Board of Selectmen's Minutes

Board of Selectmen's Minutes - March 20, 2008

1 Board of Selectmen’s Meeting

March 20, 2008

Present: Selectman W. Glenn Major; Selectwoman Gayle Weinstein; Town Administrator Tom Landry; Administrative Assistant Judy DeVito, residents and member of the press.

This meeting was recorded and video taped and the tapes are available in the Selectmen’s office and the Building Department, respectively, for further reference.

Mr. Major called the meeting to order at 7:35pm

Mr. Bliss joined the meeting by telephone.

Pledge of Allegiance - Chief Troxell lead the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance

Discussion/decision regarding the appointment of Deirdre Doran to the Global Warming Committee for a term to expire June 30, 2008- Deirdre Doran said she was a lover of nature. She attended Berkeley and is a teacher. She feels she can contribute by sharing information and research for the committee.

Ms. Weinstein made a motion to appoint Deirdre Doran to the Global Warming Committee for a term to expire June 30, 2008. Mr. Bliss seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Presentation to the Town of Weston of a CT. Clean Energy Communities Award from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund - Kassandra Strasmore said that she, Gayle Weinstein and Deirdre Doran attended a luncheon where the Town of Weston was awarded the Clean Energy Award because we are the 48^{th Town in Connecticut who choose to have clean electrical energy. We currently have 111 families signed up and we are going for our second 200 families. They were on News12 yesterday. The Selectmen thanked them and the entire committee for all that they have done.}

Discussion/decision regarding the acceptance of a gift of $8,950 from the Gun Club to the Weston Police Department. Chief John Troxell said the Gun Club had donated money to the Weston Police Department approximately two years ago to purchase a forensic computer. Chief Troxell said he was approached by members of the Gun Club foundation and they said they were interested in donating money to the police department.

He had expressed to them his priority to have a mile of safety up at the schools. Part of that is traffic and the other part is they have been training as a quick response to an active shooter situation at the schools. They do not have enough rifles to outfit all 15 officers based on the fact that they have a number of left handed officers and the rifles they have are designed for a right handed shooter. The rifles are equipped with iron sights which have to be adjusted to the individual.

His feeling is every officer should be equipped with their own rifle. They were also given some flack jackets by the military. They were down two jackets and some of the donation will go towards the flack jackets. The total of everything was $8,950 which is a cash donation and the department will purchase the items.

Mr. Major said as the selectmen they accept the gift then it is the responsibility of the chief and the police commission to decide the appropriate way to spend it. Ms. Weinstein wanted to be sure there would be no additional cost to the Town. Chief Troxell said no.

Mr. Bliss made a motion to accept the gift. Ms Weinstein seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Discussion of points for the Building Committee to review with the Selectmen. Ms. Weinstein had asked that the Building Committee come before the Selectmen and give them updates on the projects that they are working on. She said she gets questions about things that happen at their meetings and she has no idea. The Building Committee will be invited to the April 3rd Board of Selectmen meeting.

The Selectmen would like updates on Revson field, High School Auditorium, Middle School Wetlands, Town Hall Roof, what are the consultants being interviewed for and their take on the Kaestle Boos report. Ms. Weinstein said she would like to start seeing them start to prioritize projects as soon as possible especially since it is in the budget. Mr. Major said that they were not limiting it to just those items.

Any other business to properly come before the meeting-

Ms. Weinstein made a motion to discuss the issues surrounding Revson field. Mr. Major seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Ms. Weinstein said she wanted to thank Don Gary for responding so quickly and getting in touch with Athletic Field Services who she believes will make good on their promises to rectify the situation. She said as a Town we are looking to move this forward as quickly as possible so that the kids can play baseball again.

Mr. Major said that Town attorney has been notified and is actively involved and has already been in touch with them in a formal fashion.

At 8:05pm Ms. Weinstein made a motion to enter into executive session. Mr. Bliss seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Executive session- Negotiations update (Tom Landry), litigation update (David Monastersky, from Howd & Ludorf).

Attendance and Discussion: The meeting was convened at 8:07 pm in the First Selectmen’s Office by Mr. Major, with Ms. Weinstein present. Also present was Town Administrator Landry. Mr. Bliss participated in the meeting by telephone

The first item of discussion in the executive session was to receive an update on the status of the Mindell wrongful termination lawsuit. Attorney Davis Montastersky of Howd & Ludorf provided an update on the status of the claim. Mr. Montastersky left the meeting at 9:11 pm.

The second item consisted of a review of contract negotiations between the Town and the new AFSCME administrative unit. This was provided by Mr. Landry.

After discussion of both items, the Board voted unanimously (Mr. Major, motion; Ms. Weinstein second) to end executive session at 9:37pm and reconvene in open session.

ADJOURN: At 9:38 pm, a motion (Mr. Major, Ms. Weinstein second) to adjourn the meeting passed by unanimous vote.

Respectfully submitted

Judy M. DeVito

Administrative Assistant

Approved 5/08/08