Post by Dr.Ken Sokolowski on Jan 16, 2005 9:08:44 GMT -5
Weekly Management Report
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: Jan. 14, 2005
COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS
Manager
Manager: I will be taking Friday, January 14th, off and I will be away from January 22nd to January 31st. Chief Cetran will be in charge while I am away and Dispatch and Gale will know how to get a hold of me. If you need anything researched or looked into before I leave, please let me know.
Upcoming Events
The Library and Town Hall will be closed from Friday at 1 p.m. on January 14th through Monday, January 17th due to construction. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. This is due to construction that must take place on the heating system, which must be completely shut down over that weekend.
The Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance Association is presenting an Emergency Medical Technician Basic Training Course. The course is held on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Wethersfield Ambulance Facility. The cost is $400.00 and includes textbooks and equipment. For registration information call 860-529-8022 and follow the prompts for EMT classes. Flyer attached. NEW
The Council of Small Towns (COST) will be holding their annual conference on January 19th at the Radisson in Cromwell. If you would like to attend, please let us know. They have just announced that Lt. Governor Kevin Sullivan will be the keynote speaker.
On January 19, 2005, transportation advocates from around the State will meet in Hartford to hear from legislators and other experts on the issue of how to address the growing transportation crisis in Connecticut. Details are still being finalized but the event will be at 10:30 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building. For more information, you should contact the All Aboard! Office at 860-278-5022 or allaboard@snet.net.
The Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce will be sponsoring a Business After Hours event on Thursday, January 20th, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Prudential CT Realty. A flyer is attached. NEW
There will be a regional workshop, sponsored by CT Real Choice, on Community Inclusion of People with Disabilities. This will be a first time event whereby individuals can comment on ways to make their communities better for people with disabilities. I have attached a copy of the flyer. This will be held Thursday, February 3, 2005, from 9:30 a.m. - Noon at the Community Center.
On Friday February 11, 2005, a Valentine's Dance will be held to benefit the Sunshine Kids. The event will be at the Pitkin Community Center from 8:00 p.m. to Midnight. Tickets are $20.00 per person. Contact Beth DiLoreto at 860-571-6680 or Ivana Marrero at 860-571-6679. Flyer attached. NEW
The tentative date for our Fireside Chat with the Board of Education on February 12, 2005 from 9 a.m. to noon. This will take place at the newly renovated Stillman Building. More information to follow.
We will be presented with the Democracy Challenge Cup on February 15th at 11:00 a.m. in Council Chambers. We are receiving the cup from the Secretary of State for the best voter turnout for a medium sized Town. Please feel free to attend this event. NEW
On February 26, 2005 from 7:00 p.m. until midnight, the Keane Foundation is throwing "The Snowball." The fee is $60 per person/$120 per couple. See attached flyer. For more information contact Colleen Keane at 563-5573 or Mark Trahan at 721-8702. NEW
On March 18th at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Gym, the Silas Deane Middle School "Dream Team" will take on the Harlem Rockets. The "Dream Team" includes teachers, police officers and coaches. Tickets are $7.00 in advance, $8.00 at the door and can be ordered with the attached flyer or by calling Yolanda Preysner at 721-8854.
On March 31, 2005, the Greater Hartford Literacy Council will hold their second annual "Tips for Literacy" fund raiser. This year's event will include "Leaders for Literacy." Local celebrities will be hosting tables at participating restaurants. More information will follow.
Council Committee Dates
Tuesday, January 18, 2005 - Silas Deane Committee - 5:30 p.m.; Infrastructure Committee (Fortunato, Cascio, Montineri, Forrest) - 6 p.m.; Friends of the Nature Center; Strategic Plan Committee
Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - Wethersfield Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities; Planning & Zoning Commission; Inlands Wetlands Commission
Thursday, January 20, 2005 - Insurance Committee; Senior Citizen Advisory Committee; Health Board
Department/Division News
Library: The Silas Deane 7th grade tours of the Wethersfield Library are going very well. As of Wednesday of this week, Library staff has had 11 of 15 classes tour the library. Librarians Pam Kelly and Ken Bastura have been pleased with the students' attention and school Media Specialist Edie Librarian says the students are looking forward to the visits. Many of the students have applied for library cards.
Economic Development: Town Planner and Economic Development Director Peter Gillespie has been appointed as a board member to Greater Hartford Business Development Center/Hartford Economic Development Corporation. Congratulations!
Building Inspection: The monthly report for December is attached. They collected $15,676 in fees for the month.
Police Department: Attached is a letter of thanks from Newington Town Manager Paul Fetherston for our collective support during the tragic events that resulted in the loss of MPO Peter Lavery. Our Police Department and Command Staff went above and beyond the call of duty to provide assistance and police coverage in Newington. We should all be proud of how they supported Newington and represented Wethersfield during this difficult time.
Fire Department: Fire Chief Joe Kochanek of Rocky Hill sent a letter of gratitude for our Department's help at the Century Hills fire on December 29, 2004. Once again, a job well done by our volunteers. The letter is attached. Also attached is a letter to Captain Schroll thanking him for his assistance with the Santa Pancake Breakfast.
Homeland Security/Emergency Management: Attached is a letter of introduction from the newly appointed Commissioner of the State Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. He is going to actively contact Federal and State representatives to make sure our Homeland Security Federal money is released as soon as possible. This money will assist us in building an adequate Emergency Operations Center.
Parks and Recreation: The status of the Community Center preschool certification with the State is as follows. Once this is completed, we will no longer need to have the Board of Education sponsor our programs. Application and all policy and procedure manuals completed. Certified staff in First Aid and CPR as required. Fingerprint sets as required for background checks completed. Environmental testing for lead in water supply, lead in paint and radon in program room scheduled for 1/14/05. Application is scheduled for submittal to the state by 2/7/05.
Board/Commission News Nothing this week.
Council Questions/Answers
The Contingency Balance reported last week was incorrect because the Moeller Home oil tank transfer approved previously by you has not yet occurred. The correct balance is $247,324.
I will have next week one copy of the Long Term Control Plan from the MDC. Please let me know if you wish to borrow the copy.
CRCOG Nothing this week.
COST Nothing this week.
ICMA Nothing this week.
Miscellaneous
I have a copy of the Greater Hartford Transit District Comprehensive Annual Financial Report in my office should you wish to review it.
Attached is the Agenda for the State of Connecticut's Siting Council (energy/telecommunications) January 6th meeting. The last agenda item concerns Wethersfield. I will provide you with the results as soon as I receive them.
The unemployment rate for October for Wethersfield was 3.5% as compared to 4.2% for Connecticut and 5.5% for the United States.
I have attached an article entitled "Solving 800 MHz Radio Interference: A Win for All" from Firehouse Magazine. I will be giving copies of this to our Radio Committee members.
PROJECT UPDATES
CIP Monthly Report - Attached is the January project status report.
Nott Street - The State of Connecticut has informed me that they will not reconstruct the Nott Street driveway at the Milano home. The appropriate waiver for access to the property was signed after the work was completed. If the waiver had been signed prior to completion, the State would have reconstructed the driveway at their expense. In addition, they have tested the driveway grade by driving a truck in and out of it and report no access or scraping problems.
CALENDAR REMINDERS None this week.
ATTACHMENTS
The Snowball
EMT Class
Valentine's Dance
Building Inspection Report
Letter from Newington
Letter from Rocky Hill
Letter re Santa Breakfast
Connecticut Siting Council Agenda
Communication from Homeland Security Director
CIP Monthly Report
Report from Firehouse Magazine - Solving 800 MHz Radio Interference: A Win For All