Regular Meeting December 10, 2007
1. Call to Order
The Killingworth Board of Selectmen held its regular meeting on Monday, December 10, 2007, at the Killingworth Town Office Building, 323 Route 81, Killingworth, Connecticut. In attendance were First Selectman Richard Cabral, Selectman Fred Dudek and Selectman Catherine Iino. First Selectman Cabral called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion by Dudek, second by Iino, to approve November 26, 2007 Minutes as written. Voting in favor - Dudek, Iino, Cabral. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.
4. Visitors - Concerning Items on the Agenda - none.
5. Tax Abatements & Refunds
Letter from Richard Leighton, Code Official, dated November 26, 2007, regarding request for fee reimbursement for 21 Clarkson Road was reviewed. Motion by Dudek, second by Iino, to approve Building Permit Fee Reimbursement of $738.00. Voting in favor - Dudek, Iino, Cabral. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.
6. Vacancies
a. Land Use Committee - there are two vacancies on the LUC.
b. Board of Assessment Appeals - one vacancy on BOAA.
7. Appointments
a. Board of Assessment Appeals
Motion by Iino, second by Cabral, to appoint Richard Albrecht to Board of Assessment Appeals. Voting in favor - Iino, Cabral. Opposed - none. Abstained - Dudek. Motion Carried.
b. 2008 Appointment List
Motion by Dudek, second by Iino, to approve appointment list as presented for the upcoming year. Voting in favor - Dudek, Iino, Cabral. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.
8. Old Business
a. Region #17 H-K Middle School Traffic Light
Letter from State of Connecticut Department of Transportation to The Honorable Martin Klein dated November 19, 2007 Re Route 81 at District 17 Intermediate Middle School was reviewed. Selectman Iino noted there was some discussion regarding a traffic light at the new school at the last Democratic Town Committee meeting and it was felt the Town should not be paying for this. The State should pay for it. Selectman Dudek noted he agreed but the State hasn't put up the lights on the signs yet either. Is that the Town's responsibility or the State's? First Selectman Cabral noted no one seems to know who paid for the light at Little City Road and Route 81 for the High School or who paid for or put up the blinking lights at the 3 Elementary Schools. Mike DiStefano has indicated the District maintains them and they are shut off during school vacations, etc. First Selectman Cabral noted the blinking lights have been purchased but they are waiting for CL&P to dig the ditches to run the power. Discussion followed as to who is responsible for digging the ditches. First Selectman Cabral noted he will check with Richard Leighton and Walter Adametz to see if they know. The issue of a traffic light was then discussed. The State has said it doesn't meet their standards for a traffic light and they will not pay for it, but if the Town wanted to do it, they could. It was suggested another traffic count should be done when Lover's Lane is closed. First Selectman Cabral noted there are no traffic lights at Killingworth Elementary School, Haddam Elementary School or Burr Elementary School. Mr. Cabral indicated a lot of parents now drive their children to school and the buses arrive half full. Selectman Iino asked if there should be a meeting with the school district to try and make the buses more appealing to parents. It was noted there are two traffic control officers at the new Middle School and one at Killingworth Elementary School in the morning. Selectman Cabral will talk with Superintendent Mala and ask if he is satisfied with the traffic control the way it currently is because that was put into effect after the initial request for the light was rejected by the State.
b. Alternate Locations of BOS Meetings
First Selectman Cabral noted alternate locations for BOS meetings will be tabled for the time being until it has been determined there is a need for another location.
9. New Business - none.
10. RJC Announcements
First Selectman Cabral noted he did not have anything specific to add, but thanked the residents who continue to show up for the meetings.
11. Selectmen's Concerns
Selectman Iino noted she receives copies of letters written by Richard Leighton. Selectman Dudek noted Mr. Leighton forwards copies of all letters to the Selectmen.
Selectman Dudek noted the Traffic Study Committee would like to appear at the Board of Selectmen January 14th meeting.
First Selectman Cabral noted he will be attending the February 6th meeting of WPCA.
Selectman Dudek asked for a status update on Lover's Lane. Selectman Iino noted she attended a meeting with the State and the Army Corps of Engineers and they were not enthusiastic about the proposal. They indicated the process for getting approvals from the State DEP would be extensive. Howard Pfrommer, Town Engineer, has written a summary from that DEP meeting. First Selectman Cabral noted there hasn't been anything yet from the Inland Wetlands Commission. Selectman Dudek noted the former First Selectman pulled the permits from Inland Wetlands and Howard Pfrommer was going to go to the Wetlands Commission to see if something could be done.
