MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
PRESENT: = &nb= sp; Elaine Adams
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Karl Fisher
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Raymond Hebert, Jr., Vice Chairman
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Robert Kane, Chairman
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Kevin Killeen
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Raymond Primini
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Paul Rinaldi
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Paul Valenti
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Richard Wick
ABSENT: &nb= sp; = None
OTHERS PRESENT: Larry
Black, Fire Chief
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Frank Nardelli, Finance Director/Assistant Town Manager
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Meredith Robson, Town Manager
1.&nb= sp; Call Meeting To Order
Mr. =
Kane,
Chairman, Called the Meeting to Order at
Mr. = Kane, Chairman, Called a Short Recess (due to technical problems).
Mr. =
Kane,
Chairman, Reckoned the Regular Meeting at
2.&nb= sp; Roll Call
Ms. LaForme, Board Clerk, executed the Roll Call.
&= nbsp; Mr. Kane, Chairman, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Regular Meeting
Page 2
4.&nb=
sp; Public
Participation
=
; Dave
LeBlanc,
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: Does the Council= have any intention on drawing up some guidelines for the next Town Meeting, so <= span class=3DGramE>there's no discrepancies like there was at the last on= e?
= ; Mr. Kane: I don’t under= stand, what do you mean?
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: I wasn't at the meeting, but you made a comment last meeting and I read through the Minutes= , I watched on TV, and there was some discrepancies = about the way the Town Meeting was run.
= ; Mr. Kane: No, no. What happened at the Town Meeting,= there was a question of an appropriation of $77,000 from the Open Space Fund, and should the Rickevicius Property referendum be approved, should we use that $77,000 towards that project. So there was a motion on the floor, and what I was trying to do was to keep th= e debate catered or structured toward that motion.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: Before that thou= gh, when there was nominations, you never gave any member of, any taxpayer, the right to be nominated.
=
; Mr.
Kane: I believe we did.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: It's absolutely = not in the Minutes.
= ; Mr. Kane: It's in the Minutes= .
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: It's not in the Minutes. You closed nominatio= ns right after you were nominated, you never gave anyone else . . . . it's not a Town Council meeting.
= ; Mr. Kane: No, we did.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: You're wrong, lo= ok in the Minutes.
= ; Mr. Kane: Okay.
= ; Ms. Adams: You called for any= other nominations and I think I made the motion or somebody made a motion to move= the nominations be closed.
= ; Mr. Kane: I did ask for other nominations.
=
; Mr.
LeBlanc: You never did.
Regular Meeting
Page 3
= ; Mr. Kane: I did.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: It's not in ther= e.
= ; Mr. Kane: Okay. It's the proce= dure, I have to follow it actually, so I did ask for nominations.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: All right, you l= ook and you tell me, you asked for nominations, once you were nominated there w= as a motion to close, which is out of order.&nb= sp; You're supposed to say is there any other nominations from the floor. Every member in here i= n the Town Meeting is part of that meeting, it's not a Council meeting.
= ; Mr. Kane: Yes, they are, you'= re right. Correct.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: It's not a Counc= il meeting. It could be a nonbia= sed person #1 that brings that meeting to order. You shouldn't even bring the meeti= ng to order.
= ; Mr. Kane: Well yes I do bring= the meeting to order, the Chairman does bring the meeting to order.
=
; Mr.
LeBlanc: Secondly you're =
voting
with your microphones on, so 9 yes votes, I don’t know if everyone had
theirs on, I know you had yours on on TV.&=
nbsp;
9 yes votes sound a lot louder than 9 no votes from the bleachers.
=
; Mr.
Kane: We do have
guidelines. Maybe
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: Cause what happe= ned Mr. Giannaccio came up here last week and said that swayed a lot of people's votes that meeting, and it definitely swayed my vote.
= ; Mr. Kane: I don’t think= he said that. I think he said th= at the way the vote was in favor, I think he agreed that the true vote was in favor. I have the Minutes if = you'd like. A verbal vote was taken= and I was standing right there, the ayes did have it.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: Oh the ayes had = it, but a member asked for a handout. You could have explained to him that . . . . .
= ; Mr. Kane: At that point it co= uldn't be done.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: Right, but you c= ould have explained it to him in a nice way, instead of just saying I heard you.= You had your microphones on.
Regular Meeting
Page 4
= ; Mr. Kane: But I couldn't reco= gnize, you of all people sir, you're very good about Robert's Rules of Order, and = you know that would be out of order, someone speaking from the public at that p= oint, so you of all people are very good about that.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: It's not out of = order.
= ; Mr. Kane: Yes, you can't be recognized, because once that vote is taken, that's it.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: But you could ha= ve explained to him, that's what I'm saying, you could have said to him in a n= ice way instead of saying with that condescending attitude well I heard it and = it was . . . .
= ; Mr. Kane: That's your opinion= .
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: It was one second. If he called one seco= nd before he would have had a hand count, so next time before the meeting star= ts, say if someone wants a hand count, call it before I say motion carries, you have to call a hand count. An= yone in here can call for a hand count.
= ; Mr. Kane: Thank you.
= ; Mr. LeBlanc: Thank you.
= ; Mr. Kane: Thank you for your = help.
=
; Robert
Gianaccio,
=
; Mr.
Gianaccio: And actually w=
hat I
was going to say is somewhere in the lines of what Dave said, but not
exactly. The ayes did have
= ; Mr. Kane: Yea, well you're pr= obably right, a lot of people don't know the inner workings of a town meeting, you= 're right, but I did say are there any other nominations.
Mr. Gianaccio: You did say that.
Mr. Kane: Mr. LeBlanc said earlier that I did= not say that.
Mr. Giannaccio: You did say that.
Regular Meeting
Page 5
Mr. Kane: I did say that, thank you, I apprec= iate that.
Mr. Giannaccio: But they didn't know that they could. Myself, I'll tell you I would have nominated somebody, I would have, not that I don't like you, (in= audible). I have a question though. Who can vote in Town Meetings? Who is eligible to vote in Town Me= etings?
Mr. Kane: Probably on that appropriation I wo=
uld
assume the taxpayers in the Town of
Mr. Rinaldi: Property owners of a certain value= .
Ms. Adams: Over $1,000.
Mr. Giannaccio: So you can be a resident and own property, a taxpayer . . . .
Ms. Adams: Or a non-resident.
Mr. Giannaccio: A non-resident and own property, a taxpayer. How old?
Mr. Kane: I would assume voting age.
Mr. Giannaccio: 18 or older?
Ms. Adams: Well how old do you have to be to o= wn property? Like a car?
Mr. Giannaccio: Well a car is one thing, but you c= an own land at 12 years old.
Ms. Adams: Good question.
