1964/11/30Minutes of the Meeting
November 30, 1964
TOWN OF BERLIN
OFFICE OF THE SELECTMEN
Thee, meeting opened at 7:30 p.m. with the three Selectmen present.
Mrs. Mahanwas present from the Press.
Mr. Powers advised, in executive session, that it will cost
approximately $4,000.00 to get the four options of land as
recommended by the Conservation Commission. M~. Bengston had
written to the Board of ~inance requesting funds for these options
and Mr. Doran, Chairman of the Board of Finance advised M~. Powers
this evening that a poll of members of the Board of Finance has
granted transfer of $2,000.00 from Contingency to the Conservation
Commission budget, thus providing funds for these options.
Mr. Lanzoni moved, Mr. Blackburn seconded~ signing of.options
of Antoni Lukasiewicz, 9 month option, not t~7~ acres at $1,700.
per acre; Howard Stevens, 9 month option, two pieces of land, OhS of
36 acres at $1,700. per acre and the other piece of five or six
acres at $700. per acrs; Churchill and G~z~lie 0. Bradley, 9 month
option, not to exceed 42 acres at $1,700. per act% so that we may
make application to the State and Federal government under the
Open Space Act for funds. Motion carried. Signing of these options
was witnessed by Town Counsel Harry Jackaway.
Mr. Powers advised that options are also in the hands of
~ Rudolph Maier and Mr. Sargis.
Board of Selectmen went on record to congratulate the Con-
servation Commission and Mr. Edward Mttrray of the Pa~ker Agency
for thei~ persistent effort in bringing these options to a close.
$
In open session, Town Counsel Jackaway outlined suits pending
at this time. In the Court of Common Pleas there are two Zoning
suits, both with respect to the East Berlin Post Office. The
Zoning Commission vs Zoning Board of Appeals; Henry Fou~nier vs
Zoning Board of Appeals.
M~. Jackaway advised there are four suits pendingin Hartford.
It is his hope that adoption of new zoning ordiance case and
Miss Alling's case will be disposed of before Christmas.
Attorney ~ackaway recommended payment of $300.00 to dispose
of suit of Steven Regelski, injured on ~est Peak, for which he is
asking $75,000.00.
Mr. Powers moved, Mr. Lanzoni seconded, payment of $300.00 to
Steven Regolski, as recommended by Attorney ~ackaway. Motion ca,tied.
Mr~ Blackburn moved, Mr. Lanzoni seconded, that the following
sentence be added to the Dumping Agreement with the City. of New
Britain: This agreement will ~ for ~ period of one (1) yea~,
commencing November 2, 1964 and may be renewed annually thereafter
by mutual concern by both pa~ties hereto. Motion ca~ried.
Selectmen initialed agreement and will return it to the City
of New B~itain, asking them to initial it and when it is returned
to the Town of Berlin, we will sign it.
Minutes of the Eeeting
-2-
November 30, 1964
F~iward Haber, 0hief Mechanic, outlined budget request for the 1965-
66 fiscal yea~.
~r. Haber advised that under 2la M. & O. Town Vehicles, last
ar he had requested $16,000.00~but had only been allowed
0,000.00. ~nis was not enough so again this yea~ He is requesting
6,000.00.
~r. Haber is requesting an increase of $300.00 for tires.
Depending on whether or not we get new school buses, either
$3,300.00 or$2,000.00 will be requested for M. & 0. School VehicAes.
Mr. Haber advised t~at the first mechanic, Mr. Alberti, is
now receiving $2.70 per hou~ and recommended increase to $2.75 per
hour. The second mechanic, Andrew Zn0sko, is now receiving
per hour and recommended mncrease to $2.50 per hour, bringing it
up to where it really should be at this time.
It was Mr. Haber's recommendation that we decide Just How
high we a~e going and that a pay schedule be set up to determine
minimum and maximum pays. ~aployees want to know this info~mation
in determining their future.
Aldo Castiglioni, Chairman of the Planning Commission appea~ed
to discuss plans for the 1965-66 fiscal year.
Regarding a Capital Improvement Program Mr. 0astiglioni advised
that a meeting with representatives of the State Development
0ommission has been called for December 15, 1964 at which time
we will be able to ascertain what is available to us from the ~ate.
The Board of Finance, Selectmen, Board of Education and Assessor
will be invited to attend this meeting and at that time it is the
hope of the Planning 0ommission that many questions will be answered.
One question which the Planning Commission would like answered is
if a program is adopted must we ca~ry out the program? It is the
understanding of the Commission there could be some state assistance
even though the ~own has used it in the past, and when a firm figure
is arrived at the Planning Commission will go to the Board of Finance
and get the program stated.
