Monday, July 1, 2019


BOARD OF SELECTMAN

MAY 13, 2019         

Page 1 of 2

APPROVED

Attendance:  First Selectwoman Derrylyn Gorski, Selectman Clark Hurlburt, Selectman Donald Shea

 

Visitors:  John Paul Garcia, Jennie Turner, Eric Frieden, Attorney Kevin McSherry

 

First Selectwoman Gorski called the meeting of the Board of Selectmen to order at 7:30 p.m.  The meeting was held in the Selectmen’s Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.   

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

First Selectwoman Gorski called for a motion of approval for the minutes of April 30, 2019.  The motion of approval was moved by Selectman Hurlburt.  Selectman Shea seconded the motion.  The vote was called.  There were two votes to approve the minutes that of Selectman Hurlburt and First Selectwoman Gorski. Selectman Shea abstained because of his absence from that meeting.

 

PROPOSED DRAINAGE FOR 202 POLE HILL ROAD

 

The proposed drainage for 202 Pole Hill Road was tabled for lack of information from the Town Engineer.

 

ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE COMMITTEE FOR POET LAUREATE PROGRAM ARTS & CULTURAL DISTRICT

FOR TOWN OF BETHANY

 

Jenny Turner attended this Selectmen’s meeting with the following information:

 

To the Board of Selectmen of Bethany, CT May 10, 2019

The Clark Memorial Library, with a grant-writing consultant provided by the town of Bethany, learned

that one of Bethany residents' chief problems is loneliness. As a member of the Bethany Library Association,

Sustainable Bethany, and the Amity Regional School board, I see how many talented and

dedicated people are working to deepen our sense of connection to one another in our small town.

Yet many people remain unaware of our resources, and we miss chances to make more of what we

have. To help address these problems, and to codify collaborative efforts already underway, I request

that the Bethany Board of Selectmen:

1. Establish a Poet Laureate for the town of Bethany.

- The Poet Laureate Program requires no funding from the Town.

- Teachers at AMSB and ARHS have volunteered to judge the competition.

- Poets could give readings at arts sites in town, supporting Bethany writers and building

community feeling.

- The Bethany Library has invested in a book-publishing program for residents - if we had

enough entries, we could print a collection for each year the competition ran.

- I would like to have several age divisions to encourage participation and cross-generational

connection.

2. Establish a Arts and Culture District for Bethany.

- The Arts and Culture District requires no funding from the Town.

- This district at founding would include the Clark Memorial Library, Bethany Community

School, Amity Middle School - Bethany, and the Bethany Historical Society.

- We want to promote the arts with exhibits at the various sites, readings from Poet Laureates,

and promoting town cultural events and resources.

- We would like to develop a central town event calendar so people learned of town events

and also can avoid conflicts in planning new ones. We are researching ways we might be able

to do this in a free but easy to use and moderated way. We would like to know if the Town is

exploring a similar service.

- The District would be what residents want to make of it. If people are interested and the Poet

program is successful, we could expand into other types of arts competitions, recognitions,

and community events.

A Poet Laureate Program and a Bethany Arts and Culture District will help town cultural institutions

collaborate, support our talented residents, and provide cross-generational events to increase our

sense of community connection. Arts districts can increase community pride; possibly increase economic

activity with people buying art and coming to Bethany for shows; beautify and animate the

town; attract residents; complement nearby businesses; enhance property values; attract community-

minded residents; and contribute to a creative, innovative environment.

Respectfully submitted,

Jenny Turner, Sustainable Bethany

 

 

After receiving this information and discussing it a motion was moved by Selectman Shea and Selectman Hurlburt to establish this program for Bethany since there would be benefits at no cost to the Town.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

ANY OTHER MATTER PROPER TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING

 

Dan Murphy of Country Lane has requested that speed bumps be installed on Country Lane due to excessive speed by people traveling on it.  Country Lane is a short road in the Bethany Farms development.  The Selectmen discussed the matter but determined more investigation would have to take place for them to recommend this action. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Adjournment was called at 7:40 p.m. after a motion was moved by Selectman Hurlburt and seconded by Selectman Shea.  The vote taken was unanimous. 

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                June G. Riley 

                                                                                                Secretary, Board of Selectmen