Windsor Town Council Council Chambers - Town Hall March 1, 1999 Mayor Hogan called the regular meeting to order at 7:35 PM. 1. ROLL CALL - PRESENT- Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, Council member Graff, Council member Haverstock, Council member Lydecker, Council member Pacino, Council member Ploszaj, Council member Ristas (arrived at 7:38 PM) and Council member Trinks 2. PRAYER - Council member Ploszaj 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Council member Ploszaj 4. RESOLUTIONS AND AWARDS None. 5. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS None. 6. BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT Art Machado gave the report. A fire in a boiler at the High School occurred early Saturday morning; the high school did not have to be closed down and there was very little damage. The early retirement notification plan is underway and the budget will reflect same. Two principals, Mr. Shea and Mr. Saunders, both gave notice of early retirement. They are working on the budget and a public forum will be held Thursday night at LP Wilson. 7. TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT Public Lands, Roads, and Facilities Update 1) Storm Report: Crews were called in at 3 a.m. on Thursday February 25th and worked throughout the day. The roads were cleared and in good condition by 3 p.m. Crews were called in again at 2 a.m. on Friday February 26th to get ready for school and the commuter rush. 2) Spring Preparations: In light of the relatively mild February, we were able to process and screen over 1,000 yards of topsoil using the landfill’s screening plant. This process removes stones, weeds, and debris from topsoil that can be used this Spring to prepare ballfields and complete restoration work to areas affected by the plows. Recreation Master Plan Update Vollmer Associates will be delivering the rough draft of the Recreation Master Plan by March 24, 1999. Copies will be made available to the public for review and a public meeting will be held shortly thereafter to give residents an opportunity to give feedback on the rough draft. Budget Award Received I am pleased to announce that the Government Finance Officers Association (G.F.O.A.) of the United States and Canada has presented the Town of Windsor with a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for FY 1998-1999. The Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is the highest award in governmental budgeting and is presented to those government units whose budgets are judged to adhere to G.F.O.A. program standards as a policy document, as an operations guide, as a financial plan, and as a communications device. Discussion Series to Be Held "Choices for the 21st Century," a four-part discussion series on national and international public policies will be held at the Windsor Public Library on March 4th, March 18th, April 1st and April 15th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The series will be led by former Hartford Courant writer, Charles F.J. Morse. Required reading materials are available at the library when you register for the sessions. This discussion series is free and open to the public. Please call 285-1918 for further information. Revaluation Update The Town of Windsor has entered the data collection phase of the 1999 Revaluation. The Assessor’s office has sent out data mailers to all owners of improved residential properties, and has sent out Income & Expense reports to all owners of income producing property. Owners are requested to review the forms, complete the missing information or make any necessary corrections, and sign & return the form to the Assessor’s office in the envelope that is provided. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated! WHS Boiler Update This past weekend, a boiler at the Windsor High School failed and was destroyed. There were no injuries. Repairs were made so that the two remaining boilers will handle the building’s requirements. Our insurance company for the boiler will send an adjuster to the school sometime tomorrow. We have spoken with Al Brockman and Dennis Shevel, and will update you on the insurance results as soon as they are reported. 8. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS Council member Graff--none. Council member Haverstock --none. Council member Lydecker--none. Council member Pacino-- Asked to put on the next Council agenda discussion to form a small ad hock committee to investigate the possibility of merging/consolidating some boards and commissions, in view of the high vacancy rates. Council member Ploszaj -- Read Across America is being celebrated tomorrow which is Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Council member Ristas--none. Council member Trinks-- congratulated Skip McDermott on his receiving the Irish Person of the Year Award. He discussed the organ donor program and urged all to join in that effort. Extended prayers for his neighbor who was recently in a bad car accident. Deputy Mayor Curtis -- none. Mayor Hogan -- none. 9. