MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CORNWALL BOARD OF SELECTMEN
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - 7:30 p.m. - Town Hall
PRESENT: First Selectman Gordon Ridgway, Selectman K.C. Baird, Selectman Richard Bramley, David Battista – Engineer, two citizens, one reporter
First Selectman Ridgway called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.
MINUTES: Selectman Bramley wished to make some clarifications to the minutes:
- To the August 24 minutes, to indicate town counsel Perley Grimes was also
present at the meeting.
- To the minutes of September 6
-to clarify under Lower River Road Bridge: written “which partly collapsed
pulling most of the bridge deck down with it” to clarify the partly
collapsed was compromising the stability of the bridge deck rather than pulling
it down.
- to clarify under Town Garage Vehicle Storage Building that B. Allyn Trucking
paid $1 for the old steel shed which they took down.
- to clarify under Great Hill/Great Hollow Road Project that the bid from
Allstate Asphalt has been accepted but not officially awarded.
Selectman Bramley made the motion to accept the minutes of August 24, September 6, both meetings of September 8 with clarifications. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
ADDITIONS: First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to add to the agenda Little Guild Agreement. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
COMMUNICATIONS: Selectman Bramley had a communication from a resident of Lower River Road who was concerned about the timing of the bridge repair due to future heating needs. The Board discussed the necessity of transporting temporary amounts of heating fuel to that area.
LOWER RIVER ROAD BRIDGE: The Board reviewed the condition of the bridge on Lower River Road and discussed the declared state of emergency of the August 28 Hurricane Irene which is still in effect until the bridge is replaced. First Selectman Ridgway gave a summery of the project in progress to the press and citizens present. The Board discussed the project with Mr. Battista, Engineer from Lenard Engineering, the work done and work needs to be done of bridge review, surveying, process for Requests For Proposal, bridge varieties, time table and need for town meeting. Lower River Road resident Don Bracken arrived and spoke to and discussed with the Board the situation. A temporary pedestrian bridge was discussed. The Board discussed the cooperation with the railroad company for crossing the tracks and the relocation of power lines for construction. First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board on his meeting with FEMA. There are requirements with other organizations to be done for historic review, DEP involvement and Inland/Wetlands Agency. The Board discussed the FEMA reimbursement and the change of the bridge size to accommodate future flooding. The Board addressed the “what ifs” in the changeable weather and water level conditions in terms of work on the bridge.
First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to retain the services of Keifer Land Surveyor to survey, Geo Design Inc. to do the borings, Lenard Engineering to do the engineering under the terms of agreement spelled out in the proposal of September 20, 2011 with the understanding that the construction and supervision is up in the air and Town Meeting approval is needed to spend the money to do the construction and Roger Kane for consulting work. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
TOWN MEETING: The Board discussed the special town meeting planned for September 28 and what was to be on the call. The Board discussed the need for a town meeting to fund the bridge on Lower River Road.
First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to put all items on one special town meeting for October 8, 7:30 and to cancel the proposed September 30 special town meeting. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
APPOINTMENTS: The Board discussed appointments to be made for round two of the Façade Grant Program.
First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to reappoint Cara Weigold, Paul Prindle and Rick Lynn to the Façade Grant Program Committee. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously. First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board on progress in round two of the program. First round of awards will be made in early October.
The Board discussed appointments to the Planning and Zoning Commission, the request for candidates from the Republican and Democrat Town Committees and reply received from the Democrat Town Committee. The term will last until the November election.
First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to move Josh Tyson up from alternate to full position on the Planning and Zoning Commission, to fill the term until elections. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to appoint Jill Cutler as alternate to the Planning and Zoning Commission to fill the term until elections. Selectman Baird seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
The Board discussed the Conservation Commission which has one vacancy. First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to appoint Joe Markow to the Conservation Commission. Selectman Bramley seconded. Motion passed unanimously.
SOLAR UPDATE: First Selectman Ridgway updated the Board on the DCS Energy solar program. Of the requests made for sites, only the grade school will receive a solar panel. The board discussed this.
LITTLE GUILD: The Board reviewed and discussed an agreement with the Little Guild for the housing of town dogs picked up by the Animal Control Officer.
First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to enter into an agreement with the Little Guild which either side can cancel if it doesn’t work out to each mutual benefit for the housing of town dogs. Selectman Baird seconded. There was discussion of the good work done in the town by the Guild. Motion passed unanimously. First Selectman Ridgway signed the agreement.
BILL PAYMENT: Bills were paid in the usual manner with a review of the current vs. actual budget to date and review of the current Capitol Projects.
First Selectman Ridgway made the motion to adjourn; it was seconded by Selectman Bramley, and passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 9:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joyce Hart
Administrative Assistant