Post by Wethersfield.com on Mar 19, 2004 15:37:00 GMT -5
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: March 19, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: Please set aside Monday, March 22nd, at 7 pm for a joint meeting with the Board of Education to discuss their budget and the next steps to take after the February Board of Education/Town Council joint meeting. The meeting will be at the Webb School Resource Center. The Request for Proposal for the Artificial Surface is complete and being mailed today to prospective vendors.
2. Upcoming Events:
• Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours – Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at Bennigan’s, and Wednesday, April 14, 2004 at Absolute Mortgage. Both begin at 5:30 pm
• MetroHartord Alliance is sponsoring several area events including Business After Hours on March 25th and a Rising Star Breakfast on April 13th. A flyer of events is attached.
• There will be a free Coffee House at the Griswoldville Chapel on Saturday, March 27, 2004 from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
• Congressman John Larson and a representative from the Center for Medicare Advocacy will speak with seniors at the Wethersfield Senior Center on Wed. April 7, 2004 at 2:45 p.m. Please see the enclosed Senior Center News for more information.
• Mandatory Business Visitation Training for Councilors will be held on March 30, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Police Station. Any Councilor planning to participate in the Business Visitation Program must attend this meeting. Please contact either Gale or myself to confirm your attendance.
• The Dept. of Economic and Community Development will sponsor two (2) days of training on Federal acquisition and relocation requirements at the Rensselaer at Hartford Center, 275 Windsor Street in Hartford, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wed. April 28th and Thursday, April 29th.
• On Tuesday, May 11th at the Pitkin Community Center, two presentations will be made on topics of interest to seniors and their caregivers. At 1:00 p.m. the topic will be Changes in Medicare, and at 2:00 p.m. the topic will be Fall Prevention. Both presentations are free and open to the public.
3. Council Committee Dates: Budget & Finance Committee, March 23rd, 6:30 p.m.
4. Department/Division News:
• Assessor: The Assessor’s Office will be open on Saturday, March 20, 2004 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. because the 20th is “grievance day”, or the last day to return Board of Assessment Appeals applications.
• Library: Library Director Laurel Goodgion met with the Board of Education on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 to discuss the Library’s goals for library cooperation with the public schools. Attached is an outline of the Library’s goals. Library staff is meeting with school staff to share information.
• Human Resources: We have completed the recruitments for Part Time Social Worker and Director of Finance. Town Planner Pete Gillespie and I did the second interviews for the position of PT Secretary II for the Planning Department and Peter is in the process of completing reference checks. I am planning to conduct the second interviews for Assistant to the Town Manager on Monday afternoon March 22nd.
5. Board/Commission News:
6. Council Questions/Answers:
• It is the opinion of Town Attorney Jack Bradley that the Council does not have to fill the vacancy on the Charter Revision Commission under the current circumstances. He states “The relevant statute (7-190) requires a Charter Revision Commission to have a minimum of five members, not more than 1/3 of whom hold any other public office in the municipality and not more than a bare majority of whom are from the same party. The existing Commission satisfies the statutory requirements since we still have more than five members, still are ok with regard to the "holding other offices" provision and still do not have more than a bare majority (not more than four out of six) from the same party. Therefore, the Council is not obligated to fill the vacancy.”<br>• The current Fund Balance amount is $116,025. Also we will be receiving $67,000 from FEMA for reimbursement for snow and we can begin transferring between Departments beginning April 1st.
7. CRCOG: Legislative Update
Capitol Region Emergency Planning Committee – There will be a drill on May 16th in order for our regional emergency plan to be worked on. The mock scenario is enclosed for your review.
CCM: HB 5023-AAC Municipal Ethics Commissions and Municipal Ethics Codes
Legislative Action Center
MLR Data Reporter
Transportation Issues: A Special CCM Meeting with Oz Griebel
8. Miscellaneous:
• Attached for your information are Internet articles which address sports injuries on grass versus turf. These were given to me by Greg Bedula and CIRMA.
• Per Councilor Czernicki’s request, I have attached copies of emails that I sent in response to questions concerning the proposed artificial surface field.
• Attached is a copy of an article entitled “Volunteers Say Ethics Plan Goes Too Far” which appeared in The New York Times on Sunday, March 7, 2004, regarding an ethics bill being debated in the State Legislature that would require municipal employees and officials to disclose personal financial information.
