Pursuant to the foregoing notice a regular Representative Town Meeting of the Town of Greenwich was held on Monday March 13,2006 at 8:00 P.M. (E.S.T.).
The meeting was called to order by the Moderator Thomas J. Byrne.
The members pledged allegiance to the flag.
The Moderator announced that as all members had received a copy of the call for the meeting, the reading of the call would be omitted.
Town Clerk Carmella C. Budkins swore in the members who were not at the January 23,2006 meeting and two new members, Gregory Roer in District 10 and Nicholas Skeadas in District 11.
Attendance cards were presented showing 178 present, 44 absent and 7 vacancies.
The Moderator announced that as all members had received a copy of the minutes of the January 23, 2006 meeting, the reading of the minutes would be omitted. He asked if there were any corrections or comments, there being none, the minutes were approved as submitted.
Marilyn Adelberg of the Greenwich League of Women Voters presented the 2006-2007 RTM directory to the membership.
The Moderator announced that Items No. 13 and 14 had been withdrawn.
The Moderator suggested a motion, which was duly moved and seconded, to place the following items on the consent calendar - # 8-9-10-11-12-16-17-19-21-24-25 & 26.
The Moderator announced that the consent calendar was now before the meeting.
8. RESOLVED, that the following named persons, nominated by the RTM Appointments Committee, be appointed a member of the RTM Claims Committee for terms expiring 12/31/07.
MICHAEL J. BARNABY
ROBERT L. BEERMAN
EDWARD D. DADAKIS
BRIAN FORROW
RANDALL A. HUFFMAN
LLOYD N. HULL
RICHARD LANDES
EDWARD M. MANGANIELLO
DAVID MELICK
9. RESOLVED, that the following named persons, nominated by the RTM Appointments Committee, be appointed Regular Member of the RTM Labor Contracts Committee for terms expiring 12/31/07.
JAMES G. BOUTELLE
ROBERT M. BYRNES
JOAN CALDWELL
DAVID W. DETJEN
RICHARD GRIEB
10. RESOLVED, that the following named persons, nominated by the RTM Appointments Committee, be appointed Alternate Member of the RTM Labor Contracts Committee for terms expiring 12/31/07.
JOSHUA H. BROWN
M. MICHAEL WARNER
11. RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Alarm Appeals Board for a term expiring 3/31/10.
JAMES H. DAINE
12. RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Alarms Appeals Board for a term expired 3/31/10.
ROBERT FOGG
16. RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Nathaniel Witherell Board for a term expiring 3/31/09.
DAVID G. ORMSBY
17. RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Historic District Commission for a term expiring 3/31/11.
FIFI (PHYLLIS) SHERIDAN
19. RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Board of Health for a term expiring 3/31/10.
ROBERT CARANGELO
21. RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term expiring 3/31/09.
RICHARD MAITLAND
24. RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Board of Social Services for a term expiring 3/31/09.
MARY H. HUYCK
25. RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a regular member of the Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals for a term expiring 3/31/10.
ARTHUR M. DELMHORST
26. RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the South Western Regional Planning Agency for a term expiring 3/31/07.
ROBERT BYRNES
Carl G. Carlson, Jr. of District 1 objected to placing Item No. 21 on the consent calendar.
The objection failed , by lack of 20 members supporting the objection.
The vote was now on the consent calendar.
In Favor - 170
Against - 1
Abstentions - 1
Items Carried
The Moderator suggested a motion, which was duly moved and seconded, to suspend the rules and combine items 1-3-4-18 & 20 for voting purposes and consider items 2-5-6-7-15-22 & 23 separately.
Motion Carried
Robert J. Tuthill of District 3 made a motion, which was duly moved and seconded to limit debate as follows:
The time to speak at this meeting will be limited to three minutes per speaker for each motion, except that the proponent and principal opponent for the motion (the latter to be determined by the Moderator) shall be entitled to speak for ten minutes each.
Motion Carried
The Moderator announced that the combined items were now before the meeting.
Dr. Susan Wallerstein, Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations for the Board of Education, offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 1.
RESOLVED, that the Town of Greenwich accept the donation from the Glenville PTA and Glenville Child Care not to exceed $67,000, said sum to be appropriated to account Z 6801792 59830 26134 – Glenville Playground and Sign – for the purchase and installation of replacement and supplemental playground equipment and the purchase and installation of an exterior sign consistent with the executed Memoranda of Understanding.
James Boutelle of District 8 made a motion, which was seconded, to amend the item by deleting the words “and supplemental” in the fourth line of the resolution.
The vote was now on the Boutelle motion.
In Favor - 109
Against - 64
Abstentions - 3
Motion Carried
First Selectman James Lash introduced Lloyd Hubbs, the new Commissioner of Public Works, to the membership.
Robert Kalm, Deputy Commissioner of Public Works, offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 3.
