MINUTES

WATERTOWN TOWN COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

JOHN TRUMBULL PRIMARY SCHOOL MEDIA CEN= TER

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2003, 8:00 P.M.

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; 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; = Lee Archer

OTHERS PRESENT: &= nbsp; Mary Barton, Zoning Enforcement Officer

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Todd LoFrese, Director of Operations, Board of Education

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Frank Nardelli, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director

&= 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 8:02 p.m.

Mr. = Kane, Chairman, called a Recess at 8:02 p.m. (due to sound system difficulties).<= /p>

Mr. = Kane, Chairman, Reconvened the Regular Meeting at 8:05 p.m.

2.&nb= sp; Roll Call

Ms. LaForme, Board Clerk, executed the Roll Call.

3. Pledge of Allegi= ance

&= nbsp; Mr. Kane, Chairman, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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December 15, 2003

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4.&nb= sp; Public Participation

&= nbsp; Robert LeBlanc, 78 Highland Avenue, Watertown, CT= 06795

&= nbsp; Mr. LeBlanc: Could anyone tel= l me who owns that piece of property in Oakville between the Library and the VFW? It’s the old bridge abutments for the train tracks. It seems that nobody will clear the sidewalks on that particular section. The Town Library goes up and plows= as far as the abutment, then it stops, and then the VFW comes down the street = to the abutment and stops, and across the street is the same thing. I noticed today the children have = to walk in the street at that point. I would have called the Police Department, the Town Manager, God if I have to= go find out who owns that property. I can’t complain about it if I don’t know who owns that abutment. Is there anyone her= e who can tell me who owns that property?

&= nbsp; Ms. Robson: I will find out.<= /p>

&= nbsp; Mr. LeBlanc: I would apprecia= te that. I will call the Police = or whoever I have to call. Secon= dly I would like to comment on the clearing of the sidewalks and the streets by t= he Public Works Department. They= did a fantastic job these last two snow storms; it was outstanding. I also want to compliment the Poli= ce Department for removing the cars off the street when the first snowflake hi= t, they were up and down the street telling people to move their cars. It was very enjoyable to drive dur= ing the snowstorm.

&= nbsp; I’d like to thank the Town Council for getting the flagpole lit in front of the Library/Town Hall Annex. I ne= ver found out who owns that property, but I appreciate it.

&= nbsp; I’d like to know what’s happening to the E.B.C.? When the Democrats took the Chairm= anship away from me and threw me off the committee, very unceremoniously, I was ve= ry dejected and disgusted. Then = the Republicans took charge of the Council and they asked if I would serve on t= he E.B.C. and I was happy to do it. The last Town Council had 3 meetings. Information was given to that E.B.= C. and nothing was ever done about it. What is the status of the E.B.C.?&n= bsp; Am I in limbo, am I dejected, is it still in existence, I’d li= ke to know what I’m doing? I was asked twice to run an inspection on the school; once by Meredith and once by the Superintendent of Schools, and once by the other Town Manager, out of t= he realm of my responsibility. I walked through this building and pointed out everything that was wrong and = I never found out what came of it, Id’ like to know what is happening in the E.B.C., and has the school been accepted by the State per the instructions = of the Board of Education? IR= 17;m getting tired of writing letters, as I do once in awhile, and I would also = . . . .

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December 15, 2003

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&= nbsp; Ms. Robson: I can respond in = part at least. The E.B.C,. as I understand it at least, was originally charged with getting the building do= ne, getting the purchasing done, and the former Town Council had charged the P.= B.C. with the facility piece of the school and making sure that the facility iss= ues got resolved. All of the purc= hasing has been done. As a matter of= fact the project is closed out so you had at one meeting mentioned all this, the possibility of spending $300 some odd thousand which won’t be the case because we’ve sent the documentation into the State and told them it’s closed as far as the purchasing end of things is done. The only charges that we might now= have against that is related to the facility issues that we have on-going and they’re aware of what’s happening, so as far as I understand it= the E.B.C. is done with their work because there is no more purchasing to be do= ne, no more non building related issues to be taken out, now it’s in the hands of the P.B.C. and they are working to try an resolve those with the contractors.

&= nbsp; Mr. LeBlanc: Did the Board of Education ask that the school be accepted or did the Town Council of the To= wn ask that it be accepted by the State?

&= nbsp; Ms. Robson: The State needed = to have the building accepted by the Board of Education in order to close out = the project.

&= nbsp; Mr. LeBlanc: In August, 2000,= an agreement was made between then Town Council and the Board of Education that they be allowed to go into the school and run the educational part of it and the Town Council would continue until completion of the school and they wou= ld, the Town Council would send it to the State to have it accepted, so I guess that agreement went by the wayside. Is that right, Mr. Rinaldi, maybe he remembers the agreement that was made; I don’t know anybody else that= was on the Town Council at that time?

&= nbsp; Ms. Robson: I don’t kno= w the answer to that specifically, but I know speaking with representatives of th= e State they wanted the Board of Education to accept the facility. That’s what they required in= order to close out the (inaudible).

&= nbsp; Mr. LeBlanc: So in other word= s what you’re suggesting, or the Town Council is probably acquiescing to is = that although we make an agreement, we the Town Council, or the Town makes an agreement with the Board of Education, as long as the State says to hell wi= th it, we want it accepted, that’s the way it goes. Our word, the word of the Town Cou= ncil, my word, when I was on the Town Council means nothing. I think that was the problem with = this whole school. The Board of Education should not have been allowed to go into this school and if we bui= ld Swift Junior High, I think that’s the way we should go. The Town should keep the project u= nder their auspices until such time as it’s completed and not allow anyone= to go in there, and I think you for your information Meredith, and thank you f= or listening to an old man complain, and everybody have a Merry Christmas. Thank you.

&= nbsp; Mr. Kane, Chairman, Closed Public Participation at 8:13 p.m.

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December 15, 2003

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5.&nb= sp; Minutes=

&= nbsp; A. Regular Meeting Minutes – December 1, 2003

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Ms. = Adams, sec. Mr. Hebert) to Approve the Regular Meeting Minutes dated December 1, 2= 003 as presented.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>

&= nbsp; &nbs= p; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

6.&nb= sp; Sub-Committee Reports

A. &nbs= p; Public Works Subcommittee

&nb= sp; Mr. Primini: We reviewed the general improvement projects, there will be capital improvement items that = will be coming up over the next several years.&= nbsp; We are basically working to prioritize some of these projects and wh= at projects will be done in-house, what will be contracted out, the majority of all the projects, the engineering work, will be done in-house. The other two items will come up on= 8B and 8C for transfers, in a little bit.

B. &nbs= p; Business Development Subcommittee

= Mr. Kane: I know they did mee= t, but Mr. Archer is absent this evening. Meredith, do you have anything to say about that meeting?

= Ms. Robson: They discussed so= me issues related again to the Plan of Development and how they might be helpf= ul in moving that forward. They = asked for a representative from Drubner Industrials to attend the next meeting to discuss the benefits or non benefits of extending the sewer and water up Ec= ho Lake Road and Ed Godin from Drubner has agreed to try and get that in his schedule. It was really a gen= eral conversation regarding the business issues, just continuing that dialogue.<= /p>

&nb= sp; Mr. Kane: Do you want to ment= ion anything about the upcoming January meeting or it’s not yet scheduled= ?

&nb= sp; Ms. Robson: That’s not = yet scheduled.

= Mr. Kane: Mr. Rinaldi has ask= ed to be a member to that Committee, so we’ll assign Paul to that subcommit= tee as well.

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C. &nbs= p; Ordinance Subcommittee

&nb= sp; Mr. Wick: We tried to schedul= e a meeting but failed, and we’re going to keep trying.

7.&nb= sp; Chairman’s Report

= ; A. Correspondence

= ; &n= bsp; First of all I’d like to thank the Fire Department for helping the Parks Department with the tree lighting, stringing the lights on the trees at the Town green. I have pictures to prove it, so I’ll pass those around.

= ; &n= bsp; 1. = Letter from Dr. Ramos, Re: Cablevisi= on Advisory Appointment, November 17, 2003.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Kane: The Watertown Board= of Ed representative to Cablevision will be Mr. Charles Gordon. Please inform the Town Council. Thank you, John Ramos, Superintend= ent of Schools.