Mr. Castiglioni advised that the Planning Commission would like
to request funds to review the Town Plan. ~is would require
professional help and they have been considering employing a pact-
time planner or to ~Ja obtain the services of a planning consultant
firm on a retainer basis. ~mployment of a part-time planner would
relieve the Engineering Department of much of the work they do on
the sub-divisions for the Planning Commission. A figure of $4,000.
has been discussed, but Mr. Castiglioni requested that no figure
be submitted for the budget at this time. Budget request will be
submittea to ~e Belectmen within a few days.
Mr. Castiglioni advised that Town ~ounsel Jackaway feels that
Birch Lane appears to be a street. Mr. Ringrose has requested that
the ~ownmaintain this as a street. Mr. Powers felt that the
developer should bring it up to standard, not the Town. ~e only
concession the Town would make at this time would be for them to
prepare the road and we will oil it.
F~. Powers suggested that a list of dirt roads be drawn up and
brought before a ~ownMeeting, requesting that the ~own abandon them.
Minutes of the Meeting
-3-
November 30, 1964
~ The Industrial Development Commission and the Board of Public Works
were scheduled to meet with the Selectmen at this time but since they were
not prepared, they will meet with the Selectmen on next Monday, December 7.
Morgan Seelye, Director of Public Works, appeared with proposed
budgets for the Engineering Department and the Highway Department.
Mr. Seelye requested a 5% increase in salary for all employees of
the Engineering Department. Mr. Seelye also requested a part time
inspector and engineering aide be employed during the summer months. It
was his feeling that a college student working toward a degree in civil
engineering would be of great assistance during the summer months. This
would amount to approximately $1,000.00 since he would be employed for
15 weeks at $1.75 per hour. Mr. Seelye requested an increase of $40.00
in his car allowance, and car allowance for others would be subject to
change, depending if capital item of survey car is allowed.
Increase in Engineering Department over last year's would amount to
$2,300.00.
Mr. Seelye requested an increase in Grant Skinner's salary from
$6,950. to $7,500.00 Mr. Skinner will be retiring on October 31, 1965
and this increase will be in effect for four months. Upon Mr. Skinner's
retirement Mr. Prue, Assistant Superintendent will become Superintendent
and the position of Assistant superintendent will not be filled. Mr.
~elye requested an increase of $200. in Mr. Prue's salary for the first
% months of the fiscal year, plus an increase of $100.00 for the remaining
eight months. Mr. Skinner would be retained as a Highway Consultant, due
to his vast ~knowledge and experience, at a salary of $100.00 per month,
which would amount to $800.00 for this fiscal year.
Mr. Seelye re.~aested a 5% increase for highway employees, feeling
this would retain or attract dependable personnel. This would be an
increase of $3,600.00 over last year but would include an extra man be
hired for summer help.
Tree Removal request would be increased from $500. to $3,000. to
allow removal of 15 large trees, or 45 medium trees which require work
be done by nursery man.
Drainage request will remain at $35,000. but Radio rental wou~ be
increased by $200. to lease 1 new radio for new town truck.
In an effort to repair or rebuild bridges which for many years have
be neglected, request will be made for $15,000. for new bridge on Meadow
La~e.
Request will be made for $10,000. to remove humps on Hamilton Drive
and Robbins Road.
Request will be made for $1,000. for New Street signs. Request will
also be made for $450. for Highway Monuments. The Town will be reimbursed
by developers for these
Minutes of the Meeting -4- ~ovember 30, 1964
In Capital Items, request will be made for a new truck and plow
fol $8,000.00. $10,000. was allowed for a new truck in last year's
budget.
New requests~Lll include Truck 3/4 ton, $2,500.~ 4 in 1 loader
bucker, $3,000.~ Curb machine, $1,500~ S~rage building 4000 sq. ft. $10,000.~
Chain saw, xl hea~f duty, $400.~ Auger, Post Hole, $300.
Mr. Seelye explained that the storage building is a necessity since
much valuable equipment must remain outdoors all winter long due to no
storage space. A small portion of the storage s~ace now available would
be closed in to make space available for the Park Department employee to
work during the winter months.
Mr. Seelye suggested a topographic map of the Town. The last map
done was in the 1950. This would cost approximately $30,000. but Mr.
Seelye suggested that funds for this could be set up under the Capital
and NOn-Recurring Account.
The Meeting adjourned at 11=00 p.m.
A. B. Powers
J. P. Lanzoni
J. Blackburn
P. Doran
Minutes of the Meeting
December 2, 1964
At a s~ecial meeting held in the Selectmen*s office on Wednesday
evening and in the presence of Attorney Jackaway, Mr. Bengston, Chairman
of the Conservation Commission, and Edward Murray, Agent, the three
members of the Board of Selectmen signed the Sargis Option for approximately
3/4 of an acre of land.