Post by Wethersfield.com on Jul 28, 2004 19:21:15 GMT -5
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: July 28, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager:
• Starting immediately, Town Council meetings will be televised every day at 9 AM and 5 PM. Board of Education meetings will be shown at 2:30 PM and 10:30 PM.
2. Upcoming Events:
• The Chamber After Hours Event that was cancelled last week at Spicy Green Deli has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 5:30PM
• The Griswoldville Preservation Associations’ walking tour for August is rescheduled from the first Saturday in August-to-August 14. Assemble at 9:30AM at the intersection of Griswold Rd. and Country Club Rd. Former water-powered mill sites will be visited and discussed during the 1.5-hour tour. A $2 donation is suggested. Rain date is the following Sunday, same time and place.
• We have been asked to co-sponsor a forum on September 22nd at the Community Center at 7 PM to discuss the Metropatterns findings done by Myron Oldfield. A committee is working on putting this together and we are hoping to have the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Education sponsor this also. Residents will be invited to hear about the findings and look for ways to improve our community. Robert Santy, President of the Regional Growth Partnership, will be the speaker. I have attached his bio. If you would like to borrow a copy of the Metropatterns findings, please let me know.
3. Council Committee Dates:
• Pension Committee – Monday, August 2nd, 5 PM, Town Manager’s Office
• Public Works Committee – Wednesday, August 4th, 5:30 PM, Town Manager’s Office
• Budget and Finance Committee – Wednesday, August 4th, 6:30 PM, Town Manager’s Office
• Shared Services Committee – Tuesday, August 10th, 6:00 PM, Town Manager’s Office
4. Department/Division News:
• Building Department: The Building Department will be issuing a press release concerning tag sale signs advising residents that signs are prohibited on all Town Properties, and additionally only those signs permitted by the Zoning Regulations are allowed to be erected in the Town of Wethersfield.
• Parks and Recreation – On Tuesday The Board of Education approved extending their sponsorship of our Recreational pre-school aged program for an additional year while we go through State licensing. We appreciate their support. Work on Greenfield Park for installing the new recreation equipment started this week.
• Police – Kevin O’Leary has become the Police Department’s newest Sergeant. We know Sergeant O’Leary will be a great asset to this Department.
• Physical Services – The following three people are the new hires for Physical Services: John Lamb, Carl Forauer, and Fred Reinert. We are thrilled to have them on Board and know they will do a great job for Wethersfield.
• Fire Department - East Hartford Fire Chief Michael Eremita expressed his sincere gratitude to the Wethersfield Fire Department for their participation in this year’s Riverfest Celebration. See attached letter.
5. Board/Commission News:
• At their meeting of July 20, 2004 the Planning & Zoning Commission made the following appointments:
Chairman - Joseph Hammer
Vice Chairman - Teresa Forsthingy
Clerk - Phil Knecht
Authorized Signatures - Peter Gillespie & Michael Turner
CRCOG Representative - Earle Munroe
CRCOG Alt. Rep. - Robert Jurasin
Liaison to Econ. Dev. Comm. - Phil Knecht
• I have seven people who are interested on serving on the Strategic Planning Committee. I will be checking their voting affiliation and if all goes well, will be appointing them next week so we can begin our review and updating of this important project.
6. Council Questions/Answers:
• The new appointee to the Health Department was away on vacation for three weeks. She will be at the next meeting and Paul Hucheon will be meeting with her when she comes back.
• There are no provisions for employees to have Town cars in the union contracts. I am waiting for the insurance costs for the Fire vehicles, which I should have next week. The three vehicles are back at Physical Services.
7. CRCOG:
CRCOG recently added a link to the Federal Emergency management Institute and online courses they offer in 6the National Incident Manager System. This link is www.crcog.org/public_safety.htm. I have attached a copy of their latest newsletter
COST: Nothing this week.
ICMA: Nothing this week.
8. Miscellaneous:
• Attached is a letter regarding the proposed Motorbike/Pedal Bike Track in Rocky Hill.
• The MDC will hold two public hearings in the Council Chambers on the construction of public sanitary sewers in parts of Wethersfield on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. for Wolcott Hill Road, and at 7:30 p.m. for Wells Road and private lands west of Ridge Road. These projects may include blasting to complete sewer installation.
• Attached is information regarding the Federal Government’s EPA sewer overflow prevention funds. The House is proposing to extend the programs’ funding window from two years to six years.
