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Public Safety & Municipal Complex Committee Minutes 1/26/2009
Minutes of the January 26, 2009 Public Safety and Municipal Complex Committee
Meeting -15
Members present: Robert Gery, Jim Richard, Nick Urbinati, Eric Munson III, Bruce Faucher, Robert Maselek and Eric Munson Jr. who arrived after the closing of the Tolland Selectmen’s meeting.
Members absent: Steve DellaGiustina, Wayne Carr, Bob Littlefield, Mike Sullivan, Phil Grannan
Others present: Ted Locke
Meeting called to order-- at 6:19 pm.
Resignation- Bruce Faucher presented the Committee a letter of resignation due to personal reasons. The Committee wants to publicly thank Bruce for his efforts in the past and wished him well. Bob Gery, committee chairman, will undertake to find a replacement, whose name must be approved by the Selectmen.
Agenda item #1--Minutes approved. The minutes Of the December 11, 2008 PSMCC meeting were read and unanimously approved with Nick abstaining (he was not at that meeting).
Secretary- Bob Maselek will assume the role of Secretary. The Committee wishes to thank Steve DellaGiustina for undertaking this job up to now.
Agenda item #2—Marketing plan. Tabled till later in the meeting.
Agenda item # 3—Fire Department by-laws. Bob Maselek reported that the Fire Department has the final by-laws for signature. He is not sure why they are not signed yet and has sent e-mails inquiring about it. Eric Munson III took the action item to check and make sure they do get signed. Bob Gery indicated that there is no reason that they should not be voted on by February 15, 2009 since they were given to the group two months ago. He asked Bob and Eric Munson III to contact Bob Littlefield to move the vote and approval along.
Agenda item # 4—Fire Department tax exempt status. Bob Maselek reported that he is has more work to do on this. He submitted a set of documents, but needs to redo certain parts and re-submit the documents again. Bob agreed to do this by no later than February 15, 2009.
Agenda item # 5—Update on selection of an architectural firm. Bob Gery talked to the President of Lawler Associate who declined to be involved at this time. The Committee [Building Details Subcommittee] will investigate other architectural assistance as it will be needed should the Town approve the DPW building repair and the construction of the Public Safety complex.
Agenda item # 6—Homeowner tax increase. Much discussion was had on the predicted tax increase due to the new buildings. It was agreed that we must get good figures to present soon to the Tolland Town voters. The best guess at this time, which must be verified at Town Hall, is that the both the renovation of the current garage into a safe DPW garage and a new Fire/Police complex on Route 57 will cost approximately $2 million dollars total, which would result in a tax increase on the average house in Tolland of $240 per year [66 cents a day]. These figures subject to verification and change , are based on a town average assessed house and land value of $200,000 and the final tax numbers will be presented to Tolland voters at the appropriate time. Eric Munson, Jr. has
been asked to work with Margaret McClellan and Jess Kelmelis to secure the newest figures. Ted Locke gave some initial input on the process to secure funding[Debt exclusion override discussion].
Once the final total cost numbers are established, the Committee will be looking for a go-ahead indication by voters in a Town meeting so that the Committee can actually spend some additional money on state required architectural and engineering services.
Agenda item #7—Final building cost estimates. Postponed at this time. The committee is working on finalizing building details to be able to better estimate the cost of the repairs to the DPW building and the construction of the Public Safety complex.
Agenda item #8—Explanation of 2 aid grant proposals. Bob Gery explained that we received 2 requests for proposals from the State that had very short deadlines of a couple of days. Bob Maselek received the proposals and sent them immediately to Margaret McClellan. Bob Gery, Eric Munson Jr., Steve DellaGiustina and Tom Paine, with help from Jim Richards, completed the proposals and submitted them. These are part of President Obama’s economic stimulus plan. It may take some time for a reply.
Agenda item # 9—Architect. Bob Gery asked Nick Urbinati and Jim Richard [both on the Building Details Subcommittee]to investigate getting an architect who might help with this project. Nick indicated he would, but wanted to see the Town vote the go ahead on moving forward.
Agenda item # 10—Meet Town residents. Bob Gery would like each Committee member to meet with 5 residents to go over the current building plan details to gauge resident reaction to our plans and be able to reflect this initial input into later town informational meetings that will be held. The Committee wants to make sure that we have a good estimate of the project details as well as the potential annual tax increase due to the building plans before any such meetings occur.
Agenda item #11—Preparation for Town-wide meetings. Same points as item #10.
Agenda item # 12—FEMA grants. Bob Gery indicated that at the Pleasant Valley ,Ct. Firehouse he visited they had received about 90% FEMA money on most equipment they had purchased. In the last 9 years this group had received approval on 7 grants for items like exhaust systems, tanker truck, radios, air packs, turnout gear and storage racks and 2 pumper trucks for a total of $925,000 of which they had to raise $92,500.
Tolland wants to increase its grants approval. Bob Maselek will attend a FEMA grant training session on January 29, 2009 in Great Barrington, MA. He will get as much helpful information as he can and make contact with people who may be able to share information and assist us.
New item—Visits to firehouses. Committee members have visited 8 firehouses with 2 to go. This is to gather information and make contacts. It has been most helpful so far. The Firehouses visited were: Pleasant Valley, North Canton, Sandisfield, Plainfield, Kent, Cummington, Barkhamsted, and Riverton. Granville and Granby will be visited by February 15 by Bob Maselek. When a Committee member visits they fill out a detailed form[taking pictures] with the purpose of learning as much as possible about building suggestions, pitfalls/problems to avoid, architects and builders used …etc.
Revisit item # 2-- Marketing plan activity. The purpose of completion of the marketing plan was to secure appropriate information for town voters to have so as to make the best decisions possible on the pending proposals of the Committee. A recap of the progress so far is as follows:
New Item—Ted Locke. Ted Locke as Tolland Emergency Management Coordinator, presented several items that he thought important that came up as a result of the December 2008 Ice Storm: He complimented the Committee on the Rt. 57 location for the Public Safety complex proposed location as that is an electrical backbone area and usually gets repaired quickly, he needs a room big enough for 3-4 people with full phone and electrical hook up preferable with a center table. He also needs a parking lot that could accommodate 3 large 18 wheelers in an emergency and an inside locked storage space for cots, bedding and other emergency shelter supplies. He would like to see a generator for the entire building.
Meeting adjourned at 8:35pm.
Next Meeting. The next meeting will be Monday March 2 at Tolland Town Hall at 6:00 pm. The public is invited.
Respectfully submitted:
Bob Maselek, Secretary
NOTE: DUE TO A LACK OF A VOTING QUORUM THESE MINUTES WILL BE OFFICIALLY APPROVED AT THE APRIL MEETING OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND MUNICIPAL COMPLEX COMMITTEE [PSMCC]. IT WAS FELT THEY SHOULD GO OUT NOW DUE TO THE PENDING MAY TOWN INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS AND THE JUNE 22 TOWN SPECIAL MEETING TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSAL BY THE PSMCC.
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