MINUTES
SPEC=
IAL
MEETING
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 2008,
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING JOINT MEETING
SCHEDULED TO BEGIN AT 7:00 P.M.
PRESENT: = &nb= sp; Elaine Adams, Chairman
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. Demirs
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Richard DiFederico
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Richard Fusco
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Carl Mancini
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Scott Marotta
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Raymond Primini, Vice Chairman
ABSENT: &nb= sp; = Paul Rinaldi
OTHERS PRESENT: &nbs= p; Joseph Apicella, Board of Education
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Karen Baldwin, Superintendent of Schools
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Loren Bobinski, C.E.S.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Gina Calabrese, Chairman, Board of Education
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Remo Ceniccola, Facilities Manager, Board of Education
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; John Chipko, Vice Chairman
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Charles Frigon, Town Manager
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Matt
Geary, Principal,
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Thad Hasbrouck, Director of Curriculum
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Brian Holmes, O & G Industries
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Fred Khericha, Kaestle Boos Associates
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Kevin Killeen, Board of Education
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; David King, Kaestle Boos Associates
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Karl Kuegler, Secretary, Public Buildings Committee
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Thomas Lambert, Board of Education
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Marylu
Lerz, Principal,
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Richard Mazzamaro, Vice Chairman, Board of Education
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Frank Nardelli, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Janice Pond, Board of Education
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p;
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Lorel Purcell, O & G Industries
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Larry Schilling, O & G Industries
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; John
Waiculonis, Public Buildings Committee
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 2
1.&nb= sp; Call Meeting To Order
Ms. = Adams, Chairman, Called the Special Meeting to Order at 8:25 p.m.
2.&nb=
sp; Roll
Call
&= nbsp; Ms. LaForme, Clerk, executed the Roll Call.
3.&nb=
sp; Consider
a Resolution Establishing the Mill Rate for Fiscal Year 2008/2009 for Perso=
nal
Property and Motor Vehicle Taxes and the Second Installment of Real Estate
Taxes due on January 1, 2009, which will include an Adjustment to Reflect t=
he
new Mill Rate for the First Installment that was due on July 1, 2008
(contingent on passage of budget).
= ; Ms. Adams: At this time since= we have a budget, I’d like to thank everyone for coming out and voting.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> It was amazing, the turnout. I can never remember a turnout for= a budget referendum being that high and I want to thank everyone who voted and thank all those who worked to get the vote out, thank you.
&= nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. = Bernier, sec. Mr. Marotta) I move to approve the resolution establishing the mill ra= te for the fiscal year 2008/2009 at 24.35 due and payable on September 1, 2008= for personal property and motor vehicle taxes and the second installment on real estate due on January 1, 2009 which will include an adjustment to reflect t= he new mill rate of 24.35 for the first installment that was due on July 1, 20= 08.
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Discussion: Ms. Adams: Just a notice that we’re setting the mill rate tonight for September 1st, so you have until Septembe= r 30th to pay it, is that correct Frank, for personal property and motor vehicle?<= /p>
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Nardelli: That’s correct.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
<= o:p>
4.&nb=
sp; Discussion
and Possible Action regarding the Status of the
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: This has been something that, the p= urpose of the moratorium was the Council’s concern with two major budget defeats, how are we going to pay for the school projects. What was happening was we had bond= ed the first $14,000,000 with a cost of $1,200,000 and what was happening with our budget and with the town and the schools, these cuts were being made, in essence what we were doing is we were going to be paying for schools and no= t be able to put the teacher’s supplies or public safety and public health, that’s what was happening.
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 3
One of t= he things that I (inaudible) people did not understand when it was voted on la= st year that what had happened last year was you authorized (inaudible), you authorized (inaudible) you authorized them to take out the loan, but (inaud= ible) now is it’s come time to start paying for that loan. Concern also at the Council, and I’m going to have Frank give an overview of this, is next year there’s going to be re-evaluation is going to hit and Frank I ask you= to give us an overview on re-val and what we’re going to be expecting.
