MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Monday, May 4, 2009 - 7:30 p.m. - Town Hall

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

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

MINUTES: Selectman Bramley made the motion to approve two sets of minutes for April 21, 2009 Special and Regular meeting. First Selectman Ridgway seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to add to the agenda Tax Refund, Marie Baum Scholarship and Solar Electric Cells at CCS. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS: Rod MacNeil requested permission from the Board for members of the fire department to drop off bulky waste at the transfer station without charge and to drop brush at the brush dump without charge as a compensation for the volunteer work CVFD members do. The Board will discuss and consider.

Selectman Bramley communicated to the Board of Kate Freygang’s inquiry on the Board’s decision of choice of energy supplier for the Town’s electricity. The Board discussed this and choices of generation suppliers.

Selectman Bramley made the motion to authorize First Selectman Ridgway to pursue switching energy supplier to Sterling Energy if perceived to be the appropriate thing to do. First Selectman Ridgway seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

TAX REFUND: The Board reviewed a request for a tax refund. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to refund property tax amounting to $22.27 to Thomas Levine. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

MARIE BAUM: The Board reviewed applications for the Marie Baum scholarship.

Selectman Bramley made the motion to award the Marie Baum Scholarship of $500 to Ben Ackerman. First Selectman Ridgway seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM: The Board discussed the photovoltaic system to be installed at Cornwall Consolidated School. The weight has been deemed a problem for installing on the roof. The Board discussed and reviewed a letter addressing alternatives.

BANK ACCOUNTS: The Board reviewed small town bank accounts. No action was taken.

TOWN MEETING CALL: The Board reviewed, discussed and signed the Call to Town Meeting and the Return of Notice. The meeting will be the Annual Budget Town Meeting of May 22, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gathering Room of Cornwall Consolidated School.

OIL BIDS: The Board reviewed oil bids received for 28,000 gallons of liquid asphalt for the North East section of town. The Board discussed the new formula to be used which is acceptable to the state and will replace the MC3000 used in years past.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to accept the bid of $2.40 from Gorman Brothers. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

The work will be done in June.

The Board discussed going out to bid again for the North West corner of town to be done in August.

FARM MARKET REQUEST: The Board discussed a letter of request received from the West Cornwall Farmer’s Market requesting the town to support the market in paying half of the insurance coverage. The Board discussed the importance of the market to the economy and vitality of West Cornwall and decided it to be money well spent.

Selectman Bramley made the motion for the town to pay $285, half of the cost of the insurance for the Farmer’s Market as a one year commitment, the Cornwall Association to pay the other half. First Selectman seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

BASKETBALL COURT: The Board reviewed and discussed bid specifications received for the basketball court at Foote Field. The highway department will prepare the ground for the paver. This will be done within budget.

FAÇADE PROGRAM: First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board on the façade program. The Cornwall Façade Improvement Program committee has recommended the hiring of Tom Breakell as project manager to oversee the program and sign off on the finished work of the applicants.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to hire Tom Breakell to be the project administrator for the Cornwall Façade Improvement Program. Selectman Bramley seconded. There was discussion. Motion passed unanimously.

The Board reviewed the projects and awards. Six are in West Cornwall village, five in Cornwall Bridge area, and one in Cornwall Plains. The Board discussed the second half of the STEAP grant funding this program. There is money in this grant for traffic calming and tourism enhancements.

BUSINESS INITIATIVES: The Board discussed business initiatives for the town. The Board discussed signage on state roads and at Mohawk Mountain.

BUDGET: The discussed the 2009-2010 budget.

STIMULUS: GREAT HILL: The Board discussed state stimulus money for minor major collector roads which in Cornwall are Pine Street, Valley Road and Essex Hill. The Board discussed the pros and cons of accepting this stimulus money and the requirements of the state on the road work done.

BILL PAYMENT: Bills were paid in the usual manner with review.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Hart, Administrative Assistant