Mr. Kane: Well really it would have passed ev= en easier if we allowed the kids to vote.
Mr. Giannaccio: Maybe, and maybe not. The reason I’m saying that i= s when you looked out and saw everyone in this audience out here, was everybody a member in Town, was everybody a resident, was everybody a taxpayer?
Ms. Adams: You don’t have to be a taxpa= yer to vote (inaudible) a registered voter.
Mr. Giannaccio: Did you recognize everyone out here? Did they fit that categ= ory? Cause w= hen you walk in this door, just like when you go vote, there’s no one looking= for an ID, no one is asking. Now = the gentleman that stood next to me right over there who asked for a hand count, maybe, j= ust maybe he looked in this audience and saw 3 or 4 people who shouldn’t = have been voting, and by you putting the hands up, he might have said you’= re not a resident, you shouldn’t vote.
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Page 6
Mr. Kane: Yea, but you know that’s a ve= ry difficult, because I believe going back to Mr. LeBlanc, if I’m correc= t, he was the one who made an F.O.I. complaint in Hartford about signing in and didn’t want people to have to sign in to meetings, so that would mean that we would have to have people sign in for that meeting.
Mr. Giannaccio: Well not sign in but . . . . .
Mr. Kane: That’s the only way, how else= are we going to know?
Mr. Giannaccio: Check and ID to make sure you are an actual voter.&= nbsp; When you’re appropriating $87,000 of my money, you better be f= rom this Town or own property in this Town cause if that’s the case, how = do you know if I didn’t have my daughter out here from Terryville, my son-in-law, his brother from Thomaston?&nb= sp; How do you know right now out there if you took a vote, that there’s someone here from out of town?
Mr. Kane: Anything is possible.
Mr. Giannaccio: $87,000 of my money, it better be =
someone
from Town. I’m only thr=
owing
out this information; I’m not criticizing, I'm just saying
Mr. Kane: It’s just the way it’s = always been done. Far before we were= here and far after we’re gone.
Mr. Giannaccio: Let me ask you something – i= f we took a vote and it passed and you went for referendum and I came to you and proved to you that there was 10 people out here that did not belong in this vote, and sued the Town, what would you do then?
Mr. Kane: Sir, the money that we appropriated= or tried to appropriate is from the Open Space Fund and is supposed to be used= for open space.
Mr. Giannaccio: But it had to be voted to be used = for that.
Mr. Kane: Correct.
Mr. Giannaccio: If the vote was not a correct Town= vote, and you approved it, and you got sued for that . . . . .
Mr. Kane: I don’t know, I think you mig= ht be stretching a bit now, saying that that was not a Town vote. I think I recognize, I’m sure many of the members here recognized the majority of the peop= le.
Regular Meeting
Page 7
Ms. Adams: It’s been many, many moons s= ince we’ve done a Town Meeting for a budget. At that point in time, given the l= arge voter turnout, we do have our registrars there along with the Assessor̵= 7;s list for property owners to make sure that all of them are eligible to vote. Now if I’m not mistaken, you also have the ability to challenge, such as we did this, you = have the ability to challenge somebody’s right to vote, but I would check that, but I’m pretty sure that you do have the right. As you said if you knew somebody l= ived in Terryville and didn’t own property, you could then challenge them,= and I think they could be here, but it would have to be (inaudible) to be able = to vote.
Mr. Giannaccio: I can agree with that, but when th= is fellow asked for a hand vote, that would actually indicate the vote, rather than someone saying maybe at that time that person would not raise his hand= and the vote would be different, that’s when you would challenge it. I could not challenge anybody once= the nominations were closed and the voting was done.
Mr. Kane: If it were closer, I think it was p= retty obvious that it was, that the ayes did have it. If it we= re close then we could split the room, ayes over here, nays over here, and rea= lly go right down to it.
Ms. Adams: And appoint two tally counters.
Mr. Kane: Yea, and we would, but it wasn̵= 7;t that close.
Mr. Giannaccio: I agree with you, the ayes were far beyond the nays.
Ms. Adams: You’re just looking for an ed= ucation on how town meetings are . . . . . .
Mr. Giannaccio: But I’m saying if 10 of those people had said aye, and had no right to vote, then the nays may have been bigger, you know what I’m saying?
Mr. Kane: Anything is possible, I guess.
Mr. Giannaccio: Just giving you food for thought, I’d just like you to get a legal opinion on this before we get into trouble.
Mr. Rinaldi: I have a standing rule for myself, = I don’t speak during public participation, that’s your time, however, I agree with Elaine. I’ve been = around a lot of years and prior to probably 1991, all town meetings you were check= ed at the door. As Elaine said you’d have the registrars there, the tax assessor and when you came in they would just check off and make sure you had the right to vote at a Town meeting. And there were a lot= more people back then than there is now.
Mr. Giannaccio: So since that was a town meeting, = it should have been checked.
Regular Meeting
Page 8
Mr. Kane: It’s all moot now.
Mr. Giannaccio: I still say the ayes had it, I agre= e with you, there’s no question about it.&n= bsp; I’m just saying if you could get a legal opinion on this.
Mr. Kane: I don’t know if we want to sp= end money on a legal opinion.
Mr. Giannaccio: Well you have lawyers at your acce= ss, I mean look at the Town Charter.
Mr. Kane: We have to pay for that, but I agre= e with you, maybe at the next, if another town meeting comes up with an appropriat= ion of that size, then maybe we should check people at the door.
Mr. Giannaccio: Especially money purposes today.
Coreine Peluso,
Ms. Peluso: I’m Chairman of the Commissi=
on on Aging
in and I’m coming to you with a problem that a few elderly had called=
me
on it, and I said to them well they have not made their minds up yet. They’re very disturbed about=
them
cutting the two, it’s been out there, that
Heminway and Polk would be cut. Now
I can understand you people are trying to save money, but I can’t
understand if that’s the object of why we don’t have voting
districts. Heminway and Polk =
are
our biggest voting districts in
Mr. Kane: We haven’t cut anything, nor = have we even considered cutting anything. On the Agenda tonight is a, the two registrars that are present toni= ght want to talk about the possibility of reducing the number of polling places= on referendum day. That’s = all, we haven’t gone beyond that. They have to give their formal presentation first of course. This came up at a Finance Subcommi= ttee meeting. Of course it’s budgetary time, budget season, and we’re looking at every avenue to reduce costs. And they made t= hat proposal there. I felt that it should come to the entire Council, and that’s why they’re here tonight, but by no means was any vote taken on this.
Regular Meeting
Page 9
Ms. Peluso: I want to basically (inaudible).
