Post by Wethersfield.com on Nov 12, 2004 15:30:35 GMT -5
Abbreviated to comply with the 10,000 character maximum to be posted
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: November 12, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: I will be holding a Strategic Plan and Budget Meeting with Department and Division Heads on Monday morning starting at 9:30 am until noon. This will help us plan for next year’s budget cycle as well as give input into the upgrading of our present Strategic Plan which is being updated for the next five years.
2. Council and Board/Committee Dates:
• Infrastructure Committee – Monday, November 15, 6:30 pm, Town Manager’s Office (Fortunato, Cascio, Forrest and Montinieri)
• Shared Services – The November meeting has been changed from November 1, 2004 to November 23, 2004 at 6 pm.
• Tuesday, November 16, 2004 – Planning & Zoning Commission; Friends of the Nature Center
• Wednesday, November 17, 2004 – Inlands Wetlands Commission
• Thursday, November 18, 2004 – Advisory Recreation & Parks Board; Insurance Committee; Senior Citizen Advisory Committee
• Joint Land Use Committees’ Meeting – November 18, 7 pm, Community Center (Town Council is invited also)
3. Department/Division News:
• Health District: Attached is a report on mosquito spraying activity in Town. I have asked Paul Hutcheon, Director, to have the vendor get me a price for next year so we can place this in the budget for 2005-2006.
• Tax Assessor: Wethersfield had its first million dollar residential sale. 545 Highland Street sold for $1.4 million!
• Physical Services: The Connecticut Association of Land Surveyors, at its annual meeting last week, gave its Surveyor of the Year 2004 award to Public Works Director Michael J. Turner. The award acknowledges his dedicated services to the association and the survey profession. Congratulations Mike!
• Emergency Management: See the attached letter from the State Office of Policy and Management regarding Homeland Security Funding.
• Police: The Police Department has met all of the standards for NIBRS certification. This is a significant achievement as noted in the attached letter from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety. Good work, Chief Cetran and staff.
• Recreation and Parks: Director Bagley has hired Mr. Christopher Shepard as the new Nature Center Director. Her attached memorandum details his qualifications. Congratulations to Chris and we look forward to working with him. The monthly report for the Department is also attached.
• Library: On Tuesday the Library hosted the faculty of Silas Deane Middle School for their monthly meeting. Staff demonstrated the library webpage and databases, talked about the upcoming 7th grade tours, the summer reading program, the museum pass program and the Book it for Me service. Edie Lacey, the school librarian, told us to plan for 35 people---the most they usually get at a meeting but 48 showed up. It went very well. According to Edie, “This was a real coup for us in our continuous effort to foster increased communication and cooperation with the schools.” We have received notification that Newington received a grant for a One Book project to be implemented with Rocky Hill and Wethersfield. See the attached letter from Town Manager Fetherston of Newington.
• Social and Youth Services: The Department is preparing for their annual Thanksgiving program. They are collecting turkeys and food. On Saturday, November 20th, staff will work with a group of students to prepare food packages for approximately 100 families. Families in need of assistance can apply by calling the Department at 721-2977. Donations to the Special Needs Fund, turkeys and non-perishable food are much appreciated. They are also taking applications from families who need assistance with gifts for Christmas. Families will be matched anonymously with donor families who will supply the gifts requested. Anyone wishing to adopt a family is encouraged to contact the Department.
• Fire Department: Chief Will Clark’s first five years serving as Fire Chief is up this month. As per the Fire Department’s By-Laws, I have received evaluation forms back from the membership and I just this week received the Chief’s self evaluation form. I will be reviewing these and deciding on whether to reappoint Chief Clark for another five year term by the end of the month.
4. Board/Commission News:
• The Wethersfield Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Information Technology solicited input for the Information Technology Strategic Plan on Wednesday, November 10th at the Pitkin Community Center. The meeting was very interesting and attended by about nine residents. A copy of the power point presentation and the results are attached.
• The Silas Deane Highway Advisory Committee will hold a public information meeting on Thursday, December 9th at the Police Station. More information will follow.
• I have scheduled the first quarterly meeting for members of the Town’s land use committees. These meetings will allow for the land use boards to communicate with one another and let them know what other groups are working towards for the community. This first meeting will have Peter Gillespie giving an overview of the new zoning regulations. It will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 7:00 PM in the Community Center Banquet Room. Council members are welcome to attend. See attached letter.
• The Zoning Board of Appeals legal notice of the results of their last meeting is attached for your information.
• I have appointed Douglas Sacks – R and Howard Greenblatt –D to fill the last two remaining slots on the EDIC. I have attached information on each of them for your review. EDIC now has a full compliment of members.
