MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Monday, January 5, 2009 - 7:30 p.m. - Town Hall

PRESENT: First Selectman Gordon Ridgway, Selectman K.C. Baird, Selectman Richard Bramley, Highway Foreman Rick Stone

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

MINUTES: Selectman Bramley made the motion to accept the minutes of December 16, 2008 with the correction under BUDGET SCHEDULE of 2009-2010 budget rather than 2000-2010 budget. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: There were none.

COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Ridgway communicated to the Board he was in receipt from Mr. Tim Oppenheimer of Council 4 AFSCME a letter of formal demand to negotiate an agreement to succeed the agreement which expires June 30, 2009. The Board reviewed and discussed the letter.

First Selectman Ridgway reported he had received a call from the manufacturer of the solar panels on the Cornwall Bridge Christmas tree requesting information concerning the project. The company wishes to write this up in their company newsletter.

HIGHWAY BUDGET: The Board reviewed, discussed and edited the 2009-2010 highway budget with Highway Foreman Rick Stone.

BUDGET 2009-2010: The Board reviewed meeting dates to work on the 2009-2010 budget with various departments and arranged Selectmen meeting dates to work on the budget in preparation for presenting a budget to the Board of Finance in early February. The Board reviewed a report on health insurance rate increases.

TAX REFUND: The Board reviewed a request for a tax refund. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to grant a tax refund of $39.69 to CAB East LLC for an overpayment of tax. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

GOVERNOR’S LETTER: The Board reviewed a letter from the Governor and First Selectman Ridgway’s reply concerning “shovel ready” local infrastructure projects.

HOUSING GRANT: First Selectman Ridgway reported to the Board that Cornwall has received the housing grant through the NWCT Regional Planning Collaborative.

FAÇADE PROGRAM: The Board reviewed draft copies of the application and procedure received from Mr. Rick Lynn for the STEAP façade program. The Board discussed the procedure, application and time table.

TRINITY LETTER: The Board reviewed and discussed the October 20, 2008 letter sent to Reverend Callaway and the December 10, 2008 reply received from Jon Denn. The Board discussed the counter offer of in lieu of tax payment for Trinity Conference Center on Lower River Road.

Selectman Bramley made the motion to accept the offer of $20,000 per year for eight years in lieu of tax. Selectman Baird seconded. There was further discussion. Motion passed: Selectman Bramley aye, Selectman Baird aye, First Selectman Ridgway abstention.

The Board will send this proposal to the Board of Finance.

TAX COLLECTOR’S REQUEST: The Board again reviewed a request from the tax collector to make tax information available on line via the Cornwall website. The Board discussed this, what other towns have and the implications this may have by putting town tax information on a private, non town website.

Selectman Baird made the motion to deny the tax collector’s request at this time to make tax information available on line via the Cornwall website. Selectman Bramley seconded. There was further discussion. Motion passed unanimously.

BILL PAYMENT: Bills were paid in the usual manner.

Meeting adjourned 10:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Hart

Administrative Assistant