[0:00] We could all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

[0:03]

[0:07] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

[0:11] and to the Republic for which it stands.

[0:13] One nation under God, indivisible,

[0:17] with liberty and justice for all.

[0:19]

[0:21] All right welcome, everybody.

[0:25] Thank you.

[0:28] Here next item on our agenda is public comment.

[0:34] This portion of the meeting is specifically set aside

[0:37] for comments from the public, who are asked to limit

[0:39] their comments to two minutes.

[0:41] Any person interested in providing public comment via

[0:44] email should email public meetings at Rocky Hill, ct.gov,

[0:48] prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the meeting to have their public

[0:52] comment read into the record.

[0:55] Do we have anybody present who would like to offer

[0:58] a comment this evening.

[1:00]

[1:03] With number.

[1:04] Go, Charlie.

[1:04] Go right ahead.

[1:05] Go, Charlie.

[1:06] Step right up.

[1:09] Oh go ahead.

[1:10] Oh, OK.

[1:11] Sure somebody take a step.

[1:15] It's dreary outside.

[1:17] Let's get this going.

[1:20] This is dreary.

[1:21] Also, I have two pages to read.

[1:26] That's all very short, Charlie.

[1:30] Thank you, Mayor Smith and the town council.

[1:32] Charlie sorry, but can you just.

[1:33] We know who you are, but can you just say your name

[1:35] and address for the record.

[1:37] Thank you.

[1:38] Yes Charlie Wisniewski, 670 old Main Street.

[1:42] I thank you, Mayor Smith and the town council

[1:45] for permitting me to speak on March 2.

[1:48] I have public comments on the public property, the veterans

[1:52] green and adjacent streets without an opportunity

[1:57] to participate in an unfolding process, to spend my tax money,

[2:03] to alter my neighborhood.

[2:04] I shout out the following.

[2:07] The bids are due tomorrow.

[2:10] Next, a winner will be announced.

[2:13] Apparently there is a selection committee

[2:16] required by the state SLR.

[2:20] Kelson rose, engineer, was invited to bid.

[2:25] In my opinion, some of the bid materials sent to them

[2:29] was created by them, including the conceptual design

[2:34] or concept sketch.

[2:36] Some language in the bid package is

[2:39] similar to what was presented to the town by SLR in March 2025.

[2:45] In my opinion, it may be perceived

[2:47] that favoritism is present.

[2:50] This is borne out by the difference in the cover emails

[2:54] to SLR versus the other three targeted firms.

[2:59] In my opinion, there has been unequal access

[3:03] to project information.

[3:05] SLR has worked with the town of rocky Hill

[3:07] on the elements of the bid request in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

[3:13] In my opinion, SLR had advanced knowledge of the project's

[3:17] scope, as evidenced by multiple proposals sent to the town,

[3:22] with adjustments based upon cost estimates

[3:24] discussed with the town.

[3:26]

[3:29] Next issue is the health, safety,

[3:31] welfare and public policy.

[3:34] In my opinion, the bid request and the vision of the Veterans

[3:38] Memorial green, developed by SLR and the town's engineer,

[3:43] does not incorporate the explicit public policy

[3:48] of the town.

[3:49] Why do I say that.

[3:52] Rocky Hill zoning regulations and map establish

[3:56] the town center district.

[3:59] The 2025 plan of conservation and development of rocky Hill

[4:05] significantly focuses on the town center

[4:08] and the public policies of pedestrians, walkability,

[4:13] and slow speed streets.

[4:17] The town council passed a resolution on June 5, 2023,

[4:23] adopting a complete streets policy,

[4:26] including language that roadways be safe and convenient,

[4:31] including pedestrians and bicyclists.

[4:35] So what is wrong with the town SLR plan and narrative.

[4:40] It was created in 2024 without public input.

[4:44] It was created before the June 2025 adoption of the plan

[4:51] of conservation and development, which states

[4:54] pedestrians, not vehicles.

[4:57] A high quality pedestrian network and where

[5:00] pedestrian considerations generally outweigh

[5:05] vehicular considerations.

[5:08] The town SLR effort does not incorporate Connecticut General

[5:12] Assembly, Connecticut Transportation Institute,

[5:16] and Connecticut dot USTA recommendations

[5:20] that a pedestrian safety zone can be established

[5:25] in a town center zone.

[5:28] You, the town council, have the approval authority

[5:32] to lower the speed below 25.

[5:38] The town plan does not consider the report to the town council's

[5:46] public safety subcommittee.

[5:48] On March 2, 2026 data were presented that documented

[5:55] a daily average number of speeding vehicles

[5:59] at Main Street in Garden Street of 2856.

[6:06] This is at the Northern tip of Veterans Memorial green.

[6:10] There is no reason to believe that the driver's behavior

[6:13] is different on dividend road.

[6:16] What do I want.

[6:18] Do not jeopardize or delay the $500,000

[6:24] for issues related to the selection of a consultant.

[6:29] Express to the public a means to participate

[6:34] in the process of the evolution of our neighborhood

[6:38] in this specific location, but also

[6:41] for future similar situations.

[6:45] Do we need all this effort for some stop

[6:48] signs in traffic speed signs.

[6:51] Thank you.

[6:53] Thank you.

[6:54]

[6:58] Thank you Charlie.

[6:59] Thank you.

[7:00] Charlie do we have somebody else.

[7:03] Thank you so much.

[7:06] Thank you sir.

[7:08] Thank you.

[7:09] OK, just one minute.

[7:12]

[7:15] Thank you.

[7:16] Chair Charlie.

[7:19]

[7:26] Glasses oh.

[7:29] Your glasses.

[7:32] Thank you.

[7:33] Hi, I'm Heather Taylor.

[7:34] I live at 50 Elm Street.

[7:36] I'm also right now the moderator of rocky Hill

[7:39] Congregational Church.

[7:40] Moderator means I basically was elected

[7:42] as chairperson of the church.

[7:43] And it's in that capacity that I want to talk to you.

[7:46] We are celebrating our 300th anniversary next year.

[7:50] So we're preparing for that.

[7:51] So we increasingly strive to position ourselves

[7:54] as a community center and a resource for people,

[7:57] all residents of rocky Hill, not just members

[7:59] of our own congregation.

[8:00] So we've had several really successful concerts

[8:03] and other educational events and things which have been great.

[8:06] We love the fact that increasingly the town

[8:08] center is a place of vibrancy.

[8:10] Walkability has improved.

[8:12] We have bike racks now at several locations which we love.

[8:16] So our church is in favor of things that bring vibrancy

[8:19] and a sense of community to this area of town, the town center.

[8:23] And to that end, I would love to see the town amend

[8:26] its public arts policy to consider proposed art projects

[8:30] that could take place not just in the town's parks,

[8:33] but also in this area of town.

[8:36] We would love the increased visibility and vibrancy

[8:39] and sense of community that could be possible if art

[8:42] like that was considered.

[8:44] Thank you, thank you.

[8:45]

[8:52] Hey, check 40 Riverview road.

[8:57] Excuse me.

[8:58] Pencil Casino.

[9:00] Casino oh, sorry.

[9:01] Wrong wrong paper.

[9:05] Wrong that was.

[9:07] I'm speaking for my wife tonight.

[9:10] Alexis ciccarello.

[9:12] She wrote a statement, and I'd like to read

[9:14] her statement into the record.

[9:18] So, Alexis ciccarello, 40 Riverview road.

[9:21] I'm here today as a member of rocky Hill arts,

[9:24] now as the program director of the Rocky Hill Historical

[9:28] Society and as a member of the Rocky Hill theater

[9:31] group, the Hillside players.

[9:34] I have lived in Rocky Hill for over 30 years, and in that time,

[9:38] there has been little in the way of public art

[9:40] and public art policy.

[9:42] I believe it's about time that we champion the arts in Rock

[9:46] Hill and commit ourselves to supporting Arts Initiatives

[9:51] such as the pride crosswalk.

[9:54] Also, we must push for development that centers

[9:56] on the needs of rocky Hill.

[9:59] The Rock Hill community in regards to designing

[10:02] shared public space.

[10:05] I believe rocky Hill needs more public art.

[10:08] I would like to encourage you today to consider and adopt

[10:10] the revisions to the current rocky Hill

[10:13] arts policy as it stands today.

[10:15] It is really a crosswalk policy and not an arts policy.

[10:21] By expanding it to include additional locations in town

[10:25] and including works of art and other disciplines,

[10:28] it will truly be a public arts policy.

[10:33] No doubt public art is crucial to the vitality of a town.

[10:37] As it is a means to enlivening its streetscapes,

[10:40] to developing a distinctive sense of place

[10:43] to stimulating economic growth and to increasing

[10:47] the visual quality of the environment for its townspeople

[10:50] and visitors alike.

[10:53] It is a proven fact that the benefits

[10:55] of public art to the well-being of a community are numerous.

[11:00] Therefore, I urge you to please pass the revisions

[11:03] to the Rocky Hill arts policy.

[11:05] Thank you for your consideration and support

[11:08] of the arts in Rocky Hill.

[11:10] And if I just may go back to my own self,

[11:14] I do support everything.

[11:16] Charlie was is talking about and I remember I came here,

[11:21] I don't a couple of months ago perhaps complaining a little bit

[11:25] about the communication in regards

[11:27] to people from the council and staff getting in touch

[11:32] with people from the podium.

[11:34] And I just want to say over the last couple of months,

[11:36] I really appreciated the folks who have reached out to me.

[11:39] Who you are, and I look forward to communicating with all of you

[11:44] in the future.

[11:45] Thanks Thank you.

[11:47] Thank you.

[11:50] Do we have anybody else.

[11:53] Anybody else.

[11:54] Step up to the podium.

[11:56]

[12:01] Hi, my name is Frank shank.

[12:03] I live at 121 Pebblebrook drive and that's in Rocky Hill.

[12:06] Hi, Alan.

[12:06] How you doing today.

[12:07] Hello anyway, I wanted to talk about the Rocky

[12:13] Hill arts policy.

[12:15] Art is really good for every community,

[12:17] and it has to be in the right place,

[12:19] I think what people could see it and stuff like that.

[12:23] But what I think is not good to be on public buildings or school

[12:27] buildings and stuff like that.

[12:29] But in the buildings I think it would be good.

[12:31] The hallways, the gyms somewhere when

[12:34] you walk into school, something like that,

[12:37] but not on the building.

[12:38] So I think everyone that lives here, if they built a brick

[12:42] house, I don't think they're going to paint it because bricks

[12:45] aren't made to be painted.

[12:48] But anyway, that's what I want to say.

[12:50] Thank you for my consideration.

[12:52] All right.

[12:53] Thank you.

[12:54]

[12:58] Any yeah.

[12:58]

[13:05] Hello Mary Beth for Crowell farm road.

[13:09] I'm here tonight to share some thoughts on the public art

[13:13] in Rocky Hill.

[13:14] I read the four page artwork policy adopted on November 1,

[13:20] 2024, and from start to finish, I

[13:22] struggled to find any language that described art and a process

[13:26] to inspire people in town to create something that

[13:29] defines us and inspires us.

[13:31] As members of rocky Hill, I looked up

[13:34] the definition of artistic having or revealing

[13:37] natural creative skill.

[13:39] Aesthetically pleasing art is the result

[13:42] of people who create, imagine, invent,

[13:45] and express feelings emotions.

[13:50] Art is an aesthetic.

[13:52] It can be beautiful.

[13:54] It can be inspirational.

[13:56] The policy.

[13:57] As I read it, the statement in the first paragraph

[14:00] says that public art is a catalyst for social interaction

[14:03] and education, and I agree.

[14:06] But what about imagination, inspiration,

[14:08] creativity and beauty.

[14:11] We need our residents to help us define who we are with our art,

[14:14] and then have people think about who we aspire to be.

[14:18] The policy says our public art can only

[14:21] be painted on crosswalks, sidewalks, and parking lots

[14:24] located in public parks.

[14:27] Why is this the only idea that the writers believe is art.

[14:32] I imagine that public art can be a beautiful sign that is seen

[14:35] in the location where it stands in a park or a garden,

[14:39] or planters of beautiful flowers.

[14:42] Public art can also be inside town buildings,

[14:45] as the gentleman said.

[14:47] Pictures painted by residents of all ages.

[14:49] I'm sure that our town school buildings display

[14:52] art on the walls, on bulletin boards,

[14:54] and maybe outside as well.

[14:56] The second paragraph under this policy under purposes,

[15:00] says the policy talks about procedures and guidelines.

[15:03] It says that the purpose of this policy

[15:04] is to establish rules and regulations

[15:07] as an expression of the town's official government speech.

[15:12] Is that all we are.

[15:14] Is that how we want our elected leaders to invite our residents

[15:18] to open their imaginations and to reflect

[15:21] on who we are in Rocky Hill and who we aspire to be.

[15:25] How do we inspire our neighbors, friends, and elected officials

[15:28] to be inventive, to think out of the box,

[15:31] to bring beauty and inspiration to our her home.

[15:34] How can our community members step

[15:36] forward to engage in creative and imaginative ideas.

[15:40] The policy.

[15:41] Policy does not say.

[15:43] Instead, it repeats that art can only be considered

[15:46] on crosswalks, sidewalks and parking lots,

[15:49] and that the town may reject proposed

[15:51] artworks for any reason.

[15:54] Is that really what we want to tell our residents.

[15:57] The next part of the policy, under preliminary review

[16:00] of requests and suggestions, says that the town staff will

[16:04] review the requests or suggestions,

[16:06] and once it is approved by the staff,

[16:09] the town council can weigh in.

[16:12] I suggest that the town council should look at the ideas brought

[16:15] forward from townspeople first, or maybe an ad hoc committee

[16:19] of townspeople to enable a safe and encouraging group

[16:23] of residents to share the thoughts and ideas from artists

[16:27] who come forward with an idea.

[16:31] It is not easy for creative people to share their ideas.

[16:34] There should be a group of people who will hear and see

[16:37] their neighbor's artwork, and come

[16:39] to a polite and heartfelt response to someone's art.

[16:43] A collaborative group of neighbors

[16:45] may help to inspire each other to produce the final product,

[16:49] or simply to enable those who are

[16:51] interested in putting their ideas forward without the fear

[16:55] or pain of rejection.

[16:57] The last sentence in the policy is the town

[17:01] may order the removal of or may remove the public artwork

[17:05] after providing written notice to the requester at any time,

[17:09] in its sole discretion.

[17:12] This is, I don't know what they mean by town if it's the staff.

[17:16] Again, is this the kind of language that reflects

[17:19] who we are in our town, our leaders,

[17:21] our staff, and our neighbors.

[17:24] I hope that you will consider replacing this policy

[17:27] in this town council, perhaps by recruiting residents for an ad

[17:32] hoc public art committee to hear and share ideas,

[17:35] to invite residents to participate in this effort.

[17:39] People who will encourage and inspire us

[17:41] all on how to beautify and inspire our town as a reflection

[17:46] of who we are and who we aspire to be as neighbors and friends

[17:51] in Rocky Hill.

[17:53] And I just wanted to mention here about enhancing

[17:57] our parks and public spaces.

[17:59] When I visited the town's website,

[18:01] I found it challenging to locate a comprehensive list of all

[18:04] the parks and our public farm.

[18:07] This highlights the need for better

[18:08] visibility and recognition of these valuable community

[18:11] resources.

[18:13] In addition, incorporating historic markers

[18:15] throughout our parks would not only provide useful information

[18:18] but also add an attractive element to these spaces.

[18:22] Beyond markers, there are other ways to make

[18:24] our parks more inviting.

[18:25] And engaging.

[18:26] For example, adding flowers, benches or picnic tables,

[18:31] especially if they are painted in bright, Cheerful Colors,

[18:34] could significantly enhance the beauty and appeal

[18:36] of our public spaces.

[18:38] These improvements would encourage more residents

[18:40] to enjoy our parks and foster a greater

[18:43] sense of community pride.

[18:45] I also think some residents would

[18:46] appreciate having the chance to help with the beautification

[18:50] efforts.

[18:51] I know that in other towns like Wethersfield,

[18:55] they have garden clubs who volunteer in different areas

[19:01] of the town to maintain and clean up gardens that

[19:09] are near the road or whatever.

[19:12] So anyway, thank you.

[19:15] Thank you.

[19:16]

[19:19] Anyone else.

[19:20] OK thank you.

[19:22]

[19:24] Yeah Allen Bagley, 12 Esther road.

[19:29] I'm speaking in front of the town council

[19:30] for the second time on the same topic.

[19:34] It's an important topic to me.

[19:35] I was an art history major for reasons I can't fully explain,

[19:39] but I was.

[19:40] And my neighbor at Florida State in Tallahassee

[19:43] was a philosophy major, and we shared a terrace,

[19:46] and he taught me about Maslow's hammer, otherwise

[19:49] known as the golden hammer.

[19:50] If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

[19:54] This means you're only using one tool.

[19:57] You need more tools.

[20:00] Or it's a cognitive bias to think that you only need one

[20:04] hammer to cultivate diverse skills would be a better

[20:08] solution to encourage teamwork is a better way,

[20:10] and to question whether the current approach is the best.

[20:14] And I'm here to ask if the policy for Rocky

[20:17] Hill Public arts is the best.

[20:19] On March 2, at the last town council meeting,

[20:23] it was asked, has anyone asked for a change in this policy.

[20:28] It's like Groundhog Day.

[20:30] Last time I was here, I asked for a change in this policy.

[20:34] People came up and asked for a change in this policy,

[20:37] and it was maybe people weren't fully

[20:39] listening to public comment.