= ; &n= bsp; 2. = Revaluation

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Kane: Watertown, Office o= f the Assessor, Caroline Nadeau. To= Frank Nardelli regarding the Revaluation project. Is it necessary for me to read this whole letter?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Nardelli: Just that you w= ant to mention that the notices will be going out at the end of this week to all t= he homeowners. The re will be in= formal hearings going on through the month of December and formal hearings will go= on in January and February. Just= to let everybody know that they are receiving notices on reval and it will als= o be available on the web site, so if you want to go to the Town’s Web Sit= e to see what everyone else’s evaluations are, and also we’re going = to be putting booklets together too to go out to the public.

8.&nb= sp; Action Items

= ; A. Consider Appointments to Boards and Commissions

&n= bsp; = ; The terms of various Boards and Commissions have expired or are expiring. Appointments must be made to fill = these vacancies.

= ; &n= bsp; None

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= ; B. = Consider an Appropriation from the General Fund for Repairs to a Highway Department Truck to be Reimbursed by Insurance Proceeds

R E S O L U T I O N

= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, Windsor Auto Insurance has remitted a check in the amount of $1,516.22 for damage to a Town Highway Truck which has been deposited into the General Fu= nd.

= ; &n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council appropriates $1,517 from the General Fund to the Highway Department Vehicle Maintenance Account to pay f= or repairs on Truck 7.

= ; &n= bsp; Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15^th day of December, 2003.

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Watertown Town Council

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the appropriation from the General Fund = for repairs to a Highway Department Truck to be reimbursed by insurance proceed= s.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

= ; C. Consider an Appropriation from the General Fund for Container Service at the Hamilton Avenue Transfer Station

R E S O L U T I O N

= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, due to higher costs for container services at the Transfer Station and an increase in volume, additional funds are required.

= ; &n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council appropriates $13,110 from t= he General Fund to the Transfer Station Container Service line item #010-50318-033-2076 to cover the additional costs.

= ; &n= bsp; Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15^th day of December, 2003.

= ; &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; Watertown Town Council

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= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the appropriation for a Container Servic= e at the Hamilton Avenue Transfer Station.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: Mr. Wick: The way I read this= leads me to think that there is a possibility that the fees that we charge folks = who drop stuff off there might be raised to help prevent this kind of gap in the future, and if that’s the correct premise, should we encourage someon= e to look into it?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: This is something probably about 8 months ago the Public Works Subcommittee spent several mon= ths going over and looking at and you bring up a very valid point, which was our point exactly, is that we lose money on operating our transfer station. The problem is we did raise the fe= es, and you have to be, what the Committee felt is we had to be careful when do= ing this because you want to raise them so you can generate more income, but on= the same token too you don’t want to make them so out of whack that people are going to say the heck with it and dump it on the side of the road. We could look at it again, but we = did spend a lot of time on this and try to be fair and reasonable so people wou= ld use that alternative versus the side of the road. Unfortunately the cost of trash is= very, very expensive.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Primini: When we research= ed that we researched along what Copes was charging and we wanted to stay with= in the range with Copes to keep it affordable, whether they bring it to the landfill themselves or if they call Copes, so we’re in the same price range with Copes. When we rai= sed them last year, it was about 7 or 8 years that they hadn’t been raise= d, so I think it would be too quick to do something right now anyway.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Kane: That’s someth= ing we can talk about during budget time as well.

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

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= ; D. Consider Setting a Special Town Meeting Date, Time, and Place for an Appropriation f= rom the General Fund for a DWI Enforcement Vehicle to be reimbursed by a State = of Connecticut Department of Transportation through a Federal Grant

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to set a Special Town Meeting on January 5, 2004 at 7:15 p.m. in the John Trumbull School Media Center to hear comments on the appropriation for a DWI Enforcement Vehicle to be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation through a Federal Grant.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: Mr. Kane: Obviously 7:15 cause we’re moving our meetings to 7:30.

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

= ; E. = Consider an Appropriation from the General Fund for a Stalker Laser Speed Control Un= it to be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut through a Federal Grant

R E S O L U T I O N

= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation has approved a grant = in the amount of $2,324 to purchase a Stalker Laser Speed Control Unit. The grant requires that the Town p= ay for the unit and will reimburse the Town within thirty days of delivery.

= ; &n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council appropriates $2,324 from the General Fund for the purchase of a Stalker Laser Speed Control Unit for the Watertown Police Department.

= ; &n= bsp; Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15^th day of December, 2003.

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Watertown Town Council

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve an Appropriation for a Stalker Laser Spe= ed Control Unit to be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut through a Federal Grant.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: Mr. Kane: Obviously numerous = times people have come to us about speeding in Town and this is one way to deter = that and provide a little bit more public safety, so this is another good thing = for the Police Department to have.

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Is this the one th= at they put on the side of the road that tells you who fast you are going?

= ; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. Kane: It’s laser.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Robson: I’m not sur= e, to be honest with you.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Well I mean basica= lly most of the grant is covering it and they’re doing it out of their budget.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Hebert: It’s a more advanced and sophisticated speed detection device, it is (inaudible) at gre= ater distances.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Kane: The laser gun.

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

= ; F. = Consider Transfers for Fiscal Year 2003/2004

<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; R E S O L U T I O N

&n= bsp;

WHEREAS, expenses in the 2003-2004 fiscal year require the Transfer of Funds.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by vote of the Watertown Town Council, that the following actions are taken relative to the Transfer of Funds:

GENERAL FUND

AMOUNT: $1,641 &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; NO: 1

FROM: &= nbsp; 015-50690-074-0164 – Contingencies

TO: &= nbsp; 015-50720-074-= 1447 – Misc/Refunds

REASON: Refund exceeds budgeted amount

Dated at Watertown, CT this 15th day of December, 2003.

_________________________ &= nbsp;

Robert Kane, Chairman

Watertown Town Council

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the Transfers for Fiscal Year 2003/2004.=

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

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= ; G. Consider an Appropriation from the General Fund for Repairs on Viola Street and Slade Terrace to be reimburse by Yankee Gas

R E S O L U T I O N

= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, Yankee Gas has remitted a check to the Town of Watertown Public Works Department for repairs on Viola Street and Slade Terrace which was deposited into the General Fund in the amount of $6,784.34.

= ; &n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council appropriates $6,784 from the General Fund to the Asphalt for Roads account number 010-50411-031-0499.

= ; &n= bsp; Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15^th day of December, 2003.

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Watertown Town Council

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the appropriation from the General Fund = for repairs on Viola Street and Slade Terrace to be reimbursed by Yankee Gas.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

= ; H. Consider an Appropriation from the Sidewalk Fund for the Town’s Portion of the Design and Construction of Sidewalks on Main Street per State of Connecticut Agreement 153-109

R E S O L U T I O N

= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, on January 6, 2003 the Watertown Town Council authorized the Town Manager to execute an agreement with the State of Connecticut (Agreement No 153-109) w= hich required that the Town share with the design and construction of the sidewa= lk on Main Street that is to be constructed as part of the culvert replacement project.

= ; &n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Watertown Town Council hereby appropriat= es $7,318 from the Sidewalk Fund for the above.

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= ; &n= bsp; Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15^th day of December, 2003.

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Watertown Town Council

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the appropriation from the Sidewalk Acco= unt for the Town’s portion of the design and construction of sidewalks on Main Street per State of Connecticut Agreement 153-109.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: Ms. Adams: This appropriation= from the Sidewalk Fund is for the part of Main Street, we’re going to be having, I’m not sure if it’s this Summer or next Summer, the St= ate is coning to fix the culvert by Petco.&nbs= p; At the time we had asked the State, probably about a year ago now, if there was any money for sidewalks. We were looking at using the Sidewalk Fund to develop money on Main Street. They came back and wi= ll fund, I think it’s 80% of the sidewalk with our cost being 20%, so needless to say it was a very good deal and now we’re moving ahead wi= th this. This is not to be confu= sed with other parts of Main Street that we discussed at the last meeting having the State came back with their less than favorable response regarding those= .

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Valenti: Is our 20% share= to come from the funds that were established by P & Z that we have been talking about for several Councils now?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: Yes.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Valenti: That’s wha= t I thought. Have we found any resolution to some of the claims against that, or is that a matter for Executive Session?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Ms. Robson: Executive Session= , in fact I have an update for you on that.

