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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.