ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2008
The Regular Meeting of the Enfield Town Council was called to order by Chairman Kaupin in the Council Chambers of the Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Monday, March 17, 2008. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
PRAYER – The Prayer was given by Councilman Mangini.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
ROLL-CALL – Present were Councilmen Bosco Dumont, Edgar, Kaupin, Kiner, Lee, Mangini and Nelson. Councilmen Crowley, Jones and Ragno were absent. Councilman Mangini left at 9:25 p.m. Also present were Town Manager, Matthew Coppler; Assistant Town Manager, Daniel Vindigni; Town Clerk, Suzanne Olechnicki; Town Attorney, Kevin Deneen; Director of Social Services, Pam Brown; Director of Public Works, Pia Hawkes; Director of Finance, Lynn Nenni; Director of Libraries, Henry Dutcher; Republican Registrar of Voters, David Wawer; Youth Services Director, Jean Haughey; Steven Sadlowski, Assistant Director of Planning
Chairman Kaupin made the fire evacuation announcement.
MOTION #9715 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Mangini to accept the minutes of the March 3, 2008 Special Meeting.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #9715 adopted 7-0-1, with Councilman Edgar abstaining.
MOTION #9716 by Councilman Dumont, seconded by Councilman Nelson to accept the minutes of the March 3, 2008 Regular Meeting.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #9716 adopted 7-0-1, with Councilman Edgar abstaining.
Report by youth who attended the National League of Cities Conference in Washington, D.C.
Present for this presentation were Jean Haughey, Director of Youth Services and the following representatives from the Enfield Youth Council:
Desiree Bradley, 59 Green Valley Drive
Michelle Polek, 172 North Maple Street
Patti Gross, 378 Elm Street
Tyesha Henry, 1 Martin Street
The Youth Council provided the following highlights about their recent trip to Washington, D.C. to attend the National League of Cities:
Chairman Kaupin stated he was very impressed with this youth delegation and he feels they represented Enfield very well. He stated the attendance of this group at all the different events was phenomenal.
Present to speak about an underage drinking initiative was Rosalyn Swift of 14 Gary Road.
Ms. Swift stated the Enfield Coalition consists of a group of people that came together to assess the extent of substance abuse in Enfield with the goal of reducing this problem. She noted the Coalition is very well represented and very diverse. She went on to note that Enfield is fortunate to be one of 29 communities to receive a competitive three-year grant which will go toward reducing underage drinking. She stated the coalition is excited about this plan and they invite the Council to join them as they kick off this important town-wide effort. Ms Polek added there will be an information meeting concerning this topic at the Hazardville Fire Station on Thursday, April 3rd from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. She noted everyone attending will be served a meal.
Also present was Timothy Neville, Principal of JFK Middle School and Ms. Haughey.
Mr. Neville stated a $125,000 grant was awarded to Enfield, and they have 18 months within which to come together to study youth at risk of entering the juvenile and/or mental health system. He explained if Enfield does a good job, there’s the possibility this could result in five more years of funding. He noted they are seeing more and more elementary children and families dealing with mental health issues. It’s believed the cost will be lower if they can address problems early on.
Councilman Nelson questioned whether any matching funds are required with this grant, and Mr. Neville responded no and added there are no demands at all, except their time.
Jack Sheridan, 7 Buchanan Road
Referred to the EMS article in this evening’s newspaper and noted it took a long time to get to this point, but he’s glad to see it has happened.
Mr. Sheridan commended the solid waste employees for picking up yard waste.
He stated the conveyance tax was supposed to sunset years ago. He noted the price of Connecticut homes have taken a big drop, and he hopes Hartford has something to say about this.
Mr. Sheridan referred to cost savings to towns involved in recycling. He stated his belief it’s great that Enfield is doing this.
He stated he attended last Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, and there was discussion about the millions of dollars needed to upgrade IT and where the money will come from. He noted that no matter where the money comes from, it’s still taxpayers’ money. He stated his belief there are reasonable, slower approaches to accomplish things. He stated he does not see the need right now to spend that kind of money.
Louis Reale, 305 Broadbrook Road
Stated he was shocked to learn two Enfield police officers were stranded without funds while on business in Atlanta. He added his belief someone should be reprimanded for this.
Mr. Reale reflected on his many years of employment with Public Works and how well things ran under Stan Jablonski. He added his belief things aren’t run as efficiently as they were years ago. He stated his belief the new Public Works Director needs help to clean things up.
He stated his hope the Town Council can help taxpayers because people can’t afford any more increases in taxes.