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

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= ; I. &= nbsp; Consider an Appropriation from the Sewer Extension Fund for a Change Order for the Bunker Hill Disconnect Project

R E S O L U T I O N

= ; &n= bsp; WHEREAS, due to road construction on Overlook Drive which the City of Waterbury requ= ired and some other incidental minor matters, additional funds are required for a change order in connection with the Bunker Hill Disconnect Project.

= ; &n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Council appropriates $15,824 for a Bunker Hill Disconnect – Sewer Change Order from the Sewer Extension = Fund Balance.

= ; &n= bsp; Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15^th day of December, 2003.

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Watertown Town Council

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the appropriation for a change order for= the Bunker Hill Disconnect Project.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: Mr. F= isher: What exactly is the money for?

&n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Robson: This was the work= that was actually part of the original agreement with Waterbury and it was prolo= nged because there were some residents’ concerns about having that area, it used to be a paper street. The extra money is because the consulting engineer unfortunately had an error in the excavation costs so it was part of it, but the right amount was not in = it, so it’s really part and parcel of the original agreement with Waterbu= ry for that work.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Hebert: This money is com= ing out of the fund, Frank, that we owe them?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Nardelli: It’s comi= ng out of the Sewer Extension Fund.

= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; &= nbsp; Ms. Robson: But it’s pa= rt of that original agreement with them.

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= ; &n= bsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Primini, Mr. Wick

= ; &n= bsp; Opposed: = Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Valenti

= ; &n= bsp; Abstained: None

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION CARRIED (6-2-0)

9. = Discussion Items

A. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on Charging the Public Buildings Committee with = the Polk School Roof Project

R E S O L U T I O N

= ; &n= bsp; RESOLVED, that the Town Council of the Town of Watertown authorizes the Watertown Boa= rd of Education to apply to the Commissioner of Education and to accept a grant for the School Roof Project at the Polk School.

= ; &n= bsp; RESOLVED, that the Public Buildings Committee is hereby established as the Building Committee with regard to the School Roof Project at the Polk School.

= ; &n= bsp; RESOLVED, that the Town Council of the Town of Watertown hereby authorizes at least t= he preparation of outline specifications for the School Roof at the Polk Schoo= l.

= ; &n= bsp; Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15^th day of December, 2003.

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Robert J. Kane, Chairman

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Watertown Town Council

= ; &n= bsp; Todd LoFrese, Director of Operations, Board of Education

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. LoFrese: I believe the discussion item for possible action is to, the Board of Ed is requesting th= at the Public Buildings Committee is charged with the Polk School Roof. As you may or may not be aware, the condition of the roof is severely deteriorated and it needs to be replaced.=

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Kane: So then we do need a motion to charge the Public Buildings Committee?

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= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Robson: There are also a = couple of other pieces to it. ItR= 17;s also to apply for a grant and accept a grant.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. LoFrese: Exactly. There is I believe 3 resolutions in there which are necessary for applying for a grant for this project.

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the Resolution charging the Public Build= ings Committee with the Polk School Roof Project, authorize the Board of Ed to a= pply for and accept a grant, and authorizing the preparation of outline specifications.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: Mr. Rinaldi: When was Polk Sc= hool built?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. LoFrese: I believe the pr= oject was completed around 1991. It= might have been 2 years prior to that though.

&n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: No, you’re r= ight.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Rinaldi: And the roof has deteriorated already?

= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. LoFrese: Yes.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Rinaldi: 10 years?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. LoFrese: I believe the ro= of is about 14 years old from when the roof was actually applied, is my understanding.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Primini: How long was the= roof rated for? Was it a 20 year r= oof?

= ; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; Mr. LoFrese: Initial indicati= ons are it’s a 25 year roof.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Primini: Is any of that c= overed under the warranty?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. LoFrese: Atty. Jessell is exploring that. I don’t= have a definitive answer yet on that.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Kane: I know you talked a little bit about that at the Board of Ed meeting, from the manufacturer, not from the actual contractor, correct?

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. LoFrese: Correct. My indications are the contractor = is no longer around and the architectural firm who designed the project has disso= lved as well, so we’re looking at the manufacturer currently.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Rinaldi: If we decide to = give this to the Public Buildings Committee, which is, they obviously know a lot more about this than we do, are we still going to continue to pursue our le= gal ends, as far as why this roof didn’t last as long as it was supposed = to?

= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Mr. LoFrese: Yes.

= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Ms. Adams: They also talked a= bout applying for accepting a grant. What is available out there for grant monies for the roof?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. LoFrese: With some stipul= ations met that the roof has failed, it has to be certified by an architect, and depending on what the ultimate legal recourse is, if a roof is less than 20 years old you can still get grant money from the State Department of Educat= ion if it meets those requirements.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: Are you looking at= 100%?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. LoFrese: No, I think our = grant reimbursement rate is 59.4.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Hebert: We just replaced = roofs on 3 schools. If this roof is= that bad, I realize you weren’t involved, but I have to ask the question – we replaced roofs on 3 schools that were supposedly so bad, now all= of a sudden a year, year and a half later we’re replacing a 4^{th
roof. If it was that bad now,
I’m sure a year and a half ago it was just as bad. I just don’t understand why =
we
didn’t take care of the whole problem at the time?}

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. LoFrese: I don’t ha= ve the answer to that.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Hebert: I understand.

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

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B. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on Eagle Scout Service Project – American = Flag Floral Landscape to be Installed at the Watertown Green

= ; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the Eagle Scout Project as presented.

= ; Discussion: Mr. F= isher: I was looking at this project, it = looks great, I think it’s going to look great, and the young man, Tom DeMar= co, should be very proud of himself for doing this and making such a great accomplishment, an Eagle Scout. We all know how tough that was to get. I was Tenderfoot for 3 years, so I think that’s great.

= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: It’s definit= ely a great presentation he put together.

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

C. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on a Charge to Public Buildings Committee for the Firehouse Expansion and Renovation Project

= ; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to charge the Public Building Committee with the Firehouse Company #1 Expansion and Renovation Project.

= ; Discussion: Mr. Primini: It’s alrea= dy on the Public Buildings Committee Agenda for this Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m.=

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

D. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on Resolution Supporting Hospital Joint Cardiac = Care to be provided by St. Mary’s and Waterbury Hospitals

R E S O L U T I O N

= WHEREAS, representatives of both St. Mary’s Hospital and Waterbury Hospital ha= ve applied to the State of Connecticut Office of Health Care Access for a Certificate of Need to provide a joint cardiac services program; and

= WHEREAS, these representatives have demonstrated both the critical need and ability = to provide these joint services; and

= WHEREAS the Town Council of the Town of Watertown shares the concerns over providing critical timely cardiac care to its residents and those in neighboring communities;

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= NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Council of the Town of Watertown is = in full support of the program and does hereby urge the State of Connecticut Office of Health Care Access to approve the application of joint cardiac services by Waterbury and St. Mary’s Hospitals.

= Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15^th day of December, 2003.

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp;

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Robert J. Kane, Chairman

= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Watertown Town Council

= ; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the Resolution supporting hospital joint cardiac care to be provided by St. Mary’s and Waterbury Hospitals.

= ; Discussion: Mr. Valenti: I understand the sentiment that was expressed here when we were given that presentation and I’m actually genuinely supportive of it, but it seems to me that ther= e is a State Agency out there that kind of assesses these kind of situations and passes judgment on them and I’m just throwing it out there as almost being curious, as we did with the, we did a resolution in the last Council = that talked about binding arbitration and then we’re doing here, what are = the contours of when we’re beyond our prerogative as a Council? I mean th= ese are matters that are normally outside our jurisdiction, I guess is my quest= ion, and so what defines when we weigh in on a policy issue as a Council that’s outside our realm, versus when we don’t?

= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: I think with somet= hing like this, or when it comes to binding arbitration, I think we have an obligation to look out for the citizens of the Town whether it be their wal= let or their health, and something like this we came forward, the presentation = came forward and I felt it was very well done, and I was very disturbed to find = out that our resident citizens, should they have problems like this and need the catheterization, cannot do it in their own local hospital, so not that we h= ave any real jurisdiction for this, but I feel if nothing else we can put forward t= he opinion which I believe is shared by most Townspeople that we would like to= see that service be brought closer.

