Minutes

 

Windsor Town Council

Council Chambers – Town Hall

May 21, 2001

Approved Minutes

Deputy Mayor Curtis called the regular meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.

  1. Roll Call – Present: Deputy Mayor Curtis, Council member Albano, Council member Broxterman, Council member Haverstock, Council member Pacino, Council member Ristas, Council Member Simon, and Council member Trinks.

    2. Absent: Mayor Hogan

  2. Prayer – Council member Albano
  3. Pledge of Allegiance – Council member Albano
  4. Resolutions and Awards

    5. None.

  5. Public Communications and Petitions

    6. Ms. Betsy Conger, 23 Island Road, teacher of Environmental Science at Loomis Chaffee, addressed the Council. One of her students’ projects is to look at the landfill issue. She invited the Council to their presentation at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning at Loomis Chaffee. Contact her at Loomis Chaffee at 687-6331 if you have any questions.

  6. Report of Appointed Boards and Petitions
  1. Annual Report of the Fair Rent Commission

    2. None.

  2. Public Building Commission Report

Mr. Joseph Novak, Chairman, Public Building Commission gave the report on the high school renovations. Asbestos removal is 62% complete. The rooftop heating and ventilation are being installed. Area one classrooms, guidance and music, should be completed by Mid-June. The cafeteria has been demolished. Originally there was $1.3 million in contingency, of which $260,000 is remaining. Some areas have caused change orders which are using up the contingency quickly. Under Soft Funds, we are projecting a $200,000 rebate from CL&P and $110,000 from the steam boiler replacement policy claim. Some of those funds could be moved to the construction contingency if necessary.

Rainbow Road firehouse is complete. The town is doing the landscaping. The contractor has planted grass. The Grand Opening will be soon.

The bid came in under estimate for asbestos removal at 330 Windsor Avenue. We estimated $60,000 and the low bid came in under $40,000. The contract will be signed this week.

The Town Hall roof and condenser project bids will be open May 30th.

Council member Broxterman asked if there is a revised projection in the length of the construction at the high school. Mr. Novak responded that November or December is still the completion date and the final projects will not affect the beginning of the school year.

Council member Pacino reported that he saw the Board of Education meeting on WIN-TV, when the board was discussing the pool renovation and cafeteria demolition. He was impressed with the progress of the high school renovation.

Council member Haverstock asked about the architect dispute and if the disputed fees are part of the contingency expense report. Mr. Novak replied that the architect’s fees are in the owner’s soft costs so they don’t come out of the contingency funds. There are still some funds available in the budget to settle with the architect.

 7.  Town Manager’s Report

    Memorial Day Observance

    Windsor’s Memorial Day Observance will be held Monday, May 28th beginning with a ceremony at the Elm Grove Cemetery on Poquonock Avenue at 8 a.m. followed by a ceremony at the Veteran’s Cemetery at 9 a.m. Following that ceremony, the Memorial Day parade will march to Town Hall for the Parade Marshall’s address. This is expected to be between 9:45 and 10:00 a.m. Groups wishing to march in the parade should contact Enita Jubrey by noon on Thursday, May 24th. In case of rain, one ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers. For more information and to check on possible weather cancellation, call 285-1835.

    Route 159 Wilson Corridor Improvement Project

    The Wilson/Deerfield Advisory Committee will be hosting a public meeting regarding the Rte. 159 Wilson Corridor Improvement Project on Wednesday, May 23rd at the Wilson Branch Library. Refreshments will be served at 6 p.m. with the presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m. Representatives of Purcell/TPA, the project consultants, will present information. Those in attendance will have the opportunity to comment on the plans as well as ask questions. For more information, call 285-1878.

    Mack Street

    Mack Street is open and the reconstruction is substantially complete. The only remaining items are the decorative streetlights, some brick pavers near the Fitch ballfields and the fencing around Fitch ballfields. The road is now open to traffic and the few remaining items will not significantly affect traffic (i.e. cause further closings or restrictions).

