BOARD OF SELECTMEN

SPECIAL MEETING

APRIL 15, 2014

Page 1 of 3

DRAFT

 

Attendance:  Attendance:  First Selectwoman Derrylyn Gorski, Selectwoman Aileen Magda, Selectman Donald Shea

 

Visitors:  Attorney Kevin McSherry

 

First Selectwoman Gorski called the special meeting of the Board of Selectmen to order at 7:30 pm.  The meeting was held in the Selectmen’s Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.  All present stood for the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

First Selectwoman Gorski called for a motion of approval for the minutes of the meeting of March 26, 2014.  The motion of approval was moved by Selectman Shea and seconded by Selectwoman Magda.  Selectwoman Magda moved to correct the line Board of Finance in the title to Board of Selectmen.  The amended minutes were then accepted on a unanimous vote.

 

OLD BUSINESS

SKATING AT VETERANS MEMORIAL PARKB

First Selectwoman Gorski reported that she has spoken with Scott Sundberg of H. D. Segur Insurance about the liability of allowing skating at Veterans Memorial Park.  Scott has indicated that he will have a specialist in this field come to the Board of Selectmen’s meeting of June 9, 2014 to discuss this matter with the Selectmen in detail.  All Selectmen agreed with this if Andre Sofair was also available to attend.

 

MERS COMMENCEMENT DATE FOR UNION GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT

Union members of the Town of Bethany Highway Department had brought a grievance to the AFSCME Union regarding the commencement date of July 1, 2005 rather than the date the MERS had accepted them of July 1, 2007.  The union members requested that this date be corrected and the funding for the two years be contributed on their behalf.  Having received this grievance First Selectwoman Gorski then went to the State of Connecticut MERS Board to see if this was possible.  After careful evaluation by the State of Connecticut it was determined that this could be done.  The additional fee needed to be made by the Town of Bethany would be $39,781 to make this contribution retroactive back to July 1, 2005.  The Board of Finance will need to appropriate the funding and final approval will have to be completed at the Annual Town Meeting for the appropriation.

 

INCREASE IN BUILDING FEES/LAND USE APPLICATIONS

First Selectwoman Gorski distributed the final draft of the Planning and Zoning Commission’s fee schedule changes and the Land Use Application fee draft to the Selectmen.  The Board of Finance will also review it at their next meeting.  The changes will then be brought to the Town for acceptance or rejection at the Annual Town Meeting.  If approved they will then be modified for the Code of the Town of Bethany Chapter 129. 

 

 

 

SOLID WASTE

First Selectwoman Gorski reports that the Town of Bethany has been taking solid waste to CRRA in Bridgeport for several years.     First Selectwoman Gorski requested a quote from CoVanta for solid waste disposal for the Town of Bethanyto see if cost could be reduced. Their price would be $63.50 to accept our solid waste.  Wheelabrator has taken over CRRA where the town’s trash has been going.  They will accept solid waste from Bethany for approximately $60 per ton next fiscal year.  Trash Master takes Bethany’s recycling.  At present they are paying the town $20 per ton.  CoVanta would charge the town $5 per ton to accept it at their facility.   First Selectwoman Gorski has the Inter local 20 year Agreement for Wheelabrator.  First Selectwoman Gorski has the electronic copy of the agreement and will forward it to the other Selectmen for their review.

 

MASTER MUNICIPAL AGREEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

The Selectmen discussed the Master Municipal Agreement for Construction Projects from the State of Connecticut.  This agreement would make projects involving the DOT move along faster if the town accepts the agreement.  Following discussion Selectmen Shea moved the following resolution:

 

RESOLVED, that the Honorable, Derrylyn Gorski, First Selectwoman, is hereby authorized to sign the Agreement entitled “Master Municipal Agreement for Construction Projects”.

 

Selectwoman Magda seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence was given to the Selectmen from Lisa Amadeo, Town Treasurer.  The correspondence was regarding a request that she had made from the Town Counsel.  Attorney McSherry indicated that he would give her an opinion regarding her request.  Attorney McSherry did indicate that Lisa should have followed chain of command and given her request first to the First Selectwoman.  Selectman Shea requested that Lisa’s correspondence be made part of the minutes of this meeting.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS CONTRACTS, PERSONNEL ISSUES OR LAND ACQUISITION

At 8:00 pm  Selectman Shea moved to go into executive session to discuss contracts, personnel issues or land acquisition and to invite Attorney McSherry to stay for this session.  Selectwoman Magda seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.  At 8:05 pm Selectwoman Magda moved to exit the executive session.  Selectman Shea seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment was called at 8:07 pm after a motion was moved by Selectman Shea and seconded by Selectwoman Magda.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                June G. Riley

                                                                                                Secretary, Board of Selectmen