MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Monday, November 5, 2007 - 7:30 p.m. - Town Hall

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

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Selectman Bramley made the motion to approve the minutes of October 1 (9:00 am), October 10 and October 16, 2007 as presented. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to add to the agenda Dog Report and Selectman Bramley requested Agricultural Commission Letter be added. Selectman Baird seconded motion. Motion passed unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Ridgway reported that the new furnace has been installed in the Town Hall and is ready for Election Day.

Citizen Ms. Herkimer communicated her interpretation of past minutes. First Selectman Ridgway discussed with her items from past meetings that he would check up on.

CELL TOWER: First Selectman Ridgway reviewed with the Board a petition he had received concerning the consideration of placement of a cell tower by Verizon on Popple Swamp Road. First Selectman Ridgway reported on a meeting with Mr. Ken Baldwin, a representative of Verizon. The Board discussed several items: a letter from Mr. Baldwin, the unsuccessful attempt by Washington, CT to contest a tower site in town, a request for a notification of any future balloon tests, and the enlistment of technical engineer expertise in evaluating Verizon’s proposal. The Board discussed another technology option in the use of existing telephone poles and repeaters. The Board discussed other sites for cell towers and the time line for proceedings in cell tower applications. The Board is not opposed to the technology which requires cell towers but is concerned that a decent job be done in the decision process and placement of towers. The consensus of the Board is that technical expertise is needed, propagation maps are needed and that alternatives be evaluated such as hillsides with less visibility and repeaters in the valley.

The Board received comments from citizens present and discussed the situation. Discussion ensued of meeting with Ms. Blake Levitt to discuss cell towers. The citizens have the Selectmen’s blessing to proceed with such a meeting on their own.

DOGS: First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board on a dog situation which occurred in town. Last weekend 12 dogs were released on Valley Road with no collars and no IDs which caused multiple calls to the dog warden and town office. With some assistance from the State Canine Division in the loan of traps, the dog warden has successfully captured the dogs and placed them at the Little Guild of St. Francis and the Harwinton Dog Pound where they await adoption. The Board commends the Dog Warden and Assistant Dog Warden for all their efforts and time spent in this endeavor.

LAND PRESERVATION: First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board on his work with the state in their negotiations with Mr. Deluca concerning 300 acres of property on River Road in West Cornwall.

First Selectman Ridgway informed the Board of a regional planning grant to hire expertise to work with common issues in the Region One six town area plus Norfolk. A Town Meeting to approve the proposal is necessary from each town to enter into a joint application for the grant. The Board discussed this.

APPOINTMENTS: First Selectman Ridgway informed the Board of appointments that will need to be made after the election. The Board discussed the position of highway crewman which is filled by a temporary worker, the advertisement of the job and the scheduling of interviews.

WEST CORNWALL LIBRARY: The Board reviewed plans for the renovations of the Hughes Memorial Library in West Cornwall. The plans have been approved by the Building Inspector and the Fire Marshall. The Board discussed the addition of public toilets which could be attached to the same septic field and the style of restrooms available.

FLU SHOTS: First Selectman Ridgway reported he had received a request from a town worker for reimbursement for the cost of his flu shot. The Board discussed this, the budget line set aside for vaccines and the costs of lost time and substitutes. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to reimburse the town worker for the cost of his flu shot if insurance does not cover reimbursement. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ROUTE 7 BRIDGE: The Board discussed the DOT work that will be done on the route 7 bridge near the high school. The detour of route 7 traffic over Cream Hill Road is a misunderstanding. Traffic will not be detoured over Cream Hill Road. DOT plans to keep one way traffic open during the construction time with occasional closures. The Board discussed the changes to traffic patterns the repair work will cause and the impact on town roads.

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSON ASSESSMENT LETTER: Selectman Bramley presented a draft of a letter to be sent to the assessor concerning the assessment of farm lands. The Board had previously received a letter from the Agricultural Commission endorsing the State’s suggested values for farmland The Board discussed the letter and the change in support from a previous meeting’s discussion.

Selectman Baird made the motion to endorse Selectman Bramley’s letter to the town assessor which encourages the assessor to use and or take into consideration the State suggested values for farmland on the October 2007 Grand List. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed: Selectman Bramley and Selectman Baird voted aye, First Selectman Ridgway abstained.

BILL PAYMENT: Bills were paid in the usual manner.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to go into executive session to discuss Legal Advice. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The Board went into executive session at 8:55 p.m.

The Board came out of executive session at 9:15 p.m. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to approve the draft, with minor adjustments in dates, to enter into agreement concerning tax classification of property on Johnson Road with Greyledge Trust and to recommend to the Board of Finance this agreement be approved and to execute a final copy when the adjustment of dates is worked out. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Hart

Secretary to the Board of Selectmen