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ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
OCTOBER 15, 2001
A Special Meeting of the Enfield Town Council was called to order by Chairwoman Strom in the Enfield Room of the Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Monday, October 15, 2001 at 6:03 p.m.
ROLL-CALL Present were Councilmen Egan, Fiore, Giddings, Kaupin, Mangini, Strom and Vayda. Councilman Hall entered at 6:05 p.m. Councilman Falk, McGuire, and Tait were absent. Also present were Town Manager, Scott A. Shanley; Assistant Town Manager, Daniel Vindigni; Town Clerk, Suzanne F. Olechnicki; Director of Public Works, John Kazmarski; Director of Economic Development, Ray Warren; Director of Planning, Jose Giner.
MOTION #5504 by Councilman Kaupin, seconded by Councilman Mangini to suspend the rules to address Item 2b on the agenda.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #5504 adopted 7-0-0.
DISCUSSION RE: NORTHGATE
Assistant Planner Roger Alsbaugh displayed an illustration of the proposed Northgate streetscape. He noted at a previous meeting, there was a question as to whether a road could be put in the area of Boston Seafood, The Edge, and Connecticut Valley Auto. He showed a display of two scenarios. He noted the Council has within their packets a synopsis of the Planning Departments review of the properties. He stated one scenario would be a 40-foot right-of-way with some parking on the properties. He noted the other scenario was a 50-foot right-of-way with no substantial parking, except for closing Carl Street and expanding the parking area for Jiggys. He pointed out a lot of variances would be required to put in a road. He noted a rough estimate to acquire properties and do the construction is about $275,000. He added the cost would be about the same for both scenarios. He stated this would be very expensive to accomplish. He added he would also expect some resistance from residents and property owners.
Mr. Shanley stated the Council should decide whether they wish to carry these concepts to the neighborhood meetings.
Councilman Mangini questioned what special variances would be sought. Mr. Alsbaugh stated all three commercial properties need property reduction variances and set backs; each residential property on Carl Street and Willard Avenue would require area reduction and they would end up with additional front yard setbacks.
Mr. Alsbaugh stated another item they looked at was municipal parking. He noted after some investigation, it appears the only possibility is the Twisties site. He stated this site could actually accommodate about 31 parking spaces in addition to saving the large shade tree in the middle of the lot. He noted the acquisition at the moment is unknown. He stated the cost of that site is $165,000. He stated some preliminary cost estimates from DPW for demolition and paving is about $75,000.
Councilman Fiore questioned the status of the sidewalk on the private property. Mr. Alsbaugh stated those two areas are now listed as areas of possible code development. Mr. Shanley clarified this means the Town could work with the private sector to pick up those costs.
Councilman Fiore questioned if based on Malone & McBroom, they could potentially do the Northgate with some of the minor modifications that the Council has already discussed for approximately $370,000. He stated his understanding the CIP budget has $150,000 remaining for this project. Mr. Shanley stated the engineering costs would be deducted from that. Mr. Alsbaugh stated his belief the original costs probably included estimates for what are now being called code development areas.
Councilman Fiore questioned what the next step might be in the timetable. Mr. Alsbaugh stated the next step was to go to Planning & Zoning with the same presentation so they would be aware of what stage they are at.
Councilman Fiore questioned if the Town Council and Planning & Zoning approve this, when would this project physically begin. Mr. Shanley clarified they have not yet met with the neighbors, and this is a follow up to what the Council discussed. He stated they first have to get input from the neighbors, and he believes there may be suggestions for changes and comments. He noted they would then come back to the Town Council again to learn what degree the Council would be willing to integrate suggested changes.
Councilman Fiore questioned if there was a consensus from the Council this evening, would this become a higher priority so that they could move this along at a quicker pace. Mr. Shanley stated they will set up a neighborhood meeting sometime in the next couple months. He noted they will need to wait to learn the results of that meeting. He stated the Council set forth this process, along with Hazardville Streetscape, as a goal for the whole Council, and that is how theyre proceeding.
Councilman Kaupin stated he would like to hear from business owners and residents on the proposed Carl Street relocation. He noted Route 5 is very busy, and he feels realistically the public parking would only serve those businesses on the south side of Route 5. He questioned how many of the businesses will actually benefit from public parking in the suggested area. Mr. Alsbaugh stated this would probably have direct benefit to three stores Smokestack, the barbershop, and Frequent Flyer banners, and possibly Rinaldis. He added there may be some sort of use from Jiggys probably on a night and weekend basis. He added beyond that, people probably wouldnt utilize this parking.
Chairwoman Strom stated she would like to see both options brought to the neighborhood meeting.
Councilman Giddings questioned if it would be possible to have a lighted crosswalk crossing from the parking lot to the west side of the street. He questioned would it be necessary to go through state regulations since this is a state road. Mr. Alsbaugh stated DOT has no problems with this project at this point. He noted the only area they have a problem with is a mid-block crosswalk at this time.
Councilman Fiore stated a lot of the residents in this area and people who have been working on this project still have not delineated between the Northgate project and the Bright Meadow Boulevard project. Mr. Shanley stated Bright Meadow Boulevard is currently under design. He noted potentially these projects could be presented together.