Enrico Rinaldi,
= ; Mr. Rinaldi: I heard if you&#= 8217;re a registered voter, you’re allowed to vote on referendums. If these people are not taxpayers,= how are you going to allow them to vote? Personally I’m talking about the taxpayers, not the government= or anything. They don’t al= low me to vote because I’m not a citizen, but I own property, I pay taxes, b= ut they don’t allow me to vote. That’s fine, that’s my problem, it’s my fault, I didn’t (inaudible), but I'm till a taxpayer. But if people don’t own prop= erty and pay taxes, I don’t think they should be allowed to vote, even if they’re registered voters. A registered voter is when you vote for government, that’s your mayor, people for the board, etc. That’s okay. But they’re not a taxpayer, they shouldn't be = allowed to vote on the tax things.
They did the street, I don’t know how much they paid for the stones, whate= ver, but in front of my house, right on my grass, I’ve got stones, piled l= ike this. They said they were swe= eping the street, I’m not talking about the yearly sweeping, I’m talking about when they did this. Did they pay the contractor all the money who was responsible?
= ; Ms. Adams: We had definite is= sues with that contractor, because they have to put down a layer of tar, then gravel, then tiny rocks over it in order (inaudible) and it does form a hard surface over time. On your ro= ad that didn’t happen. The= tar was splotchy, the gravel had huge piles left, and the issue is being addres= sed with the contractor, definitely.
Mr. Rinaldi: If you want to buy land, in no
man’s land. We have lan=
d over
here. We could have bought it,
right at the end of
If
the people come by
Mr. Kane: That’s a good question. I’ll check into that.
Mr. Rinaldi: They need a sign. I don’t know why they never = put a sign up for the school. They&= #8217;re trying to hire these contractors. I wonder if they corrected the football field at the high school, or finished it. There= ’s problems there already. When I worked in construction, we had to keep 10% or 15% of the bond for so many years, so if something went wrong, the bond money would cover it.
&=
nbsp; Mr.
Kane, Chairman, Closed Public Participation at
Regular Meeting
Page 10
5.&nb=
sp; Minutes
&=
nbsp; A. Regular
Meeting Minutes –
=
; &n=
bsp; MOTION: (Ms. =
Adams,
sec. Mr. Primini) to Approve the Regular Meeting
Minutes dated
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLT
6.&nb=
sp; Sub-Committee
Reports
A. &nbs= p; Public Works Subcommittee
&nb= sp; Ms. Adams: We’ll be mee= ting a week from tomorrow at the Town Hall Annex.= Next Monday, weather permitting, no snow or ice, we’ll begin sweeping the streets. The lis= ting is being published in the newspaper and should be on the web site already.<= /p>
Mr. Rinaldi: They already sta= rted the streets.
B. &nbs= p; Finance Subcommittee
=
Mr. Hebert: We had a meeting last week,
we have another meeting scheduled for next Monday. We finished the budget review. As has been reported, we are facin=
g a significant
increase this year in various expenses.&nb=
sp;
Staff is preparing a list to see what the final budget would look li=
ke
with certain cuts in place. A=
lso we
have a number that we’re asking for the School Board. Everything right now is still in
discussion; no decision have been made. Next Monday we’ll have furth=
er discussions
on a final number that will be presented to the Council, hopefully the 18
7.&nb= sp; Chairman’s Report
&= nbsp; A. Correspondence
=
; &n=
bsp; 1. =
Letter
from the Economic Development Commission, dated
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Kane, Chairman, read aloud the following letter:
Regular Meeting
Page 11
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; “
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Chairman Robert Kane
=
; &n=
bsp; =
;
=
; &n=
bsp; =
;
=
; &n=
bsp; =
;
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Dear Chairman Kane:
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; During
our last Economic Development Commission meeting a discussion was held
regarding recent newspaper accounts in which several individuals encouraged
using the old Watertown Drive-In site as a recreational facility. It is our understanding the State =
of
= ; &n= bsp; = ; This vote should not be seen as vote against open space or recreational faciliti= es, but it only speaks to the land in question.&nb= sp; The Commission felt that the tract's proximity to Route 8 and its relative isolation from residential areas would make it a prime site for commercial development; something the Town is sorely in need of.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Sincerely,
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Joseph McGrail
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Chairman E.D.C.”
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Kane read aloud the following letter of resignation:
= ; &n= bsp; = ; “Dear Mr. Kane:
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; This
is to notify you of my resignation as a member of the Police Commission of =
Watertown,
effective
Regular Meeting
Page 12
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Recently the meetings of these two groups have conflicted, forcing me to make choices. Because I feel that = my true expertise lies in the building trade, I have chosen to remain on the Public Buildings Committee and resign from the Police Commission. My experience while serving on the= Police Commission has been truly enlightening.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Sincerely,
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; Karl
Kuegler”
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Kane: I have a note regar= ding the Memorial Day Parade and who is marching, so obviously you would contact Lisa in the Parks and Recreation Office regarding your participation.
8.&nb=
sp; Action
Items
= ; A. Consider Appointments to Boards and Commissions
=
; &n=
bsp; MOTION: (Mr.
Hebert, sec. Mr. Primini) to nominate Carmine DiPietro,
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Killeen, Mr. Primini, Mr. Vale= nti, Mr. Wick
= ; &n= bsp; Opposed: = None
= ; &n= bsp; Abstained: Mr. Rinaldi
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION CARRIED (8-0-1)
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Page 13
=
; &n=
bsp; MOTION: (Mr.
Hebert, sec. Mr. Primini) to nominate John Manno,
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Killeen, Mr. Primini, Mr. Wick=
= ; &n= bsp; Opposed: = None
= ; &n= bsp; Abstained: Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Valenti
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION CARRIED (7-0-2)
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Mr. Primini) to nominate John Woermer, 10 Deer Run, Watertown,= CT, to the Parks and Recreation Commission, Term to Expire January, 2008.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Killeen, Mr. Primini, Mr. Wick=
= ; &n= bsp; Opposed: = None
= ; &n= bsp; Abstained: Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Valenti
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION CARRIED (7-0-2)
=
; &n=
bsp; MOTION: (Mr.