Reg Leonard, 42 Fairfield Road
Stated he attended the recent flood and erosion information meeting a couple weeks ago and he commends Town staff for a fine presentation. He acknowledged that a $5 million dollar bonding for this work seems like a lot of money, however, over ten years it’s not a lot of money. He noted over ten years, this would amount to between $25 to $34 dollars on a typical household. He stated the Council should be sure the public is aware of the minimal cost to fix these problems. He emphasized these are serious problems.
Mr. Leonard voiced concern about seeing an initiative by the Town to change regulations of the Planning & Zoning Commission. He explained this had to do with repealing Section 9.10.7, which has to do with site plan approvals for any development, construction, etc. He feels this gives too much power to the Planning Director concerning areas such as landscaping, lighting, parking, drainage, grading, erosion, sedimentation control, etc. He stated the Planning Department also has an Inland/Wetlands Commission and a Planning & Zoning Commission, and they both have liaisons from the Town. He noted there is nothing being said about any inland/wetlands part of this. He went on to state this appears they’re trying to take away some power of the Planning & Zoning Commission. He stated there are ten people on the Planning & Zoning Commission with seven voting members, and those people have insight to all the development going on in Town. He added they are experienced, they have maps, they have site plan reviews, and it’s better for this Commission to be involved in the approvals of site plans, not one individual in the Town. He feels this action would not be in the best interest of the Town or its citizens. He stated open government should be maintained and controlled in this area by the Commission.
Mr. Leonard stated Charles Duren, Chairman of Planning & Zoning says, …”I don’t know what we’re trying to fix. Certainly if it’s not broken, let’s not try to fix it.”
Pam Leitao, 76 Steele Road
Stated her hope the Town Council will work with the Board of Education to purchase the necessary equipment so that the high schools can use the fields for other events.
Ms. Leitao informed the Council there will be a Safe Graduation fund raiser on Tuesday, March 25th at the Friendly’s Restaurant on Elm Street from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. She noted 10% of the proceeds will go toward the Safe Graduation.
Tom Walsh, 6 Rosanne Street
Voiced his support of the tipper barrel program. He noted he does not believe in giving away free tipper barrels. He feels if a person can afford a home in Enfield, they can afford a tipper barrel.
Mr. Walsh referred to the green tipper barrel which can be used for recyclables and noted if everyone used these, the Town probably would only need to pick them up once per month. He stated the Town’s tipper barrels are fairly priced because Home Depot is charging $98 for a comparable barrel.
Margaret Jedziniak, 232 Abbe Road
Stated she has heard from many people who are very pleased an audit is taking place in Enfield because it’s believed every entity in Town should have checks and balances. She pointed out the audit group is non-partisan. She went on to note that while watching the Board of Education meetings, it appears there’s still dissension from the minority party.
Ms. Jedziniak stated if all items are inventoried and all invoices checked in the school system, it’s possible they’ll find some money that can benefit the students.
She stated her belief the new bottle bill is only another tax on the state. She noted the public will do all the work and the State will get the money.
Referring to the trend of reverse mortgages, Ms. Jedziniak stated her belief it’s terrible that people work all their lives and then have to move because they can’t afford to stay in their homes. She urged the Town Council to consider such people and stop the spending.
Mrs. Collins, the Hazardville Section
Questioned the status of Gordon Lane.
As concerns young children having problems, Mrs. Collins stated her belief discipline belongs at home.
Noted he spoke with Kevin Donahue at the Town Garage and learned the smaller tipper barrel is narrower and higher. He stated his belief the wider containers are more stable.
Stated she read the amended ordinance and learned people are not suppose to put out their barrels before two hours before sundown. She noted she puts out her barrel when she’s ready.
Referring to his comment a few weeks ago about his daughter’s mailbox being destroyed by a snowplow, Mr. Leonard expressed his and his daughter’s appreciation for the replacement of that mailbox.
Stated he visited the Alden/Bigelow Avenue area for the first time in a long time and was upset about the blight in this area. He questioned what action the Council can take against these landlords. He noted while in that area he observed the Enfield Food Shelf. He stated he saw people smoking cigarettes while waiting in line. He questioned how they can afford cigarettes, but not food. He also observed a pick-up truck passing out beer to the people in line.
Mr. Reale stated when he lost his job with the Town, he questioned whether he could apply for the Road 2000 Coordinator position. He noted he was told that was a temporary job, however, he notices that temporary job is still active. He stated he learned the person holding that position is a retired person with a pension. He questioned why that person is still there and does he have a full slate every day.
Councilman Dumont congratulated the Enfield Police Department on their reaccreditation award. She noted this is quite an accomplishment and she is proud of the Police Department.
Councilman Dumont expressed her appreciation for the yard waste program which has begun.
Councilman Mangini stated she has been approached by a couple residents concerning door-to-door solicitation. She questioned whether these people are licensed. She requested the Town Manager look into this. She added she feels this is a safety issue, particularly for the elderly and children.
