Febrary 1, 2005
The Town Council meeting was called to order by Robert Doyon, Chair at 7:22 p.m.
Members Present: Joseph Commendatore, Robert Doyon, Patricia Geary, Theresa Graveline, Frederick Harkins, Douglas Merriman, Edward Miller and Dominick Mirabelle
Members Absent: Dominic Moschella
Mayor's Report- none
Chair's Report - none
Guests:
Bill Sereduck, 35 Summit Road, representative for the Board of Recreation Department, briefed the Council of the Program Director's position and hours that he has been putting in. In last year's budget the Board of Recreation requested $34,600 for a full time program director. The Council asked the Board to hire a qualified candidate part time and justify if it is indeed a full time position or not. B. Sereduck distributed copies of a daily log of activities indicating the hours and activities that Chris Moffo has been putting in. C. Moffo is putting in excess of 40 hours. The last page of the journal indicates the areas of new programs that he would like to implement. The Board of Recreation is very happy with his work ethic, attention to detail, and he is making the Board's job much easier. Chris has taken the Recreation Department to another level. He has done everything that he has been asked to do and has been available to the public. The Board has not spoken to the Mayor about requesting this position be full time, but will do so this year at the budget workshop. The Board of Recreation is very united in their feelings of having a full time program director.
D. Merriman asked C. Moffo what he thought the job would be like and what it is like?
C. Moffo stated that he wasn't aware that he would be expected to observe everything as well as night time activities. Presently he has been available for sign-ups on Saturdays and Sundays, selling ski passes on the week-ends, overseeing the open-swim at Woodland High School and has assisted with a school program at Community School.
E. Miller questioned if once the programs have been implemented would he be able to have more people help him out.
C. Moffo stated he would not expect to delegate his duties as program director to volunteers. He feels that he should be the one overseeing the programs.
B. Sereduck stated that the job description states what the Program Director is supposed to do. Working on Saturday & Sunday is one of the very specific requirements. It is not a part time position and cannot be delegated because this is what the Program Director is supposed to do.
D. Mirabelle commented that he spent this much time, 8 months of the year, to run the soccer program and knows what it takes to run a successful program. He knows what it takes to run a program.
P. Geary stated that she had heard nothing but complimentary comments about the job C. Moffo is doing. All feed-back has been very positive. P. Geary questioned what the Board of Recreation felt this job would entail.
B Sereduck stated they are aware there would be peeks and valleys. Sometimes the program director would not put in as many hours. Things may get better down the road.
P. Geary questioned if soccer has a president.
B. Sereduck stated that C. Moffo does not run the youth soccer but does oversee women's soccer. He does not get involved with little league. However, C. Moffo will oversee the condition of the fields and report to G. McCarthy. The field use schedule is coordinated by G. McCarthy.
J. Commendatore commented that he feels C. Moffo is very good at his job and this would be a good investment for the town to have a full time director.
T. Graveline commented that she feels that this is a good thing.
Motion made by D. Merriman to approve the Jan. 25, 2005 minutes. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Motion discussed. Corrections were made on page 1; paragraph 6 the word agenda is added to the end of the second sentence. Also two spelling errors were corrected on page 5, 5th paragraph. 5 approve, T. Graveline and F. Harkins abstain. Motion carries.
Motion made by P. Geary to approve the November 16, 2004 minutes. Motion seconded by D. Merriman. The minutes were discussed and the following corrections were made:
Page 5, 5th paragraph is to read: 'Assistant Director of Public Works Subcommittee' - F. Harkins distributed a revised copy of the settlement agreement.
Page 5, 6th paragraph is to read: 'D. Mirabelle stated that at the last Town Council meeting it was discussed that there would not be any changes to the agreement. Any changes that were to be submitted were to be submitted within 21 days of the first agreement to the Town Council. D. Mirabelle sited the June 29, 2004 which stated that if the Council approves the settlement it would be returned to the Mayor and G. McCarthy for their signatures.' Page 5, 10th paragraph to read 'F. Harkins stated that the versions went back and forth between attorneys representing both parties. It was unclear whose version was the final presented tonight.
Motion made by P. Geary to approve the November 16, 2004 minutes with corrections. Motion seconded by D. Mirabelle. Unanimous
Correspondence:
Zoning Violations & Enforcement report
E. Miller commented that this is the first log of the Council has received within the past two or three months. E. Miller stated that he would attend the next Planning an Zoning meeting.
Notification of Number of Electors and Number of Voting Machines report files with the Secretary of State by the Town Clerk.
Motion made by P. Geary to place correspondence on file. Motion seconded by J. Commendatore. Motion carries.
New Business:None
Old Business:
J. Commendatore has not received information from Wolcott as of yet pertaining to the Blight Ordinance. J. Commendatore commented that this will be a tough ordinance to place in action and feels that this is a Planning and Zoning issue.
T. Graveline requested that E. Miller ask P&Z if a blight ordinance would be duplication of work when he attends the P&Z meeting.
J. Commendatore commented that he would ask Planning and Zoning if E. Miller was unable to attend.
Motion made by T. Graveline to place the subject of constructing power generating stations in southwestern Connecticut be tabled until the Feb. 15, 2005 meeting. Motion seconded by J. Commendatore. Unanimous
D. Merriman commented that as events unfolded last Sunday, January 30, 2005 in Iraq, with the willingness of millions of people to challenge terrorism and vote for representative government, he recalled a council meeting being held at the Police station a number of years ago. Mrs. Sabo, a council member, received a letter from Senator Dodd bemoaning the fact that Russian troops had entered Lithuania -- I believe after the Berlin wall had fallen. I was Council Chairman and I became very emotional at that meeting attempting to read the letter. So today: Regardless of your political feelings it is my hope that you all feel as I do -- that the January 30, 2005 vote in Iraq will have a powerful positive effect eventually on individual liberty throughout the world and that generations that follow us will witness the demise of all tyrannical regimes.
J. J. Commendatore commented that he came back to serve on the Council in hopes that he would be able to implement things that the Council can do something about. Speeding and traffic in this town has grown. Cheshire has a more stringent reputation for enforcing speeding. Due to the location of J. Commendatore's business he is often personally blamed for accidents that occur in front of the building. J. Commendatore would like these issues to be addressed.
D. Merriman indicated that Trooper Nelson Abarzua should be invited to a meeting to discuss speeding issues and concerns. D. Merriman will ask himt to attend either the February 15 or March 1, 2005 meeting.
Motion made by D. Merriman to adjourn. Motion seconded by D. Mirabelle.
T. Graveline requested the Council Chairman to make an official request as to how sick time is tracked and documented. T. Graveline requested this topic be placed on the agenda as an action item.
The motion to adjourn is unanimous. This meeting adjourned 8:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Doyon, Chairman