BOARD OF SELECTMEN

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

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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

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

OCTOBER 11, 2016

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DRAFT

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

Visitors:  Attorney Kevin McSherry, Fran Doba, Tom Cigas, Linda Guerra, Nicholas Guerra, Andrew Seaton, Liam Connors, Eric Freedon, Robert Reinwald, Robby Reinwald, Evan Whittman, Todd Whitman

First Selectwoman Gorski called the meeting of the Board of Selectmen to order at 7:30 p.m. She recognizing the Cub Scouts present working on a badge and asked them to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.  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 26, 2016.  The motion was moved by Selectman Shea and seconded by Selectman Hurlburt.  Since there were no changes to the minutes First Selectwoman Gorski called the vote.  The vote taken was unanimous. 

ADDITION TO AGENDA

First Selectwoman Gorski called for a motion to add Solar Panels to the agenda of this meeting.  The motion was moved by Selectman Hurlburt and seconded by Selectman Shea.  The vote taken was unanimous.

First Selectwoman Gorski called for a motion to add Memorial Benches to the agenda of this meeting.  The motion was moved by Selectman Hurlburt and seconded by Selectman Shea.  The vote taken was unanimous.

SOLAR PANELS

Eric Frieden gave a presentation to the Board of Selectman regarding placement of solar panels at the Airport, to be used to power the Hangar and well pump at that location.  There are two grants available for the project.

1) As part of the Solar Challenge that was held in Bethany in 2013, we had an agreement with Aegis based on the number and size of installations. We earned a 5KW system worth ~$17,500.

2) Bethany is part of the Clean Energy Communities program and has earned "points" in the Renewable Energy Track. These incentives are being discontinued and must be redeemed by Dec. 31, 2016. The earned can be redeemed for clean energy projects. Bethany has earned points.

 The panels would be placed within fifty foot of the hangar.  Selectman Shea suggested checking with members of the Bethany Horsemen before putting in the unit to make sure it will not conflict with their activities.   

 

 

Following discussion Selectman Hurlburt moved to apply for the project for 7.32 KW Photovoltaic System to be installed at the Hangar location.  Selectman Shea seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

MEMORIAL BENCHES

Tom Cigas a resident of Bethany brought to the Board of Selectmen an idea he had about placing memorial benches at Veterans Memorial Park at various locations around the lake.  Tom would like to place one there in memory of his wife who passed away last year.  He distributed booklet with several types of benches made of recycled plastic for the Selectmen to choose a suitable bench if approved. First Selectwoman thought that perhaps Park and Recreation should be in on the choice of bench.   The benches could be engraved with the name of the person to whom the bench was given in memory of.  The Selectmen liked the idea.  A discussion followed regarding ways to anchor the benches to prevent vandalism.  The building official would be consulted for this information.  Selectman Hurlburt moved a motion to approve the concept of memorial benches at Veterans Memorial Park and to get approval from the Build Official as to proper installation of the benches.  Selectman Shea seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

MAJOR ROAD UPDATE

First Selectwoman Gorski gave an update on the Major Road projects.  The paving is almost complete for Munson Road and Carriage Drive.  Miller Road chip sealing has been completed.

LACY ROAD WELLS

The Town received a complaint regarding high sodium in some wells in the Lacy Road/Knollwood Road area.  The Town has called QVHD to do further investigation.  DEEP will run some testing on other wells in the area.

EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT

Andrew Seaton was present to ask the Board of Selectmen for suggestions regarding Eagle Scout projects he might do for the Town.  Various suggestions were made i.e. power washing of the Center Station, painting of windows, possible construction for a town seal on the building. First Selectwoman Gorski suggested the possibility of taking part in the Community Connectivity Road Safety Audit Program which would make walking trails along Amity Road.

SPECIAL DAY FOR CUB SCOUTS TO SHADOW FIRST SELECTMAN

Scout Leader James Seaton asked First Selectwoman Gorski if the Cub Scouts in his troop might shadow the First Selectman for part of a day. 

 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment was called at 8:25 p.m. after a motion was moved by Selectman Shea and seconded by Selectman Hurlburt.  The vote taken was unanimous.

