RECEIVED AUUST 19, 2009 @ 10:16 AM
Michele R. Grande, Redding Town Clerk
3 pages
REDDING BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING
August 17, 2009
Present: Ketcham, Miller, Takacs
Also present: 10 members of the public
Mrs. Ketcham called the August 17, 2009 meeting to order at 7:30 pm
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move that the minutes of the July 20, 2009 meeting be approved as corrected. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
Corrections: page 2, motion regarding Station Road repair should read as follows: Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen, subject to review by the Planning Commission, move forward with the Station Road Bridge repair as specified by Milone & MacBroom in their June 23, 2009 letter and subject to verification of the life expectancy of 10-15 years. . Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous. ; and typographical edits.
UPDATE ON ATHLETIC FIELDS
Mr. Takacs reported that Barry Blades of Blades & Goven met with Highway Superintendent Bruce Sanford to discuss the potential of the Highway Department performing some of the excavation work related to the plan for enlarging Field 2 at the Redding Community Center. A list of possible Highway Department responsibilities was developed for inclusion when the project goes out to bid.
Mr. Takacs met with the DEP and State Department of Health regarding installation of an artificial turf field and reported although there is a study now being done with results expected in January 2010, there are currently no moratoriums on the use of artificial turf in the State and it was up to the municipality to decide if the plan could go forward. Mr. Takacs added that the STEAP Grant has been activated, paying for some of the services of Blades & Goven. Blades and Goven has been asked for a quote for the work of preparing the construction documents. Mr. Takacs added that the STEAP Grant would partially fund the improvements to Field #2, and the Athletics Fields Committee has an oral commitment from the Redding Soccer Club for another $100,000. Additional funding would come from private donations. The
total estimated cost of the work is $850,000. The STEAP grant is for $400,000.
Mrs. Miller asked for further detail on the costs for the project, including the cost of having the Highway Department do some of the work.
Frank DeSalvo suggested that in addition to cost for the Highway Department work, that consideration be given to the work that will not be performed by the Highway Department while doing the work on the field.
Mike D’Agostino questioned whether all the funding would be in place before the project was begun. The Selectmen responded that the funding, including all donation, would need to be in place.
UPDATE ON GEORGETOWN PROJECT
Mrs. Ketcham reported that a meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 18, 2009, with the Connecticut Department of Transportation to discuss the specifics of the work to be performed at the intersections of Highway 107 & North Main Street/Portland Avenue and Highway 107 and Route 57. Improvements to these two intersections are critical for the Georgetown Project and to the Streetscape Enhancement Plan for Main Street in Georgetown.
Federal funding is available through the local planning agency, HVCEO. The funding will go to the Town of Redding for the intersection project. The Town will manage the project.
Mrs. Ketcham added that she is optimistic, that with the approval of the improvements to the two intersections, that GLDC’s plan for Phase 1 of the project will move forward.
OTHER BUSINESS
1. Website: Mrs. Miller questioned whether the Town’s website should include the posting of minutes of the Georgetown Special Taxing District. She added that posting of the agencies’ meeting minutes was inconsistent, and suggested that it was not appropriate for them to be posted on the town website and that other special taxing districts like the Volunteer Fire Departments did not post minutes on the Town site. Mrs. Miller questioned whether FOI requirements for posting minutes are the responsibility of the special taxing districts, not the Town Mrs. Ketcham will follow up with the Town Clerk.
2. Treasurer Peg O’Donnell had a question regarding the funding of the Georgetown intersections. Mrs. Ketcham responded that the funding will flow through the Town. The agencies providing the funding will provide a specific amount of funding prior to going out to bid. The Town will not be responsible for funding the project, but will manage all aspects of the project.
3. Peter Bonfanti had a question regarding the repairs to the Station Road bridge. Mrs. Ketcham responded that the project repair plan is being reviewed to confirm the method of repair and 10-year replacement life. The project will not be able to be started this fall due to the permitting process that will include review by the Army Corp of Engineers.
4. Mike D’Agostino had a question regarding energy saving efforts, and suggested that outside money available for energy conservation be used to remedy areas of concern at the schools. Mrs. Ketcham responded that CL&P confirmed that the Town had done everything that would be considered routine energy conservation measures. At this point, other areas can be explored, including geothermal and solar panels. She is working closely with Director of Finance Peggy Sullivan on the needs of the schools.
5. Dave Streit, Town representative to the Fairfield County Deer Management Alliance, made comments and requests regarding deer management in Redding. He asked that the Board of Selectmen endorse the findings on deer-density related problems in the 2008 Town Plan of Conservation and Development. After some discussion, the following motion was made.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen formally adopt the findings of the Town Plan of Conservation and Development that effective management to reduce deer density to a level of 10-12 per square mile is essential to public health and safety to reduce the incidence of Lyme disease, to protect the understory of our open spaces, forests and yards, and to reduce or control the number of deer related motor vehicle accidents. Miller, Ketcham. Approved. Unanimous.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen adjourn to executive session for a discussion of contract negotiations for a cellular tower on the Highway Department property. Miller, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
Attorney Brian Stone was invited to be present.
The meeting recessed at 9:00 pm.
RECONVENE
The Chair reconvened the meeting in public session at 9:50 pm
ADJOURNMENT
The Chair adjourned the meeting at 9:50pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday
Recording Secretary
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