[20:40] It's on the minutes recorded by Ray's new robot machine

[20:44] that every verbatim, word is stated.

[20:47] And you could read back that yes, people have asked.

[20:50] I'm going to go through fairly quick speed round of what Rocky

[20:57] Hill arts now is, through some touchstones and highlights

[21:01] of a group of residents that's founded in January

[21:06] 2, 2025, not yet named.

[21:09] That was about 60 weeks ago that we've been meeting once a month.

[21:12] Mission statement to promote, enhance and support art

[21:15] in the rock in Rocky Hill to the benefit of the community

[21:19] by creating access to art and meaningful public spaces,

[21:23] bases, I emphasize plural spaces.

[21:27] April 27, we had a publicly announced launch.

[21:32] I saw some of you here.

[21:34] Thank you for attending.

[21:35] Rocky, let's now meet the artist and announce

[21:37] that we are fully formed, LLC.

[21:40] We raised $180.

[21:43] Mona every dollar helps.

[21:46] On June 24, a publicly announced presentation

[21:51] by Connecticut Department of Transportation

[21:53] on I-91 exit realignments.

[21:56] Everyone knows I call that the Taco Bell exit.

[21:59] The project manager is David Santini.

[22:02] Present at that meeting was mayor

[22:04] Lisa Marotta, town engineer Steve ray,

[22:08] town manager ray Carpenter.

[22:09] It's where the greetings from Rocky Hill Public art

[22:13] was proposed by Mr. ciccarello in a public setting.

[22:18] It's a project that I support.

[22:20] On the 11th of September, 2025.

[22:22] In a publicly announced meeting, we

[22:24] were asked by the Friends of the Library

[22:25] to talk about who we are.

[22:27] What is Wrike arts.

[22:28] Now who are we and what are our objectives.

[22:31] 30 people attended that meeting.

[22:33] We spoke about our objectives being

[22:35] public art in public spaces.

[22:38] December 20 of 2025 at a publicly announced meeting.

[22:41] Excuse me and the community center,

[22:44] we hosted a feedback on the design

[22:46] and location possibilities.

[22:48] Plural on January 20, 2026, here I

[22:54] stood before you in public comment

[22:56] supporting changes to the policy.

[22:59] On March 2, 2026.

[23:02] Discussion possible action about public art policy when

[23:06] again, it was asked has anyone asked

[23:07] for a change in this policy.

[23:10] March 9, 2029 and winding down rocky arts now last met.

[23:14] We met again with our artist and his representation

[23:18] business manager.

[23:18] We talked about costs.

[23:20] We talked about multiple options on locations.

[23:24]

[23:26] Here a little dovetail to the I'm a proof of concept person.

[23:32] I understand you want to try something before it works.

[23:35] It's upwards of $9,000 to paint a crosswalk.

[23:39] We're not going to do it flippantly.

[23:41] So proof of concept throw $9,000 into a project to say if it

[23:45] works, we're going to do a project that we believe in fully

[23:50] on March 16 today at this town council meeting,

[23:53] I ask you to please accept the changes

[23:55] to the public arts policy.

[23:57] And with that, I bid you adieu.

[23:59] Thank you.

[24:01] Anyone else.

[24:04] All right.

[24:05] Good evening.

[24:06] Good evening, Sean Boyle, eight Woodhaven road.

[24:09] My comments tonight are specifically around the debate

[24:10] within this council on whether or not

[24:12] to allow painting, decorating of murals,

[24:14] street art or the themed messages

[24:16] on publicly owned assets.

[24:18] I want to start by making it clear

[24:19] that my position in forthcoming comments

[24:21] are not about opposing any group or individuals in our community,

[24:24] as I believe every resident deserves

[24:26] the respect and freedom to express

[24:27] their views and their opinions.

[24:29] The question before you, however,

[24:30] is about the proper use of publicly funded property

[24:33] and the role of you all as our local government.

[24:36] Our towns, buildings, roads and public spaces

[24:38] are paid for and maintained by all taxpayers.

[24:42] They belong equally to every resident,

[24:44] regardless of their political views, social causes, beliefs,

[24:47] or religious convictions.

[24:49] Because these spaces belong to everyone,

[24:51] they shall remain neutral.

[24:53] Civic spaces no, not platforms for groups or the government.

[24:57] Endorsement of particular causes or ideology.

[25:00] The Rocky Hill Community is made up

[25:02] of people with many different backgrounds and beliefs.

[25:04] While some residents may strongly

[25:06] support a particular proposed image, message, logo, or flag,

[25:11] others will certainly disagree with it.

[25:13] Maintaining neutrality in our public infrastructure

[25:15] ensures that all residents feel equally represented

[25:18] by their local government.

[25:20] Of course, any social group or private individual

[25:22] has the right to solicit private residence and private businesses

[25:26] to promote their cause.

[25:28] Those individuals or businesses, of course,

[25:30] have their right to display any colors or logos or symbols

[25:33] that they deem appropriate or they

[25:34] support on their private home or their private business.

[25:38] That is entirely the appropriate place for such expression

[25:41] of their support.

[25:43] However, publicly funded property

[25:44] should be treated differently once government in this council

[25:48] may move forward by allowing public spaces and assets

[25:52] to promote a cause are actually creating

[25:55] a precedent for future councils to allow other causes

[25:59] as well to follow suit, which may be more

[26:02] in line with their base and their support, some of which

[26:04] may be far more controversial or diverse.

[26:08] For these reasons, I respectfully

[26:09] believe that our public buildings, roads

[26:11] and infrastructure should remain neutral spaces

[26:13] and that belong equally to everyone in this town.

[26:17] Thank you.

[26:18] Thank you.

[26:21] Do we have anything else.

[26:22] Anyone else.

[26:23] I mean, Daniel, you have some.

[26:26] Yeah, I have a few to read.

[26:27] First, Lisa Gilbert, 7:30 Elm Street.

[26:32] Dear members of the Rocky Hill town council.

[26:35] I am writing to express my opposition

[26:36] to the proposal allowing murals on public buildings

[26:39] in the town of rocky Hill.

[26:41] Public buildings are owned collectively by all residents

[26:44] and should remain neutral.

[26:45] Civic spaces.

[26:46] Unlike private property, municipal buildings

[26:49] represent the entire community and should not

[26:51] be used to display permanent artistic or expressive works

[26:54] that may reflect particular viewpoints, styles, or messages

[26:58] that not all residents support.

[27:01] Establishing a policy that permits murals

[27:03] on public buildings also creates long term governance challenges.

[27:08] Decisions about which artwork is appropriate, who selects it,

[27:12] and how disagreements are handled

[27:13] can quickly place town officials in the position of arbitrating

[27:17] artistic expression.

[27:19] Once murals are permitted, it becomes

[27:21] difficult to apply standards consistently

[27:23] or avoid claims of favoritism or viewpoint discrimination.

[27:28] There are also practical considerations.

[27:31] Murals require ongoing maintenance, restoration,

[27:34] and in some cases, removal.

[27:37] These costs ultimately fall on taxpayers

[27:40] and create obligations for future town administrations.

[27:43] Public facilities should primarily

[27:45] serve their intended civic functions,

[27:48] rather than becoming canvases that require continuing

[27:51] oversight and funding.

[27:53] Rocky Hill can support local artists and cultural expression

[27:56] in ways that do not place permanent artwork

[27:58] on municipal buildings, encouraging murals

[28:01] on private property, supporting local arts programs,

[28:05] or designating voluntary, voluntarily community art

[28:10] spaces bases would allow artistic expression to flourish

[28:14] while preserving the neutrality and purpose

[28:17] of public infrastructure.

[28:19] For these reasons, I respectfully

[28:20] urge the town council to reject policies allowing murals

[28:25] on public buildings and to instead pursue Arts Initiatives

[28:28] that do not place the town government

[28:30] in the position of selecting or endorsing

[28:33] permanent artistic displays.

[28:35] Thank you for your consideration and your service

[28:37] to the residents of rocky Hill.

[28:41] Next is Valerie tribelets of two Belden lane.

[28:45] Dear council members, I am contacting you to support

[28:48] the proposed changes to the public artwork display

[28:51] policy allowing art to be displayed and created

[28:54] outside of our public parks.

[28:56] Art by nature is meant to be displayed and accessible

[29:00] to everyone and by everyone.

[29:02] When you think of the most vibrant and connected

[29:04] communities in the world, art is always

[29:06] part of that equation of shared humanity, meaningful messaging

[29:12] and appreciation for beauty.

[29:14] Those communities draw people to them with a sense

[29:16] of openness and creativity.

[29:18] When I walk through our town center,

[29:20] I want to feel the vibrancy of life.

[29:23] Please approve the changes to the public artwork

[29:26] policy for our community.

[29:27]

[29:30] Next is Tony Socolow.

[29:33] My name is Tony Socolow and I reside at 58

[29:36] Jennifer's way in Rocky Hill.

[29:38] I'm sorry that I will be unable to attend the March

[29:41] 16 town council meeting.

[29:42] However, I would like to provide my support

[29:45] for a change in the town's public art policy

[29:48] with this email.

[29:50] I feel previous administration was not really on board

[29:53] with the spirit of this policy, and as a result,

[29:57] they produced a policy that was too constrictive in how

[30:00] we could incorporate and enjoy public art within our community.

[30:04] My interpretation of the current policy

[30:07] seems to restrict art to just parking spots and public parks.

[30:12] That's just so draconian and unfortunately typical

[30:16] of the current Republican philosophy.

[30:19] I am fully supportive of the public art

[30:21] policy that would expand where public art would be permitted.

[30:26] That would encompass not only any crosswalks in town,

[30:30] but also allow sculptures and murals to add

[30:33] to the beauty of rocky Hill.

[30:34] Towns such as West Hartford and Middletown.

[30:36] Enjoy public art, and it brightens up the community.

[30:40] I'd like to see that here, too.

[30:42] I trust our current administration

[30:44] and its appropriate committees to provide the needed checks,

[30:47] balances and criterion to provide

[30:50] for responsible public art that will

[30:52] enhance and beautify our community

[30:54] and make it more fun place to be.

[30:58] Thanks, Tony.

[31:00] Next is Laurie boskey of 18 Highland street.

[31:04] I am writing in support of the recommended changes

[31:07] in the public arts policy.

[31:09] The current policy as written, is restrictive.

[31:12] Public art is accessible to all, stimulates conversation,

[31:16] connects communities, and can turn concrete spaces

[31:19] into inviting locations.

[31:21] The proposed changes would expand

[31:23] locations and provide opportunities for many members

[31:26] of our community.

[31:27]

[31:29] Next is Susan Lennon.

[31:34] Dear members of the Rocky Hill town council, I am writing you.

[31:38] In writing as a rocky Hill resident

[31:40] to support expanding the town's public art policy so

[31:43] that community art projects can be proposed

[31:45] in more locations and forms.

[31:48] Public art contributes to a community's identity,

[31:52] encourages civic pride, and creates spaces that invite

[31:56] connection and creativity.

[31:58] As the policy itself recognizes, public artwork

[32:01] can serve as a catalyst for social interaction,

[32:04] education, and cultural enrichment for residents

[32:07] and visitors alike.

[32:09] However, the current policy, adopted in November 2024,

[32:13] is so narrowly structured that it effectively

[32:16] limits public art to painted crosswalks and parking

[32:19] spaces within parks.

[32:21] Within those are interesting ideas.

[32:23] They represent only a very small slice

[32:26] of what the public art can be.

[32:28] Some have suggested that the lack of applications

[32:31] under the current policy means there is little interest

[32:33] in public art projects.

[32:35] In reality, the opposite may be true.

[32:38] When a policy allows only a very narrow type of project

[32:41] in limited locations, it signals that creative proposals

[32:45] are unlikely to fit within the framework.

[32:47] Community groups, artists and organizations

[32:50] are understandably reluctant to invest

[32:52] time developing ideas when the possibilities are

[32:54] so constrained.

[32:56] Expanding the policy does not require the town

[32:58] to approve every proposal, nor does it remove

[33:01] the town council's oversight.

[33:03] It simply allows ideas to come forward

[33:06] and be thoughtfully reviewed.

[33:07] In other words, Rocky Hill should

[33:09] not limit creativity before it even has the chance to appear.

[33:13] A more flexible policy would show that the town welcomes

[33:16] community participation while still maintaining

[33:19] appropriate review, safety standards

[33:21] and final approval authority.

[33:23] If we want public arts in Rocky Hill,

[33:26] we have to make space for it.

[33:27] Thank you for your time and for your continued

[33:30] service to the community.

[33:31]

[33:34] Two more Lynn Tracy, 48 Church Street.

[33:39] Hello I am a local artist and would

[33:41] be thrilled to see the arts expanded within the community.

[33:46] There are many local artists and musicians.

[33:48] It would be great to have a visual connection and a presence

[33:52] in an active area of town, where residents and visitors

[33:55] alike can appreciate and enjoy displays of beautiful creations.

[33:58] Live acoustic music.

[34:00] Murals, decorative and themed contests,

[34:04] et cetera could offer uplifting energy for the senses

[34:08] and inspiration for our youth.

[34:10] Thank you for consideration of expanding the arts policy.

[34:15] Lastly John Beatty of 698 Maple Street.

[34:22] Dear rocky Hill town council, I have

[34:25] been watching the town council meetings on YouTube recently.

[34:27] There have been discussions about creating

[34:29] beautiful artistic portraits around our town.

[34:32] On the surface, this sounds wonderful

[34:34] until one starts asking adult questions

[34:37] one what will this cost.

[34:39] The proponents say it's free.

[34:40] Total costs include administrative costs.

[34:43] Two where will they go.

[34:45] It sounds like this needs to be determined.

[34:47] However, it sounds like proponents

[34:48] are eyeing crosswalks, buildings,

[34:50] and bridges so far three.

[34:53] Who will create this art.

[34:54] Four who decides who creates this art 5 who

[34:58] will decide the specs of the material

[35:00] used on the artistic project.

[35:02] Six who will decide content 7 who approves the.

[35:07] Who approves the concept among all

[35:09] the competitive concepts eight.

[35:12] Who will regulate quality of content.

[35:14] The quality of the artist nine.

[35:16] Who will decide approved locations of proposed artwork

[35:20] 10.

[35:20] If applied content does not match what was approved

[35:23] or doesn't age well due to material used.

[35:26] Who is responsible for removing it.

[35:29] If I recall correctly, the town council

[35:31] spent months in the previous year determining

[35:33] a policy for this artwork.

[35:34] And to date, not one project has appeared.

[35:37] Why are we doing this again.

[35:39] Crosswalk safety.

[35:40] During the debate last year, I recall that some proponents

[35:43] suggested we artistically paint the crosswalks

[35:46] on one of the numerous state roads

[35:48] that criss cross rocky Hill.

[35:50] The state would not allow this due to safety concerns.

[35:53] My experience is that paint on roadways

[35:56] creates a very slippery surface when it gets wet.

[35:59] This was best exemplified in Middletown,

[36:01] when someone with permission artistically

[36:03] painted an entire intersection within Wesleyan

[36:06] Wesleyan University footprint several years ago.

[36:09] This happened to be one of our bicycle routes,

[36:12] and over the summer, the road portrait

[36:14] went from paint to covered with sand to being milled up

[36:18] and repaved.

[36:19] By now, painting crosswalks anywhere

[36:22] is a valid safety concern.

[36:25] Please note that any official crosswalk

[36:27] is painted in stripes, leaving exposed

[36:30] road using special paint.

[36:31] Even artistically painting a crosswalk in a town park

[36:34] is dangerous.

[36:35] One may think the cars are going to go slower

[36:38] and there is less risk, but imagine the young child

[36:41] that wipes out breaks an arm.

[36:43] Parents sue the town, citing state crosswalk guidelines

[36:46] and these exact conversations.

[36:48]

[36:50] Community artwork is our town inadvertently stepping

[36:54] into a constitutional freedom of speech, freedom of expression.

[36:57] Minefield art is certainly a method of expressing oneself,

[37:00] and someone in town Hall will be regulating that message.

[37:03] Do we really want to be in that game.

[37:05] Hypothetically, what happens when

[37:06] the concept of the pro-hamas message is not selected.

[37:10] Personally, I am thinking about the lawsuits that could follow

[37:14] other negative consequences the ill will for the person or group

[37:18] not selected to be the artist.

[37:20] Would we be inadvertently be creating graffiti zones.

[37:23] This unwanted artwork could either

[37:25] be applied over the approved artwork of adjacent

[37:28] to the project.

[37:29] When paint is applied to textured surfaces,

[37:33] it is there for good.

[37:35] It is absorbed into all the nooks and cracks.

[37:37] Go to any city and see the 100-year-old

[37:39] advertisements on the side of the brick building.

[37:41] Will the artist be responsible for returning the Canvas

[37:44] to its original condition, if the project does not

[37:46] meet the original plan cost.

[37:49] Is the town going to pay someone to manage all of this

[37:52] and legal fees, of course.

[37:53] In conclusion superficially, community artwork.

[37:57] Seems like a great idea.

[37:59] Unfortunately, painting on the road

[38:01] creates a public safety concern and potential liability.

[38:04] Painting on buildings could range

[38:05] from downright ugly to expensive constitutional lawsuits.

[38:09] Don't we already have a very beautiful welcome to Rocky Hill

[38:12] sign on all the entrances of our town.

[38:14] The previous administration passed a well thought out

[38:17] compromise policy last year.

[38:21] I do not think we need to spend any more

[38:22] time debating a concept that to date, no one took advantage of.

