March 26, 2007 - Regular

1. Call to Order
The Killingworth Board of Selectmen held its regular meeting on Monday, March 26, 2007, at the Killingworth Town Office Building, 323 Route 81, Killingworth, Connecticut. In attendance were First Selectman Martin Klein, Selectman Fred Dudek and Selectman Edward Sipples. First Selectman Klein called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

7. New Business
1. Girl Scout Week Proclamation - 2007
Several Girls Scouts were present to receive the Girl Scout Week Proclamation acknowledging the 95th Anniversary of Girl Scouts. The Proclamation was read into the record. Motion by Dudek to accept the Girl Scout Week Proclamation as read. Voting in favor - Dudek, Sipples, Klein. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.

2. Approval of Minutes of Special Meeting - March 13, 2007
Motion by Sipples to approve the March 13, 2007 Special Meeting Minutes as written. Voting in favor - Sipples, Klein, Dudek. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.

3. Visitors
Amy Perry submitted a report from a meeting she attended relative to the PAYT Committee noting she would like this put on the next meeting agenda for discussion.

6. Old Business
1. Wettish Property Multi-Purpose Recreational Fields and Support Facilities - Invitation for statement of Qualifications for Professional Design Services.
Chris Kelly from the Park & Recreation Commission noted they have submitted their Statement of Qualifications for Professional Design Services to the Board of Selectmen for its approval. As soon as the BOS approves this, the notice will be posted with a return date of 2 weeks. It was noted Town Attorney Michael Wells has reviewed it and his comments were incorporated. The State has also reviewed it and given its approval. Motion by Sipples to allow the Park & Recreation Commission to proceed as planned. Voting in favor - Sipples, Dudek, Klein. Opposed - none. Motion Carried. It was noted they will start digging the 32 test holes tomorrow. The funds for this will come out of the Town Engineering budget.

4. Tax Abatements & Refunds
Motion by Dudek, second by Sipples, to approve Tax Refunds as noted - Kirk & Lilly Morgan - total of $399.27 (overpayment of personal property). Voting in favor - Dudek, Sipples, Klein. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.

5. Appointments & Vacancies - none.

6. Old Business
1. Approval by BOS to appropriate additional funds for Remediation of Septic Lagoon Closure and to go before BOF for approval of same and then Town Meeting.
First Selectman Klein noted there were 5 bids - $292,000, $92,000, $97,000, $88,000 and $68,900. Mr. Klein noted he reviewed the bids with Brian Curtis from Jacobson & Associates and decided to go with the low bid. References and equipment have been checked and the company will be bonded and insured. The Town will be doing the dewatering and leave the pipes in. In addition to the $68,900 there will be $11,862 for laboratory testing, oversight engineering $5,000 and DEP surveying $7,500. There will probably be another expense of about $27,600 to take out the one foot of soil to test it. There will be additional costs if the sludge has to be taken out. Mr. Klein reviewed this process if necessary. The issue of funding was reviewed. Motion by Dudek, second by Sipples, to $104,000 for Septic Lagoon Remediation and authorize First Selectman Klein to go to BOF for approval and then to Town Meeting, with the caveat that the Call of the Town Meeting must come back to the BOS for approval. Voting in favor - Klein, Dudek, Sipples. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.

7. New Business
2. Charter Revision Committee
First Selectman Klein noted he has been trying to recruit individuals for this Committee. Selectman Dudek noted this request should be sent to each of the Town Committees. Selectman Sipples noted there is a strict State Statute that governs the makeup of this Committee. The BOS needs to decide the maximum number that will serve on the Committee. Mike Board, as well as Amy Perry's husband, volunteered to serve. The new Committee must have clear written direction from the BOS and it must follow specific criteria. First Selectman Klein asked Selectman Sipples to identify the areas that need to be reviewed by the Committee.

Selectman Dudek noted he questioned the reason why "Strategy - Property Foreclosure Concerns" was listed under Executive Session. It was felt this item was not appropriate for Executive Session.

8. MK Announcements
First Selectman Klein noted the cost of everything (electric, insurance, fuel oil) is going up and this should be an issue for State Congressmen. Jobs are also leaving the State.

