Minutes
Present: Pemberton, Karvelis, Thompson
Also present: three members of the Board of Finance, Town Counsel Michael Lavelle, three members of the public, a representative of the Redding Pilot and videographer.
First Selectman Pemberton called the June 16, 2014 meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move to approve the minutes of the May 19 2014 meeting as amended. Karvelis, Thompson. Approved. Unanimous.
Changes: page 1, under discussion of Police Communication Tower, paragraph 1, line 4, correct spelling of system; paragraph 2, line 3 delete first word (changing), and add the following sentence between sentence 2 & 3, “ Upon questioning, Mr. Oostendorp and Mr. Heibeck agreed the cost of changing band frequency would be greater than the cost of a replacement tower.”
Motion: move to approve the minutes of the May 28, 2014 meeting as submitted. Thompson, Karvelis Approved. Unanimous.`
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PENDING LITIGATION
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen recess to executive session for a discussion of pending litigation. Karvelis, Thompson. Approved. Unanimous.
Members of the Board of Finance and Town Counsel Michael Lavelle were invited to be present for the executive session.
The meeting recessed at 7:32 pm
RECONVENE
The meeting was reconvened in public session at 8:20 pm.
Present: Pemberton, Karvelis, Thompson
Also present: 11 members of the public, a representative of the Redding Pilot and videographer.
REDDING LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTATION FROM WORKING GROUP ON MENTAL HEALTH
League of Women Voters (LWV) representative Margaret Brown provided a report on mental health. Following the Sandy Hook tragedy and gun legislation, a working group of the LWV was formed to look at the mental health resources available to the Redding community. The group found that there are many resources available, but finding the appropriate resource is not an easy road to negotiate. They felt it was time to review what can be done to make resources more accessible, to provide residents with the necessary information and help when it is needed.
Members of the working group, including Mary Dale Lancaster and Jean Taylor, also spoke of the importance of providing residents with the information needed to access services. In addition, Mrs. Taylor noted that a significant number of Redding residents have used the services of Danbury agencies, the Women’s Center, Regional Child Center, Hospice & Association of Religious. She added that in the past, Redding has contributed $10,000 to those agencies, but that amount has diminished in recent years.
The recommendation of the working group to the Board of Selectmen is to establish a task force to explore and improve information of mental health resources available to residents of Redding.
Members of the public also commented on the subject. Candice Benyei suggested that the information could be on the Town’s web page. Peg O’Donnell commented that mental illness is an illness, but people can get better with the appropriate help, and that resources & information availability is very important.
Mrs. Pemberton asked the Board of Selectmen members to review the information and report provided, and to be ready to move forward with the issue at the next regular meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jeanne Wendschuh, Deer Spring Road: Mrs. Wendschuh asked for clarification on the foreclosure process with the GLDC project and what it might mean to the Town. Mrs. Pemberton responded that the foreclosure process has begun, a demand letter, with a response date of June 20, 2014, has been sent. The demand letter is for the unpaid Redding taxes and the unpaid fire district taxes of GLDC, and JP Industrial which owns a separate parcel of land. She is hopeful that this will move the project forward.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Appointments:
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen appoint Scott Smith to Full Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. Thompson, Karvelis. Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen appoint Heather Whaley to the position of Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate. Karvelis, Thompson. Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen appoint Anda Cumings to Full Member of the Planning Commission. Thompson, Karvelis. Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen appoint Urs Furrer to the position of Constable. Karvelis, Thompson. Approved. Unanimous.
Motion: move that the Redding Board of Selectmen appoint Noel Cook to the position of Zoning Board of Appeals Alternate. Thompson, Karvelis. Approved. Unanimous.
Other information:
Mrs. Pemberton announced that the Connecticut Siting Council has scheduled a hearing for the Redding Ridge Fire District cell tower for July 29, 2014. The hearing will be held at the Redding Community Center at 3 pm. More details on the meeting are expected soon.
Mr. Thompson reported he toured the Georgetown Wastewater Treatment Facility and found the tour both interesting and helpful.
Mr. Karvelis noted that the Redding Historical Society is in the process of working on the cellar floor of the Lonetown Manor building and an archeologist is conducting a dig prior to the cellar floor being cemented. He noted that several interesting items have been found during the dig.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen recess the meeting to an executive session in the conference room for a discussion of employee compensation. Karvelis, Thompson. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting recessed at 8:49 pm.
RECONVENE
The meeting was reconvened in public session at 9:55 pm
Motion: move that the Board of Selectmen recommend to the Board of Finance a transfer from FY 2013-14 Contingency Account for FY 2014-15 employee compensation as discussed. Thompson, Karvelis. Approved. Unanimous.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn the meeting. Karvelis, Thompson. Approved. Unanimous
The meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary