Windsor Town Council Council Chambers - Town Hall February 22, 2000 Unapproved Minutes Mayor Hogan called the regular meeting to order at 7:35 PM. 1. ROLL CALL - PRESENT- Mayor Hogan, Deputy Mayor Curtis, Council member Albano, Council member Broxterman, Council member Haverstock, Council member Pacino, Council member Simon, Council member Ristas and Council member Trinks 2. PRAYER - Council member Albano 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE -Council member Albano 4. RESOLUTIONS AND AWARDS a. Proclamation Honoring Stephanie Fenner Council member Trinks read the proclamation honoring Stephanie Fenner who organized a "loose change drive" to collect money for the families of the six Worcester firefighters who perished in the fire on December 3, 1999, leaving 17 children fatherless. b. Proclamation Honoring Erica McKeon Council member Broxterman read the proclamation honoring Erica McKeon who recently saved her grandmother’s life by performing the Heimlich maneuver. 5. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS None. 6. PUBLIC BUILDING COMMISSION REPORT Mr. Neumann gave the report. The Commission is reviewing final plans for the WHS project at their meeting tonight. He believes that the PBC will sign off on the budget as presented this evening. The foundation walls have been poured. Masonry started today. The design development phase is essentially complete. The field house renovation proposal was discussed. The project is on schedule. Sage Park Roof Project - they are waiting for the snow to melt to do the final inspection. Rainbow Road Firehouse - they are finalizing plans. Deputy Mayor Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Broxterman, to move items 12. a and 12. b. to this point in the agenda. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. a. Board of Assessment Appeals Annual Report to the Town Council The Chairman indicated the Board is made up of 3 full time members, 2 alternates and there is 1 vacant alternate. The Board meets twice annually - in March and in September. The deadline for applications for the March meeting was today. b. Presentation on Capital Region Council of Governments Regional Transit Strategy Ms. Sandy Fry gave an overview of the proposal together with a slide presentation. The purpose of the regional transit strategy is to engage business and civic leaders, public officials and the public in planning an improved transit system and to create a vision of what the future transit system will be. The RTS has been underway since January 1999. Most technical work is expected to be completed within a month or two and the final adoption of a preferred strategy is expected by Fall/Winter 2000.
Public Works Director Hired I am pleased to announce that Mr. Brian Funk has been appointed to the position of Public Works Director. Following a rigorous screening and interview process, Mr. Funk was selected from a field of seven finalists. Mr. Funk is joining us from the City of New Haven where he served as Deputy Director for Management Services in the Department of Parks and Recreation. He has also served as Deputy Director of Public Works in New Haven. Mr. Funk has a Bachelor of Science from Northern Michigan University and a MPA from the University of Southern California. We are looking forward to Mr. Funk joining us in Windsor on March 20th on his first day as a Town of Windsor employee. Senior’s Enjoy Brunch Members of the Windsor Jaycees treated eighty-Five senior citizens to a delicious brunch on Sunday, February 13th. Students from the PASSAGE Program were on hand to help serve the food and provided a bake sale so participants could take home a dessert while supporting this popular youth program. Fun was had by all. The seniors, as well as the Senior Center staff would like to thank everyone who made this event possible. Cupid Strikes Windsor Two special Valentine Events are right on target! On Monday, February 14th, five couples renewed their wedding vows at the Senior Center. One couple will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year. Following the ceremony, sixty guests enjoyed a bubbly toast, (ginger ale) given by the best man, wedding cake and dancing to the music of a live band. Here at Town Hall, eleven ceremonies were performed including four actual marriages and seven vow renewals. In partnership with the Windsor Chamber of Commerce, the Town Clerk’s Office celebrated the new millennium by performing ceremonies for interested couples in addition to the traditional distribution of free marriage licenses on Valentines Day. Everyone is invited to view photographs highlighting the day on the Town of Windsor website at www.townofwindsorct.com under the "What’s New" icon. Special thanks to Windsor businesses and the Windsor Chamber of Commerce for their support. Building Official Appointed Stephen Dupre has been named the Town of Windsor Building Official and Zoning Enforcement Officer. Steve has been Acting Building Official since the departure of Andy Rizzo in December and Assistant Building Official since his arrival in Windsor nine months ago. Steve’s experience includes fifteen years in the construction business as well as employment with the City of Holyoke as