Councilman Edgar stated he would like more details concerning the issue of Enfield police officers being stranded in Atlanta.
Councilman Edgar stated he heard something about the Town not being timely when paying bills.
Councilman Edgar agreed with Mr. Leonard’s comments about one person having too much control.
Councilman Edgar stated he noticed Human Resources is advertising for an Assistant Director of Public Works. He stated his belief they weren’t going to fill that job, and he is opposed to that position being filled.
As concerns the length of time it took EMS to get to this point, Councilman Nelson stated his impression it’s been pretty quick since this Council has been seated only four months.
Councilman Nelson stated he’s happy to see the Town begin yard waste collection.
Councilman Nelson referred to Ms. Leitao’s comment about the safe graduation fundraiser at Friendly’s and suggested perhaps this could be advertised on cable television.
Councilman Nelson agreed with Mr. Walsh about the green tipper barrel. He stated his understanding they’re trying to go to single-stream recycling, and when that happens, people will be able to place cardboard, paper, and everything else in that barrel. He noted hopefully people will be able to fill up those barrels in a week or two. He agreed Enfield residents are paying a fair price for the tipper barrels.
As concerns the attempt to set up a meeting with Senators Dodd and Lieberman, Councilman Nelson requested the Council be kept updated about any progress in that area. He feels the Town of Enfield deserves the courtesy of a meeting with these people. He suggested sending a letter from the Council requesting a meeting with both Senators, and the Senators can set the time and the date. He noted he would like to be informed at every Council meeting as to whether the Town has heard from the Senators. He went on to note Congressman Courtney went above and beyond in Washington, D.C., and he seems very interested about issues in Enfield.
As concerns trash being placed at the curb two hours before sunset, Councilman Nelson stated the Town is aiming this at those people who leave their barrels out all week.
MOTION #9717 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Lee to move to Miscellaneous Items 14 D., E., F., G., H., I., J. and K.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #9717 adopted 8-0-0.
Chairman Kaupin stated he, Councilmen Lee and Dumont went to Hartford to witness Fermi’s Buzz Robotics Team #175 Alliance win the 2008 regional competition. He noted this was a great event. He stated thousands of people were in attendance. He congratulated the Fermi team.
Chairman Kaupin informed the Council the Town of Windsor will be celebrating their 375 anniversary on September 27th. He noted Enfield used to be part of Windsor, and Enfield is being invited to participate in a parade on that date.
Chairman Kaupin stated the Thompsonville Fire Department is having a badge presentation for Frank Alaimo and Paul Nabors tomorrow evening.
Chairman Kaupin stated Congressman Courtney will be holding a Town Hall Meeting at Asnuntuck Community College on March 19th.
Chairman Kaupin stated the expanded protocols for EMS went into effect at 12:00 noon today. He noted when the Town calls for mutual aid, the monies will stay in Enfield.
Chairman Kaupin stated if the conveyance tax sunsets, the only other option is property tax. He pointed out the State of Connecticut has a lot more work to do to allow communities to generate revenue other than the property tax.
Chairman Kaupin requested the Town Manager update everyone regarding the issue about the police in Atlanta.
Chairman Kaupin stated his belief they should totally eliminate the bottle bill because he believes in recycling. He noted if people recycle, there’s no need for a bottle bill.
Chairman Kaupin stated in order to raise monies for bigger competitions, the Buzz Robotic Team #175 is having a fundraiser pasta supper at Mt. Carmel on March 28th from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Riverfront Protection
Steven Sadlowski, Assistant Planner, reviewed changes being proposed on riverfront protection. He noted the proposed Bill #362 could have some impact on expansion in Thompsonville in the area of Bigelow and the train station.
He explained this would add another regulated area, which would be the riverfront area, which is basically 100 feet from the edge of the water. He noted these new regulations would be administered by the Inland/Wetlands agency. He explained activities in this area would only be approved if there would be no harm to the river.
Mr. Sadlowski explained the goal is to protect buffers, i.e., vegetated areas on the side of waterways which protect the water that’s going through that area and entering the watercourse. He noted the vegetation helps filter out pollutants and provides shade for the water, keeping it cooler as well as the branches and leaves providing fish a place to hide.
Mr. Sadlowski stated there are exemptions to these regulations, i.e., they exempt State transportation facilities, utility lines and there’s a re-use exemption, which basically exempts out any activities in riverfront areas containing existing structures, including but not limited to abandoned mills, industrial/commercial structures and associated parking and street facilities. He noted he’s unsure if that will be applicable in this case for the new train station because some of that land had an old power plant associated with Bigelow.