12. Visitor Comment - General
Peg Scofield noted former First Selectman Klein indicated legislation was going to be initiated for the traffic light at the new Middle School. First Selectman Cabral reiterated that the State letter (reviewed earlier in the meeting) states the Town can install a traffic light but it would have to be paid for by the Town.
Jere Adametz noted Alders Bridge Road has not been completed for a year and half and there is still a pole that hasn't been moved. Most of the wires have been relocated, but not all of them. Selectman Dudek suggested someone get the pole numbers and whether it's a CL&P or AT&T pole. First Selectman Cabral will then call either CL&P or AT&T to have it removed.
Jere Adametz noted he attended the Lover's Lane meeting which in his opinion was a waste. Everyone wants to close the road. He indicated the engineering firm that did the study to put in a new bridge was asked if the area down further which has also settled would still flood when the new bridge is installed, and they didn't know the answer to that question. Mr. Adametz noted the Army Corps of Engineers didn't seem too concerned about the matter. He stated that if the road is closed, a cul-de-sac should be put in to meet required zoning for a dead end street and they would have to fill in wetlands to put that in. First Selectman Cabral thanked Mr. Adametz for his comments and noted this would be discussed further and voted on at a Town Meeting. Selectman Iino stated it was not her feeling there was a consensus about closing the road at that meeting. First Selectman Cabral noted it was not his feeling either.
Amy Roberts Perry noted the issue of new transfer station stickers was not on the agenda and asked if that was going forward. First Selectman Cabral noted Selectman Iino is reviewing that and it will be discussed and decided upon in January. Ms. Perry noted PAYT is concerned about the number of people who may have moved out of town in the last 24 months and still use the transfer station because they still have valid stickers. New stickers every two years is a way to weed out those people. The color of the sticker should be changed. Selectman Iino will review the brochure language. Something will be put in the February Killingworth Krier. First Selectman Cabral noted he will investigate how to distribute the stickers. Ms. Perry offered her services.
Frank Cunningham noted he is the new Board of Education liaison and indicated it is very important to keep the lines of communication open between the BOE and the Board of Selectmen. He urged anyone to contact him with any issues. First Selectman Cabral noted he would be happy to attend any BOE meeting on behalf of the Town if the need should arise.
13. Adjournment
Motion by Iino, second by Cabral, to adjourn at 7:40 PM. Voting in favor - Iino, Cabral, Dudek. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.
The Killingworth Board of Selectmen held its regular meeting on Monday, December 10, 2007, at the Killingworth Town Office Building, 323 Route 81, Killingworth, Connecticut. In attendance were First Selectman Richard Cabral, Selectman Fred Dudek and Selectman Catherine Iino. First Selectman Cabral called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Approval of Minutes
Motion by Dudek, second by Iino, to approve November 26, 2007 Minutes as written. Voting in favor - Dudek, Iino, Cabral. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.
4. Visitors - Concerning Items on the Agenda - none.
5. Tax Abatements & Refunds
Letter from Richard Leighton, Code Official, dated November 26, 2007, regarding request for fee reimbursement for 21 Clarkson Road was reviewed. Motion by Dudek, second by Iino, to approve Building Permit Fee Reimbursement of $738.00. Voting in favor - Dudek, Iino, Cabral. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.
6. Vacancies
a. Land Use Committee - there are two vacancies on the LUC.
b. Board of Assessment Appeals - one vacancy on BOAA.
7. Appointments
a. Board of Assessment Appeals
Motion by Iino, second by Cabral, to appoint Richard Albrecht to Board of Assessment Appeals. Voting in favor - Iino, Cabral. Opposed - none. Abstained - Dudek. Motion Carried.
b. 2008 Appointment List
Motion by Dudek, second by Iino, to approve appointment list as presented for the upcoming year. Voting in favor - Dudek, Iino, Cabral. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.
