Town of Bethany Meeting Minutes and Agendas

Friday, February 21, 2020

Bethany Conservation Commission

November 14, 2019

Approved Minutes

The meeting was called to order at 8:06 by Bruce Loomis. Also, in attendance were Brian Eitzer, and Patsy Winer. Matthew Popp was absent.
Patsy moved and Brian seconded the minutes of the April 11, 2019 meeting. Patsy noted that the word “we” in the sixth paragraph should be replaced with “the relevant state legislative committee”. The minutes as amended were approved unanimously.
Bruce moved and Brian seconded the minutes of the October 10, 2019 meeting. The minutes were accepted as written.
There were no bills. The only correspondence was the latest issue of The Habitat, and, a letter from the town clerk asking for next year’s meeting schedule. It was decided to retain our current meeting schedule. The second Thursday of every month as a regular meeting with the fourth Thursday as a session to work on the Open Space Plan.
There was a discussion of the Conservationist of the Year Award. It was decided to keep the current forms except to change the dates as appropriate for the award in 2020.
Bruce noted that we are short of members.
The remainder of the meeting was spent working on the update of the town Open Space Plan. In particular it was noted that Brian had contacted Kristen LaBrie, the Project Manager of New England Geosystems in charge of our town maps. The Conservation Commission is interested in updating the Open Space Map in the plan. She informed Brian that the cost for an analyst is $65/hr, and she would anticipate that what the commission wants might be $600-$1200, depending on the level of detail.
Patsy moved to adjourn the meeting and Bruce seconded at 8:47.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian Eitzer

Secretary pro-tempore

BOARD OF FINANCE

JANUARY 14, 2020

Page 1 of 3

MINUTES APPROVED – 2-11-2020

The following Board members were present: John Grabowski, Chairman; Sharon Huxley, John Ford, Catherine Erickson, Sally Huyser and Lars Demander.

Also in attendance were: First Selectman Paula Cofrancesco, Selectman Don Shea, Finance Director Sheila Lane and Acting Director Public Works Tony Ciarleglio

1. Chairman John Grabowski called the meeting of the Board of Finance to order at 7:03 p.m. The meeting was held in the Selectman’s Conference Room of the Bethany Town Hall.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Chairman Grabowski called for a motion of approval for the minutes of the meeting of December 10, 2019. The motion of approval was moved by Member Huxley and seconded by Member Ford. There were no changes to the minutes. Member Demander abstained. Voting for: Grabowski, Huxley, Ford, Erickson, Huyser. Unanimous approval.

3. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

Chairman Grabowski stated that the Amity Board of Education is returning $2,199,272 of which $424,888 is going to Bethany for fiscal year 18-19.

The Board discussed the proposed increase in budget by the Amity Board of Education and that it is high. Chairman Grabowski stated the Amity BOE will be presenting their budget on February 11, 2020, and if any members have specific questions to email him and he will forward to BOE.

Chairman Grabowski mentioned that in 2023 the Amity BOE will be going for another bond due to the fact the roof at the high school needs to be replaced.

Also, Chairman Grabowski mentioned the items effecting the higher budget are as follows: Increases in salaries, benefits, security, special education, and transportation.

4. FIRST SELECTMAN’S REPORT

First Selectman Paula Cofrancesco noted that the Board of Selectmen recommended that the Board of Finance approve the expenditure of $13,173 to Woodbridge Youth Services for the Bethany Share Program so that the children from Bethany can participate in activities in Woodbridge.

First Selectman Cofrancesco mentioned that she received the report from BETA today in regard to the roads but has not had a chance to review; and once the Board of Selectmen reviews the report, they will work on an RFP so that the Town will be ready for the spring to continue fixing the roads.

BOARD OF FINANCE

JANUARY 14, 2020

Page 2 of 3

Finance Director Sheila Lane mentioned that the managers in Town Hall had training today with the Paychex Company regarding preparing performance appraisals for employees which would possibly give the employee a merit increase, and the merit increase would be included on the budget line for proposed raises for the next fiscal year.

First Selectman Cofrancesco introduced Tony Ciarleglio, Acting Director of Public Works. First Selectman Cofrancesco encouraged the Board of Finance Members to visit the Town Garage and observe the condition of the building and some of the equipment being used, which can be a safety issue.

Mr. Ciarleglio discussed the purchasing of a truck which has already been approved by the Town but was concerned with the cost of the interest going over the monies that was approved. The Board of Finance did not have concerns due to the fact the money is already in budget and was previously approved. Finance Director Lane will contact dealer, confirm payment options and prepare purchase order.