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Hebert: There are two sid= es to the equation. There is Waterb= ury and St. Mary’s who are looking for support from the community, the wh= ole community for support for what they want to do. I believe the program is needed gr= eatly, having worked in the business. You also have the flip side of that where you have other individuals who want to keep their piece of the pie (inaudible). The only thing t= hat Waterbury and St. Mary’s are doing is they’re garnering support from the whole community and like Elaine said, we’re here to help our citizens. If this helps get i= t, I’m all in favor of it, cause it is greatly needed.

= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; Mr. Kane: I know Paul, your question is of a philosophical nature, if you will, why are we getting invo= lved in a lot of these things, but you’ll see that our Town Manager is involved with a regional economic alliance and what we’re trying to d= o is build a quality of life for our Town as well as the whole region, and as Waterbury goes, so does the region, and if we could promote more, I should = say a better qualify of life for our residents as well as the entire region, th= en we’re all going to do well from it, so when you ask why would we get involved in something like this, I think it speaks to the entire area that = all of the surrounding towns need to get involved with something like this to h= ave a better quality of life in the area.

= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; Mr. Valenti: I’m not disagreeing with you, but there are a lot of issues that we might have opin= ions on that aren’t at this level and I’m just wondering where the contours are, where we should . . . . . . I understand what you’re sa= ying and this might be a special case, and then you get into well how do you determine a special case. An = issue that’s very important to me, and I'm going to try and make this almos= t as non-partisan as I can whether it’s in cities in this State where we’ve seen allegations of wrongdoing, or at the State level, a effort= was made in the last legislative session to merge some of the watchdog agencies together, which I thought was wrong, so would it be appropriate for me to introduce a resolution and then some legislative leaders said you now what, certain agencies within the State, the Elections Enforcement Commission the Ethics Commission, these commissions should be funded independently of the legislature or political pressure. I mean I think that’s a good idea. I would even think it dovet= ails with the work that that Ethics Ordinance in Town that we’re trying (T= ape #1, side A ended – may have missed some) we should look at this and support efforts to make these watchdog agencies, I mean cause that’s important to me.

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= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Kane: Well we’ve be= en approached by St. Mary’s and Waterbury Hospitals personally on this particular issue, and as Elaine stated it does affect our residents directl= y, and the statistics came out that our residents would have to travel quite f= ar for such emergency procedures so it just seems like a good idea for the ent= ire region that we have something like this so close to home, that’s all,= but if other people want to come to our meetings and approach us, then we can t= ake on many issues.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Valenti: And the Chair wo= uld at least entertain them and make us apprised of who is asking for what in that regard?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Kane: Sure.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Robson: If there are thin= gs that come up, when I go to different meetings and work with different agenc= ies, if there is something that comes up that I think all of you should at least discuss about whether or not you want to take a stand on it, then I’ll bring it to you so you can make those decision, so you may get some things = that come that way, which is how this particular issue started.

= ; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Primini, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Wick=

= ; Opposed: = None

= ; Abstained: Mr. Valenti

MOTION CARRIED (7-0-1)

E. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on Verizon Water Tower Lease Agreement – Straits Turnpike

MOTION: = (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approv= e the Verizon Water Tower Lease Agreement on Straits Turnpike.

Discussion: &nb= sp; None

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

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F. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on Verizon Water Tower Lease Agreement – Buckingham Street

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. = Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to approve the Verizon Water Tower Lease Agreement on Buckingham Street.

= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: Mr. Rinaldi: Where is this go= ing to be located?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Robson: On the water towe= r.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Rinaldi: It’s been approved by Water & Sewer?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Robson: Yea, well I worked through the department head for Water & Sewer.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Rinaldi: No, the Commissi= on?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Robson: I’m not sur= e if he’s discussed it with them.

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: Well this was a re= newal, right?

= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Robson: No, Verizon is ne= w for both locations.

= ; &n= bsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Primini, Mr. Wick, Mr. Valenti=

= ; &n= bsp; Opposed: = Mr. Rinaldi

= ; &n= bsp; Abstained: None

= ; &n= bsp; MOTION CARRIED (7-1-0)

G. &nb= sp; Discussion and Possible Action on Acceptance of the Following Parcels:

= ; Mary Barton, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Town of Watertown

&n= bsp; Ms. Barton: In Section 7 of t= he Subdivision regulations they adopted in 96, there is a section, 7.8, which clearly indicates that prior to any acceptance of any lands or conveyances = to the Town, the Council has to approve it, and this section specifically refe= rs to open space, so it would be conservation restrictions and/or property conveyed as part of a residential or industrial subdivision. If there was an application for an= industrial subdivision the Commission could ask for open space; they have not historically. This is a subdi= vision and if the Council chooses not to accept the open space then the subdivider= has to go back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for alternate means to meet the standard of open space.

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= ; 1. = Hidden Oaks Estates – Open Space

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: This is across fr= om Carvel. Pond View, Phase I, is already constructed which is Kimberly Lane and Pond View Drive. This is the second phase, it’= ;s called Hidden Oaks Estates. T= his is an overall map showing the subdivisions.&n= bsp; This is Route 63, this is Pond View Phase I, in the green is the open space that presently exists, and Pond View Phase I is a PCD which is a Plan= ned Community Development District which allows smaller lot sizes and more open space. Oak Drive, which was approved in the late 60’s, early 70’s is also a PCD and was ope= n space obtained at that time that actually goes down to Straits, goes into that subdivision here, there’s actually a little strip that connects, he didn’t show it on the plan. When (inaudible) approved Pond View Phase I, these pieces were recei= ved as open space right here.

Now thi= s went in front of the Planning and Zoning Commission, Hidden Oaks, this is the pi= ece right here. In purple is what= they are proposing to convey to the Town and this actually backs up to, there is some additional open space along here and it does connect to this existing = open space. There is a detention p= ond in this open space. Typically the Planning and Zoning Commission does not recognize detention basins as being open space cause open space is open space, for active or passive recreation, not for detention basins. If = you need a storm water system then you can put a storm water system anywhere on= the property, but in this case this was really the best location for it. This is all wetlands in here, there’s some wetlands in here, there’s actually some flat open = area here, this is part of Pond View Phase I.

&n= bsp;

Hidden = Oaks, or Pond View Phase II is about 40 acre parcel that was originally proposed for= 48 lots and once the review process it was down to 26 lots. They’ve proposed 14.9 acres = of open space of which 3.9 acres was required because in our statute the maxim= um use and requirement, I apologize it’s not in your memo, I went throug= h my notes myself, the maximum the Commission can ask for is 10% of the property= in open space so all that was required was 3.96 acres. They proposed 14.89 and 6.6 acres = of open space is wetlands, that’s about 45% and 8.24 acres is non-wetlan= ds so it does connect with existing open space, it is a significant wetland he= re to protect, this is a wetland right here, they’re connected. It is not for active recreation. If you look in the packet when thi= s was proposed Park and Rec made a comment they would rather have active recreati= on space, not within a subdivision but on a main road so that was (inaudible) = they would have rather wanted a piece over here, but this stage of it which was drawn at that time, this is pending right now in front of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

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&n= bsp;

The Pla= n of Development does call for the acquisition of 10 to 15 acres in this area wh= en a parcel is developed for active and passive recreation that was attached. So that’s what (inaudible) t= his one here. Right now this subd= ivision was approved on September 3^rd.&= nbsp; They are in their first 90 days to file their subdivision map which = is January 4, 2004 I believe and they have received an extension to file it, b= ut they have not (inaudible) yet filed their subdivision map. Are there any questions I can answ= er about this piece?

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: It looks like the = only access there is going to be from the subdivision itself; there’s noth= ing like Middlebury Road access to the piece?

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: Not at this prese= nt time. (Inaudible) proposal wh= ich is Fox Crossing Phase III, that proposes an access road right through the Midd= lebury Road and actually as part of this subdivision there is a little easement th= at is proposed to be conveyed to the Town of Watertown by Mr. Graziano that wo= uld encumber this piece and if he does get approval for this them this road wou= ld be constructed cause the Plan of Development does call for east/west corridors. We are lacking eas= t/west corridors for traffic circulation throughout the community. Park and Rec had wanted a nice par= cel up here. They will comment again= on this third phase cause actually the dimension plan part is here and that’s of course where they want to build. In the third phase they propose to (inaudible) for a pump station for water and sewer (inaudible) and end up sewering this area and we can get to Lake Winnemaug area.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Primini: You said the lan= d they want to give us is 14 acres, with 6 of it being wetlands. What’s the other?