[38:26] Lastly, I was pretty excited when Mayor Smith

[38:29] won because he campaigned on lowering taxes

[38:32] and growing the grand list.

[38:34] According to budget workshops and board of education

[38:36] estimates, it appears the budget could grow between 5% and 10%

[38:39] this year.

[38:40] This is not what we were promised.

[38:43] My last point if this 5% to 10% estimate is accurate,

[38:47] the town council should not be wasting any resources

[38:50] on non-value added liabilities and spend

[38:52] that time trimming the budget.

[38:54] Thank you.

[38:55]

[38:59] All right.

[39:00] Anybody else.

[39:03] OK thank you.

[39:04] And thank you, Daniel.

[39:07] Moving on to item number three.

[39:10] Appointments and resignations.

[39:11] I believe we do have a couple appointments.

[39:14] Councilor Prakash and I have reviewed a couple of names

[39:17] for alternate position for the Affordable housing committee,

[39:22] and we approved Ryan jangle Ryan capital

[39:27] Jang Le and Neha Thacker.

[39:31] Any H, capital thak ER as alternates.

[39:36]

[39:39] They're both alternates.

[39:40] Yes per Kim Richey.

[39:43] Yep anything.

[39:45] Do you guys have anything.

[39:46] We do not.

[39:47] All right.

[39:49] Item number four.

[39:51] Approval of Min of approval of the minutes.

[39:57] I wasn't at that meeting.

[40:00] Anybody else.

[40:00] Literally anybody else.

[40:01] Then minutes of the meeting.

[40:06] Any discussion.

[40:09] All in favor.

[40:10] Aye abstention.

[40:14] All right.

[40:15] Any opposed.

[40:16] And one abstention.

[40:18] All right.

[40:19] Subcommittee reports.

[40:21] Finance and capital improvements.

[40:23] Councilor Emanuel, finance.

[40:27] Terms of high level summary.

[40:29] Overall status on revenue.

[40:30] Revenues are on target.

[40:33] Tax revenues in line with benchmark tracking.

[40:37] We received the second installment

[40:38] of x money and town aid road and pilot

[40:43] received a scheduled interest.

[40:45] Revenue is exceeding target, but building permit fees

[40:51] are a little behind target, but the staff

[40:54] is continuing to monitor expenditures are on target.

[41:00] The only outlier is overtime with the highway department

[41:03] because of the storms.

[41:07] They're doing so well on that for a while, too.

[41:09] Yes slid right in tonight's agenda.

[41:14] Consent agenda has two things.

[41:18] One, the suspense list, which we do pretty much every year.

[41:22] This is.

[41:25] Uncollected taxes that the collector must furnish

[41:33] to the governing body of the municipality

[41:35] for approval each year.

[41:38] And so this year it comes to $207,515.

[41:48] The second item is a tax refund and that's for Cisco.

[41:54] They actually paid their tax bill twice

[41:57] so they're being refunded.

[42:00] One of their payments.

[42:02] And that's finance government ops.

[42:08] We have a meeting on March 16.

[42:11] Schools they do not have major project at this time.

[42:14] Still waiting to hear back from the state about Westfield roof

[42:17] that they submitted.

[42:19] Facility police department generated

[42:21] project is 100% completed.

[42:24] Fire department fob system projected is still ongoing.

[42:28] Parks and rec.

[42:30] Indoor pool.

[42:31] Boiler replacement will be done in two to three weeks.

[42:34] Dog park is open and this is important.

[42:36] They like to make this service announcement that when you are

[42:40] done using a field, please pull your empty water bottle

[42:43] and trash off the field.

[42:45] Highway there is a quick announcement

[42:48] was put on town website regarding the trash

[42:51] barrels and last one is community

[42:54] development about the industrial park culvert replacement design.

[42:58] The consultant is preparing to host a public information

[43:01] meeting may be in March.

[43:04] That's all for me.

[43:05] Can I add.

[43:07] Yeah they also said they wanted everyone to please

[43:12] stay off the fields until April 1 because of the weather.

[43:16] They want to give the chance to grasp the chance for them

[43:19] to dry out and the grass to grow,

[43:20] because we want to have nice fields for athletics.

[43:23] So they also ask that we stay off the fields.

[43:25] I think you said trash, but we want to make

[43:26] sure everybody stays off.

[43:29] Yeah did you mention about the generator.

[43:32] I did.

[43:33] Oh, OK.

[43:33] Sorry I missed that part.

[43:34] I just leave it up to you to say.

[43:36] Yeah, right.

[43:37] That's it.

[43:38] Public safety.

[43:41] Public safety met prior to this meeting.

[43:44] And the fire department for the fire department

[43:48] they had for I 91.

[43:49] They have 11 calls so far this year,

[43:53] which is substantially down from last year.

[43:56] And the chief attributes that to a higher presence from state

[44:00] police They had 85 for total.

[44:06] They had 85 incidents for the whole department.

[44:09] In February they filled the head mechanic position.

[44:16] And they are in the process of filling

[44:19] the assistant mechanic position.

[44:22] And I found this pretty interesting.

[44:24] They had three drone calls for February and three calls

[44:32] for their drone to go somewhere else.

[44:35] I think it was I think it was town three calls for our drone

[44:43] to be used in town.

[44:44] I know they bring it to all kinds of stuff.

[44:49] Yeah, it was just three.

[44:50] It was just three drone activations.

[44:54] It was our drones, not other drones coming in.

[44:57] Yeah three drone calls is in UFOs.

[45:00] No, no.

[45:01] Yeah, right.

[45:02] They would have said UFOs.

[45:04] They would have said UFO.

[45:04] And then for the police department, actually ambulance.

[45:12] In total, they had 332 calls last month

[45:15] between the VA and Aetna.

[45:18]

[45:21] Our Aetna colleague wanted to point out he appreciated

[45:26] during the snowstorm that station two was open for them

[45:31] and they were provided food.

[45:32] And they were very, very appreciative of that.

[45:38] For the police department, they have

[45:40] basically two open positions are for patrol

[45:43] that they're going through there.

[45:45] Some applicant backgrounds and they

[45:49] have a communications position open that they're

[45:52] going through interviewing.

[45:55]

[45:58] Health district Charlie wasn't able to make it

[46:02] but forwarded some items that I just wanted to share.

[46:08] So as of March 9, the Northeast continues

[46:13] to detect high levels of COVID.

[46:18] But overall between in our area between COVID, the flu and RSV,

[46:27] it's substantially down since January.

[46:32] So that's a positive, obvious trend.

[46:34]

[46:45] We had a discussion on the speed cameras and the vendor.

[46:49] Which will be coming up on our.

[46:53]

[46:57] I think that will be next month.

[46:58] It'll come up next month for the Council for a vendor.

[47:04] And then we also discussed on scene media relations policy.

[47:08] There's a few amendments that are going to take place.

[47:11] We'll finalize that next at our next meeting.

[47:15] And then that will come to the council too.

[47:19] That's it.

[47:20] Thanks so where are we at with the vendor.

[47:25] With the traffic camera we have that's going to go on.

[47:29] Yeah, we have the vendor.

[47:31] Well, it's going to come to the council.

[47:33] A vendor is going to come to the council and present something.

[47:35] Yeah next month.

[47:35] Next month.

[47:36] Next month, the subcommittee forwarded the recommendation

[47:42] to the town council.

[47:44] So now is the town council's turn.

[47:48] OK, quick, can I just.

[47:51] You mentioned two patrolmen.

[47:54] Is that the replacement.

[47:56] One was promoted.

[47:58] Yeah OK.

[48:00] And I think one was retiring.

[48:03] One retired.

[48:04] One resigned.

[48:04] Resigned resigned.

[48:05] So it's replaced its replacement.

[48:07] It's not new.

[48:08] OK thank you.

[48:09] They're not added.

[48:10] Good yeah.

[48:12] Thank you.

[48:14] Senior liaison.

[48:16] I reached out to the two directors,

[48:18] and they have nothing to report for this meeting.

[48:22] Land acquisition and farmland preservation.

[48:26] No report.

[48:27] Our next meeting is Tuesday, March 24.

[48:33] Liaison to the state representative

[48:34] and State Senator.

[48:36] Thank you.

[48:36] Mayor I apologize in advance.

[48:38] It's a busy time of year.

[48:40] Representative would want to share a few updates.

[48:42] She's been working on a lot of different legislation,

[48:44] including stuff to expand on felony protections

[48:47] around animal abuse.

[48:49] She's working on a bill aimed at requiring affordable housing

[48:52] projects, using certain construction methods to submit

[48:55] fire and life safety plans in advance to local fire Marshals,

[48:59] and another that would expand more affordable health coverage.

[49:03] Finally, she's actively supporting the legislation that

[49:05] would create a Connecticut, India and Connecticut

[49:08] Germany Trade Commission.

[49:09] Our councilors testified on those Bills last month,

[49:12] and they both were voted out of committee favorably

[49:14] and are moving through the process.

[49:16] Senator lesser's recent activity has reflected a broad focus

[49:19] on resident protection, both here in Rocky Hill

[49:21] and across his broader district.

[49:24] For rocky Hill, that's included continuing

[49:25] the public attention on the concierge situation

[49:28] and tenant related concerns.

[49:30] But more broadly, his recent public work

[49:32] has emphasized health care, affordability,

[49:34] disability related issues, and district

[49:36] level community engagement.

[49:38] As for us, I wanted to first mention Minority Leader Whalen

[49:42] and councilor Emanuel and their work on the Pa 490 working group

[49:46] at the state level.

[49:47] That work is critical to farmland across the state

[49:51] and here in our town.

[49:53] Since our last meeting, several members of the Council,

[49:55] along with the mayor and deputy mayor,

[49:56] have continued our active work at the Capitol

[49:58] on bills that directly affect rocky Hill

[49:59] and municipalities like ours.

[50:01] I want to highlight a couple of testimonies that we did.

[50:03] One on Senate Bill 408, which is about fire

[50:06] safety inspections and non-resident landlord

[50:08] registration.

[50:09] Mayor Smith, deputy Thoreau and I submitted

[50:11] written testimony on behalf.

[50:14] Well, at the request of the Connecticut Fire Marshals

[50:16] association, because one section of that bill

[50:18] closely tracked the concerns we had already

[50:20] raised on other legislation.

[50:23] I'm also proud to report that Mayor Smith and the entire town

[50:26] council submitted bipartisan testimony in support of House

[50:29] Bill 5501, and I testify in person

[50:32] before the planning and development committee on behalf

[50:34] of rocky Hill on that one.

[50:35] That bill would give towns more practical flexibility

[50:38] in how we use our existing town aid road funding for things

[50:41] like drainage, resiliency work, vegetation management

[50:44] equipment and other preventative infrastructure needs.

[50:47] I really want to thank Mayor Smith, deputy mayor Thoreau,

[50:49] Minority Leader Whalen and the entire council

[50:52] for speaking with one voice on that issue.

[50:54] That kind of unity does matter, and it

[50:56] shows that when we all have common interests,

[50:59] we can lead with a big voice.

[51:01] So thank you for that.

[51:03] Lastly, committees at the legislature

[51:05] are wrapping up their work over the next couple of weeks.

[51:07] So the process is now shifting from public hearings

[51:09] to more complicated stuff on how Bills end up on the floor.

[51:14] Once a bill clears committee, the process

[51:16] becomes more structured, but not necessarily more straightforward

[51:19] because leadership decisions, timing

[51:21] and negotiations all start to play a great deal of matter

[51:24] in it.

[51:25] I'm monitoring dozens of bills that could affect rocky Hill,

[51:28] including a lot of ones that we haven't commented on.

[51:31] There's one before the legislature right now

[51:32] that would restrict the kind of data use around speed cameras

[51:35] and the types of stuff we're talking about,

[51:37] so definitely keeping a close eye on that.

[51:40] But I will keep working with the mayor and others

[51:42] to make sure that our voice is heard in Hartford,

[51:43] and that the Bills that are most important to our residents

[51:45] keep at the front of the discussion.

[51:48] Thanks, thanks.

[51:50] Can I just one thing.

[51:52] Thanks, Zach.

[51:53] Thorough report on when Senator lesser mentioned

[51:59] the concierge tenants.

[52:01] I said it every time.

[52:03] Let's not forget about the town.

[52:04] There's an expense to the town that we are.

[52:07] We are going to feel, so the tenants get taken care of first.

[52:11] But let's not end on that note.

[52:14] I'm sure the mayor can speak more directly about this,

[52:17] but I know that in the background,

[52:18] the attorney general's office is continuing

[52:20] to work on that second element of the deal with them,

[52:23] and that the conversations have been ongoing.

[52:25] Our entire state delegation has been on that.

[52:27] Yep excellent.

[52:28] I can and I can touch on that later where we're at.

[52:30] Sure school liaison.

[52:34] The board of Ed did adopt their budget,

[52:37] but they have not filed the official budget with the council

[52:40] yet.

[52:40] So I'm going to wait till we get it so we can review it,

[52:43] and then we'll give a full report, hopefully next meeting.

[52:48] All right.

[52:48] Thank you.

[52:50] Consent agenda item number six.

[52:55] I'll entertain a motion to approve.

[52:56] I move approval of the consent agenda.

[52:59] Second Any discussion.

[53:03] No discussion.

[53:04] Oh, yeah.

[53:05] OK OK.

[53:06] That's why you're here.

[53:09] All in favor.

[53:10] Aye Any opposed.

[53:13] Great thank you.

[53:15] All right, old business, item number 7.

[53:19] Discussion possible action.

[53:20] Public arts policy, proposed revisions.

[53:25] We tabled at the last minute.

[53:27] Do we need to take it off the table

[53:29] or were we just in the discussion.

[53:31] No, you were just we were just in discussion phase anyway.

[53:33] There wasn't a motion.

[53:34] There wasn't a motion on the table.

[53:35] Just want to check.

[53:37] So where are we at with this.

[53:42] Well, sounds to me like we've gotten a lot

[53:45] of good public input tonight.

[53:47] I was happy to hear from folks on both sides of this.

[53:50] It seems like there might be a happy medium in here somewhere.

[53:54] I see the policy that we put forth a couple of weeks

[53:57] ago as really mostly just focused on expanding flexibility

[54:02] and not taking anything away from the decision

[54:04] making process that is very strict

[54:06] and runs right through this room in every case.

[54:10] I'm certainly open to the idea that there might be a specific

[54:15] carve out that we want to make of spaces that are not

[54:19] necessarily where we want to allow for public art,

[54:21] but I am very much in favor of making this policy change

[54:25] in terms of flexibility, I think and I

[54:28] think we heard from a couple people,

[54:30] tonight with specific reservations

[54:35] around public buildings.

[54:39] And we've heard a little bit from safety concerns as well.

[54:45] I shared the I believe with councilor Whalen,

[54:51] I shared with you the safety study that was done regarding

[54:56] road roadway art specifically.

[54:59] Hopefully you were able to share it with everybody else as well.

[55:04] And I think that addresses some of the safety concerns

[55:09] there, hopefully, as well.

[55:10] And hopefully everybody has had a chance to read

[55:12] the redlined version now.

[55:15] And the line with the version without red lines or blue lines

[55:20] or Brown lines or whatever, the whatever color the lines were.

[55:24] Hopefully everybody's been able to see that by now.

[55:28] So yeah, I mean, can you expand for those that haven't seen

[55:32] the safety, can you just explain what that is a little bit more.

[55:37] I know that we as a council, I didn't

[55:39] know if we wanted to elaborate to say that there was a.

[55:42] Yeah so study done in more recent than some of the others

[55:46] that were identified that show.

[55:48] Yeah so the most comprehensive study of roadway art

[55:53] specifically.

[55:53] And once again, this is talking about roadway art.

[55:55] This is crosswalks and painting streets and stuff like that.

[55:59] The most comprehensive study of that

[56:00] was done by Bloomberg related organization in 2022.

[56:07] And it found in it was across multiple states, 17

[56:12] different locations that roadway art

[56:17] or aesthetic crosswalks and things like

[56:20] that actually we're better.

[56:23] We're more safe for pedestrians, less

[56:26] traffic, conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles,

[56:30] less accidents.

[56:33] And it's really the most comprehensive study of that.

[56:38] And there's really not any other evidence

[56:41] that shows to the contrary that I've been able to find.

[56:43]

[56:46] And I also shared the state's opinion

[56:51] on this, the DOT's opinion on this, the federal statutes

[56:54] related to.

[56:58] You mean.

[57:01] I forget what it all stands for again, but mutd

[57:07] and so the federal standing on aesthetic crosswalks

[57:12] and how that relates to moving traffic and safety.

[57:17] But I mean, number one thing.

[57:21] I don't want to spend four months talking about this.

[57:24] Well, Mr. mayor, I think that the policy in place right

[57:29] now was voted on by 9 members of our council

[57:36] when it was all approved.

[57:37] So I think it's very important that we go through every change

[57:42] and have a discussion about every change that's in here.

[57:44] So that may take some time.

[57:46]

[57:51] And we could have, you're changing

[57:54] the big bulk of this policy.

[57:57] And I think it has to be opened up

[57:58] for us all to communicate on each step of the way

[58:01] where you want to change.

[58:04] So that's what I mean.

[58:07] We've had this for over almost a month now to review,

[58:12] but we have not talked about each change.

[58:15] If you want, I'll start and start

[58:17] reading what changes to policy are in place here tonight.

[58:22] And the first one here is common space.

[58:26] Community space.

[58:28] What's the definition of community space for this change.

[58:35] What do we consider community space.

[58:36] I'm at a loss for that.