= ; Mr. Nardelli: Of course re-valuation used to be done every 10 years, now it’s done every 5 ye= ars with State Statute. We’= re currently doing a statistical re-val which means we’re not going to be going into people’s homes and what not, but they’ll be doing sa= les comparisons. Now October 1, 2= 003 was the last re-val, and October 1, 2008 will be the new revaluation date, = and at that time all of the properties will be increased or decreased, and after talking to the Assessor, usually there’s going to be a swing to the residential person again as opposed to industrial and commercial. The residential properties will pr= obably go up more than the industrial and commercial properties have gone, but tho= se bills will be reflected next year this time when we do our budget and compa= re the mill rate.
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Okay, so this is (inaudible) next y= ear evaluation hits and I can speak and I know there are a few others here at t= hat time in 1991 when we lost 22 teachers, (inaudible) it was a perfect storm (= inaudible). To supplement the increase in the teacher’s salaries, it was a perfect storm and I look around and I see there were people sitting in the audience with me and our major concern is = what (inaudible). That was another concern (inaudible) how are we going to pay for the schools when we had a budget defeat by better (inaudible). So at this time I’m opening it up to Council discussion and qu= estions . Would anyone like to give a= ny input as far as the moratorium?
&= nbsp; Mr. Fusco: I would like to ask Frank or Chuck,= the concern has been for many people what the impact will be on their taxes for next ye= ar. Can you give us some type of an idea because we are the ones who are going = to be standing up here taking comments from people who are angry, possibly los= ing their houses or whatever. I&#= 8217;d like to know, and make sure everyone understands that when this happens, wi= ll we get the support and help after we tell people what that possible tax will be?
= ; Mr. Nardelli: Well we have (i= naudible) bonded off money obviously for these projects, we’ve only bonded about $14,000,000. And our cash flow projections that we had originally, we were going to borrow another $16,000= ,000 this year which we would have to pay for the following fiscal year, which on $16,000,000, 4%, that could be another $1,300,000 which is about ¾ o= f a mill, that’s why we wanted the cash flows from Kaestle Boos and what = not to make sure we borrowed the correct amount of money, not over borrow or un= der borrow for cash flow purposes. Also what’s eligible and what’s ineligible, because if something is ineligible, obviously the Town has to pay for the full amount so that’= ;s currently what we’re looking at, possibly borrowing $16,000,000, of course depending on the moratorium coming off too obviously.
&= nbsp; Mr. Fusco: So you’re talking about a mil= l . . . .
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 4
= ; Mr. Nardelli: Probably &frac3= 4; of a mill, but again you’re going to have revaluation in the picture and usually the mill rate gets lowered after revaluation.
&= nbsp; Mr. Fusco: But the assessment is higher so the homeowner would be paying more.
= ; Mr. Nardelli: That’s co= rrect.
&= nbsp; Mr. Fusco: So there is definitely going to be = a tax increase next year.
= ; Mr. Nardelli: I wouldn’= t, don’t put me in that position.
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Let’s put it this way, the combination of don’t forget what happened with the two budget failure= s, the Board took a hit of $1,200,000 cut form their original proposal, the To= wn took a hit of $500,000 or $600,000 that we took. Next year, and a lot of their cuts= had come from NEASC, I saw where they felt they just could not implement it bec= ause of the budget cuts. That stil= l has to be done. Yes, okay, the Ch= air is nodding her head yes, that was something that we really didn’t address until this year, we know the cuts that the Board has taken, we know the cuts that the Town has taken. We h= ave 186 budget line item costs, so is it safe to say there is going to be a tax increase next year? I would n= ot be surprised at all that we’re going to be looking at (inaudible) makeup= to do next year because of this year’s budget defeats.
= ; Mr. Bernier: I believe one of= the factors that really impacted the budgets this year was (inaudible). We heard the specifics as of today= (inaudible). We’ve also suffered regional= ly with a lack of increase in the general fund (inaudible) $300,000. Permits were down. So a budget increase the cost to t= he Town will definitely be more next year.&nb= sp; We talked about with today’s dollars (inaudible) talking about= low increase of about ¾ of a mill. One of the keys to keeping the taxes down would be economic developm= ent and unfortunately one of the positions that was cut was the economic development coordinator to go from part time to full time, but (inaudible) = try to bring economic development in, to take some of the burden off of the taxpayers. We lost a lot of g= round this year, (inaudible) on the Board's side, we need to move forward, we nee= d to keep (inaudible) and we need to make sure that people understand, minute by minute what the impact is going to be as we go through next year.