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: It’s non-we= tlands but it’s some slope, it’s not suitable for active recreation. This area is really suitable for s= ome kind of trail through it and it might be something the Town or Eagle Scout might want to do in the future. This land here actually, there is a flat area up top, this is Pond V= iew Phase I, there is a possibility (inaudible) as the access and I know this i= s a question that came up when they proposed this one, and now it may come back= up again is that if you can get up here you probably could put some kind of fi= eld, but again Park and Rec does not like anything that’s in a subdivision= . They want something on the main ro= ad cause they don’t want people parking in neighborhoods, but there is a possibility of putting a little neighborhood park up there that people could walk there, that would really service the neighborhood and not someone that would drive there.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Primini: Is there any way instead of giving us this 14 acres, that’s really useless to something that’s more useful, if you worked out something with both development= s?

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= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: Well (inaudible).= This phase they’re proposing= this right now and it’s useless in the fact that it’s not for active recreation but it does protect a significant wetland, it does connect, it d= oesn’t have a (inaudible), you could put a trail through, so this is kind of an informal trail system through it, this is (inaudible) piece, which was Dave= luy and then (inaudible) so people will use this actually, if you go to Oak Dri= ve, people walk their dogs in here, they go through (inaudible) some people in = Pond View, they use it even though the Town doesn’t own it.

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Robson: The reason you= 217;re seeing it is because you have to approve this, and if you’re not satisfied with the parcel as it is presented, you can ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to review it again and it will go back to them, so in that sense you have the ability to have come conversation about where it is you’d like to see the open spaces.

= ; &= nbsp; Mr. Primini: My concern has a= lways been that they are required to give us 10%, and we always get 10% of useless land usually.

&n= bsp; = ; Ms. Barton: The Subdivision Regulations changed (inaudible) 55%, at least 50% of the land has to be uplands, and when the regulations were amended it was attempted to (inaudib= le) saying you couldn’t get any more than 7% sloped, but that was not ado= pted because there was an outcry by the citizens, because if you put that in the subdivision regulations, then you’re almost guaranteed because right = now you can give land that’s 15% to 25% slope that’s not wetlands.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> If you had a slope requirement in = the Regs, then the Commission may consider trying to adopt that again, and ensu= re you would get a better parcel. In (inaudible) active recreation it’s not a viable active, but for passi= ve it truly is. From a wetland perspective and environmental connects an existing wetlands, provides (inaudible) to it, and actually it is a very pretty piece of property.

= ; &= nbsp; Mr. Rinaldi: If we refuse thi= s, Mary, then what?

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: The developer wou= ld have to get something in writing and he would go back to the Planning and Zoning Commission and find an alternative means in which to satisfy your op= en space requirement. It could b= e fees in lieu of open space, a possible reconfiguration of the entire subdivision, that could possibly happen.

= ; &= nbsp; Mr. Kane: But his is accepted= by the Planning and Zoning?

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= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: This was approved= and that’s one thing, after we talk about the three I have done up a proc= ess to just kind of put this better on track, I didn’t give you a copy bu= t I did it as a draft so really (inaudible) I do need to discuss with you after= I go through all these, cause we’ve already accepted one other parcel that’s come from the Council, that’s on Townline Highway. This is not part of the typical pr= ocess cause we have so many subdivisions now.

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Robson: Yes, since this i= s a new process for you to go through, there are some things that you definitely need to keep in mind when you’re considering what the best possible s= ource of the open space is. Sometim= es it may be that in lieu of payment is a better idea. If you have contiguous parcels nor= mally that’s a better situation in terms of what you’re preserving. If we get pockets of open space he= re and there and are not contiguous and have no vernal pools and no true benefit, = then the Town is really not gaining from that open space legislation so there are lots of issues that you have to consider when you’re looking at this,= and all 3 of them have some different points to bring up that you’ll need= to consider, but since it’s new, I would suggest you look at it in a bro= ader picture in terms of what’s the value of the piece that we’re getting and does it really meet any need that we have in Town, and if it doesn’t, then you send it back to the process and ask the Planning and Zoning Commission to work further with the developer.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Rinaldi: How many houses = did you say was going in there?

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: 26 in this phase.= There was originally 48 to 50 and = when it went through the regulatory review process, Wetlands came out of it beca= use there was an issue, then they had a reconfiguration of cul de sacs, now its= 26.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Valenti: The inquiry that Meredith just outlined us to how we should assess this, theoretically that’s something that P & Z has already done as Chairman Kane referred to, is that correct?

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: They have done it= but the legislative and statute, the ultimate acceptance is the Council.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Valenti: But those criter= ia, those considerations, are what in part at least inform their decisions.

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: Correct and in th= is case, because of the interconnected open space and in the second phase, thi= rd phase of Pond View they will eventually use some type of trail system. If not right now, maybe it’s something the Town would do, or a project, or even a third phase, make the developer go back and put a trail throughout the whole thing because actual= ly it is very pretty.

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&n= bsp; = ; Mr. Wick: You said that the regulations required 3.9 acres?

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: 3.96 acres are required by the regulations.

&n= bsp; = ; Mr. Wick: So we’re being offered an additional 10 acres. Why?

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: Because it does b= ack up to an existing open space and they do have a detention basin that most of it does go down and this actually property in here is (inaudible) holdings. I think what it is is (inaudible) interconnection of the open space, the wetlands or something preserved cause the wetlands really are quite attractive, they couldn’t use it #1, #2, they might give you a percentage of wetlands and non wetlands and this fit = the bill and it backed up to the open space cause once you get to the access way from Oak Drive, that’s a 50 foot right of way the Town owns. It could very easily be made into a pedestrian access to get through to this open space.

= ; &= nbsp; Mr. Wick: Does this relate to= any portion of the Plan of Development?

= ; &= nbsp; Ms,. Barton: It does relate, b= ut the only thing the Plan of Development does say is when there’s a parcel (inaudible) to Middlebury Road that’s developed, that the Town should acquire 10 to 25 acres of open space either for active and/or passive recreation. The developers te= nd to not want to provide you with the best property, that’s why in the Subdivision Regulations there’s (inaudible) open space. I guess as you said you get a bett= er piece of property.

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: But since we don&#= 8217;t have that . . . .

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: No, that was not (inaudible) the last amendment go the subdivision regulations. I will bring it back to the Commis= sion again, but that was their decision at the time.

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: So we don’t = get nice flat land that we could possibly . . . .

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: Well that’s wanted the Commission wanted them to go from 10 to possibly 20, maybe in the middle of 15% and then there was a tremendous outcry.

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: Yea, the developer= s came forward.

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: No, the property = owners in Town, not the developers.

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= ; &= nbsp; Mr. Wick: Do we have the opti= on of recommending an alternative such as stay with the 3.9 or something even less and provide cash in lieu of open space that we can then use for something t= hat we might want to buy someday?

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: I think you could= do that.

&n= bsp; = ; Mr. Wick: I mean we can go th= at far in terms of it being specific?

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: I think you could because you do not have to accept the conveyance of it, cause this area that (inaudible) that’s predominantly wetlands will not be utilized anyway= , it is regulated. They could make= an application, it could be included as a lot, the only thing the detention ba= sin would not be included as a lot cause the Town has a public interest in the maintenance of that detention basin, but that’s a possibility. They can reconfigure the subdivisi= on map and then it would be a percentage of what they would have to pay.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Primini: Do we have acces= s to that detention basin?

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: Yes, there is an = access way right here, it’s what this little purple strip is. What we do with detention basins, instead of making a nice gravel road to make it attractive for people to go= in there and hang out, we put in grass pavers so you’re able to access a= nd drive a vehicle over and grass grows through it and it looks like a lawn and peop= le that live on either side tend to maintain it and we don’t have to wor= ry about people going in there with bikes and . . . . we don’t mind walk= ers but we don’t want people going in there and . . . . we’ve had problems with people gating and putting gravel access where people loitering and kids, it’s a never ending situation so this seems to work with the pavers.

= ; 2. = Buckingham Estates – Conservation Restriction Easement Area and Five Percent of = the Value of Property Prior to subdivision in lieu of Open Space.