[58:38]

[58:41] Google's going to tell us apparently.

[58:42] Good to know that the sky is falling.

[58:44] Yes Siri has some input on that.

[58:47] Yeah OK.

[58:51] Oops I said now that was mine.

[58:54] Now that's yours.

[58:57] So we did have it, if you want to call

[59:00] it limited into the parks where the crosswalks

[59:03] or sidewalks and walkways could be used for public art.

[59:09] But I don't understand what the term community space means.

[59:12] Where are we expanding to or is there

[59:15] no limit to community space.

[59:19] Any town building facility.

[59:22] Is it all open.

[59:23] I guess that's my question.

[59:25] Yeah so start it with.

[59:26] So yeah, in the section, the initial section there

[59:31] with edits, removing the section that

[59:35] says it's defined as crosswalks, sidewalks,

[59:39] walkways, park spaces and replaces

[59:41] that with community spaces.

[59:44] Just the initial statement.

[59:48] It's just changing the.

[59:54] The underlying statement of this that it is the original one

[59:58] was just saying these only these things versus this is saying

[1:00:04] the statement relates to all community spaces,

[1:00:06] not just crosswalks for the purposes of this.

[1:00:12] Correct me if I'm wrong.

[1:00:13] We're basically saying yes, municipal

[1:00:15] owned or controlled spaces as written would be very general.

[1:00:19] Based on this definition.

[1:00:21] So basically we're saying there is no restriction.

[1:00:23] I'm saying that as written right now that it suggests

[1:00:27] as written right now municipality controls as revised

[1:00:30] right now as revised right now.

[1:00:32] So there is no restriction.

[1:00:33] It's not defined essentially which

[1:00:36] is why my initial comment on the subject

[1:00:37] was very open to the concept of finding a way to carve

[1:00:42] into that a little bit.

[1:00:43] But the general idea being that instead of a very small

[1:00:46] prescriptive list of what the spaces are, very, very narrow,

[1:00:51] this is a flexible, broad term that we can now in this process

[1:00:56] come to some agreement about.

[1:00:57] So, Zach, what are you proposing exactly.

[1:01:00] Yes well I mean, honestly, I and we

[1:01:05] heard tonight from some folks.

[1:01:07] And we've heard your reservations

[1:01:08] around municipal buildings not wanting

[1:01:11] on the side of building brick buildings, et cetera.

[1:01:14] Or schools or something like that.

[1:01:16] I mean, no, but what I'm saying is it has to be specific.

[1:01:19] We are discussing a public policy here.

[1:01:22] Let's get specific about so and I like the idea

[1:01:24] of going through that revision, each one with regard

[1:01:27] to answer your question, from my perspective,

[1:01:30] yeah, this is about saying that it's widely any municipal space,

[1:01:34] but I would offer an Amendment myself

[1:01:36] that would constrain it by saying that it would not apply.

[1:01:39] It would exclude municipal buildings

[1:01:42] exteriors and would exclude schools and school grounds.

[1:01:47] So basically, frankly, we could even frame it

[1:01:49] as any property controlled by the Board of Education

[1:01:52] to make that a little bit more broad as well.

[1:01:55] On the outside, the outside being where there was discussion

[1:01:59] here before about how the inside of buildings

[1:02:01] is a whole different story, especially they actually

[1:02:03] have some murals on the inside.

[1:02:04] But I did want to make sure that in all of this

[1:02:07] is all within a framework that you all agreed on

[1:02:09] before about how the town council would

[1:02:11] review and decide on these.

[1:02:14] And so any decision about this.

[1:02:15] I heard some of the commenters worrying about causes

[1:02:18] and things being put up there.

[1:02:21] The current policy that parts of it that aren't being changed.

[1:02:24] No text.

[1:02:26] There's no text.

[1:02:26] So getting across messages.

[1:02:28] Yes, you can get across messages without text,

[1:02:30] but we will have broad discretion as a council

[1:02:34] to say no to just about anything.

[1:02:35] And I think, frankly, we're pretty

[1:02:38] reflective and nostalgic about our identity in this town.

[1:02:41] So I think that we're all going to have a little bit

[1:02:43] of a high bar there.

[1:02:45] Yeah respectfully, though, we can get to that

[1:02:47] if we get to that one by one.

[1:02:50] I think the first point is like if we

[1:02:52] need to define things right.

[1:02:53] So what do you propose.

[1:02:55] Let's put it on the page and put it in the revision.

[1:02:59] Yeah My proposal is let's put it in

[1:03:01] and then move to the next one.

[1:03:02] Well my proposal.

[1:03:03] And that's fine.

[1:03:03] That's fine.

[1:03:04] And then we'll get to who decides what.

[1:03:06] Which commenter also mentioned here.

[1:03:09] So let's take it step by step.

[1:03:12] That's all I'm suggesting, Zach.

[1:03:13] Well, I can agree with that.

[1:03:15] I just don't think there are that many steps involved.

[1:03:17] It's a short document.

[1:03:18] All right.

[1:03:19] Let's go through it.

[1:03:20] And I would just say let's go through it like that paragraph.

[1:03:23] That first paragraph is the only one that really adds anything.

[1:03:27] Everything else is just taking away some language

[1:03:30] to open it up more.

[1:03:31] Yeah, but why do it.

[1:03:33] Otherwise, if it doesn't change anything.

[1:03:35] OK I mean, no, I'm not saying it doesn't change anything.

[1:03:38] I'm just saying that everything else is not adding new language.

[1:03:44] It's removing restrictive language.

[1:03:47] Sure yeah.

[1:03:48] So let's discuss what we removed.

[1:03:50] Let's put it that way.

[1:03:51] So first paragraph we have an understanding

[1:03:53] of where we're standing on it.

[1:03:55] Yeah let's go through it.

[1:03:56] We just talk about the community space.

[1:03:58] We did it.

[1:03:58] We an understanding of that OK.

[1:03:59] Well community spaces minus municipal buildings and school

[1:04:04] grounds.

[1:04:05] That's what we're saying.

[1:04:06] Both sides school building if we were to amend it,

[1:04:09] we would basically have as written

[1:04:11] minus basically any town buildings, any town buildings,

[1:04:16] basically from the exterior.

[1:04:18] So you went from the universe down to a world.

[1:04:20] OK I would be very specific and clear to say that it would

[1:04:24] be the exterior of municipal buildings

[1:04:27] and then school buildings and school grounds.

[1:04:31] Do you follow the difference or do you the difference being

[1:04:33] that interior versus space on a municipal property, that's

[1:04:36] not the building itself that theoretically

[1:04:38] could be open to this.

[1:04:40] But again, town council approval on everything.

[1:04:42] So do you want to go to the next.

[1:04:48] I think that helped define what's the next.

[1:04:52] Let's move on to the next.

[1:04:53] What's the next.

[1:04:54] Let's move on to the next one first.

[1:04:55] Yeah I also have a problem with crosswalks in town.

[1:05:01] There's a lot of data from the federal government about not

[1:05:07] approving artistic crosswalks.

[1:05:11] I'm going to read a bunch of information.

[1:05:14] I have some Connecticut dot information also about it.

[1:05:18] So I'll ask you to bear with me because I

[1:05:21] come from public safety background

[1:05:24] and I'm a rule follower as well.

[1:05:28] The federal government gives US guidelines.

[1:05:30] Granted, our town can do whatever we want on town roads,

[1:05:34] but there's recommendations put into place

[1:05:36] by the federal government for reasons

[1:05:38] that they don't allow it on state roads.

[1:05:41] So bear with me.

[1:05:43] I'm going to read some stuff from the highway,

[1:05:46] federal Highway Administration and the Muzzi,

[1:05:51] as we said it earlier, is that from the most recent moxie 2023?

[1:05:57] No, it's not.

[1:05:59] So you're reading old stuff.

[1:06:01] So just make sure that you're because I

[1:06:05] believe that Alan had just provided more recent stuff.

[1:06:07] OK can he read the most recent stuff then, please.

[1:06:11] You can read what you've got.

[1:06:13] No I'm not.

[1:06:14] I mean, be accurate if I'm not.

[1:06:16] If it's not because the main.

[1:06:18] Let's read the.

[1:06:19] Generally I don't want it.

[1:06:20] Generally I have specifics that I was going to read.

[1:06:22] I'd like you to read your specific.

[1:06:24] OK I'll give a second to bring it up.

[1:06:26] I'll bring it up.

[1:06:27] But in a nutshell, it doesn't say that you can't do it.

[1:06:32] It provides a guidelines for if you do it like it doesn't.

[1:06:38] There's nothing in that specifically says not that you

[1:06:42] can't do aesthetic crosswalks.

[1:06:45] No, but it says they're unsafe.

[1:06:46] That's what it identifies the inherent risks involved

[1:06:50] in something like that.

[1:06:51] But I'm not sure the language says specifically

[1:06:53] that they're unsafe.

[1:06:54] Is that the specific word that's used.

[1:06:56] I'd have to look it up here.

[1:06:57] What I have.

[1:06:58]

[1:07:01] They're potentially dangerous and non-compliant

[1:07:04] with safety standards.

[1:07:06] And then it goes forward to give concepts of how you would do it

[1:07:09] in the most safe way possible.

[1:07:11] No, I don't have that information.

[1:07:13] OK I'm just curious.

[1:07:14] I'm just asking the question.

[1:07:16] So in a nutshell.

[1:07:19] Well, I mean, I can read the exact quote from the 2023, which

[1:07:22] basically just says that it's not part of their purview

[1:07:29] because an aesthetic crosswalk is not a traffic control device.

[1:07:33] Mukti controls or they're over.

[1:07:38] What they oversee is traffic control devices,

[1:07:40] and an aesthetic crosswalk is not a traffic control device.

[1:07:45] So this is what it says.

[1:07:45] Related to that says if non-reflective colored pavement

[1:07:49] is used as a purely aesthetic surface treatment,

[1:07:52] see section 303 within the provisions of this chapter

[1:07:57] and are not intended to communicate

[1:07:59] regulations, warnings, guidance or other

[1:08:02] information to road users.

[1:08:03] The colored pavement is that considered to be a traffic

[1:08:06] control device, even if it is located between the lines

[1:08:09] of a crosswalk.

[1:08:11] So in a nutshell, what they're saying is, if you were trying

[1:08:17] to paint something on the road to control traffic, then

[1:08:24] they would deem that as unsafe unless you

[1:08:28] did it in the specific way that they want.

[1:08:30] But what they're saying is aesthetic surface

[1:08:32] treatments on a roadway are not traffic control devices.

[1:08:36] Therefore it's not even something that they

[1:08:39] regulate, if that makes sense.

[1:08:44] And basically the CT dot says the same thing.

[1:08:50] We are not talking about regulation.

[1:08:52] Alan due respect.

[1:08:53] We are talking about common sense.

[1:08:55] If it says there that they are not the safest thing to do.

[1:09:01] We are not going to do a definition

[1:09:03] of traffic control devices.

[1:09:06] Is that what you're going to put in the policy

[1:09:09] that we are not worried about the traffic.

[1:09:11] I mean, I'm serious.

[1:09:12] I mean, what does it mean what you just read.

[1:09:14] I really don't know what it meant

[1:09:16] for from a practical standpoint of allowing

[1:09:19] public art on crosswalks.

[1:09:21] I really don't understand.

[1:09:22] It means they have no actual jurisdiction on crosswalks.

[1:09:26] We are not discussing their jurisdiction.

[1:09:27] We are not discussing jurisdiction.

[1:09:29] We are discussing the recommendation.

[1:09:31] They can't say that it's unsafe if it's

[1:09:33] not in their jurisdiction.

[1:09:34] And in fact, Alan shared a big comprehensive study

[1:09:37] showing that there is no correlation between unsafety.

[1:09:41] Sorry not being safe and traffic crosswalks

[1:09:44] that are because it was see, I'm not worried about jurisdictions

[1:09:49] here.

[1:09:50] That's not what we are talking about.

[1:09:51] But you're a data guy, right.

[1:09:52] Yeah, so look at the data.

[1:09:54] He read a code.

[1:09:57] Outdated code.

[1:09:59] Is it outdated or not.

[1:10:01] The Federal Highway 1.

[1:10:03] I don't have the newest.

[1:10:05] When was it coded.

[1:10:06] I'm just.

[1:10:06] I'm just curious.

[1:10:07] I'm seriously curious.

[1:10:08] 1999, it could be 2013.

[1:10:13] My understanding from what I've looked at,

[1:10:15] the different because I've looked at all of this stuff

[1:10:17] to try to disprove, because it comes up often that people say,

[1:10:22] oh, it's going to be unsafe because it's not normal.

[1:10:25] Like your striped crosswalk Correct People say

[1:10:30] that it is going to be unsafe.

[1:10:32] The problem is there's no anecdotal evidence

[1:10:34] that says that it is.

[1:10:36] In fact, there's data that says it is more safe to have

[1:10:40] artistic crosswalk because it draws more attention to somebody

[1:10:43] standing in a crosswalk.

[1:10:45] The 2022 study that hopefully was shared with all of you

[1:10:49] says that there was a 50% decrease in the rate of crashes

[1:10:54] involving pedestrians, 50% less in an aesthetic crosswalk

[1:10:59] or a painted roadway.

[1:11:00] Who did that study.

[1:11:01] Bloomberg it's a peer reviewed study.

[1:11:06] Yeah, it's a peer reviewed study that's been done to date.

[1:11:11] Yeah I'm just asking, who reviewed it.

[1:11:12] It was prepared by an engineering firm.

[1:11:15] You don't believe in Bloomberg.

[1:11:16] No I'm just saying.

[1:11:17] I mean, I see a lot of polls and quotes and studies out there.

[1:11:20] I mean, we all do.

[1:11:21] I don't believe everything that is on the internet.

[1:11:23] That's all I'm asking, if it's peer reviewed or not.

[1:11:25] That's all.

[1:11:26] And so in painted side painted crosswalks generally

[1:11:32] are going to be where traffic is lighter

[1:11:35] and there's more pedestrians where you

[1:11:37] might have slower speed limits.

[1:11:39] So I'd love to really look into that study

[1:11:41] because it is on to something.

[1:11:43] You can make data to your friend any way you want.

[1:11:46] So find me a study that says the alternative.

[1:11:48] I'm just saying I'm not going to look for that because we just

[1:11:52] talked about we don't want to spend four months,

[1:11:54] but guess what you just signed us up for.

[1:11:56] Like every other meeting we're going to be adjudicating

[1:11:58] whether we should put up art or not,

[1:12:01] so we can't talk about taking more time.

[1:12:04] This is important to get it right here because I don't want

[1:12:06] subjectivity when the time comes,

[1:12:08] because we already are going to have a ton of it

[1:12:10] by the mere definition of art.

[1:12:12] So we got to have guidelines.

[1:12:14] And when you first proposed it, I

[1:12:16] don't know if this was a red Herring,

[1:12:17] say community space so we can settle

[1:12:19] on not municipal buildings and school grounds.

[1:12:22] I don't know that, but I will tell you community space.

[1:12:24] That's like, what are we doing here.

[1:12:27] So why didn't you initially put in municipals?

[1:12:30] Were you hoping we could do the buildings,

[1:12:32] the side of the buildings.

[1:12:33] By the way, you were hoping to ruin our buildings.

[1:12:35] OK I would like it to be.

[1:12:37] I would like it to be as open as possible and let us

[1:12:41] or whatever other sitting body make the decision.

[1:12:44] Yes or no, if we like it or not.

[1:12:47] Are is, by its very nature subjective is

[1:12:51] subjective form and if anything, would be looking

[1:12:55] at all of these questions.

[1:12:56] Crosswalks, the safety.

[1:12:58] That is the point of us deciding on individual projects

[1:13:01] when they come before us.

[1:13:03] I know you like to think that we need more guidelines around it

[1:13:06] in the policy, but that's the thought process that led to such

[1:13:10] a narrow policy that no one came forward to try and activate it.

[1:13:13] So when it comes to art, I think that we have to be flexible.

[1:13:18] As far as what was our intent was our intent in putting this.

[1:13:22] I'll be real with you.

[1:13:24] I did not write the language of this new policy.

[1:13:26] I reviewed it and saw it for what it was, which

[1:13:28] was a broad generalization that would probably get worked

[1:13:31] down in discussion, because that's

[1:13:33] the purpose of what we do here.

[1:13:36] So, yeah, I don't think we need to spend multiple meetings going

[1:13:40] over this because at the end of the day, whatever we do on it is

[1:13:43] still protected by the review process

[1:13:46] on any art that comes into town.

[1:13:48] Yeah so here's the thing though.

[1:13:50] Are we saying we are going to review this in the broadest

[1:13:53] terms possible, and Pankaj Prakhyat is going

[1:13:55] to be the arbiter of what is art and where should it

[1:13:58] be put out there in the town.

[1:14:00] Is that what you're saying.

[1:14:01] I'm not ready to take that responsibility,

[1:14:02] to tell you the truth, because I don't know what art is.

[1:14:06] And is it my response.

[1:14:08] How responsible can I be in deciding

[1:14:12] that you, as a town councilor are making lots

[1:14:15] of decisions for this town.

[1:14:17] Why can't you make that decision.

[1:14:18] You're not a person who is a financial manager.

[1:14:22] Are you.

[1:14:22] And you make decisions on the budgets here.

[1:14:25] Well, well, I do run a big team and I

[1:14:28] do make financial decisions.

[1:14:29] I do, but thank you for asking that.

[1:14:32] I do have some qualifications regarding that.

[1:14:35] But that's not the point.

[1:14:37] That's besides the point.

