Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
October 5, 2006
Present: Ketcham, Miller, Takacs
Also present: more than 20 members of the public and a reporter from the Redding Pilot
Mrs. Ketcham called the October 5, 2006 meeting to order at 7:33 pm in the Hearing Room of the Redding Town Office Building.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move to approve the minute of the August 14, 2006 meeting as amended. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
Correction: page 1, under Facilities Use Policy, add “There will be follow-up on the policy.”; page 2, paragraph 1, the Redding Preservation Society in conjunction with the Town of Redding will sponsor an information session.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON WEST REDDING TRAIN STATION PARKING FEES
Tom Newsome recommended an increase in the yearly and daily parking fees at the West Redding Train Station. Currently, the income of approximately $22,000 covers the cost of expenses, approximately $22,000. He recommended an increase that would create a reserve for major repair and replacement expenses. He has received a verbal approval of the increases from DOT. He suggested a yearly fee increase from $150 to $180, and a daily increase from $5 to $7. Discussion followed.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen approve the increase in parking fees at the West Redding Railroad Station as presented. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF TOPSTONE DOG BEACH
Director of Park & Recreation, Rob Blick, presented a proposal for a dog beach at Topstone Park. The proposal originally came from residents who see a need for a space for dogs to swim in the pond. Currently dogs are not permitted on the beach or in the water during the “swim” season. The residents have offered to raise funds needed to create a fenced in area for dogs. The proposal has been reviewed by the Health Officer. The Park & Recreation Commission has approved the proposal as a pilot program for one year.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen approve the request for a Dog Beach at Topstone Park as presented. Takacs, Miller. Approved. Unanimous.
ATHLETIC FIELDS: BLADES AND GOVEN REPORT
Mr. Takacs summarized the work of the Athletic Fields Committee over the past years. Park & Recreation Department has documented and identified an athletic field shortage. The Committee took a comprehensive look at the existing Town fields to see what sort of improvements could be made to increase the playing time. Currently the play time is limited by weather conditions, overuse of fields and poor field drainage.
Chris Hocker, a member of the Fields Committee, summarized the findings of the Committee.
Tier 1:
• JRMS fields, reconfigure the big field and use of artificial turf and lights
• Redding Community fields: relocate tennis courts and allow a full size field to be located in that area, use of artificial turf, no lights
• RCC field #1 (RES field), lengthen this field by 20 feet to make it a competition size field
• Sand trenching on existing fields to alleviate drainage problems.
Tier 2:
RCC field #2. expand the field to a full size field
Tier 3:
RCC field #3, expand the field to a full size competition field.
Barry Blades of Blades and Goven presented more information on the findings. He presented schematic drawings of the fields as they are and how they could be altered or improved.
Cost estimates:
Tier 1: JRMS, $2,734,000; conversion of tennis court area to a full size field, $2,060,000, excluding the cost incurred to relocate tennis courts; Sand trenching field 2 & 3, $103,000; expansion of field #2, $277,000; expansion of field #3, $322,000.
Alternate sites for the tennis courts were also reviewed. Park and Rec was asked to analyze the use of the tennis courts and number of courts that are needed.
Mrs. Ketcham reported a number of emails had been received and would be considered by the Board of Selectmen.
Comments from the audience were taken.
Peg O’Donnell: a concern about the proposed field at JRMS and impact on school use of the area.
Mrs. Ketcham will contact the School Superintendent regarding the proposal. The school board and school administration needs to be a part of the planning process.
Ann Marie McCarthy: question regarding spectator space, would there be areas on the sidelines of fields for parents to observe the games. Mr. Blades responded, indicating on the various drawings where space would be available and where slopes are available for seating.
Unidentified: suggested an outdoor basketball area be planned in conjunction with the tennis courts.
Unidentified: suggested dual usage, tennis courts/basketball court
Unidentified: questioned how much of the existing need would be satisfied by these recommendations. Chris Hocker responded that there is a need for four fields, these recommendations would provide roughly 1 ½ fields.
Unidentified: question about fields in other areas of town. Don Takacs responded that there are currently no other fields planned, the Committee is waiting to see what happens with these recommendations and what develops on the Barlow High School complex.
Copies of the “recommendation book” will be made available to the Town Clerk, and various boards & commissions. Mrs. Ketcham suggested the Board of Education and administration be invited to the next Board of Selectmen meeting (October 16, 2007) when this topic will be discussed further. She asked Mr. Blades to be available for another presentation.
ELECTRICITY ISSUES
1. Smart Power Clean Energy Campaign: a presentation on this is planned.
2. CCM/Redding CL&P rebate/Electricity Buying Group: The CL&P rebate for Redding is $12,000. The Town has the option of joining the electricity buying group, but membership in CCM is required for that. Mrs. Ketcham noted that the savings are likely to be more than the cost of the membership.
3. Redding Municipal Electric Committee: Jim Cotton would like to explore options for residential users to benefit from lower electric costs. .
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen appoint Jim Cotton to be a representative in this initial venture to explore options for Redding residents to have economic choices for electric services. Takacs, Miller. Approved. Unanimous.
LONETOWN MARSH SIGN
Mrs. Ketcham reported the Lonetown Marsh sign was in poor condition. Jane Ross took the initiative to seek an artist to create a new sign with the help of Noel Edwards. An artist created a new sign that was on view in the Hearing Room. Discussion of the sign followed. The primary concern was the large size of the sign. Mrs. Ketcham noted that the regulations allow the Board of Selectmen to approve municipal signs and placement of signs and submit them to the Zoning Commission.
Motion: that the Redding Board of Selectmen accept the Lonetown Marsh sign, for a trial run, and refer the issue to the Zoning Commission. Miller, Ketcham. Approved. 2-1. Takacs voted against the motion.
RISC REPORT
The RISC report on municipal facilities recommended that the Police Station be re-located to a location within the new GLDC project and that the space occupied by the current Police Station be converted to office space for use by the Building, Zoning & Health Departments.
A STEAP grant for $500,000 has been received by the Town for renovations for the police department. Mrs. Ketcham as asked Chief Fuchs to prepare a report on cost estimates to renovate the existing facility and the cost estimates to move the department to a new location. Building Official, Jay Hennessey, has been asked to look at the current Police Department building and prepare estimates on cost to renovate for office space for the Building, Zoning & Health Departments.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON REQUEST FOR SPEED HUMPS ON TURNEY ROAD
The request for speed humps on Turney Road has been received from residents of Turney Road and Cricklewood Road. The Board of Selectmen previously agreed to consider requests for speed humps annually at the March meeting. Based on review by Police Chief Fuchs and safety concerns, Mrs. Ketcham suggested the request be considered at this time, before the asphalt plants close down for the winter. She added that the Joel Barlow High School administration is in favor of adding the speed humps and is considering adding them to Barlow Drive, the main entry road to the school. Adjacent property owners will be notified that the Board of Selectmen will consider and act on the request at the October 16, 2006 meeting.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen add consideration of speed humps for Turney Road on the agenda for the October 16 meeting. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen recess to executive session to discuss matters pertaining to property acquisition for municipal use. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting recessed at 10:45 pm.
RECONVENE
The meeting was reconvened at 11:07 pm. No further action was taken.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:07 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary
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