9. Selectmen's Concerns
Selectman Sipples noted he had concerns with the Governor's proposal for increased income tax and the impact on various towns. The Town residents would be assessed an additional $1.4 million in State taxes. This is also a subject for State Congressmen.

Selectman Dudek asked about the status of the 5 affordable houses in Town. First Selectman Klein noted this issue has been dealt with and resolved. There was a brief discussion in general regarding Affordable Housing.

10. Executive Session
Motion by Dudek, second by Sipples, to go into Executive Session at 8:05 PM to discuss Public Works Foreman Position. Voting in favor - Dudek, Sipples, Klein. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.

Motion by Dudek, second by Sipples to come out of Executive Session at 9:03 PM. Voting in favor - Klein, Dudek, Sipples. Opposed - none. Motion Carried. No action was taken.

11. Adjournment
Motion by Dudek to adjourn at 9:04 PM. Voting in favor - Dudek, Klein, Sipples. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.

March 13, 2007 - Special

1. Call to Order
The Killingworth Board of Selectmen held a special meeting on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at the Killingworth Town Office Building, 323 Route 81, Killingworth, Connecticut. In attendance were First Selectman Martin Klein, Selectman Fred Dudek and Selectman Edward Sipples. First Selectman Klein called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.

2. Approval of Minutes
Motion by Klein, second by Sipples, to approve the February 26, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes amended as follows and March 1, 3 and 6, 2007 Special Meeting Minutes as written:
 Page 1, under Visitors, 1st paragraph, 8th sentence should read, "He suggested increasing the amount after which a formal bid with advertising, formal opening, etc. is required."
 Page 5, under 9. Selectmen's Concerns, 1st paragraph should read, "In response to Jere Adametz question, Selectman Sipples noted Region 17 should respond to the idea of paying for the traffic light at the new Middle School."
Voting in favor - Klein, Dudek, Sipples. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.

3. Visitors
Darrell Smith, Chairman of Water Pollution Control Authority, was present to review the septic lagoon bids. Mr. Smith noted with the closure of the septic lagoons, they lost the ability to track septic tank pump outs in town. There is still a form available, but not all pumpers are completing the form. Mr. Smith explained two reasons for the importance of knowing who is pumping - 1) it helps track systems in town that are not being properly maintained which helps keep water quality in town as pristine as it is, and also addresses the pollution avoidance plan. DEP orders also mandate the town supply an annual report on who is or is not pumping. There is currently a minimal level of records based on pumpers who are voluntarily reporting. Mr. Smith noted to address that issue they have looked at a service available from Carmody Company (Wisconsin) that allows septic tank maintenance records to be maintained at their storage site accessed by participating municipalities through an internet connection. There are several hundred installations around the country and at least two in Connecticut. To utilize the service, the Assessor's database would be imported into their database and stored in a secure manner on their website. As systems in town are pumped, that information would be electronically forwarded to their website. Mr. Smith explained this company supplies a free software package to pumpers and for a small fee provide a small handheld device. That data would then be uploaded to the database. Mr. Smith noted he spoke to Mary Jane Engel who is the Director of the new Health District in Old Saybrook who has purchased the software and had a high degree of success in getting pumpers to participate. He indicated he would like to know how many local pumpers have signed up on this program before moving any further with this. The cost for this service would be $79.00 per month and the pumpers pay no fees, unless they purchase PDA hardware. There are no set up fees. Mr. Smith noted there are six pumping districts in town. This database would be reviewed over a period of time to see who is pumping and who is not. A formal letter can then be generated to those who are not maintaining their systems. Mr. Smith reviewed a State Statute that requires that when a new septic system is built, the Director of Health has to issue a Permit to Discharge and that permit must be renewed every five years. He indicated they polled many towns in the area and no one is doing this. Mr. Smith felt that enforcing this Statute would make pump outs mandatory and renewals would not be issued for the Permit to Discharge unless proof of pump out in the last five years was furnished. He noted once more information is received regarding local pumpers who are participating, etc., the WPCA will be making a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen within the next month or so to proceed with signing a contract. There was discussion as to whether the town should consider a Pump Out Ordinance or whether to amend the WPCA Regulations establishing criteria, etc.

