BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, APRIL 4, 2011 7:30 P.M. GREENE COMMUNITY CENTER First Selectman Joseph Mazza called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present: Board Members: Joseph Mazza, Charles Havrda, Cynthia Cartier, Veronica Wallace and Gary MacElhiney Town Officials: Media: Agricultural Commission Members Tom Pinchbeck (Chair) and William Butterly; Clerk Traci Brinkman Guilford Courier Reporter Kimberly Scroggins and Mike Graziano, taping for GCTV 1. Approval of minutes: 1.1 March 21, 2011 Regular Meeting Upon a motion made by Ms. Cartier and seconded by Ms. Wallace, the board voted unanimously to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of March 21, 2011 as presented. 1.2 March 28, 2011 Special Meeting Upon a motion made by Ms. Cartier and seconded by Ms. Wallace, the board voted unanimously to approve the Special Meeting Minutes of March 21, 2011 as presented. 2. Public Forum (limited to 2 minutes regarding agenda items) 3. Discuss and take possible action to set a public hearing date of May 2, 7:30 p.m., at the Community Center to obtain public comment on a Right to Farm Ordinance. 1
Mr. Pinchbeck said the Agricultural Commission is interested in the idea of a Right to Farm Ordinance. This has been reviewed with town counsel. Mr. Butterly said it is a simple ordinance and consistent with what other towns have done. Basically if you engage in some level of farming within the bounds of other regulations and ordinance this would eliminate the right of the adjoining property owner to say that the farming is a nuisance. He added that hopefully this will eliminate frivolous litigations. This will help to preserve farming by making this a public policy. Mr. Butterly said while this is consistent with other towns, they did make it broader, since they already have various regulations for the amount of activity that can take place on particular parcels. Ms. Cartier asked if they have had any nuisance suits. Mr. Pinchbeck said there was an issue with guinea hens but nothing came to fruition. It was decided that they had a right to have them and the neighbors did not pursue anything. Mr. Mazza noted that the Planning and Zoning Commission can still weigh in on these issues. board voted unanimously to set a Public Hearing date of May 2, 7:30 p.m., at the Community Center to obtain public comment on a Right to Farm Ordinance. 4. Appointments and Resignations: 4.1 Act on recommendation to appoint Rose Dostert to the Parks and Recreation Commission to fill a vacancy for a term to expire February 28, 2014. the board voted unanimously to appoint Rose Dostert to the Parks and Recreation Commission to fill a vacancy for a term to expire February 28, 2014. 4.2 Act on recommendation to appoint Teresa Bryant to the Parks and 2
Recreation Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2015. the board voted unanimously to appoint Teresa Bryant to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2015. 4.3 Act on recommendation to reappoint Barbara Pine to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2015. Upon a motion made by Ms. Wallace and seconded by Ms. Cartier, the board voted unanimously to reappoint Barbara Pine to the Parks and Recreation Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2015. 4.4 Act on recommendation to appoint Alexandra Gross to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term to expire February 28, 2015. board voted unanimously to appoint Alexandra Gross to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term to expire February 28, 2015. 4.5 Act on recommendation to reappoint Robert Light to the Water Pollution Control Authority for a term to expire February 28, 2013. Upon a motion made by Ms. Wallace and seconded by Ms. Cartier, the board voted unanimously to reappoint Robert Light to the Water Pollution Control Authority for a term to expire February 28, 2013. 4.6 Act on recommendation to appoint Nick Kornacki as an alternate to the Standing Building Committee to fill a vacancy for a term to expire June 17, 2012. 3
Upon a motion made by Ms. Wallace and seconded by Ms. Cartier, the board voted unanimously to appoint Nick Kornacki as an alternate to the Standing Building Committee to fill a vacancy for a term to expire June 17, 2012. 4.7 Act on recommendation to reappoint Nancy Arnold to the Board of Ethics for a term to expire July 31, 2014. board voted unanimously to reappoint Nancy Arnold to the Board of Ethics for a term to expire July 31, 2014. 4.8 Act on recommendation to appoint Richard Wallace as an alternate to the Public Works Commission to fill a vacancy for a term to expire May 31, 2014. Upon a motion made by Ms. Cartier and seconded by Mr. Havrda, the board voted to appoint you as an alternate to the Public Works Commission to fill a vacancy for a term to expire May 31, 2014. Vote: In Favor: Mazza, Havrda, Cartier and MacElhiney Abstaining: Wallace 4.9 Act on recommendation to reappoint Eric Mull to the Shellfish Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2015. the board voted unanimously to reappoint Eric Mull to the Shellfish Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2015. 4.10 Act on recommendation to reappoint Michael Sessine as an alternate to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2015. 4
the board voted unanimously to reappoint Michael Sessine as an alternate to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term to expire February 28, 2015. 4.11 Act on recommendation to reappoint William Thompson to the Historic District Commission for a term to expire January 31, 2016. board voted unanimously to reappoint William Thompson to the Historic District Commission for a term to expire January 31, 2016. 5. Requests for Use of Town Property: 5.1 Act on request from the Guilford Art League to use the Green and to place a sign on the Green advertising its Art Exhibit and Sale taking place July 14-17, 2011. (Sign Placement 7/3-7/17) 5.2 Act on request from the Dudley Foundation to place a sign on the Green advertising its Tag Sale taking place April 30 (Rain Date 5/7) (Sign Placement 4/16-4/30) 5.3 Act on request from the Friends of the Library to place a sign on the Green advertising its Paperback Book Sale taking place May 21, 2011 and its Book and Bake Sale taking place September 23-25, 2011. (Sign Placement 5/7-5/21 and 9/9-9/23) 5.4 Act on request from the Dudley Farm to place a sign on the Green advertising its Farmers Market taking place June-October, 2011. (Sign Placements listed on agenda) 5.5 Act on request from Choate Rosemary Hall to use Lake Quonnipaug for its regatta taking place May 14, 2011. Upon a motion made by Ms. Cartier and seconded by Mr. Havrda, the board voted unanimously to approve items 5.1-5.5 as presented. 5
Opposed: Abstaining: 6. Correspondence 7. Old Business 8. New Business Mr. Mazza reminded everyone that the Annual Budget Meeting was tomorrow night April 5 and the Budget Referendum is on April 12 for the budget and bonding questions at all five polling locations. 9. Public Forum (limited to 3 minutes regarding any issue) Upon a motion made by Ms. Cartier and seconded by Ms. Wallace, the board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Traci K. Brinkman Clerk Board of Selectmen 6