Post by Wethersfield.com on Sept 3, 2004 12:39:21 GMT -5
TO: The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: September 3, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: Nothing this week.
2. Upcoming Events:
• The Winton-Keane-Bittner Soccer Jamboree will be held on Sunday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the newly resurface Cottone Field at the High School. Members of the Town Council and the Board of Education are invited to attend in the attached copy of a letter from the Wethersfield Soccer Boosters and the Jamboree planning team. Also attached is a draft program of the events.
• Leadership Greater Hartford is hosting an evening to celebrate and recognize Hartford’s guiding lights. The Governance and Public Policy honoree is Lee Erdmann, former Town Manager. Joe Marfuggi from Riverfront Recapture is also being honored. The event will be held on September 17, 2004, beginning with a reception at 5:30 pm at the Learning Corridor Arts & Lecture Theater. There is a $20 member/$30 non-member fee to attend. The flyer is attached.
• There will be a forum on September 22nd at the Community Center at 7 PM to discuss the Metropatterns findings done by Myron Oldfield. The Chamber of Commerce and Board of Education will be sponsoring this also. Members of the Strategic Planning Committee will also be in attendance. Residents will be invited to hear about the findings of the report and look for ways to improve our community. Robert Santy, President of the Regional Growth Partnership, will be the speaker. If you would like to borrow a copy of the Metropatterns findings, please let me know.
• The annual Health Fair will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2004 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Wethersfield Ambulance Facility on Prospect Street. I have attached a flyer on this event.
• On September 28, 2004, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Global Companies will be hosting a grand reopening of their business at 80 Burbank Road (the former Cargill, Inc.). You are invited to attend if you wish.
• An Economic Development Summit is planned for September 29, 2004 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, featuring an information session and a panel discussion of success stories from communities that have been successful in putting together development/redevelopment programs. More information will follow. Please save the date and time.
• On October 1, 2004, Central Connecticut State University is sponsoring a conference entitled, “Shaping State and Local Tax Reform in Connecticut.” The conference will be held at Central from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The keynote speaker will be Douglas B. Roberts of Michigan State University. Dr. Roberts was one of the architects of Michigan’s tax reform legislation. Please let me know if you are interested in attending. See the attached flyer.
• The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities will host the CCM Convention and Exposition on October 14, 2004 from 8 AM to 5 PM at the Radisson Hotel in Cromwell. The keynote topic is “The New Connecticut: The Changing Face of Our Towns and Cities”. The convention includes numerous workshops on issues pertinent to managing town business and a municipal market place. Registration fees apply. Please see me for more details.
• The tentative date for the annual Chamber/EDIC sponsored Salute to Business is December 9th. More details will be forthcoming.
3. Council Committee Dates:
• Shared Services – Tuesday, September 7, 2004, 6:00 pm, Town Manager’s Office
• Pension Committee – Monday, September 13, 2004, 5:00 pm, Town Manager’s Office
4. Department/Division News:
• Town Clerk – The Town Clerk's office recorded 43 house sales of $9,667,500 for the month of August and collected conveyance taxes of $48,337.50 for the State of Connecticut and $23,733.75 for the Town of Wethersfield. The total number of documents recorded was 576. Other revenue collected for August: $18,225.70. Members of the Board of Selectmen and a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals were sworn in. Assistant Town Clerk Sandi Wieleba announced her resignation today effective September 17, 2004. Sandi has accepted the position of Town Clerk for the Town of East Hampton. Please join me in congratulating Sandi and wishing her well in her new position.
• Tax Office – See attached memorandum from Tax Collector Nancy DiGirolamo regarding tax collections through August 2004.
• Police – Attached is a copy of the presentation from the Public Safety Meeting held on August 26, 2004.
• Fire Department – Attached are two letters of thanks for the Department’s assistance with the water main break at the Veteran’s Home & Hospital.
• Library - 1,204 children participated in the Library’s summer’s reading program for children. Instead of counting numbers of book read, as in the past, this year the emphasis was placed on time spent reading. Children were asked to read twenty minutes a day and were rewarded with prizes at 10 day intervals. Prizes and T-shirts were purchased with generous donations from the Friends of the Wethersfield Library and the Hedinger family. Many area businesses and organizations also donated discount coupons and/or passes. The program ended with an ice cream social for the children and their families. The Library’s Children’s Department conducts the summer reading program each year to encourage children to read for fun and also so that they will maintain their reading skills over the long school vacation. I have enclosed a letter on Library funding entitled “Restore Our Destiny: Full – Not Plural – Funding” from the August issue of American Libraries.
• Physical Services – Pat Carlino has been promoted to a Maintainer II. We know Pat will do an excellent job for us. Congratulations!
5. Board/Commission News:
• Strategic Planning Committee Meeting – September 7, 2004 – 7:00 PM. Silas Deane Middle School – Room 114
• Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing – Wednesday, September 8, 2004, Continuation to hear comments on the revisions to the Zoning Regulations
• The Board of Assessment Appeals will be held on September 9, 11, 22 and 24.