[1:14:38] The point here is, personally speaking for myself,

[1:14:42] I don't want to be the arbiter of art

[1:14:46] and where it should be placed in town.

[1:14:48] Number two.

[1:14:52] It's a huge responsibility for this body to come together

[1:14:56] every few weeks or every few months

[1:14:58] and decide, for example, on a First Amendment issue.

[1:15:04] OK I'm not ready to take that responsibility.

[1:15:07] Let me be Frank.

[1:15:08] And you can play this like wherever we need to play this.

[1:15:11] I don't feel comfortable taking that responsibility.

[1:15:14] On deciding on First Amendment issues.

[1:15:17] And that's why I want this policy to be

[1:15:20] as precise as possible, because then I can actually

[1:15:25] take that responsibility and work with what

[1:15:28] we have defined as a team.

[1:15:31] The broader the policy, the more uncomfortable

[1:15:34] I get in deciding those issues.

[1:15:37] That's all I'm saying.

[1:15:38] The more precise it is, the better it is.

[1:15:41] Can I ask you a question, Mr. mayor.

[1:15:44] Does the apologies for not knowing this answer.

[1:15:47] I don't have it in front of me.

[1:15:48] Does the policy have any statements

[1:15:51] about no hate speech, religion, those sort of things in it.

[1:15:57] Yep.

[1:15:58] OK.

[1:15:58] So we basically follow the guidelines of I

[1:16:01] believe, the town attorney, the town attorney put it together

[1:16:05] and reviewed the revision.

[1:16:07] So we have those guardrails.

[1:16:08] Yeah he put the town attorney, put it together, I believe,

[1:16:12] based on the framework of other towns

[1:16:15] that had projects come forth and there are some adjacent towns,

[1:16:21] such as I believe, Middletown and other towns,

[1:16:23] that this has been very successful.

[1:16:25] And they're not spending every town council or city council

[1:16:29] meeting talking about art every single time there's

[1:16:31] a number of meetings, there's a number

[1:16:33] of towns that already have it, not just in Connecticut, but all

[1:16:36] over the place.

[1:16:37] Yeah I mean, Worcester has art on their sides

[1:16:39] of their buildings all over the place, and many of them

[1:16:41] are quite awe inspiring.

[1:16:44] But I understand why we wouldn't.

[1:16:47] I completely understand in our small town

[1:16:49] why we wouldn't necessarily want to put

[1:16:51] random murals on our sides of our brick buildings.

[1:16:56] But I do think I was on the council when we voted

[1:17:00] for the current policy, and the only reason why

[1:17:03] I voted for it because it was better than nothing.

[1:17:07] In essence, there's one crosswalk

[1:17:09] that we're able to put art, and that's just not acceptable.

[1:17:13] So I don't disagree that maybe we

[1:17:17] need to define a couple things a little bit more,

[1:17:19] but we want it as open as possible so that people can have

[1:17:23] the expression we have restrictions in there

[1:17:26] about certain types of speech that are not permissible

[1:17:29] and so forth.

[1:17:30] And ultimately, the council has a decision

[1:17:32] to reject if there's something we think that it's not suitable

[1:17:35] or if they don't maintain it, we can order that they remove it.

[1:17:38] And it's at the cost of the people putting up the project.

[1:17:42] So we need to make changes in this policy

[1:17:44] because it's just not acceptable the way it is.

[1:17:48] That's your opinion, ma'am Yes it is.

[1:17:51] I would like to add something from the Connecticut dot.

[1:17:55] And this is a 1924 or 2024.

[1:18:01] Sorry that says.

[1:18:05] The top priorities for the safety

[1:18:07] of pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers.

[1:18:10] Some pavement markings, such as those that convert travel

[1:18:13] pavement into a defined, delineated, pedestrian only

[1:18:17] space, is generally accepted.

[1:18:21] Which is your normal crosswalk with the White lines.

[1:18:24]

[1:18:27] Other treatments, such as within a travel lane,

[1:18:31] can be causing concern to other road users in addition.

[1:18:35] In addition, artistic surfaces create

[1:18:38] a challenging for pedestrians with low vision

[1:18:40] capabilities and other mobility concerns

[1:18:43] as they navigate a sidewalk or crosswalk.

[1:18:47] I just want to point that out as well.

[1:18:49]

[1:18:53] There have the Federal Highway Administration, which oversees

[1:18:57] with our government, has asked communities in the past

[1:19:00] to remove colorful crosswalks in Lexington, Kentucky, Ames, Iowa.

[1:19:06] ST Louis, Missouri.

[1:19:07] Austin, Texas.

[1:19:09] So there is a reason why the federal government doesn't

[1:19:13] approve of that on state roads.

[1:19:18] So I'm just bringing up safety concerns from and as I say,

[1:19:23] I'm a follower of safety for all our people.

[1:19:27] Other towns may do this stuff.

[1:19:29] We as a town can do it.

[1:19:32] It's not a State Road.

[1:19:33] It's not a federally regulated road.

[1:19:35] But I'm just concerned about crosswalks being painted

[1:19:40] painting and our town roads.

[1:19:43] Counselor Whalen, do you mind if I ask a question.

[1:19:45] Are there outside of the crosswalks?

[1:19:48] Are there other spaces that you're

[1:19:51] concerned about public safety relative to this.

[1:19:54] No OK.

[1:19:55] So in terms of the public safety issues that you're

[1:19:57] concerned about, it is narrowed in on that one kind of thing

[1:20:00] basically because it's on the roadway.

[1:20:02] Correct yeah.

[1:20:03] OK I think that's why the last policy in place, there

[1:20:07] was somewhat of a compromise that in the park,

[1:20:09] it's low speed to do stuff in that area

[1:20:14] is a safer area of travel.

[1:20:20] This is not necessarily a question

[1:20:22] that actually leads anywhere, but I'm going to ask it anyway.

[1:20:25] Just because I'm not as familiar with every park in town

[1:20:28] outside of the one park where the policy

[1:20:30] allows it for right now.

[1:20:31] Are there other crosswalks at other parks.

[1:20:34] Are there other.

[1:20:35] No, but there's parking spaces.

[1:20:37] There's sidewalks.

[1:20:39] All that was in the policy that's in place,

[1:20:42] I guess, in the strangest way.

[1:20:43] The question for me is because I mean,

[1:20:45] I walked all these neighborhoods this past summer,

[1:20:46] but I don't have quite the layout in my head

[1:20:48] that you probably do.

[1:20:49] After all the years you've been a resident,

[1:20:51] are there any places in town where you'd sit there

[1:20:53] and say what.

[1:20:53] An aesthetic crosswalk in that area is.

[1:20:55] Probably not as big of a deal because XYZ, that sort of thing,

[1:20:59] is it.

[1:21:00] Or is it just blanket.

[1:21:01] You feel like it's a public safety hazard

[1:21:02] on all of our town roads.

[1:21:03] Or do you think there might be.

[1:21:04] I think it's blanket on all town roads for myself

[1:21:07] for safety concern.

[1:21:08] That's why I was asking.

[1:21:09] OK, I'm not against public art, sculptures, flower decorations,

[1:21:16] all that stuff I think is all good

[1:21:18] that I. I'm glad that we took them

[1:21:21] off town buildings or the Board of Ed buildings, the exteriors.

[1:21:26] I'm thankful for that we're not going to do that,

[1:21:31] but we still have to amend it.

[1:21:34] But yes, we're basically we're on board working that way.

[1:21:36] Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1:21:37] We're there, we're there.

[1:21:39]

[1:21:41] What if we want to continue.

[1:21:43] We can just continue.

[1:21:44] We can come back to the public safety thing.

[1:21:46] But that helps to know that it's just that thing in terms

[1:21:49] of public safety for you.

[1:21:52] So further down the section around location

[1:21:59] is scratched out.

[1:22:01] That one would be removed because basically that section

[1:22:05] says only crosswalk sidewalks, walkways, parking

[1:22:08] spaces located in public parks.

[1:22:10] It basically repeats the section from the first

[1:22:13] from the statement portion.

[1:22:16] Why do we take out number 3 under location.

[1:22:20]

[1:22:23] I think we should determine that wherever

[1:22:25] they're going to put work is in satisfactory condition.

[1:22:29] Well, I think that's part of the approval process anyway.

[1:22:34] I believe that is already covered

[1:22:36] under a different section.

[1:22:38]

[1:22:43] One it's under procedure, I believe.

[1:22:48]

[1:22:56] Yeah I mean, it has the 12 month plan.

[1:22:58] Addressing, installation, maintenance,

[1:22:59] and removal is all under procedure

[1:23:02] and then preliminary review.

[1:23:04] I believe that's maintenance and removal.

[1:23:06] But I think that was for road or parking lot spaces

[1:23:20] that our community development and the park and rec

[1:23:24] make sure it's good pavement.

[1:23:27] I think we got to make sure that's in there.

[1:23:29] I mean, I didn't see it this time.

[1:23:31] I could read the revisions and understand it.

[1:23:33] Understanding because you had a couple

[1:23:35] of weeks to go back over it and it was color coded correctly.

[1:23:40] Got it out on March three.

[1:23:41] Correct so I don't care if it's put in the procedure area.

[1:23:47] But I didn't see it.

[1:23:49] But I definitely could have missed it.

[1:23:51] So yeah I believe it was.

[1:23:58] I know you took out the other two things

[1:23:59] because the other part that was deleted is redundant.

[1:24:03] So I get that.

[1:24:05] I just I don't know if number three should be entirely removed

[1:24:08] or moved to the procedure part.

[1:24:11] I will say that just briefly looking again at that,

[1:24:14] I'm not seeing language that looks

[1:24:16] an exact replica, or at least the exact meaning of number

[1:24:19] three.

[1:24:20] And as far as what number 3 is trying to convey,

[1:24:22] I totally think it makes sense.

[1:24:25] Number three.

[1:24:26] Yeah, yeah, just leave it.

[1:24:28] Yeah I mean, I'd be amenable to leaving that in.

[1:24:30] So can somebody who's got it in a physical form, just

[1:24:33] put a little asterisk on that.

[1:24:34] That will be towards any potential Amendment

[1:24:37] that we might put on this.

[1:24:38] Yes OK.

[1:24:40] Under design.

[1:24:44] OK go ahead.

[1:24:45] Unless you had more.

[1:24:46] No go ahead.

[1:24:47] You're moving on.

[1:24:48] Under design number one, public artwork

[1:24:51] cannot obscure or interfere with markings required for safety.

[1:24:54] I think the idea of that was just

[1:24:55] removing the crosswalk part.

[1:24:57] So it's any markings for safety, even 2 and 3

[1:25:02] that are self-explanatory.

[1:25:05] Yeah same idea.

[1:25:08] I'm going to ask about five I agree.

[1:25:15] I don't know.

[1:25:17] I guess that's part of the review.

[1:25:19] But you also took out number 7, which was we wanted

[1:25:27] to ensure quality installation.

[1:25:29] So we wanted to.

[1:25:31] Art, by the way, is I think you got rid of the stencil thing

[1:25:35] so that an artist can be an artist.

[1:25:36] Yeah, they can just paint.

[1:25:37] So it's not.

[1:25:38] You don't have to agree.

[1:25:40] I'm not disagreeing, but that being said,

[1:25:43] does that mean they can then write whatever message

[1:25:45] they want afterwards.

[1:25:46] No, it has to get previous approval

[1:25:48] through the normal process.

[1:25:50] Just took it out though.

[1:25:51] I'm just saying we just took it out.

[1:25:53] So I think messaging is something that

[1:25:57] is important to know when we're reviewing a piece,

[1:26:01] but it says it shall not contain text,

[1:26:04] word messaging or advertising.

[1:26:06] Well, no, you're taking that out.

[1:26:08] So you're allowing it to be out.

[1:26:12] You're going to allow messaging if it's approved

[1:26:16] ultimately by the Council.

[1:26:18] So then number seven where we don't need

[1:26:23] to know that particular design.

[1:26:24] But we are going to know the messaging there.

[1:26:27] Yeah so you're going to put it back in.

[1:26:29] Simple question is that if that's what he's asking really.

[1:26:31] But the design, any text messaging or I

[1:26:38] mean that's still in the design portion

[1:26:40] that has to come for approval.

[1:26:42] Even if we take out the messaging

[1:26:45] or even if we take out that line item, line number 5, then it's.

[1:26:52] The design part says, as it's currently written,

[1:26:56] the November 2024 version says that there can be no text.

[1:27:01] There can be no words, messaging or advertising.

[1:27:05] Correct so what I'm saying and I get that you're OK,

[1:27:08] but allowing it by taking it out, you're allowing it.

[1:27:12] So correct when we now review the design.

[1:27:15] OK I know we still have the town may reject for any reason.

[1:27:20] OK yeah.

[1:27:21] But on number the new number 8.

[1:27:24] You start to say what guidelines it has to follow.

[1:27:28] Yeah And we adjudicate it.

[1:27:30] So I mean graphic or explicit depictions of sexuality

[1:27:34] or violence, works that ridicule or demean people based

[1:27:37] on their beliefs race, gender, sexual, gender,

[1:27:40] sexual identity, ethnicity, nationality

[1:27:42] or personal characteristics.

[1:27:44] At some point, if they're going to put messaging in there,

[1:27:47] I just hope that we know before they do it.

[1:27:50] Yeah, I mean, we would get a design mockup before somebody

[1:27:54] writes anything on the street.

[1:27:55] And I know we're going to divergence from that,

[1:27:58] but I think the only reason why specifically because one

[1:28:01] of the problems the questions I had was like around advertising.

[1:28:05] Yeah but the.

[1:28:09] The thing that I thought was we may

[1:28:12] be able to get a private organization to pay

[1:28:15] for something and would we allow them to put a badge, liberty

[1:28:19] bank, paid for by Liberty bank assume you're imagining

[1:28:25] a situation where it isn't the bank with the art idea,

[1:28:28] it's somebody else with the art idea, and it's funded by them

[1:28:30] or funded by a non-profit, and that their stamp

[1:28:34] is on it or something.

[1:28:35] That's the only reason to not explicitly say that.

[1:28:38] No, we won't do any advertising.

[1:28:41] We're obviously not doing it as an AD,

[1:28:43] but I'm very uncomfortable with sponsorship.

[1:28:47] Me too.

[1:28:48] Point blank.

[1:28:49] But it's your decision that we didn't

[1:28:53] allow it at Little League.

[1:28:54] We didn't allow.

[1:28:55] I mean that's just.

[1:28:56] And just recently, we didn't allow it at the high school

[1:28:58] on athletic fields.

[1:29:00] And I just saw it happen like this year or last year.

[1:29:03] And I'm like for a reason.

[1:29:04] We didn't do it.

[1:29:05] So sponsorship, which is advertising.

[1:29:10] I'm not comfortable with advertising.

[1:29:13] End of story.

[1:29:14] That's space.

[1:29:16] So that's a no go from the doesn't

[1:29:18] matter whatever we discuss.

[1:29:20] But for me.

[1:29:21] Yeah so basically like if we use it for commercial purposes

[1:29:24] and call it art.

[1:29:24] This is where I was going when I said I don't

[1:29:27] want to be the arbiter of art.

[1:29:28] Now advertising is art.

[1:29:30] Yeah, if that's the problem with this.

[1:29:36] There is no clear line here.

[1:29:38] Which we won't cross.

[1:29:40] It's too broad.

[1:29:41] Or we can make it a line, though.

[1:29:42] I mean, but it's not as written today.

[1:29:45] As revised today is not.

[1:29:46] I understand your reservation around advertising.

[1:29:49] I think that's only.

[1:29:50] That would only be in some limited not lost on me.

[1:29:57] Is that the subtext that I'm hearing from all of you

[1:30:01] is that there's some safety in specific guidelines,

[1:30:05] especially if somebody gets upset by a decision

[1:30:07] of this council regarding their art project.

[1:30:10] There's some of that too.

[1:30:12] We want to make sure that we are in a good space.

[1:30:15] We did what we have written seems to be OK as

[1:30:18] far as the town lawyer feels.

[1:30:20] Our protections are concerned.

[1:30:22] That's why I'm.

[1:30:23] I feel pretty comfortable with where it's at.

[1:30:25] But I'm also very comfortable with making

[1:30:27] all of these carve outs.

[1:30:28] We keep talking about if advertising

[1:30:31] is another thing that's a real hang up,

[1:30:33] I'm sure we could discuss that as well.

[1:30:36]

[1:30:39] Yeah I just don't want to play in here.

[1:30:42] Yeah that was yeah, I mean yeah.

[1:30:43] Anyways, yeah, we can move on the text and word messaging

[1:30:47] though we may want to do a welcome to Rocky

[1:30:52] Hill or something like that.

[1:30:53] I think that's why limiting like 0 words

[1:30:55] is good just so that we know it's going to be in there as we.

[1:30:59] Yeah the design has to be approved by the Council.

[1:31:03] I think any messaging in that design would have to be approved

[1:31:05] like that to me is necessary.

[1:31:08] Yeah a design for instance.

[1:31:10] Perhaps we will, perhaps we amend the language

[1:31:12] to say that any textual elements must be included in the mockup

[1:31:17] that you present in order to be included in the art.

[1:31:20] So in other words, it must hit that point in the process

[1:31:23] that we see any textual elements.

[1:31:24] They can't make a change after that.

[1:31:27] They cannot advertise because advertisement is considered

[1:31:31] a sign of well, there you go.

[1:31:33] There's a whole thing around sponsorships

[1:31:37] and how they can be treated.

[1:31:38] But there you go.

