Post by Wethersfield.com on Mar 24, 2005 17:06:08 GMT -5
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: March 24, 2005
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: Town Hall will be closed on Good Friday, March 25, 2005. Please note that the Police Department Budget Hearing will be held on April 26, 2005 and Education will be held on April 28, 2005. The wrong schedule was inadvertently attached to your agenda package for last week’s meeting.
2. Upcoming Events:
• A Connecticut Light & Power presentation on the 2005 Electric Rates and Energy Conservation Programs will be held on Monday, March 28th from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at NU Headquarters in Berlin.
• 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.
• Paul Woodworth from the Great Meadows Conservation Trust will host a Public Land Preservation program in Council Chambers on April 6th at 7 pm. More details will be forthcoming on this.
• The April Business After Hours will be held at the D’Esopo Life Center on April 7TH
• CHANGE – Youth Volunteer Recognition Event, Community Center, April 12th at 7:00 PM.
• NEW - The Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance Explorer Post # 855 will hold fundraising car washes at the Ambulance Facility on April 9, 16 and 23.
• NEW - The workforce board for North Central Connecticut, invites you to join its Board Members, Chief Elected Officials from the region, and economic development professionals for Partnering with Economic Development: Creating the Workforce Advantage, a national teleconference co-sponsored by CWP, the Workforce Development Network and the National Association of Workforce Boards, and presented by Greg Newton of Greg Newton Associates, on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Capitol Region Education Council 111 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford. Please RSVP to Suzanne Dutilly at 522-1111, ext 228. Lunch will be provided at $5.00 per person.
• Senior Volunteer Recognition, Community Center, April 28th at 2:00 PM, flyer attached.
• Riverfront Recapture has announced an opportunity for an exclusive first look at the Connecticut Convention Center on Saturday April 16th. More information is to follow or call Riverfront Recapture at 713-3131.
• Save April 30, 2005 from 7:00PM to midnight for the Chamber of Commerce’s 40th Anniversary Dance/Fundraiser at the Wethersfield Country Club. Tickets are $60 per person and can be purchased from Peter Gillespie or John Cascio.
• On Saturday, April 30th, the Christian Conference of Connecticut will hold its 23rd Annual Peace and Justice Convocation at the Mercy Center in Madison. Myron Oldfield will be the main speaker who worked on the Metropatterns Report. For more information call 236-4281.
• The Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Town Breakfast will be held Thursday, May 5, 2005 at the Wethersfield Country Club. Registration is at 7:30 am. Please mark your calendars to attend this important event. The flyer is attached. The fee is $15.00 per person for Chamber members, $20.00 for non-members.
• The Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual Dinner/Meeting on May 18, 2005. Details to follow.
• CRCOG will hold their annual dinner on June 21 at Manchester Country Club. More details to follow.
3. Council and Board/Committee Dates:
• Monday, March 28, 2005 – Zoning Board of Appeals
• Tuesday, March 29, 2005 – Tourism Commission
4. Department/Division News:
• Building Inspection/Health District/Fire Marshall – Attached is a status update of the various properties for which we have received complaints.
• Library – Attached is the February Report.
• Parks and Recreation – The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has approved a second and final grant of $20,000. for construction of the Skate Park. The grant is made with the condition that the skate park be named in memory of Robert Allan Keeney.
5. Board/Commission News:
• The Inland Wetlands Commission has set April 20, 2005 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers as the Public Hearing for application number 516-05E/S. Notification to developer attached. On March 16, 2005 the Commission also approved the application for reconstruction of the existing skate park in Millwoods Park.
6. Council Questions/Answers:
• Physical Services will be starting their street sign spring update for replacement of street signs that have been damaged during the winter. If anyone has missing or damaged street signs to report, please call 721-2846.
• The Finance Dept. will begin issuing monthly financial reports to you starting in April.
• At the last meeting, a citizen requested the report due in January of all union, consulting and personal employment contracts. Council members did receive all of this information at your 2nd meeting in January. If you need replacement copies, please let me know.
• We did not buy a groomer for the Artificial. Surface and no money was allocated. We are going to share equipment with Berlin and Rocky Hill and see if this works schedule wise for the 3 towns before asking for our own equipment.
• Ask Tom Hemphill for the status of bringing Town Council e-mail addresses in house and timetable to complete this.
