MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Monday, February 4, 2008

7:30 p.m. - Town Hall

PRESENT: First Selectman Gordon Ridgway, Selectman K.C. Baird, three citizens

First Selectman Ridgway called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

MINUTES: Selectman Baird requested the minutes of January 22, 2008 be corrected to read Patricia Bramley rather than Patty Bramley under Appointments. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to accept the minutes of January 22, 2008 as amended. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to add to the agenda STEAP grants IV and II and Electronics. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS: The Board reviewed a letter from Greenwoods Counseling Services, Inc. requesting $500 in the 2008-09 town budget. Two citizens from Greenwoods were present to explain the organization’s work, pertinence to Cornwall and to answer any questions. Greenwoods Counseling Services is a nonprofit, non-sectarian mental health referral service which works to ensure that people living or working in Litchfield County receive needed mental health care regardless of their financial circumstances. The Board quizzed the two representatives. Selectman Baird made the motion to grant Greenwoods $500 and add under Organizational Support in the 2008-2009 budget. First Selectman Ridgway seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Selectman Baird had a communication from a citizen concerning the installation of the solar panels at Cornwall Consolidated School. Selectman Baird was given a company name to add to the bid process.

STEAP II: First Selectman Ridgway presented the plan for the West Cornwall Library septic system on the adjacent CL&P property. Applications will be filed with Planning and Zoning for the renovation addition and be presented to the Housatonic River Commission. The Board discussed a public toilet on the site. Housatonic Valley Association is applying for grant money to construct a handicap fishing access south of the library which would include the installation of a composting toilet. CL&P has agreed to maintain the toilet. This may negate the need for constructing a public toilet as part of the Library project; however the septic field is engineered to include one. The Board discussed the well on the plan. The project should go out to bid in the spring.

STEAP IV: The Board discussed the application for a STEAP grant to upgrade the business facades in town. The Board discussed what the grant money could be used for and how to present the need in the application to the state.

ELECTRONIC WASTE: First Selectman Ridgway reported he had received a reply from the state concerning the amending of the transfer station permit for the collection of electronic waste. The amendment has been approved. The Selectmen send kudos to Stephen O’Neil for pursuing this. Mr. O’Neil is receiving proposals from companies for the collection and disposal of electronic waste.

CORNWALL BRIDGE LIGHTS: The Board discussed the request from the town on behalf of the Cornwall Bridge merchants to DOT to take over the street lights in the Cornwall Bridge village area presently paid for by the merchants. DOT replied no to taking them over but did suggest the addition of other streetlights which they would pay for. Selectman Bramley has been working on a location map of the various street lights. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to table further discussion of the street lights to a future Board of Selectmen meeting when Selectman Bramley can be present.

SNOW BUDGET: First Selectman Ridgway presented a report on the snow budget. At present the town is over budget. The Board discussed the cost of materials: salt and sand and the product Magic Salt, what is on hand and what is yet to come in. It has been a winter of many small icy storms. First Selectman Ridgway proposed using the $14000 left in the capitol highway line from last summer’s oiling project in combination with $21,000 out of contingency to cover the costs up to March. If March is a tough month the Board discussed the need to go to Town Meeting to request more money. The Board discussed the rising costs of salt, sand and diesel and the use of 80 tons of “recycled” sand from summer road projects. First Selectmen Ridgway will confer with the Board of Finance.

BUDGET 2008-2009: The Board reviewed budget requests for the 2008-2009 budget year.

BILLS were paid in the usual manner.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to go into executive session to discuss Legal Counsel: Open Burning. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The board went into executive session at 8:40 p.m.

The Board came out of executive session at 8:50 p.m. No action was taken. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Hart

Secretary to the Board of Selectmen