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Pursuant to the foregoing notice, a regular Representative Town Meeting of the Town of Greenwich was held in the Moderator’s Hall at Central Middle School on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 8:00 P.M.(E.D.T.)
The meeting was called to order by Moderator Thomas J. Byrne.
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 two new members: Juan Sosa in District 9 and Dora Williams in District 10.
Attendance cards were presented showing 192 present, 36 absent and 2 vacancies.
The members who were absent in District 1 – Mary Ambrogio, Norman Collins, Patrick Maher; District 2 – Kevin Brogan, Carolo F. Cantavero, Sr., Joseph Kaliko; District 4 – Felix Andreoni, Paul Barbian, Maria Popp; District 5 – Karen Oztemel; District 6 – John Harkins, Joseph Stroll; District 8 – John Beckwith, Joshua Brown, Tod Laudonia, Drew Marzullo, Alicia Shreders; District 9 - Michael Dunne, Anna Napolitano, Adrian Pasternak, Gregory Skidmore; District 10 – Robert Byrnes, John Lucarelli, Alan Small; District 11 – Rosa Fini, James Hesburgh, Robert Maddox, Kunduck Moon, Joseph Pellegrino, Mary Waldron; District 12 – Shawn Asselin, Hope Polidoro, David Roberson, Sandra Romaniello, Mary Romeo,
Jane Sulich.
The Moderator introduced the Greenwich Choral Society, under the direction of Paul Mueller, who sang a couple of selections that they will be performing on their trip to France this summer as part of an exchange with the Town’s sister city of Vienne, France.
First Selectman Peter Tesei offered some background and presented the group with the following resolution.
BACKGROUND: In 2006, Mrs. Craig Stapleton, wife of Ambassador Craig Stapleton, United States Ambassador to France and both Honorary Members of the Alliance Francaise of Greenwich, and Daniel Vock, President of Alliance Francaise of Greenwich, began proceedings to create a Sister City relationship between Greenwich and the Town of Vienne, France.
The First Selectman of Greenwich and the Mayor of Vienne, France signed formal documents to this effect in March 2007 and re-affirmed this new relationship again in October 2007. Both towns have agreed to prepare cultural exchanges as the first part of this new relationship.
The Greenwich Choral Society accepted the opportunity of launching the first cultural exchange in support of this Sister Cities relationship and has produced an important concert tour and diplomatic exchange opportunity to represent the Greenwich community. The concert tour will occur in July,2008 and include performances in Vienne and at the Ambassador’s residence in Paris on July 4, 2008.
The resolution was adopted unanimously by a round of applause.
RESOLUTION:
Now, therefore, on this 9th day of June, 2008, it is the sense of the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting that several citizens be identified to represent the Town of Greenwich as its ambassadors to its Sister City of Vienne, France. Greenwich’s ambassadors on this inaugural cultural exchange shall be: Renee Ketchum, President of Alliance Francaise of Greenwich; Daniel and Susan l Vock of the Alliance Francaise of Greenwich; Robert Luce, Chairman and CEO of the Greenwich Choral Society and his wife, Barbara, Erford E. Porter II of the Greenwich Representative Town Meeting and his wife, Jane.
The Greenwich Representative Town Meeting salutes the Greenwich Choral Society, its Director, Paul F. Mueller, and the aforementioned ambassadors; and extends through them our best wishes to the citizens of our Sister City, Vienne, France.
I also recognize the participation in the cultural exchange of Renee Ketcham, Jean-Louis Gerin, and Elizabeth and Michael Buddy, as well as all GCS choristers.
The Moderator announced that as all members had received a copy of the minutes of the May 12, 2008 meeting, the reading of the minutes would be omitted.
He noted a correction on page 19 – the vote, on the motion to reduce Code No. 680-956-29056 GHS Auditorium and Music Room, should be 69-115-3. He asked if there were any other corrections or comments. There being none, the minutes as amended were adopted by unanimous consent.
Despina Fassuliotis of District 11, chairman of the RTM 75th Anniversary Committee, presented a short report on the committee and announced that the celebration will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2008 from 2 to 5 P.M. in the Greenwich High School Student Center.