&= nbsp; Mr. Mancini: Mr. Fusco speaks (inaudible) shake = their heads, I understand why but you have to understand where he was coming from= and where a lot of us are coming from that are concerned about the elderly in t= own who are not able to afford a tax increase.= Kevin Killeen told us a million times listen to the taxpayers and we said we listened to them the first time, we listened to them the second tim= e, and we are listening to them again last night, we’re listening to the taxpayers. I will support lif= ting this moratorium tonight but there is something else that I need and I think= the rest of the Council and the town needs, we need all of your participation in helping us to increase the tax base in town so that the burden isn’t = put on the homeowners all the time so when it comes, so there will be more money available for schools, more money available for a sweeper, and a truck and everything else that’s needed in town. It’s not that any one of us = on this Council wanted to cut a teacher’s position or anything else.
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 5
We’= ;re concerned about people being able to pay in this day’s economy so you’re going to see things in the paper in the next couple of weeks e= ven a month where we’re asking for help in increasing our tax base to alleviate some of the burden on the taxpayers. I hope you show up, 10% of what yo= u did yesterday. Thank you for voti= ng yesterday, thank you for your support in the future.
= ; Mr. Demirs: Carl covered just= about most of the things I was going to say.&nbs= p; The tax base in town needs to grow, we need to start (inaudible) ret= ail business and it’s been 20 years since the last (inaudible) have not l= et the small businesses, retail and commercial in this Town, we need to start growing the tax base, we need everyone’s support. As far as the moratorium goes, I th= ink we need to move forward and I say full speed ahead.
&=
nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. =
Marotta,
sec. Mr. Primini) I make a motion to lift the moratorium on the Judson and =
<=
span
style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &=
nbsp; Discussion: Mr. Fusco: This is just on the,
<= o:p>
<=
span
style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Ms. Adams: No,
<= o:p>
= Mr. Fusco: I, too, would like to move forward = and go ahead, but I also think that Bob Porter and his group did a fantastic job.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Bob, thank you for being there for= us.
Mr. Primini: I will be voting= yes, and I encourage all my friends on the Town Council to vote yes because I don’t want to see them beaten on the street. I especially want to thank Sue Pro= vost and Guy Buzzanco and the parents of VOICE, but those two took the bull by t= he horns and organized in a relatively very, very short timing. We moved this along, we wanted to = get this going in August, I know it was a tough time, but we didn’t want = to be putting it off and then hiring people and then laying them off, but there were a lot of things (inaudible) Guy pout together a fantastic marketing plan. If we have 3,500 kids i= n the school system, that’s at least 3,500 parents and if 1,600 came out in vote, and that’s what did it, and I’ll just mention to you, I believe there were about 150 absentee ballots, and it was the absentee ball= ots that pushed the Board of Ed budget to pass. If anything I want to emphasize yo= ur vote does count. We have to k= eep them (inaudible) next year. I= hope this goes through on the first referendum and get you guys organized. I’ll tell you a lot of people= (inaudible) I personally want to thank everyone and like I said, I’m voting yes a= nd I want to encourage my friends cause I don’t want to see you on the street. Thank you.
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 6
= Ms. Adams: Interesting (inaudible) budget pass= the first or the second time we wouldn’t be here tonight. It wasn’t until after the se= cond major defeat that the Council felt it needed to do something because we were going to be paying for schools and not be able to pay for teachers, textboo= ks, police, fire, public safety.
Mr. Demirs: I just wanted to = point out Dave King and Freddie, and the people from O & G because they work = very hard on getting the bids in and I wanted to give them a round of applause.<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Marotta: I will also vote yes, and I want ev= eryone to know that we are committed to the students of this Town. I’d like to thank all of the residents for showing their support and commitment to education of the students. I’d also like= to emphasize that we (inaudible) go to the tax base in this town and we need to get together like we did last night for future years to come in order to en= sure that our students have the proper education that they need to succeed in th= is society.
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
<= o:p>
5.&nb=
sp; Consider
Authorizing the Town Manager to enter into and execute on behalf of the Tow=
n of
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: These are the new papers that you g= ave me tonight because they have been reviewed.
