1987/01/12EX~2T~IVE BOARD MINUT~g
January 12, 198~ 7
APPROVED
The meetingwas called to order at 7:30~m. Present were Mayor Thc~as
Ward, Jr., Jim McNair, Deputy Mayor; Warren Kingsbury, Deputy Mayor;
Jim D'Errico, Jack Ross, Oscar Dietrich, Chief William Scalise, Captain
Jerry Charamut, Samuel Valenti, Kenneth Place, Angelo Barcello and Ed
Haber.
Jack Ross-Follc~-upQuestions-1987-88 Budqet
Jack said in his 1986-87 budget the fringe amounts were not included
and that the figure for 1987-88 includes everything needed.
Considering last year's total, we. should add $40,000 to the bottc~ line
and this will correct the 1986-87 budget figure for salaries.
Audience of Citizens-Oscar J. Dietrich
Oscar Dietrich read the follc~ing prepared statement to the Executive
Board: "To the Mayor of the TownofBerlin and Members of the
Executive Board: I strongly recc~mend that members of this board and
the Mayor as an ex officio member of the zoning C~,~ssionurge the
Zoning Cc~ission chairman and its members to reopen the Public Hearing
regarding the proposed "Planned Shopping Zone 3" regulations and the
proposals to rezone two specific parcels of land (i.e. "the Triangle"
and "the Berlin Drive-In Site"). According to Connecticut General
Statute Sec. 8-7d subsection (d) which reads: "The provisions of
subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to any action initiated
by any zoning or planning and zoning c~,,~ssion regarding adoption or
change of any zoning regulation or boundary." Therefore a zoning
cc~nission isn't burdenedby provisions of subsection (a). A
subsection which sets the time limits within which hearings shall
c~t,~nce and decisions shall be rendered. According to Sec. 8-3
subsection {c) which reads in part: "...No such c~-~ssion shall be
required to hear any petition or petitions relating to the same
changes, or substantially the same changes, more than once in a period
of twelve months." This cannot be interpreted as meaning that a zoning
cc~mtission cannot reopen a public hearing, but just ~hat they are not
required rounder the law. I cannot find any state statute that would
prevent a zoning cc~nission frc~ reopenings public hearing on a
proposal or proposals %hat they have initiated themselves. Ultimately
the decision to reopen a public hearing rests with the Zoning
C~,~ssion members themselves. ! will enumerate the reasons for which
this Zoning Cc~mission should reopenthis public hearing: (1) Many of
those residents at the public hearing that signed up to speak did not
get an opportunity to speak at a reasonable hour. This hearing lasted
well into the late hours and I am certain that the obligations of most
of these individuals prevented them frc~ participating. (2) The Zoning
C~t,~ssion began deliberating on January 7th and during their
deliberation some c~,~ssion members expressed at various times
throughout the meeting that they didn't know whether a large
development would not be right or wouldbe right for the parcel known
as "the Triangle". That cc~ssion members still have doubts suggest
that the C~',i~.~ssion should get more input professionally or from town
residents in a public hearing. (3) New information that came to light
after the hearing has a definite influence on whether a proposed
rezoning will function in harmony with adjacent districts: (a) Federal
funds diverted or withdrawn frcm local arterial road improvement
projects. All available Federal funds are being funnelled to higher
priority bridge or expressway projects. Established local businesses
on affected arterials will not only have to compete with a large
regional mall but will also have to contend with the fact that they
won't be as accessible to their clientele. Frozen funds denied Berlin
projects amount to $14,378,000. (b) Aetna Life & Casuality plans to
expand their existing 1.4 million square foot facility an additional
550,000 to 600,000 square feet. Associated traffic from this expansion
will affect local roads in Berlin. (c) On December 17, 1986 I and Mrs.
Betty-Lou Dorin addressed the Council on Environmental Quality and
reccm~mended to th~ that they advise the DEP c~',,~ssioner to suspend
ConnCOT's Inland-Wetland Permit for the construction of the Rte. 9
Connector. We informed the Council that ConnDOT was in violation of
several conditions of the permit. The Council has authorized Karl
Wagner to investigate." Signed Oscar J. Dietrich.