The Moderator announced that Items 1 and 4 had been withdrawn.
Pursuant to RTM rules, the Moderator designated the following items be placed on the consent calendar – 5,13,14 & 16.
The items on the consent calendar are:
5. RESOLVED, that the sum of $700,000 be and the same is hereby appropriated from RESERVED for CAPITAL & NON-RECURRING FUND to Board of Education account Z68059560, Project 28139 for GHS Clark House roof.
13. RESOLVED, that the sum of $300,000 be and the same is hereby appropriated to be added to Operating Account Number A321-52510, known as Public Works- “Waste Removal Services”.
14. RESOLVED, that the sum of $90,000 be and the same is hereby appropriated to be added to Operating Account Number J361-52220, known as Public Works- “Electrical Service”.
16. RESOLVED, that the Town of Greenwich, Department of Parks & Recreation accepts a gift of a new gazebo valued at $25,000.00 to replace the existing gazebo in Bruce Park. The gift is from the Hortulus Garden Club.
The vote was now on the consent calendar.
In Favor - 177
Against - 2
Abstentions - 0
Items Carried
The Moderator suggested a motion, which was moved and seconded, to suspend the rules and combine items 8,11,12 & 15 and consider separately items 2,3,6,7,9,10,17.
Motion Carried
The Moderator announced that the combined items were now before the meeting.
Susan Wallerstein of the Board of Education offered the following resolution, which was moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 8.
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education be authorized to accept the donation of a Veteran’s Memorial at Hamilton Ave. School from the Chickahominy Reunion Association.
Town Attorney J. Wayne Fox offered the following resolution, which was moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 11.
RESOLVED, that the sum of $300,000 be and the same is hereby appropriated to be added to Account No. A140-51400, Law Department- Professional and Other Special Services – Attorneys.
Town Administrator John Crary offered the following resolution, which was moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 12.
RESOLVED, pursuant to State Public Act No. 95-268, An Act concerning Neighborhood Assistance, the programs set out in the Explanatory Comments (attached) and complete applications filed in the Town Clerk’s office are hereby approved for the purpose of encouraging business contributions to non-profit organizations and government agencies providing important services in Greenwich.
Gerald Isaacson, Chairman of the Health & Human Services Committee, made a motion on behalf of the committee, to amend the resolution in the first line, changing the “a” in the word “An” to lower case and in the second line deleting the words “set out in the Explanatory Comments( attached)”.
Motion was adopted by unanimous consent.
First Selectman Peter Tesei offered the following resolution, which was moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 15.
RESOLVED, that the sum of $30,000 be and the same is hereby appropriated to be added to Capital Account Number B345-59560-28021, known as Public Works- “BOE/Senior Center”.
Christine Edwards of District 8 made a motion, which was seconded, to divide Item 15 from the combined items and consider it separately. Mrs. Edwards requested that a record
vote be taken.
The vote on Mrs. Edward’s motion to divide.
In Favor - 90
Against - 94
Abstentions - 3
Motion Lost
The vote was now on the combined items.
In Favor - 151
Against - 31
Abstentions - 4
Items Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 2 on the call, postponed from the April 2008 meeting, was now before the meeting.
RESOLVED, that the following named persons, nominated by the Board of Selectmen, be appointed members of the Greenwich High School Musical Instructional Space and Auditorium Building Committee.
Genevieve (Genny) Krob
Leslie Cooper
Robert Brady
Joseph Ross
Frank Napolitano
Steve Loparco
Aris Crist
The vote was now on Item No. 2.
In Favor - 151
Against - 26
Abstentions - 8
Item Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 3 on the call was now before the meeting.
Town Attorney Aamina Ahmad offered the following resolution, which was duly moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 3.
RESOLVED, TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE PURSUANT TO PUBLIC ACT 07-170 APPROVED ON JUNE 29, 2007.
