the committee. L. Paul said that since he has been here in 2003, the seat has not been filled by a P&Z member. There are no known capital projects that the P&Z would have. Further, the Capital Committee has had discussions relative to the POCAD not qualifying as a capital project. Motion: C. Blake moved to adopt the revised Capital Improvement Plan Policy and P. Parsons seconded. David T. Wilson clarified that some years ago they requested funds for POCAD, and they did not meet the criteria or definition of a capital expense. It was suggested at that time that they approach it from an operating standpoint. He said the Capital Committee was trying to get away from borrowing long-term for items that do not have a long life. L. Paul added that if there is major work to be done, there is an 8-24 process to follow. The P&Z Commission does not have to do anything with the 8-24’s until the actual construction begins, and then they would review for concurrence with POCAD. He thought the reasoning for a P&Z member on the Capital Committee may have had something to do with the 8-24’s. However, the 8-24’s are not done when the Capital is approved; they are done when construction is beginning. E. Bunnell said he has concern with why that P&Z member was in place on the Committee in the first place. D. Wilson said there were other things amended in the Policy. It was not strictly to remove the P&Z member. C. Blake asked if there were any changes in the roles of the members from the previous policy and Messrs. Wilson and Paul said there was not. P. Parsons said he just completed six years on the Capital Committee and agreed with Mr. Wilson that P&Z never attended the meeting and has no capital requests. There are other agencies in Town who do have capital requests and are not on the Committee, so P&Z is not the only one who is not represented on the Committee. He does not see them as being left out. Vote: Upon voting, all voted aye except E. Bunnell who voted nay. L. Paul announced the motion carried.
Correspondence
a) Official Statement Re $11,060,000 General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Issue of 2009: L. Paul referred to the booklet that addresses the recent refunding of over $11 million in bonds. It includes information about the Town and the Moody’s rating of Aa3. The bonds will close on Thursday. C. Blake asked about the additions to the booklet and Mr. Wilson explained that OMS sheet shows the savings to the Town between now and 2028 as $770,509.85. Mr. Blake thanked him for making this refunding happen and noted it was a wonderful move. Mr. Wilson thanked our representative from IBIC for his watchful eye.
Motion: W. Dranginis moved to adjourn at 5:37 p.m., and E. Bunnell seconded. All voted aye and the motion carried.
Leo Paul, Jr., First Selectman
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