Board of Selectmen Minutes - January 18, 2007

Present: First Selectman Woody Bliss; Selectman W. Glenn Major; Selectman Richard Miller; Town Administrator Tom Landry; Administrative Assistant Judy DeVito; Sgt. Patrick Daubert; Donald Gary; Jaime Monn; Neil Coleman; Oren Barack; Susan Seath; Marsha Darmory; Joan Monte;

Discussion/decision regarding the acceptance of a gift of $5,000 from the United Way of Westport-Weston to purchase an American Red Cross Emergency Shelter Trailer. Sgt. Patrick Daubert said approximately 30 days ago he was contacted by Charlene Hillman, Social Services Director and the American Red Cross in regard to a purchase of a trailer and related equipment that would help assist us in time of an emergency.

The United Way has pledged $5,000 towards the purchase of the equipment which would include flashlights, light sticks, traffic cones, signage, first aid kits and other essential items. It also includes 150 blankets and cots and trailer to house all of that equipment. The trailer would be lettered with the American Red Cross emblem as well as acknowledging United Way’s contribution. The total cost is between $8,000 and $8,500. He said he is asking that we accept the donation of $5,000 and also to appropriate up to $3,500 to supplement the purchase of the equipment.

Sgt. Daubert said the official shelter is in the Middle School but one of needs is to keep things mobile in case they had to move to another location. Mr. Miller asked where it would be located. Sgt. Daubert said it would be housed on the complex here and it does have a hitch on it so that it can be moved around. We currently have three trailers and this would be a fourth.

Mr. Major said he felt that we had the cart before the horse. He said that this was not the way we receive information in order to make a $3,500 appropriation. Mr. Major said the gift had a caveats attached to it and was useless with out the appropriation. Mr. Bliss said it was not but that he had asked Sgt. Daubert to bring us a complete package. We could take the gift and buy a trailer and some of the equipment but he felt we should take full advantage of it.

Sgt. Daubert said that this was part of a regional effort by the American Red Cross. They are trying to have the trailers and the equipment deployed in strategic areas within our region. The list that was generated is the list that was given to him by the American Red Cross.

Mr. Major said that this was a backward way of doing this. What should have happened is it should have come to the Selectmen, we should have said yes we want the trailer, here is what we want to spend towards it, let’s see what the United Way will contribute to it. Mr. Bliss said he would like to take advantage of the grant from the United Way and he would like to make sure that we get maximum benefit from the grant which means we have to pony up $3,500 for the other equipment.

Mr. Major said he did not disagree. From reading the letter from United Way saying we were approved for the grant that it must have been processed prior to December 15^th, 2006. He felt that somewhere along the line that there should have been more discussion about what was being proposed and what was going to be spent and not backing into it.

Mr. Miller made a motion to accept the gift of $5,000 from the United Way of Westport-Weston to purchase an American Red Cross Emergency Shelter Trailer. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Miller made a motion to add to the agenda a proposal to make an appropriation of up to $3,500 to complete the purchases of the Red Cross Emergency Shelter Trailer. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Miller made a motion to appropriate up to $3,500 to support the purchase and completion of the Red Cross Emergency Shelter. Mr. Major seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The motion was amended that the funds are to be spent in accordance with the proposal submitted. The amended motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

Accept the resignation of Laurie Morris from the Board of Assessment Appeals effective immediately. Mr. Miller made a motion to accept the resignation of Laurie Morris from the Board of Assessment Appeals effective immediately. Mr. Major seconded and motion passed unanimously.

Accept the resignation of Emily Anderson from the Westport/Weston Health District effective immediately. Mr. Major asked about an official letter from Ms. Anderson. Mr. Bliss said that he felt that the letter from the Health District was sufficient. Mr. Bliss said he would send her a letter confirming her resignation. Mr. Major made a motion to accept the resignation of Emily Anderson from the Westport/Weston Health District effective immediately subject to receipt of confirmation by the First Selectman of Ms. Anderson’s tender.

Accept the resignation of Deby Goldenberg from the Global Warming Committee effective immediately. Mr. Miller made a motion to accept the resignation of Deby Goldenberg from the Global Warming Committee effective immediately. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Discussion/decision regarding the reappointment of Christine Fulton to the Commission for the Arts for a term to expire December 31, 2008. Mr. Miller made a motion to reappoint Christine Fulton to the Commission of the Arts for a term to expire December 31, 2008. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Discussion/decision regarding the appointment of Donald Gary to fill the vacancy (Doug Stuebe) on the Building Committee for a term to expire April 1, 2008. Don Gary said he had been on the School Building Committee for five years. The building Committee and School Building Committee are pretty homogenous and most of the issues come before both them except the members on the School Building Committee cannot vote on a Building Committee issue.