= ; Mr. Frigon: Yes, that is corr= ect, they have been amended.
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: My understanding is that the differ= ence with these as compared to the ones that were in our packet is that we have taken out a signoff by the Town Engineering Department.
= ; Mr. Frigon: That is correct.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> We are recognizing that we have hi= red professionals to both design and supervise the construction of these projec= ts and as traditional construction would go, the construction manager will be responsible for inspections.
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: My understandings is also that when= in essence the Planning and Zoning Commission has passed, or probably ordered = is a better word for it, is the Town has to take a bond out on a project.
= ; Mr. Frigon: In essence that is correct, but we are not actually securing an insurance bond. What we are in essence doing is ta= king the actual cash, or the actual cash value for certain identified improvemen= ts, we are going to place those funds into an account, and as that work is completed on a monthly basis and approved, the monies to pay for those improvements will come from that specific fund.
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 7
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: I don’t want to put Bob Porte= r on the spot, but I know (inaudible) last night and what you did you put it in a timely manner. You had added = to the original one.
= ; Mr. Porter: That’s correct. I asked, through the= Town Manager, that the Town Attorney amend it so payments would be done in a tim= ely manner. If they’re not = done, if Planning and Zoning doesn’t sign off, the Land Use Administrator doesn’t sign off, bills won’t get paid. We don’t want contractors wa= lking off the job.
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: No, we don’t.
= ; Mr. Porter: So it must be done timely.
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: I think the troubling thing is is t= hat we’ve shown with Swift, we’ve shown with the Firehouse, we have shown with John Trumbull and all the other town projects this town has never reneged on what it has to do, so basically what we’ve done, what the Planning and Zoning Commission has done is put another layer here to possib= ly delay, and a concern Bob too is that whether or not it is signed off in a timely manner, contractors, if they do the work and it’s done correct= ly, deserve to be paid on time. I= t’s another level of bureaucracy and red tape where it’s just going to sl= ow things down.
= ; Mr. Porter: You bet. It’s 10 additional signature= s to an Application for Payment, that the Architect has already certified that t= he work has been done. O & G certifies that the work has been done properly, Kaestle Boos certifies it a= lso, and that’s all we’ve ever done on all the projects. Now we’re adding 10 addition= al names. To me, that is cumbers= ome and could lead to untimely delays. I hope we don’t have to appear before this Council to request = them to be removed.
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Meaning to . . . .
= ; Mr. Porter: The names to be removed. Let O & G and Ka= estle Boos verify the work has been done. P & Z, as far as I’m concerned, is questioning whether tho= se people are capable of certifying. That’s my opinion, my opinion only. I don’t speak for the Buildi= ngs Committee; I speak for myself.
&=
nbsp; Ms. Adams: It is very, very troublesome. Whenever any of the other projects
(inaudible) require a bond and what we use (inaudible) inspector and we have
our own inspector in O & G in their staff, they are the construction
manager, and I really think what needs to be done here is O & G, Kaestle
Boos, Public Buildings really don’t have to make sure that these thin=
gs
are pushed forward, that there are not any delays. We’ve taken the Town out of =
it,
we’ve taken the Engineering Department out of this and put it on Kaes=
tle
Boos, that is the change that is on this, so it’s almost (inaudible).=
= ; Mr. Porter: Let’s hope = it works.
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Yes. Carl, go ahead, you’re on Planning and Zoning.
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 8
= ; Mr. Mancini: Yea, my only que= stion is that didn’t we have a problem at Polk School, didn’t we have= a problem at John Trumbull School with the roof and the sidewalks and all tha= t, and didn’t the contractors sign off on those projects and I don’= ;t know who oversaw that, we were in a hell of a mess in plain English there, = and I think this is what we’re trying to avoid, that’s the only rea= son (inaudible). We’re not trying to delay anything. If the work is done, it’s authorized, they should get paid, I agree, but what was brought up in P &am= p; Z was John Trumbull School, Polk School, the problems we had there, we had to= go to litigation and we only got a small percentage of our money back and what= it cost to fix and repair and those were all authorized by the contractor (inaudible). That’s all I’m going to say there.