• Attached notice of action by Zoning Board of Appeals at their August 23. 2004 meeting.
6. Council Questions/Answers:
•
7. CRCOG: Nothing this week.
8. COST: Nothing this week.
9. ICMA: Nothing this week.
10. Miscellaneous:
• See attached press release regarding the $111.2 million settlement of the CRRA claim against the Enron Corporation.
• I have a copy of the North Central CMED Regional EMS Communications Center Annual Operations Report for Fiscal Year 2003-04 in my office for review. Wethersfield processed 2,777 calls through CMED during the 2003-04 fiscal year. If you would like to borrow a copy, please let me know.
• I have attached a memorandum from John Gotta of Riverfront Recapture talking about their budget deficit and events that are coming up in the future.
• CL&P will be working with us on their Energy Conservation Program. They will be auditing 28 Town buildings and schools to help us find ways to save energy costs in the future. I will have this item on your agenda for September 20th.
• The bids for the Social Security Alternative will be going out early next week.
• 91 Nott Street, which is on our blighted list, will be demolished within the next two weeks.
• Town staff and Doug Shipman from the Historical Society toured all of the Historic Buildings owned by the Town. Attached is a draft report as to building problems found in them. This will help us with long term budgeting for our buildings.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
• Town Hall/Library – Attached is a letter to building Committee Chairman Joseph Coombs from Library Director Laurel Goodgion regarding the scheduling of closing the building to the public during renovations. Also we did hear from the State Library Office and the Attorney General’s Office has signed off on our grant so we should be able to begin work by the end of the month.
• Cottone Field – See the attached memorandum from Don Moisa regarding outstanding items as of 09/01/2004. Weather permitting, the football field should be playable on Wednesday and the practice field the following week. I have also attached a list of the events to be held on the football field as of today.
• Highcrest Roof – This project will not be started until after the school year. We are going out to bid now for an architect to design the work and then we will bid the project in late fall.
• The CIP Monthly Report – Project Status prepared by Director of Public Works Mike Turner is attached.
C. CALENDAR REMINDERS:
• None this week.
D. ATTACHMENTS:
• Soccer Jamboree Information
• Memorandum from Tax Collector
• Police Presentation
• Letters of Thanks for Fire Department (2)
• Notice of Zoning Board of Appeals Action
• CRRA Press Release regarding Enron Settlement
• Letter to Building Committee from Library Director
• Memorandum regarding Cottone Field
• CIP Project Status Report
• Email and flyer regarding October 1 Tax Reform Seminar at CCSU
FROM: Bonnie L. Therrien, Town Manager
DATE: September 3, 2004
A. COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS:
1. Manager: Nothing this week.
2. Upcoming Events:
• The Winton-Keane-Bittner Soccer Jamboree will be held on Sunday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the newly resurface Cottone Field at the High School. Members of the Town Council and the Board of Education are invited to attend in the attached copy of a letter from the Wethersfield Soccer Boosters and the Jamboree planning team. Also attached is a draft program of the events.
• Leadership Greater Hartford is hosting an evening to celebrate and recognize Hartford’s guiding lights. The Governance and Public Policy honoree is Lee Erdmann, former Town Manager. Joe Marfuggi from Riverfront Recapture is also being honored. The event will be held on September 17, 2004, beginning with a reception at 5:30 pm at the Learning Corridor Arts & Lecture Theater. There is a $20 member/$30 non-member fee to attend. The flyer is attached.
• There will be a forum on September 22nd at the Community Center at 7 PM to discuss the Metropatterns findings done by Myron Oldfield. The Chamber of Commerce and Board of Education will be sponsoring this also. Members of the Strategic Planning Committee will also be in attendance. Residents will be invited to hear about the findings of the report and look for ways to improve our community. Robert Santy, President of the Regional Growth Partnership, will be the speaker. If you would like to borrow a copy of the Metropatterns findings, please let me know.
• The annual Health Fair will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2004 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Wethersfield Ambulance Facility on Prospect Street. I have attached a flyer on this event.
• On September 28, 2004, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Global Companies will be hosting a grand reopening of their business at 80 Burbank Road (the former Cargill, Inc.). You are invited to attend if you wish.
• An Economic Development Summit is planned for September 29, 2004 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, featuring an information session and a panel discussion of success stories from communities that have been successful in putting together development/redevelopment programs. More information will follow. Please save the date and time.
• On October 1, 2004, Central Connecticut State University is sponsoring a conference entitled, “Shaping State and Local Tax Reform in Connecticut.” The conference will be held at Central from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The keynote speaker will be Douglas B. Roberts of Michigan State University. Dr. Roberts was one of the architects of Michigan’s tax reform legislation. Please let me know if you are interested in attending. See the attached flyer.
• The Connecticut Conference of Municipalities will host the CCM Convention and Exposition on October 14, 2004 from 8 AM to 5 PM at the Radisson Hotel in Cromwell. The keynote topic is “The New Connecticut: The Changing Face of Our Towns and Cities”. The convention includes numerous workshops on issues pertinent to managing town business and a municipal market place. Registration fees apply. Please see me for more details.