Mr. Miller made a motion to appoint Don Gary to fill the vacancy (Doug Stuebe) on the Building Committee for a term to expire April 1, 2008. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Major asked that the email from Town Attorney, Ken Bernhard, which answered the question that there was no prerequisites that a member of the Weston Building Committee need be an elector. That email will be attached to the minutes.

Discussion/decision regarding the appointment of Jaime Monn to the Commission for Children & Youth for a term to expire June 30, 2008. Jaime Monn said that he is currently a junior at Weston High School. He has lived in Town 13 years and is on the soccer and baseball team. He felt that he had the respect of his peers and other members of the community and he would be a good link between the community and school. Mr. Major made a motion to appoint Jaime Monn to the Commission for Children and Youth for a term to expire June 30, 2008. Mr. Miller seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Discussion/decision regarding the appointment of Neil Coleman to fill the vacancy (Emily Anderson) Westport/Weston Health District for a term to expire December 31, 2007. Neil Coleman said he was a Weston resident since 1999 and lived in Westport for the previous 30 years. He is interested in the Health District and knows some members on the Commission. He is a retired business man with a PHD and has been a teacher.

Mr. Major said that since we were not advertising the vacancy that the appropriate thing would be to appoint Neil to serve on a temporary basis, allow it to be properly advertised through the process and then come back.

Mr. Major made a motion to appoint Neil Coleman temporarily as an acting member of the Westport/Weston Health District subject to reconfirmation by the Board of Selectmen at a later date. Mr. Miller seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Oren Barack said he is a Weston High School student and is very interested in the Committee. He studied about this in his biology class and he realized that it is very important and he would like to contribute to the Town and be on the Committee.

Mr. Strasmore said that it was hard for Susan Pastor to come in to be interviewed by the Board of Selectmen since she does not live in Town. Mr. Bliss said if someone wanted to be a voting member on a committee they would have to be appointed by the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Major said that when this committee was set up there was no limit set as to the number of members. There are currently five members on the committee and it will end up being a nine member committee. Mr. Bliss said with each committee we want to have a mission statement and a specific number of members on the committee. He would have Mr. Strasmore work with the other members to get them to appear before the Selectmen.

Mr. Major made a motion to add to the agenda discussion/decision regarding an appropriation of up to $500 for the Select Committee on Global Warming. Mr. Miller seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Major made a motion to appropriate up to the sum of $500 for the Select Committee on Global Warming in accordance with the memorandum from Martin Strasmore dated 1/18/2007. Mr. Miller seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Discussion/decision regarding the appointment of Susan Seath to fill the vacancy (Laurie Morris) on the Board of Assessment Appeals for a term to expire November 13, 2007. Susan Seath said she has been a Weston resident for ten years and she has two kids in the Weston school system. She feels strongly about community involvement and is currently on the board of the United Way Westport/Weston and on the Board of Elderhouse in Norwalk. She said she would like to give back to Weston and this would be a good position for her since she has some background in real estate. She was property manager for three years in Stamford and she has been working with Laurie Morris for two years at Coldwell Banker. Mr. Miller made a motion to appoint Susan Seath to fill the vacancy (Laurie Morris) on the Board of Assessment Appeals for a term to expire November 13, 2007. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Discussion/decision regarding retaining the services of Barbara Lawless to paint a Mural of the Town of Weston.- Cynthia Williams . Cynthia Williams said that Barbara Lawless who is a Muralist who lives in Westport approached the Beautification Committee a couple of years ago and said she would like to do a mural for the Town of Weston. There were a lot of other things going on at the time and it was not a good time to do the project.

This year they talked again and she said she had some backers who would be willing to donate the rest of the money. The price of the mural will be $6,000. She will donate $2,500 and the $3,500 will be donated by the Friends of the Weston Town Mural. This will include sales of the sketches of the buildings. There will be painted sketches12 to 13 buildings will probably sell for $100.

The Mural will be about 4’ by 9’ and will be painted on canvas in acrylic paint fall colors. It will be on canvas so that it can be moved to other locations. The specific sites would be the three churches, four schools, Town Hall, Library, Onion Barn, Shopping Center, Jarvis and the Historical Society. They would be done contemporary at this period of time. The background would be a fantasy landscape. It could also include the parade, fair, farmers market, ambulance, fire truck, school bus, police car and sports.

After some discussion it was decided that it was really a gift to the Town. Mr. Major made a motion to accept the gift of the Mural of the Town of Weston as painted by Barbara Lawless in accordance with the proposal submitted this evening from the Beautification Committee. Mr. Miller seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Marsha Darmory, Director of the Children’s Connection said the Children’s Connection works with physically abused and neglected children. It covers the Towns of Weston, Wilton, Westport, New Canaan and Norwalk. Detective Carl Filsinger is one of their team members who works on the interviewing process with the child. Matt Brodacki is also working with the program.

not-for-profit organizations that help supply volunteers. She said many of the organization cannot afford to hire so it is very important that they have volunteers. They do not turn away any volunteers.

