Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Dec 3, 2004 18:19:22 GMT -5
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: Dec. 3, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: Nothing this week.
2. Upcoming Events:
o The date for the annual Chamber/EDIC sponsored Salute to Business is December 8th at the Keeney Center from 5PM to 8PM.
o The Silas Deane Advisory Committee will hold a Public Forum on Thursday, December 9th from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. The location will be announced.
o On Monday, December 13, 2004, the Recreation & Parks Department is sponsoring a “Massage-A-Thon” at the Pitkin Community Center from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Cost for 10 minutes is $10 and for 15 minutes is $15. The event is a fundraiser for the Wethersfield Special Olympics Team. Flyer attached. NEW
o The CBIA and the MetroHartford Alliance are sponsoring an Economic Summit and Outlook 2005 on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center. Registration begins at 7:30 AM; the program begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 1:30 PM. The cost is $95 per person. The flyer is attached.
o The Council of Small Towns (COST) will be holding their annual conference on January 19th at the Radisson in Cromwell.
3. Council and Board/Committee Dates:
o Monday, December 6, 2004 – School Projects Building Committee (agenda attached)
o Tuesday, December 7, 2004 – Strategic Plan; Library Board; Planning & Zoning Commission
o Wednesday, December 8, 2004 – Conservation Commission
o Tuesday December 14, 2004 – Shared Services, Board of Education, Historic District Commission, Tourism
4. Department/Division News:
o Social and Youth Services: The Department provided 124 families and 18 individuals with turkeys and Thanksgiving meal ingredients. A number of students from the high school and middle school assisted on the Saturday before the holiday to sort and bag all the food that came in and was then distributed. Special thanks to the Key Club at the high school for their wonderful efforts. They are now in the process of coordinating the holiday gift program. Please refer anyone with children who cannot afford gifts and any families willing to become “donor” families to 721-2977.
o Police: Attached is a copy of the Press Release announcing the effective date of November 29, 2004 for the “Pocket Bike” ordinance.
o Town Clerk: Susan Shroeder has been hired as the new Assistant Town Clerk. She will begin her duties on Monday, December 6, 2004. She is a certified Town Clerk. Welcome Susan!
o Recreation and Parks: Attached is a note of thanks from a citizen for assistance from custodian Tom Nowak. The Therapeutic Recreation Program Thanksgiving Dinner was a wonderful success; the food was delicious and 120 people attended. Good job staff!!!!
o Physical Services: Leaf collection is slightly behind due to the rain. Adjustments were made to the schedule to accommodate problems with pick up of wet leaves and staff will be working on Saturday. They expect to complete the entire collection by the end of next week, weather permitting.
5. Board/Commission News:
o The Legal Notice of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of December 7, 2004 and agenda is attached.
o The Legal Notice of the Zoning Board of Appeals actions at their November 22, 2004 meeting is attached.
6. Council Questions/Answers:
o Attached is the comparison of maintenance costs for the original natural grass field at Cottone and the new artificial turf field. It is important to note that staff does not keep records for hours spent on individual fields; therefore, they estimated the hours to complete the work on the natural field. The hours for work on the artificial turf are also estimates.
o We will be making arrangements for the Town Council photo at your meeting on December 20th. Please be at the meeting a little early so we can have the picture taken before the meeting.
o The Alternative Social Security plan for part time staff has been signed and enrollment will start right after the first of the year.
o The Goff Brook Shopping Center sold for $10,000,000. The land transfer papers were in the Town Clerk’s Office this week.
7. CRCOG: The CRCOG Legislative Committee is holding a special meeting on Monday, December 6, 2004 at 10:00 AM to prepare the 2005 Legislative Agenda that will be presented to State Legislators. All Policy Board members are welcome to attend. The agenda is attached in case you wish to attend.
8. COST: Nothing this week.
9. ICMA: Nothing this week.
10. Miscellaneous:
o Attached are guidelines from the Anti-Defamation League regarding the use of religious symbols for the holidays on public property.
o Attached is an article from the Municipal Advisor, published by Purcell & Associates on planning to prevent financial problems.
o The unemployment rate for Wethersfield for the month of September was 3.6%.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
* The Cottone Fund balance through November 15th is $22,684.23. Donations of $1,160 were received and interest of $9.20 was posted.
* Attached is a thank you note from residents of Adams Lane for removal of the island.
* The monthly CIP report for December is attached.
* Attached are Notices of Passage of Layout of Sanitary Sewers for Ridge Road, South of Wells Road and a portion of Wolcott Hill Road. These notices basically announce the MDC’s plans to install sewers in the affected areas.
* The Spring Street Project is nearly complete, seeding remains and staff is waiting on Empire Construction and the State DOT to finish the punchlist.
* Nott Street is completed except for landscaping which will occur in the spring.
* The microwave radios and the antennas for the radio system were changed this week. Staff has indicated that the audio is a little better but the static remains the same. We hope to have Motorola and Trott Associates together the week of 12/20 to look at the radio equipment.
* Town Hall renovations are continuing at a steady pace. Attached is a memorandum from Public Works Director Turner regarding the use of Council Chambers for the copier and mailroom area on a temporary basis while the contractor begins work on the main floor next week.
C. CALENDAR REMINDERS:
D. ATTACHMENTS:
* Massage-a-Thon flyer
* Economic Summit flyer
* Pocket Bike Press Release
* Resident Thank You note
* Planning & Zoning Legal Notice
* ZBA Legal Notice
* Shared Services Meeting Agenda
* Cottone Maintenance Comparison
* CRCOG Meeting Agenda
* Anti-Defamation League Information
* The Municipal Advisor
* Resident Thank You note
* Town Hall Renovation memorandum
* CIP Status Report
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: Dec. 3, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: Nothing this week.
