Pursuant to the foregoing notice a regular Representative Town Meeting of the Town of Greenwich was held on Monday April 9, 2007 at 8:00 P.M.(E.D.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 three new members. Michael C. Carter in District 6 and Rosa A. Fini and Marianna Ponns-Cohen in District 11.
Attendance cards were presented showing 20l present, 27 absent and 1 vacancy. Districts 3 and 6 had perfect attendance.
The members who were absent in District 1 – Mary Ambrogio, Edward D. Dadakis, Frederick R. Feldman, Patrick F Maher, Julie L. Ray, Najm Shams; District 2 – Duncan G. Burke, Nancy B. Burke; District 4 – James T. Wahba; District 5 – Frederick L. Baker, III, J. William Drake; District 7 – Janet K. Lockton; District 8 – Peter E. Berg;
District 9 – Adrian Pasternak, James C. Reilly, Adele Rota; District 10 – Robert M. Byrnes; District 11 – Kevin B. Coyner, David L. Hoffman, Joseph Huley, Joseph J. Kaliko, Fern M Lindsay, Joseph L. Pellegrino, Nicholas Skeadas, Michael G. Wacek; District 12 – David J. Norton, Gerald J. Porricelli.
The Moderator announced that as all members had received a copy of the minutes of the March 12, 2007 meeting, the reading of the minutes would be omitted. He asked if there were any corrections or comments. Mary Ferry of District 5 offered the following corrections to Items 19 and 20 ( to get the wording and the format to line up)
On Page 10 of the minutes –
Item 19, Sec. D6-paragraph D
Fifth line should be the Sixth Line and should read in that line “after the first word “interest”, add the word “or”; after the second word “interest” change ------
Item 20, Sec. D7-B1
Sixth line is Seventh line – and should read –after the word “interest” add “or” and delete the words “or possibility thereof from the eighth line.
Sec. D7 – B3 – tenth line- add the words “or potential” after substantial.
The corrections were adopted by unanimous consent.
The minutes, as corrected, were approved by unanimous consent.
The Moderator announced that the Special Committee on Nathaniel Witherell has withdrawn Item No. 1.
The Moderator announced that Item No. 8 had been withdrawn.
The Moderator suggested a motion, which was moved and seconded, to suspend the rules and combine items 2-4-5-6-& 9.
Motion Carried
The Moderator announced that the combined items were now before the meeting.
Dr. Susan Wallerstein, Assistant Superintendent of Business for the Board of Education, offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 2.
RESOLVED, that the sum of $482,042 is hereby appropriated to be added to account A6401792 52220- Electric Service. Said appropriation to come from Contingency.
Mark Pruner of District 11 made a motion, which was seconded, to reduce this item from $482,042 to $460,000.
The vote was now on Mr. Pruner’s motion to reduce.
In Favor - 147
Against - 48
Abstentions - 3
Amendment Carried
Selectman Peter Crumbine offered the following resolutions, which were duly moved and seconded, regarding Items 4,5 & 6.
4. 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 3/31/10.
KATHRIN D. BROWN
5. 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.
ANNE YOUNG
6. 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 3/31/10.
PATRICIA BURNS
Dr. Susan Wallerstein, Assistant Superintendent of Business for the Board of Education, offered the following substitute resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 9.
RESOLVED, that the Town accept a donation not to exceed $25,000 from the Ruth Brown Foundation; said donation to be added to Account No. Z680179259550 (Hamilton Ave School Building Committee capital project) for the purpose of acquiring and installing a mural at the new Hamilton Avenue School.
The vote was now on the combined items.
In Favor - 198
Against - 0
Abstentions - 0
Items Carried
Douglas Wells, chairman of the Legislative & Rules Committee, made a motion, on behalf of the committee, to limit debate on Item 1 and Item 3 as follows:
The Legislative & Rules Committee moves that the debate on Items 1 and 3 be heard jointly, wherein a proponent representing those persons in favor of Item 1 be given 10 minutes to speak, to be followed by a proponent representing those persons in favor of Item 3 also be given 10 minutes to speak, said proponents to be determined and selected by the Moderator. Motions to postpone either or both items shall not be considered until each proponent has spoken. No other subsidiary motions shall be considered until the debate on the items is concluded. All additional speakers shall be limited to three minutes. Time spent addressing a motion shall count against a speaker’s time available to address the item. The total time for debate on Items 1 and 3 shall be limited to ninety
minutes.
Motion Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 3 on the call was now before the meeting.
David Ormsby, chairman of the Nathaniel Witherell Board, offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 3.
“WHEREAS, the Representative Town Meeting at its meeting on September 20, 2004, adopted a “sense of the meeting” resolution approving a construction project estimated to cost $45.2 million affecting the Nathaniel Witherell Skilled Nursing Facility, subject to a variety of recommendations and conditions proposed by a Special Committee including a recommendation that upon completion of construction the Nathaniel Witherell be transferred by the Town to a new not-for-profit corporation which would assume responsibility for its operation;
“WHEREAS, the present Board of Directors has now supervised the operations of Nathaniel Witherell for nearly 3 years, has proposed a less costly renewal project and has complied with and satisfied nearly all the recommendations and conditions set forth in the prior sense of the meeting resolution;
“WHEREAS, the present Board of Directors of Nathaniel Witherell believe, for a variety of reasons, the recommended transfer of Nathaniel Witherell to a new not-for-profit corporation is an unwise course of action.
“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
“RESOLVED that it is the Sense of the Meeting that if the Nathaniel Witherell Renewal Project currently under consideration by various Town bodies shall be approved by the appropriate authorities, the Nathaniel Witherell shall continue to be owned by the Town of Greenwich and operated as a Town Department unless the RTM shall, at a future date following completion of the Project and based upon a study of the facts then prevailing, urge that appropriate governmental bodies initiate steps to change the form of ownership and operation of Nathaniel Witherell.
After extensive debate, the vote was now on Item No. 3.
In Favor - 170
Against - 26
Abstentions - 3
Item Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 7 on the call was now before the meeting.
Joseph Siciliano, Director of Parks & Recreation, offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 7.
RESOLVED,that the town of Greenwich acting through its First Selectman enter into a lease agreement with Childrens Day School, Inc of Greenwich, Connecticut for space at the Western Greenwich Civic Center.
Jane Arone of District 9 made a motion, which was seconded, to amend the lease on page 7, section 4, sixth line, by deleting the word “necessary’ and add the following language after the word “are” “deemed necessary by applicable local, state and or federal licensing agency.” In line nine – delete the words “a time period” and add “ forty-five days of written notice given to the Town”.
James Boutelle of District 8 questioned the wording of the resolution on the call. The Moderator stated that the resolution must refer to a specific lease.
David Detjen of District 10 made a motion, which was seconded, to refer this item to the Legislative & Rules Committee.
Mary Ferry of District 5 made a motion, which was seconded, to amend Mr. Detjen’s motion by adding that the Legislative & Rules Committee report back to the RTM at the May meeting. Mrs. Ferry’s motion was adopted by unanimous consent.
The vote was now on the motion to refer Item No. 7.
In Favor - 90
Against - 85
Abstentions - 3
Motion Carried
There being no further business, the Moderator adjourned the meeting, upon unanimous consent, at 11:35 P.M.
ATTEST:
CARMELLA C. BUDKINS
TOWN CLERK
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