Minutes of the Windham Town Council Regular Meeting

Transcription

1 Minutes of the Windham Town Council Regular Meeting Windham Town Hall Bellingham Auditorium Tuesday, October 16, :00 PM 1. Call to Order. Mayor Funderburk called the Windham Town Council Regular meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Members present: Mayor Funderburk, Charles Krich, Tony Fantoli, Nectalis Martinez, Tom DeVivo, Dawn Niles, Randall Prose, Ernie Eldridge and Dennis O Brien Dagmar Noll and Rose Reyes were excused 2. Pledge of Allegiance. Four youths led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. State Representative Susan Johnson took a picture of the Town Council to send to the Governor thanking him for his help in Windham receiving the grant for the parking garage. 3. Citizens and Delegations. Leah Ralls, Roger Alexander, Destiny Mateo, State Representative Susan Johnson, Casey Campbell Roy, Steve Merlino, Jennifer Andrews, Anthony Rio, Joel Gonzalez, Joseph Rio and Kevin spoke in support of the Community Center. Many also spoke about the need to have a space in the Center for the Silverback Wrestling Club. 4. Town Council Comment. Dennis O Brien thanked everyone for attending the meeting, He also spoke about the Community Center and other projects going on in Windham. In addition, O Brien reminded everyone about the vote on November 6th and urged them to go out and vote. Ernie Eldridge noted he supports the Silverback Wrestling Club. He also suggested people support the Senior Center as well as the Community Center. In addition, he suggested people speak to the Seniors and encourage everyone to vote.

2 Dawn Niles spoke about the Town receiving the Bronze Award through Sustainable CT, the Windham Center Firefighters Memorial Ceremony, the Neewollah event on Saturday, the collection for victims of Hurricane Michael on Thursday, the vigil that was held on Friday night, the need for people to vote on November 6th to support the Community Center with a reminder to turn the ballot over to vote the question and the event on October 27th by Grow Windham. Nectalis Martinez thanked people for attending the meeting. He also noted his support for the Sr/Community Center project and urged everyone to vote. In addition, he reminded people to turn the ballot over to vote the question on the Sr/Community Center. Randall Prose noted there was a space for the Wrestling Club in the proposed Community Center design. He also encouraged everyone to vote and support the Community Center. Mayor Funderburk urged everyone to get out and vote. He also spoke about the resources Windham has that other communities don t have. 5. Adoption of Town Council Minutes. a. Regular Meeting Minutes of October 2, DeVivo MOVED, Niles seconded, to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of October 2, All were in favor except Eldridge and Prose who abstained. MOTION PASSED. 6. Resignations 7. Appointments, Reappointments. 8. Presentations & Special Reports. State Representative Susan Johnson presented a Citation from herself, State Representative Linda Orange and State Senator Mae Flexer to the Town of Windham, Dawn Niles, Jean de Smet and Virginia Fulton for their work on behalf of the Town of Windham in helping them achieve the 2018 Sustainable CT certified Bronze Status. A picture was also taken of State Representative Susan Johnson, Town Manager Jim Rivers, Mayor Victor Funderburk and Councilmember Dawn Niles. a. Presentation by Senior/Community Center Building Committee.

3 Councilmember DeVivo gave a brief presentation on the proposed Senior/Community Center and explained the design layout of the building. DeVivo also reminded people to turn their ballot over to vote on the question for the Senior/Community Center. In addition, he answered questions from the Town Council. 9. Mayor s Report. Mayor Funderburk reported he had attended the Memorial Service for the Firefighters. He also reported the State was also repaving the walkway on the Dam and he encouraged everyone to who hasn t walked the dam to try to do so. 10. Town Manager s Report. Town Manager Rivers spoke about the Sr/Community Center and the grants the Town has received this year. He also reported on the following: CCM Annual Conference - if not a member can not sign up as a guest and their offer for Windham to be a member this year at no cost with a commitment that we would rejoin next year Union negotiations continuing with Fire Department - some progress but going to mediation Invitation to visit the Senior Center on October 29th at 11:00 A.M. to speak about the Senior/Community Center Supplemental Tax Bills - discussion on the cost to send supplemental tax bills vs. the revenue that will be collected DeVivo MOVED, Prose seconded, to add to the agenda Item 15b; Discussion and possible action on joining CCM this year. All were in favor except Krich, Niles and O Brien. MOTION PASSED. DeVivo MOVED, Eldridge seconded, to add to the agenda Item 15c; Discussion and possible action concerning Motor Vehicle invoices. All were in favor except Krich, Niles and O Brien. MOTION PASSED. 11. Discussion and Possible Action regarding Communications to Council. 12. Discussion and Review of Agendas, Minutes, Reports of Town Boards, Committees, and Commissions. Councilmember DeVivo shared his concerns regarding the WPCA minutes.