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: This is a 3 lot residential subdivision on Buckingham Street. The Commission did approve this on December 3^rd. If you’re familiar with where the 55 and older is presently being constructed on Icehouse, this is actually part of that property, this was broken out from the Masi Property as a first cut. This is Icehouse Road down here. What the developer is proposing to= do in front of the Planning and Zoning Commission, is they want to give this area= in yellow as a conservation restriction easement, which means you couldn’= ;t develop it, but it’s wetlands and you really couldn’t do anythi= ng with it. This parcel is 2.1 a= cres, open space requires is .21 acres. This conservation restricted area, Lots #1, #2, #3, comes up to 1.43 acres.

Watertown Town Council

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Page 27

What ca= me up is the Planning and Zoning Commission said well why should we take this as open space requirements when it’s regulated and can’t do anything wi= th it. It does back up top the o= pen space for the 55 and older so it does have some value, so what the Planning= and Zoning Commission talked about we’ll take the conservation restrictio= n, but we also want 5% of fees in lieu of open space. Well typically the Commission does= an appraisal but in this case they used the sales price. I don’t think this is closed= , or it hasn’t been filed in the Clerk’s Office cause I couldn’= ;t find it, but I talked to the developer and the sales price for this piece is $180,000, so 5% of that would be $9,000, 10% would be $18,000. So right now that’s what is proposed. For some reason I&#= 8217;m usually pretty good about going (inaudible) Park and Rec but for some reaso= n I missed them. I spoke to Lisa = Carew and typically with this type of subdivision, Park and Rec requests fees in = lieu of because there really isn’t sufficient acreage to put active recrea= tion so what Lisa did was give me a letter and review it saying that the Park and Rec would recommend fees in lieu of open space.

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Robson: This is one you m= ay want to consider since that, and has to be preserved anyway, it can’t= be used, you might want to consider asking for the full 10% because I’m = not sure what the discussion was behind just accepting 5% but that is something= you might consider. If they have = to preserve that anyway, the Town really isn’t getting something that th= ey wouldn’t ordinarily get, so you might want to go ahead and ask for the full 10%.

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: This was approved= on the 3^rd of December so it’s still in its 90 day period to = file the map and they haven’t done that yet.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Wick: The original propos= al was to create a conservation easement?

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: Correct.

= ; &= nbsp; Mr. Wick: For the property in yellow, and then contribute 5%?

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: No, the developer= only wanted to provide the conservation restriction area. When it came to the Planning and Z= oning Commission their comment was well why would we want that, because you can’t do anything with it anyway.&nb= sp; And the developer said he didn’t think they’d want fees = in lieu of, I thought the conservation restriction would satisfy it because wetlands approve it as that, but the Commission said well we really donR= 17;t necessarily want it, but we’ll compromise, and that was the position = of the Commission, we’ll accept 5% of fees in lieu of open space and the conservation restriction, but the conservation restriction is a condition of the Wetlands approval which the developer did not object to and I believe t= hat appeal period has gone by.

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Page 28

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Wick: So that’s a g= iven, that can’t be changed.

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: Well you can chan= ge it if you want to, I mean the conservation restriction would stay because of t= he wetland approval but the open space and fees in lieu of would be something = you could decide, instead of the 5% you want 10%, and then the developer would = have to go back to the Planning and Zoning Commission to determine if the commis= sion would take the additional 5%, and if the Council wants it, I’m pretty sure (inaudible).

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Wick: Correct me if IR= 17;m wrong, but my understanding of the conservation easement is that title to t= he property stays with the owner of that property, but the conservation easeme= nt just simply imposes some restrictions on the subsequent use for the property subject to the easement, is that correct?

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: Well actually what happened was the conservation restriction by the Conservation Commission actually becomes deeded to the Town, it’s still part of the property because it conveys to the Town of Watertown with the meets and bounds description. It’s still= part of the property but it (inaudible) conveyance to the Town and that’s something else that we have to talk about in the process cause conservation does that on a regular basis, but that would still be conveyed, the easement area to the Town, they’d be putting (inaudible) on what they could do. So it’s not just a = note on the map or just restrictions, it’s actually a conveyance of an easement to the Town of Watertown, and the Town has the ability, if someone goes in and clear cuts the entire conservation restriction even though ther= e is language in our document which we’ve been successful, if someone goes= in and clear cuts it, we have been successful, at least one case where someone= had to go back and restore it, and when they had to restore it, word got around don’t go in the conservation restriction because you pay the Town leg= al fees and that’s clearly what it says in the document. We’re not responsible, (inau= dible) court after you.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Wick: The conservation ea= sement is something required by the Wetlands Commission and there is nothing we ca= n do about that?

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Page 29

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: Correct, but then= there is something else you have to do in the process after. I spoke to Atty. McHugh about it, = every time the Conservation Commission gives and approval on an individual lot, t= hey get easements to the Town and in reality all of those easements should come= to the Council to accept. Atty. = McHugh and I discussed maybe if the Commission, if it’s a conservation restriction, the Council could do a blanket approval if its for protection = of the wetlands, or something like that, we just touched upon it, because we’ve taken these easement probably for years and never even thought about it, but they truly are conveyances to the Town, with the meets and bounds, and we should set up to be something separate and different than op= en space, but it wouldn’t be considered part of the open space, it would= be just another approval of (inaudible) of the Wetland approval.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Wick: If there were no conservation easement on the proposal, is there anything that can be done w= ith the property in yellow constructively?

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: No.

= ; &= nbsp; Mr. Wick: Basically . . . .

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: It’s not bu= ild able.

= ; 3. = Lynnfield Acres – Open Space

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: This parcel is a portion of the Lynn property on Bunker Hill and Aunt Olive. It was sold to Lynnfield Acres LLC= with Mark Tedesco as the managing member. What is proposed is a subdivision with 14 lots on a public cul de sac with 3 lots of frontage on Bunker Hill Road. Here’s Aunt Olive Road, Bunk= er Hill Road, and Barnes Road. T= his is the flow of Aunt Olive, this is the newer houses that have been built, abou= t 4 years or so. This is a parcel= of about 75 acres. They’ve proposed 22 acres of open space, 10 acres of which is wetlands, that came to about 45%, 12 acres which is non-wetlands, and that is about 55%. The Plan of Development does call = for the conservation of about 50 acres of this area of Town when anything is developed, for conservation purposes. Actually it said that the (inaudible) of all the (inaudible) and thi= s is actually the piece that they were referring to so it does meet the Plan of Development in that respect. = The sales price for this property, I believe it’s about $850,000 so that would be $85,000 if you’re looking at 10% of the value of that. This right now is still in the pro= cess, it has not been approved by Wetlands or Planning and Zoning, it’s in = the public hearing process. Park = and Rec had made comment that they ought to have 5 acres of usable land. The developer in the application t= alks about access to this but there’s none provided in the application. It is a pretty (inaudible) property (inaudible).

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I’= ;m not sure if the Council would like to comment on it or would rather wait until Conservation makes a decision and then Planning and Zoning has some feedback. Conservation had th= eir first hearing last Thursday; Planning and Zoning is having their first hear= ing on the 17^th, Wednesday.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Primini: When they give t= he 10% in money, where does that money go to?

= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: There is a dedica= ted open space fund that is currently, Mr. Nardelli is the holder of that money. They can do it up fron= t or they can do a conveyance (inaudible). I don’t know the amount, I think there’s about (inaudibl= e) in there. The Commission adop= ted their subdivision regulations in 96 which allowed them to do the fees in li= eu of open space. The typical of= not taking little pockets here and there, that’s what they did in the 80’s, but they won’t take that because it makes no sense. They’re looking for more coh= esive, interconnected and valuable pieces. Unfortunately at that time the commission would take wetlands or lit= tle pieces that didn’t matter, so right now they’re trying not to do that as much as possible. When staff reviews it, all the agencies review it, everyone gets a copy of the subdivision map, it goes off to Park and Rec, we try to provide it to the L= and Trust. On this one I’m mailing it to Gail Sangrea of the Land Trust tomorrow, cause that is an opt= ion, it can be conveyed to the Land Trust, but these are proposals to be made to= the Town, that’s why if the Town accepts it, the Council has to be the en= tity that accepts the open space.

= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Primini: If we take the m= oney and (inaudible) and eventually buy a piece of land that’s more benefi= cial o the whole Town.