• Attached is a letter from Holger Lundin, Chairperson of SeniorNet of Wethersfield, letting us know that they have received a grant from The Hartford Foundation of Public Giving for new computers for their program. The members of SeniorNet have graciously decided to donate their old computers to the Town Hall for replacement computers for some Departments. We really thank them for this great donation.
• We have received the attached letter from the Director General, Sotarou Tsujita, of Nagayo. He also sent a videotape and some publications on their community. If you wish to borrow the tape, please let me know.
• We will be entering mediation for our 1303 Union Contract with the secretaries, dispatchers, and technical engineers.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
• Attached is a CIP Project Status Report on School Buildings prepared by Director of Public Works Mike Turner.
• Attached is the approved schedule from AVT Construction on the roof replacement project at Firehouse 3.
• I have attached the pricing list for a Physical Services Material Lift for the Physical Services building.
• Silas Deane Middle School – The punch list for this project is almost complete. Still needing to be completed are missing ceiling tiles and sprinkler caps; signage; the capping off of old plumbing; and installing a junction box cover.
• Cottone Field – The drainage work will be completed this week and the liner will be installed next week. The actual surface will be placed on the field in mid August.
• Blasting – Nott Street – This was another productive week of blasting utilizing small charges. Blasting should be completed within two weeks. I would like to thank Gary Santoro for his work on this project and his communication skills with residents. He has been very helpful in getting correct information to the residents.
C. CALENDAR REMINDERS:
• The School Building Committee will be meeting the second and fourth Mondays of each month. There is a meeting scheduled for this Monday at 6 pm
D. ATTACHMENTS:
• Center Edge Speaker Information – Robert W. Santy
• Letter from East Hartford Fire Chief Michael W. Eremita
• CRCOG Newsletter/Capital Region Report
• Letter regarding Rocky Hill Motorbike/Pedal Track from John Barone
• Information regarding MDC Hearings
• 2 Articles regarding Sewer Funding
• SeniorNet Letter
• Letter from Director General Sotarou Tsujita
• CIP Project Status
• AVT Construction Schedule for Firehouse # 3
• Physical Services Material Lift pricing information
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: July 28, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager:
• Starting immediately, Town Council meetings will be televised every day at 9 AM and 5 PM. Board of Education meetings will be shown at 2:30 PM and 10:30 PM.
2. Upcoming Events:
• The Chamber After Hours Event that was cancelled last week at Spicy Green Deli has been rescheduled for Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 5:30PM
• The Griswoldville Preservation Associations’ walking tour for August is rescheduled from the first Saturday in August-to-August 14. Assemble at 9:30AM at the intersection of Griswold Rd. and Country Club Rd. Former water-powered mill sites will be visited and discussed during the 1.5-hour tour. A $2 donation is suggested. Rain date is the following Sunday, same time and place.
• We have been asked to co-sponsor a forum on September 22nd at the Community Center at 7 PM to discuss the Metropatterns findings done by Myron Oldfield. A committee is working on putting this together and we are hoping to have the Chamber of Commerce and Board of Education sponsor this also. Residents will be invited to hear about the findings and look for ways to improve our community. Robert Santy, President of the Regional Growth Partnership, will be the speaker. I have attached his bio. If you would like to borrow a copy of the Metropatterns findings, please let me know.
3. Council Committee Dates:
• Pension Committee – Monday, August 2nd, 5 PM, Town Manager’s Office
• Public Works Committee – Wednesday, August 4th, 5:30 PM, Town Manager’s Office
• Budget and Finance Committee – Wednesday, August 4th, 6:30 PM, Town Manager’s Office
• Shared Services Committee – Tuesday, August 10th, 6:00 PM, Town Manager’s Office
4. Department/Division News:
• Building Department: The Building Department will be issuing a press release concerning tag sale signs advising residents that signs are prohibited on all Town Properties, and additionally only those signs permitted by the Zoning Regulations are allowed to be erected in the Town of Wethersfield.
• Parks and Recreation – On Tuesday The Board of Education approved extending their sponsorship of our Recreational pre-school aged program for an additional year while we go through State licensing. We appreciate their support. Work on Greenfield Park for installing the new recreation equipment started this week.
• Police – Kevin O’Leary has become the Police Department’s newest Sergeant. We know Sergeant O’Leary will be a great asset to this Department.
