Board of Selectmen
November 25, 2017
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DRAFT
Attendance: First
Selectwoman Derrylyn Gorski, Selectman Clark Hurlburt, Selectman Donald Shea
Visitors: Janet
Brunwin, Attorney Kevin McSherry, Jim Tirrell, Janer Olofsson, Marian Olofsson,
Joe Ostrum, Brian Laubstein, Paul Magda
First Selectwoman Gorski called the meeting to order at 7:35
p.m. 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 November 13, 2017. The motion of approval was moved by Selectman
Shea and seconded by Selectman Hurlburt.
First Selectwoman Gorski moved to correct the spelling of Kukel to Kukiel. The minutes were then accepted on a unanimous
vote.
OTHER MATTERS
PROPER TO COME BEFORE THE MEETINGT
LION’S CLUB 100TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT
Paul Magda, Janet Brunwin and Jim Tirrell were present to
discuss with the Selectmen a celebration the Lions Club are planning at the
Veterans Memorial Park the summer of 2018 for the 100th Anniversary
of the Lion’s Club, the exact date to be determined. The event would be open free to all
residents. There would be food trucks,
music and other activities planned. The
Selectmen discussed the event with Paul, Janet and Jim regarding parking,
access to park, traffic control, extra lifeguards and miscellaneous safety
issues to be worked out.
BETHANY COMMUNITY SCHOOL BUDGET AND SCHOOL RANKING ISSUES
Brian Laubstein was present to discuss with the Selectmen
issues pertaining to the Bethany Community School budget and school rankings
compared to Woodbridge. He presented
information he had compiled regarding the issue. As a taxpayer he wanted answers as to why the
cost per student is more than Woodbridge.
The test scores in Bethany are lower than Woodbridge even though in
Woodbridge there is an average of 19 students per teacher and in Bethany the
ratio is 10.3 students per teacher. The
Selectmen agreed to discuss this at a later date when additional information
was available.
ATWATER ROAD CLEAN UP
The report has come back from environmental testing of the
soil on Atwater Road showing the high lead levels of lead in the ground. The present owner has applied for grants
available for the cleanup. This was caused
when Olin used the land as a gun range.
The Town needs to repair Atwater Road to be in compliance with the land
acquisition agreement with the Carrington family. This cleanup would have to be done
first.
TOWN OFFICERS
MEETING
The Selectmen discussed setting a date for a Town Officers
meeting to be held sometime in January.
On the agenda would be the presentation of the Hazardous Mitigation Plan
and acceptance for the FEMA requirements.
The date of the meeting was tentatively set for January 14, 2018.
SPECIAL TOWN
MEETING
It was the consensus of the Selectmen that a Special Town
Meeting could be held immediately following the Town Officers Meeting, to
discuss a Noise Ordinance, acceptance of the First Church of Christ Cemetery to
be Town owned and run. The church has
determined that they do not have the man power nor the funding to keep it
running properly.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
TO DISCUSS LAND ACQUISITION
At 8:35 p.m. Selectman Hurlburt moved to go into executive
session to discuss land acquisition and to invite Attorney McSherry to stay for
the session. Selectman Shea seconded the motion. The vote
taken was unanimous. The motion to exit
the executive session was made at 8:45 p.m. by Selectman Shea and seconded by
Selectman Hurlburt. The vote taken was
unanimous. Selectman Shea moved to ask the Board of Finance for approval to use Land Acquisition money
for a Yellow Book appraisal for possible purchase of Open Space. The motion was seconded by Selectman Hurlburt. The vote taken was unanimous.
ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment was called at 8:50 p.m. after a motion was move
by Selectman Hurlburt and seconded by Sele4ctman Shea. The vote was unanimous.
Respectfully
submitted,
June
G. Riley
Secretary,
Board of Selectmen