RESOLVED, that the sum of $170,000 be and the same is hereby appropriated to be added to Sewer Maintenance Fund Account Number J361-59650-26122, known as “Force Main Reconstruction.”
Dr. Susan Wallerstein, Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations of the Board of Education, offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 4.
RESOLVED, that the sum of $13,000 be and is hereby appropriated to be added to account A 6501792 54050 – Maintenance of Buildings. Said appropriation to come from Fund Balance.
Selectman Peter Crumbine offered the following substitute resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 18.
RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed an alternate member of the Historic District Commission for a term expiring 3/31/11.
JOAN MURPHY
Selectman Peter Crumbine offered the following substitute resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 20.
RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term expiring 3/31/07.
DONALD HELLER
The vote was now on the combined items.
In Favor - 176
Against - 1
Abstentions - 0
Items Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 2 on the call was now before the meeting.
Alfred Cava, Director of Labor Relations, offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 2.
RESOLVED, that the sum of $45,000 for the fiscal year 2005-2006 be and the same is hereby appropriated to carry out the terms of the negotiated two year collective bargaining agreement between the Town of Greenwich and the Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 136, AFL-CIO.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Representative Town Meeting of the Town of Greenwich hereby approves such provisions of the agreement, if any, which may be in conflict with any charter provisions, special act, ordinance, rule, or regulation of the Town of Greenwich with the meaning of Connecticut General Statutes, Section 7-474.
The vote was now on Item No. 2.
In Favor - 173
Against - 2
Abstentions - 2
Item Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 5 on the call was now before the meeting.
Betsy Frumin, chairman of District 9, offered the following sense of the meeting resolution.
WHEREAS, in 1999 The Board of Selectmen of Greenwich authorized the Western Greenwich Civic Center Committee to raise money in a public private partnership for the purpose of renovating and rehabilitating the Western Greenwich Civic Center building to be used as a community and civic center for the Town of Greenwich; and
WHEREAS, in order to facilitate fund-raising activities in support of the renovation and rehabilitation of the Western Greenwich Civic Center building, the Western Greenwich Civic Center Committee formed the Western Greenwich Civic Center Foundation, Inc, (“Foundation”) as a not for profit, non stock Connecticut corporation approved under the Internal Revenue Code section 501C3; and
WHEREAS, the Foundation solicited funds from individuals, corporations, foundations and governmental agencies (collectively, the “Donors”) for the stated purpose of specifically renovating and rehabilitating the Western Greenwich Civic Center as a community and civic center; and
WHEREAS, through the fund-raising efforts of the Foundation, including the solicitation of donations and the organization of community events (such as a golf tournament, a pancake breakfast, cow chips sales, a spaghetti dinner, video sales, and sale of bricks), the Foundation raised a total of over three million dollars (the “Foundation Funds”) including the Lowenstein gift for the specific purpose of renovating and rehabilitating the Western Greenwich Civic Center as a community and civic center; and
WHEREAS, at its October 2001 meeting, the RTM accepted a gift from the Foundation for 2.5 million dollars arising from a grant from the Leon Lowenstein Foundation for the rehabilitation of the Western Greenwich Civic Center, and the RTM agreed to rename the renovated building the “Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center”; and
WHEREAS, on November 30, 2005, the Foundation delivered to the First Selectman over 2.2 million dollars of the Foundation Funds for the Town’s use in renovating and rehabilitating the Western Greenwich Civic Center as a community and civic center; and
WHEREAS, it appears that at some time in or about January 2006, it was first disclosed by the Office of the First Selectman that proposed significant changes to the use of the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center, including the relocation of Town Department(s) to the renovated building, are under consideration and/or development; and
WHEREAS, at no time prior to January 2006 were such proposed significant changes to the use of the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center disclosed to the Foundation which raised private funds for the specific and stated purpose of renovating and rehabilitating the Western Greenwich Civic Center as a community and civic center;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that it is the Sense of the Meeting that the RTM endorses the original stated purpose of the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center exclusively as a community and civic center and opposes any effort by the Board of Selectmen or any other entity to use the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center for municipal departments or offices.
Pamela Frederick, chairman of the Finance Committee, made a motion on behalf of the committee, to amend the resolution in the last paragraph, third sentence, by deleting the word “exclusively” and the rest of the sentence from the word “opposes” to the end of paragraph. Then insert the following wording after the word “and”: “ endorses the concept of public/private partnerships that made it possible.”
The vote was on the Finance Committee amendment.
In Favor - 96
Against - 80
Abstentions - 1
Amendment Carried
The vote was now on Item No. 5 as amended.
In Favor - 167
Against - 10
Abstentions - 1
Item Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 6 on the call was now before the meeting.
Alan Small of District 10 offered the following sense of the meeting resolution.