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES Health and Safety Committee -- Council member Trinks -- none. Town Improvements - Council member Lydecker -- none. Special Projects -- Deputy Mayor Curtis -- none. Finance Committee-- Council member Graff-- none. 10. ORDINANCES None. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 12. NEW BUSINESS a. Air & Water Pollution Abatement Commission Annual Report to Council The chairman was present and indicated that no meeting has been held since his last report to the Council. They are supposed to meet quarterly, however, they have only been meeting when items are referred to the Commission. Several items will be coming up in the future, including the landfill. b. Sale of Excess Land at 22 Mack Street Matt Hart and Tom Lenehan made a brief presentation, discussing the memo in council members’ packets. The town owns a 50’ x 100’ strip of land at 22 Mack Street. The proposal is to offer the land for sale to the abutting property owners for a minimum bid of $14,500. Council member Haverstock made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj, to discuss this item in executive session. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. c. Set Budget Workshop Schedule Mayor Hogan indicated meetings will be held every Monday and Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM during the month of April, as was done last year. On April 5, 1999, the regular monthly meeting for April will be held. On April 7, 1999, a public question and answer period will be held. Council member Ristas suggested discussing the BOE budget on 4/7/99 in addition to the public forum. d. Rainbow Road Firehouse Project Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj, to refer this item to the Health and Safety Committee. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. e. Funding - Sage Park Middle School Original Building Roof Replacement Project The roof is well beyond its’ life expectancy as it is blistered and has developed some leaks. The building may have to be used during WHS renovation for summer school classes. Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj, that $50,000 be appropriated from the Capital Outlay Unreserved, Undesignated Fund Balance to Capital Outlay Fund Account: 02-520 Sage Park Middle School Roof Replacement Project. Council member Ristas requested clarification of costs -- Donald Cunningham indicated the proposed cost is $1,050,000. The state will reimburse some money, probably about $45,000 according to Mr. Cunningham. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. The item was referred to the Finance Committee. f. Funding - Sprinkler System Backflow Prevention Project for Windsor Schools Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj, That $13,943.13 be transferred from Capital Outlay Account (02-586) Clover Street School Roof Project to Capital Outlay Account (02-521) Windsor Schools - Sprinkler System Backflow Prevention Project. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. The item was referred to the Finance Committee. 13. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS Deputy Mayor Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj, Item A - to accept the resignation of Arthur Machado from the Air and Water Pollution Abatement Commission. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj, to table items B through CC. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. 14. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING Minutes of February 16, 1999 Regular Meeting Council member Ploszaj made a motion, seconded by Council member Haverstock, to approve the Minutes of the February 16, 1999 Regular Meeting. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. 15. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS None 16. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS a. Sale of Excess Land at 22 Mack Street Council member Graff made a motion, seconded by Council member Ploszaj, to go into executive session at 8:24 PM regarding Sale of Excess Land at 22 Mack Street. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. At 8:27 p.m. Mayor Hogan called the executive session to order. Present were Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, Councilmembers Graff, Haverstock, Lydecker, Pacino, Ristas, Ploszaj, and Trinks. Also present were Town Manager Churchill, Finance Director Cunningham, Town Attorney Oswecki, and Town Engineer Lenehan to discuss a. the Sale of Excess Land at 22 Mack Street. At 8:38 p.m. Councilmember Graff made a motion seconded by Councilmember Ploszaj to move out of executive session. The motion passed 9-0-0. Councilmember Ploszaj made a motion seconded by Councilmember Trinks that the Town Manager be authorized to solicit sealed bids and to choose the winning bid for the purchase of 22 Mack Street. Bids will be requested from the two abutting property owners, with a minimum bid of $14,500.00 required. The motion passed 9-0-0. 17. ADJOURNMENT At 9:59 p.m. Councilmember Ploszaj made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Graff to adjourn the meeting. Motion 9-0-0.
Respectfully submitted, Abigale LaViolette cc: Town Clerk, Main Library, Wilson Branch
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