Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

August 17, 2006

ATTENDANCE: The meeting was convened in the Town Hall Meeting Room at 5:31pm by First Selectman Bliss, with Selectmen Mr. Miller and Mr. Major present. Town Administrator Tom Landry and residents were also present. Mr. Major led the meeting in the pledge of allegiance.

 

GIFT ACCEPTANCE: The Board heard a presentation from IT Director Sharon Shattuck concerning a gift of web site design and hosting from Mr. Jeffrey Faski. This would be for the Town’s web site. She described the updates and changes available by utilizing the services of Mr. Faski, who is a town resident and is offering these services at no cost. He is a professional in this field.

 

 After the presentation, Mr. Major asked what was the value of the donated services? Mr. Bliss said that it was impossible to determine, but that for purposes of the Town’s gift acceptance policy, it would be considered to be under $100,000. Mr. Major suggested that for his own benefit, Mr. Faski might want to establish a gift value, and said that he could do so after the date of this gift acceptance. A motion to accept the gift of web design and web hosting services from Mr. Faski (Mr. Miller, Mr. Major second) passed by unanimous vote.

 

CONVENTION/VISITORS BUREAU: The Board voted unanimously ( Mr. Miller motion, Mr. Major second) to appoint Ms. Marcia Bittner as the Town’s representative to the Fairfield County Convention and Visitors Bureau for a term to expire June 30, 2009. Ms. Bittner told the Board that she had an educational and professional background in marketing and tourism, and has been the marketing director for the Norwalk Aquarium for the past 14 years.

 

LACHAT PROPERTY: Mr. Major briefed the Board on last week’s Committee meeting. He said it was obvious that if they were to hold public hearings in September, they would not be able to develop a plan for ballot consideration in November. The Committee elected to proceed with public hearings, scheduling two for September. He said the meeting was a good one, with all members other than Mr. Christopher present. Mr. Beal and Mr. Eldon were also at the meeting. The group established its ground rules to clear the slate and get back to the original intent of the project.

 

Mr. Bliss said that there is a tenant at the property, whose lease expired last month. He said that he would like to see the occupancy continue on a month to month basis. He felt it was better to have the property heated, through the winter, and that a human presence will help to ward off vandalism. Mr. Miller agreed that occupancy was advantageous, but that if the furnace was fragile, as was suggested as a possibility, then he did not want to have to put an inordinate amount of money into it because there was a tenant. Mr. Major agreed that it must be clearly understood that if the furnace failed, we would not have to fix it and the lease would be immediately terminated. He also said that although it was not a lot of money, we should get whatever rental income was available until the fate of the building is decided. Mr. Bliss will arrange for a furnace inspection, and convey the Board’s preference to the Nature Conservancy.

 

The following motion, offered by Mr. Major, with second by Mr. Miller, passed by unanimous vote: That the Town, in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy, continue to maintain a tenant at the LaChat property on a month to month basis, with the understanding that if the furnace fails and can not be repaired in a financially appropriate manner, that the tenancy will immediately terminate. 

 

PUBLIC HEARING – Commission for the Elderly to the Commission on Aging: The Board voted unanimously (Mr. Miller, Mr. Major second) to schedule a public hearing for Thursday, September 21 at 7pm in the Meeting Room to consider an ordinance amendment to change the name of the Commission. This action is taken at the request of the Commission, to more accurately reflect its mission, and the current trend in service agency terminology.

 

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING- CELL TOWER EASEMENT: The Board voted unanimously (Mr. Major motion, Mr. Miller second) to call a special town meeting for September 21 at 7:15pm in the meeting room. The purpose of the meeting is to request approval of an easement at the transfer station to CL&P for the purpose of running a power line to the new cell tower.

 

PUBLIC HEARING-MARTIN ROAD:  The Board voted 2-0 (Mr. Miller motion, Mr. Bliss second, Mr. Major recused) to call a public hearing for September 7 at 7pm in the Town Hall meeting room. The purpose of the hearing is to hear public comment regarding a request to widen the emergency access at the Martin/Hemlock connector to 20 feet.

 

MINUTES: The Board voted unanimously ( Mr. Miller motion, Mr. Major second) to accept the minutes of the Board’s August 3 meeting. Mr. Miller asked that the minutes be corrected to reflect that “Mr.” Pachman is “Dr.” Pachman.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:  At 6:00pm, the Board voted unanimously (Mr. Major motion, Mr. Miller second) to enter executive session for the purpose of discussing a parcel of real estate. Mr. Bliss stated the Board would return to open session only for the purpose of adjournment. The Board convened in the First Selectman’s office at 6:03pm, with members Mr. Major, Mr. Miller, and Town Administrator Landry present. At 6: 20 pm the Board voted unanimously (Mr. Major, Mr. Miller second) to end executive session and return to open session.

 

ADJOURN: The Board voted unanimously (Mr. Miller motion, Mr. Major second) to adjourn.

 

Submitted by

Tom Landry

Town Administrator 

Approved 9/07/06