= ; &= nbsp; Ms. Barton: And that’s a possibility.

&n= bsp; = ; Mr. Rinaldi: I think we shoul= d wait until the public hearings are over and let them hash out all the issues and whatever concerns they have, and then it should come to us, I think we shou= ld act on it at that point. I don’t right circumventing somebody else’s . . . .

= ; &= nbsp; Mr. Kane: That’s on thi= s one, but are you looking for action on the previous two?

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= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Barton: Hidden Oaks, (Tap= e #1, Side B ended – may have missed some). That one, everyone has signed o= ff on that, the Planning and Zoning Chairman, the Wetlands Chairman, the Town Attorney we did extensive document review, and they would truly like to be = able to file their subdivision map Wednesday or Tuesday of this week if possible. Buckingham Estates = you definitely have time, they’re in their appeal period, That’s the second one on Buckingham Street. If you have an answer now, then we’d have to get back to the develop so = he can get back to the Commission for the January meeting.

If I might, just tal= king about the process, and if I’m way too forward just tell me cause this= is not my meeting, this is your meeting.

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: No, I was going to suggest that yo= u do that so they have a bigger picture.

Ms. B= arton: This is an example, I just did a guideline of (inaudible) just pass them around, of how maybe in the future = that this could be addressed. This= is the new process and it’s a draft, if you have any comments, I think t= he Planning and Zoning Commission would probably benefit from your comments wi= thin the public hearing process and I think you would probably want, it’s = on the back also, we’re trying to save paper (inaudible). We have comments from Conservation= , Park and Rec, and from Planning and Zoning, and if you could possibly process a comment during the public hearing process that would be beneficial to every= one.

&nb= sp;

Mr. Wick: You’re asking= us to agree and understand and digest - to me what sounds like a very important t= hing that we’re being asked to do and I really feel uncomfortable making irreversible decisions tonight given the fact that this is pretty new stuff. But you did say that t= he developer for the Hidden Oaks Estates is ready to go and we’re the la= st decision that needs to be made. I guess my question really is what harm is there in tabling some of these thi= ngs and what harm is there in going forward with Hidden Oaks in particular, so = my question is really they have to offer 3.9 acres according to regulations, they’re offering 10 acres more, you said isn’t worth much anywa= y, so is there a better configuration of land that they could offer in the for= m of open space that we might want to look at and we might want to recommend, or= is this topography such that that idea is really not very (inaudible)?

&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: It was explored during the review p= rocess and actually the better parcel of land is in the Phase III, which is the be= tter land to develop. At that poin= t with Fox Crossing in, that would be the better land for active use and Park and = Rec would like that also. In this= phase this is probably, this is a nice parcel to take and Phase III there is a be= tter parcel closer to Middlebury Road, that would be a better parcel.

&nb= sp;

Mr. W= ick: Will Phase III come in our lifetime= ?

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&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: It will come in your lifetime. It has right now been submitted an= d is scheduled for public hearing on January 14^th. So you’ll be receiving it in January or February. I realiz= e this is new and I apologize for Hidden Oaks, we were doing an extensive document review, I think it was something cause it’s new, myself and the Town Attorney just skipped it over. We have an enormous checklist and for some reason we just missed this one, so = this was just added on. It probably should have come to the Council maybe in November, and I apologize for that. We only did this once b= efore and that was Townline. This i= s only a draft, you can make any comment you want, just so it becomes a routine th= ing for you to cause it is your responsibility as the legislative body.

&nb= sp;

Mr. K= ane: Hidden Oaks, the land area is being= used somewhat by a residence, and it was aesthetically pleasing and it’s p= art of the process so we can get to Phase III, correct?

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: And there’s a vernal pool.

&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: Not on Hidden Oaks. There is a vernal pool on Lynnfield Acres. There is a detention p= ond on Hidden Oaks.

&nb= sp;

Mr. K= ane: My assumption is tonight that you w= ould recommend we take action on Hidden Oaks and accept the parcel?

&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: That would be my recommendation at= this point. There too I believe yo= u have the opportunity to table and think about.

&nb= sp;

Mr. Kane: They’re not actually on the Agenda so we don’t have to table them, they’re discussion items so we don’t have to take any action.

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: They’re discussion and possib= le action.

&nb= sp;

Mr. K= ane: Right, so we don’t have to t= able them. #1, Hidden Oaks, we can= make a motion and accept that parcel possibly, and the other two we can delay un= til our next meeting in January.

&nb= sp;

Ms. A= dams: I agree with what you’re saying. I would support the H= idden Oaks proposal tonight but I would definitely want time for the other two, especially the last one cause it is very new and it needs the public hearin= g.

&nb= sp;

MOTION: &nbs= p; (Ms. Adams, sec. Mr. Wick) to approve the Hidden Oaks Estate Open Space as presented.

Discussion: = None

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

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December 15, 2003

Page 33

Ms. Barton: I have one pitch in relation to &#= 8211; this is an example of an open space map.&n= bsp; This is the open space map for the Town. It was hand drawn by myself and sh= ows all the parcels. This is a nice version of what you can do if you had GIS.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> I would like you to consider that = the needs assessment that the Manager could put back in the budget I believe. This is an example of the map that= could be reproduced by GIS. This was done by the Council of Governments when they= did the seminar at the Library. T= his shows all of the property owned by the Town of Watertown or public and it h= as a legend and it really is a nice legend and it does show a lot of non connect= ed spaces, but it’s a really nice planning tool.

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: Mary and I discussed, and you’= ;re right Dick when you say, I think it’s a critical issue for the Town to really wrap your hands around, now you may not be able to do it for the remaining two items that we presented on the Agenda, but for the long term = you really should be looking at this, hopefully have GIS in place so that you c= an see where the existing areas are and where you might want to have the connections. It does you no g= ood really for you to look at these peace mail, so Mary and I have discussed tr= ying to get this set up so that someone, probably a combination of entities, is taking a look at this and suggesting that you want a quarter here for a tra= il system or you want active or passive open space. Right now all we have is a hodge p= odge of pieces that have been granted to the Town over the years and it really d= oesn’t provide much public benefit. = Again in terms of the other two that you’re tabling, that’s fine, but= you may need to make a decision on those prior to that kind of work cause that’s extensive, but you should consider, and we’ll work with = you on a process and getting that put in place, but that really should be the w= ay that you take a look at open space in the community.

&nb= sp;

Mr. K= ane: On the other two, the timeline . .= . .

&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: (Inaudible) is fine for the other two. Buckingham Estates they’re legal notice will be in the paper this week. There is a 15 day appeal period an= d then 90 days to file their maps, so within that 90 day timeframe they’ll b= ring it to probably March, and I’m not sure how we’re going to do that. I assume there is somet= hing written back to myself for the applicant, then the developer will have time= to (inaudible) file the map and get back to the Planning and Zoning Commission= to satisfy the base requirements. Lynnfield Acres as I said is presently in public hearing so thatR= 17;s going to go on for a little while. Wetlands has extended it until January and Planning and Zoning has i= t on the 17^th. I imagine they’ll extend it to January. Planning and Zoning, by statute, cannot make a decision until the Inland/Wetland Agency renders their report.

&nb= sp;

Mr. W= ick: Just a question on Buckingham - wh= en we were talking about that one, we seemed to come pretty close, at least in my mind, to the feeling that asking for 10% is likely to be the right thing to= do.

&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: If you’re asking for a recommendation from a point of view, the developer probably wouldn’t = be happy, but I would say yes.

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&nb= sp;

Mr. W= ick: If that is our inclination and may= be it’s too early to push it tonight, but if that feeling was conveyed b= ack as part of the process then wouldn’t we be saving everybody some time= , so wouldn’t that be the right thing to do if that’s going to be our decision anyway? If we’= re pretty sure we want to go that way then why wait?

&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: That’s your choice. I think what the developer is conc= erned about is the value of the lots in Oakville. The additional cost is not going t= o bear the burden of the cost of the lots, but what he’s doing as part of th= at approval, there are bituminous sidewalks in front of that and the subdivisi= on regulations require Portland Cement so he’s putting in cement sidewal= ks there. There is no detention = so he has no . . . . actually he’s doing detention systems for each lot, he’s not doing a basin, there are no drainage improvements. There are street trees that are ex= isting that they will maintain, so he doesn’t have to do street trees and there’s street lighting so it’s not really too bad to pay $18,000. I’m sure he= 217;s not going to like that I said that but . . . . .

