[Marker]
Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
December 18, 2006
Present: Ketcham, Miller, Takacs
Also present: 12 members of the public and S. Wolf of the Redding Pilot
Mrs. Ketcham called the December 18, 2006 meeting to order at 7:30 pm in the Hearing Room of the Redding Town Office Building.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen recess to executive session for a discussion of property acquisition. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous. Steve Patton was invited to be present.
The meeting recessed at 7:31 pm
RECONVENE
The Chair reconvened the meeting in public session at 8:08 pm
AGENDA ADDITION
Motion: move to add approval of the minutes of the October 5, 2006 meeting to the agenda. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move to approve the minutes of November 30, 2006 as corrected.. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
Corrections, page 3, under #5. Energy Update, last sentence should read “No action was required.”
Motion: move to approve the minutes of November 29, 2006 as submitted. Miller, Ketcham. Approved. 2-0-1. Takacs abstained.
Motion: move to approve the minutes of November 30, 2006 as submitted. Takacs, Ketcham. Approved. Unanimous.
The minutes of October 5, 2006 were tabled, pending clarification of the information on the athletic fields report.
ATHLETIC FIELDS UPDATE
Mrs. Ketcham began with clarification regarding the potential use of the “Onion Field”. The Board of Selectman has an obligation to investigate every option prior to making a recommendation. As a part of the investigation, the “Onion Field” was discussed as an option for athletic fields. The Athletic Fields Committee avoided any use of the area, but it was an area suggested for consideration.
Mr. Takacs reported that the questions of the school administrators on the impact of the changes suggested were minor and answers were provided. The goose droppings on artificial turf are not seen as a problem as the field would no longer be a food source. The proposed change in Field #4 at RES would not decrease the size of the basketball court, and relocation of tennis courts to the area south of the Park & Recreation demountable unit would decrease parking but only by one or two spaces.
At JRMS, two options for field configuration were presented. The larger option may have an impact on wetlands and further soil testing would be needed to determine the extent of impact. The Conservation Commission would need to be consulted on the issue. Blades and Goven have not done any soil boring work as yet. Mr. Takacs will request additional information and cost estimates for soil testing, potential blasting costs, underground conditions, estimates for landscaping and buffer plantings.
At RES, there was consideration of a new field in the location of the existing tennis courts, expansion of Field #2 and Field #3. Additional information on costs for the expansion of Field #2 will be requested. In addition, an estimate of the cost of an owner’s representative will be considered. The general feeling was to go forward with what can be done with the existing fields before new fields are considered.
Mrs. Ketcham opened the meeting to public comment.
Two members of the audience questioned the need for additional fields. Several members of the audience sport in support for keeping the Onion Field untouched and preserved as a historical site. Jane Diamond, President of the Redding Historical Society, read a statement into the record. Ray D’Angelo read a statement from Rob Dean who could not be present.
Mrs. Ketcham concluded the discussion stating that Barry Blades of Blades and Goven will be asked to be at the next meeting. He will be asked for further information and updates on cost estimates, and details on what additional investigative work needs to be done to get better cost estimates. The work would be restricted to the existing fields.
RELOCATION OF REDDING/EASTON/REGION 9 CENTRAL OFFICE
Director of Finance, Peggy Sullivan, reported on the potential relocation of Central Office to an unoccupied section of Easton’s old Samuel Staples Elementary School. The current lease is up in June. The Easton Board of Selectmen and three Boards of Education have agreed to pursue the arrangement. The Redding Selectmen were supportive of the plan.
ADMINISTRATIVE
A. Boys’ and Girl’s Club Civic Day: Mrs. Ketcham received many thank you notes for the Civic Day activity.
B. January 21, 2007 has been set for “Resource Day for Historic Property Owners”. The event, scheduled for the Community Center, will feature speakers and information on historic easements.
C. A Sprint Pre-Application for a tower at the Redding Ridge Fire Department has been received. Historian Kathleen von Jena has been asked to review it as it relates to impact on historic properties.
D. Police Chief Fuchs is attending a conference in Boston, representing Connecticut, on the topic of Speed Reduction.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary
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