Chairman Kaupin questioned whether the Council should draft a letter in opposition to this type of legislation. Mr. Sadlowski stated the bill would be a good thing, therefore, they don’t recommend sending a blanket opposition letter, however, they could send a letter regarding Enfield’s concerns about the re-use issue. Chairman Kaupin questioned whether Mr. Sadlowski would be agreeable about drafting such a letter and share it with the Inland/Wetlands and Conservation Commissions, as well as the Town Council. Mr. Sadlowski indicated he could do that. It was the consensus of the Council that Mr. Sadlowski could proceed with such a letter.
Director of Public Works, Pia Hawkes, provided an update on Roads 2005. He noted the roads which will be constructed this year are as follows:
Pearl Street – to be designed by The McGuire Group with construction in the spring.
Charles Street
Westford Avenue – need four property easements in order to construct that roadway
(to be constructed by Hinkley Construction)
Barrett and Boyle Roads – construction by General Paving
Scitico, Leary and Bailey Roads
Buchanan Road – constructed by King Construction
Monroe Road
Long Hollow Road – meeting with residents last week. Residents want a 17 foot wide road
Mr. Coppler pointed out there isn’t a lot of right-a-way on Long Hollow Road and easements would be required. He noted going from the 20-foot width to the 17-foot width reduces the amount of right-a-way required. He stated the residents in attendance at last week’s meeting were very understanding and hopefully they’ll be able to work with the residents to get this project done this year.
Mr. Hawkes stated for the 2009 construction season they’ll address Section 2C, which is Raffia Road and Section 4B will address Weymouth Road, Bess Road and Judy Drive.
Councilman Edgar questioned whether the Pearl Street section covers High Street to Franklin Street. Mr. Hawkes noted he would get back with an answer on this.
Referring to Westford Avenue, Councilman Edgar questioned whether they will correct the drainage issue in that area, and Mr. Coppler stated engineering has been working on this, and it’s scheduled to be worked on this year. Councilman Edgar stated he doesn’t see any sense in doing the work unless the drainage is corrected on the other streets. Mr. Hawkes stated the drainage issues will be addressed.
Councilman Edgar stated they will need to address the downtown roads if Thompsonville is to be revitalized.
Councilman Kiner questioned the status on the proposal to close off Scitico Road. Mr. Coppler stated the last proposal was a one-way into Scitico Road, and they still have to run this proposal by some of the businesses to see if there are any issues. Councilman Kiner questioned if that should be finalized before paving. Mr. Coppler agreed it would make sense to do that project all at one time.
Chairman Kaupin agreed with Councilman Kiner regarding Scitico Road. He noted if they get held up on resolving the Scitico Road issue, they can begin Bailey Road construction since it’s further away.
Chairman Kaupin referred to Long Hollow Road and questioned if they agreed to the 17-foot width, and Mr. Hawkes stated the majority of the people at the public meeting wanted the 17-foot width road. Chairman Kaupin questioned if this width allows for less easements being required, and Mr. Hawkes responded yes.
Councilman Nelson questioned whether they’ve done any testing on Hudson Road to see if it meets any needs for replacement. Mr. Coppler stated they will look into this.
Councilman Lee raised the same question for Burns Avenue, and Mr. Coppler stated Burns Avenue will be a project through the Water Pollution Control fund for the upcoming year, and that project will have to be done before they can do any paving on that road. He went on to note there’s also a request about looking at North and South River Streets. He stated his belief those roads are on the Roads 2005 list, but because of the cost of everything associated with these projects, it’s possible they wouldn’t be able to get through the whole list. He noted there are some roads toward the end of the schedule that may not be able to get done as part of Roads 2005. He stated by the end of this year, it’s hoped they will know what can be done.
Chairman Kaupin requested that the Town Council be provided with a listing of projects so that they can refer to it when they get phone calls from residents.
Chairman Kaupin requested Public Works share with the Town Council a plan to address problem areas throughout the Town, i.e., potholes. Mr. Hawkes stated engineering is putting a schedule together at this time. Chairman Kaupin stated it might be helpful to place this information on the Town’s website.
Enfield High School Fields
Mr. Hawkes stated last Thursday, they started some caisson work, which are four feet in diameter and they go down 15 feet. He noted there’s a lot of bedrock in this area. He went on to note they are also putting erosion sediment controls in this area. Next week they plan on tilling up and screening the soils, and the week of March 31st, they will start installing drainage catch basins and pipe runs. During the week of April 14th, they plan to install foundations for the bleachers, and the week of April 21st, they plan on constructing bleachers.
Councilman Edgar commended Mr. McAlmond for an excellent job on this Committee.
Chairman Kaupin questioned the status of the cover for Fermi fields, funding for that, and is there a need to go to bond counsel, and what has staff been working on over the last few weeks.
