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Warner Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes October 11, 2005
Meeting opened at 6:00 p.m. In attendance: Selectman David E. Hartman and Selectman Richard A. Cook Recorder of the minutes is Mary Whalen Others present: Robert Shoemaker III – Cemetery Trustee Russ St. Pierre – Parking Committee Pam McDonald – Parking Committee Intertown Record Christopher Closs – Parking Committee Wendy Pinkham – Finance Director Jim Mitchell – Parking Committee Argus Champion George Pellettieri – Parking Committee Bob Egan – Parking Committee Mr. Shoemaker met with the Selectmen regarding New Waterloo Cemetery. There is currently a vehicle gate and a foot gate. The Trustees recommend restricting vehicle passage from December until spring (or until the ground dries out) allowing only foot traffic during this time. The Trustees recommend establishing a policy; proper procedure was questioned. The Selectmen recommend scheduling a Public Hearing during a Selectmen’s meeting to receive public input. The Trustees will return to the Selectmen with a date for the hearing. The Selectmen proceeded to review the 2006 Cemetery budget. Mowing costs have increased by $1,000.00, and an additional $1,000.00 was added to remove a tree at the Lower Warner Cemetery. The Trustees will be requesting an additional $5,000.00 for headstone restoration in a warrant article. Currently Old Waterloo, Village, Tory Hill, Schoodac (new & old), Cold Hearth and Bagely headstones have been restored. The presented budget exceeds the 3% increase, to maintain the 3% the cost of removing the tree at Lower Warner Cemetery would need to be eliminated. Members of the Parking Committee attended the Selectmen’s meeting to answer some questions from the Board members regarding the submitted Village Parking Concepts – Final Report. Selectman Hartman noted to the members that within the report clarification is needed on two indicated sites; (C & D) to be revised with the proper description. The favored proposal from the Committee members is additional parking added to Simonds School. The proposed area would be adjacent to the kindergarten. There is a conceptual design but there is no calculated cost for the project. It was first thought that the logical area to focus on is behind the Foothills Restaurant but the thought process evolved to the Simonds School. The reason the focus changed was because the cantilever structure that would project out from the hill on the Foothills lot proved to be a higher expense per space. It was also perceived that the owner of the land was not interested in this type of structure. The Committee felt that the development of the school parking would benefit the public. Selectman Cook asked if the Tax Incremented District is affected by the use of property that is in public ownership. Mr. Closs, who is interested in developing the Odd Fellows building, explained that communities create T.I.F’s to meet the demand of public services. The larger the district, meaning to include other businesses, would be more effective in financing and meeting the needs of the community. It was determined that to allow continued expansion to the business area it would require additional parking capacity. Selectman Cook asked if the redevelopment of the Odd Fellows Building is tied directly to the forward movement of and idea such as the additional parking at Simonds School. Mr. Closs explained that with the rising cost of construction material and the increase in interest rates that alone is affecting the redevelopment. A solution to the parking would make it easier to plan for the type of development for building and what can be expected to offer to clients. Initially what is needed is at least 20 spaces close to the building including 3 handicap spaces. The Selectmen recommended revising the report after which copies should be sent to the school Superintendent and the school representatives for feed-back. A meeting should be made with the full school board to discuss the parking scenario. Selectman Cook explained that five candidates have been interviewed for the Town Administrator on October 6, 2005. The interviews were conducted by the Board of Selectmen, Barbara Scarpino (Human Resources at Warner Power), John Dabuliewicz (Warner citizen that made the motion at Town Meeting that created the position), Donetta Haley (Human Resources at Local Government Center). The Board of Selectmen is in the process of reference checks on the top three candidates. The Selectmen approved the purchase of a burner unit for the waste oil furnace at the Transfer Station. Karen Merrill-Antle, School Board Representative was unable to attend the Selectmen’s meeting this evening. Ms. Antle was scheduled for informative purposes. Ms. Antle will meet with the Board on November 8, 2005. Finance Director presented the revised version of the MS-5 for the Selectmen’s signature. Motion to adjourn 7:45 p.m. Board of Selectmen Wayne Eigabroadt – Chairman
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