WHEREAS, Public Act 07-170 was approved on June 29, 2007; and
WHEREAS, Public Act 07-170 permits any municipality to abate real or personal property taxes due with respect to any tax paid or payable by a nonprofit land conservation organization; and
WHEREAS, such an ordinance must be approved by the legislative body of the municipality; and
WHEREAS, the Town desires to adopt such ordinance pursuant to Public Act 07-170 and to make it applicable to property transfers that occur on or after July 1, 2008.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY ORDAINED, that the Representative Town Meeting of the Town of Greenwich hereby approves the ordinance attached hereto and made a part hereof to abate certain real and personal property taxes due by a nonprofit land conservation organization.
TAX ABATEMENT ORDINANCE FOR NONPROFIT LAND
CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS
For transfers on or after July 1, 2008, of property exempt under § 12-81(7) of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 12-1 of the Municipal Code of the Town of Greenwich, the real and personal property taxes due for any portion of a tax year with respect to any tax paid or payable by a nonprofit land conservation organization shall be abated, even if the real and personal property taxes were due for a period before the date of acquisition but were paid or became payable subsequent to the date of acquisition, but in no case shall delinquent taxes or interest thereon be abated.
Francis Burgweger, Jr.,Vice Chairman of the Legislative and Rules Committee, made a motion on behalf of the committee, to refer this item back to the committee to work with the town attorney to clarify the law and report back to the RTM.
Motion Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 6 on the call was now before the meeting.
Susan Wallerstein of the Board of Education offered the following substitute resolution, which was moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 6.
RESOLVED, that the sum of $500,000 be and the same is hereby appropriated from the General Fund Balance to various accounts as listed in the call.
A |
600 |
177251490 |
Professional Svces. NOC |
114,887 |
A |
600 |
178652020 |
Printing & Binding |
70,602 |
A |
620 |
179351310 |
Temporary Svces. - Teachers |
33,329 |
A |
640 |
178951440 |
Profess'l. Svces. - Consult |
171,407 |
A |
640 |
178952500 |
Cleaning Svces. |
48,061 |
A |
660 |
176652120 |
Transportation - Pupils |
61,714 |
The vote was now on Item No. 6.
In Favor - 158
Against - 26
Abstentions - 8
Item Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 7 on the call was now before the meeting.
Frank Mazza, Chairman of the Hamilton Avenue School Building Committee, offered the following resolution, which was moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 7.
RESOLVED, that the sum of $200,000 is hereby appropriated and added to the following Board of Education account: Z6801792 59550 25110 for the Hamilton Avenue School Reconstruction. Said appropriation to come from the Capital and Non-Recurring Fund.
The vote was now on Item No. 7.
In Favor - 151
Against - 27
Abstentions - 6
Item Carried
The Moderator announced that Items 9 & 10 were now before the meeting.
First Selectman Peter Tesei offered the following resolutions, which were moved and seconded, regarding Items 9 & 10.
9. 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 3/31/11.
PAUL S. MARCHESE
10. 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 3/31/11.
FRANK FARRICKER
H. Franklin Bloomer, Jr, Chairman of the Land Use Committee, made a motion on behalf of the committee, to postpone Items 9 & 10 until the September 2008 meeting.
Motion Carried
The Moderator announced that Item No. 17 on the call was now before the meeting.
Despina Fassuliotis, Chairman of the RTM Anniversary Committee, offered the following resolution, which was moved and seconded, regarding Item No. 17.
RESOLVED, that the RTM authorizes the acceptance of donations of cash and in-kind gifts for the Seventy-Fifth Anniversary Celebration up to a total value of $500 per individual donation, and the cash gifts shall become appropriations that the Comptroller may add to the appropriate accounts which may be used along with the in-kind gifts by the RTM’s 75th Anniversary Celebration Committee.
Evan Delman, Chairman of the Town Services Committee, made a motion, on behalf of the committee,to amend the resolution, by deleting the words “up to a total value of $500 per individual donation”.
Motion Lost
The vote was now on Item No. 17.
In Favor - 174
Against - 1
Abstentions - 0
Item Carried
There being no further business, the Moderator adjourned the meeting, upon unanimous consent, at 10:00 P.M.
ATTEST;
CARMELLA C. BUDKINS
TOWN CLERK
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