1970/12/28MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
December 28, 1970
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by First Selectman Arthur
B. Powers. All Selectmen were present.
Also present for various portions of the meeting were: Members of the
Town Hall Site Committee: Carl Johnson, Joseph Alix, Richard Covini,
Albert Nieman, Edward Murray; Arnold Frost, Director of the Youth Council
and Mrs. Blanche Mahan of the press.
On motion of Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Johansen, the minutes of the
meeting of 14 December 1970 were approved. (No meeting was held on 21
December 1970). MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Johansen asked if there had been an answer to the letter to the
Youth Council regarding the use of the old Kensington Fire House
building as a possible Youth Center. Mr. Powers said there had been
no reply as yet.
Mr. Powers introduced the members of the Town Hall Site Committee and
said that before signing the options for the Alice Kloskowski property,
it had been agreed upon to ask the Committee to come in and report on
all the sites they had looked at and why they had chosen that particular
site.
Mr. Alix said the Committee had kept in mind the charge given them by
the Board of Selectmen when they were appointed, i.e., to seek enough
land for future expansion. He continued, the Committee tried to look
ahead 50 years to what Berlin might need and so a site of at least 50
acres was the minimum they considered from the beginm~g.
Mr. Johnson, Vice Chairman of the Committee (Chairman Frank Motyka was
ill and could not attend) then told of the Committee's search for the
geographical center of the Town and the population center. The geograph-
ical center proved to be somewhere between Kensington Road and Norton
Road. "We chose a number of possible sites, the most desirable was the
land owned by Joseph Cieniewicz, owner of the Lower Lane Dairy. Mr.
Murray started negotiations but we found the price, $10,000 per acre,
was too expensive". It was also noted that Mr. Cieniewicz did not seem
to want to sell his land.
The Committee continued looking at property and next leoked at land owned
by Munson in the Norton Road-Kensington Road area, but Mr. Munson did not
want to sell his land. Next they checked out property owned by Mr. Wilcox;
however, down the street from this property was a gravel pit and the dis-
tance from utilities was too far. Prices were not obtained on either the
Munson or Wilcox properties.
Mr. Johnson commented that it would be pretty hard to condemn land for a
Town Hall because of the availability of land in Town. The things the
Committee looked for when considering a piece of land were: availability,
soil, topography, access and utilities. The site which the Committee
felt was the best was the Cieniewicz property, but it was just too costly.
Selectmen' s Meeting
28 December 1970
-page two-
Mr. George Closson has offered 7 acres of land to the Town free of
charge. The land is located on the hill (through the rock cut) but
then the Town would have to buy the rest of the land and the cost
would be probably in the neighborhood of $4,000 per acre. After
walking through the property, Mr. Murray said he went to the State
Planning Commission(they own 4 acres of land west of the seven acres.)
The State, however, was not ready to commit these 4 acres. Also
access would have to be through Middletown Road, Rte 72 and Rte 5,
and this would cause many traffic problems.
Commenting on the property ac~ss from Webster Square, the Committee
felt this would be a good site but here again, the cost would be pro-
hibitive and to use this land would possibly cost the town quite a bit
in loss of revenue on taxable land.
Finally the Committee looked over the property owned by Alice Kloskowski
and this seemed to be the best site as far as fitting the qualifications
which they had agreed upon and the cost was in reason. Mr. Johnson did
say that the Committee had not been unanimous in its choice of this site.
There is some rock on the front portion of the land but access would not
be too difficult from either Kensington Road, Percival Avenue or even
possibly Robbins Road in the future. Also the Y.M.C.A. is planning to
build in that area and also, the Town owns the nearby railroad pond.
Total purchase price for this property would be $128,500.
Mr. Johansen said he was opposed to this site for a municipal complex
because he felt access would be difficult since Kensington Road is a
very narrow road. Also, there are no sidewalks in the area. He continued
by saying that this is a residential area and with police cars going in
and out it may prove hazardous. Mr. Johansen favored the Webster Square area,
It was pointed out that Kensington Road has already been widened.down
to the bridge. Also, Kensington Road will eventually be the major
north-south thorofare and that widening the road would not be that costly.
Mr. Johansen brought up the matter of redevelopment, saying he felt the
ideal site would be where Deephouse Equipment is located. Mr. Powers
said redevelopment would not be a good idea at this time. Other com-
munities are running into difficulties with redevelopment and federal
money is very tight.
After lengthy discussion of the pros and cons] Mr. ~anzoni move4, seconded
by Mr. Powers, to accept the Town Hall Site Committee report with thanks
and approve the $1,000 option for the land belonging to Alice Kloskowski,
west of Kensington Road and east of Percival Field, at a total cost of
$128,500 payable as follows: (1) $32,125 at the time of closing; (2)
Balance of purchase price in the form of a promisory note, providing for
five equal installments of $19,275, plus interest at 5% per annum on the
unpaid principal balance, said payments commending one year from the date
of closing and annually thereafter. MOTION CARRIED.