[1:31:40] So are we playing Don Draper or not.

[1:31:43] I mean, what did we decide here.

[1:31:44] I'm Yeah, we're with what you guys are saying about returning

[1:31:48] to having a no advertising and also having something that

[1:31:52] carves out that textual elements must be

[1:31:54] included in mockup designs before we

[1:31:57] receive them for council vote.

[1:32:02] But I'm fully with the mayor on wanting

[1:32:04] to allow for textual elements where appropriate.

[1:32:07]

[1:32:10] Then number 7, we're good with no stencils.

[1:32:14]

[1:32:18] And well, that certainly excludes Banksy from showing up.

[1:32:23] Yeah no artwork by Banksy.

[1:32:26] OK sorry.

[1:32:27] Banksy bummer.

[1:32:30] And then number 8 is.

[1:32:36] What's that.

[1:32:37] So then number 8, I think, was just moving the numbers

[1:32:43] around because it was.

[1:32:48]

[1:32:51] Because 7 was removed.

[1:32:54] I think that's what essentially still saying,

[1:32:58] graphic or explicit depictions are not intended

[1:33:05] to be religious beliefs.

[1:33:07] Can I be honest that last bit.

[1:33:10] I don't know if to call eight a but eight bullet point.

[1:33:15] Can't we end that sentence at, demean people and just

[1:33:19] say that anything that demeans anybody is not something we're

[1:33:22] going to be OK with, and don't have to even

[1:33:25] carve out any specific space.

[1:33:26] We can just say, if you demean people, the mic, sorry,

[1:33:30] it is on.

[1:33:31] We could just say that to demean people in general

[1:33:34] is enough that it wouldn't be acceptable.

[1:33:38] Yeah, I mean I'm a big fan of less is more.

[1:33:41]

[1:33:47] I have no problem with that.

[1:33:48] Yeah, I don't have.

[1:33:49] Listen, that is the message it makes not to demean people.

[1:33:52] So yeah.

[1:33:52] That's good.

[1:34:01]

[1:34:04] Could I also suggest that number 9

[1:34:06] be changed to say the town may reject proposed artworks

[1:34:10] for any reason or no reason.

[1:34:14] In other words, we don't have to give an explanation

[1:34:16] for a vote against a project.

[1:34:19] My only I mean, it's discretion.

[1:34:21] Well, that's what I want to carve out.

[1:34:22] The notion we have the attorney here

[1:34:24] super basically discretion without having

[1:34:26] to answer for the why.

[1:34:28] Because are you saying for any reason you have to have

[1:34:31] a reason at our discretion, just means

[1:34:32] we decide we don't want it.

[1:34:33] You don't want it.

[1:34:36] Yeah that's.

[1:34:38] Yeah, at their discretion.

[1:34:39] Yeah because I think it was important to leave that line.

[1:34:46] And the last line in there, no matter what else,

[1:34:49] got changed in the middle.

[1:34:52] What are you looking at.

[1:34:53] What line.

[1:34:54] Line nine.

[1:34:56] Yep and then the final line of the policy, which

[1:34:59] says the town may order the removal

[1:35:01] or may remove the public artwork after providing written notice

[1:35:04] to the requester at any time, in its sole discretion, that I

[1:35:07] think both of those basically mean

[1:35:10] everything else in the middle.

[1:35:12] There might be some thing that comes up

[1:35:16] that we're not going to think of as narrow

[1:35:18] as we try to make something.

[1:35:21] There's always the possibility, something

[1:35:23] else that we don't think of.

[1:35:24] And so when you have the ability to say no

[1:35:27] or you have the ability to take it down for no reason or I

[1:35:30] mean, take it down sometime later, that's the catch all.

[1:35:34] And that was what was originally signed off on by the attorneys.

[1:35:39] Anyway, I think I would use the sole discretion language again

[1:35:43] on 9 instead of for any reason.

[1:35:45] Just say this is our sole discretion

[1:35:49] at the town's sole discretion consistent up on number 9.

[1:35:55] Yes procedure basically stays the same.

[1:36:06] And it just specifies any public art requests or suggestions

[1:36:09] shall be submitted in writing.

[1:36:10]

[1:36:13] Lays out the timeline, the procedure doesn't change at all.

[1:36:18] I think that was just a language change

[1:36:20] and everything else stays the same right up until the removal.

[1:36:28] And I think in the procedure stuff, I mean,

[1:36:30] it addresses the safety and visibility.

[1:36:33] And I think that's where it would go through obviously

[1:36:35] would go through the police and so forth.

[1:36:37] So if there's a particular intersection

[1:36:40] that the chief decides would be too busy for whatever reason

[1:36:44] that we should not have, then we should obviously

[1:36:46] not going to put artwork there.

[1:36:48] But I think there are some several crosswalks that would be

[1:36:54] and we know very well that the town engineer is

[1:36:57] not going to sign off on anything that he

[1:37:00] thinks is not up to par.

[1:37:02]

[1:37:07] So before we get to the removal of the artwork thing I mean,

[1:37:12] honestly, the three concerns for me were safety content

[1:37:17] and the last one is the maintenance.

[1:37:21] And, we already did this for a month ago.

[1:37:26] And I apologize because I forget how we got here.

[1:37:29] But somebody has to be able to determine

[1:37:32] the cost of either maintenance or what the cost to remove

[1:37:36] that artwork, because that's at the cost of the artist or group

[1:37:39] that the artist has to.

[1:37:41] We set aside some money in a separate account

[1:37:45] that we have access to be able to paint it back,

[1:37:48] to remove it or remove it or paint it back to its old state.

[1:37:52] That is under five installation.

[1:37:56] There's a little bullet point there prior to the start.

[1:37:59] The installation, a cash security,

[1:38:01] an amount to cover the cost of repairs,

[1:38:04] maintenance, and removal.

[1:38:05] Artwork yeah.

[1:38:06] That is there.

[1:38:07] I just want to make sure we get that right

[1:38:09] because this scope got a lot bigger potentially.

[1:38:13] And, I don't know how we're going to determine that cost,

[1:38:17] by the way.

[1:38:18] I guess that's on you Ray or.

[1:38:20] Well that should be brought up tonight.

[1:38:22] I think it says as determined by the town finance director,

[1:38:27] this policy goes beyond just painting.

[1:38:30] I mean, and sculptures and what have you.

[1:38:33] And so the team that would be internally reviewing

[1:38:37] this would be Joe Lentini, Steve Mona for bond surety

[1:38:46] and the costs for maintenance or removal or what have you

[1:38:52] would be based on the artist's an estimated cost plus what it

[1:38:58] would cost for town crews if we had to an hourly basis,

[1:39:02] what have you.

[1:39:03] And also materials, that would have to be

[1:39:05] taken out of the cash security.

[1:39:07] But it's no different than Steve working

[1:39:11] on a bond for a subdivision or site plan or parking lot.

[1:39:16] Yeah OK.

[1:39:18] I just want to make sure we keep that there, because that's going

[1:39:21] to be vitally important to keep the cost away

[1:39:24] from the taxpayers.

[1:39:25] And then when you get to the removal of the artwork.

[1:39:29] They have a 12 month display duration.

[1:39:37] And it says if there's no additional approved requests,

[1:39:40] which is fine.

[1:39:41] Before it was just approved, request to display the artwork.

[1:39:45] They would stay in that location.

[1:39:49] Correct so when I get a little bit what I maybe could foresee

[1:39:57] is there's going to be like three or four prime areas.

[1:40:02] And if I was doing something new and I wanted

[1:40:07] to get in the prime area, that doesn't seem fair to the person

[1:40:11] who's already there.

[1:40:12] But it's not fair that it's not available to other peoples

[1:40:15] as well.

[1:40:15] So that's another level of decision making.

[1:40:18] We're going to have to make.

[1:40:19] Are we going to push them off to oh, you can do it,

[1:40:21] but we're going to put you over on East street, which

[1:40:26] nobody's there.

[1:40:27] Yeah, I think those are things.

[1:40:29] I'm just saying you're going to have a lot of groups.

[1:40:31] And that was brought up by the public

[1:40:33] that once they see this stuff coming up,

[1:40:35] maybe you're going to create this onslaught,

[1:40:38] which because we were too restrictive before,

[1:40:41] but now we're not.

[1:40:42] So I'm just that's going to come up.

[1:40:45] I mean, do they have the right to go after the prime spot.

[1:40:49] Because I want to be with where that group was.

[1:40:52] I'm just asking.

[1:40:54] I think the point, the point of this section was to say,

[1:41:02] if you're going to install something,

[1:41:04] it'll be there for at least a month.

[1:41:06] Or I mean at least a year, a year.

[1:41:08] It'll be there for at least a year.

[1:41:09] And if somebody else comes after that and says,

[1:41:11] hey, I want to paint on this prime crosswalk, then

[1:41:16] that would be go through the approval process.

[1:41:21] So again, that's another decision.

[1:41:24] OK yes.

[1:41:25] We'll take the artwork.

[1:41:26] Now we're going to decide we're going to bump the other people.

[1:41:29] Well, the way that it was originally written

[1:41:31] was if somebody else comes with a request,

[1:41:34] it automatically bumps the people that were already there.

[1:41:38] Approved request.

[1:41:39] No, no, it didn't used to say approved,

[1:41:41] I approved I'm good with that.

[1:41:44] And maybe this was a hole that we didn't address when

[1:41:46] we voted this in November 2024.

[1:41:48] I don't but I'm just saying that's going

[1:41:52] to come up hopefully.

[1:41:54] Hopefully it comes up with.

[1:41:56] So many people that want.

[1:41:57] So the artist did a great piece of work

[1:41:59] 12 months ago, is now going to get erased.

[1:42:01] And by the way, not necessarily erased, right.

[1:42:03] Yeah I mean, but not necessarily only if it's only if we say yes.

[1:42:10] Yeah right.

[1:42:11] So again, there's the decision.

[1:42:15] I'm just if there is a can of worms that we're opening up

[1:42:19] is the bottom line.

[1:42:20] But that's OK.

[1:42:23] What's your thought process.

[1:42:24] I agree with the approved request.

[1:42:27] But what's your thought process about this 12 months

[1:42:29] you're taking out and all that stuff.

[1:42:34] So what you suggest I'm asking.

[1:42:37] I say leave it alone.

[1:42:38] I agree with putting the word approved

[1:42:40] in there for the approved request,

[1:42:42] but then leave the rest of it alone.

[1:42:44] I'm just trying to.

[1:42:46] I'm just trying to, I think it looks like we're removing

[1:42:53] the requester has to submit a written request after a year

[1:42:57] and get approval to keep it for another 12 months.

[1:43:01] I think the point of removing that is just saying,

[1:43:05] hey, if nobody else comes along, you don't have to submit

[1:43:08] a request and then it stays up.

[1:43:13] It just stays until somebody else comes and says,

[1:43:16] hey, we want this spot or the town comes and says,

[1:43:19] hey, your mural is starting to fade and we need to fix it.

[1:43:25] So, so to clarify, you're proposing less approval.

[1:43:29] So before it was every 12 months we had to review it.

[1:43:31] Yes yeah.

[1:43:32] So it's less work.

[1:43:34] So I think that's good.

[1:43:36] OK I understand now.

[1:43:38] Well I don't yeah I didn't I'm OK with that by the way.

[1:43:40] I thought it was just they needed another approved request

[1:43:44] in order to be bumped.

[1:43:46] I think it says request.

[1:43:49]

[1:43:51] Well, it guarantees them 12 months,

[1:43:53] but after that, somebody else guaranteed the spot.

[1:43:56] Somebody else could take the spot responded yeah.

[1:43:58] If during or after.

[1:43:59]

[1:44:05] Yeah I think it just made it overly complicated with the way

[1:44:12] that it was written before.

[1:44:13] So the intention is there.

[1:44:15] If somebody comes and requests to have that spot that was taken

[1:44:20] for 12 months and they get approved before the 12 month,

[1:44:23] whatever.

[1:44:23] By the way, are we giving them another full 12

[1:44:25] months if nobody else.

[1:44:26] Well, that was the other thing.

[1:44:27] Is that the way that was written,

[1:44:29] it was like another 12 months.

[1:44:31] Nobody else can come back for another.

[1:44:33] Like, what if somebody comes eight months

[1:44:35] later, 20 months down the road.

[1:44:37] What is.

[1:44:37] So what are you saying.

[1:44:38] They're guaranteed 12 months.

[1:44:40] No Somebody comes in 18 months.

[1:44:42] A month after that.

[1:44:43] It is month.

[1:44:44] Yeah It's just like.

[1:44:46] Yeah, it's just like a lease.

[1:44:48] Yeah all right.

[1:44:49] I think that's.

[1:44:50] Yeah not to add to this, but it just dawned on me

[1:44:54] that I don't see a way that we can carve out

[1:44:56] a carve out here that allows the town

[1:44:58] to decide to keep something.

[1:45:00] I mean, for all we know, somebody

[1:45:02] might come to this council with a project that goes up

[1:45:04] and within a year, we all look at it like,

[1:45:07] wow, that's kind of iconic.

[1:45:08] That's kind of like, that's us.

[1:45:10] There is.

[1:45:10] It could happen.

[1:45:12] We don't have to approve it.

[1:45:13] Not expecting it at any time.

[1:45:14] But maybe we need some language that

[1:45:16] says that we can have the discretion

[1:45:17] to keep something if we choose.

[1:45:19] As a council, I think we just keep it by default.

[1:45:22] Yeah I don't think we need to.

[1:45:23] And then we just order removal at our sole discretion.

[1:45:28] OK yeah.

[1:45:29] The town's sole discretion.

[1:45:31] Council Supreme Court.

[1:45:33] So is that everything.

[1:45:35] Is that everything that's running through the document.

[1:45:38] But it sounds like we still have concerns around public safety

[1:45:41] and crosswalks specifically.

[1:45:43] And forgive me.

[1:45:45] What else have we not resolved in this discussion.

[1:45:48] No, I think we're good.

[1:45:49] I think there's a couple of we went through everything

[1:45:51] and we're good.

[1:45:52] We've made.

[1:45:53] We're saying that we're going to take it off municipal buildings

[1:45:56] and then make these edits we just talked about.

[1:45:59] And you're forgetting the crosswalk part.

[1:46:01] That's right.

[1:46:02] That's what we've been talking about.

[1:46:03] It sounds to me like that's what I thought these edits

[1:46:05] were about crosswalks.

[1:46:07] So we're not going to do crosswalks on public roads.

[1:46:09] No, no.

[1:46:10] So that's my concern about the safety of it.

[1:46:13] So if you were to write the Amendment right now,

[1:46:16] you would include just if you were

[1:46:18] making the decision on your own, that's what you would add to it.

[1:46:20] You would say, no crosswalks that are on public roads.

[1:46:22] That's what you would do if it was in your case.

[1:46:25] Correct OK.

[1:46:27] Can I make a suggestion on the crosswalks?

[1:46:30] Sure is there something in the review process,

[1:46:32] which discusses public safety.

[1:46:34] If you could add to that would give

[1:46:36] you more comfort that that's what I'm going to propose.

[1:46:38] Some crosswalks on public roads that would be suitable.

[1:46:41] I agree that there's certain ones that you probably don't

[1:46:45] want it on Silas Dean highway.

[1:46:46] Well, we can't there either.

[1:46:48] Well, even assuming it was a State Road.

[1:46:49] Yeah so maybe let me speak to that maybe this will help.

[1:46:54] So there is language that towns do put in to ensure compliance

[1:47:00] with the Federal Highway interpretation

[1:47:04] of artistic challenges.

[1:47:08] So what they've said is that if they are outside

[1:47:12] of the typical white ladder markings or with in between,

[1:47:18] it's OK.

[1:47:19] So we could say that crosswalks will

[1:47:23] be installed using the whatever you

[1:47:26] said compliant ladder markings.

[1:47:28] Decorative pavement art may be placed within or adjacent

[1:47:31] to the crossing area, provided the required white crosswalk

[1:47:34] markings remain clearly visible and are not altered.

[1:47:38] We already have that in the design section to then.

[1:47:41] Then that should comply with everything

[1:47:43] of the federal highways concerns and safety.

[1:47:48] Well, let me just comment meant just to that does doesn't that

[1:47:56] muddy up if you're going to keep the White lines

[1:48:01] and just have drawings within those white lines,

[1:48:04] doesn't that defeat the purpose of having somebody put something

[1:48:09] down there.

[1:48:10] No still keep it within the White lines.

[1:48:14] You just keep the White lines.

[1:48:16] You can put other things because the White lines are reflective

[1:48:19] graphics and text in between.

[1:48:20] But what's in between isn't reflective.

[1:48:23] I just can't envision.

[1:48:26] A painting or whatever with white lines going through it.

[1:48:30] No, not in the middle of no, no, no, not in the middle of it.

[1:48:32] Just the exterior.

[1:48:34] Yes OK.

[1:48:35] I misinterpret what you were saying.

[1:48:36] OK to outline the path that the pedestrian should take.

[1:48:41] And those are reflective.

[1:48:42] No curved lines.

[1:48:44] All right.

[1:48:45] Yes I'll go back here.

[1:48:47]

[1:48:50] Can I. Ray does.

[1:48:52] How do you remove.

[1:48:56] I painted lines on the roads last more than 12 months.

[1:48:59] I know they fade, but outside of milling it,

[1:49:03] how do you remove that paint.

[1:49:05] I don't know how that paint would be removed.

[1:49:06] I know you have to jackhammer, lightly

[1:49:10] grind off the pavement markings or paint over them.