&nb= sp;

Mr. W= ick: But that leads me to another questi= on – is it appropriate when we are being asked to make these decisions to take economics into consideration or should we focus our thoughts on whether the particular piece of open space has value and is consistent with what we’ve been talking about this evening and use the 10% option as the alternative when we come to a negative conclusion about the utility of the = land itself?

&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: I would agree with that. Section 71 of the Subdivision Regulations that looks at the value of the land and the importance of it, a= nd this is a nice area, it does back up to an open space that’s private (inaudible) significant environmental features other than it’s a wetl= and. Nothing that I can say that is key= , the wetland is a poor wetland, but I can tell you it’s a vernal pool, (inaudible) it’s going to be protected anyway by virtue of it being a regulated area, and I think that was part of the discussion I think from Planning and Zoning’s perspective.

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: I would suggest that as part of th= is entire review and investigation of what you want to do with open space, that you develop criteria for the parcels that you’re going to look for. One item on that list might be if = there is no other value to a piece of property that a developer wants to convey, = then you ask for 10%, if there is some value, then perhaps you ask for 5%. There could be a sliding scale, bu= t I think that should be part of your discussion in terms of setting the criter= ia for open space acceptance or purchase.

&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: The Planning and Zoning Commission = does do that but you’re doing it in a different function so I think you ha= ve to set your own mindset of how you want to do it.

&nb= sp;

Mr. K= ane: So then we really need to develop = a plan on how we want to approach these things.

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: And we’ll put something toge= ther as a suggestion for you in terms of this is a start on the process and how = you might develop criteria and those sorts of things.

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December 15, 2003

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&nb= sp;

Mr. P= rimini: I would feel more comfortable if we developed the criteria first.

&nb= sp;

Ms. B= arton: One of the key things in the Plan = of Development is the consultant hopes you will (inaudible) that is very important. I’ve done so= me work on open space analysis and some work on (inaudible) parcels, it’s just (inaudible) so they’re going to come in and (inaudible) to go ov= er some of that. They were looki= ng (inaudible) the Commission hasn’t decided on (inaudible).

&nb= sp;

Mr. Kane= : Those require no action.

&nb= sp;

10. &n= bsp; Public Participation

&= nbsp; Al Mickel, 173 DiNunzio Road, Oakville, CT&nb= sp; 06779

&= nbsp; Mr. Mickel: We heard earlier tonight that the re-evaluation report is going to be put on the Internet. This is the first re-evaluation in= 4 years. Frank, do you know if = there are going to be a large amount of people who will want to contest their re-evaluation?

&= nbsp; Mr. Nardelli: From what IR= 17;m hearing the residential is obviously going to increase substantially. The commercial/industrial is not g= oing to increase as much as the residential.&nb= sp; Now when people get their notices and go to the Web Site, or go to t= he book and look at what their neighbors are getting, obviously that’s w= hen they are going to start questioning their values. As you know it’s not a full = re-evaluation, they don’t come in and inspect your house, they do comparable sales in the area to try and determine valuation so we don’t feel there’s going to be a lot, but obviously there will be an opportunity for everybody= to have these informal hearings, but we don’t feel there will be a lot.<= /p>

Mr. M= ickel: So you don’t think it will be= as bad as it was during the 10 year one?

&nb= sp;

Mr. N= ardelli: Well the 10 year one, we = went from 89 to 99, and in 89 the property values were very high, in 1999 they weren’t as bad, but you’re going to see a pretty substantial increase on the residential side, we’re figuring anywhere from 50% to= 60% increase in 4 years.

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: For the value, but obviously there’s a change to the mill rate as well.

&nb= sp;

Mr. N= ardelli: I mean you think about property, w= hat it was worth in 99 and what it’s worth in 2003 residential, I mean that’s a substantial increase.

&nb= sp;

Mr. M= ickel: This is a self serving question &#= 8211; I’m on the Board of Assessment Appeals and I was just wondering if th= ere would be any more money for the additional work?

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December 15, 2003

Page 36

&nb= sp;

Mr. N= ardelli: In the budget they only put in the regular amount, yes, and there probably should be some. Well again that’s the inform= al hearing, you people aren’t involved, but when it gets to the formal hearing, maybe at that time if there are a lot of formal hearings maybe you could come back to the Council and (inaudible).

&nb= sp;

Mr. M= ickel: I just want to remind everyone tha= t the Minutes are still not on the Internet, and if they could be that would be nice. One other question to t= he ordinance. Bob brought up the= fact about the snow ordinance and finding the owner of the property so the Police can do something about it, even if the Police did give a citation, wouldn’t we still need a hearing officer?

&nb= sp;

Mr. W= ick: I don’t know.

&nb= sp;

Ro= bert LeBlanc, 78 Highland Avenue, Watertown, CT= 06795

&nb= sp;

Mr. L= eBlanc: I have a couple of questions. You talked about container service= s on Bards Road at the recycling place. Does anyone remember that when CRRA was coming into Watertown they promised they would have container service, a container in front of their building on Echo Lake Road free of service for the Town and that was one of their carrots they had in front of our noses? Does anybody remember that?

&nb= sp;

Ms. A= dams: You mean when they developed the tr= ansfer station?

&nb= sp;

Mr. L= eBlanc: When they were developing the tran= sfer station, they said they would give us this container service for the people= of Watertown to use free of charge.

&nb= sp;

Ms. Adams: I think you’= ve said that before.

&nb= sp;

Mr. L= eBlanc: Well I don’t make these things up. If nobody else remembers = it I guess I’ll forget it until I do my research.

&nb= sp;

Ms. A= dams: That probably came out before Plann= ing and Zoning. Maybe you should,= maybe their minutes would have it.

&nb= sp;

Mr. L= eBlanc: Could we know how much money is le= ft in the John Trumbull account that wasn’t used, or has it all been used?<= /p>

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: It’s roughly $300,000.

&nb= sp;

Mr. L= eBlanc: Is that now done away with or are t= hey still spending that?

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Page 37

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: No that’s what I mentioned earlier. That money will not = be spent again except for the items that are potentially involved in either litigation or resolution of the building issues themselves. It’s not to purchase more computers or more desks, those items are closed.

&nb= sp;

Mr. L= eBlanc: That was my concern; thank you. When can we get a copy of the lease agreement for the Straits Turnpike and Buckingham Street Tower Lease Agreem= ent?

&nb= sp;

Ms. R= obson: Those will be signed tomorrow since= the Council approved them.

&nb= sp;

Mr. K= ane: Are the chairs a little bit better tonight? A little more comfortable? The ones that we= re there were designed for 2^nd graders.

Mr. Kane, Chairman, = Closed Public Participation at 9:28 p.m.

11.&n= bsp; Executive Session

A. Litigation

&= nbsp; B. = Property Acquisition/Negotiation

&= nbsp; C. Legal Matters

= ; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to Enter into Executive Session at 9:29 p.m. to dis= cuss litigation, property acquisition/negotiation, and legal matters with the 8 members of the Town Council, Ms. Robson, and Mr. Nardelli.

&n= bsp;

Discuss= ion: None<= /p>

&n= bsp;

MOTION = PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

&n= bsp;

Present= During Executive Session:

&n= bsp;

Elaine = Adams

Karl Fi= sher

Raymond= Hebert

Robert = Kane

Raymond= Primini

Paul Ri= naldi

Paul Va= lenti

Richard= Wick

&n= bsp;

Frank N= ardelli

Meredit= h Robson

Mr. Nardelli left the Executive Session= at 10:00 p.m.

Watertown Town Council

Regular Meeting

December 15, 2003

Page 38

Mr. Kane, Chairman, Reconvened the Regu= lar Meeting at 10:09 p.m.

No Motions Were Made; No Votes Were Tak= en.

12.&n= bsp; Adjournment

= ; MOTION: (Ms. = Adams, sec. Mr. Hebert) to Adjourn the Regular Meeting at 10:15 p.m.

<= /span>Discussion: None<= /p>

<= /span>MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

<= /span>Regular Meeting Adjourned at 10:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert Kane, Chairman

Watertown Town Council

Approved: _______________________________

Lynn M. LaF= orme, Clerk