Mr. Coppler stated Public Works has been working on the concept of what’s necessary to be able to utilize Fermi fields for graduation. He stated his belief they were looking at $30,000 for a liner. He noted the Fields Committee has requested Town staff get a response from the bond counsel as to whether the referendum funds could be used to purchase that cover. He stated they are currently making that inquiry of the bond counsel. He noted bond counsel has ruled in the past that anything that protects the investment is an appropriate use of funds.
Chairman Kaupin questioned the concept for a cover, and Mr. Hawkes stated Mr. McAlmond is working on this, and he believes it’s a very thick, plastic membrane. Councilman Edgar stated the idea of plywood came up at the Fields Committee meeting. He noted the question is whether a cover would disturb the warranty on the fields.
Councilman Kiner questioned the cost of going to bond counsel, and Mr. Coppler responded it depends on the work involved. He added that amount could be in the range of $500 to $700. He added if it’s a complex issue, it could cost more.
Councilman Lee questioned whether they’re forecasting a surplus after the project, and Mr. Coppler stated it’s their hope to bring this project under the estimated cost.
Councilman Lee questioned if the cover cost for the field is per field, and Mr. Coppler stated if they don’t have graduations on the same day, they wouldn’t have to purchase two cover systems.
Councilman Lee stated he would like to know whether the covering being considered will be supported by the manufacturer of that field.
Councilman Edgar stated his belief a little over $200,000 remains from the Fermi project.
Councilman Kiner questioned how many years the plywood would last. Mr. Hawkes stated he does not have the answer for that since Mr. McAlmond was working on this product.
Councilman Nelson stated the Board of Education is telling him it’s more expensive to graduate on the fields than at Cathedral. He noted he finds this hard to believe. He questioned why they can’t use the practice fields. He stated his belief the decision should be with the students, not the Board of Education.
Councilman Kiner questioned if the Council can get a report from the Board of Education as to why it would cost more money to have the graduation on the fields. Mr. Coppler stated he has heard a discussion about this, and the thought is that if it rains, they’d require paying overtime to set up for inside graduation. He added he will get that information for Councilman Kiner.
Councilman Nelson noted when he spoke with the Chairman of the Board of Education, the actual covering didn’t have anything to do with it, but rather he got into overtime for setting up the fields, the police overtime for traffic, etc. He noted he was told Cathedral handles all of that. He agreed with Councilman Kiner in that he would like the actual costs of what it does cost to graduate in Enfield.
Chairman Kaupin stated he wanted the Council to have this conversation, however, it’s ultimately up to the Board of Education to make this decision. He noted last year the graduation was held indoors at Cathedral during heavy rains. He went on to note it’s incumbent on the Council to get together on costs and timelines so that the Board can make a decision. He noted the parents and students need to lobby the Board one way or the other. He stated the decision that needs to be made should be in the best interest of the students and the school, and it might not necessarily have to be the least costly initiative. He pointed out students have been in these schools for 12 years.
Mr. Hawkes stated they’re trying to make a uniform channel by putting down riprap. He noted the permit is being held up by DEP. He noted it’s hoped the work can be done between June and September.
Councilman Edgar thanked Mr. Hawkes for getting this done. He went on to state he didn’t think it was necessary to go to the Army Corps of Engineers. He questioned the status on easements.
Mr. Hawkes stated they need to acquire 24 easements. Mr. Coppler added those easements are actually for Section I. He noted all the easements for Sections II & III have been acquired. Councilman Edgar questioned if that means Sections II & III will be done this year, and Mr. Hawkes responded yes.
Mr. Coppler stated since the EMS protocols went into service, there were a number of calls that evoked the supplemental response. He stated his belief the fire chiefs, EMS and public safety staff feel this is a very fluid process, and they will keep a very close watch on this. He noted although it took a long time to get to this point, it is a system that everyone has looked at very closely to be sure they are delivering the service that residents expect. He expressed his appreciation to everyone who worked to get to this point.
Mr. Coppler reviewed the following figures concerning the number of tipper barrels sold:
July 1, 2007 through December, 2007 – 358 tipper barrels were sold
January 1, 2008 through today – 293 tipper barrels were sold
It’s expected over the next two months this figure will increase to a large degree.
Councilman Lee questioned the possibility of having tipper barrels available at the transfer station. Mr. Coppler stated they’re still working on the logistic of this. He noted he would like to see them offered in other locations as well, and they’ll try to work that out.
Mr. Coppler stated Social Services and Neighborhood Services is the mechanism for establishing and making sure the criteria are being followed for free tipper barrels. He noted this is somewhat out of the normal business this department does, however, they stepped forward in a big way to make this a really good process. He noted they’re also working closely with Public Works in this effort.