Mr. Bliss asked if they had statistic as to the numbers of folks that participate and the number from Weston. Marsha said on behalf of the Children’s Connection they have two or three kids annually that are directly coming from Detective Carl Filsinger. In total they cover anywhere from 30 to 40 abuse cases a year. The cases that they talk about in the other towns help Detective Filsinger to work with his issues here.

Their total budget is about $270,000. Mr. Miller asked if they were receiving funding from other Towns. They receive about $40,000 from Norwalk of which the Children’s Connection gets about $15,000. She gets funds from the New Canaan United Way for the Children’s Connection. Mr. Miller asked specifically about the other Towns. Marsha said she gets funds from private groups in the towns such as Kiwanis.

Mr. Major said that the work that is being done is wonderful but he has an issue having a request made for what appears to be funds for general operating budget with no back up. He said it would be different if they had come in asking for something specific. He did not feel that it was appropriate for the Town to be allocating Town tax dollars to an entity.

Mr. Major said that there are all sorts of issues that we as a board need to address if we are going to continue to get these kinds of request. Mr. Miller said if they had gone to an organization like Kiwanis but it is very difficult for a Town to spend tax payer’s dollars.

Mr. Major said he thought that they need to refocus the request for a particular purpose. He would encourage that they dialogue it through the First Selectman. Mr. Bliss said that they should also bring in a financial statement.

Final School Bond Issue - Rick Darling said that they were anticipating that it would go out for the final piece this spring. The 3 million dollar note was rolled over and they anticipate rolling it one more time for a brief amount of time pending the results of the Town Meeting coming up on the decision of the final piece of the Middle School Auditorium.

The 3 million dollars was the gap to make up for the shortfall in State reimbursements. They will roll the 3 million into the estimated 2.5 million for the final piece whether that is the Middle School Auditorium or the High School Roof depends on what happens at Town Meeting. He expects that to be finished in May or so.

Mr. Major asked if we had a game plan for the Middle School fund reallocation. Mr. Bliss said that there is a game plan moving through the system. The money needed is about 4.5 million, 2.9 million for the roof on the High School and 1.6 million for the Auditorium. The sources of funds are first the Middle School Auditorium which is about 2.9 million plus there is $250,000 in the Capital Budget 2006-07 so that leaves 1.13 million. He said there has been some discussion with Weston Arts about doing some fund raising which might raise a potential $300,000. That leaves about 1 million which would come out of the unrestricted fund balance. This is a separate Town Meeting not related to the budget. Mr. Bliss said the Building Committee has a time line that they are working on in order to get the critical work done in the summer. They have to get an earlier schedule than the April 4^th meeting. Mr. Bliss said the time line was okay on that.

Mr. Darling said the anticipated award is expected around March 1^st. Mr. Major said if the award goes out March 1^st that means that we would have had to have the Town Meeting before March1st. Mr. Bliss said it should be ready for the next Selectman’s meeting the following week is the Board of Finance. Mr. Major asked when we would have a public hearing. He said that even if it had all the steps that were necessary but we have heard loud and clear that the Town wants to have a public hearing before we have a Town Meeting. He said he wants to be sure that we are allocating sufficient time. Mr. Major said he felt that that was an unrealistic time frame.

Mr. Major said the 2.9 million which is the dollars left from the auditorium plus the 3 million that we have been rolling over. Mr. Darling said on the 2.9 million will be State reimbursements so they are estimating 2.5 million so a total of 5.5 million. Mr. Major said the 5.5 million is all part of the original 80 million. Mr. Bliss said the new dollars will be the 1 million form the fund balance.

Heady House Repairs- Mr. Bliss said that he thought those were done. Mr. Major asked for a fund balance on the Heady House. Mr. Major asked if there was money left and we have completed all the work we have to do at this time how does that get reallocated. It gets sweep back into the general fund.

Occupancy of Kinderland- Is approximately six weeks away. Mr. Major asked where the cost for tweaking the building was coming from. Mr. Darling said that we had a supplemental appropriation approved by Board of Finance in the neighborhood of $20,000 to $25,000.

Ordinance Regarding Stonewalls- Mr. Bliss said that he believes that that was taken care of by Planning and Zoning and they have put that into the regulations. He said you now need a building permit to construct a stonewall.

Discussion/approval of the Board of Selectmen’s minutes for the December 7, 2006, January 4, 2007 and January 9, 2007. Mr. Bliss said that the December 7^th and January 9^th minutes be tabled to the next meeting. Mr. Major made a motion to approve the Special Board of Selectmen meeting minutes of January 9^th 2007 as submitted. Mr. Miller second and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Bliss said correct “jointed” to “joined”.