Selectmen's Meeting
28 December 1970
-page three-
Mr. Johansen said he wished to go on record as approving the above
motion on the basis that it would be a better long term investment
for the Town rather than as a site for a municipal complex.
At this point, the Selectmen adjourned into Executive Session to meet
with Arnold Frost. Mr. Johansen had requested this meeting in that he
felt that conditions which he witnessed at the Selden School Drop-in
Center were out of control. Mr. Johansen told of going to the Center
and finding only Mr. Frost and one policeman on duty. Youngsters were
going in and out of the building carrying half filled sode bottles and
there was a great deal of activity going on in the cars in the parking
lot. Mr. Johansen called Father Lord and Mrs. De~la Keller of the
Youth Council. Mrs. Keller went to Selden School in order to view
conditions. Mr. Frost subsequently called Mr. Johansen and hung up on
him. Mr. Powers said he wished Mr. Johansen had called him at the time.
Mr. Frost said this was a Drop-in Center and the youngsters are allowed
to come and go. This is not true of dances however, where they are not
allowed to leave and then come back in. Also, Mr. Frost said he has
great difficulty in getting adults to come and help supervise. Mr. Frost
said he had a letter written announcing his resignation. Mr. Powers said
he hoped Mr. Frost would reconsider resigning.
After a lengthy discussion of the situation, Mr. Powers said he felt that
the Selectmen should make a point of dropping in at the Center more often
also, the policemen on duty should be told to keep closer watch, partic-
ularly in the parking lot. He also stated that arrangements were being
made for better lighting in the whole area. Also, members of the Youth
Council ought to visit the Center more often.
At the end of the Executive Session, Mr. Johansen asked that the record
show that he recommended that Mr. Frost resign.
Mr. Powers suggested, and Mr. Lanzoni agreed, that Mr. Frost, who has
been doing an excellent job with the young people, be given another
chance and if it appears that the problem is continuing, then positive
action should and will be taken.
The Executive Session then adjourned and the Selectmen resumed their
scheduled meeting.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Johansen, the following were
appointed to fill three Democratic vacancies for Justices of the Peace:
Thomas W. Ward, Jr., William McKeon, and Harry N. Jackaway. MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Powers read a letter from Richard Zesk regarding the proposed park in
the Harvest Hill, South Slope, Glenview Drive area. It appears that about
90% of the people residing in the area are opposed to the idea of a park.
Mr. Johansen said a hearing should be held before anything is done. Mr.
Powers said that the Park & Recreation Commission would hold a hearing
if the idea of a park was acceptable to the majority of the people and if
an appropriation was necessary. However, in view of the fact that there
has been so many calls in opposition, he suggested that the whole matter
be dropped.
Selectmen's Meeting
28 December 1970
-page four-
Mr. Powers read a letter from Mrs. Mary Clapp, Chairman of the Pollution
Control Commission regarding a request from Eastern Parlor Frame Company
to burn accumulated wood scraps.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Johansen, the Selectmen voted
to grant permission to the Eastern Parlor Frame Company to burn accumu-
lated scrap wood in accordance with the terms stipulated by the Pollution
Control Commission. MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Powers read a letter from the Board of Finance recommending that a
Town Meeting be held with regard to transfer of funds to a new account
C-707, Sidewalks. This is for work done on Main Street in Kensington.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Johansen, the Selectmen voted
to call a Town Meeting on January llth, 1971 to transfer $4,500 from
the General Fund to a new account, Item #C-707, Sidewalks. MOTION CARRIED.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Johansen, the Selectmen voted
to place on the call for the January llth Town Meeting a request to
approve the acceptance of funds from the Stanley Foundation. MOTION
CARRIED.
Mr. Powers said if the Board of Finance should act favorably on a request
to grant funds for renovation of the Town Hall, then this should also be
placed on the call for the January llth meeting.
Mr. Powers read a letter ~om Robert McGlone, Recreation Director requesting
permission to hire Lindsey Hansen as a laborer for the Park Department.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, secon4ed by Mr. Johansen, the Selectmen voted
to hire Lindsey Hansen as a laborer for the Park Department at a salary
of $120 per week beginning 12/21/70 until the opening of the Golf Course
or 4/5/71 which ever comes first. MOTION CARRIED.
Commenting on the motion, Mr. Johansen said he had previously submitted
the name of John Horbal. Mr. Powers said he felt Mr. Horbal was not old
enough for this particular position.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Johansen, the Selectmen voted
to table any action which might be taken against Mr. William McNamara,
a Special Constable at the Dump. Mr. Johansen reserved the right to go
on record, however, as stating that he felt Mr. McNamara should have his
badge removed; but he would wait until Mr. Powers had talked with Barry
Squillacote. MOTION CARRIED.
The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Patricia A. Casella
Secretary