• The refrigerator at 78 Carson Avenue has been removed.
• The MDC will dye test the two laterals on the high school property on Wednesday March 30th at 9:00 AM.
• Last year, the Memorial Day Parade Committee received $525.00 in donations, we have received $85.00 to date for this year’s parade. Last year’s parade cost $4,783.20.
• All funds collected for Wethersfield We Care will be used only for soldiers in Iraq and will not be used for any other purpose. It is not PAC money.
• Attached is a letter from the Inter-Community Mental Health Group requesting continued financial assistance.
• Attached is press release from Governor Rell regarding the State’s budget surplus.
7. CRCOG: The March newsletter is attached and a status update on CRCOG priority bills.
8. COST: Attached are two Town Leader’s E-Bulletins on pending legislation..
9. ICMA: Nothing this week.
10. Miscellaneous:
• Attached for your review is an article from the Courant entitled “In Praise of Property Taxes.”<br>• Attached is a letter from a group of Connecticut elected officials requesting your support on changing how transportation issues are handled.
• I am attaching an article about an OPM rule that could increase taxes for New London real estate owners.
• Attached is an OLR Research Report regarding Municipal Zoning Exemption.
• Attached for your review are two bills regarding education that could have an impact on our budget, they are Raised Bills number 1062 and 1065.
• Attached is a CCM flyer for a workshop on Muni-Bonds.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
• Cottone Field – The Cottone Fund balance as of March 15, 2005 is $22,613.37, the only activity was interest posting of $8.67.
• Webb School/Stillman Building – The construction manager’s available funds analysis is attached for your review.
C. ATTACHMENTS:
• Volunteer Recognition Flyer
• Property Maintenance Complaint Update
• Library Report for February
• Inland Wetlands Notice of Public Hearing
• Inter-Community Mental Health Letter
• Governor’s Press Release
• CRCOG Newsletter and Legislative Update
• COST E-Bulletin (2)
• In Praise of Property Taxes
• Letter from elected officials
• New London Article
• Research on Municipal Zoning Exemption
• Raised Bills # 1062 and 1065
• CCM Workshop Flyer
• Webb/Stillman Report
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: March 24, 2005
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: Town Hall will be closed on Good Friday, March 25, 2005. Please note that the Police Department Budget Hearing will be held on April 26, 2005 and Education will be held on April 28, 2005. The wrong schedule was inadvertently attached to your agenda package for last week’s meeting.
2. Upcoming Events:
• A Connecticut Light & Power presentation on the 2005 Electric Rates and Energy Conservation Programs will be held on Monday, March 28th from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. in the Auditorium at NU Headquarters in Berlin.
• 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.
• Paul Woodworth from the Great Meadows Conservation Trust will host a Public Land Preservation program in Council Chambers on April 6th at 7 pm. More details will be forthcoming on this.
• The April Business After Hours will be held at the D’Esopo Life Center on April 7TH
• CHANGE – Youth Volunteer Recognition Event, Community Center, April 12th at 7:00 PM.
• NEW - The Wethersfield Volunteer Ambulance Explorer Post # 855 will hold fundraising car washes at the Ambulance Facility on April 9, 16 and 23.
• NEW - The workforce board for North Central Connecticut, invites you to join its Board Members, Chief Elected Officials from the region, and economic development professionals for Partnering with Economic Development: Creating the Workforce Advantage, a national teleconference co-sponsored by CWP, the Workforce Development Network and the National Association of Workforce Boards, and presented by Greg Newton of Greg Newton Associates, on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Capitol Region Education Council 111 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford. Please RSVP to Suzanne Dutilly at 522-1111, ext 228. Lunch will be provided at $5.00 per person.
• Senior Volunteer Recognition, Community Center, April 28th at 2:00 PM, flyer attached.
• Riverfront Recapture has announced an opportunity for an exclusive first look at the Connecticut Convention Center on Saturday April 16th. More information is to follow or call Riverfront Recapture at 713-3131.
• Save April 30, 2005 from 7:00PM to midnight for the Chamber of Commerce’s 40th Anniversary Dance/Fundraiser at the Wethersfield Country Club. Tickets are $60 per person and can be purchased from Peter Gillespie or John Cascio.