Hebert, sec. Mr. Primini) to nominate Patricia Kropp,
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Killeen, Mr. Primini, Mr. Wick
= ; &n= bsp; Opposed: = Mr. Fisher, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Valenti
= ; &n= bsp; Abstained: None
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION CARRIED (6-0-3)
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Page 14
= ; B. = Consider Transfers
R E S O L U T I O N
= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, expenses in the 2004-05 fiscal year require the Transfer of Funds;
= ; &n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by vote of the Watertown Town Council, that the following actions are taken relative to the Transfer of Funds:
=
; &n=
bsp; GENERAL FUND
= ; &n= bsp; AMOUNT: $2,500 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; NO: 1
= ; &n= bsp; FROM: &= nbsp; 010-50415-018-0000 Equipment Parts
= ; &n= bsp; TO: &= nbsp; 010-50319-018-= 0000 Vehicle Maintenance
= ; &n= bsp; REASON: Maintenance Costs Exceeded Expectations
= ; &n= bsp; AMOUNT: $4,500 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; NO: 2
= ; &n= bsp; FROM: &= nbsp; $3,000 010-50110-002-0042 Secretary I
= ; &n= bsp; FROM: &= nbsp; $ 900 010-50354-002-0000 = Special Events
= ; &n= bsp; FROM: &= nbsp; $ 600 010-50690-046-0000 = Contingency
= ; &n= bsp; TO: &= nbsp; 010-50310-040-= 1903 GIS
= ; &n= bsp; REASON: Additional Funds Requested
=
; &n=
bsp; WATER & SEWER
= ; &n= bsp; AMOUNT $2,00= 0 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &= nbsp; NO: 3
= ; &n= bsp; FROM: &= nbsp; 015-50690-074-0164 Contingencies
= ; &n= bsp; TO: &= nbsp; 015-50720-074-= 1447 Miscellaneous/Refunds
= ; &n= bsp; REASON: Additional Funds Required
=
; &n=
bsp; Dated at
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp;
= ; &= nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Mr. Wick) to Approve the Resolution Authorizing Transfers between line items.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
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Page 15
= ; C. Consider Tax Refunds
R E S O L U T I O N
= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, Taxpayers have made application for the property Tax Refunds in accordance = with Section 12-129 Refund of Excess Payment; and
= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, the Tax Collector recommends that the Refunds be made in accordance with the provisions of Section 12-129;
= ; &n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council approves the following Tax Refunds:
1817 Wells
X2502-011 Attn: FSU Reg 1 = Type: R
1 Home Campus
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1818 Wells
X2502-011 Attn: FSU Reg 1 = Type: R
1 Home Campus
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1821 Wells
X2502-011 Attn: FSU Reg 1 = Type: R
1 Home Campus
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1825 LSI Tax Service &n= bsp; = ; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $34.07
Attn: Bruce Johnson = &nb= sp; Type: R
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1827 Ajro, Guxim & Lindita = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $171.11
57 Bushnell Avenue &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Type: R
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
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Page 16
1828 LSI Tax Service 1 = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $1,323.00
Attn: Bruce Johnson = &nb= sp; Type: R
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1830 LSI Tax Service 2 = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $654.02
Attn: Bruce Johnson = &nb= sp; Type: R
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1831 Union Savings Mortgage Corp. &= nbsp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $479.00
Loan Serving Department<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Type: R
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1833
Attn: Susan Pronovost = Type: R
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1840 New Alliance Bank = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $658.48
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1841 Wells
X2502-011 Attn: FSU Reg 1 = Type: R
1 Home Campus
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1843 LSI Tax Service 1 = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $62.88
Attn: Bruce Johnson = &nb= sp; Type: R
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
Regular Meeting
Page 17
1844 Wells
X2502-011 Attn: FSU Reg 1 = Type: R
1 Home Campus
Reason for Refund: Duplicate Payment
1845 Chase Manhattan Auto Fi= nc. Corp. <= /span>Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $160.70
900 Stewart Avenue &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Type: M
Gard= en City. NY 111530-4855
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Prorated
1846 Colonair, Tracey A or Robert J. &= nbsp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $50.03
35 Deanna Court &= nbsp; &nbs= p; = Type: M
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Prorated
1847 Dillon, Brendon, P. = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $226.99
5920 Horsehair Blanket D= rive &= nbsp; Type: M
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Prorated
1851 Honda Lease Trust = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $145.44
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Prorated
1852 Honda Lease Trust 1 = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $43.10
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Prorated
1853 Honda Lease Trust 2 = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $60.07
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Prorated
1854 Kaszas, Elmer or Janet = Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $14.95
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Prorated
Regular Meeting
Page 18
1855 LeClerc, Dorothy M. = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $48.85
91 Saunders Avenue &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Type: M
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Prorated
1856 Provident Auto Leasing
1 Ea= st 4th Street #A203D = ; &n= bsp; Type: M
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Prorated
1857 Bogosian, Harry D or Kathleen L. = Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $253.00
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Deleted
1858 Bogosian, Harry D or Kathleen L. = Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $84.66
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Deleted
1859 Bogosian, Harry D or Kathleen L. = Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $40.11
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Deleted
1860 Creighton, Rachael L. = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $101.61
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Deleted
1861 Olivers Rubbish Removal LLC = Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $309.42
111 Merrimac Street &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Type: = ; S
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Assessed Value Decreased
1862 White, Michael E. = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $89.97
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Assessed Value Decreased
1867 Yezierski, Rose or Joseph M. &= nbsp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $129.76
191 Evelyn Street &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Type: = ; M
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Account Deleted
Regular Meeting
Page 19
1870 Ogren, John Allen = &nb= sp; Amount of Refund: &nb= sp; $ 91.67
182 Farview Circle &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Type: R
Reason for Refund: Per Assessor, Veteran Exemption Applied
Total
for All Refunds &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; $10,935.92
=
; &n=
bsp; Dated at
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp;
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to Approve the Resolution authorizing Tax Refunds.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
=
; D. Consider
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to Set a Special Town Meeting for Monday, April 18, 2005 at 7:15 p.m. at the John Trumbull Primary School Media Center to consi= der two appropriations from the General Fund as follows: $46,500 for snow removal overtime,= and $18,500 for sand and salt.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: = ; Mr. Wick: Since sand and salt= is less than $25,000, does that have to go to a Town Meeting?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: Yes.
&nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Mr. Nardelli: We appropriated $24,500, and then we transferred another $7,500, and now this appropriation= is bringing this over the total so we really should go to a town meeting becau= se we’ve already appropriated $24,000.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Kane: Frank, it’s safe to assume we’re not the only town in this predicament.
&nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Mr. Nardelli: That’s co= rrect.
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Regular Meeting
Page 20
=
; E. =
Consider
a Resolution Authorizing an Appropriation for a Third Party Review for
Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands Agency Application #521 -
R E S O L U T I O N
= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, the Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands Agency (CCIWA) has received an = Application #521 - Lake View Estates, Echo Lake Road and Icehouse Road, for a 19-lot subdivision.
= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, the CCIWA has requested that a third party review be conducted in accordance with Section 2.2 of the Fees Ordinance which requires t= hat the applicant pay for the third party review;
= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, the developer has provided a check in the amount of $3,700 for the third pa= rty review which has been deposited into the General Fund.
= ; &n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Watertown Town Council hereby authorizes= the appropriation of $3,700 from the General Fund for a third party review for CCIWA Application #521.
