MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

7:30 p.m. - Town Hall

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

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Selectman Bramley made the motion to accept the minutes of

May 1, 2006 as presented. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to add to the agenda Marie Baum Scholarship, Sydney Kaye Fund report, Cornwall Village Improvement Society sign, and Forum on Housing. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

COMMUNICATIONS: First Selectman shared with the Board a letter received from Attorney Peter Ebersol concerning a request to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance to the slope requirements for a parcel on Ballyhack Road. The letter had been received as an abutting landowner. The Board discussed the request and the abutting town land which is the highway garage/transfer station parcel. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to respond to the Zoning Board of Appeals in a letter informing them the Board had looked at the map and feel the project application would have no negative impact on the town property. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

MARIE BAUM SCHOLARSHIP: The Board reviewed the one application received for the Marie Baum Scholarship. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to grant the $500 scholarship to Ellen Hart. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

SYDNEY KAYE FUND: The Board reviewed a letter received from the chair of the Sydney M. Kaye Trust Fund Advisory Committee. The committee had met and reviewed three requests for funds: $500 from the Cornwall Youth Fishing Program for the stocking of trout in Mill Brook and $400 from the Cornwall Girl Scouts for plantings at the grade school and $225 from the Cornwall Horseshoe Committee for the purchase of a plaque for the names of first place winners to be hung at Bairds store. The committee recommended the award of funds to the Youth Fishing Program and the Girl Scouts. The committee felt the purchase of a winners’ plaque for the Horseshoe League was not consistent with their charge which is to fund activities that will benefit many members of the community.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to grant the two requests of $500 from the Cornwall Youth Fishing Program for the stocking of trout in Mill Brook and $400 from the Cornwall Girl Scouts for plantings at the grade school as recommended by the Sydney M. Kaye Trust Fund Advisory Committee. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

CORNWALL VILLAGE IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY SIGN: The Board reviewed a draft of a sign presented by the Cornwall Village Improvement Society. It would say “Welcome to Cornwall” and list what is located in the village. The society would place it in the triangle of Jewel Street and Bolton Hill Road. The Board discussed the draft. No action was taken.

FORUM ON HOUSING: The Board discussed the recent Forum on Housing. An issue that was discussed is the cost of affordable housing and the high salary necessary for a mortgage for housing. The Board discussed several options on increasing affordable housing in town.

First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to set as a priority to work with the Housing Corporation to increase the supply of affordable housing in town in the coming year. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

BUDGET TRANSFER: The Board reviewed two budget transfers. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to transfer $1300 from 01-466-100-00 Contingency to increase 01-465-705-85 Tax Refunds because car leasers are claiming tax refunds more efficiently and to transfer $6,000 from 01-466-100-00 Contingency to increase 01-425-620-12 Highway Fuel and Oil because of the high costs of fuel and oil which exceeded the budget. Selectman Baird seconded. The Board discussed the contingency. Motion passed unanimously.

APPOINTMENTS: The Board discussed two appointments. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to appoint to the Cornwall Agricultural Advisory Committee Denny Frost and Ted Larson. Selectman Bramley seconded. The Board discussed the two appointees and the committee. Motion passed unanimously.

LORCH FARM: The Board discussed the progress of the purchase of the Lorch Farm, easements from the owner of the west parcel to the Connecticut Land Trust and how leases would be handled. The Board discussed the time line of the option expiring on June 4. At present there is $350,000 in the bank with pledges yet to come in. The Board will meet next week concerning the Lorch farm.

ELECTRIC CONSORTIUM: First Selectman Ridgway reported he is working with Sam Herrick of Region One on investigating an option to join an electric consortium with the company Constellation Energy who is offering a fixed price through December ’09. The Board discussed this. No decision made.

TOWN MEETING REVIEW: The Board reviewed the items on the call of the upcoming town meeting. A moderator is needed which Selectman Baird so kindly offered to be.

BILL PAYMENT: Bills were paid in the usual manner.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to go into executive session to discuss the Highway Contract Negotiations and Real Estate in Cornwall Bridge. Selectman Baird seconded. The motion passed. The Board went into executive session at 8:35 p.m.

The Board came out of executive session at 10:10 p.m. No action was taken.

Meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Joyce Hart

Secretary to the Board of Selectmen