Mr. Ciarleglio also discussed the much-needed repairs of some of the equipment at the Town Garage. Chairman Grabowski recommended that Mr. Ciarleglio prepare a list of equipment, condition of the piece of equipment and if in need of repair and obtain estimates to repair. Also, Chairman Grabowski recommended Mr. Ciarleglio prepare a list of what is needed to be purchased and to come up with a total to present to the Board of Finance as a Capital item. Mr. Cialeglio agreed to prepare lists.

Mr. Ciarleglio mentioned repairs to the building and Chairman Grabowski stated that Rod White oversees all buildings and that he would need to follow up with Rod and that Rod would be presenting this to the Board of Finance.

5. FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORTS

Finance Director Sheila Lane stated for the audit we did receive an extension until January 31, 2020. Ms. Lane also mentioned she is working with the accountants and the system is now unlocked and they will be back next week to continue work.

A. MONTHLY ENDING REPORT FOR FY 2019-20

Finance Director Lane distributed to the Board copies of the monthly report for Expenses, and the Capitol Report and reviewed and answered questions from Board members.

6. ADDRESS CONTROL ISSUES

Finance Director Sheila Lane submitted an Organizational Chart and Chart of Finance Rolls and Responsibilities for review by the Board and answered questions about the same.

Also, Ms. Lane stated that she is working as a part-time status due to a health issue.

BOARD OF FINANCE

JANUARY 14, 2020

Page 3 of 3

7. ANY OTHER MATTER PROPER TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING

Chairman Grabowski stated the Board will be meeting with the Amity Board of Education, who will be presenting their budget on February 11, 2020.

The Board discussed having workshops with each department regarding their budgets starting in February.

First Selectman Cofrancesco mentioned raising the cost of the use of the Bethany Lodge and that right now we are not breaking even and will look at expenses versus revenue.

8. ADJOURNMENT

At 8:44 p.m., it was moved by Member Huxley and seconded by Member Huyser to adjourn the regular meeting. Unanimous approval.

Respectfully submitted,

Antonia R. Marek

Meeting Clerk

Monday, February 10, 2020

MINUTES OF THE BETHANY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, January 15, 2020 Page 1 of 3

APPROVED MINUTES WITH AMENDMENTS ON PG 2.

The regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order 7:03 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room of the Bethany Town Hall, 40 Peck Road, Bethany, Connecticut.

The following Commission Members were present:

Kimberly McClure Brinton, Chairman

Bob Harrison, Vice-Chairman

Donna Shea, Member/Secretary

Alex Hutchinson, Member

Rob White, Member

Brad Buchta, Alternate Member

Andy Zielinski, Alternate Member

Also present were:

Hiram Peck, Planning Consultant

Isabel Kearns, Zoning Enforcement Officer

Barbara Schellenberg, Esq.

PUBLIC HEARING

At 7:00 p.m., Chairman Brinton opened the public hearing in regards to the Proposed Draft of the Zoning Regulations, dated August 2019.

Roll Call was taken. Chairman Brinton read the special meeting notice for the public hearing that was submitted to the Town Clerk and announce the legal notice was published properly on the New Haven Register.

Chairman Brinton also noted to the public that the board received the following correspondence listed also in the agenda, also copied on the correspondence file for the commissions’ review relative to the subject (See listed exhibit - presented in the general correspondence section below).

Present to Speak to provide clarification and answer concerns from the public on the Zoning Regulations, was Hiram Peck, Planning Consultant for the Town of Bethany. Hiram proceeded onto explaining the “Summary of Bethany Zoning Regulations Revisions” which lists the regulations’ condensed summary on related topics.

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE

Ø Exhibit A - Email from Robert Harrison, Commission Vice- Chairman to Toni Marek, Former P&Z Clerk., dated October 03, 2019. Re: Revised Agenda.

Ø Exhibit B - Email from Dominick Thomas, Jr., representing Mr. & Mrs. Farrell I Residents at Green Hill Road) to Isabel Kearns, ZEO., dated October 15, 2019. Re: Consensus Document from Green Hill Road Residents.

Ø Exhibit C - Letter from Charles Andres, Regional Planning Commission’s Secretary to Antonia Marek, Former P&Z Clerk., dated November 19, 2019. Re: Town of Bethany: Proposed Zoning Regulations Revisions.

Ø Exhibit D - Letter from Keith D. Rosenfeld, Regional Municipal Planner, NVCOG., to the Planning and Zoning Commission, CEO, Bethany ZEO, RPC Commissioner of Beacon Falls, SCCCOG, NVCOG, and RPC representatives., dated October 25, 2019.. Re: Town of Bethany Planning and Zoning Commission Proposed Changes, updates and/or revisions to the preamble, all sections, and appendices of the Bethany Zoning Regulations.

