RECEIVED MAY 24, 2010 @ 8:30 A.M.
Kerry Miserendino, Redding Asst Town Clerk
SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
MAY 20 2010
REDDING COMMUNITY CENTER
Present: about 100 members of the public
First Selectman Natalie Ketcham called the Special Town Meeting to order at 7:31 pm in the Community Room of the Redding Community Center on May 20, 2010. She asked for a motion to elect a permanent moderator for the meeting.
Motion: move to nominate Judge Richard Emerson as moderator. Motion by Don Takacs, seconded by Frank DeSalvo. Approved. Unanimous.
Judge Emerson called on Town Clerk, Michele Grande, to read the legal notice into the record. Mrs.
Grande read the legal notice.
LEGAL NOTICES
WARNING
NOTICE OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
The Legal Voters in the Town of Redding, Connecticut, and those
entitled to vote therein are hereby warned and notified to meet at
the Special Town Meeting to be held in the Redding Community Center
Redding, Connecticut on Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 7:30 P.M.
for the following purpose:
“To approve the expenditure of $4,323,000 as recommended by the Board of Finance for school projects ($3,210,000) related to improving indoor air quality, health, safety and energy efficiency such as physical structure repairs, HVAC, bathroom fixtures, and flooring and ceiling replacement and Town road reconstruction ($813,000) and repaving projects ($300,000) at Transfer Station and RES and Community Center access, to be financed by short term borrowing pending long term financing.”
DATED at Redding, Connecticut this 4th day of May, 2010.
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Natalie Ketcham
First Selectman
Donald Takacs
Selectman
Julia Pemberton
Selectman
Judge Emerson noted that he had received certification as to the publishing of the legal notice in accordance with Section 7-4 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Judge Emerson requested a motion to accept the warning.
Motion: motion to accept the Warning of the Meeting by Natalie Ketcham, seconded by William Alvarez. Approved. Unanimous.
Judge Emerson asked for a motion on the only agenda item, the approval of expenditure.
Motion: move to approve the expenditure of $4,323,000, as recommended by the Board of Finance for school projects ($3,210,000) related to improving indoor air quality, health, safety and energy efficiency such as physical structure repairs, HVAC, bathroom fixtures, and flooring and ceiling replacement and Town road reconstruction ($813,000) and repaving projects ($300,000) at Transfer Station and RES and Community Center access, to be financed by short term borrowing pending long term financing. Motion by Frank DeSalvo, seconded by Jamie Barickman.
PRESENTATIONS
William Alvarez, Chairman of the Board of Finance, was called on to address the capital needs of the Town and schools, and the Town’s financial status. Mr. Alvarez reviewed the Town’s outstanding debt and explained how the expenditure under consideration would be financed. He also reviewed the current Fund Balance. He added that Moody’s has given the town a Aa-1 rating and he considers the town to be in sound financial health.
First Selectman Natalie Ketcham was called on to address the expenditures under consideration for the Town. The road reconstruction program is an ongoing program and the expenditure requested if for year 6 of a 10-year plan. Three roads, 2.7 miles of roadway, Dayton Road, Ledgewood Road and Orchard Road, will be restored with the funding. The roads are between 37 and 48 years old, and have outlived their life expectancy. The work on the roadways will include digging up, material ground, leveling, pitching, installation of new or replaced drainage, and two layers of asphalt. In addition, an expenditure of $300,000 is for the repaving of the access road to the Transfer Station and the road leading from Route 107 to Redding Elementary School and the Community Center.
Board of Education Vice Chairman, Jamie Barickman, was called on to address the needs of the schools. Mr. Barickman explained that the Board of Education established a Facilities Management Committee composed of members of the Board and administration, and three members of the community with expertise in facility systems and architecture. The Committee reviewed both the Redding Elementary and John Read Middle schools to assess needs relating to the health and safety of students and staff, and to protect the assets of the Town.
The recommendations included:
- Building envelope work, including partial roof replacement, window replacement and work on the brick façade.
- HVAC, work at both schools
- Renovation of the oldest bathrooms at both schools
- Design phase work for the septic system at Redding Elementary School
- Design phase work for the water system replacement at both schools
- Flooring, replacement of carpet with tile, and associated asbestos abatement work, and replacement of RES gym floor
- Ceiling tile replacement at Redding Elementary School
Judge Emerson opened the meeting to public comment/questions.
James Miller, Middlebrook Pond Road: Mr. Miller has followed the development of the plan and approves of the expenditure, but questioned the management of the projects, particularly the school projects. He added that the Town should have an owner’s representative or employee in an oversight capacity to assure the project will be completed as designed. He added that the volunteers have day jobs and will not be available on a daily basis to monitor the work of the various contractors.
Mr. Barickman responded to Mr. Miller’s concerns. Two school employees, the Director of Finance and Operations, Peggy Sullivan, and Head Custodian, Ken Larkin, will provide project oversight and management of the various school projects. He spoke of the quality and talent of the members of the Facilities Management Committee, and their thoroughness in preparation of design and specifications for the work to be accomplished. The Committee will remain in place to support the work of Mrs. Sullivan and Mr. Larkin.
Peggy O’Donnell, Chestnut Wood Road: Mrs. O’Donnell commented that a request for large expenditures should go a machine vote to give more people the opportunity to vote. As Chairman of the Long Range Financial Planning Committee, she noted that the Committee submitted a 5-year plan, but the Board of Finance chose to fund only the first year of the plan, with no mechanism in place for funding the items listed in years 2-5.
Mrs. Ketcham responded to the comments regarding the Town Meeting. She stated that Redding has a town meeting form of government and the meeting provided an opportunity to listen to presentations and become more informed prior to voting on the request. Should a resident prefer a machine vote, there is a petition procedure for that.
Motion: move to close discussion. Motion by Ward Mazzucco, seconded by Frank DeSalvo. Approved by more than 2/3 vote, with two negative votes.
Judge Emerson called for a vote on the motion on the table to approve the expenditure of $4,323,000 as described.
Vote: Approved by the majority, with two negative votes.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn the meeting. Alvarez, DeSalvo. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary
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