                                                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                June G. Riley

                                                                                                Secretary, Board of Selectmen

 

 

 

 

 

BOARD OF FINANCE

SPECIAL MEETING

SEPTEMBER 27, 2016

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DRAFT

Attendance:  Chairman John Grabowski, Robert Brinton Jr., Sharon Huxley, John Ford IV, Chip Spear, Sally Huyser

Visitors:  Thomas Broesler, Michael Battista, First Selectwoman Derrylyn Gorski

Chairman Grabowski called the meeting of the Board of Finance to order at 7:08 p.m.  The meeting was held in the Selectmen’s Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Chairman Grabowski called for a motion of approval for the minutes of the meeting of July 12, 2016.  The motion of approval was moved by Sally Huyser and seconded by Robert Brinton Jr.  There was no amendments or corrections to the minutes.   The minutes were accepted on a unanimous vote.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Chairman Grabowski gave a brief report to the Board of Finance regarding the recent Amity Finance Committee meeting.  Insurance claims for the last quarter of the 2015-16 fiscal year had been high.  They seem to be leveling off at this time. 

No date has been set for the Amity Bond Issue Hearing or Referendum.  It will be sometime after the Presidential Election. 

Amity has closed their books.  Bethany will be receiving $154,000 which is Bethany’s percentage of the surplus for the 2015-16 fiscal year.    

FIRST SELECTWOMAN’S REPORT

First Selectwoman Gorski updated the Board of Finance regarding Local Capital Improvement Projects (LOCIP) that are being done with this money.  The generator switch has been installed.  The network wiring is just about complete.  The Gazebo repair is in progress.  Plans for the Foyer renovations are just about complete. 

First Selectwoman Gorski and Tom Broesler are working on the preliminary application for the Bond Anticipation Notes for the school roof project, the fire truck, salt shed and fire department radio system.  The final cost of the fire department radio system is not known.  Only one bid was received.  Board members reviewed the bid sheet.  There are many questions yet to be answered before the bid can be accepted. 

FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORTS

Tom Broesler distributed budgetary and revenue reports for fiscal year 2015-16.  The Board reviewed the reports.  Board members questioned the closing balances for accuracy for the salary accounts of the Selectmen, Tax Collector, Town Clerk.  The budget of the Police was discussed regarding the ($123,091) balance and how the revenues would be transferred to balance out this account.  The accounts of Contracted Services, Contingency, Solid Waste, Board of Education Gas and Diesel, Repairs and Supplies, Park and Recreation, Library, Employee’s Medical Insurance, Firemen’s Retirement, and Payroll Tax Expense as to credit to be given that account from the Police Revenue account.

Sharon Huxley questioned Tom as to when they could expect a report with final numbers.  She also questioned why the Board had not received a report for the 2016-17 fiscal year yet.  The next meeting of the Board of Finance was set as a Special Meeting for October 18, 2016. The regularly scheduled meeting of October 12, 2016 will be canceled.   Board members requested an updated corrected report sent to them a week before the meeting so that they would have time to look at it and get answers to questions they may have before the meeting.    

The Board briefly discussed procedure for budget preparation for the 2017-18 fiscal year budget.  They would like to set a meeting for all department heads to be held before November 15, 2016.

ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment was called at 8:40 p.m. after a motion was moved by Chip Spear and seconded by Sally Huyser.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                                June G. Riley

                                                                                                Clerk, Board of Finance

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

SEPTEMBER 12, 2016         

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

Visitors:  Attorney Kevin McSherry, Francis Doba, Robert McSherry

First Selectwoman Gorski opened the meeting of the Board of Selectmen with the Pledge of Allegiance 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 approval of the minutes of the meeting of August 22, 2016.  The motion was moved by Selectman Hurlburt and seconded by Selectman Shea.  The minutes were unanimously approved without change.

ADDITION TO AGENDA

First Selectwoman Gorski called for a motion to add Waiving of Bid Process for Fire Department Extrication Tool to the agenda of this meeting.  The motion to add this item to the agenda was moved by Selectman Hurlburt and seconded by Selectman Shea.  The vote taken was unanimous.