Assistant Building Official. In a team-based environment, Mr. Dupre is responsible for overseeing and executing all Town building and zoning codes, ordinances and regulations. Mr. Dupre has proven himself both in his role of Assistant Building Official and the last two months as the Town’s Acting Building Official, and I look forward to his continued positive interaction with Windsor residents and local contractors. Citizens for a United Windsor Seeks Community Participation A planning meeting of Citizens for a United Windsor (CUW) will be held Thursday, February 24th at 7:15PM at the L.P. Wilson Community Center. This volunteer, community based organization is seeking Windsor residents or businesses who want to work to promote greater trust, understanding, and solidarity across the full spectrum of Windsor’s racial, ethnic, and religious diversity. The meeting will consist of preparations for upcoming projects and special events. New members are always welcome. For more information, call Jim Mason at 688-6662 or Laura Soll-Broxterman at 688-8483. Town Employee Recognized Congratulations to Mr. Jeff Dyreson, Northwest Park Environmental Educator who was recently selected as "Briarwood College’s Outstanding Environmental Educator for the Year 2000". Mr. Dyreson’s innovative ideas about programming have broadened Northwest Park’s opportunities to serve the community. He will be recognized at Briarwood College on March 15, 2000 at the 2000 Environmental Fellows Program. Partnership Coordinator and Social Worker Positions Filled Mr. David Johnston of West Hartford will be joining the Partnership staff as the Program Coordinator beginning February 28th. Mr. Johnston’s professional background includes holding the position of Executive Director of The Bridge Family Center, in West Hartford, a multi-service youth and family agency which included services such as street outreach, family counseling, school-based family resource centers, strategic planning and community outreach. He has over 25 years of management, consulting and training experience and we look forward to welcoming him to the Partnership initiative. In addition to Mr. Johnston, Ms. Michelle Smith has joined our Health Department as a Social Worker for the Partnership Program. Ms. Smith received her Bachelor of Science Degree at Keuka College and her Masters of Social Work from the University of Southern California. She brings valuable work experience with her including time spent as a Family Relations Counselor in the New Britain Superior Court System and Adjustment Counselor in the Pittsfield, MA school system. Today was Ms. Smith’s first day of employment with the town and she has been busy acclimating herself with the Town Hall and meeting her co-workers in the Partnership Program. Tax Assistance Windsor Public Library has the answers to your tax questions. The library has both State and Federal tax forms available free of charge. Volunteers are available by appointment to assist individuals in the preparation of their income tax forms. These volunteers have been trained through the V.I.T.A. tax program sponsored by the Internal revenue Service. Appointments for help can be made by calling the Library Reference Desk at 285-1918. Exploring American Cultural Diversity Beginning March 2, 2000 the Windsor Public Library will offer the first of a four-part book discussion series entitled, "Diversity in the Americas: Ethnic and Regional Differences in Contemporary American Fiction". "Mama Day", by Gloria Naylor will be the first book discussed. David Shuldiner of the University of Connecticut and the State Department of Social Services will lead all four discussions, which are free and open to the public. In addition to teaching at UCONN, St. Joseph and Trinity Colleges, Mr. Shuldiner is the recipient of several grants from the Connecticut Humanities Council and the co-editor of Connecticut Speaks for Itself, an anthology published by the council. He has led over 100 book discussions at libraries and other community sites. All programs will take place at the library on alternate Thursdays at 7:00PM. Multiple copies of the books being discussed are available at the library, and participants are encouraged to read the book before attending, but it is not a pre-requisite for participation. For more information, call 285-1918. First Town Downtown Executive Director Selected First Town Downtown has a new Executive Director. Katie Breen of Vernon has accepted the position. Katie is currently Director of Paratransit for the Greater Waterbury Region. She grew up in Windsor and worked in Town Hall for two years in our Planning Department after college. She brings a strong planning background mixed with an entrepreneurial spirit (as an example she wrote the grant that initiated her current position). She will start with First Town Downtown on March 13th.
8. COMMUNICATIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS Council member Albano-- would like a report on how much the town is spending on 330 Windsor Avenue. Council member Broxterman -- none. Council member Haverstock -- discussed budget priorities and funding approval and accountability. Council member Pacino-- congratulated WHS basketball team.