Selectman Sipples asked Mr. Smith if he has talked with the Sanitation Inspector who used to track this information and what he thinks about the Carmody system. Mr. Smith noted there is no Sanitation Inspector in charge of tracking. Mr. Leighton received copies of pump out records but never tracked anything. WPCA would review those on a monthly basis and report households with frequent pump outs to Mr. Leighton who indicated if there is no system failure, nothing can be done. There was discussion about what records are now available, what was kept in the past and how accurate they are. Mr. Smith noted both Messrs. Leighton and Rose were present at a meeting in September and enthusiastic about the Carmody application. Selectman Sipples asked who would do the input of the Assessor's database and how much would that cost. Mr. Smith noted that would be part of the contract and the $79.00 monthly fee.

Fire Chief Richard Bauer was present to request additional funds for the Fire Department's Operating Budget. He reviewed four line items that are over budget indicating they would need $9,800 to finish the fiscal year. Motion by Klein, second by Sipples, to allocate $9,800 to the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company to cover their budget overrun for 2006/2007. Voting in favor - Klein, Sipples. Opposed - none. It is noted for the record Selectman Dudek recused himself from this discussion and vote. Motion Carried.

5. Appointments/Vacancies
Motion by Klein, second by Dudek, to appoint Louis Fronte to the Water Pollution Control Authority. Voting in favor - Klein, Dudek, Sipples. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.

7. New Business
1. Historic Preservation Grant Document Authorization
First Selectman Klein reviewed the Historic Preservation Grant Document. Motion by Dudek, second by Sipples, that Martin Klein, First Selectman is empowered to execute and deliver in the name of and on behalf of this municipality a contract with the Connecticut State Library for a Historic Documents Preservation Grant. Voting in favor - Klein, Dudek, Sipples. Opposed - none. Motion Carried.

2. KVFC 2006/07 Budget Overrun - Richard Bauer, Chief
Discussed earlier under Visitors and motion passed.

3. Carmody Software System for Septic Pump Outs - Darrell Smith
Discussed earlier under Visitors. No action taken.

4. Tax Abatements & Refunds - none.

6. Old Business
1. Septic Lagoon Bid Opening
First Selectman Klein noted the following five bids were received for the septic lagoons -
1. Venuti Enterprises, Inc., 126 Burr Hill Road, Killingworth $ 97,560.
2. Standard Demolition Services, Inc., 30 Nutmeg Drive, Trumbull $292,300.
3. Luba Construction LLC, Bristol $ 68,600.
4. Landpride Development, LLC, 318 Roast Meat Hill, Killingworth $ 92,000.
5. Schumack Engr. Construction, 93A Glenwood Road, Clinton $ 88,880.

First Selectman Klein noted he would give all the bids to Jacobson & Associates for their recommendation back to the Board of Selectmen.

8. MK Announcements - none.

9. Selectmen's Concerns
Selectman Sipples noted he would like to bring up the subject of reactivation of the Town Charter Revision Committee. First Selectman Klein noted he has spoke with Richard Albrecht who is Chair of that Committee. Sipples indicated there is no committee. Klein indicated he has asked Mr. Albrecht to reconstitute the committee, but Mr. Albrecht is currently busy with the Tax Review Hearings. Sipples indicated the Board of Selectmen should decide who is on a reconstituted committee. Dudek noted by Statute the Town Charter Committee can only be X number of Republicans and Democrats. Sipples noted he would bring this item up at the next regular scheduled BOS meeting.

Selectman Sipples asked the status of the beaver problem on Roast Meat Hill Road. First Selectman Klein noted the information presented on killingworthtoday.com was accurate. Sipples asked what role would be played by the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Commission if a further beaver problem occurs. Klein noted the IWWC is only involved if machinery is used. If a resident has a beaver problem, they should notify the town hall and it will be taken care of. Sipples indicated it was his understanding anyone experiencing a beaver problem should go to the IWWC who will determine if machinery would be appropriated. Klein noted he contacted the DEP regarding the last complaint and was given a list of trappers.

10. Adjournment
Motion by Klein to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 PM.