&= nbsp; Mr. Porter: Yes, (inaudible) when it comes to J= ohn Trumbull. The issue with John Trumbull was the construction, not the lack of inspections and so forth on = the building itself. P & Z is= now, on the next 3 projects, only for site improvements, nothing to do with the building, only for site improvements, so it’s not going to be the sam= e as John Trumbull. At John Trumbu= ll, if you remember, the Buildings Committee was taken out of the picture, it was = run by an Executive Buildings Committee, but after the project was done and it turned into a mess, it was turned back to the P.B.C. to correct. 7 years of litigation to correct it. We don’t ever want = to do that again, and if you leave us in the mix, you won’t be. Thank you.
&= nbsp; Mr. Fusco: Planning and Zoning, this is done by their legal right, they have a right to do this, I don’t think we can tell them they can’t do this. I believe that by State Statute they have the right to put a bond on= and make sure the work is done, so it’s a third inspection yes, but the S= tate has given them the power to do that.
=
; Ms.
Adams: My understanding w=
as the
Town Council can do, and I know it was suggested there were times in the pa=
st when
it took an extremely long time to get this through and all the changes that
have to be done, is that the Council has the right to exempt Town projects =
from
Planning and Zoning approval. We
are not doing that tonight. W=
hat we
are doing is the intent being to move these projects forward with what I fe=
el
is unreasonable, however I understand the importance of moving this forward=
for
&= nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. = Marotta, sec. Mr. Bernier) I move to authorize the Town Manager to enter into and execute on behalf of the Town of Watertown a bond agreement as amended for public site improvements for the Watertown High School renovation project subject to the approval of the Public Buildings Committee.
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 9
<= o:p>
6.&nb=
sp; Consider
Authorizing the Town Manager to enter into and execute on behalf of the Tow=
n of
Watertown a Bond Agreement for the Installation of a Traffic Control Signal=
in
connection with the Watertown High School Renovation Project
&= nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. Marotta, sec. Mr. Bernier) I move to authorize the Town Manager to enter in= to and execute on behalf of the Town of Watertown a bond agreement for the installation of a traffic control signal in connection with the Watertown H= igh School renovation project.
<=
span
style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &=
nbsp; Discussion: Mr. Primini: When I asked about the traffic ligh=
t is
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: That is a very good question becaus= e I know I’ve been on Public Works as long as you have been, Ray, and the question has risen and the expense of maintaining a traffic light, we do not have a traffic department, the City of Waterbury has a traffic department w= ith staff, 24/7, 365 to take care of these things. The Town does not have (inaudible)= which is going to in turn put out to maybe the Highway (inaudible).
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Primini: There is a traffic light that is go= ing to be put up on Route 262 for the new Tamarack business that’s going in,= and they’ve agreed to maintain the traffic light for their use and that’s unlimited. How w= ill this traffic light be maintained? There is nothing in the budget for this and it’s an additional cost. I believe it’s going to be strictly for the Board of Ed’s use, it’s something that should come out of the Board of Ed budget.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms. Baldwin: (Inaudible.)
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: (Inaudible.)
<= o:p>
<=
span
style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr. Mancini: I’m in support of the traffic=
light
and I’m on P & Z also, and one of the reasons they wanted that
traffic light there is for safety. <=
/span>Right
now there is one lane out and one lane in.=
There is going to be two lanes going out of that high school when
it’s developed, one turning right, one turning left. The site line, there isn’t
adequate enough, it needs a traffic light.=
Ray said Tamarack or whatever as far as the traffic light is concern=
ed
is being maintained by them. =
Well okay,
it should be maintained by
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 10
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Frigon: I don’t know.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Mancini: Well I was told it would only be du= ring school hours or whatever, that’s the only time it will be working, otherwise it will be a blinking light.&nbs= p; It’s there for the safety of the parents and their kids.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Okay, maybe the Superintendent (ina= udible).
