Town of Prospect-Boards & Commissions

Prospect Town Council

Approved Minutes

February 15, 2005

The Town Council meeting was called to order by Robert Doyon, Chair at 7 p.m.

Members Present: Joseph Commendatore, Robert Doyon, Patricia Geary, Frederick Harkins, Douglas Merriman, Dominic Moschella, Dominick Mirabelle (arrived 7:05 p.m.) and Theresa Graveline (arrived 7:25pm.)

Members Absent: Edward Miller

Mayor's Report: Mayor Chatfield was unable to attend this meeting. R. Doyon reported that the Mayor recommend the Council to adopt the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The adoption of this system would enable the town to receive money from federal grants regaring national security.

Motion made by D. Merriman to adopt the National Incident Management System. D. Moschella seconded the motion. Unanimous

Vincent Leone, Assessor for the Town of Prospect presented the 2004 grand list report. Overall there was a 3.6 percent increase. Real Estate increased 2.3 percent, personal property increased 1.2 percent and motor vehicle increased 9.9 percent. Motor vehicles is the largest increase from the previous year. (7:05 D. Mirabelle arrived)

P. Geary questioned why the volunteer fireman abatement is not shown on the report. Diane Lauber, Tax Collector stated that the assessor's program does not allow them to make the abatement adjustment on their system. This abatement must go through the tax office and the amount is given to the Mayor during budget preparation. Diane will have the grand total for the 2003 grand list fireman's abatement for the next meeting.

V. Leone reported that there would be a statistical revaluation for the 2005 grand list, payable in 2006. Three companies have placed bids for this contract. CIT from Tolland, CT bid $113,900 and $13,600 for images. Vision Appraisal $88,100 from Massachusetts and Prophecy One LLC from Waterbury, CT bid $73,100 with images. This company is associated with Quality Data who provides the tax collector and assessor's software program.

V. Leone also reported that audits have been done on personal property accounts which will generate an additional $40,000 in tax dollars. The bills for personal property will be given to the tax collector shortly.

P. Geary questioned code number 14 of the personal property 2004 grand list for one mobile manufactured home. V. Leone believes this is for the mobile home located on New Haven Road. There are currently 150 sites at the mobile home park with 140 units that are assessed.

The Council thanked V. Leone for attending the meeting and reviewing the 2004 grand list with them.

Chair's Report: R. Doyon reported the individual department heads track sick days and vacation time. The Mayor's office keeps a master book that is available for the Council to view. (T. Graveline arrived at 7:25 p.m.)

P. Geary commented that it would be nice if each employee's pay stub included the amount of sick days or vacation days that were used.

Guests:
Resident State Trooper, Nelson Abarzua indicated that he was asked to attend this meeting. J. Commendatore addressed the increased amount of traffic as well as speeding on Route 69.

N. Abarzua stated that since the I-84 project in Waterbury traffic has increased 65% on Route 69. He and the Mayor have met with the Department of Transportation (DOT) with statistics of the two fatalities and serious injuries, traffic flow increase and speeding. Because this is a State road the Town of Prospect cannot install traffic lights or anything that would help reduce the speeding without the State's approval. The DOT said they would look into their request but N. Abarzua nor the Mayor has received a response.

N, Abarzua stated that the average speed on Route 69 from the Furniture Gallery to CVS is 65 to 70 mph with the highest recorded speed of 82 mph. They have clocked an individual at 73 mph on Scott Road. The majority of people speeding are Town of Prospect residents. Fines that are paid for motor vehicles goes to the Centralized Infraction Bureau which is then used for training.

N. Abarzua indicated that Cheshire has their own Traffic Unit with a rotating shift.

The Town Council requested N. Abarzua to provide them with statistics of motor vehicle infractions, accidents, etc. (T. Graveline dismissed herself from the meeting, 8:05 p.m.)

Minutes:
The February 1, 2005 minutes were discussed and amended as follows:

  • 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 program director.
  • Page 4, 2nd paragraph was changed to read D. Mirabelle commented that he is against paying people for sick time but since we have done that he feels that Mr. Lagasse should be compensated.
  • Page 4, 7th paragraph was changed to read P. Geary suggested research be done on how current employee's sick days are recorded/documented.
  • Page 5, paragraph 1 and 2 were changed to read 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 atempting 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 tyranncal regimes.
  • Page 5, 3rd paragraph, 3rd sentence was changed to read Cheshire has a more stringent reputation for enforcing speeding.