Council member Ristas-- none. Council member Simon -- on Gloria Street a Windsor public employee, a snow plower, helped out residents during the last Saturdays storm by turning his snow plow and clearing out the ends of driveways where snow plows generally leave a heap of heavy snow; he said he was contacted by a resident regarding safety issues on Columbia Road at 291 and asked town staff to follow up and report back. Council member Trinks-- none. Deputy Mayor Curtis -- none. Mayor Hogan -- encouraged all members to attend the BOE meetings. They will be holding additional meetings regarding the CMT scores. 9. REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES Health and Safety Committee -- Council member Broxterman -- none. Town Improvements - Deputy Mayor Curtis -- will meet on 2/28/00 at 7:00 PM. Special Projects -- Council member Simon -- met on 2/17/00 and began discussion of the Huntington House. Finance Committee-- Council member Trinks -- none. Mayor Hogan made a recommendation to put the surplus on their next agenda. 10. ORDINANCES None. 11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None. 12. NEW BUSINESS c. Resolution adopting Work Force Investment Act Dr. Petrillo reviewed his memo included in council members’ packets. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) was signed into law in August, 1998. The Act gives local elected officials and their municipalities new opportunities and responsibilities and assigns new responsibility to local chief elected officials for oversight of workforce activities which is important to the economic vitality of the nation’s towns and regions. Deputy Mayor Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Simon, Resolution authorizing town manager to enter into an intergovernmental agreement on behalf of the town of Windsor with the municipalities of the Capital Region to implement workforce investment activities in accordance with federal and state laws Whereas, the Federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 provides for a number of improvements to the job training system including: consolidation of numerous training programs; universal access to placement and training services for all individuals; enhanced accountability; and the use of vouchers to promote increased flexibility; and Whereas the Workforce Investment Act gives chief elected officials and their municipalities important new roles including: joining together as the grant recipient; designating a sub grant receipt; providing oversight in the activities of the Regional Workforce Board; approving the annual budget and work plan of the Regional Workforce Board; appointing members of the Regional Workforce Board; assuming ultimate responsibility for the fiscal integrity of programs funded by the Workforce Investment Act and other activities; and Whereas, the Workforce Investment Act requires an intergovernmental agreement among the municipalities and their chief elected officials in each workforce investment area specifying; the process for selection of regional workforce board members; the designation of a grant recipient and a sub grant recipient or administrative entity; the powers and authority of the consortium created by the participating municipalities; a statement with respect to accountability for funds allocated and other matters; Now therefore be it resolved by the Mayor and the Windsor Town Council, that: the Town of Windsor acknowledges its authority and responsibility under the Workforce Investment Act and authorizes the Town Manager to enter into the intergovernmental agreement on behalf of the Town; Be it further resolved, that the Town of Windsor authorizes the Mayor to serve on the consortium created by the agreement and to act for the town on the consortium, which will operate through the Capital Region Council of Governments. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. d. Resolution to receive property from the Board of Education Town Manager Churchill gave an overview of the memo of Peter Souza dated 2/22/00 contained in council members’ packets. Council member Albano would like to see something in writing as to what is expected of the Town and what is expected of the BOE. Town Manager Churchill indicated the maintenance, etc. is outlined by State Statute. Council member Ristas felt a simple letter from the superintendent confirming use, maintenance, etc. is necessary. Council member Pacino expressed concern that when the plans were being drawn up by the architect, he should have known of this issue and dealt with it in the beginning. Deputy Mayor Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks, that the Windsor Town Council accepts the control of the Field House, located at the Windsor High School Football Field on Sage Park Road from the Windsor Board of Education, effective immediately. The Motion Passed 7-2-0 with Council member Albano and Council member Pacino opposed. 13. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS Council member Albano made a motion, seconded by Council member Haverstock, to add item K to the agenda to appoint a member to the Greater Hartford Transit District. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. Council member Albano made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks, Item K - to appoint William Chiodo to the Greater Hartford Transit District for a 4 year term to expire 2/28/2004 or until a successor is appointed. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Broxterman, to table items A through J. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. 14. MINUTES OF PRECEDING MEETING - February 7, 2000 regular meeting Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Broxterman, Minutes of the February 7, 2000 regular meeting Add - Council member Pacino - he asked President Kenison of the BOE to find out more on the policy of the BOE for grade point average or any type of minimum grades necessary to participate in sports. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. Mayor Hogan asked that the 2/7/2000 public hearing minutes be placed on the next agenda. 15. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS Bradshaw Smith, 23 Ludlow Road, discussed the snow removal ordinance for sidewalks and noted that the bikepath has not had the snow removed in accordance with the ordinance. Also, the restaurant on the corner of Barber Street is now vacant and he noted that the CDBG fund money for that project is now gone. 16. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS a. Discussion Concerning the Appointment, Employment, Performance, Evaluation, Health or Dismissal of a Public Officer or Employee Council member Trinks made a motion, seconded by Council member Simon, to go into executive session for Discussion Concerning the Appointment, Employment, Performance, Evaluation, Health or Dismissal of a Public Officer or Employee The Motion Passed 9-0-0. At 10:55 p.m., Council member Pacino motioned to exit Executive Session, seconded by Council member Trinks. The Motion Passed 9-0-0. 17. ADJOURNMENT At 10:58 p.m., Council member Curtis made a motion, seconded by Council member Trinks , to adjourn the meeting. The Motion Passed 9-0-0.
Respectfully submitted, Abigale LaViolette cc: Town Clerk Main Library Wilson Branch |