5. Council Questions/Answers:
• Mayor Morin, Peter Gillespie, Town Planner and I met with representatives of the US Post Office and Senators Lieberman and Dodd’s office and Representative Larson’s Office to speak to them about moving their location to a more prominent location in Town. They presently have a 5 year lease on their present location. They are certainly willing to talk with us about possibly moving after that time period, but it would have to be a Town/Post Office collaborative project so that economically, it would make sense for them to move in the future. We told him we will keep them updated on the plans for the Silas Deane Highway and meet with them at some point to give them some ideas about making a move to a better and bigger location to their advantage.
6. CRCOG: Nothing this week.
7. COST: COST is hosting a Connecticut Town Meeting 2005 on Wednesday January 19, 2005 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Cromwell, CT. See attached flyer.
8. ICMA: Nothing this week.
9. Miscellaneous:
• Global Companies LLC is making a donation of 1500 gallons of heating oil available to be used by Town residents in need. At today’s prices, that is a significant contribution. See attached letter. The Department of Social and Youth Services will be coordinating the disbursement of the oil. Thank you Global Companies.
• Attached is an article about a CSO project in Rhode Island.
• Flu Vaccine Update: The Health District is anticipating receiving additional flu vaccine from the State of CT in the near future. We have yet to be advised of the amount or delivery date. The distribution plan will depend upon the amount received. It is hoped that a sufficient amount will be received to allow us to hold a public clinic for “high risk” residents (likely to be restricted to over age 75 or 18 and older with certain specific chronic illnesses). We are keeping a list of “high risk” residents who call. Health District Director Paul Hutcheon will let me know if vaccine becomes available and the associated distribution plan. Reminder- one-half of the previously received vaccine was distributed to the long term care facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities for vaccination of their residents. The other half was distributed to physicians practicing in the District. The amount distributed to the physicians met approximately 40% of their need.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
Nott Street – The final pavement course was completed on Tuesday. Line striping was completed on Thursday. They will continue working on some of the grading and sidewalk issues until the weather stops them from completing the work. The remainder of the work will be done in the spring.
Adams Street Cul-De-Sac – The island has been removed and the circle repaved.
Town Hall/Library Renovations – The reconstruction of the Town Hall parking lot and the lot by the Manager’s entrance are included in the bond referendum that was recently passed.
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: November 12, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: I will be holding a Strategic Plan and Budget Meeting with Department and Division Heads on Monday morning starting at 9:30 am until noon. This will help us plan for next year’s budget cycle as well as give input into the upgrading of our present Strategic Plan which is being updated for the next five years.
2. Council and Board/Committee Dates:
• Infrastructure Committee – Monday, November 15, 6:30 pm, Town Manager’s Office (Fortunato, Cascio, Forrest and Montinieri)
• Shared Services – The November meeting has been changed from November 1, 2004 to November 23, 2004 at 6 pm.
• Tuesday, November 16, 2004 – Planning & Zoning Commission; Friends of the Nature Center
• Wednesday, November 17, 2004 – Inlands Wetlands Commission
• Thursday, November 18, 2004 – Advisory Recreation & Parks Board; Insurance Committee; Senior Citizen Advisory Committee
• Joint Land Use Committees’ Meeting – November 18, 7 pm, Community Center (Town Council is invited also)
3. Department/Division News:
• Health District: Attached is a report on mosquito spraying activity in Town. I have asked Paul Hutcheon, Director, to have the vendor get me a price for next year so we can place this in the budget for 2005-2006.
• Tax Assessor: Wethersfield had its first million dollar residential sale. 545 Highland Street sold for $1.4 million!
• Physical Services: The Connecticut Association of Land Surveyors, at its annual meeting last week, gave its Surveyor of the Year 2004 award to Public Works Director Michael J. Turner. The award acknowledges his dedicated services to the association and the survey profession. Congratulations Mike!
• Emergency Management: See the attached letter from the State Office of Policy and Management regarding Homeland Security Funding.
• Police: The Police Department has met all of the standards for NIBRS certification. This is a significant achievement as noted in the attached letter from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety. Good work, Chief Cetran and staff.
• Recreation and Parks: Director Bagley has hired Mr. Christopher Shepard as the new Nature Center Director. Her attached memorandum details his qualifications. Congratulations to Chris and we look forward to working with him. The monthly report for the Department is also attached.