8. Old Business
a. Region #17 H-K Middle School Traffic Light
Letter from State of Connecticut Department of Transportation to The Honorable Martin Klein dated November 19, 2007 Re Route 81 at District 17 Intermediate Middle School was reviewed. Selectman Iino noted there was some discussion regarding a traffic light at the new school at the last Democratic Town Committee meeting and it was felt the Town should not be paying for this. The State should pay for it. Selectman Dudek noted he agreed but the State hasn't put up the lights on the signs yet either. Is that the Town's responsibility or the State's? First Selectman Cabral noted no one seems to know who paid for the light at Little City Road and Route 81 for the High School or who paid for or put up the blinking lights at the 3 Elementary Schools. Mike DiStefano has indicated the District maintains them and they are shut off during school vacations, etc. First Selectman Cabral noted the blinking lights have been purchased but they are waiting for CL&P to dig the ditches to run the power. Discussion followed as to who is responsible for digging the ditches. First Selectman Cabral noted he will check with Richard Leighton and Walter Adametz to see if they know. The issue of a traffic light was then discussed. The State has said it doesn't meet their standards for a traffic light and they will not pay for it, but if the Town wanted to do it, they could. It was suggested another traffic count should be done when Lover's Lane is closed. First Selectman Cabral noted there are no traffic lights at Killingworth Elementary School, Haddam Elementary School or Burr Elementary School. Mr. Cabral indicated a lot of parents now drive their children to school and the buses arrive half full. Selectman Iino asked if there should be a meeting with the school district to try and make the buses more appealing to parents. It was noted there are two traffic control officers at the new Middle School and one at Killingworth Elementary School in the morning. Selectman Cabral will talk with Superintendent Mala and ask if he is satisfied with the traffic control the way it currently is because that was put into effect after the initial request for the light was rejected by the State.
b. Alternate Locations of BOS Meetings
First Selectman Cabral noted alternate locations for BOS meetings will be tabled for the time being until it has been determined there is a need for another location.
9. New Business - none.
10. RJC Announcements
First Selectman Cabral noted he did not have anything specific to add, but thanked the residents who continue to show up for the meetings.
11. Selectmen's Concerns
Selectman Iino noted she receives copies of letters written by Richard Leighton. Selectman Dudek noted Mr. Leighton forwards copies of all letters to the Selectmen.
Selectman Dudek noted the Traffic Study Committee would like to appear at the Board of Selectmen January 14th meeting.
First Selectman Cabral noted he will be attending the February 6th meeting of WPCA.
Selectman Dudek asked for a status update on Lover's Lane. Selectman Iino noted she attended a meeting with the State and the Army Corps of Engineers and they were not enthusiastic about the proposal. They indicated the process for getting approvals from the State DEP would be extensive. Howard Pfrommer, Town Engineer, has written a summary from that DEP meeting. First Selectman Cabral noted there hasn't been anything yet from the Inland Wetlands Commission. Selectman Dudek noted the former First Selectman pulled the permits from Inland Wetlands and Howard Pfrommer was going to go to the Wetlands Commission to see if something could be done.
12. Visitor Comment - General
Peg Scofield noted former First Selectman Klein indicated legislation was going to be initiated for the traffic light at the new Middle School. First Selectman Cabral reiterated that the State letter (reviewed earlier in the meeting) states the Town can install a traffic light but it would have to be paid for by the Town.
Jere Adametz noted Alders Bridge Road has not been completed for a year and half and there is still a pole that hasn't been moved. Most of the wires have been relocated, but not all of them. Selectman Dudek suggested someone get the pole numbers and whether it's a CL&P or AT&T pole. First Selectman Cabral will then call either CL&P or AT&T to have it removed.
Jere Adametz noted he attended the Lover's Lane meeting which in his opinion was a waste. Everyone wants to close the road. He indicated the engineering firm that did the study to put in a new bridge was asked if the area down further which has also settled would still flood when the new bridge is installed, and they didn't know the answer to that question. Mr. Adametz noted the Army Corps of Engineers didn't seem too concerned about the matter. He stated that if the road is closed, a cul-de-sac should be put in to meet required zoning for a dead end street and they would have to fill in wetlands to put that in. First Selectman Cabral thanked Mr. Adametz for his comments and noted this would be discussed further and voted on at a Town Meeting. Selectman Iino stated it was not her feeling there was a consensus about closing the road at that meeting. First Selectman Cabral noted it was not his feeling either.
Amy Roberts Perry noted the issue of new transfer station stickers was not on the agenda and asked if that was going forward. First Selectman Cabral noted Selectman Iino is reviewing that and it will be discussed and decided upon in January. Ms. Perry noted PAYT is concerned about the number of people who may have moved out of town in the last 24 months and still use the transfer station because they still have valid stickers. New stickers every two years is a way to weed out those people. The color of the sticker should be changed. Selectman Iino will review the brochure language. Something will be put in the February Killingworth Krier. First Selectman Cabral noted he will investigate how to distribute the stickers. Ms. Perry offered her services.
Frank Cunningham noted he is the new Board of Education liaison and indicated it is very important to keep the lines of communication open between the BOE and the Board of Selectmen. He urged anyone to contact him with any issues. First Selectman Cabral noted he would be happy to attend any BOE meeting on behalf of the Town if the need should arise.
13. Adjournment
Motion by Iino, second by Cabral, to adjourn at 7:40 PM. Voting in favor - Iino, Cabral, Dudek. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.
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