• For Council’s information, I have attached a copy of the Shared Services Committee meeting minutes from February 10, 2004.
• The Town of Wethersfield received a settlement check in the amount of $7,625.26 which represents our pro rata share of the Net Settlement Fund as a Class member in the Waste Management, Inc. Securities litigation.
• Attached is a copy of the Town employee Efficiency Committee Report on suggestions on improving Town operations. We are investigating implementing many of these suggestions, and you will probably see some in the upcoming budget. Please join me in thanking the members of this committee for their time and hard work in completing this report. Great Job Everybody! I would like to thank Tony Martino for Chairing this Committee.
• Toll Brothers, a home-building company, is hoping to develop the Hartford Drive-In site in Newington as condominiums. They mailed the attached notice to Wethersfield residents who live in the area inviting everyone to a public meeting on this project on Wed. March 24, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. in the Wethersfield Town Hall.
• The Insurance Committee met on Wednesday, March 19th and would like to pass on to the Council that in the future, if a volunteer firefighter wishes to go on our health insurance plan, we should put them on ConnectiCare on a fully insured basis. That will reduce our liability.
• The Brainard Airport Noise Advisory Committee met on Thursday, March 19th and reviewed noise complaints for the 4 month period between November and March. It was reported that there were 7 complaints from Wethersfield during that time. Everyone is reminded that the Brainard Airport Noise phone number is 566-2895.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
• The Department of Economic and Community Development has released to us the funds, in the amount of $390,000 for the Town Hall and Community Center ADA Improvements Grant.
C. CALENDAR REMINDERS:
• Joint Meeting of the Town Council & Board of Education, Monday, March 22, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Resource Room at the Webb Building.
D. ATTACHMENTS:
• MetroHarford Alliance
• Griswoldville Coffee House
• DECD Training
• CRCOG Correspondence
• CCM Correspondence
• Internet Articles
• Email Correspondence
• The New York Times Article
• Shared Services Minutes
• Settlement
• Efficiency Committee Report
• Public Meeting Notice
• Brainard Airport Information
• DECD Correspondence
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: March 19, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: Please set aside Monday, March 22nd, at 7 pm for a joint meeting with the Board of Education to discuss their budget and the next steps to take after the February Board of Education/Town Council joint meeting. The meeting will be at the Webb School Resource Center. The Request for Proposal for the Artificial Surface is complete and being mailed today to prospective vendors.
2. Upcoming Events:
• Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours – Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at Bennigan’s, and Wednesday, April 14, 2004 at Absolute Mortgage. Both begin at 5:30 pm
• MetroHartord Alliance is sponsoring several area events including Business After Hours on March 25th and a Rising Star Breakfast on April 13th. A flyer of events is attached.
• There will be a free Coffee House at the Griswoldville Chapel on Saturday, March 27, 2004 from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
• Congressman John Larson and a representative from the Center for Medicare Advocacy will speak with seniors at the Wethersfield Senior Center on Wed. April 7, 2004 at 2:45 p.m. Please see the enclosed Senior Center News for more information.
• Mandatory Business Visitation Training for Councilors will be held on March 30, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Police Station. Any Councilor planning to participate in the Business Visitation Program must attend this meeting. Please contact either Gale or myself to confirm your attendance.
• The Dept. of Economic and Community Development will sponsor two (2) days of training on Federal acquisition and relocation requirements at the Rensselaer at Hartford Center, 275 Windsor Street in Hartford, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wed. April 28th and Thursday, April 29th.
• On Tuesday, May 11th at the Pitkin Community Center, two presentations will be made on topics of interest to seniors and their caregivers. At 1:00 p.m. the topic will be Changes in Medicare, and at 2:00 p.m. the topic will be Fall Prevention. Both presentations are free and open to the public.
3. Council Committee Dates: Budget & Finance Committee, March 23rd, 6:30 p.m.
4. Department/Division News:
• Assessor: The Assessor’s Office will be open on Saturday, March 20, 2004 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. because the 20th is “grievance day”, or the last day to return Board of Assessment Appeals applications.