As concerns people soliciting door-to-door, Mr. Coppler stated his understanding that they are to register with the Police Department. He noted he will talk to the Deputy Chief about this tomorrow to be sure everything is in place to insure the safety issue.
As concerns the issues about the police officers in Atlanta, Mr. Coppler explained there are a number of issues associated with this. He noted they didn’t actually have all the required documentation necessary, however, staff got them the necessary authorization so that they could check in with the Town’s credit card. He stated unfortunately, the credit card was at its limit, but the Finance Department worked diligently to get that issue resolved. He noted the police officers had their personal credit cards and were able to check in. He stated there’s always something to learn, and there have been discussions to make sure this situation doesn’t occur in the future.
Referring to Councilman Edgar’s comments about the Town making timely payments, Mr. Coppler stated it’s his goal to be making payments every two weeks. He noted this will encourage good vendor relations. He stated there also has to be a little bit of education, and they have to reach out to division managers so that there’s an understanding of what’s expected of them and how the system should work.
Attorney Deneen stated his office held a training session for Planning & Zoning on March 6th, and that was well received. He noted they will be doing some FOI training for various boards and commissions.
Councilman Mangini stated the Prison/Town Liaison Committee met and the population is the same except for an increase of 42 at the Carl Robinson facility, and this is due to the Quad #3 opening up on March 3rd. She noted the Committee plans to review the goals and objectives document because of the increase in the population at the prisons.
Councilman Mangini stated she serves on the advisory council for the National League of Cities. She noted the mission of the advisory council for the next two years is to strengthen and promote the cities and towns as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. She stated that two plans will include addressing the turbulent economy, fiscal and intergovernmental systems, the lack of federal leadership and the collapse of the common good. She noted there is a disconnect between revenues and the economy. She noted they will be meeting in Boston in June to go over possible tax reform.
Councilman Lee stated the Development Service Committee will be meeting next Monday and will have an update for the Council at the following meeting.
Chairman Kaupin stated the General Government Committee will be meeting next week and they will have the proposals for the changes in tax delinquency resolutions, and they will put together a presentation to the full Council in April.
APPOINTMENTS (TOWN COUNCIL & TOWN MANAGER)
All appointments remained tabled.
Item C. remained tabled.
MOTION #9718 by Councilman Lee, seconded by Councilman Nelson to remove Item D. from the table.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #9718 adopted 8-0-0.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #9719 adopted 8-0-0.
Items E. through I. remained tabled.
MOTION #9720 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Lee to remove Items J. through O.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #9720 adopted 8-0-0.
NOMINATION #9721 by Councilman Nelson to appoint Stephen Moriarty to the Clean Energy Committee for a two-year term.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared Stephen Moriarty to the Clean Energy Committee by an 8-0-0 vote.
NOMINATION #9722 by Councilman Nelson to appoint Jonathan Grande to the Clean Energy Committee for a three-year term.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared Jonathan Grande appointed to the Clean Energy Committee by a 7-0-0. (Councilman Mangini left the meeting).
NOMINATION #9723 by Councilman Nelson to appoint Virginia Higley to the Clean Energy Committee for a three-year term.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared Virginia Higley appointed to the Clean Energy Committee by a 7-0-0 vote.
NOMINATION #9724 by Councilman Nelson to appoint Karen LaPlante to the Clean Energy Committee for a four-year term.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared Karen LaPlante appointed to the Clean Energy Committee by a 7-0-0 vote.
NOMINATION #9725 by Councilman Nelson to appoint Raymond Gwozdz to the Clean Energy Committee for a four-year term.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared Raymond Gwozdz appointed to the Clean Energy Committee by a 7-0-0 vote.
NOMINATION #9726 by Councilman Nelson to appoint Gerard LaFleur to the Clean Energy Committee for a four-year term.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared Gerard LaFleur to the Clean Energy Committee by a 7-0-0 vote.
MOTION #9727 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Dumont to approve the Consent Agenda.
A. Resolution: Request for Transfer of Funds for the Recycling Promotional Materials and Recycling Bins for Schools, $10,000.
B. Resolution: Request for Transfer of Funds for the CT Dept. of Public Safety, $601.24.
C. Resolution: Request for Transfer of Funds for the Click It or Ticket Campaign, $8256.56.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #9727 adopted 7-0-0. (Resolutions appended to minutes)
RESOLUTION #9728 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Lee.
RESOLVED, that in accordance with Chapter VI, Section 8(f) of the Town Charter, the following transfer is hereby made:
TO: 5100-734 Technology Equipment $3,300
FROM: 5100-334 Technological Services $2,300
5100-580 Travel $1,000
I hereby certify the amount of $3,300 is available from Account #5100-334 and 5100-580 as of March 11, 2008.