    The Bid amount for the road reconstruction was $898,687.02 and staff expects the construction work to come in less than this amount. The project was funded with a Bond of $1,200,000 which included the construction contract, utility work, and other costs.

     

    When King Construction mobilized to finish the work on Mack Street this spring, we told them the street would have to be opened for Shad Derby weekend and Memorial Day weekend events. True to their word, they finished the roadwork and opened the road to traffic last Friday 5/18/01.

     

     

    Website Receives Recognition

    Our Windsor Police website will be one of ten sites, (out of 95, which were reviewed by an expert panel) showcased on a national level by the United States Department of Justice. The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services selected the Windsor Police website because of the unique contribution it has made to Advancing Community Policing within both the organization and the community. Our site will be linked to the COPS National website along with the other nine successful websites.

    Townwide Forum on Religious Beliefs to Promote Understanding

    Representatives from nine different faiths will discuss their religions at a first-ever forum to be held Thursday, May 24th beginning with a 6:30 p.m. dessert reception at Windsor Town Hall. This forum, entitled "A Town-wide Forum on Windsor’s Tapestry of Religious Beliefs" is being presented by CUW – Citizens for a United Windsor, and the Town of Windsor’s Human Relations Commission. For more information, call 298-9060.

    #1199 Union Strike Update

    Windsor Police are continuing to monitor strike activities of local union #1199.

    As you may have seen or heard on the local newscasts, members of local union #1199 held a rally today at Windsor Rehabilitation on Poquonock Avenue. Between 150 and 200 people attended including four CT State Representatives and two State Senators who were arrested for disorderly conduct. Scheduling police officers for this detail was, of course unexpected and to date has cost the department $19,575. We hope to be able to absorb these costs by continuing to delay the hiring of new officers.

     

    Council member Pacino asked if the $19,000 in police costs could be billed to Union #1199 or to the nursing home. Town Manager Churchill responded that, as per state law, the towns have to pick up the costs for security. Chief Searles reported that we are not required by law to provide police presence.

    Council member Ristas asked what considerations went into providing police presence and was the activity on public property or private. Chief Searles stated that keeping the situation safe, within lawful behavior, and minimizing our expense were considerations. Unsupervised strike lines can result in illegal behaviors such as assaults and injuries. In general, picketing is confined to public property, however, the Police asked the company and was given permission to move the line onto private property for safety reasons.

    Council member Simon asked if we could get reimbursed from the State of Connecticut. Town Manager Churchill said we could not.

    Council member Albano mentioned that he was on Mack Street, and he was concerned with the speed bumps that look like crosswalks. He is concerned about safety and that kids in the area may be using their bikes and scooters on the speed bumps. Town Manager Churchill responded that before the project is closed out, we could take another look at it.

8.  Communications from Council Members

    Council member Albano – On May 8th, he went up in a hot air balloon over the landfill with other Council members. He reported that it was an interesting and informative trip.

    Council member Broxterman – reported that he has received a number of calls regarding the mosquitoes. The Shad Derby was a marvelous success and he congratulated the chairs of the Shad Derby. He noted that the balloon ride over the landfill provided a very interesting perspective.

    Council member Haverstock – is certain that the vast majority of Local #1199 are dedicated professionals and provide care to their patients under difficult circumstances. He is concerned about some members who may have compromised patient care.

    Council member Pacino – None.

    Council member Ristas – requested that Town Manager Churchill update the Council on when WHALE will make a presentation to the Council. Town Manager Churchill reported that WHALE will be having its own informational meeting on May 30th at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers. There are discussions with Win-TV about televising the meeting.

    Council member Simon – thanked voters of Windsor for approving the budget. He commented about American Airlines relocating their call center to Windsor. He appreciated Town Manager Churchill’s comments that it is not our policy to steal neighboring communities’ businesses. He mentioned that a call center typically pays low wages. He believes that many of the call center staff will not relocate to Windsor or commute because of public transportation limitations. He requested that efforts continue to provide public transportation to the corporate center.