• Library: Library Director Laurel Goodgion met with the Board of Education on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 to discuss the Library’s goals for library cooperation with the public schools. Attached is an outline of the Library’s goals. Library staff is meeting with school staff to share information.
• Human Resources: We have completed the recruitments for Part Time Social Worker and Director of Finance. Town Planner Pete Gillespie and I did the second interviews for the position of PT Secretary II for the Planning Department and Peter is in the process of completing reference checks. I am planning to conduct the second interviews for Assistant to the Town Manager on Monday afternoon March 22nd.
5. Board/Commission News:
6. Council Questions/Answers:
• It is the opinion of Town Attorney Jack Bradley that the Council does not have to fill the vacancy on the Charter Revision Commission under the current circumstances. He states “The relevant statute (7-190) requires a Charter Revision Commission to have a minimum of five members, not more than 1/3 of whom hold any other public office in the municipality and not more than a bare majority of whom are from the same party. The existing Commission satisfies the statutory requirements since we still have more than five members, still are ok with regard to the "holding other offices" provision and still do not have more than a bare majority (not more than four out of six) from the same party. Therefore, the Council is not obligated to fill the vacancy.”<br>• The current Fund Balance amount is $116,025. Also we will be receiving $67,000 from FEMA for reimbursement for snow and we can begin transferring between Departments beginning April 1st.
7. CRCOG: Legislative Update
Capitol Region Emergency Planning Committee – There will be a drill on May 16th in order for our regional emergency plan to be worked on. The mock scenario is enclosed for your review.
CCM: HB 5023-AAC Municipal Ethics Commissions and Municipal Ethics Codes
Legislative Action Center
MLR Data Reporter
Transportation Issues: A Special CCM Meeting with Oz Griebel
8. Miscellaneous:
• Attached for your information are Internet articles which address sports injuries on grass versus turf. These were given to me by Greg Bedula and CIRMA.
• Per Councilor Czernicki’s request, I have attached copies of emails that I sent in response to questions concerning the proposed artificial surface field.
• Attached is a copy of an article entitled “Volunteers Say Ethics Plan Goes Too Far” which appeared in The New York Times on Sunday, March 7, 2004, regarding an ethics bill being debated in the State Legislature that would require municipal employees and officials to disclose personal financial information.
• For Council’s information, I have attached a copy of the Shared Services Committee meeting minutes from February 10, 2004.
• The Town of Wethersfield received a settlement check in the amount of $7,625.26 which represents our pro rata share of the Net Settlement Fund as a Class member in the Waste Management, Inc. Securities litigation.
• Attached is a copy of the Town employee Efficiency Committee Report on suggestions on improving Town operations. We are investigating implementing many of these suggestions, and you will probably see some in the upcoming budget. Please join me in thanking the members of this committee for their time and hard work in completing this report. Great Job Everybody! I would like to thank Tony Martino for Chairing this Committee.
• Toll Brothers, a home-building company, is hoping to develop the Hartford Drive-In site in Newington as condominiums. They mailed the attached notice to Wethersfield residents who live in the area inviting everyone to a public meeting on this project on Wed. March 24, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. in the Wethersfield Town Hall.
• The Insurance Committee met on Wednesday, March 19th and would like to pass on to the Council that in the future, if a volunteer firefighter wishes to go on our health insurance plan, we should put them on ConnectiCare on a fully insured basis. That will reduce our liability.
• The Brainard Airport Noise Advisory Committee met on Thursday, March 19th and reviewed noise complaints for the 4 month period between November and March. It was reported that there were 7 complaints from Wethersfield during that time. Everyone is reminded that the Brainard Airport Noise phone number is 566-2895.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
• The Department of Economic and Community Development has released to us the funds, in the amount of $390,000 for the Town Hall and Community Center ADA Improvements Grant.
C. CALENDAR REMINDERS:
• Joint Meeting of the Town Council & Board of Education, Monday, March 22, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the Resource Room at the Webb Building.
D. ATTACHMENTS:
• MetroHarford Alliance
• Griswoldville Coffee House
• DECD Training
• CRCOG Correspondence
• CCM Correspondence
• Internet Articles
• Email Correspondence
• The New York Times Article
• Shared Services Minutes
• Settlement
• Efficiency Committee Report
• Public Meeting Notice
• Brainard Airport Information
• DECD Correspondence