/s/ Lynn Nenni, Director of Finance
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #9728 adopted 7-0-0.
RESOLUTION #9729 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Lee.
RESOLVED, the Enfield Town Council will hold a Public Hearing in the Enfield Town Hall Council Chambers, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Monday, April 7th, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. to allow interested citizens an opportunity to express their opinions regarding the PROPOSED GIS DATA COST SCHEDULE AND ELECTRONIC SUBMITTAL ORDINANCE.
AMENDMENT #1 by Councilman Lee, seconded by Councilman Nelson to change the starting time for the Public Hearing to 6:55 p.m.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared AMENDMENT #1 adopted 7-0-0.
Chairman Kaupin questioned whether this ordinance can be placed on the Town’s website, and Mr. Coppler responded yes.
Chairman Kaupin stated he received an e-mail today from Earl Provencher, Fire Chief of the North Thompsonville Fire Department. He noted his question was in regards to purchasing the GIS data. He stated at times the fire departments request the information when pre-planning and doing risk assessments and planning large scale incidents in the community. He questioned if it’s intended to only charge private entities, and public agencies such as a fire department or school system would be able to receive the data from the Town of Enfield at no cost. Mr. Coppler stated that’s his understanding, however, he will check to be sure this achieves that goal.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #9729 adopted 7-0-0, as amended.
RESOLUTION #9730 by Councilman Lee, seconded by Councilman Nelson.
TO: 0100-01-0012-1210-0000-0110-00 Salaries $183,065.58
0100-01-0012-1210-0000-0220-00 FICA 11,340.00
0100-01-0012-1210-0000-0221-00 Medicare 2,652.00
0100-01-0012-1210-0000-0210-00 Health Ins. 34,991.00
0100-01-0012-1210-0000-0215-00 Life Ins. 877.00
0100-01-0012-1210-0000-0334-00 Tech.Serv. 43,707.00
FROM: 0100-01-000-0000-17030-0000-00 Revenue $276,632.58
I hereby certify the amount of $276,632.58 is available from Account #0100-01-0000-0000-17030-0000-00 as of Mach 10, 2008. /s/ Lynn Nenni, Director of Finance
Mr. Coppler explained they created an internal service fund to handle the IT operations for both the school and town. He explained the money budgeted by the school system for IT operations is being transferred over into the internal service fund. He noted at the last meeting, the Council will be seeing the Town’s transfer from the General Fund into the internal service fund.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #9730 adopted 7-0-0.
RESOLUTION #9731 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Dumont.
TO: 3300-0339
Other Professional Services $15,000.00
FROM: 3300-0110
Salaries – Full-Time $15,000.00
I hereby certify the amount of $15,000.00 is available from Account #3300-0110 as of March 11, 2008.
Mr. Coppler explained in the past the part-time or fill-in building officials have been paid through the salary accounts, but they really should have been taken care of through the contractual services, therefore, they’re just moving the money into the professional services.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #9731 adopted 7-0-0.
RESOLUTION #9732 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Lee.
RESOLVED, that the Enfield Town Council does hereby authorize the Town Attorney, Kevin M. Deneen, to settle the outstanding tax assessment appeals in the following actions:
1. JAMES BIANCO v. TOWN OF ENFIELD, Docket Number HHB-CV-07-4014712 S, the fair market value of the property at 380 Enfield Street to be $425,000 and assessed value to be $297,500.
2. JAMES BIANCO v. TOWN OF ENFIELD, Docket Number HHB-CV-07-
4014686 S, the fair market value of the property at 227 Brainard Road to be
$1,214,600 and assessed value to be $850,220.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #9732 adopted 7-0-0.
MOTION #9733 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Dumont to waive the reading of the resolution.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #9733 adopted 7-0-0.
RESOLUTION #9734 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Lee.
CDBG Grant
copy appended
Mr. Coppler explained the Town was recently approved for $300,000 in housing rehab, and the ultimate source of that money is HUD. He noted HUD recently made some changes as to what the official language in these resolutions should be. He stated this resolution incorporates all the new language.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #9734 adopted 7-0-0.
RESOLUTION #9735 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Dumont.
TO: 1500-0134 – Election Workers $13,937.00
FROM: 8030-840 – Contingency $13,937.00
I hereby certify the amount of $13,937.00 is available from Account #8030-840 as of 02/22/2008. /s/ Lynn Nenni, Director of Finance
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #9735 adopted 7-0-0.
RESOLUTION #9736 by Councilman Nelson, seconded by Councilman Bosco.