    Council member Trinks – thanked the town staff, the Police Explorers, and all the volunteers for their participation in the Shad Derby. He gave special thanks to John and Sheila Waters, Dave Shaw and Marianne Campisi.

    Deputy Mayor Curtis – extended his thanks to all that participated in the Shad Derby. The police noted that it was a very quiet day. He also thanked Town Manager Churchill and his staff for the voluminous material provided on the landfill.

9.  Reports of Standing Committees

    Council member Simon reported that the joint Council and Board of Education Committee would meet next week. He will notify the Council regarding the date.

    Deputy Mayor Curtis reported that with the additional information provided about the landfill and CIP that the Town Improvements Committee will be meeting sometime next week.

10.  Ordinances

    None

11.  Unfinished Business

    None.

12.  New Business
  1. Set Mill Rate for FY 2002

    2. Moved by Council member Trinks, seconded by Council member Simon, that the tax rate for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2001 be set at 31.2 mills.

    Council member Ristas reported that some Council members have voted against this budget, but the public has voted the referendum in favor of the budget and it is a formality at this point. He will vote in favor, without supporting the budget, but merely as a legal formality.

    Council member Haverstock agreed with Council member Ristas comments.

    Motion Passes 8-0-0

  2. Introduce bond ordinance in the amount of $335,000 for the reconstruction of Hayden Station Road

    3. Town Manager Churchill discussed the reconstruction of Hayden Station Road, the area from Pond Road to Palisado Avenue. The State and Federal governments are picking up the vast majority of the $1.6 million project. The town is responsible for a share of the sidewalk, the cost differential of granite curbing, and any additional costs that may occur as a result of omissions in the design documents.

    Moved by Council member Broxterman, seconded by Council member Trinks, that the ordinance entitled "An ordinance appropriating $335,000 for the local share of costs of reconstruction and widening of Hayden Station Road and drainage and sidewalk construction, and authorizing the issue of $335,000 in bonds and notes to finance the appropriation" be introduced.

    Motion Passes 8-0-0.

  3. Set Public Hearing date for bond ordinance to fund the reconstruction of Hayden Station Road

    4. Town Manager Churchill proposed a public hearing for the bond ordinance be held on Monday, June 4, 2001 at 7:15 p.m.

    Moved by Council member Broxterman, seconded by Council member Trinks, to hold a public hearing in the Council Chambers at the Windsor Town Hall, 275 Broad Street in the Town of Windsor, Connecticut, on Monday, June 4, 2001 at 7:15 p.m. (prevailing time) on the foregoing ordinance introduced at the meeting of the Town Council held May 21, 2001.

    Motion Passes 8-0-0.

  4. Proposed Suspense List

    5. Town Manager Churchill submitted the Suspense List to the Town Council. This list consists of motor vehicle, supplemental and personal property taxes on the 1997 Grand List that are considered uncollectable. All available methods of collection have been pursued and all registrations have been reported to the Motor Vehicle Department. There is no national database or network to pursue delinquent taxpayers that have left Connecticut. Transferring these bills to the Suspense Book does not mean that we cannot collect if the taxpayer appears or is found. However, this transfer presents a more accurate picture of the town’s accounts receivable at this time. The accounts receivable considered uncollectable totals $84,383.84.

    Moved by Council member Broxterman, seconded by Council member Simon that $84,383.84 motor vehicle, supplemental, and personal property taxes on the 1997 Grand List be transferred to the Suspense Tax Book.

    Motion Passes 8-0-0.

    Council member Broxterman asked if these taxpayers have moved from Windsor. Town Manager Churchill responded that most of the motor vehicle taxpayers have left the area. Ms. Corrinne Aldinger, Tax Collector, responded that some personal property taxpayers are still around, some are not. The company may have been bought out, but the debt was not assumed.

