REDDING BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING
Minutes
April 19, 2010
Present: Ketcham, Takacs
Also present: 12 members of the public and a representative of the Redding Pilot
Mrs. Ketcham called the April 19, 2010 meeting to order at 7:30 pm
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move that the minutes of the February 9, 2010 meeting be approved as submitted. Takacs, Ketcham. Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the minutes of the March 15, 2010 meeting be approved as submitted. Takacs, Ketcham. Approved. Unanimous.
The approval of the minutes of March 31, 2010 was tabled.
EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY GARDEN BY THE REDDING GARDEN CLUB
Ruth Moran of the Redding Garden Club stated that the club would like to honor the club’s founder, Betty Hill, with an expansion of the existing community garden. The expansion would add 11 plots and enhance the garden area. Sharon Epstein gave a report on Betty Hill and her contributions to Redding and the Garden Club.
Cathy Streit provided a drawing of the proposed garden expansion and description of the area. The expansion will be a gift to the Town and the Park and Recreation Department will manage the garden. The Club plans to have the work completed for April 2011.
Mr. Takacs expressed a concern about the creation of memorials and signage in town. He suggested that plaques or honoraria be centrally located in Town Hall to commend citizens who have made significant contributions to Redding. Mrs. Ketcham suggested that donations to the Parade Path and Memorial Garden can be used to honor people but she stated that the small plaque for Mrs. Hill was warranted.. Members of the Garden Club addressed the comments stating that Betty was the founder of the Club and that any signage would be discreet.
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen approve of the plan for the expansion of the Community Garden as proposed. Ketcham, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
James Miller, Middlebrook Pond Road, suggested the Garden Club members take care with where vehicles are parked on the roadway when they are tending the gardens. He specifically was concerned about cars parking at the intersection of Newtown Turnpike and Cross Highway. Members of the Club will consult with the Police Chief for ways to make parking at that intersection safer for the Club members and visitors.
GILES HILL ROAD TRAFFIC PATTERN/TRAFFIC CALMING
Last year the Board of Selectmen addressed the safety and traffic at the intersection of Giles Hill Road and Route 58 of last year. The Police Department had recommended making the “legs” of the intersection one-way. At that time, the Board of Selectmen was concerned about the over-signage of the intersection and no changes were made.
Since that time, residents have expressed concern about the increasing amount of through-traffic and traffic speed on the road. The Police Department revisited the issue and developed a plan for making the “legs” one-way and the use of back-to-back signage.
The Board of Selectmen will send a letter to the residents of Giles Hill Road inviting them to a meeting to explore the plan.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
1. POLICE DEPARTMENT BUILDING ADDITION: The Planning Commission approved the plan for the addition to the Police Department building with several conditions. Mrs. Ketcham reported the architect has reported that all the conditions are achievable and pose no problem. The next step is the preparation of the site plan for approval of the Planning Commission. Mrs. Ketcham suggested the Board of Selectmen approve the project going out to bid, pending the site plan approval, to speed the project along.
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen approve the Police Department building addition project be put out to bid, pending site plan approval by the Planning Commission. Takacs, Ketcham. Approved. Unanimous.
2. TOWN MEETING DATE, TIME AND LOCATION FOR VOTE ON CAPITAL PLAN FOR 2010-2011
Mrs. Ketcham reported the school administration would like the referendum scheduled in May so that some of the work could be scheduled and completed during July and August of 2010.
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen set May 20, 2010 at 7:30 pm in the Redding Community Center for a vote on the Capital Plan for FY 2010-2011. Ketcham, Takacs. Approved. Unanimous.
3. EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK CHANGE TO SHORT TERM DISABILITY POLICY
This item was tabled at the last meeting pending clarification of one item in the policy. Mrs. Ketcham reported that the item questioned was reviewed and found to be standard for this type of policy.
Motion: Move to approve the change in the Short Term Disability Policy in the Employee Handbook. Takacs, Ketcham. Approved. Unanimous.
4. APPOINTMENT
Motion: move to appoint Don Stroetzel as an alternate on the Planning Commission for a term running from 4/19/10 to 2/1/14. Takacs, Ketcham. Approved. Unanimous.
5. PLANNING RECOMMENDATION FOR THE FORMATION OF TWO AD HOC COMMITTEES
This item was tabled to the next meeting.
6. DOT SALE OF 62 PICKETTS RIDGE ROAD – TOWN RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL
62 Picketts Ridge Road, a state-owned property, was put on the market and has a sale pending. Per CT General Statutes Section 3-14b, the Town of Redding has the right of first refusal. Mrs. Ketcham reported the Assessor and Tax Collector have no objection to the sale of the property. Jo-Ann Brooks of the Planning Department and Rob Dean of the Planning Commission concurred that there is no town interest in the property.
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen agree the Town of Redding is not interested in purchasing the property at 62 Picketts Ridge Road. Takacs, Ketcham. Approved. Unanimous.
7. STATION ROAD BRIDGE: Mrs. Ketcham reported the Conservation Commission approved the license for the work on the Station Road Bridge. WMC is in the process of preparing the bid package for the work. The work is planned to be done during July and August when the water table is at the lowest. The project is 100% reimbursable through a LOCIP grant.
8. RESOLUTION – HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS PRESERVATION GRANT
Motion: Resolved, that Natalie T. Ketcham, First Selectman of the Town of Redding, is empowered to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of this municipality, a contract with the Connecticut State Library for a Historical Documents Preservation Grant. Takacs, Ketcham. Approved. Unanimous.
9. OTHER
Mr. Takacs commented that one of the options for the planned redesign of athletic field #2 at the Community Center could require some parking lot/entrance roadway changes, but the final decision on field design has not yet been made. The RCC field no. 2 timeline calls for design completion by the end of May. Mr. Takacs suggested that if any work is needed, that it be coordinated with the planned repaving work at the Community Center which is part of the Capital Plan.
PUBLIC COMMENT
James Miller, Middlebrook Pond Road: commented that the town meeting to set the date of the referendum is scheduled for 4:30 in the afternoon. His concern is that the time is not convenient for most residents who are working and not able to participate. Mrs. Ketcham noted that the meeting is to set the date and that is the only action taken. And, in the case of the budget referendum, the date is set to coincide with the Region #9 Board of Education budget vote which by state statute must be the first Tuesday in May. Taking Mr. Miller’s comments into consideration, she will schedule the meeting for the evening in the future.
ADJOURNMENT
The Chair adjourned the meeting at 8:40 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday
Recording Secretary
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