=
; &n=
bsp; Dated at
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp;
=
; &n=
bsp; MOTION: (Mr.
Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to Approve the Resolution
authorizing an appropriation for a third party review for the Conservation =
Comission/Inalnd
Wetlands Agency Application #521, Lake View Estates,
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: = ; Mr. Rinaldi: This is a wash?<= /p>
= ; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Nardelli: Yes.
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Regular Meeting
Page 21
9. &nb=
sp; Discussion
And Possible Action Items
=
; A. Discussion
and Possible Action on a Motion=
in
Support of a Grant Application for the
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to Support the submission of a grant application for the Watertown Fire Department for the 2005 Assistance to Firefighter's Grant for 4 Diesel Exhaust Systems and Turnout Gear. The two total $42,912; the Town= 217;s portion of the 10% match would be $4,291.20.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: Ms. Adams: Do we have the grant or we’r= e just giving the authorization to apply for it and should we get the grant, then = this $4,291.20, they won’t have to wait for it, but if we don’t get = the grant, this just stays in the General Fund.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: Right.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Valenti: So this wasn’t part of the b= udget that we’re still working on?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: No.
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
=
; B. =
Discussion
and Possible Action on the Exte=
nsion
of an Agreement with
=
; &n=
bsp; MOTION: (Mr.
Hebert, sec. Mr. Wick) to Approve the Extension =
of the
Agreement with Griffin School LLC for the purchase of
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Discussion: = ; Mr. Kane: I see here original= ly Randy was looking for April 30th. Was that changed because it’= s my birthday?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: We’re just trying to make su= re there’s enough time to get all of the meetings in.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Rinaldi: Who has been actively involved in = this? Meredith?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: Yes, and Rob and Randy.
Regular Meeting
Page 22
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Rinaldi: How many extensi= ons have we given them already?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Kane: This is the third, I believe.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: Third extension, yea. Four deadlines, the third extensio= n.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Rinaldi: What seems to be the holdup at= this point?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: There are just th= ings that come out at different commission meetings that need to be addressed, so it’s delaying the project.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Kane: I believe they̵= 7;re on schedule for either April 6th or 13th.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: 6th I = believe, I think it’s this week, for the Zoning Board of Appeals.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Mr. Rinaldi: I was informed by someone on the
commission that they’re looking for a zone change to run thee drivewa=
y from
the bank through the
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms Robson: They don't meet t= heir setbacks in general, so they have to go for that anyway. There is an issue where they want = to cut off a piece of the property to, I don’t know if they’re selling= it, giving it, whatever their arrangement is with the bank, but that would go to the bank.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Rinaldi: But why is that holding this up?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: That’s not holding up the project. They have to go for = other variances anyway because of other side setbacks, and rear setbacks, so they have to go through that process anyway, and we didn’t, the Planning a= nd Zoning Commission did not have a site plan until, (inaudible) within the la= st month, I don’t remember the exact date of the (inaudible).
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Rinaldi: Let me simplify = the question, why should we give them another extension?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Kane: Cause they haven’t finished g= oing through the process yet.
Regular Meeting
Page 23
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Rinaldi: How long is this going to take?
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: Hopefully it will be done in April. Well it would be done for the Zoni= ng Board of Appeals in April. I = think they have their second meeting with P & Z this month, so it should be d= one within this timeframe.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Rinaldi: But they said this before.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: Yes, they have.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Kane: There's just certain issues that they’re dealing with as well as the Planning and Zoning Board as well as the Z.B.A they’re not dealing wi= th also.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: In all fairness, they’re not always aware of what's going to come up until it co= mes up at a particular commission meeting.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Valenti: Just looking at = the letter in the packet in explanation of this, the third paragraph reads that= for clarification purposes my understanding is that the only outstanding contingency is in paragraph 20 of the contract which subjects your client to obligation to purchase the property receiving all government approvals for elderly housing. Is that talk= ing about the Planning and Zoning process, or is that some other . . . .
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Robson: What that means is, that if they= 217;re given approvals for the project, they’re contracted to purchase the b= uilding.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Killeen, Mr. Primini, Mr. Wick
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Opposed: = Mr. Fisher, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Valenti
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; Abstained: None
=
; &n=
bsp; MOTION
CARRIED (
Regular Meeting
Page 24
= ; C. Discussion and Possible Action on Authoriz= ing the Town Manager to Sign and Enter Into and Execute an Agreement for the Sw= ift Code Review
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to authorize the Town Manager to Enter Into and Execute an Agreement for the Swift Code Review with Pierz Associat= es.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: = ; Ms. Robson: This is a code re= view for the Swift project from an outside vendor, contractor. It covers the site, architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire safety protection reviews, so it will just be done by someone separately.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; = ; Ms. Adams: It’s all par= t of the bond then for the school?
&nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Ms. Robson: It will have to be. It will be paid from thos= e funds.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Valenti: This went through the Public Build= ings Committee, I guess?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; = ; Ms. Robson: Yes. They had several quotes for the wo= rk and this is the one they decided on.
&nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Mr. Valenti: So this is ordin= ary and routine for this kind of, I just find it interesting because you would think the contractors there would know how to build to compliance and here = we are . . . . .
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Kane: Checks and balances I guess.
&nb= sp; = &nb= sp; Mr. Killeen: If I’m not mistaken I think this arose partly out of the scope of the project and was = one of the recommendations of our Building Inspector to go with a code complian= ce officer, so the Public Buildings went ahead and went on that recommendation= in cooperation with the architect.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Valenti: I always think it’s good to = send it to the Public Buildings, that’s why I asked if it had their blessi= ng.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; = ; Ms. Robson: Yes.
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Regular Meeting
Page 25
= ; D. Discussion Regarding the Establishment of Polling Places for Future Referendums
=
; &n=
bsp; David Dalton, Republican Registrar=
&nb= sp; Elaine Ayotte, Democrat Registrar
=
; &n=
bsp; Mr. Dalton: Recently we made a proposal to the=
Town
Council’s subcommittee on the budget, Ray =
Hebert
alluded to it earlier to try to reduce costs. We had no idea it would become at =
all
controversial. As you know at=
the referendum,
we have 25% to 30% of the people normally come to vote, and most of the time
the people who do come to vote find the places pretty much empty. At the same time we have great dif=
ficulty
in retaining and attracting workers, so because of this we propose a 10%
increase for those workers who we retained for referendums, at the same time
reducing 2 polling places, sites to be determined. I believe that obviously one in
&nb= sp; Ms. Adams: I’ve done a = lot of the jobs at the polls. I had = the same position as Elaine did previously, being the deputy registrar. I’ve been a moderator, a chec= ker, absentee ballot counter; that was fun. The only thing I haven’t done= is I think a machine tender. One of the things that first and foremost, if our workers have not had a raise in 10 years, then that has to be remedied, and= I don’t have any qualms with that.&nbs= p; Secondly, we have several severe budget constraints, we tend to go to several referendums when we do budgets, and I can understand you're wanting to save the Town money, but I think there may be a better wa= y to do that instead of closing polling places.= One of the ways it could be done is you go in, when I vote at Polk, = very seldom I see maybe 3 or 4 people there, if that many, during a budget vote;= I didn’t see anybody when I voted on the Rickevicius property, instead = of having two tables of checkers, have just one, that way you can save money f= or 2, 4, 6, 8, different polling places. Machine tenders. How many do you need? I think you only have to have one there. If you have two, cut back. So in looking at that, = you can then keep the polls open which would then not inconvenience or cause a whole lot of confusion (inaudible) referendums, trying to figure out where people vote, they don’t understand they’ve gotten a call to vot= e, they go to their nearest voting place which may not be where they actually vote, but in doing things like that we can suggest a savings and still keep= the 4 polling places open.