• On Saturday, April 30th, the Christian Conference of Connecticut will hold its 23rd Annual Peace and Justice Convocation at the Mercy Center in Madison. Myron Oldfield will be the main speaker who worked on the Metropatterns Report. For more information call 236-4281.
• The Chamber of Commerce’s State of the Town Breakfast will be held Thursday, May 5, 2005 at the Wethersfield Country Club. Registration is at 7:30 am. Please mark your calendars to attend this important event. The flyer is attached. The fee is $15.00 per person for Chamber members, $20.00 for non-members.
• The Chamber of Commerce will hold their Annual Dinner/Meeting on May 18, 2005. Details to follow.
• CRCOG will hold their annual dinner on June 21 at Manchester Country Club. More details to follow.
3. Council and Board/Committee Dates:
• Monday, March 28, 2005 – Zoning Board of Appeals
• Tuesday, March 29, 2005 – Tourism Commission
4. Department/Division News:
• Building Inspection/Health District/Fire Marshall – Attached is a status update of the various properties for which we have received complaints.
• Library – Attached is the February Report.
• Parks and Recreation – The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has approved a second and final grant of $20,000. for construction of the Skate Park. The grant is made with the condition that the skate park be named in memory of Robert Allan Keeney.
5. Board/Commission News:
• The Inland Wetlands Commission has set April 20, 2005 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers as the Public Hearing for application number 516-05E/S. Notification to developer attached. On March 16, 2005 the Commission also approved the application for reconstruction of the existing skate park in Millwoods Park.
6. Council Questions/Answers:
• Physical Services will be starting their street sign spring update for replacement of street signs that have been damaged during the winter. If anyone has missing or damaged street signs to report, please call 721-2846.
• The Finance Dept. will begin issuing monthly financial reports to you starting in April.
• At the last meeting, a citizen requested the report due in January of all union, consulting and personal employment contracts. Council members did receive all of this information at your 2nd meeting in January. If you need replacement copies, please let me know.
• We did not buy a groomer for the Artificial. Surface and no money was allocated. We are going to share equipment with Berlin and Rocky Hill and see if this works schedule wise for the 3 towns before asking for our own equipment.
• Ask Tom Hemphill for the status of bringing Town Council e-mail addresses in house and timetable to complete this.
• The refrigerator at 78 Carson Avenue has been removed.
• The MDC will dye test the two laterals on the high school property on Wednesday March 30th at 9:00 AM.
• Last year, the Memorial Day Parade Committee received $525.00 in donations, we have received $85.00 to date for this year’s parade. Last year’s parade cost $4,783.20.
• All funds collected for Wethersfield We Care will be used only for soldiers in Iraq and will not be used for any other purpose. It is not PAC money.
• Attached is a letter from the Inter-Community Mental Health Group requesting continued financial assistance.
• Attached is press release from Governor Rell regarding the State’s budget surplus.
7. CRCOG: The March newsletter is attached and a status update on CRCOG priority bills.
8. COST: Attached are two Town Leader’s E-Bulletins on pending legislation..
9. ICMA: Nothing this week.
10. Miscellaneous:
• Attached for your review is an article from the Courant entitled “In Praise of Property Taxes.”<br>• Attached is a letter from a group of Connecticut elected officials requesting your support on changing how transportation issues are handled.
• I am attaching an article about an OPM rule that could increase taxes for New London real estate owners.
• Attached is an OLR Research Report regarding Municipal Zoning Exemption.
• Attached for your review are two bills regarding education that could have an impact on our budget, they are Raised Bills number 1062 and 1065.
• Attached is a CCM flyer for a workshop on Muni-Bonds.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
• Cottone Field – The Cottone Fund balance as of March 15, 2005 is $22,613.37, the only activity was interest posting of $8.67.
• Webb School/Stillman Building – The construction manager’s available funds analysis is attached for your review.
C. ATTACHMENTS:
• Volunteer Recognition Flyer
• Property Maintenance Complaint Update
• Library Report for February
• Inland Wetlands Notice of Public Hearing
• Inter-Community Mental Health Letter
• Governor’s Press Release
• CRCOG Newsletter and Legislative Update
• COST E-Bulletin (2)
• In Praise of Property Taxes
• Letter from elected officials
• New London Article
• Research on Municipal Zoning Exemption
• Raised Bills # 1062 and 1065
• CCM Workshop Flyer
• Webb/Stillman Report