MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

7:30 p.m. - Town Hall

PRESENT: First Selectman Gordon Ridgway, Selectman K.C. Baird, Selectman Richard Bramley

First Selectman Ridgway called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.

MINUTES: Selectman Baird corrected the minutes of May 4, he was not present. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to accept the minutes of May 4 as amended. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to add to the agenda Marie Baum Scholarship, Judy Gates Bequest, West Cornwall Parking, and Painting Town Hall. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Ridgway reported he was in receipt of a thank you note from Bianca Griggs for helping with the insurance payment for the West Cornwall Farmer’s Market. The season begins this Saturday.

PAINTING TOWN HALL: First Selectman Ridgway reported he has received quotes for the painting of the Town Hall. The Board discussed the possibilities and will request additional quotes.

MARIE BAUM: The Board received a misplaced Marie Baum Scholarship submission which was received in the office before the deadline. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to reopen consideration for the Marie Baum Scholarship. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

The Board reviewed the applications.

Selectman Bramley made the motion to award the Marie Baum Scholarship to Ben Ackerman. Selectman Baird seconded. There was discussion. Motion passed unanimously.

JUDY GATES BEQUEST: First Selectman Ridgway informed the Board of a need for a fiduciary to oversee the bequest process. The Board discussed this, the bequest, and paintings belonging to Mrs. Gates which had been designated for various relations.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to accept the Judy Gates Bequest. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to nominate John Green as fiduciary. Selectman Bramley seconded. There was discussion. Motion passed unanimously.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to waiver all rights to paintings left as part of Judy Gate’s estate. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

WEST CORNWALL PARKING: The Board discussed the parking area between the West Cornwall Post Office and the building that was once Yutzler’s Store. Half of the parking area has been roped off. First Selectman Ridgway reported to the Board he has met with the Planning and Zoning Administrator, Planning and Zoning Chairperson and the owner of the building. The Board reviewed the situation and property boundaries. The Board discussed the dangers ensued by the change of the parking lot. The Board discussed traffic patterns, zoning regulations and an upcoming meeting with the Department of Transportation on scene.

Selectman Bramley made the motion to recommend to Planning and Zoning to jointly engage in the near future with the property owner a traffic engineer to look at a layout for the parking lot of the former Yutzler’s Store considering the interests of every party concerned with safety being a main concern. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

TOWN HALL OIL TANK: The Board reviewed a proposal from Decker and Beebe for the replacement of the oil tank in the town hall. First Selectman Ridgway reported that the highway foreman said the project can be done “in house”. The Board discussed this. First Selectman Ridgway will ask the highway foreman to further investigate the project.

BASKETBALL COURT AT FOOTE FIELD: First Selectman Ridgway reported the prep work is almost done for the basketball court at Foote Field. A heavy duty basketball hoop has been ordered and will be set in the asphalt.

BUDGET TRANSFER: First Selectman Ridgway informed the Board the transmission on the grader went out. The Board discussed this, the costs of transmission replacement and the town meeting call already published for a budget transfer. To avoid the costs of another town meeting the Board discussed taking the additional budget transfer to the Board of Finance for inclusion in the upcoming town meeting.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to increase the budget transfer from $6,000 to $11,000, the additional $5,000 coming from budget line 62018 Road Materials, and to suggest this to the Board of Finance pending approval of the town auditor and town counsel. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: First Selectman made the motion to go into Executive Session to discuss Union Negotiations and Legal Advice, Personnel. 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 8:55.

BILL PAYMENT: Bills were paid in the usual manner.

Meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Hart, Administrative Assistant