MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

7:30 p.m. - Town Hall

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

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion and Selectman Baird seconded to approve the minutes of March 7 and March 16, 2005. Motion passed unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: None

COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman Ridgway informed the Board that there will be a FOI and Ethics training class sponsored by CCM. The cost is $30 a person. The Board discussed the cost and the possibility of having an FOI person come next fall and speak at no cost.

First Selectman Ridgway informed the Board the Social Services Administrator has received a good response to the Senior Survey put out in last month’s Cornwall Chronicle.

First Selectman Ridgway communicated to the Board the present status of the sand and salt budget. The Board discussed this and the contingency fund status.

First Selectman Ridgway informed the Board that over 160 letters have been received by Attorney Michael Sconyers in support of Hunt Williams.

First Selectman Ridgway informed the Board that he has passed on the letter by Ms. Herkimer presented at the last Board of Selectmen’s meeting to Rick Lynn, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mr. Lynn will address the letter at the next commission meeting.

REGION ONE BOARD OF EDUCATION REPRESENTATIVE: The Board reviewed the town special act concerning The Regional School District #1. The Board discussed how the representative to the Region One Board of Education is selected. The act states the representative may be appointed by the board of education of the town or may be elected by the electors of the town. The representative in Cornwall has been appointed by the Board of Education since the beginning of Region One. The Board discussed this. The consensus of the Board is to continue to have the Board of Education appoint the representative.

BUDGET REVIEW: The Board reviewed and discussed proposed changes to the budget. The Board discussed fuel oil and diesel fuel prices and the Board of Finance suggestion of increasing budget lines to cover increased costs.

Selectman Keskinen made the motion to approve the budget changes and to submit the budget to the Board of Finance. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

PLAYING FIELD PAVILION: The Board discussed and reviewed the plan for a pavilion on the new playing fields on Route 4. The Board discussed the size and uses of the pavilion, fencing and fence bid and backstop.

CL&P LAND: The Board reviewed a map of the CL&P land next to the West Cornwall Library. The Board discussed the setbacks from wells for septic systems. The Board discussed who has right of first refusal on the CL&P land and the possibility of splitting the parcel between the town buying the lawn area next to the library for a septic system and DEP owning the other end of the parcel for a boat access to the river. The consensus of the Board is to proceed with this idea.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE INITIATIVE: First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board on yesterday’s meeting with the group formed by the community which has an interest in pursuing the formation of a Cornwall Safety Coalition to handle substance abuse problems among local teens. Meetings will be held for parents to access information for help with these problems. There is an interest in creating a support group. The Board discussed the passing of a town ordinance in Kent fining those who provide alcohol to minors on private property. The Board discussed the bill as a state statute and the advantages on the state level since there are no local police forces and a town ordinance would move such actions to the next town where there is no ordinance.

Selectman Keskinen made the motion to endorse the efforts in general of the Cornwall Youth Safety Coalition. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion 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. Motion passed unanimously. The Board went into Executive Session at 8:30 p.m.

The Board came out of executive session at 8:37 p.m. No action was taken.

The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Hart

Secretary to the Board of Selectmen