Present: First Selectman Woody Bliss; Selectman W. Glenn Major; Selectman Richard Miller; Town Administrator Tom Landry; Administrative Assistant Judy DeVito, Residents and member of the press.

 

 

Mr. Bliss called the meeting to order at 7:33pm

 

Pledge of Allegiance- Richard Miller lead the meeting with the pledge of allegiance.

 

Discussion/decision regarding adding and connecting an additional residence to the Ravenwood Town Water System. Mr. Major recused himself since he represented the Goodrich’s when they purchased the property.

 

Mr. Bliss said it has been 30 years since anyone has signed on to use this utility so our process might be more cumbersome. The Town Attorney has drawn an agreement and Mr. Bliss would like the Board of Selectmen to approve this pending receipt of the agreement from The Goodrich’s. This will be the model as to how they might add others to the long term agreement. Mr. Miller suggested to Mr. Goodrich that he have an attorney look at the agreement.

 

Mr. Bliss made a motion that they accept this agreement and further that we authorize the First Selectman to negotiate any modifications to the agreement that Goodrich family may want to make after they have had a chance to review it with their attorney and further that they will bring us a signed agreement that he will be able to sign. Mr. Miller seconded and the motion was Mr. Bliss, Mr. Miller yes, Mr. Major recused.

 

Accept the resignation of Ira Kasindorf from the Commission on Aging effective immediately. Mr. Miller made a motion to accept the resignation of Ira Kasindorf from the Commission on Aging effective immediately. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Discussion/decision regarding the appointment of Rabbi Levi Y Stone as a Chaplain to the Police Department for a term to expire June 30, 2009. Rabbi Stone said he has extensive outreach and chaplain experience throughout the world. He has visited a lot of Police Departments, has been chaplain to hospitals and jails. He feels it an honor to serve the Town of Weston.

 

Police Chief Troxell said that Rabbi Stone had approached him and was very interested in becoming a chaplain of the Police Department and he endorses him 100%. Mr. Miller made a motion to appoint Rabbi Levi Y. Stone as a Chaplain to the Police Department for a term to expire June 30, 2009. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Major wanted everyone to know that the Annual Town Budget meeting was going to be April 21^st this year which is immediately following the school vacation. Mr. Bliss said that he had gotten a request from the chairman of the Board of Education about the schedule and we did accommodate that.   

 

Mr. Major made a motion to adopt the budget review schedule for 2008-2009 fiscal year as submitted. Mr. Miller seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Discussion/decision regarding FAA redesign plan. Mr. Bliss said that the Board of Selectmen had approved unanimously joining the 10 other towns in appealing the redesign ruling. Subsequently the Board of Finance voted one in favor, four opposed and one abstained with regard to the request for $58,000 to fund that effort.

 

Today Governor Rell was in New Canaan along with Attorney General Blumenthal at a press conference. The Mayors and First Selectmen of the eleven towns were present and the state is backing the effort and is also going to file. In the last few days, there have been a flock of appeals coming in because the dead line is the fifth of November. The Attorney General said that he felt strongly that multiply separate efforts would be much more effective than joining all into a single suit.  

 

Mr. Bliss said he is planning to go back to the Board of Finance on the November 8^th with some neighboring elected officials who have been working on this and can answer some of the questions that were raised at the Board of Finance meeting. Mr. Bliss said that he believes all the approvals from the other Towns will be in by the 9^th of November. Both Danbury and Brookfield look like they are going to join the effort and there are about nine other Towns that are discussing it up north.

 

Mr. Major made a motion to authorize the First Selectman to enter the Town of Weston as party plaintiff in the law suit regarding the FAA redesign plan with the understanding there is no financial responsibility associated with that at this time. Mr. Miller seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Miller said he lived in the paths of airplanes going into Kennedy. It is very uncomfortable and you never get used to it. He said that it has a significant impact on the value of your home. If your home is up for sale and someone is looking at it when the airplane is over head the potential purchaser is going to run. He said fight and fight as hard as you can because once they make the change, they will not change back to the former flight paths.    

 

Mr. Miller made a motion to approve the minutes of August 16, 2007. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Miller made a motion to approve the minutes of September 20, 2007. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

The executive session minutes of September 6^th 2007 was postponed to the next Selectmen’s meeting.

 

Mr. Major made a motion to add the discussion regarding Lachat to the agenda. Mr. Miller seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Mark Harper asked if Steve Patton had made any effort to get back to Mr. Major. Mr. Major said he had not heard back from him. Mr. Patton told Mr. Major that it would take approximately a month to six weeks to get a response back. He said we are now just coming to the end of that time.

 

Mr. Harper said the whole fall has gone by and the fields have not been properly mowed. No one has been able to use the property and enjoy the best time of the year. He said this needs to be discussed. He asked that the Selectmen sent a letter to Mr. Patton and the Nature Conservancy asking them to respond to the request to find out exactly what there intentions are.

 

Mr. Major said he would write a letter to Mr. Patton.

 

Mr. Bliss added to the agenda recognition of Mr. Miller’s service to the Town of Weston. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Miller thanked the Town of Weston for giving him the opportunity and privilege to serve. He said he has had a wonderful relationship with other members of the Board; they have always treated me with respect even though they may have disagreed at times. He thanked all the people he worked with at Town Hall, the Board of Education and all the people who supported him and especially his wife. He had a great ride and loved being a member of the Board.

 

Mr. Bliss made a motion to thank Mr. Miller for his six years of service on the Board of Selectmen and more than that his 24 years of service to the Town on various boards and commissions. We all thank you for dedicating so many hours to the Town of Weston. Your love of this Town is well recognized. Mr. Major seconded and the vote was unanimous by all.

 

 

Adjournment- At 8:00pm Mr. Miller made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted

Judy M. DeVito

Administrative Assistant.

Approved 11/15/07