[1:49:14] If you want to remove them, you have to

[1:49:16] or you could paint over them.

[1:49:19] You just paint over them, you can paint over them.

[1:49:21] Is that the way you do it.

[1:49:23] I mean, now it's a different color,

[1:49:24] I got to prime my house when I do a different color.

[1:49:28] I'm truly asking.

[1:49:30] I do think that's generally how it's done.

[1:49:32] When I lived in Washington, DC, I remember at one point

[1:49:35] that they covered up lines by just painting black over them.

[1:49:38] Yeah, that's what they do when there's a road construction,

[1:49:43] they have to move the lines over because they're

[1:49:47] working on one side and then they move them back.

[1:49:48] They just paint over the line again.

[1:49:49] That's at their cost.

[1:49:51] And that's the applicants cost.

[1:49:56] Yeah I think that's going to be that's difficult to determine.

[1:50:02] And that's something that's really

[1:50:03] got to have a lot of thought and how much security

[1:50:05] bond is going to be put up.

[1:50:07] Yeah for a painting once for artwork or sculpture

[1:50:14] obviously is not going to be that expensive.

[1:50:16] But I think the cost of painting a road

[1:50:19] is probably pretty standard.

[1:50:20] And probably our Steve, our town engineer,

[1:50:25] probably have that data.

[1:50:29] Let me just pay for the paint, pay for the time to do it.

[1:50:32] And so the edits that we've got to the revised proposed policy

[1:50:42] include adding back in under location.

[1:50:49] Item number three.

[1:50:52] To say that the public art work is going to be applied

[1:50:57] in a satisfactory condition, as determined

[1:51:00] by the Director of Community development,

[1:51:02] or designee, parks and rec director designee,

[1:51:04] and the town planner.

[1:51:06] So basically saying town staff is going to review and make

[1:51:10] sure that the surface is good.

[1:51:12] The next one is that.

[1:51:14]

[1:51:17] Public artwork show public or public artwork

[1:51:23] shall not contain advertising.

[1:51:26] We can also add that text must be included

[1:51:33] in the design mockup, or any.

[1:51:35] Any proposed text must be included in design mockup.

[1:51:38]

[1:51:41] And on now number 8 under design,

[1:51:48] we eliminate everything after work

[1:51:50] that ridicules or demeans people includes all the race, beliefs,

[1:51:57] gender, sexual identity.

[1:51:59] If we just work that ridicules or demeans people.

[1:52:03] And then item number 9, the town may

[1:52:06] reject proposed artwork for any reason

[1:52:08] at the town's sole discretion.

[1:52:09]

[1:52:15] But crosswalks still hanging out there.

[1:52:18] Well, you didn't exclude the town buildings or the board of.

[1:52:21] Oh, yes.

[1:52:22] Yes, I don't know.

[1:52:23] Did somebody write a did somebody

[1:52:26] take the language for that.

[1:52:29] Exterior exclude the exterior.

[1:52:32] Public artwork is defined as what's

[1:52:36] going on inside municipal buildings or any board of Ed

[1:52:40] properties outside of municipal building,

[1:52:46] or I think any board or any board

[1:52:50] of Ed, building or grounds, building or grounds.

[1:52:55] Yeah Any town building.

[1:52:57] School grounds.

[1:52:59] School building.

[1:53:00] Correct including.

[1:53:04] We're losing half our council.

[1:53:06] Do we have a quorum.

[1:53:07] Do we still have a quorum.

[1:53:10] He's going to go.

[1:53:12] Somebody make sure they're not.

[1:53:14] They're not caucusing out there.

[1:53:16] You guys work out a deal.

[1:53:19] Yeah we're going to deal behind closed doors.

[1:53:21] Wow this is a secret meeting.

[1:53:23] I've heard so much.

[1:53:25] Locked himself.

[1:53:28] The keys on both sides.

[1:53:30] So it was either come through that door or text her and say,

[1:53:32] can you let me out.

[1:53:33] I've honestly done that before.

[1:53:34] So I opened all the doors and I'm like, I don't know.

[1:53:38] Sorry all right.

[1:53:41] I'm so sorry.

[1:53:42] So we just went through everything.

[1:53:44] I heard everything.

[1:53:45] We actually just agreed to everything, so.

[1:53:47] Great moving on.

[1:53:47] You missed it.

[1:53:49] No the only thing that we.

[1:53:50] We didn't nail down the language around was excluding

[1:53:54] any municipal or municipal buildings or school

[1:53:59] buildings or buildings.

[1:54:01] Yeah the language that I'd written down.

[1:54:04] That's your exterior, though as an actual Amendment language.

[1:54:06] If we were to just do that, it would be that public artwork

[1:54:11] shall not be permitted on or within or I guess on within,

[1:54:16] on municipal buildings, school buildings,

[1:54:18] or on property owned or controlled by the Rocky

[1:54:20] Hill board of education.

[1:54:23] Sounds good.

[1:54:24] I want to put exterior part though.

[1:54:27] That's We could put that on.

[1:54:29] On the exterior, we could say that on the exterior

[1:54:32] of municipal buildings, school buildings, or on property

[1:54:35] owned or controlled by the Rocky Hill board of education.

[1:54:38] One of the art class wants to do a sculpture

[1:54:43] or do some kind of painting.

[1:54:45] The grounds around a municipal building

[1:54:48] would be available as common spaces,

[1:54:50] but the exterior of the building itself,

[1:54:52] under the way that this is written,

[1:54:53] would not be available on the building

[1:54:55] on the ground school grounds.

[1:54:57] I think that would be board of Ed decision.

[1:54:59] That was more that was more a deference to the Board of Ed

[1:55:02] and that the town wouldn't take a non-school related public art

[1:55:07] project and put it on the school grounds

[1:55:09] to exclude them from being able to this would not exclude

[1:55:12] the Board of Education from making

[1:55:14] decisions about the property they control.

[1:55:16] I'm allowed kind of our facilities.

[1:55:21]

[1:55:26] Did we come to a decision on crosswalks?

[1:55:29] I would say, can we make a motion

[1:55:31] to approve to with these discussed changes, as discussed,

[1:55:36] as well as adding the no municipal exterior,

[1:55:39] but I think we have to wait for Mukesh.

[1:55:41] Oh, there he is.

[1:55:42] Just to be clear, the.

[1:55:44] Did we come to a different decision around crosswalks

[1:55:46] or are we staying where we're at.

[1:55:50] I don't think we didn't.

[1:55:51] I don't think we came to a different decision

[1:55:53] around crosswalks.

[1:55:54] No OK.

[1:55:55]

[1:55:58] No, I would suggest that the town manager rewrites

[1:56:02] this so we could read it.

[1:56:03] I'm not a big fan of adding things and saying,

[1:56:07] add this and add that.

[1:56:09] I'd rather see this document back at the next town meeting

[1:56:12] or council meeting to vote on and read

[1:56:15] five five revisions here.

[1:56:17] With all of us, having person to person agreement that we're

[1:56:21] coming back to vote on it.

[1:56:22] I'm OK with that.

[1:56:24] I think that's fair.

[1:56:25] I think that's fair.

[1:56:27] OK I'll entertain a motion.

[1:56:31] Somebody wants to.

[1:56:33] Well, we just tabled a motion for that is just.

[1:56:35] Is it a table.

[1:56:36] Table? we can table this.

[1:56:37] Yeah so I make a motion to table.

[1:56:39] Second second.

[1:56:41] Public parks policy for an updated to make the revisions

[1:56:46] for the respectable changes.

[1:56:48] For the next meeting.

[1:56:50] For the next town council meeting.

[1:56:52] Is he OK with that.

[1:56:53] We got a second discussion.

[1:56:56] Discussion? he's got.

[1:56:57]

[1:57:00] A question.

[1:57:01] Do you have a question.

[1:57:02] I have a question.

[1:57:02] Yeah regarding the crosswalks, were

[1:57:04] they included or just exclude.

[1:57:06] The rest of the policy is as we wrote

[1:57:07] it up before we got in here.

[1:57:09] So I'd say it's still included crosswalks

[1:57:12] that included those changes we discussed

[1:57:15] in the Alan just went over.

[1:57:17] Oh, OK.

[1:57:18]

[1:57:28] All in favor of the motion.

[1:57:33] Abel? bill.

[1:57:33] Yeah, I just lost two hours.

[1:57:37] I oppose.

[1:57:39] I want to prove it.

[1:57:40] All right.

[1:57:44]

[1:57:47] Where are we.

[1:57:48] Does anybody else need a five minute recess.

[1:57:52] Yes move to recess, everybody.

[1:57:56] You get a motion.

[1:57:59] Second second.

[1:58:00] All in favor.

[1:58:01] Aye see you back in a hard five.

[1:58:03]

[1:58:06] It reminds me of my grandpa.

[2:01:52] My grandpa.

[2:01:53] All right.

[2:01:54]

[2:01:59] All right.

[2:02:00] We're all back.

[2:02:01] Almost there.

[2:02:06]

[2:02:10] Ray, do you want to.

[2:02:12] Well, next item on the agenda is making a motion to return.

[2:02:16] Would somebody like to make a motion to return.

[2:02:18] We'll return to session.

[2:02:19] Second All in favor.

[2:02:21] Aye all right.

[2:02:23] Next item on the agenda.

[2:02:26] Shared services and operational assessments.

[2:02:27] Ray, would you like to get us started.

[2:02:30] The document that was just passed out, the little chart

[2:02:34] that has the option.

[2:02:36] Option 1, 2, and 3.

[2:02:39] If you recall.

[2:02:40]

[2:02:43] The council wanted us to reach out

[2:02:46] to get a price for public safety, which

[2:02:53] included the police, fire, and EMS and the highway

[2:02:55] and public works.

[2:02:58] This chart identifies.

[2:03:02] Two quotes the column that says, quote is the cost

[2:03:09] for public safety admin only.

[2:03:13]

[2:03:17] The second one down, the quote of $97,000

[2:03:23] is the public safety admin and operations for the fire.

[2:03:27] Police and fire and then the public

[2:03:30] works and grounds is 70,000.

[2:03:37] Going to the right column.

[2:03:39]

[2:03:44] Is the cost for what I wanted to do.

[2:03:47] She broke out.

[2:03:48] She asked for a quote.

[2:03:49] Just for police.

[2:03:52] No thank you.

[2:03:53]

[2:03:57] For police only.

[2:03:59] For police.

[2:04:01] Admin only.

[2:04:02] It would be $45,000 price.

[2:04:08] And for public safety, admin and operations would be 67,000.

[2:04:14] So those were because the other prices came back

[2:04:19] before these were broken up.

[2:04:20] They were pretty high.

[2:04:21] So Mona asked to say, how much would it cost if you just

[2:04:24] do like police and admin only.

[2:04:26] Or instead of just like the whole police

[2:04:30] department with Patrol.

[2:04:33] I'm sorry.

[2:04:34] My voice is like treacherous.

[2:04:36] I'm sorry.

[2:04:36] Sorry so yes, their original quote was the column left

[2:04:43] and then we went back and said if we removed the fire at EMS,

[2:04:47] what would it be if you did.

[2:04:48] Police admin for clarification.

[2:04:52] Admin we explained to them according to an org

[2:04:56] chart from the police, which was from the chief lieutenants,

[2:05:01] sergeants, detectives and any non patrolling patrol officers.

[2:05:08] So it's that group of 11 out of the 50 plus,

[2:05:13] and then the 67,000 would be complete operations

[2:05:17] of the police department compared to what was

[2:05:21] to the left column, which was looking at police,

[2:05:24] fire, and ambulance.

[2:05:26]

[2:05:31] And I said, I don't know if you said there

[2:05:32] was four requests sent out.

[2:05:37] Seager was the only one that responded back to the request.

[2:05:41] So we had three other vendors who actually have done

[2:05:44] similar processes throughout the state on these areas,

[2:05:49] but they did not respond.

[2:05:50] So we still have Seeger, who did respond and did the follow up.

[2:05:55] Did they not respond because they don't want to do it

[2:05:57] or they just didn't respond.

[2:06:00] I'm not sure why.

[2:06:01] OK yeah.

[2:06:03] Can I ask a reminder question.

[2:06:06] And I should have I could have pulled it up.

[2:06:08] But what is the public works budget from last year

[2:06:13] and what is the public safety just so I can.

[2:06:18] I brought that with me.

[2:06:20] OK, so 10% would be 10.

[2:06:24] Yeah, 10.5 million, give or take.

[2:06:28] So we have the.

[2:06:31] Excuse me.

[2:06:31] The public works with grounds was a total of three million.

[2:06:35] The two groups together, then all public safety,

[2:06:41] which was the admin piece was 1.4 million.

[2:06:47] Let's see if I were to let me see if I can separate

[2:06:51] out the fire admin on that.

[2:06:56] So that would be one point.

[2:06:57] And this is rough.

[2:06:58] Like 1.2 million would be police.

[2:07:02] So what about the operations if Mona,

[2:07:04] if you include the operations with operations for police,

[2:07:08] for everything, for operations with public safety,

[2:07:11] public safety, police, fire.

[2:07:14] Yeah was that 9.3?

[2:07:16] That's what I mean.

[2:07:16] 10% I told you that before.

[2:07:20] That's the big one.

[2:07:21] Yeah how much control do we have over the EMS.

[2:07:39] What do we give them.

[2:07:42] We don't give them much money.

[2:07:44] And we wouldn't have much say because it's not a profit.

[2:07:48] Yeah which is really why I went with the alternative

[2:07:50] to see if it was police only.

[2:07:53] Yeah right.

[2:07:54] Now that the budget for ambulance.

[2:07:58] Yeah, we've got about 200 that we're paying

[2:08:00] for Aetna ambulance service.

[2:08:02] Otherwise we're paying for pension, health insurance.

[2:08:07] And we give the volunteer a small around $10,000

[2:08:11] for whether they wanted to buy computers

[2:08:14] or just a discretionary fund.

[2:08:17] So yeah, the volunteer portion of it is minimal.

[2:08:22] It's probably less than 100 pensions, about 65.

[2:08:26] Those are all controlled correct things

[2:08:30] that we can't change anyhow.

[2:08:32] Not a lot of flexibility.

[2:08:33] Correct so I don't know if we pulled EMS out in the fire.

[2:08:38] It seems right.

[2:08:39] And the fire should stay.

[2:08:41] Fire and the fire wasn't much for the admin for the operation.

[2:08:47] The operational.

[2:08:48] Yeah, I think we should not even worry about admin.

[2:08:51] It has to be admin operations.

[2:08:52] Otherwise you just don't do it.

[2:08:55] I mean, it's 1 million versus 10 million.

[2:08:57] So yeah.

[2:08:59] Yeah right.

[2:09:01] Like right.

[2:09:02] I mean you're going through the thing.

[2:09:04] I mean it's like let's just not do that.

[2:09:06] It's fine.

[2:09:07] It's not worth it.

[2:09:08] It was like the one unless we get.

[2:09:09] Yeah Like I said I don't disagree one way or the other

[2:09:13] with any of these, I think my concern was,

[2:09:16] I know we did the $65,000 of contingency

[2:09:19] and I saw the results.

[2:09:20] So just went back and asked the additional question

[2:09:22] in case you would prefer to fit to the budget versus

[2:09:25] is the reasonable approach.

[2:09:27] Option two without fire EMS, it would be police only at 67.

[2:09:34] Yeah is that that's what that column is.

[2:09:38] Yeah what's fire for the budget overall.

[2:09:42] Do you know.

[2:09:43] Yeah, I think I brought that one with me.

[2:09:47] We would be looking at admin and operations 1.7 million.

[2:09:52] Yeah I want 1.3.

[2:09:54] 1.4 I mean, if you really wanted to do it, we can put

[2:10:00] $40,000 in the upcoming budget.

[2:10:03] It's not like that's too far away.

[2:10:06] If there is a can do it. $40,000 in $100 million dollar budget.

[2:10:11] That's what we were talking about.

[2:10:12] So I don't see if there is a will.

[2:10:14] There is a way.

[2:10:15] I don't see 100,000 as a big deal,

[2:10:17] really on $100 million budget.

[2:10:19] It's 0.1% I hear you.

[2:10:21] I'm going to definitely remember those words as we're

[2:10:23] going through budget workshops.

[2:10:24] Yeah, for something we have not done ever.

[2:10:28] Yeah it's worth it.

[2:10:29] Yeah if you're going to tell me I'm

[2:10:30] going to hire another person that's a different.

[2:10:33] Fair enough.

[2:10:34] Fair enough.

[2:10:35] We haven't done before.

[2:10:36] Yeah will where there's a will.

[2:10:38] There's a way.

[2:10:38] Yeah exactly.

[2:10:39] For things we want to actually I need to do I mean if we don't

[2:10:44] again, I mean it all depends like if you want

[2:10:46] to look deep or not, if you don't

[2:10:48] want to look deep in anything.

[2:10:50] Sure, we can keep spending the money.

[2:10:54] It's a $10 million budget for just public safety.

[2:10:58] I mean, you spend $100,000 for $10 million.

[2:11:01] I would do it tomorrow, but you're not me, so that's OK.

[2:11:05] I know that what you're saying makes plenty of logical sense.

[2:11:08] For some reason, I can't shake this feeling that it's like,

[2:11:11] just put a little more down on this spot on the roulette wheel

[2:11:14] right now.

[2:11:15] Because we just we've been worrying

[2:11:17] about the expenditure of it and whether we're

[2:11:18] going to get it back.

[2:11:19] Yeah so here's the thing.