    Council member Haverstock asked if the Town Attorney was consulted in these matters. Ms. Aldinger responded the Town Attorney was consulted.

    Council member Ristas inquired if an outside service or attorney is used to collect delinquent taxes or place liens. He also asked about the collection rate over time for personal property and motor vehicle and how much is collected in the time period it is due and in the second and third years. Ms. Aldinger responded that we file UCC filings with the state, but once we find out that a company is going out of business it is usually too late. We have a greater percentage of real estate and motor vehicle as opposed to personal property. The personal property collection rate is about 75% within six months.

  5. Set date for Town Meeting on transfer of Fitch Court to Windsor Housing Authority

    6. Fitch Court is located at 156 Bloomfield Avenue and has been owned by the Town of Windsor since 1924 serving as a school and recently as elderly housing. Fitch Court was converted into a housing complex in 1985 when the Town entered into a 60-year lease with Carr Property Management, Inc., who, in turn, obtained a building loan from the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. The CHFA foreclosed on Carr Property Management in January 1999 due to Carr’s lack of financial performance. CHFA is now ready to dispose of the property and identified the WHA as a suitable owner of the property. The transfer would include the Fitch Court and a parcel totaling 3.29 acres.

    The WHA formally requests the Town of Windsor transfer ownership of Fitch Court to them. This transaction would be similar to what was done for the Millbrook Village and Shad Run senior housing complexes. The WHA feels the proposal is consistent with its mission to provide affordable housing and is consistent with the Town’s Plan of Development.

    The transfer is proposed to take place for a fee of $1.00. The town received no revenues from the arrangement with Carr Management and none are contemplated with the WHA. The Town Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed and recommended the transfer as part of their CGS 8-24 review at their May 14, 2001 meeting.

    Moved by Council member Simon, seconded by Council member Broxterman, that a Special Town Meeting be held at the Windsor Town Hall on Monday, June 4, 2001 at 7 p.m. to approve or disapprove the foregoing transfer, which the Town Council recommends approval.

    Motion Passes 8-0-0.

    Deputy Mayor Curtis asked if this would impact any of the senior residents. Town Manager Churchill responded that the residents would not be impacted.

  6. Extension of Town Auditor Agreement

    7. Council member Trinks reported on the extension of the town auditor agreement. The contract with Scully & Wolf ended with the completion of last year’s annual audit. The town has the option to renew, extend the contract with Scully & Wolf, LLP, or begin the procurement process anew. The Finance Committee met on May 7, 2001 and unanimously voted to extend the contract for the town’s annual audit for an additional year to Scully & Wolf, LLP.

    The fee proposal of $51,400 (same as last year’s fee) is included in the recently approved FY 2001-02 Operating Budget. Their performance has been outstanding for the town.

    Moved by Council member Trinks, seconded by Council member Broxterman, that the Town of Windsor extend the appointment of the firm of Scully & Wolf, LLP as the Town Auditors for an additional year to carry out the annual financial audit of the Town of Windsor for Fiscal Year 2001.

    Motion Passes 8-0-0.

  7. Report on Mosquito Control

Dr. Petrillo, Director of Health, reported on mosquito control in Windsor. It has been a bad year for mosquitoes due to geography (rivers). There have been two floods this year, which is unusual. There were five days of unusually hot weather, which sped up the larvae to mosquito process.

Windsor participates in the State Mosquito Surveillance Program. We have an agreement with a contractor to treat public areas and also school properties. On April 27th, the contractor larvacided on school properties and adulticided public areas. On May 17th the contractor came back to treat the Town Green area in preparation for Shad Derby.

The town will begin to larvacide catch basins and drainage areas. We will be working with the Public Works Department. Contractors will be returning this week to adulticide more areas in town. After that, there will be treatment as needed.