    • Motion made by J. Commendatore to approve the February 1, 2005 minutes as amended. Motion seconded by F. Harkins. D. Moschella abstains. Motion carries.

    Correspondence:
    Board of Recreation February 9, 2005 unapproved minutes
    Building Inspector's Report - January 2005
    Plumbing Inspector's Report - January 2005
    Heating Inspector's Report - January 2005
    Electrical Inspector's Report - Janaury 2005
    Zoning Inspector's Report - January 2005
    Police Patrol Report - January 2005
    Treasurer's Report - Janaury 2005
    Mayor's Expenditures for December, 2004 and January 2005
    Memorandum of Agreement between the towns of Prospect and Beacon Falls Park and Recreation Commissions from Region 16

    Motion made by D. Moschella to place correspondence on file. Motion seconded by J. Commendatore. Unanimous

    New Business:
    A letter from the Republican Town Committee recommends the appointment of Regular members: Arnold Koehler (reappoint), Charles Wentworth (fill vacancy) and as an alternate member Charles Dorman (reappoint) to the Inland Wetlands Commission.

    Motion made by D. Merriman to accept the Prospect Republican Town Committee recommended appointments of Arnold Koehler (reappoint), Charles Wentworth (fill vacancy) and an alternate member Charles Dorman (reappoint) to the Inland Wetlands Commission. Motion seconded by P. Geary. Unanimous

    A letter from Mayor Chatfield requeseting a transfer of $3,857.41 to the Region 1 Animal Control Account from the General Fund Surplus.

    Motion made by D. Moschella to approve the transfer of $3,857.41 to the Region 1 Animal Control Account #7700 from the General Fund Surplus. Motion seconded by F. Harkins. Unanimous.

    P. Geary presented a letter from the Democratic Town Council Members to Mayor Chatfield and the Prospect Town Council regarding the 2005-2006 Town of Prospect Budget. In order to facilitate understanding and developing the budget they have requested.
    1. An additional column to be inserted into the spreadsheet providing the "2003-2004 Budgeted" line items
    2. Table of Contents and numbered pages for the package of supporting documents for the budget.
    3. Sufficient advance notice regarding dates on which department heads will present their budgets to the Council
    4. Summary of salary or hourly wages for each individual employee, by name and job title with amounts referencing amounts paid in each area of the budget where employee's salary is represented

    The request was discussed and will be presented to the Mayor.

    Old Business:
    P. Geary, Pension and Benefits Subcommittee indicated that tonight the Ordinance concerning Pensions for Employees of the Town of Prospect needs to be a public hearing item.

    Motion made by D. Moschella to have a Public Hearing, March 1, 2005, 6:55 p.m. at the Prospect Town Hall, lower level conference room on the "Amendment to Ordinance Concerning Pensions For Employees of the Town of Prospect". Motion seconded by D. Merriman. Unanimous

    J. Commendatore reported that the "Open Buring Ordinance" has bee redrafted for the continued Public Hearing to be held on March 1, 2005 at 6:45 p.m.

    J. Commendatore reported that he went to Planning and Zoning concerning the Blight Ordinance. Planning and Zoning is in agreement that there should be a Blight Ordinance in effect and are in favor of instituting. The subcommittee will meet on the Blight Ordinance.

    The follow-up letter regarding the Federal Energy Regulatory Construction of power generating stations in southwestern Connecicut will be discussed at the March 1, 2005 meeting.

    J. Commendatore stated that he would like to resign from the ordinance committee and would like to chair a safety subcommittee.

    Motion made by P. Geary that the Town Council establishes a Safety Subcommittee primarily to investigate traffic and safety issues and to come up with suggestions. Motion seconded by D. Moschella. Unanimous

    J. Commendatore volunteered to Chair this subcommittee and D. Merriman volunteered to be a member.

    Motion made by F. Harkins to adjourn. Motion seconded by D. Moschella.

    This meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Robert Doyon, Chairman