• The tentative date for the annual Chamber/EDIC sponsored Salute to Business is December 9th. More details will be forthcoming.
3. Council Committee Dates:
• Shared Services – Tuesday, September 7, 2004, 6:00 pm, Town Manager’s Office
• Pension Committee – Monday, September 13, 2004, 5:00 pm, Town Manager’s Office
4. Department/Division News:
• Town Clerk – The Town Clerk's office recorded 43 house sales of $9,667,500 for the month of August and collected conveyance taxes of $48,337.50 for the State of Connecticut and $23,733.75 for the Town of Wethersfield. The total number of documents recorded was 576. Other revenue collected for August: $18,225.70. Members of the Board of Selectmen and a member of the Board of Assessment Appeals were sworn in. Assistant Town Clerk Sandi Wieleba announced her resignation today effective September 17, 2004. Sandi has accepted the position of Town Clerk for the Town of East Hampton. Please join me in congratulating Sandi and wishing her well in her new position.
• Tax Office – See attached memorandum from Tax Collector Nancy DiGirolamo regarding tax collections through August 2004.
• Police – Attached is a copy of the presentation from the Public Safety Meeting held on August 26, 2004.
• Fire Department – Attached are two letters of thanks for the Department’s assistance with the water main break at the Veteran’s Home & Hospital.
• Library - 1,204 children participated in the Library’s summer’s reading program for children. Instead of counting numbers of book read, as in the past, this year the emphasis was placed on time spent reading. Children were asked to read twenty minutes a day and were rewarded with prizes at 10 day intervals. Prizes and T-shirts were purchased with generous donations from the Friends of the Wethersfield Library and the Hedinger family. Many area businesses and organizations also donated discount coupons and/or passes. The program ended with an ice cream social for the children and their families. The Library’s Children’s Department conducts the summer reading program each year to encourage children to read for fun and also so that they will maintain their reading skills over the long school vacation. I have enclosed a letter on Library funding entitled “Restore Our Destiny: Full – Not Plural – Funding” from the August issue of American Libraries.
• Physical Services – Pat Carlino has been promoted to a Maintainer II. We know Pat will do an excellent job for us. Congratulations!
5. Board/Commission News:
• Strategic Planning Committee Meeting – September 7, 2004 – 7:00 PM. Silas Deane Middle School – Room 114
• Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing – Wednesday, September 8, 2004, Continuation to hear comments on the revisions to the Zoning Regulations
• The Board of Assessment Appeals will be held on September 9, 11, 22 and 24.
• Attached notice of action by Zoning Board of Appeals at their August 23. 2004 meeting.
6. Council Questions/Answers:
•
7. CRCOG: Nothing this week.
8. COST: Nothing this week.
9. ICMA: Nothing this week.
10. Miscellaneous:
• See attached press release regarding the $111.2 million settlement of the CRRA claim against the Enron Corporation.
• I have a copy of the North Central CMED Regional EMS Communications Center Annual Operations Report for Fiscal Year 2003-04 in my office for review. Wethersfield processed 2,777 calls through CMED during the 2003-04 fiscal year. If you would like to borrow a copy, please let me know.
• I have attached a memorandum from John Gotta of Riverfront Recapture talking about their budget deficit and events that are coming up in the future.
• CL&P will be working with us on their Energy Conservation Program. They will be auditing 28 Town buildings and schools to help us find ways to save energy costs in the future. I will have this item on your agenda for September 20th.
• The bids for the Social Security Alternative will be going out early next week.
• 91 Nott Street, which is on our blighted list, will be demolished within the next two weeks.
• Town staff and Doug Shipman from the Historical Society toured all of the Historic Buildings owned by the Town. Attached is a draft report as to building problems found in them. This will help us with long term budgeting for our buildings.
B. PROJECT UPDATES:
• Town Hall/Library – Attached is a letter to building Committee Chairman Joseph Coombs from Library Director Laurel Goodgion regarding the scheduling of closing the building to the public during renovations. Also we did hear from the State Library Office and the Attorney General’s Office has signed off on our grant so we should be able to begin work by the end of the month.
• Cottone Field – See the attached memorandum from Don Moisa regarding outstanding items as of 09/01/2004. Weather permitting, the football field should be playable on Wednesday and the practice field the following week. I have also attached a list of the events to be held on the football field as of today.
• Highcrest Roof – This project will not be started until after the school year. We are going out to bid now for an architect to design the work and then we will bid the project in late fall.
• The CIP Monthly Report – Project Status prepared by Director of Public Works Mike Turner is attached.
C. CALENDAR REMINDERS:
• None this week.
D. ATTACHMENTS:
• Soccer Jamboree Information
• Memorandum from Tax Collector
• Police Presentation
• Letters of Thanks for Fire Department (2)
• Notice of Zoning Board of Appeals Action
• CRRA Press Release regarding Enron Settlement
• Letter to Building Committee from Library Director
• Memorandum regarding Cottone Field
• CIP Project Status Report
• Email and flyer regarding October 1 Tax Reform Seminar at CCSU