• Library: On Tuesday the Library hosted the faculty of Silas Deane Middle School for their monthly meeting. Staff demonstrated the library webpage and databases, talked about the upcoming 7th grade tours, the summer reading program, the museum pass program and the Book it for Me service. Edie Lacey, the school librarian, told us to plan for 35 people---the most they usually get at a meeting but 48 showed up. It went very well. According to Edie, “This was a real coup for us in our continuous effort to foster increased communication and cooperation with the schools.” We have received notification that Newington received a grant for a One Book project to be implemented with Rocky Hill and Wethersfield. See the attached letter from Town Manager Fetherston of Newington.
• Social and Youth Services: The Department is preparing for their annual Thanksgiving program. They are collecting turkeys and food. On Saturday, November 20th, staff will work with a group of students to prepare food packages for approximately 100 families. Families in need of assistance can apply by calling the Department at 721-2977. Donations to the Special Needs Fund, turkeys and non-perishable food are much appreciated. They are also taking applications from families who need assistance with gifts for Christmas. Families will be matched anonymously with donor families who will supply the gifts requested. Anyone wishing to adopt a family is encouraged to contact the Department.
• Fire Department: Chief Will Clark’s first five years serving as Fire Chief is up this month. As per the Fire Department’s By-Laws, I have received evaluation forms back from the membership and I just this week received the Chief’s self evaluation form. I will be reviewing these and deciding on whether to reappoint Chief Clark for another five year term by the end of the month.
4. Board/Commission News:
• The Wethersfield Citizen’s Advisory Committee on Information Technology solicited input for the Information Technology Strategic Plan on Wednesday, November 10th at the Pitkin Community Center. The meeting was very interesting and attended by about nine residents. A copy of the power point presentation and the results are attached.
• The Silas Deane Highway Advisory Committee will hold a public information meeting on Thursday, December 9th at the Police Station. More information will follow.
• I have scheduled the first quarterly meeting for members of the Town’s land use committees. These meetings will allow for the land use boards to communicate with one another and let them know what other groups are working towards for the community. This first meeting will have Peter Gillespie giving an overview of the new zoning regulations. It will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 7:00 PM in the Community Center Banquet Room. Council members are welcome to attend. See attached letter.
• The Zoning Board of Appeals legal notice of the results of their last meeting is attached for your information.
• I have appointed Douglas Sacks – R and Howard Greenblatt –D to fill the last two remaining slots on the EDIC. I have attached information on each of them for your review. EDIC now has a full compliment of members.
5. Council Questions/Answers:
• Mayor Morin, Peter Gillespie, Town Planner and I met with representatives of the US Post Office and Senators Lieberman and Dodd’s office and Representative Larson’s Office to speak to them about moving their location to a more prominent location in Town. They presently have a 5 year lease on their present location. They are certainly willing to talk with us about possibly moving after that time period, but it would have to be a Town/Post Office collaborative project so that economically, it would make sense for them to move in the future. We told him we will keep them updated on the plans for the Silas Deane Highway and meet with them at some point to give them some ideas about making a move to a better and bigger location to their advantage.
6. CRCOG: Nothing this week.
7. COST: COST is hosting a Connecticut Town Meeting 2005 on Wednesday January 19, 2005 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Cromwell, CT. See attached flyer.
8. ICMA: Nothing this week.
9. Miscellaneous:
• Global Companies LLC is making a donation of 1500 gallons of heating oil available to be used by Town residents in need. At today’s prices, that is a significant contribution. See attached letter. The Department of Social and Youth Services will be coordinating the disbursement of the oil. Thank you Global Companies.
• Attached is an article about a CSO project in Rhode Island.
• Flu Vaccine Update: The Health District is anticipating receiving additional flu vaccine from the State of CT in the near future. We have yet to be advised of the amount or delivery date. The distribution plan will depend upon the amount received. It is hoped that a sufficient amount will be received to allow us to hold a public clinic for “high risk” residents (likely to be restricted to over age 75 or 18 and older with certain specific chronic illnesses). We are keeping a list of “high risk” residents who call. Health District Director Paul Hutcheon will let me know if vaccine becomes available and the associated distribution plan. Reminder- one-half of the previously received vaccine was distributed to the long term care facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities for vaccination of their residents. The other half was distributed to physicians practicing in the District. The amount distributed to the physicians met approximately 40% of their need.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
Nott Street – The final pavement course was completed on Tuesday. Line striping was completed on Thursday. They will continue working on some of the grading and sidewalk issues until the weather stops them from completing the work. The remainder of the work will be done in the spring.
Adams Street Cul-De-Sac – The island has been removed and the circle repaved.
Town Hall/Library Renovations – The reconstruction of the Town Hall parking lot and the lot by the Manager’s entrance are included in the bond referendum that was recently passed.