WAIVE BID PROCESS FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTRICATION TOOL

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 Town Web Site.  The motion to waive the bidding process for the Extrication Tool was moved by
Selectman Shea and seconded by Selectman Hurlburt.  The vote taken was unanimous.

TAX REFUNDS

Selectman Shea moved the motion to refund to AIR Fleet Ltd the sum of $30.53, to B & B Transportation, Inc. the sum of $51.66, to Chuhau Wan the sum of $8.59, to Financial Ser Veh Trust the sum of $254.64, to Jeffrey Boyd the sum of $8.66, to Linda Kibbe the sum of $6.50, to Merrick Miller the sum of $25.49, to Nissan Infinitti, LT the sum of $38.41, to Richard Linsky the sum of $14.24, to Ryan Holt the sum of $13.24 and to Stephen Sardi the sum of $9.41 all for overpayment of taxes.  The motion was seconded by Selectman Hurlburt.  The vote taken was unanimous.

BOWEN TAX REFUND REQUEST

Action on the Bowen Tax Refund Request was tabled until the next meeting as the Bowens and their attorney was not present.

WAIVE FEE FOR USE OF LAKEVIEW LODGE

No action for waiving of the fee for use of Lakeview Lodge for a fund raiser was taken as the interested parties were not present to make this request.

HARVEST FESTIVAL

The Selectmen briefly discussed plans for the upcoming Harvest Festival.  There will be food vendor trucks this year instead of the free food concession of previous years.  Various types of foods will be offered.

FOYER RENOVATIONS

The Selectmen reviewed the updated plans of Rob White for the renovations to the Town Hall Foyer.  All Selectmen approved of the revised plan as submitted.

RADIO SYSTEM

The Selectmen discussed with Fire Chief Robert McSherry details of the bidding process for the Fire Department radio system.  Bid opening is set for September 15, 2016.  Only one company was present for the walk thru.  There was only one letter of intent sent in.  That company asked for a 45 day extension to complete details for the bid.  If there is no bid received by September 15, 2016 then the Board of Selectmen will call a special meeting next week with Paul Zito to decide what will be the next step to take in this process.  

EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS REAL ESTATE OR CONTRACTS

At 7:55 p.m. Selectman Shea moved a motion to go into executive session to discuss Real Estate or Contracts and to invite Attorney McSherry to stay for the Executive Session.  Selectman Hurlburt seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.  At 8:12 p.m. Selectman Hurlburt moved to exit the Executive Session.  Selectman Shea seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

ADJOURNMENT

At 8:15 Selectman Hurlburt moved to adjourn the meeting.  Selectman Shea seconded the motion.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                June G. Riley

                                                                                                Secretary, Board of Selectmen

 

 

 

BOARD OF FINANCE

JULY 12, 2016

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DRAFT

Attendance:  Chairman John Grabowski, Chip Spear, Sharon Huxley, Sally Huyser, John Ford IV, Robert Brinton

Visitors:  Chip Dumay, Amity Superintendent, Selectman Clark Hurlburt, Francis Doba, Scott Clearey, Terry Loomis, Bill Blake, Thomas Broesler

Chairman Grabowski called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.  The meeting was held in the Selectman’s Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.

AMITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Chip Dumay gave a presentation on proposed repairs to the Amity High School, and the Middle Schools.  The plan is to bond the $2,000,000 cost of the repairs.  They would repair the air handling system at the Amity High School and Bethany Junior High School, renovate to meet code requirements,  the science room, repairs to parking lot at Amity High School Phase I, tennis courts at Amity High School.  They plan to hold a referendum in September the date to be announced.  They would hold a Public Hearing, date to be announced.  The official statement would be ready in December and if all goes well the bond sale would be sometime in February.  It would be a ten year bond.

Superintendent Dumay introduced Terry Loomis as the new Amity School Finance Director filling the vacancy left by Jack Levine’s retirement.  Terry had been Jack’s assistant.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Chairman Grabowski had nothing to report as there has been no meeting of the Amity Finance Committee during the last month. 

FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Tom Broesler, Finance Director distributed an incomplete report on the Town’s finances for the expenditure’s for the end of the fiscal year.  He gave no bank account recommendations for the accounts he had suggested closing.  Board members questioned when he thought he would have a more complete report on year ending numbers, as they would like to know how the fiscal year was ending. 

ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment was called at 7:45 p.m. after a motion was moved by Chip Spear and seconded by Sharon Huxley.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                June G. Riley

                                                                                                Clerk, Board of Finance

Bethany Conservation Commission

September 8^th, 2016

Meeting Minutes (Unapproved)

 

Bruce Loomis called the meeting to order at 8:07. Also in attendance were Brian Eitzer, Patsy Winer, Cathy Rives and Matthew Popp. Absent was Shaukat Khan. Bruce appointed Matthew a voting member in place of Shaukat.

 

            The August meeting’s minutes were reviewed. Pasty moved to accept them, Cathy seconded. Corrections: In the first paragraph, Shaukat Kahn should be changed to Shaukat Khan. In the sixth paragraph, there should be an apostrophe on the word Commissions. In the eighth paragraph, weather should be changed to whether. In the final paragraph, Kathy should be changed to Cathy. The minutes passed as corrected.

 

            There were no bills for the Conservation Commission. The correspondence included the most recent edition of The Habitat, and a letter from CACIWC about the upcoming annual conference and membership renewal. Note: the CC noticed there was a discrepancy about the date of the CACIWC conference. It is on November 12^th, not 16^th. Brian moved that the CC authorize up to $75 to be spent for membership renewal for CACIWC, Cathy seconded. The motion passed.

 

            Brian suggested upping the CC’s operating budget request for the coming year to $1000 to cover increased CACIWC costs and the cost of possibly implementing town-owned recycling frames.

 

            The CC discussed renewing it’s annual request that $100,000 be allotted to the town’s land acquisition fund. It was also discussed that there be a separate request for additional money to be allotted to the fund since it was recently tapped.

 

            The issue of a trail on Miller and Bear Hill Rd. was tabled until the next meeting.

 

            The CC entered executive session at 8:35. Executive session was ended at 8:51.

 

            No new word on the issue of 4 Peck Rd.

 

            Brian moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:52, Matthew seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:52.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Matthew Popp

Secretary pro-tempore

BOARD OF FINANCE

JULY 12, 2016

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DRAFT

Attendance:  Chairman John Grabowski, Chip Spear, Sharon Huxley, Sally Huyser, John Ford IV, Robert Brinton

Visitors:  Chip Dumay, Amity Superintendent, Selectman Clark Hurlburt, Francis Doba, Scott Clearey, Terry Loomis, Bill Blake, Thomas Broesler

Chairman Grabowski called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.  The meeting was held in the Selectman’s Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.

AMITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

Chip Dumay gave a presentation on proposed repairs to the Amity High School, and the Middle Schools.  The plan is to bond the $2,000,000 cost of the repairs.  They would repair the air handling system at the Amity High School and Bethany Junior High School, renovate to meet code requirements,  the science room, repairs to parking lot at Amity High School Phase I, tennis courts at Amity High School.  They plan to hold a referendum in September the date to be announced.  They would hold a Public Hearing, date to be announced.  The official statement would be ready in December and if all goes well the bond sale would be sometime in February.  It would be a ten year bond.

Superintendent Dumay introduced Terry Loomis as the new Amity School Finance Director filling the vacancy left by Jack Levine’s retirement.  Terry had been Jack’s assistant.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Chairman Grabowski had nothing to report as there has been no meeting of the Amity Finance Committee during the last month. 

FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Tom Broesler, Finance Director distributed an incomplete report on the Town’s finances for the expenditure’s for the end of the fiscal year.  He gave no bank account recommendations for the accounts he had suggested closing.  Board members questioned when he thought he would have a more complete report on year ending numbers, as they would like to know how the fiscal year was ending. 

ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment was called at 7:45 p.m. after a motion was moved by Chip Spear and seconded by Sharon Huxley.  The vote taken was unanimous.

 

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                                                                June G. Riley

                                                                                                Clerk, Board of Finance