RESOLVED, that the Town Manager, Matthew W. Coppler, is empowered to enter into and amend contractual instruments in the name and on behalf of the Town of Enfield with the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, Policy Development and Planning Division, for the Breaking Down Barriers Grant – 07-01-2008 to 6-30-2009 and to affix the Corporate Seal.
Upon a ROLL-CALL vote being taken, the Chair declared RESOLUTION #9736 adopted 7-0-0.
Stated he’s glad to hear progress is being made in Public Works. He reviewed those areas he believes the Council should be looking at:
Fleet Maintenance – he believes there’s a lot of waste in this area, especially the night shift
Solid Waste – he believes there’s a lot of down time
Water Pollution Control
Highway
Grounds – he believes these employees are flat out and have more work than they know what to do with.
Mr. Reale stated he would like the following issue looked into – when he was on workers’ compensation, he had a lawn sign for Messrs. Wood and Sheridan. He noted he received a call from his attorney who was told a staff member from the Town of Enfield called CIRMA and said he was bad-mouthing the Town and that he was a member of the Enfield Taxpayers’ Association. He responded to his lawyer that this is his right. He questioned why someone from the Town of Enfield was violating his civil rights to participate in political parties. He noted he removed the signs from his lawn and stayed quiet up to this point. He stated he would like to know who that person was and why they did that because they had no right to do that. He noted it’s his right to be a member of the Enfield Taxpayers’ Association, and he has the right to put political signs on his lawn.
Stated his belief a good way to control blight would be to tax those landlords who own a blighted property. He noted blighted properties have lower taxes, and he feels it should be the opposite.
Mr. Sheridan questioned why the Town is dealing with The McGuire Group when they’ve had issues in the past.
Mr. Sheridan stated he attended Fields Committee meetings and he learned it’s actually more expensive to hold graduation ceremonies at the school. He noted as recently as last Tuesday, the Board of Education discussed the fields and it was learned the membrane doesn’t comply with the warranty. He stated there was talk about using the plywood cover, however, it couldn’t be done in time for this graduation.
Councilman Lee questioned if someone could provide a breakdown of all the expenses that went into the off-site graduation ceremony. He noted he would like to know if Town staff that would have been involved with an on-site commencement were involved in any preparation at the off-site facility. Mr. Coppler indicated that information can be provided.
Chairman Kaupin questioned when there will be more information regarding recycling on the Town’s website. Mr. Coppler indicated he would check into this.
Chairman Kaupin thanked Town staff for their participation at the recent Home Show.
MOTION #9737 by Councilman Lee, seconded by Councilman Kiner to adjourn.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #9737
adopted 7-0-0, and the meeting stood adjourned at 10:00 p.m.
Appended to minutes of
March 17 2008 Regular Town Council Meeting
RESOLUTION NO.
TO: Advertising: 3900-0540 $5,000.00
Other Equipment: 3900-0739 $5,000.00
FROM: Land & Building Services: 3900-0335
$10,000.00
CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify the amount of $10,000.00 is available from
Account #3900-0335 as of February 6, 2008.
Lynn Nenni, Director of Finance
TO: 2100-140 overtime $601.24
FROM: 100-13990 Other State Revenue
I hereby certify the amount of $601.24 is available from Account # 100-13990 as of 2/26/08.
TO: 2100-140 overtime $8,256.56
FROM: 100-13990 revenue account $8,256.56
I hereby certify the amount of $8,256.56 is available from Account # 100-13990 as of February 26, 2008.
RESOLUTION NO. ______
SMALL CITIES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, federal monies are available under the Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C § 5301, et. seq., as amended, also known as Public Law 93-383, and administered by the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development as the Connecticut Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 127c, and Part VI of Chapter 130 of Connecticut General Statutes, the Commissioner of the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is authorized disburse such federal monies to local municipalities; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest that the Town of Enfield make an application to the State for $300,000 in order to undertake a Small Cities Community Development Program and to execute an Assistance Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE Enfield Town Council that it is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for the state financial assistance imposed by Part VI of Chapter 130 of the Connecticut General Statutes and that the filing of an application for state financial assistance by the Town of Enfield in an amount not to exceed $300,000 is hereby approved and that the Town Manager, Matthew W. Coppler is directed to execute and file such application with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, to provide such additional information, to execute such other documents as may be required, to execute an Assistance Agreement with the State of Connecticut for State financial assistance if such an agreement is offered, to execute any amendments, decisions, and revisions thereto, and to act as the authorized representative of the Town of Enfield
The contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the contract such contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, mental retardation or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or of the state of Connecticut. The contractor further agrees to take affirmative action to insure that applicants with job-related qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, mental retardation, or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved.
The contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the contract such contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of sexual orientation, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or of the state of Connecticut, and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their sexual orientation.