MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

 

 Thursday -  June 24, 2004 - 9:00 a.m. - Town Hall

 

PRESENT: First Selectman Gordon Ridgway, Selectman Baird, Selectman Ken Keskinen, one bidder, one reporter

 

First Selectman Ridgway called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and declared the bids closed.

 

BID OPENINGS: First Selectman Ridgway opened the bids and the board reviewed them.

 

Liquid Asphalt:           All States Asphalt Inc.           $1.90 per gallon

                                    Gorman Group                       $1.40 per gallon

                                    Dosch-King Co.                      $1.75 per gallon

                                    Conn. Tar & Asphalt              $1.55 per gallon

 

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to accept the apparent low bid of Gorman Group at $1.40 per gallon pending confirmation of all the particulars from the highway foreman. Selectman Baird seconded. There was more discussion. Passed unanimously.

 

Bituminous: There was only one bid received from LB Corporation at $58.25 per ton.

 

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to accept the bid of LB Corporation at $58.25 per ton for bituminous concrete to do the work for the town for the summer based on happy with their work last year. Selectman Keskinen seconded. There was discussion of prices. Passed unanimously.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to accept the minutes of May 20, May 27, June 7, June 14, 2004. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously.

 

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to add to the agenda Furnace Brook Farm, Cornwall Lighting District, Tax Abatement, Bill Approval, and Executive Session: Personnel. Selectman Baird seconded. passed unanimously.

 

COMMUNICATIONS: Selectman Baird had communications to present. Selectman Baird reported on a communication from Mr. Rick Stone concerning the fire pond by the grade school and the risk of serious soil erosion. The Board discussed the history of the situation and what was being done and whose decision to proceed with the hydro seeding instead of the matting as earlier decided on. Selectman Baird will report to Mr. Stone on what is being done.

 

Selectman Baird had been asked about the time frame for fire hydrants in West Cornwall. Money is in the 2004-05 budget and work may proceed, probably next fall.

 

Selectman Baird had been asked concerning road work on College Street. The Board discussed the situation and who will be responsible for repaving when work there is done.

 

MOHAWK FIVE YEAR PLAN: First Selectman Ridgway presented plans of the Mohawk Five Year Plan. The Board will review the plans and if need will schedule a meeting with Mohawk to discuss them.

 

ASSESSOR: First Selectman Ridgway reported Barbara Bigos has been hired as replacement for Barbara Johnson as Assessor. She will begin July 1, 2004 and work on Wednesdays. The Board discussed plans for upgrading which Ms. Bigos has presented and the schedule for reevaluation.

 

NEW RECREATION AREA ON ROUTE 4 BID SPECS: The Board received and reviewed bid specs for the new playing fields and parking area on route 4.

 

Selectman Baird made the motion to empower First Selectman Ridgway to go out to bid, after reviewing specs, by next week. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously.

 

JOHNSON ROAD LETTER: The Board reviewed a letter received from Ms. Rogala concerning beaver problems impacting her property. The Board reviewed a map of the area and the history of the situation. The Board discussed the location of the culverts and beaver control devices and the impact of the beavers on these. First Selectman Ridgway had discussed the situation with the Land Use Administrator Karl Nielson. Mr. Nielson advised First Selectman Ridgway there is no impact directly on town property. This is a neighbor dispute. The Town has no authority over wildlife building dams, only over humans. The Town has no authority on private property. The Town can take action only if the town road is being flooded. At this time the beaver controls are working sufficiently to prevent that. As a courtesy First Selectman Ridgway had talked with the neighbor of Ms. Rogala concerning the problem.

 

CORNWALL BRIDGE VILLAGE CROSSWALK: The Board reviewed a sketch from the Connecticut Department of Transportation of a crosswalk in Cornwall Bridge over route 7. The Board discussed the sketch and what is needed and isnÕt needed and can be done and location options for a crosswalk. The Board discussed the need for a crosswalk which has been reduced with the elimination of the bus stop at the location. Selectman Baird will talk to the area businesses to determine the extent of need and best location.

 

FURNACE BROOK FARM: First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board concerning the situation at Furnace Brook Farm. A bond has been posted for work to be done to correct the erosion problem. Work has not begun yet. The Board discussed the time frame for beginning work.

 

CORWNALL LIGHTING DISTRICT: First Selectman Ridgway reported on a letter received from Ms. Sullivan concerning the Cornwall Village Lighting District and a $1200 bill from CL&P for the lights in the district. Ms. Sullivan has been footing the bill and no longer wishes to. She is presenting the bill for the town to pay. The Board discussed the history of lighting districts in the state and of the Cornwall Village Lighting District and how the West Cornwall Lighting District disbanded. The Board reviewed the documents of the origins of the district. It is a separate district from the town, a separate entity with its own bylaws, body of officers, and its own taxing ability. The district has been inactive as a body in the last few years. The Board discussed who is responsible for the bill. The consensus is it is not the townÕs. First Selectman Ridgway will write a letter in response to Ms. Sullivan and offer to help call a meeting of the district members.

 

TAX ABATEMENT: The Board reviewed two applications for Tax Abatement. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to grant the two applications for tax abatement of $200 pending completion of one application and verification of numbers. Selectman Keskinen seconded. Passed unanimously.

 

BILL PAYMENT: Bills were paid in the usual manner.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel. Selectman Baird seconded. Passed unanimously. The Board went into executive session at 10:00 a.m.

 

The Board came out of executive session at 10:10 a.m. Selectman Baird made the motion to grant the benefit of life insurance that goes with the Town Health Insurance  benefit to the two transfer station personnel and First Selectman as of July 1, 2004. Selectman Keskinen seconded. Passed unanimously.

 

Meeting adjourned at 10:15 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Joyce Hart

Secretary to the Board of Selectmen