4 Report from the Chairman of the Town Council s Committee on Administration, Finance, Development, Health and Human Services. Chairman Krich reported the Committee had discussed the following: Request from James Flores and others to name the baseball field at Recreation Park the Roberto Clemente Baseball Field - Public Hearing on November 13th Proposed Library Ordinance - asked that the Town Attorney address the following questions - can the Library Board pass by-laws, do they have to be approved by the Town Council and what happens if there is a conflict between a by-law and a Town Council policy Request concerning the elimination of the $127 reduction from the pension calculation Report from the Chairman of the Town Council s Committee on Public Safety, Public Works, Environment, Culture and Recreation. Chairwoman Niles reported the Committee had discussed the following: Parking garage - who would act as the Building Committee for the project - it was determined that the full Town Council would be the Building Committee for the project Recycling textiles - can be brought to the transfer station Bulky waste - keep as is however will be tagging and fining people who put items out that are not acceptable such as mattresses, etc ATV s - getting process used by the Willimantic Police when they receive a complaint and asked the Town Manager to get the same process with the State Police for the Windham s Continued discussion on the homeless with Lee Duffy - less than 10 people during summer that there are issues with - will review what Chief Rosado provides however requested not to follow through with that Dog park - proposal from Public Works on cost - Pageau Trust - possibly using LOCIP funds - Eagle Scouts taking on the project to do the obstacles for the park - hoping to begin in the spring Banning of plastic bags - several individual spoke in favor of this - Committee will continue discussion on the issue however they do agree with the concept 13. Resolutions and Ordinances. See Item 15a 14. Old business.

5 15. New Business. a. Discussion and possible action regarding the elimination of the $127 Reduction factor from the maximum pension benefit calculation. DeVivo MOVED, Eldridge seconded, to waive the reading of the resolution. All were in favor. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. DeVivo MOVED, Eldridge seconded, to approve Resolution #2740 as presented. All were in favor. BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council THAT WHEREAS, the Town has in effect for certain employees a retirement plan known as the Town of Windham Employees Retirement Plan restated December 20, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as the Plan ); and WHEREAS, the Plan provides that the Town Council of the Town may amend the Plan from time to time; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Plan be amended, effective January 1, 2019 to eliminate the one hundred twenty-seven dollar ($127.00) reduction factor from the maximum pension benefit calculation, as described in Article V, Section 5.1, paragraph (a) of the Plan. FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Officers of the Town be and they hereby are authorized and directed to execute and deliver such instruments and documents and to take such actions as they may consider necessary or desirable in order to carry out the intent and purpose of the foregoing resolution. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY b. Discussion and possible action on joining CCM this year. DeVivo MOVED, Niles seconded, to accept the offer from CCM and that we join again next year. Funderburk and DeVivo were in favor and all others opposed. MOTION FAILED c. Discussion and possible action concerning Motor Vehicle invoices. DeVivo made a motion t o direct the Town Manager and his staff to send out supplemental tax bills. There was no second to the motion. No action was taken.

6 16. Future Agenda Items November 6, 2018 Town Council meeting cancelled due to the State Election 17. Citizens and Delegations 18. Adjournment. The Regular Meeting of the Windham Town Council adjourned at 8:49 P.M. Submitted by: Barbara J. McKinney Clerk of the Council

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