Board of Selectmen

Chaplin, Connecticut

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Time 7:00P.M. Regular Meeting

Chaplin Town Hall


  1. Call to Order

Bob Dubos-First Selectman called the meeting to order at 7:05P.M. Members Present: Bob Dubos, Gene Boomer and William Rose III. Others Present: Betty Urban-Clerk. Audience: Dick Weingart and Jim Randall.


  1. Additions to Agenda

Bob Dubos wants to add under 7E New Business Fire Department Training Structure and under 7F New Business Endorse Town Budget FY 2009/2010 Bob Dubos made a motion to add 7E and 7F under New Business. Seconded by Gene Boomer. Motion passed.


3. First Audience for Citizens None


  1. Approve minutes of Regular Meeting of April 2, 2009 and Special Meeting of April 21, 2009

Bob Dubos made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of April 2, 2009 as amended. Seconded by Gene Boomer Motion passed with following amendments. Under 2. Additions to Agenda correct Tuckie Rd to Tutko Rd. Under 7D William Ross Library, correct Brady to Bray and add the following: There is no contract between the two parties.


  1. Communications and Reports

  1. Trooper Report-April 2009

M.V. Accidents 3 Disturbances 4

Traffic Stops 34 Non-Criminal 1

  1. Board Members Reports

William Rose III said the cemetery panels will be fixed, but until the trees are cleared it would be better to wait before putting them up. Bob Dubos said to get them fixed and store them in the town garage. Gene Boomer questioned the status of Chewink Rd. Bob Dubos said they were waiting for Call Before You Dig. The road should be repaired next week. He said the culvert pipe eroded away, and there is a huge hole in the road.


  1. Old Business

  1. Infrastructure

Gene Boomer is working on it. He said he would have more information next month. William Rose said the information from Pelletier Builders on the roof structure is not in yet.

  1. Animal Response Team

Bob Dubos said the fire department is willing to keep the trailers on a gravel pad behind the firehouse. They will put a hitch on the service vehicle, and hook up monthly to keep the trailers maintained. Dennis Thibeault contacted Homeland Security and they will pay for the hitch. Bob said the town pickup truck could be used as a backup vehicle. William Rose III feels it could be a problem. Bob Dubos said the state is pushing cooperation between regions, and he feels future grants will go to those who cooperate. The Board made a motion to accept the trailers last month. Dennis Thibeault had said with a 60 day written notice from the town the trailers would be moved.

  1. Formally Abandon Tutko Road &Ross Road

Bob Dubos said in order for the Department of Transportation to approve a road, it must be passable for a Suburban. He would like to terminate the road where the DOT felt it was not passable. Gene Boomer said a town meeting would have to be called. The road needs to be measured, and people have to be notified. Bob Dubos will get more information, and it will be on the agenda for next month.

  1. Single Stream Recycling

Tim Devivo from Willimantic Waste Paper has agreed there will be no increase for garbage pickup the first year, if a five year contract is signed. Gene Boomer made a motion to approve the five year contract offered by Willimantic Waste Paper. Seconded by William Rose III. Motion passed.

  1. Fred Worcester Property-521 Phoenixville Road

Bob Dubos said that he checked on the price this property was selling for. They are asking $92, 500 for 4.7 acres, and approximately one third is wetlands. The town was offered a chance to purchase because it abuts Garrison Field. The Board agreed the price was too much. Bob Dubos will tell them no, but thank them for offering to sell to the town first.


  1. New Business

  1. Tax Collector Refunds

Gene Boomer made a motion to approve the tax refunds as presented. Seconded by William Rose III. Motion passed.

  1. Resignations and Appointments

A letter of resignation was received from Pat Boyd, who was on the Board of Finance. Her resignation was effective as of April 13, 2009. Dick Weingart said the Board appointed Irene Schein to take Pat Boyd’s place till the election in November.

C. Discuss Mileage Reimbursement Rate

Bob Dubos would like to lower the rate that town employees are reimbursed for mileage. Right now the Federal standard rate is used, which is 50.5cents per mile for operating your car for business. The town is not required to follow this guideline. The town pays over $4000 in mileage yearly. Gene Boomer said if the building inspector, wetlands etc. are not paid, it would be difficult for them to do their job. William Rose III feels the mileage should be limited. Dick Weingart agrees. If a change is made, it should be a percent of the Federal guidelines, not a set amount. This way it would not have to be changed as the rate goes up and down. If the rate was changed to 75% of the Federal Rate, there would be a savings of $1500. The Board will think about it and put on agenda for next month.

D. Resolution Concerning Cooperative Agreement with Community Development Block Grant

Bob Dubos said that Connecticut Small Cities provides a grant to help people, who qualify, fix their houses. This is a Cooperative Agreement between Hampton and Chaplin. Hampton has asked Chaplin to join with them again to apply for this Development Block Grant. Bob Dubos said the money is paid back when the home is sold. Gene Boomer made a motion to approve the Joint Community Application for the Small Cities Cooperative Agreement Grant Program. Bob Dubos seconded. The Motion passed with one abstention.

E. Fire Department Training Structure

Bob Dubos received a request from the Fire Department. They want to build a training structure behind the Firehouse. It will be used for ladder training, roof work etc. The Board agreed that the structure could be built.

  1. Budget Endorsement

Dick Weingart presented information on the Budget for FY 2009/2010. In order to balance the budget, Dick needs to appropriate $45, 000 from the Fund Balance. The mill rate will drop to 29.95. With the reevaluation, taxes will still increase for some individuals. Included with the Budget Package is a worksheet for individuals to figure the amount of taxes they will pay. The total budget amount is only increasing by 1.78%. Chaplin Elementary School had a 2.4%increase, but they were cut to a 1.2% increase. They also presented a 0% increase budget, but the Program for Early Reading Intervention would have been cut. The BOF felt this was a valuable program at the Elementary level. Parish Hill High School kept their budget at a 0% increase by using $40,000 from their Fund Balance. Dick talked about the CIP fund. It went up by $16,000, but this amount should be offset by the lower debt payments. The FY2009/2010 Budget will be presented at a town meeting on Monday, May 11th and will be voted on at a Referendum on Monday, May 18th. Bob Dubos made a motion that the Board of Selectmen endorse the FY2009/2010 Budget as presented. Seconded by William Rose III. Motion passed.


  1. Other Business

Bob Dubos would like to change the Voter location to another place in town. He feels the town employees lose too much time. This will be discussed further next month.

Bob Dubos said NEROC stepped in to manage the whole program on the Government Recycling of Electronic Equipment. They will choose a contractor to provide a container at no cost to the towns. All the town has to supply is an assessable flat spot for the container.


  1. Second Audience of Citizens

Jim Randall feels the mileage reimbursement should stay at the Federal Standard Rate so a standard rate will be maintained throughout the state. He questioned the Tutko Road abandonment. The Board said it was up to a Town Meeting. Dick Weingart said the chair of the Library Board suggested a presentation to give the public an explanation on Single Stream Recycling. Bob Dubos will think about doing this.

  1. Agenda Suggestions for Next Meeting

Discuss Mileage Reimbursement

Formally Abandon Tutko Road &Ross Road

Discussion of Recreation Department Applications to Use Field

Single Stream Recycling Presentation

Infrastructure

Voting Location


  1. Date, Time and Place of Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held on June 4, 2009 at 7:00pm at the Chaplin Town Hall.

Gene Boomer made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by William

Rose III. The meeting was adjourned at 9:02pm.


Respectfully Submitted,

Betty G. Urban