&nb= sp; Ms. Ayotte: The machine tende= rs, we have to have one machine tender for each machine, and we used to have two f= or each machine, but we cut back to one and a spare, so the machine tenders can take a break.
Regular Meeting
Page 26
&nb= sp; Ms. Adams: Can you just open = up one machine then and have your spare machine not open unless that one goes down= ? Maybe it wouldn’t work at Po= lk or Heminway, the busier districts, but talk to the moderators. I know they keep counts for each h= our when people vote, to see if you can get away with one.
&nb= sp; Mr. Dalton: That’s a go= od suggestion. The people that you’re suggesting eliminating however are the cheapest help that we h= ave at the polls It’s the registrars, assistant registrars, and moderato= rs that are really the more expensive ones and the more responsible jobs.
= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: Right, but by the same token too, I sense there’s a huge resistance to doing this, closing two polling pl= aces, and I believe it’s the municipal body here that designates the voting districts.
= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Dalton: Actually it’s the decision of= the registrars but we would certainly not go counter to the wishes of the Town Council if everybody felt that way, however in checking around Town, we’ve had a pretty positive response. Of course you’re going to get resistance to any change, but thus far we’ve had a very good response. Again it’s ju= st a proposal at this stage, Elaine.
= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: But again, we can start somewhere = and try to cut back. I don’t think anybody here has a problem with looking at the pay rates that the wor= kers make and some of them need, but I think what we have to look for here is a compromise on between what you suggested and what’s going to work bes= t for the electorate, and I'd just hate to be working at those polls and have peo= ple screaming at you because they couldn’t vote or the people who are just going to say the heck with it, this poll is closed so whatever I’m not going to vote, which isn’t going to help us, because we always bemoan= the fact that we always get 25% or 30% voter turnout for referendums and stuff = like that.
= ; = ; Mr. Rinaldi: I respect your proposal. I know your intenti= ons were good. I thought about th= is ever since I saw it on the Agenda this week and Ms. Peluso stole all my thu= nder because she just about covered everything I wanted to say. At this point in time, in this day= and age, we have to make government user friendly and I would think we would wa= nt to keep as many voting places as possible.&nb= sp; I would support having more. I think we have to make it easy, cause for some reason in this Town = we have a difficult time getting people to get out and vote and participate, a= nd my gut tells me that this would just, I don̵= 7;t think it would have the effect we think it might have.
Regular Meeting
Page 27
&nb=
sp; Mr.
Primini: In some ways I a=
gree
with Paul. My first concern w=
as
would this create more confusion, where do I go to vote one time or another
time? On the other hand I do =
admire
you for coming up with a suggestion.
I don’t want to hear that it’s only $3,000 cause I think we’ve got to look everywhere we
can. We can’t just do
everything the way we did for the last 50 years. We need some change in
&nb= sp; Mr. Wick: We’re going t= o be having a referendum reasonably soon, and I think the comments that Elaine m= ade might be a first good step in terms of trying to manage that part of the process as officially as possible so I would suggest that I think you could= do this without formal action on our part, I think you can cut down on the num= ber of personnel at each polling place for the next referendum and see how it works, see if there are any problems, and then postpone it as Ray suggested until a future date, a more complete public hearing and analysis of the proposal to actually cut the number of polling places. Maybe just take this one step at a = time, and small steps.
= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Rinaldi: Just to clarify, I think we all ag= ree we should have a public hearing, correct?
= ; = ; Mr. Kane: Well what I was abo= ut to say is I kind of agree with Elaine and yourself regarding keeping polling places open. I appreciate your coming to us looking for savings, because we’re always looking for savings, but the savings may not be enough to offset the responsibly we hav= e to our voters and the education that we would need to have in order to do this whole process. Personally rig= ht now I'm against closing polling places for the savings that might occur, but if= the members feel there should be a public hearing on it, then I’m more th= an willing to offer that to the general public.
= ; = ; Mr. Primini: I believe the la= st time I talked to you about this you said you checked with other towns and t= his isn’t uncommon in other towns with a referendum such as this where th= ey do eliminate the amount of polling stations, so it’s not unusual.
&nb=
sp; Mr.
Dalton:
&nb= sp; Ms. Adams: I’m really n= ot in favor of closing the polling places myself. I just think the little that we wo= uld gain in dollars would totally be offset by voter ire.
&nb=
sp; Mr.
Dalton: I just hope you g=
uys
will look kindly on the wage increase that we proposed.
Regular Meeting
Page 28
&nb= sp; Ms. Adams: No, I prefaced eve= rything I said with that is I see, I thought it was done when we did the general increases, but somehow someway when we make that motion for our non-contrac= t, the election staff didn’t get part of that for a couple of years now.=
&nb= sp; Mr. Hebert: I’m going a= gainst the wave of sentiment here. O= ne thing in this Town, they don’t like change, and I think for this situation yea, we’re going to save money. We need to save money everywhere we can. This budget is interesti= ng this year, that’s probably the best word I can come up with. I think that going from 4 to 2, I don’t see that big of an inconvenience. I think with the amount of money we could save, we need to save everywhere, this is one step. Like I said, this Town doesn’= ;t like to change, everybody is saying inconvenience this and inconvenience th= at, I think that over time things have to change and other are towns doing it, = so why can’t it be done here? = Yea, everybody is going to complain, and have a public hearing, and whatever the public would like I’ll abide by, but I think that we can’t keep doing things the way we’ve been doing them for the last 50 years beca= use look at the condition of the Town. We have to start somewhere, this is a go= od step. I agree with raising th= e salaries of the election workers; they do a fine job. We have to change the past. We cannot keep doing things the wa= y we've always done them because of the situation we’re in. We have to look at everything.
= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Robson: Just a clarification on the salari= es. Each year when we do the non-union= ized wages, the registrar and deputy registrars are included. The other election workers received their last pay increase in February of 2000.
= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Killeen: I think it is commendable to c= ome to the Council with an idea that can save money. I would tend to agree with Mr. Heb= ert and state that anything that has the possibility of saving money is worth trying, and I think that knowing how long ago Cheshire did it and some of t= he hitches that they ran into, just as a matter of knowing what we’re in for, but given the low voter turnout I’ve got to feel that people who= are inclined to vote are going to find the proper place to vote under those circumstances so for that matter I think it’s something worth trying.=
&nb= sp; Mr. Dalton: If we ever go to = this, there would be a lot of advertising to begin with. We'd put a half page ad in the pap= er, people would be well aware of the change.
&nb= sp; Ms. Adams: Wouldn't you have = to notify each residence that their voting district had changed? Don’t you have a first class mailing obligation to them?
&nb= sp; Mr. Dalton: No, we don’= t.
= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Fisher: I actually like Councilman Rin= aldi’s idea of opening up more polling places, but obviously that’s not goin= g to happen, but I would favor a public hearing on this just to hear the public.=
Regular Meeting
Page 29
= ; = ; Mr. Kane: Well it seems to be= that we have a mixed bag of sentiment and ideas, so why don’t we put on the next meeting agenda the motion or discussion to set a public hearing for th= is particular item.
= ; E. = Discussion and Possible Action on Authoriz= ing the Town Manager to Sign and Execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Securi= ty for the Designation of Administrator
R E S O L U T I O N
= ; &n= bsp; BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Manager, Meredith S. Robson, is empowered to ent= er into and amend contractual instruments in the name and on behalf of this the Town of Watertown for a certain Memorandum of Understanding and Designation= of Administrator Form with the State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety for the Fiscal Year 2005 Homeland Security Grant Program and to affix the corporate seal.
=
; &n=
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= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman
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= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Mr. Primini) to Approve the Resolut= ion authorizing the Town Manager to enter into and amend the contractual instruments in the name and on behalf of the Town for a certain Memorandum = of Understanding and Designation of Administrator Form with the State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety for the Fiscal Year 2005 Homeland Security Grant Program.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: = ; None
= ; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
10. &n=
bsp; Public
Participation
Dave LeBlanc,
Mr. LeBlanc: I’ve been waiting patiently = to have you show me in the Minutes where you asked for other nominations after= you were nominated.
Mr. Kane: It should be in there.
Regular Meeting
Page 30
Mr. LeBlanc: Secondly, Mr. Wick and the Ordinan= ce Committee did a good job on the Ethics Ordinance. I was just wondering if he consult= ed with F.O.I. on some of the verbiage that was used in th= ere?
Mr. Wick: Not directly, but most of the verb= iage came from the State Model Code and I guess we made the perhaps subconscious assumption that the State Model Code would not be in violation of any F.O.I. requirements.
Mr. LeBlanc: That should have given you a heads= up right there. Third, there was= an article in the Town Times about the Council concerned about motorcycle that= the Police Department is trying to get. This issue was discussed 3 times, it was on the agenda at the Februa= ry Police Commission meeting, March at Finance Subcommittee, and at the Town Council meeting here, but no one has ever asked why was $23,900= appropriated originally in the budget, which was cut, and now we’re t= old by Mr. Durso it will cost $6,000. Why didn’t it only cost $6,000 in the original budget? To solicit don= ations . . . . .
Mr. Kane: Did you want a response?
Ms. Robson: My understanding is that since, yo= u have to remember that the budgets were put together some time previously and sin= ce that time they were able to secure promised donations, not actual cash in h= and, but promises of donations, that’s my understanding of it.
Mr. LeBlanc: Originally it was $23,900 in the b= udget, now we were told by Mr. Durso it only cost $6,000. That’s a difference of $17,9= 00 that the taxpayers were being robbed from the get go. If that $23,900 went through where= was that other $18,000 going to go?
Mr. Killeen: I think I have some insight on that. I believe what it was, = the $23,000 and change was for the purchase of the motorcycle, and that the $6,= 000 was actually representing a one year lease, so the attempt was to see if th= is was going to be a program that would be appropriate for the Town, at least = the way it was described to the Council, but the $6,000 was a lease, and the $2= 3,500 was for purchase, which would be the market value of a Harley Davidson of t= hat size, style, and all that.
Mr. LeBlanc: Shouldn't the $6,000 lease have go= ne to the taxpayers first instead of the $23,900? That’s what I'm asking.
Mr. Kane: Yea, I don’t know how the timing of it came about. Mr. = Durso did come to our last meeting and we told him to go back to the Police Commi= ssion at the April meeting and then come back to us on the 18th of April. But that $23,900 never= even made it through the Manager’s cuts, so it’s never gotten to the Finance Subcommittee.
Mr. LeBlanc: To solicit donations, you have to remember what the police department does, to solicit donations for a paid service is nothing but a breeding ground for malfeasance. It’s not a volunteer fire department, it’s a paid service. If that motorcycle is going to stan= d, let it stand on its own merit, now with (Tape #1, Side B ended – may have missed some.)
Regular Meeting
Page 31
Robert LeBlanc,
Mr. LeBlanc: Question for the Chairman concerni= ng asking for further nominations for moderators. Now the history of this Town, they always asked for further nominations 3 times, and it's always voted on by t= he people, not by the Council, as you did the last time. I don't know why the people didn't= vote, or they weren't informed that they could vote at that time, but they didn't vote. To me it was just a Town Council meeting. But in the p= ast, if you go back to January 26, 1991 there was a nomination, the Chairman ask= ed for further nominations. June= 26, 1991 they nominated one person, they asked for further nominations. The pub= lic did vote. October 21, 1991, t= hey nominated somebody, they asked for further nominations, and it goes on in history.
It seems= like it changed in October 7, 2002 which Lee Archer was nominated and there was no request for further nominations and the only people that voted were the Town Council. Before this time the people always voted on it, and at that vote it was 7-0-1. Then on May 18= , 2002, the same thing. Lee Ar= cher was nominated as moderator, and there was no request for further nomination= s, and the Council voted 7-0-1 for his nomination, so I guess this is the way = this Town is going.
Mr. Kane: Well #1 if I know, I did ask for fu= rther nominations and at that point a motion was made that nominations be closed. Beyond that, you're probably right, I should ask 3 or 4 times or so and for that I apologize, b= ut in no way were we trying to keep anyone else from participating. As a matter of fact, if you go bac= k to the Minutes, Mr. Killeen asked me to address the electorate, I guess, if you will, again, and just describe one more time what was happening, and I thin= k I did that as well. So #1 if yo= u like we can pull out the recordings, but I did say are there any other nominations. At that point a = motion was made that nominations be closed. I probably should ask twice or three times, but I did ask. There w= as nothing intentional is what I'm trying to say.
