MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Monday, April 5, 2004 - 7:30 p.m. - Town Hall

PRESENT: First Selectman Gordon Ridgway, Selectman K.C. Baird, Selectman Ken Keskinen, two reporters

First Selectman Ridgway called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Selectman Keskinen made the motion to approve the minutes of March 18, 2004. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: Selectman Keskinen made the motion to add to the agenda the Patriot Act meeting. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS: None

PATRIOT ACT: The Board discussed to clarify the Patriot Act petition and request for Town Meeting presented at the last meeting. It was clarified that the Board voted to not hold a Town Meeting, but Cornwall citizens who want to may meet – on town property – to discuss among themselves this issue. Any votes taken at such meeting are not acts of an official town body. The meeting does not have to be under any organization’s jurisdiction. They would not be representing the Town nor speaking for the Town.

SCHAGHTICOKE: First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board on a meeting with the Attorney General in the Town Hall. The Town of Kent is appealing the ruling of the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Schaghticoke recognition. The Attorney General has asked the town to join the appeal. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion the Town of Cornwall join the Attorney General in the appeal of the BIA recognition of the Schaghticokes pending the letter of clarification outlining the appeal and the town’s role. Selectman Baird seconded. The Board discussed the issue and who may be considering joining and filing deadlines. Motion passed unanimously.

2004/2005 BUDGET CHANGES: First Selectman Ridgway recommended some small changes to the budget. The Board discussed the changes.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to consider the $13,000 left over in Capitol Road Improvement this year and reduce the amount budgeted for next year from $130,000 to $117,000 and budget $10,000 in Capital for Fire Hydrants in West Cornwall and to reduce the Capital bottom line by $3,000 from $296,000 to $293,000.

Selectman Baird seconded. The Board discussed the uses of capital. Motion passed unanimously.

The Board discussed the Litchfield County Dispatch budget line and the budget adopted by the Directors of LCD for next year and its costs.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to reduce the budgeted amount for LCD from $17,000 to $15,550. Selectman Baird seconded. The Board discussed last year’s amount budgeted compared to this year’s and the $3 savings. Motion passed unanimously.

The Board discussed Torrington Area Health District budget request and the amount anticipated in the budget.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to increase the TAHD line by $116. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously.

The Board discussed a recommendation made at the Board of Finance meeting concerning increasing the snow removal line by $8,000 and offsetting this by reducing the contingency line. The Board discussed this recommendation. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to reduce Contingency by $3,000 from $30,000 to $27,000. Selectman Baird seconded. The Board discussed what contingency is for and what its percentage of the operating budget has been. Motion passed unanimously.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM: First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board on his meeting with Cornwall Consolidated School Principal Dr. Fitzgibbons, Finance Director Lisa Lansing, Park & Recreation Director Bethany Thompson and PTA President Patty Bramley. The questions and issues set forth by the Board were reviewed and resolved by those planning the program. The Board discussed these issues and solutions. The Board discussed the funding and staffing and how the program will work.

BEACH DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT: The Board had received two applications for the position of Beach Director. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to hire Tammy Decker as Beach Director. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously.

STEAP GRANT: First Selectman Ridgway presented a letter/fax from the Office of Policy & Management concerning the response to a change in the funding allocations of the STEAP Grant. The funding for parking and recreation at the new Foote property is now $250,000. The Board read and reviewed the letter. The Board discussed the approval of the changes and the need for these changes. The Board reviewed the plans for the playing fields on the Foote parcel and discussed the options of one field or two fields and parking lot area and the need to get the parking area set for this upcoming season.

RED CROSS SHELTER AGREEMENT: The Board reviewed a Statement of Understanding between the Town of Cornwall and the American Red Cross, Waterbury Area Chapter for Disaster Services. The Red Cross agrees to provide service to the town during disasters in exchange for the town supporting them the best it can.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to enter into an agreement for service and disaster relief with the Red Cross. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously.

BUDGET TRANSFER: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to transfer $3,000 from Capital Road Improvement to increase School Capital Project to cover the cost of the $25,000 generator for CCS, ($22,000 was previously voted from Municipal Reserve); a grant will reimburse $10,000. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously.

TOWN HALL USE REQUEST: The Board reviewed a request from a group of individuals to use the Town Hall for a concert setting, any money collected to be used to pay the musicians. The Board discussed the request and the precedent it may set of the Town Hall use by non civic groups. The Board’s consensus is that groups of people may request the use of the Town Hall if they meet the criteria of being requested by Cornwall citizens, are a responsible group of people, have an individual who signs out for use of the hall, key and clean up responsibility, and that the event is not exclusively private but open to any public who may wish to attend.

BILL PAYMENT: Bills were paid in the usual manner.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to go into executive session. Seconded by Selectman Baird. Passed unanimously. The Board went into executive session at 8:50 p.m.

The Board came out of executive session at 9:25 p.m. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to amend the 2005 budget to grant salary increases to the Selectmen’s Clerk by $250 plus 3%; the Finance Director by $250 plus 3%; the Highway Foreman by $500 plus 3%. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Hart

Secretary to the Board of Selectmen