BOARD OF SELECTMEN

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

Page 1 of

3

APPROVED

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

Visitors:  Attorney Kevin McSherry, Francis Doba, Robert McSherry, Sean Uscilla, William Bowen, Gilda Outremont, Attorney Michael Stone, Paul Zito

First Selectwoman Gorski opened the meeting of the Board of Selectmen with the Pledge of Allegiance at 7:33 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 the meeting of September 12, 2016.  The motion was moved by Selectman Hurlburt and seconded by Selectman.  First Selectwoman Gorski amended the minutes as follows:

The Bethany Fire Department has asked the Board of Selectmen to waive the bidding process for the Extrication Tool approved as a Capital Expenditure and instead post the request for proposal on the State Web Site

 The amended minutes were then accepted on a unanimous vote.

First Selectwoman Gorski moved to amend the minutes of the meeting of August 8, 2016 as follows:

Robert McSherry and Sean Uscilla were present to make a recommendation to the Selectmen for awarding of the bid for the new fire truck.  After a careful study of the two bids received, they made the following recommendations to award the bid to Rosenbauer New England as their bid was $573,350.  If the cab and chasis portion is paid for in advance for $241,000 there will be a discount of $11,000.  The motion to accept the recommendation of Robert and Sean and to award the bid to Rosenbaer New England was moved by Selectman Shea and seconded by Selectman Hurlburt. The motion was unanimously approved. The firemen are requesting that the difference between the cost of the fire truck and the Capital appropriation be used for extra equipment with the approval of the Selectmen. No vote was taken on this matter at this meeting.

The motion was seconded by Selectman Hurlburt.  The vote was called on the amended minutes.  The vote was unanimous.

TAX REFUNDS

Selectman Shea moved to refund to Arkady L. Gordon the sum of $24.85, to Deborah Kichar the sum of $19.88, to Douglas Taumer the sum of $24.85, to Elizabeth or Alexander Smith the sum of $13.85, to Franco Carbone the sum of $98.33, to James Scaarva the sum of 44.32, to Janice Ford the sum of $26.63, to Jeanne Barletta the sum of $26.27, to John Ford IV the sum of $41.53, to Kris Johnson the sum of $21.69, to Marylynn Cincotta the sum of $99.40, to Mary Press the sum of $10.65, to Nancy Scanlon the sum of $24.85, to Pamela and David Ford the sum of $41.18, to Robert Bergen III the sum of $47.65, to Sidney Liang or Qiuping Wang the sum of $99.40, to Stephen P. or Tammy Linsky the sum of $63.55 all for overpayment of taxes.  Selectman Hurlburt seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT RADIO SYSTEM

There was only one bid received for the Fire Department Radio System.  Paul Zito, Consultant for the Fire Department, has been reviewing the bid.  Paul will also review bids on the State web site before making a recommendation. 

ADDITION TO AGENDA

Selectman Shea moved to add Awarding of Contract for Fire Department Hydraulic Rescue Tool to the agenda of this meeting.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Hurlburt.  The vote taken was unanimous. 

AWARD CONTRACT FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT HYDRAULIC RESCUE TOOL

Only one bid was received for the Hydraulic Rescue Tool.  Robert McSherry and Sean Uscilla were present to discuss with the Selectmen details of this bid.  The basic bid was $112,399 with options.  If the options were added the total cost would be $119,400.  The Capital Expenditure for this tool was approved at $120,000.  Following discussion a motion was moved by Selectman Shea and seconded by Selectman Hurlburt to accept the bid for the Hydraulic Rescue Tool from Northeastern Fire Associates with the options.  Selectman Shea seconded the motion.  The motion was unanimously approved.

WAIVE BID FOR GAZEBO REPAIR

 Selectman Shea moved to waive the bidding process for repair of the Gazebo at Town Hall.  Selectman Hurlburt seconded the motion.  The following companies submitted quotes for this repair:

Rod White Carpentry & Cabinetry            $  9,850

D & R Custom Builders, Inc.                         $11,800

R. Esposito Contractors                                 $11,225

Following discussion Selectman Shea moved to award the work to Rod White Carpentry & Cabinetry.  Selectman Hurlburt seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

BOWEN TAX REFUND REQUEST

William Bowens was again present with Attorney Michael Stone to speak to the Board of Selectmen regarding what he believed to be unfair attorney fees charged to him by the Town of Bethany.  Attorney Watts had been retained by the Town of Bethany to handle tax collections and foreclosures.  Attorney Stone related to a study he had done for similar circumstances in which the fee was much lower.  Town Counsel Kevin McSherry indicated to both Mr. Bowen and Attorney Stone that the Board of Selectmen does not regulate the fees charged by the Tax Collector as they are set by State Statute.  Mr. Bowen indicated that he would be back to the next meeting with Channel 8 News and other residents that had been taken advantage of by Attorney Watts, since the Board of Selectmen would not do anything about this excessive fee.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment was called at 8:20 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