Mr. LeBlanc: No, I'm not saying it was, I never said it was something intentional, but accor= ding to the Minutes, it says I called the Town Meeting to order. I ask for nominations for a Modera= tor, Motion, Mr. Wick, seconded by Mr. Primini to nominate Robert Kane as moderator. The next it says D= iscussion: Ms. Adams, second Mr. Wick to Clos= e Nominations. And that was it. That's your Minutes. That's all I can go = by, I can't go by your recordings because I can't get a hold of your recordings, = but this is the Minutes of your meeting. Page 3.
Mr. Kane: If I might,
Ms. LaForme (Clerk): There's been a few meetings where = people in the audience made motions and I had to actually stop and ask who that wa= s, cause I don't know everybody, so if people are going to make motions from t= he audience they have to say who they are.
Regular Meeting
Page 32
Mr. Kane: Sure.
Mr. LeBlanc: What I'm saying is according to yo=
ur
Minutes the only people that did anything was the Town Council, and to me it
appears that it's becoming a Town Council rather than a Special Meeting.
Mr. Kane: No, what happened is there was a m=
otion
on the floor for the $77,000 appropriation, the motion was seconded
, people spoke on the motion, and at that time a vote was called.
Mr. LeBlanc: I would like to know the author of= your Robert's Rules after this is over.
Mr. Kane: I don't know,<= /span> I bought it at Barnes & Noble.
Mr. Leblanc: I mean I have 4 of them here.
Mr. Kane: No, I brought that just for you as a matter of fact and you weren't here, I was a little disappointed.
Mr. LeBlanc: According to Mary DeVeers, Robert's Rules of Order, the motion is carried and adopted. Let's go on from the point that yo= u're saying that you can't do anything beyond that.&nb= sp; The ayes have it, the resolution is adopted. This is what you're saying. If somebody arises and asks for a division, you must grant it, and that's simply saying, the young lady says = you can't but you can do it at any time, anybody in the audience, and the gentl= eman asked for a show of hands, or a division if you will and . . . .
Mr. Kane: I think all this is moot, Mr. LeBl= anc.
Mr. LeBlanc: I think so too, but I'm trying to prepare ourselves for the next meeting.
Mr. Kane Yea, thank you. There's one coming= up on April 18th at 7:15.
Mr. LeBlanc: That's why I would like to know wh= at book you're using so we can be on the same footing so I don't have to go research it . . . . .
Mr. Kane: Yea, I brought it last week and you weren't here, I was disappointed, I was hoping you would be here.
Regular Meeting
Page 33
Mr. LeBlanc: Cause I= would have debated you, I had a sore neck and I had to leave, so as I say that's = some of the points I wanted to bring out. I'd like to see town meetings like they used to have, not by the Town Council, it's a very simple thing, otherwise call it a Special Meeting, not= a Town Meeting.
Mr. Kane: Everyone here is allowed a vote in= this process.
Mr. LeBlanc: That was after the moderator w= as appointed.
Mr. Kane: Correct.
Mr. Leblanc: Okay, as long as we understand that. Now the second question, there was a meeting after the last Town Council meeting of all members and = I would like to know what it was about and subject matter if you will.
Mr. Kane: Yea, according to F.O.I, rules tha= t I know you're familiar with we can meet to discuss binding arbitration and/or contract negotiations.
Mr. LeBlanc: Very good, if you had said that at= that time, I would have rested for 2 weeks rather than search my, try to figure = out . . . . .
Mr. Kane: Again, I don't think you were here= .
Mr. LeBlanc: Well I left. Even if I wasn't here you should h= ave suggested it. It would have b= een in the Minutes and I would have been happy.
Mr. Kane: I want to make you happy, I do.
Mr. LeBlanc: Thank you.
Mr. Killeen: I think the point has been wel= l made and probably well taken that attention to process is important and it's certainly the position of the Council not to deprive community members of t= he opportunity to speak in the appropriate forum, and if anybody perceives that there is otherwise it's regrettable on the part of the Council, cause I know Chairman Kane tries to pay specific attention to those opportunities for our people.
Ms. Adams: Do you realize we've had a lot of = town meetings where it's just been maybe 6 or 7 members of the Town Council, so = if you're going through that, all these different things.
Mr. Kane: The Minutes he's talking about.
Ms. Adams: There's been m= eetings where it's just been a couple of us.
Regular Meeting
Page 34
Enrico Rinaldi,
Mr. Rinaldi: You know when they have the vote, = how come they had an election day the vote for the budget, how come they had it like November 7th, that's usually to just vote for the President of the United States? How come we put all t= hat into that?
Mr. Kane: We did have an extra polling place= set up that day for people who are not registered to vote, but could vote on th= e budget, so there was a place set up for people like yourself, like you mentioned earlier.
Mr. Rinaldi: No, but what I'm saying is hw come they had it on the same day we voted for the b= udget?
Mr. Kane: Well that was a cost saving measur= e, because we were going to be there anyway and we would be able to, as oppose= d to having another referendum and election day event, it was just easier to do = it on the same day to save money.
Mr. Rinaldi: Do you know how many people were confused by that? Were they v= oting for the President or the budget? People were confused.
Mr. Kane: We really didn't hear too many peo= ple . . . . .
Mr. Rinaldi: A lot of people don't want to talk= , they don't even come to the meetings anymore cause th= ey say people on the Board don't listen to them.
Mr. Kane: We're listening.
Mr. Rinaldi: They say one thing, and the next d= ay you look in the paper and it's something else.= That's why I don’t see anybody anymore at the meetings, like y= ears ago. I don’t know why.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> I think they should show up at the meetings. There's got to be a reason. Thank you.
Robert LeBlanc,
Mr. LeBlanc: Your reference manual for the . . = . .
Mr. Kane: It's Robert's Rules of Order, = bought at Barnes & Noble. It's g= ot a blue cover on it, but I'll bring it to the next meeting, I promise.
Mr. Kane, Chairman, Closed Public Participation at 9:46 p.m.
Regular Meeting
Page 35
11.&n=
bsp; Adjournment
= ; MOTION: (Ms. = Adams, sec. Mr. Hebert) to Adjourn the Regular Meeting at 8:47 p.m.
<=
/span>Discussion: None<=
/p>
<=
/span>MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY <=
/span>Regular
Meeting Adjourned at 8:47 p.m. Respectfully
submitted, Robert
Kane, Chairman Approved: _______________________________ Lynn M. LaF=
orme,
Clerk