• Physical Services – The following three people are the new hires for Physical Services: John Lamb, Carl Forauer, and Fred Reinert. We are thrilled to have them on Board and know they will do a great job for Wethersfield.
• Fire Department - East Hartford Fire Chief Michael Eremita expressed his sincere gratitude to the Wethersfield Fire Department for their participation in this year’s Riverfest Celebration. See attached letter.
5. Board/Commission News:
• At their meeting of July 20, 2004 the Planning & Zoning Commission made the following appointments:
Chairman - Joseph Hammer
Vice Chairman - Teresa Forsthingy
Clerk - Phil Knecht
Authorized Signatures - Peter Gillespie & Michael Turner
CRCOG Representative - Earle Munroe
CRCOG Alt. Rep. - Robert Jurasin
Liaison to Econ. Dev. Comm. - Phil Knecht
• I have seven people who are interested on serving on the Strategic Planning Committee. I will be checking their voting affiliation and if all goes well, will be appointing them next week so we can begin our review and updating of this important project.
6. Council Questions/Answers:
• The new appointee to the Health Department was away on vacation for three weeks. She will be at the next meeting and Paul Hucheon will be meeting with her when she comes back.
• There are no provisions for employees to have Town cars in the union contracts. I am waiting for the insurance costs for the Fire vehicles, which I should have next week. The three vehicles are back at Physical Services.
7. CRCOG:
CRCOG recently added a link to the Federal Emergency management Institute and online courses they offer in 6the National Incident Manager System. This link is www.crcog.org/public_safety.htm. I have attached a copy of their latest newsletter
COST: Nothing this week.
ICMA: Nothing this week.
8. Miscellaneous:
• Attached is a letter regarding the proposed Motorbike/Pedal Bike Track in Rocky Hill.
• The MDC will hold two public hearings in the Council Chambers on the construction of public sanitary sewers in parts of Wethersfield on Wednesday, August 4, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. for Wolcott Hill Road, and at 7:30 p.m. for Wells Road and private lands west of Ridge Road. These projects may include blasting to complete sewer installation.
• Attached is information regarding the Federal Government’s EPA sewer overflow prevention funds. The House is proposing to extend the programs’ funding window from two years to six years.
• Attached is a letter from Holger Lundin, Chairperson of SeniorNet of Wethersfield, letting us know that they have received a grant from The Hartford Foundation of Public Giving for new computers for their program. The members of SeniorNet have graciously decided to donate their old computers to the Town Hall for replacement computers for some Departments. We really thank them for this great donation.
• We have received the attached letter from the Director General, Sotarou Tsujita, of Nagayo. He also sent a videotape and some publications on their community. If you wish to borrow the tape, please let me know.
• We will be entering mediation for our 1303 Union Contract with the secretaries, dispatchers, and technical engineers.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
• Attached is a CIP Project Status Report on School Buildings prepared by Director of Public Works Mike Turner.
• Attached is the approved schedule from AVT Construction on the roof replacement project at Firehouse 3.
• I have attached the pricing list for a Physical Services Material Lift for the Physical Services building.
• Silas Deane Middle School – The punch list for this project is almost complete. Still needing to be completed are missing ceiling tiles and sprinkler caps; signage; the capping off of old plumbing; and installing a junction box cover.
• Cottone Field – The drainage work will be completed this week and the liner will be installed next week. The actual surface will be placed on the field in mid August.
• Blasting – Nott Street – This was another productive week of blasting utilizing small charges. Blasting should be completed within two weeks. I would like to thank Gary Santoro for his work on this project and his communication skills with residents. He has been very helpful in getting correct information to the residents.
C. CALENDAR REMINDERS:
• The School Building Committee will be meeting the second and fourth Mondays of each month. There is a meeting scheduled for this Monday at 6 pm
D. ATTACHMENTS:
• Center Edge Speaker Information – Robert W. Santy
• Letter from East Hartford Fire Chief Michael W. Eremita
• CRCOG Newsletter/Capital Region Report
• Letter regarding Rocky Hill Motorbike/Pedal Track from John Barone
• Information regarding MDC Hearings
• 2 Articles regarding Sewer Funding
• SeniorNet Letter
• Letter from Director General Sotarou Tsujita
• CIP Project Status
• AVT Construction Schedule for Firehouse # 3
• Physical Services Material Lift pricing information