Dr. Petrillo performed a survey of eight neighboring health departments. There is no jurisdiction for spraying on private properties. Only South Windsor has a budget specific for mosquito control and that is in next year’s budget. All towns surveyed are participating in the State Mosquito Surveillance Program. Dr. Petrillo has checked with the DEP to see if there were funds available for mosquito control. There are no State funds available now; however, the DEP may free up money from their budget and distribute funds based on the towns who had birds who were afflicted by West Nile Virus last year. If that is the basis for the funding, Windsor would not be eligible for those funds.

Council member Pacino inquired if there has been any communication made with area businesses regarding spraying on their properties. Dr. Petrillo reported that the town has not explored that.

Council member Ristas asked what the range is for mosquito infestation from the breeding area. It seems futile to address the mosquito problem town wide. He also asked about adulticide and larvacide. Dr. Petrillo reported that the range depends on the species of mosquitoes. The mosquitoes out now can travel up to a couple of miles from their breeding area. It is futile to attempt to control the mosquito population. In 1996 the mosquito control program was reinstituted to try to control some areas in the town. Adulticiding is the spraying of the adult mosquito and larvaciding is spraying of the larvae before they hatch. In the immediate area of spraying, there would be an immediate drop off in numbers. However the spraying is not residual, so it won’t last long.

Council member Simon asked about the spraying and its toxicity on wildlife and people. Dr. Petrillo reported that they are using a synthetic organic compound that has a short life, it kills the mosquitoes on contact, and settles relatively quickly. It is applied in the evening when the mosquitoes are out in greater numbers. The rain will wash it away in no time. It is environmentally safe and species specific. As with any chemical, careful application and use is important. He recommends that private citizens use licensed sprayers.

Council member Pacino asked if Fitch and Custer Parks have been sprayed in the past. Dr. Petrillo reported that both of those areas are wide open and there are few tree areas where mosquitoes can nest, so they are not high priority locations.

Council member Haverstock is concerned about wildlife and pesticide exposure to people. Dr. Petrillo reported that contractors post signs at areas being treated and survey the area for people before spraying. Parents of school children are notified before any spraying takes place on school property.

Council member Trinks reported that the website has information for homeowners to control mosquitoes. Dr. Petrillo also reported that areas sprayed are posted on the website. He has also checked with garden centers and home improvement stores for products they have for sale to help control mosquitoes.

Deputy Mayor Curtis asked if there have been any reports of the West Nile Virus. Dr. Petrillo reported that it is too early for any West Nile Virus reports. They will probably begin in July.

13.  Resignations and Appointments

    Moved by Council member Trinks, seconded by Council member Broxterman, to rescind the appointment of Mary Munoz to the Conservation Commission in replacement of William Clark, III for a five year term to expire on 11/30/05 which was approved at the May 7th Town Council meeting due to her previous appointment to the Conservation Commission.

    Motion Passed 8-0-0.

    Moved by Council member Trinks, seconded by Council member Pacino, to table Items A-M.

    Motion Passed 8-0-0.

14.  Minutes of Preceding Meetings

    Moved by Council member Trinks, seconded by Council member Albano, to accept the minutes of the April 4, 2001 Regular Town Council Meeting. Corrections: None.

    Motion Passes 8-0-0.

    Moved by Council member Pacino, seconded by Council member Trinks, to accept the minutes of the May 7, 2001 Regular Town Council Meeting. Corrections: None.

    Motion Passes 7-0-1. Council member Haverstock abstaining because he was absent from the meeting.

15.  Public Communications and Petitions

    None.

16.  Executive Session

    None.

17.  Adjournment

Motioned by Council member Haverstock, seconded by Broxterman, to adjourn the Regular Town Council Meeting at 8:50 p.m.

Motion Passes 8-0-0.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Kristin Countryman

Substitute Clerk of the Windsor Town Council

cc: Town Clerk

Main Library

Wilson Branch

ry 2, 2001