Ø Exhibit E - Letter from Norman F. Cole, ,AICP to Kimberly McClure Brinton, Commission Chairman., dated January 8, 2020., Re: Proposed Zoning Amendments.

Ø Exhibit G - Email from Dominick Thomas, Jr., representing Green Hill Road Residents to Hiram Peck, Bethany Town Planner., dated January 14, 2020., Re: Suggested Changes to Proposed Zoning Regulations; Wood Burning info Packet.

Ø Exhibit 1G - Submitted by Dominick Thomas, Jr., representing Green Hill Road Residents to the Planning and Zoning Commission., dated January 15, 2020., Re: Suggested Changes to Proposed Zoning Regulations; pictures, and Wood Burning info Packet.

Chairman Brinton asked if anyone from the public would like to have questions to address to the commission. The following residents spoke:

· Ann Klatskin of 34 Oak Ridge Drive

· Dominick Thomas, Jr. from Cohen & Thomas at 315 Main Street, derby, CT 06418, submitted Exhibit 1G.

· Margaret Quinn of 335 Litchfield Turnpike

· Eric Frieden of 15 Coachman Lane

· Sean Foley of 11 Glenwood Court

· Thomas Mabry of 55 Carmel Road

· Melissa Pulito of 6 Brookwood Road (Amended Page 2: Reads, Melissa Pulito of 6 Brookwood Road. Changed to Marie Pulito of 6 Brookwood Road.)

At 8:20 p.m. it was motioned by Hutchinson and seconded by Harrison to continue the discussion as an opened hearing with welcoming comments from the public on the Proposed Draft of the Zoning regulations on a next special meeting with an undetermined date.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by Hutchinson and seconded by Harrison to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:25 p.m.

Voting for: Shea, Harrison, Hutchinson, White, Buchta.

Unanimous approval. (Amended Adjournment: Reads, Voting for: Shea, Harrison, Hutchinson, White, Buchta. Unanimous approval. Changed to: Shea, Harrison, Hutchinson, White, and Brinton. Unanimous Approval.)

Respectfully submitted,

Lina V. Frazer, Clerk

For the Planning and Zoning Commission

MINUTES OF THE BETHANY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, January 8, 2020 Page 1 of 4

APPROVED MINUTES WITH AMENDMENT ON PG. 2

The regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order 7:03 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room of the Bethany Town Hall, 40 Peck Road, Bethany, Connecticut.

The following Commission Members were present:

Bob Harrison, Vice-Chairman – Acting as Chairman

Donna Shea, Member/Secretary

Alex Hutchinson, Member

Rob White, Member

Brad Buchta, Alternate Member, seated as a voting member.

Andy Zielinski, Alternate Member

The following Commission Member was excused:

Kimberly McClure Brinton, Chairman

Also present were:

Hiram Peck, Planning Consultant

Isabel Kearns, Zoning Enforcement Officer

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

· It was moved by White and seconded by Buchta to approve the minutes, as submitted, of the December 4, 2019, Regular Meeting, Regular Meeting, with the following amendment:

· Page 4: Reads, Is there connection between the solar system and septic system? Suggestion by Hiram to “approve(d)” pending QVHD approvals. Changed to “approve”.

· Page 5: Reads: Should a house be built “nest” to the solar array, a screened fencing will be provided if requested. Changed to “next”.

Voting for: Shea, Harrison, Hutchinson, White, Buchta.

Unanimous approval.

BILLS

1. It was moved by Buchta and seconded by Shea to approve the payment of $1,200.00 (monthly pro rata basis), for services rendered for December 2019, by Hiram W. Peck III, AICP, Planning Consultant.

Voting for: Shea, Harrison, Hutchinson, White, Buchta.

Unanimous approval.

GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE

1) Letter from Isabel Kearns, ZEO, to Mr. Ernest Trowbridge of 77 Cheshire Road, dated December 13, 2019, Re: Notice of Violation at 77 Cheshire Road.

2) Letter from Isabel Kearns, ZEO, to Mr. & Mrs. James Codoret of 44 Old Fairwood Road, dated December 16, 2019, Re: Closing case for the removal of discarded debris from end of driveway at 44 Old Fairwood Road.

3) Emailed Letter from Gary Capitano, VP at Borghesi Building & Eng. Co, Inc. dated January 8, 2020, Re: Green Light Auto Zoning at 9 Russell Road.

Voting for: Shea, Harrison, Hutchinson, White.

Unanimous approval. Buchta Abstained.