Councilman Fiore questioned when the sidewalk design will be completed for the 7A project. Mr. Shanley stated the same team that did the Hazardville Streetscape will be doing the Bright Meadow Boulevard design. He noted there was a lot of focus on the Hazardville Streetscape for a few months, which moved the emphasis off this project, but they are back onto this project at this time.
Mr. Shanley stated he is getting the impression that the Town Council would like each one of these concepts discussed with the neighborhood to get positive/negative input. He noted they will set up the neighborhood meetings.
DISCUSSION RE: MEMORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Present for this discussion was Theodore Plamondon, Chairman of the Memorial Advisory Committee.
Mr. Plamondon noted the Council has before them a sketch and cost for the World War II Memorial. He stated the cost for the stone from Vermont is $132,000. He noted there will be a $7,000 cost for the crane to set this monument on the Green.
He stated he contacted two construction firms to date Enfield Builders and Spazzarini, and they will help out with the foundation, grading and planting, and this will be done free. He noted he will be getting the names of other contractors and they will be contacted regarding the installation of the foundation. He pointed out Rogers Memorial is donating their time for the engraving of the 2,200 names.
Mr. Plamondon stated the Memorial Committee is hoping for a dedication on Memorial Day.
Mr. Plamondon stated he is present this evening in the hope they can get some money so that they can start cutting the stone in Vermont.
Councilman Giddings commended the Committee for their aggressiveness in this endeavor. He went on to note the thought of a seven-foot wall seems to disturb some people. He questioned the possibility of placing the decorative topping on the sides of the monument. He noted personally he would like to see this project move forward. He stated if the location is in question, he does not feel this should stop the Committee from moving forward with the cutting of the stone. He stated his belief while the monument is being constructed, the Council could tweak ideas for location. He voiced concern about losing the in-kind services because the Council cant decide where they want the monument to be placed. He stated he understands Mr. OLearys concern about this not fitting the master plan of the Town Green, however, he does not feel this should stop the Council in having this Committee going forward with the plans to start the actual stone cutting.
Councilman Egan commended the Committee. She stated her belief they owe it to the Town Green Committee to have a copy of the Town Green Master Plan. She requested this be provided so the Council can review it so that they can be sure theyre not doing something thats totally against what was suggested. She agreed with Councilman Giddings regarding the cutting of the stone.
Councilman Fiore commended the Committee for a tremendous job. He noted since the Town Green was to be turned over to the Beautification Committee, the Town Green Master Plan should be submitted to that Committee so that they can review it. He went on to note that when they did meet with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Beautification Committee last Thursday, there was a 100% consensus from those two individuals that this was a fine project and that the general position of Option #1 was the appropriate place to put the monument. He stated his understanding that as of this weekend, all the current members of the Beautification Committee have been unofficially polled, and of the seven current members, six of them unanimously agreed that particular position on the Green was the appropriate one, and they would also like the Monument Committee to proceed. He stated his understanding Mr. Plamondon is here this evening to seek and reinforce a commitment from the Town Council to proceed with some consensus and monetary involvement so that the stone can be cut. He added he also believes that Mr. Plamondon was under the impression last week that the site was generally approved because that could possibly have an impact on the price of this monument. Mr. Plamondon agreed this could impact things.
Chairwoman Strom questioned if the stone is to be cut and it needs to be a certain size, why would that change if the site were shifted. Mr. Plamondon pointed out this is a long monument, and it wouldnt fit into a corner.
Chairwoman Strom stated the Town Green Committee also put in a lot of work into the Town Green Master Plan, and theyre requesting this plan be considered before doing anything.
Councilman Fiore questioned if there was a consensus from the Council tonight that the funding would be available to continue, couldnt this Committee still go forward with at least getting the stone cut and start laying the plans needed for the spring, while the Planning & Zoning Committee and the Beautification Committee review the Town Green Master Plan to see if Option #1 is feasible.
Mr. Plamondon voiced concern they may be told to put the memorial in a corner of the Town Green.
Councilman Mangini thanked the Committee for all their hard work. She went on to state her disturbance that two weeks ago this was all agreed to. She questioned why the Town Green Master Plan wasnt brought up at that time. She stated her belief they should move forward.
Chairwoman Strom stated everyone wants to see a monument for the veterans. She noted they will need the exact dimensions for Planning & Zoning.
Mr. Plamondon stated his hope they could use a Town Engineer to save some money to do the drawings.
Mr. Plamondon stated putting up this monument is not the responsibility of the Monument Committee. He pointed out they put one up years ago, and the Town of Enfield took it down, and it was destroyed. He stated it was documented that the Town was going to put a monument back up for the World War II veterans, however, that has not been done.
Chairwoman Strom stated this Town Council is working towards making this happen, and they are looking at providing funding to get the engineering done so the architectural plans can be done so that they can see exactly what it is that is being put up.
Councilman Giddings stated in 1988 the Town Council did pass a resolution that has never been rescinded, in that the Town will replace the monument. As concerns location, he personally did not know of any master plan for the Town Green. He noted the Beautification Committee hasn | |
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