<= o:p>
<=
span
style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Ms. Baldwin: I’ll do my best to at least (=
inaudible)
your question and try to promote some resolution perhaps. We had an interest in assuring whe=
n you
put that motion on, move this forward that the Board of Ed would maintain t=
he
traffic light at
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: I think it’s interesting in w= hat you say Karen because one of the things that the Public Works Subcommittee = (inaudible) Ray is now Chairman is that that intersection there, at the Watertown High School on French Street (inaudible) so people are very careful. Again I think it’s an expens= e the Town has to take on because of the Planning and Zoning Commission insisting= on it. They make a (inaudible) we will be taking expenses on that have (inaudi= ble) in the past and I don’t even want to think about how much it’s going to cost to take care of one traffic light.
<= o:p>
<=
span
style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr. Mancini: You may not agree with the way it is
right now, it’s not going to be the same as in a year or two years fr=
om
now as it is today. There are=
two
lanes going out, it’s wider, the site lines aren’t the same.
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 11
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: (Inaudible) that you need to make s= ure that the site lines were better.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Mancini: That’s why you have a traffic light.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Primini: We still need a (inaudible) for a t= raffic light.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: You still, that’s right, you = still do.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Mancini: You still need a what?
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Primini: Site line for a traffic light. You can’t just (inaudible) a= round the corner, whatever (inaudible).
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Yea, and that’s (inaudible).<= /p>
<= o:p>
<=
span
style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Mr. Primini: The whole purpose, I’m trying=
to
make this point I’m not arguing whether it’s a safety issue, it
obviously is. I’m just
bringing this point across that we do not own a single traffic light in the
Town of
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Person in Audience: That’s why we pay taxes in th= is Town, right?
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Demirs: I feel we need the traffic light here. The site line from the = driveway down to the Police Station is almost blind as it is. It’s dangerous anyway even w= ithout. So I mean we’re constantly appropriating money for this and that and any other thing, I mean (inaudibl= e) fix it. It’s a very imp= ortant thing for public safety.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: (Inaudible.)
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:3'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Marotta: I think since it’s been manda= ted by P & Z, that the Town should pay for it.
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Bernier, Mr. Demirs, Mr. DiFederico, Mr. Fusco, Mr. Mancini, Mr. Marotta
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Opposed: = Mr. Primini
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Abstained: None
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; MOTION CARRIED (7-1-0)
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 12
<= o:p>
7.&nb=
sp; Consider
Authorizing the Town Manager to enter into and execute on behalf of the Tow=
n of
&= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Again, that was amended so we did n= ot have the Town Engineer involved. It is one less signature. We are deferring to our expert, O & G on this. I think we can probably take Bob Porters’s comments, my comments, and probably the Council’s comments again, what we said (inaudible).
&= nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. Marotta, sec. Mr. Bernier) I move to authorize the Town Manager to enter in= to and execute on behalf of the Town of Watertown a bond agreement as amended = for public site improvements for the Judson Elementary School renovation project subje= ct to the approval of the Public Buildings Committee.
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
<= o:p>
8.&nb=
sp; Discussion
and Possible Action on Authorizing the Town Manager to enter into and execu=
te
on behalf of the Town of
&= nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. Marotta, sec. Mr. Bernier) I move to authorize the Town Manager to enter in= to and execute on behalf of the Town of Watertown construction contracts for t= he Judson Elementary School renovation project.
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Discussion: Ms. Adams: The only thing is since the morato= rium is lifted and I think we can just (inaudible).
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
<= o:p>
9.&nb=
sp; Discussion
and Possible Action on Authorizing the Town Manager to enter into and execu=
te
on behalf of the Town of Watertown Construction Contracts for the Watertown
High School Renovation Project
&= nbsp; MOTION: (Mr. Marotta, sec. Mr. Bernier) I move to authorize the Town Manager to enter in= to and execute on behalf of the Town of Watertown construction contracts for t= he Watertown High School renovation project.
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
<= o:p>
<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Special Meeting
August 6, 2008
Page 13
<= o:p>
10. Adjournment
= ; MOTION: (Mr. = Marotta, sec. Mr. Bernier) to Adjourn the Special Meeting at 9:05 p.m.
<=
/span>Discussion: None<=
/p>
<=
/span>MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY <=
/span>Special
Meeting Adjourned at 9:05 p.m. <=
/span>Ms. Adams: Thank you all for coming out. Respectfully
submitted, Elaine
H. Adams, Chairman Approved: _______________________________ Lynn M. LaF=
orme,
Clerk