MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Monday, February 7, 2011 - 7:30 p.m. - Town Hall

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

First Selectman Ridgway called the meeting to order at 7:38 p.m.

MINUTES: Selectman Baird made the motion to approve the minutes of January 18, 19, 24 and 27, 2011 as presented. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to add to the agenda Tax Refund, Revaluation, Storm Review and Transfer Station Proposal. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Ridgway reported to the Board the Cornwall Consolidated School Boy’s Basketball team won the Regional Championship this evening.

TAX REFUNDS: The Board reviewed four tax refund requests. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion, upon the recommendation of the tax collector, to approve the tax refunds of $188.81 to Vault Trust, $5.34 to Ralph J. Dzenutis, $44.70 to Tamara L. Tragakiss and $368.46 to Porsche Leasing Ltd. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

REVALUATION: The Board reviewed a Proposal for Revaluation submitted by town Assessor Barbara Bigos. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to accept the Proposal for Revaluation from town Assessor Barbara Bigos to do the revaluation for the upcoming year and to budget $18,000 in the upcoming budget year for revaluation. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

WINTER STORM REVIEW: The Board discussed the winter storms and reviewed the highway department budget. To date 37% of the budget has been used. The Board discussed costs and savings.

First Selectman Ridgway reported to the Board he had met with Building Inspector Paul Prindle concerning snow loads on roofs. Mr. Prindle has calculated the snow load at 30 pounds per square foot which is about the maximum most roofs are designed for. Another storm could push the capacity to hold the load on roofs. First Selectman Ridgway and Mr. Prindle had discussed, and the Board discussed putting out a public information notice for citizens to have contractors check their roofs.

TRANSFER STATION PROPOSAL: First Selectman Ridgway reported to the Board he was in receipt of a proposal from Fuss and O’Neil to provide an approved map to complete the application for a general permit for the operation of the transfer station. The Board discussed this and the previous attempt to complete the permit application with an unofficial map of a minor change. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to accept the proposal from Fuss and O’Neil to complete the general permit application for the transfer station. Selectman Bramley seconded. There was discussion. Motion passed unanimously.

APPOINTMENTS: The Board discussed appointments to the Conservation Commission, discussed those willing to serve and those not so willing. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to appoint Jean Bouteiller, Don Bardot, Patrick Mulberry, Graham Underwood, Kim Herkimer and Brian Thomas to the Conservation Commission. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

TOWN ENDOWMENT REQUESTS: First Selectman Ridgway reported he received a letter from the Berkshire Taconic Foundation notifying him of the expendable amount in the endowment. First Selectman Ridgway reported he was in receipt of a request from Tricia Collins for a grant from the endowment for training pitchers for the Cornwall Consolidated School softball team at the Hit Club in Thomaston. First Selectman reported the boy’s baseball team had trained pitchers there last year, it was good program. The Board discussed this. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to grant $500 to the CCS Softball team and $500 to the CCS Baseball team for the training of pitchers and $200 to the Food and Fuel Bank. Selectman Baird seconded. There was discussion of the increased need requests received by the Social Services Administrator for food and fuel. Motion passed unanimously.

BUDGET: The Board reviewed budget requests and a draft of the 2011-2012 budget. The Board discussed amounts to be granted to organizations, office expenditures and salaries. Selectman Bramley made the motion to set the office personnel wage increase at 2% with a hold on the insurance contribution to present level. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed: Selectman Bramley aye, Selectman Baird aye, First Selectman Ridgway abstained.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to go into executive session to discuss the appointment of a highway crew foreman. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The Board went into executive session at 8:50 p.m.

Selectman Baird made the motion, Selectman Bramley seconded, to come out of executive session. The Board came out of executive session at 9:40 p.m.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to hire Jim Vanicky as Highway Road Foreman. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

BILL PAYMENT: Bills were paid in the usual manner.

First Selectman made the motion to adjourn. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Hart, Administrative Assistant