2232 POLICE
Chief Scalise and Captain Charamut presented the budget. Under Section
117, Sup. Offs./Matrons/Monitors, $20 a day has been budgeted for the
school crossing guards. Section 290, Street Lining, $2,000 requested
should account for approximately 20 miles of lining_. Section 411,
Cruisers, this amount would be cc~bined wit]~ Section 411 under new
accounts for light bars and total $64,500. New accounts, section 412,
Traffic Counters & Analyzer equals tw~ counters and one analyzer.
Mayor Ward motioned to send a letter supporting the Police budget fo~
1987-88, as sut~tted, to Jim Tiezzi, Chairman of the Finance Board,
seconded by Mr. Kingsbury, passed unanimously.
2335 TOWN C~RAGE
Ed Haber presented the budget. After a short discussion on body work,
it was the consensus of the ExecutiveBoard and F~ to raise section
252, Contractual Service from $9,000 to $12,000 to include money for
body work for Townvehicles. Under capital items, the 4x4 presently
being used by the Garage is a 1971. Mayor Ward said hewould like Ed
to check and report on the condition of those vehicles that are being
asked to be replaced with new vehicles. Mr. McNairmoved to approve
the Town Garage budget as amended for $306,608, seconded byMayor Ward,
passed unanimously.
Budget Transfers and or A~ropriations
Building Maintenance request for $3,000 to cover the cost of a water
main break at the Town Hall complex. Mr. Kingsburymoved to approve
the request for $3,000, seconded by Mayor Ward, passed unanimously.
Building Maintenance request for $6,000 to transfer from %he plumber's
salary to the overtime account to carry out maintenance projects which
can only be done after hours. A plumber has not been hired yet. This
it~n was tabled. Jim D'Errico will get back to the Executive Board on
this item.
Highway Department request for $1,192.60 to cover the costs of
rebuilding of the Turner Over-the-Fence Mower on the John Deere
tractor. The main boc~ broke and had to be replaced with a new one and
a new hydraulic cylinder as well. Mr. Kingsbury moved to approve the
request for $1,192.60, seconded by Mr. McNair, passed unan}~ously.
Public Building Cc~ssion request for $30,000 for the preliminary
plans for the Tc~n Library project. This item was tabled until next
week pending questions.
Public Building Cc~nission request for $325,000 for the addition and
alterations to the Griswold School. This item was tabled until next
week pending questions. Mayor Ward will check with Jean Conway.
Appointments to Boards and Commissions
Mayor Ward moved to approve and appoint Frank J. Stavola to the Housing
Authority to replace A1 Nis~mn, seconded by Mr. McNair, passed
unanimously.
Waiving Taxes for the Budne~ Property
Mayor ward moved to waive the back taxes for the years 1982-1985 for
the Budney, Michael P el al property has submitted by Francis J. Motyka
in a letter dated January 12, 1987, seconded by Mr. Kingsbury, passed
unanimously.
Set Tc~n Meet.lng Date
Mayor Ward moved to set a Town Meeting for January 20th at 7pm in the
Town Hall Meeting Room to discuss the following: I) $100,000 to
increase funding for the Basketball and Tennis Court project at the
High School; 2) 6,000 from the Blue Collar acco~mt to the School
Expenses, Contractual Services/Projects to cover expenses due to a new
plumber not being hired and 3) $60,000 to the Nursing Services account
to pay for Medical Services bills with vendors whose services they
sell; seconded by Mr. McNair, passed unanimously.
Personnel/Purchasing Matters
Mayor Ward moved to approve the recc~endation by the Personnel
Director to pay the Senior Center Bus Driver at the rate of $7/hour
which will begin on January 20, 1987, seconded by Mr. Kingsbury, passed
unanimously.
Mayor Wa_rd moved to approve the rec~t,~ndation by the Personnel
Director to name Joe Paskiewicz and Peter Karoll as co-Superintendents
of the Highway Department and share the difference in salaries for both
positions on a temporary basis until a new Highway Superintendent is
hired, seconded by Mr. Kingsbury, passed unanimously.
Approval of Minutes
Mr. McNair moved to approve the minutes of January 8, 1987, seconded by
Mr. Kingsbury, passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 10:30pm. ~
Respectfully submitted,