NEW BUSINESS

Ø Discussion regarding filing vacancy on Planning and Zoning Commission for an Alternate Member.

Comments:

o Present was Brett Pallotto to be considered as an alternate Planning and Zoning Commission Member.

o Brad Buchta, Alternate Commission Member will appoint and have Brett Pallotto be sworn in at the February 5, 2020 meeting to allow him to seat as an appointed alternate member at the same meeting.

Ø 9 Russell Road – B&I, submitted by Gary Capitanio of Borghesi Building & Eng. Co, Inc for preliminary discussion regarding Green Light Auto (Dave Logue) development on 9 Russell Road.

Present to speak on behalf of Green Light Auto (Mr. Dave Logue) was Gary Capitanio, VP of Borghesi Building & Eng. Co, Inc.

Comments:

o Addressed to the commission about the allotted setbacks requirements for storage and display of vehicles’ merchandise, per concern to being far beyond the property’s setbacks and much closer to the road.

o The Commission asked Mr. Capitanio, what was Mr. Logue’s proposal regarding the display of the vehicles on the aforementioned property?

o Hiram and the Commission requested to bring to the next meeting, February 5, 2020, a conceptual sketched plan, displaying all vehicles location referencing where they will be displayed on 9 Russell Road.

o The Commission also requested a narrative of what will be happening on the site and to make sure that all plans are to be in accordance to QVHD’s proposed requirements.

o The Commission emphasized that they must meet the 30% of the lot area allowed as per the regulations.

Amended - Page 2: Reads, The Commission emphasized that they must meet the 30% of the lot area allowed as per the regulations. Change to: The Commission identified that for Business and Industrial Regulations, 30% can be dedicated to outdoor storage.

OLD BUSINESS

1) 43 and 51 Russell Road, Application #2019-010 submitted by Bill and Wendy Grieger for a Special Exception Permit for outside storage of port-o-lets and heavy equipment for snow plowing. Tabled.

2) 43 AND 51 Russell Road – B&I, Application #2019-012 submitted by Bill and Wendy Grieger for Site Plan Approval.

Comments:

o Site plan was found to be deficient on providing the exact storage location.

o The Commission will wait for Hiram and Town’s Attorney as per what will be acceptable as a resolution for the on the site storage of the port –o-lets.

o Hiram Peck in collaboration with the Town’s Attorney will work a resolution for the applicant, outlining the Commission’s action. Tabled.

3) Draft Zoning Regulations – Public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, January 15, 2020, in the Gymnasium of the Bethany Town Hall at 7:00 p.m.

ZONING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER’S REPORT –

Isabel Kearns, ZEO, submitted the following reports:

· Building Permits, dated December 3, 2019 to December 19, 2019.

· Site Visits, dated December 16, 2019

OTHER BUSINESS

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Commission, it was moved by White and seconded by Buchta to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:02 p.m.

Voting for: Shea, Harrison, Hutchinson, White, Buchta.

Unanimous approval.

Respectfully submitted,

Lina V. Frazer, Clerk

For the Planning and Zoning Commission

MOTIONS OF THE BETHANY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 Page 1 of 2

The regular meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission was called to order at 7: 02 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room of the Bethany Town Hall, 40 Peck Road, Bethany, Connecticut.

The following Commission Members were present:

Kimberly McClure Brinton, Chairman

Bob Harrison, Vice-Chairman

Donna Shea, Member/Secretary

Alex Hutchinson, Member

Brad Buchta, Alternate Member

Andy Zielinski, Alternate Member

The following Commission Member was excused:

Rob White, Member

Also present were:

Hiram Peck, Planning Consultant

Isabel Kearns, Zoning Enforcement Officer

MOTIONS

1. It was moved by Hutchinson and seconded by Shea to approve the minutes, as submitted, of the January 8, 2020, Regular Meeting, with the following amendment:

o Page 2: Reads, The Commission emphasized that they must meet the 30% of the lot area allowed as per the regulations. Changed to: The Commission identified that for Business and Industrial Regulations, 30% can be dedicated to outdoor storage.

Voting for: Shea, Hutchinson, White, Buchta.

Abstained: Harrison and Brinton.

2. It was moved by Hutchinson and seconded by Harrison to approve the minutes, as submitted, of the January 15, 2020, Regular Meeting, with the following amendment:

o Page 2: Reads, Melissa Pulito of 6 Brookwood Road. Changed to Marie Pulito of 6 Brookwood Road.

o Page 2 Adjournment: Reads, Voting for: Shea, Harrison, Hutchinson, White, Buchta. Unanimous approval. Changed to: Shea, Harrison, Hutchinson, White, Brinton. Unanimous Approval.