2. Upcoming Events:
o The date for the annual Chamber/EDIC sponsored Salute to Business is December 8th at the Keeney Center from 5PM to 8PM.
o The Silas Deane Advisory Committee will hold a Public Forum on Thursday, December 9th from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. The location will be announced.
o On Monday, December 13, 2004, the Recreation & Parks Department is sponsoring a “Massage-A-Thon” at the Pitkin Community Center from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Cost for 10 minutes is $10 and for 15 minutes is $15. The event is a fundraiser for the Wethersfield Special Olympics Team. Flyer attached. NEW
o The CBIA and the MetroHartford Alliance are sponsoring an Economic Summit and Outlook 2005 on Wednesday, January 12, 2005 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center. Registration begins at 7:30 AM; the program begins at 8:30 AM and ends at 1:30 PM. The cost is $95 per person. The flyer is attached.
o The Council of Small Towns (COST) will be holding their annual conference on January 19th at the Radisson in Cromwell.
3. Council and Board/Committee Dates:
o Monday, December 6, 2004 – School Projects Building Committee (agenda attached)
o Tuesday, December 7, 2004 – Strategic Plan; Library Board; Planning & Zoning Commission
o Wednesday, December 8, 2004 – Conservation Commission
o Tuesday December 14, 2004 – Shared Services, Board of Education, Historic District Commission, Tourism
4. Department/Division News:
o Social and Youth Services: The Department provided 124 families and 18 individuals with turkeys and Thanksgiving meal ingredients. A number of students from the high school and middle school assisted on the Saturday before the holiday to sort and bag all the food that came in and was then distributed. Special thanks to the Key Club at the high school for their wonderful efforts. They are now in the process of coordinating the holiday gift program. Please refer anyone with children who cannot afford gifts and any families willing to become “donor” families to 721-2977.
o Police: Attached is a copy of the Press Release announcing the effective date of November 29, 2004 for the “Pocket Bike” ordinance.
o Town Clerk: Susan Shroeder has been hired as the new Assistant Town Clerk. She will begin her duties on Monday, December 6, 2004. She is a certified Town Clerk. Welcome Susan!
o Recreation and Parks: Attached is a note of thanks from a citizen for assistance from custodian Tom Nowak. The Therapeutic Recreation Program Thanksgiving Dinner was a wonderful success; the food was delicious and 120 people attended. Good job staff!!!!
o Physical Services: Leaf collection is slightly behind due to the rain. Adjustments were made to the schedule to accommodate problems with pick up of wet leaves and staff will be working on Saturday. They expect to complete the entire collection by the end of next week, weather permitting.
5. Board/Commission News:
o The Legal Notice of the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting of December 7, 2004 and agenda is attached.
o The Legal Notice of the Zoning Board of Appeals actions at their November 22, 2004 meeting is attached.
6. Council Questions/Answers:
o Attached is the comparison of maintenance costs for the original natural grass field at Cottone and the new artificial turf field. It is important to note that staff does not keep records for hours spent on individual fields; therefore, they estimated the hours to complete the work on the natural field. The hours for work on the artificial turf are also estimates.
o We will be making arrangements for the Town Council photo at your meeting on December 20th. Please be at the meeting a little early so we can have the picture taken before the meeting.
o The Alternative Social Security plan for part time staff has been signed and enrollment will start right after the first of the year.
o The Goff Brook Shopping Center sold for $10,000,000. The land transfer papers were in the Town Clerk’s Office this week.
7. CRCOG: The CRCOG Legislative Committee is holding a special meeting on Monday, December 6, 2004 at 10:00 AM to prepare the 2005 Legislative Agenda that will be presented to State Legislators. All Policy Board members are welcome to attend. The agenda is attached in case you wish to attend.
8. COST: Nothing this week.
9. ICMA: Nothing this week.
10. Miscellaneous:
o Attached are guidelines from the Anti-Defamation League regarding the use of religious symbols for the holidays on public property.
o Attached is an article from the Municipal Advisor, published by Purcell & Associates on planning to prevent financial problems.
o The unemployment rate for Wethersfield for the month of September was 3.6%.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
* The Cottone Fund balance through November 15th is $22,684.23. Donations of $1,160 were received and interest of $9.20 was posted.
* Attached is a thank you note from residents of Adams Lane for removal of the island.
* The monthly CIP report for December is attached.
* Attached are Notices of Passage of Layout of Sanitary Sewers for Ridge Road, South of Wells Road and a portion of Wolcott Hill Road. These notices basically announce the MDC’s plans to install sewers in the affected areas.
* The Spring Street Project is nearly complete, seeding remains and staff is waiting on Empire Construction and the State DOT to finish the punchlist.
* Nott Street is completed except for landscaping which will occur in the spring.
* The microwave radios and the antennas for the radio system were changed this week. Staff has indicated that the audio is a little better but the static remains the same. We hope to have Motorola and Trott Associates together the week of 12/20 to look at the radio equipment.
* Town Hall renovations are continuing at a steady pace. Attached is a memorandum from Public Works Director Turner regarding the use of Council Chambers for the copier and mailroom area on a temporary basis while the contractor begins work on the main floor next week.
C. CALENDAR REMINDERS:
D. ATTACHMENTS:
* Massage-a-Thon flyer
* Economic Summit flyer
* Pocket Bike Press Release
* Resident Thank You note
* Planning & Zoning Legal Notice
* ZBA Legal Notice
* Shared Services Meeting Agenda
* Cottone Maintenance Comparison
* CRCOG Meeting Agenda
* Anti-Defamation League Information
* The Municipal Advisor
* Resident Thank You note
* Town Hall Renovation memorandum
* CIP Status Report