1977/03/21 MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD
March 21, 1977
The meeting was opened by Mayor Arthur B. Powers at 7:30 p.m. Deputy
Mayors Lanzoni and Dickinson were present.
Also present were: Joanne G. Ward, Town Clerk and Paul Ohanesian rep-
resenting the Berlin Eagle.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, it was voted to ac-
cept the minutes of the meeting of 5/14/77 with the following correction:
Page 1, paragraph 7, first sentence: Mr. Dickinson said that sentence
should read as follows: Mr. Dickinson...said he could not.go along with
the minutes as he felt there was'information in the minutes that were not
accurate. MOTION CARRIED.
It was discovered that the item which was tentatively put on the call for
the 5/28/77 Town Meeting regarding a $12,000 transfer to Account #5511,
Utilities, has been changed by Mr. Russell to a figure of $10,000. Mr.
Russell appeared before the Board of Finance and reduced the amount at
that time.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, it was voted to
place on the Call for Town Meeting the following: (Town Meeting of 5/28/7,
To transfer a sum of $10,000 to Account #5811, Utilities, as
recommended by the Board of Finance.
MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Powers read a Certification of Petition from Town Clerk Joanne
G. Ward, in which she advises that she has checked the twenty petition
pages {presented to Mayor Powers on 5/21/77 by Mr. Philip D. Doran}
for the purpose of calling a Town Meeting to reject the Teachers Con-
tract filed in her office on 5/15/77. Mrs. Ward informs the Executive
Board that she has certified 506 names on the petitions as persons being
eligible to vote in town meetings and she finds the petitions in order.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, it was voted to
place another item on the Call for Town Meeting (to be held on 5/28/77)
as follows:
To reject the Teachers Contract on file in the Town Clerk's
Office, dated 5/1S/77.
MOTION CARRIED.
Mr. Dickinson pointed out an error in the Annual Report written by Mayor
Powers. The error is in the date of the override of a veto by the Gen-
eral Assembly. The date should read 1975, not 1976.
Mayor Powers said we must do something about selling the Old Percival
School. He referred to a letter from Morgan Seelye in which the Town
Engineer advises that if we don't reserve passway rights the problem
is resolved and the property can be sold. However, school children woul~
Executive Board Minutes
3/21/77
-2-
have to walk down Sbona Road. There are no sidewalks on Sbona Road, but
as Mayor Powers pointed out there are none on Percival Avenue either.
The Mayor said it is quite a problem. We don't want to take away the
walkway the youngsters are using now, but unless we do we won't be able
to sell the property.. A suggestion has been made that the sale be carrie¢
out with the provision that the dwelling be removed. The Board felt that
it would be impossible to sell it with that provision. Mr. Dickinson
asked if Mr. Seelye really felt that the building could be converted into!
a dwelling. Mayor Powers said he gets that impression. Mayor Powers sai~
I know the building is of historical significance but we cannot continue !
to just hold onto it. Mr. Dickinson suggested contacted Harold Dunn, I
principal of the school to see if he had any ideas. He also suggested
that we find out just how many youngsters use that walkway. Mayor Powers
said this was a good idea and he would write to the Board of Education
to get their comments and also to see if we can get a count on the number
of children using the walkway. This received the general consent of the
Board.
Mayor Powers announced that Mr. Robert Seaburg has moved out of town and
is no longer representing the Town on the United Cable Television Board.
The Mayor asked that the members of the Executive Board bring in some
names of someone willing to serve on that Board.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, it was voted to
award the contract for Lighting Fixtures for the Town Hall to the low
bidder, Downey Electric Company at their bid price of $5,468.00, pro-
viding this is within the appropriation. This award is made on the
recommendation of Richard R. Russell, Superintendent of Public Buildings.
Other bidders were:
Ace Electric $8450.00
Ruepp 7180.00
Capstan 5828.00
Viking 5990.00
McPhee 8270.00
MOTION CARRIED.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, it was voted to
award the contract for a Fireproof Safe, for the Finance Department,
to the low bidder, Adkins Printers at their bid price of $1763.86.
The only other bidder was Gustave Fischer at $1956.53. Both prices
are over the $1700 appropriation according to Finance Director Gary
S. Clinton, who recommended the low bidder, It was agreed by the Board
to award to the low bidder, Adkins, provided the Board of Finance approve~
the additional $63.86 . MOTION CARRIED.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, it was voted to
sign tax refund forms, as requested by Tax Collector Francis J. Motyka,
in the amount of $46.62 to Joy Orecchio, 42 Park Drive, Kensington.
Refund is based on excess payment of taxes. This will be paid out pro-
vided there are sufficient funds in Account #164, Tax Refunds. MOTION
CARRIED.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, it was voted to
sign tax refund forms, as requested by Tax Collector Francis J. Motyka,
in the amount of $53.50 to Theodore Zelek, 285 Seymour Road, Berlin.
Refund is based on "Serviceman having Disability Rating". This will be
paid out provided there are sufficient funds in Account #164, Tax Refunds
MOTION CARRIED.
,.Executive Board Minutes
Mr. Dickinson inquired about the trailer on the Florence Cams property
in East Berlin. He said it is still sticking out. Mayor Powers said
that Mr. Hodgeson of Triage had promised to move it but the weather had
been so bad that they couldn't. However, the Mayor said he would get in
touch with Emil Carlson and get him on it.
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, it was voted to
appoint Mr. Donald Harris, 625 Lower Lane, to the Inland Wetlands and
Water Courses Commission for a term of three years. His term to expire
on 31 January 1980. Mr. Harris will replace Mr. Bergstrom who did not
seek reappointment. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Powers said he had asked Corporation Counsel for an opinion on
whether or not an organization such as ACT can continue to use Town-
owned facilities for their meetings. There have been some comments that
since they have some very strict rules and regulations on membership,
that they should not be meeting in public buildings. The Mayor said it
has always been our policy to allow town organizations.to meet in town
owned buildings and at,this point cannot see how we can refuse ACT.
However, we will await a legal opinion.
Mr. Dickinson asked if they had used any other meeting places. It seems
that meeting at Town Hall has become a regular practice. The Mayor said
he thinks they have met once or twice at the Community Center. It has
always been our policy, said the Mayor, to allow town organizations to
use the facilities, however, if a Town Board of Commission has already
reserved the room, then it is on a first come, first serve basis.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
P~tricia A. Casella
Secretary
ADDENDUM i
TUESDAY~ 22 MARCH 1977
On motion by Mr. Lanzoni, seconded by Mr. Dickinson, it was voted, by tele: :
phone poll on.~/22/77, to place the following item on. the Call for Town Meeti~
to be held on 3/28/77:
To act on an appropriation of $2600 to Account #202, Audit and Accountin
as recommended by the Board of Finance.
MOTION CARRIED.