Whereas, Officials of the Town of Greenwich placed on the November 1975 election ballot a referendum question that stated: “For charter amendments under General Statutes Section 7-191 transferring certain administrative and other powers and duties from the Board of Selectmen to a full-time First Selectman and changing their terms of office”. This referendum question passed by a margin of 5,747 to 3,606.
Whereas, Section 7-192 of the Connecticut General Statutes states “Any municipality administering its local affairs under the provisions of the general statutes or special acts adopted prior to said date may continue to so administer its local affairs until the electors of such municipality avail themselves of the provisions of this chapter”, referring to the Home Rule Act of which 7-191 that was followed to place the referendum on the ballot is a chapter.
Whereas, the referendum result passing the question constituted the voters “availing themselves” of the provisions of the C.G.S. Home Rule Act which result was recorded by the Town Clerk and the Secretary of the State of CT.
Now, Therefore be it Resolved, it is the sense of the meeting that the Greenwich RTM requests that under the provisions of section 7-188 of C.G.S. the Board of Selectman appoint a Commission for the amendment of its Charter, as required under the Home Rule Act after the passing of the 1975 voter referendum under 7-191. The topics to be considered, for amending the charter are: The items and language proposed for charter amendment from the June RTM meeting of sewer assessment and payments, the creation of a Department of Parking Services, the creation of a Town Administrator position, the powers and duties of the First Selectman, codification of the Dept. of Human Resources, and any other topics for proposed charter amendments as may properly come before the Commission.
H. Franklin Bloomer, Jr., chairman of the Land Use Committee, made a motion, on behalf of the committee, to postpone this item indefinitely.
The vote was now on the Land Use Committee motion.
In Favor - 141
Against - 29
Abstentions - 5
Motion Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 7 on the call was now before the meeting.
Paul Curtis of District 9 offered the following sense of the meeting resolution.
WHEREAS, The Representative Town Meeting (the "RTM") of the Town of Greenwich (the "Town") recognizes the Capital Improvement Projects Committee (the "CIP Committee") has instituted a well managed process for the identification, prioritization, and funding of capital projects; and
WHEREAS, The RTM in its responsibility as the representatives of the electorate of the Town needs to have at its disposal information pertaining to the capital projects that will affect the subsequent Town budgets; and
WHEREAS, The RTM in its responsibility as the representatives of the electorate of the Town needs to ensure that capital projects continue to serve the best interests of the Town; and
WHEREAS, The RTM has voiced its approval of this process over the course of the last three Town budget cycles.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that it is the Sense of the Meeting that:
1. The RTM be provided with the best and most current list of the capital projects to be proposed in the next Town budget as a part of the Call for the prior September RTM.
2. The RTM be provided with funding decision checkpoints for capital projects which extend over more than one Town budget. These checkpoints shall be clearly identified in advance as RTM decision points for funding of any one such capital project.
3. The RTM will approve a Sense of the Meeting resolution at each funding decision checkpoint of a capital project to inform the CIP Committee and the Board of Estimate and Taxation of its continued support of that capital project.
William Clark of District 7, Secretary of the Legislative and Rules Committee, made a motion, on behalf of the committee, to amend the item, in the number 3 paragraph, first line, delete the word “approve” and insert the words “put forth”.
Motion Carried
Randall Huffman, chairman of the Budget Overview Committee, made a motion, on behalf of the committee, to amend this item by adding a fourth paragraph as follows:
“4. The Moderator is requested to create a Special Committee made up of RTM members with appropriate expertise in major capital projects, building or construction management whose first order of business will be to develop the actual process for RTM review of projects on the CIP list, including checkpoints for periodic review by the RTM on ongoing projects. “
The vote was now on the Budget Overview Committee motion.
In Favor - 74
Against - 85
Abstentions - 3
Motion Lost
The vote was now on Item No. 7 as amended.
In Favor - 92
Against - 68
Abstentions - 4
Item Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 15 on the call was now before the meeting.
Selectman Peter Crumbine offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 15.
RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Nathaniel Witherell Board for a term expiring 3/31/09.
RONALD B. DRESKIN
The vote was now Item No. 15.
In Favor - 158
Against - 2
Abstentions - 0
Item Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 22 on the call was now before the meeting.
Selectman Peter Crumbine offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 22.
RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Board of Social Services for a term expiring 3/31/09.
ANNE DRAKE
The vote was now on Item No. 22.
In Favor - 40
Against - 107
Abstentions - 10
Item Lost
The Moderator announced that Item No. 23 on the call was now before the meeting.
Selectman Peter Crumbine offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 23.
RESOLVED, that the following named person, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed a member of the Board of Social Services for a term expiring 3/31/09.
DIANE C. FOX
The vote was now on Item No. 23.
In Favor - 134
Against - 8
Abstentions - 1
Item Carried
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned, upon unanimous consent,
At 11:40 P.M.
ATTEST:
CARMELLA C. BUDKINS
TOWN CLERK
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