[2:11:20] I think John mentioned this last time, if I remember correctly,

[2:11:24] yeah, I will be happy if they said there's nothing

[2:11:29] wrong with this department.

[2:11:30] Like there is nothing.

[2:11:31] We are doing everything great.

[2:11:33] It's like the best run department in the whole state.

[2:11:36] Sure, I will take that.

[2:11:39] I agree.

[2:11:39] I don't think I don't think you're going

[2:11:41] to find that with fire, though.

[2:11:42] I would rather put.

[2:11:44] I mean, if we're going to put any additional effort,

[2:11:45] I would certainly look at town Hall.

[2:11:48] I mean, there's a thing on the prior spreadsheet

[2:11:51] that we were given for a proposal

[2:11:54] that there's a lot of overlap between HR and payroll.

[2:11:57] Not that we're going to be getting a couple hundred

[2:11:59] thousand dollars, but if we fine tune what's

[2:12:02] the operations of town Hall with certain departments,

[2:12:06] then as a taxpayer, would certainly feel more comfortable

[2:12:10] knowing that our taxpayer, our tax dollars are being utilized

[2:12:13] well in town operations.

[2:12:16] But I wouldn't put 100% of it at just public safety.

[2:12:21] The police I would be an advocate for option two.

[2:12:24] Police only.

[2:12:27] And then if we talk about a phase Ii later in the year,

[2:12:31] then we look at the municipal departments.

[2:12:36] What was the figure on those.

[2:12:38] Do you have it up without the Board of Ed finance and finance.

[2:12:44] Admin and HR was between 45 and 48.

[2:12:49] And if you add HR that's another 2325.

[2:12:54] So that's 70 roughly 7075.

[2:13:00] That's for five departments four departments.

[2:13:03]

[2:13:05] What is the percentage of the budget if you take those four.

[2:13:12] It could be tough.

[2:13:13] I mean, right now we have the contingency

[2:13:17] and being aware that the 65 was set aside.

[2:13:20] I would say from the last financial we did,

[2:13:23] I'm concerned about what this snowstorm has done.

[2:13:27] I think we're basically 150% for the overtime for snow removal.

[2:13:34] And salt is pretty bad.

[2:13:36] And this is where I'd get it.

[2:13:37] So I'm as well as a couple of retirements that go there.

[2:13:40] So it would be close.

[2:13:42] I mean, it would be my recommendation.

[2:13:44] I mean, seriously, I think if we went with both,

[2:13:47] I would try looking at freezing some discretionary expenditures

[2:13:52] throughout other departments.

[2:13:53] Do you have any recommendations.

[2:13:55]

[2:13:58] For freezing.

[2:13:59] For freezing.

[2:14:00] When I well when we make the freeze we do it across all.

[2:14:04] It's just any nondiscretionary.

[2:14:08] OK well, I thought you were going

[2:14:12] to have the recommendation.

[2:14:13] What? you.

[2:14:14] Yeah, that's what I meant.

[2:14:15] We should do here from your end.

[2:14:18] Financing do you see the.

[2:14:20] If we were to do any of this.

[2:14:21] The best bang for our buck.

[2:14:23] If you want to say.

[2:14:25] Do you think is there an area that you think in the town.

[2:14:30] I think what John said might be the best, but.

[2:14:32] Yeah could you put them all into that one table

[2:14:35] that you created with the colors that

[2:14:37] had the budget and then the.

[2:14:38] I think that would be helpful.

[2:14:39] Yeah and we did have AI don't think I don't know if I brought

[2:14:43] it with me, but we had asked all of these vendors, when we're

[2:14:47] in the very early stages of what would

[2:14:49] be the best bang for your buck.

[2:14:51] And they did come out with that.

[2:14:53] And I don't know if I brought the table with me.

[2:14:56] If not, I can have it for the next.

[2:14:59] I mean, the phased approach is not bad to actually

[2:15:03] if you go like phase Ii, that might give us

[2:15:08] a little bit of cushion on the budget side,

[2:15:11] but also see how it plays out, that can be a possibility

[2:15:18] if you do a phased one.

[2:15:20] So in option two the police only but that's admin and operations.

[2:15:28] So that.

[2:15:32] The whole police budget or is that still taking.

[2:15:35] Does that mean include every patrol officer.

[2:15:39] The second line.

[2:15:41] So option two that says police only

[2:15:43] is everything from dispatch to records to patrols.

[2:15:47] It's the whole entire.

[2:15:50] So I mean that's certainly a large that's certainly

[2:15:54] a much larger budget number than just police administration

[2:16:01] duration for sure.

[2:16:02] Yeah, that's 7 million instead of one.

[2:16:08] And would include equipment and everything else.

[2:16:14] Yeah and I'd say I wouldn't.

[2:16:17] I know if we're thinking down the line,

[2:16:20] I would not rule out that public works parks

[2:16:24] grounds is an option as well.

[2:16:27] I think you may see something that overlaps.

[2:16:30] Yeah and that's a similar dollar amount.

[2:16:32] A little bit.

[2:16:33] A little bit lower dollar amount but maybe more like equipment,

[2:16:37] less people but more equipment and other expenditures

[2:16:40] like that.

[2:16:41] Yeah just so I'm clear.

[2:16:48] When we give them these budgets or whatever they're

[2:16:51] going to purview, whatever that includes what their proposals

[2:16:56] are in the future because I know public works,

[2:17:00] we have that new building or whatever.

[2:17:02] That would be part of the scope of their review.

[2:17:05] I would hope if we ask it to be, it will be OK.

[2:17:09] OK just meaning it's not just what we've spent.

[2:17:13] It's what we're about to spend.

[2:17:14] Yeah Yeah so if they would come back

[2:17:17] and say yes, you need a larger facility.

[2:17:19] Well, yeah.

[2:17:20] No, there's two edge to this sword.

[2:17:22]

[2:17:26] So for.

[2:17:30] Yeah for public works, they may come back

[2:17:31] and say, well, this small older building

[2:17:34] is costing you more money because it's less efficient

[2:17:37] or whatever.

[2:17:37] You should be ready to get a new building or whatever

[2:17:40] just out of hypothetically.

[2:17:44] Same thing could be said on for public safety

[2:17:47] on the police side.

[2:17:48] Maybe they say, well, based on your scheduling and overtime,

[2:17:51] we recommend you hire more police officers

[2:17:53] and that will end up saving you money, or make better services

[2:17:59] or it could happen.

[2:18:02] I like counselor Emanuel's thought,

[2:18:06] just go police and operations now

[2:18:08] and if we want to later go after town Hall stuff.

[2:18:13] But in any case, I'd support that.

[2:18:16] I think you were saying to do both.

[2:18:19] Just phase it.

[2:18:19] You weren't saying just to do one.

[2:18:21] Yeah, it's just phase, but you should.

[2:18:25] I mean, we want to include police and fire in there, right.

[2:18:28] The first one.

[2:18:30] No, no, no, I think personally, I don't think we're going

[2:18:33] to get that much out of fire.

[2:18:34] I don't have anything to say specific other than anecdotally.

[2:18:39] I've seen some of the stuff that the fire department does.

[2:18:41] And I wonder if we really like they probably are getting

[2:18:45] a lot of good use out of the dollars they do have,

[2:18:46] and they don't ask a lot every year on their budget open to it

[2:18:49] if it's critical to you.

[2:18:51] I think if we start with police administration and operations,

[2:18:55] that's a big chunk right there.

[2:18:57] And the fire department takes a lot

[2:18:58] in as you know from other sources as well,

[2:19:01] more so than our police department.

[2:19:02] So I think we could come back to that in the future

[2:19:05] if phase I of this works out really well

[2:19:08] and we're finding we're getting efficiencies all over the place,

[2:19:10] maybe we think it's a more I think going with your 10% the 7

[2:19:14] million for police, admin and operations

[2:19:19] and getting it for 67, which is less than 10%

[2:19:21] I think it's a good more bang for your buck.

[2:19:25] Would this go out to bid.

[2:19:27] No well, we did the RFP at this point.

[2:19:31] So this is the responses.

[2:19:33] We got one back go back and rebid it.

[2:19:35] Oh you did it for that.

[2:19:36] Oh OK.

[2:19:37] I thought you just reached out to these people to look at this.

[2:19:40] It was not a formal process though.

[2:19:42] It was RFP.

[2:19:43] Yeah Just went out for a quote.

[2:19:45] Just yeah.

[2:19:45] She sent an email out saying I need the code

[2:19:49] and gave them the 10 day option, and there was no response.

[2:19:53] So yeah, I'm wondering like counselor Kaplan has said

[2:19:58] in the past, like we asked for police,

[2:20:02] but she always recommended, well, what would fire cost.

[2:20:06] Sometimes she said, these companies

[2:20:09] put a lower rate on just to throw

[2:20:12] in that as a good faith thing.

[2:20:15] So I don't know.

[2:20:15] Yeah, I would agree.

[2:20:16] We could go back and say, hey, can you make a best price.

[2:20:21] Yeah right.

[2:20:22] Yeah I agree, I think just thinking, because I'm

[2:20:25] kind of interested in fire.

[2:20:26] He's kind of interested in fire.

[2:20:29] Yeah could you come down just to see come down

[2:20:32] and what would be police and fire and with best price,

[2:20:35] please.

[2:20:36] Yeah Yeah and it is, as we learned with the other,

[2:20:41] it is manageable to the point, as we

[2:20:44] are the ones that decide how many

[2:20:46] people they want to interview.

[2:20:48] So if we say you're going to go to fire,

[2:20:49] but don't interview every firefighter then so

[2:20:54] we can control it to an extent.

[2:20:56] Yeah, obviously they wouldn't choose

[2:20:58] to not interview people that were appropriate for decisions.

[2:21:03] So how would you recommend going forward with that.

[2:21:05] Do we do you put out another RFP or you

[2:21:09] just ask these people because they're

[2:21:10] the only ones that responded.

[2:21:12] Do we want to do we want to basically set it up so that we

[2:21:16] accept one of the options we have now,

[2:21:18] if we can't get some better, like best

[2:21:23] price to add in or do we say that we would approve it.

[2:21:27] I'd rather hear back.

[2:21:29] And then we can just have a quick five minute conversation

[2:21:32] and get it done.

[2:21:33] If we can get the table of it all together in one.

[2:21:36] So we can say, all right, looks like police in town, admin

[2:21:39] or whatever is good.

[2:21:41] And we know we need to account for an additional x amount

[2:21:45] potentially for phase Ii.

[2:21:46] And hopefully, we can make a decision on the next meeting.

[2:21:50] Works well.

[2:21:50] Works for me.

[2:21:51] It sounds like we're going to have

[2:21:52] a very decisive next meeting on a lot of subjects.

[2:21:54] It could be.

[2:21:55] Yes yeah.

[2:21:56] You're right.

[2:21:57] Now a lot of oats.

[2:21:58] You're exactly your favorite part.

[2:22:01] You'll be able to make a motion and we will vote on it.

[2:22:05] Part is just responding.

[2:22:07] We'll let you do a motion.

[2:22:08] So just to clarify, because I think you were kind of getting

[2:22:11] off track a little bit, are we just looking

[2:22:14] at police and fire police.

[2:22:16] We're kind of leaning towards I think.

[2:22:19] Yeah And is there a way that they

[2:22:22] could do something for fire.

[2:22:23] I'm going to ask that what we're doing right now.

[2:22:25] Yes yeah.

[2:22:26] We're going to ask for that.

[2:22:27] If they could bring a quote for include fire but didn't perfect.

[2:22:31] It doesn't.

[2:22:32] Isn't that what they did though, is this police and fire

[2:22:36] EMS, EMS as well.

[2:22:37] But then we're going to say, hey, best price too.

[2:22:40] Yeah, exactly.

[2:22:42] Just bundle it work for you, Mona.

[2:22:43] Yes but we've also we've also already option to police only

[2:22:49] is already our entire budget for this.

[2:22:53] So if they come back and they say, hey,

[2:22:54] we'll throw in fire for $5,000, we're already technically

[2:22:59] over budget at that level.

[2:23:01] I have a feeling that we would all be amenable to making

[2:23:04] a decision in that moment.

[2:23:05] And by the time this gets rolling, we'll have approved.

[2:23:10] We'll have flying.

[2:23:11] The police will have flying cars by the time

[2:23:13] so we can add it in the next budget.

[2:23:14] Yeah, we'll all have jetpacks.

[2:23:16] Yeah we may have to add a little bit onto our budget.

[2:23:18] By then I'll have my salt delivery in.

[2:23:22] Oh, I will know if we can afford it.

[2:23:24] OK good.

[2:23:25] Salt gotta have salt. OK, so we're all clear where we're at.

[2:23:30] We've narrowed, so we're all in agreement.

[2:23:32] We've narrowed it down to just police now, admin and operations

[2:23:39] and see if we can get it with police and fire.

[2:23:43] And your lowest and best price.

[2:23:46] Yep although you didn't have the list of what they suggested

[2:23:53] were the most impactful.

[2:23:55] I was going to bring that.

[2:23:56] I'll bring that.

[2:23:57] And I just I want to continue it after next meeting.

[2:24:02] These were the meetings are already getting longer.

[2:24:07] Next meetings are already getting longer.

[2:24:08] Adding it back on.

[2:24:09] Yeah so what are we doing.

[2:24:11] We are making a motion or a motion

[2:24:13] to table the next meeting.

[2:24:15] I think we just keep.

[2:24:16] Yeah Second OK.

[2:24:18] All in favor.

[2:24:18] Aye in favor.

[2:24:19] Aye keep it on the table.

[2:24:23] All right.

[2:24:24] New business discussion.

[2:24:25] Possible action.

[2:24:26] Land preservation trust fund.

[2:24:28] Is this Mona you as well to go through that,

[2:24:31] or does John need to I can go through it and Mona can.

[2:24:35] Have you got.

[2:24:38] We can save Mona's voice.

[2:24:39] A little bit of talk.

[2:24:41] So the land preservation trust fund is in the budget,

[2:24:47] and it was first enacted in 2003.

[2:24:51] And the simple purpose was it creates a permanent, legally

[2:24:55] protected pot of money that could only

[2:24:57] be used to buy, protect, and improve conservation

[2:25:00] land in Rocky Hill.

[2:25:02] So why does this matter.

[2:25:04] It turns land preservation from a year to year policy choice

[2:25:08] into a long term financial commitment.

[2:25:11] This was slightly amended in 2007,

[2:25:14] but 0 over the past 20 years.

[2:25:16] Nothing has really happened to it.

[2:25:19] There's currently 27, I believe, close to $28,000 in the account.

[2:25:25] It actually should have 50 according to the ordinance.

[2:25:28] But what we want to do is.

[2:25:32] Put more attention to this fund and start

[2:25:36] having some money go into it.

[2:25:39] Just one caveat.

[2:25:41] When this was first proposed, 20, a little over 20 years ago,

[2:25:44] there was no community farm, so nobody thought of expenses

[2:25:49] for something like that.

[2:25:50] So the ordinance itself is very constrained

[2:25:53] with what money comes in and what

[2:25:56] you could apply the money to.

[2:25:59] So what Mona is proposing is two.

[2:26:07] Two transfers into this fund.

[2:26:09]

[2:26:11] And what I countered with since we talked about this at finance.

[2:26:17] Yeah since we have a large headwind with the budget,

[2:26:21] there's two transfers, one for close to 50,

[2:26:23] the other close to 150.

[2:26:26] Keeping the 150 into a non recurring

[2:26:29] that Mona can use for the upcoming budget

[2:26:33] and transferring 50 into this fund.

[2:26:38] And then long term I'd like to speak with councilor counselor

[2:26:42] Whalen on proposals to amend the ordinance so that there

[2:26:47] isn't any problems expanding some things,

[2:26:51] like at the community farm.

[2:26:52] But ultimately, according to the ordinance,

[2:26:55] everything has to come to the council.

[2:26:58] So more things to add.

[2:27:01] So that's basically it.

[2:27:03] It's a transfer.

[2:27:05] This particular request is a transfer

[2:27:07] of I forgot the exact amount one of the 4949 828

[2:27:14] to the land trust.

[2:27:15] And the 148 3:21 to the non-recurring fund Correct

[2:27:22] Do you have it backwards.

[2:27:23] The documentation says otherwise.

[2:27:25] Backwards it says that the reverse of that on the document.

[2:27:28] And this is the right one.

[2:27:32] Non-reoccurring foundry.

[2:27:34] The foundry.

[2:27:35] Foundry foundry was 49.

[2:27:36] The foundry was 49.

[2:27:38] Yeah no.

[2:27:38] That's right.

[2:27:39] So that account is going away and that money is going

[2:27:43] would go into the trust.

[2:27:45] The other, the 149 and change.

[2:27:48] 148 one 4148 would go into non-recurring.

[2:27:53] Correct so yes.

[2:27:55] No I'll clarify.

[2:27:57] It's not wrong.

[2:27:57] It's not backwards.

[2:27:59] Just for clarification.

[2:28:00] The first line is presently in the non-recurring fund

[2:28:05] and it is named foundry.

[2:28:07] So if any of you have listened to me, probably

[2:28:10] to the point of annoying in order to take something out

[2:28:13] of a designated purpose, out of the non-recurring,

[2:28:17] you need resolution.

[2:28:19] So we're saying this little 49,000 that is currently

[2:28:23] in non-recurring for a purpose called foundry

[2:28:27] should go to the land trust.

[2:28:30] Then after further discussion, the portion

[2:28:33] that is in an account called real property acquisition

[2:28:37] 148 is recommended to go to non-reoccurring

[2:28:42] with no designation.

[2:28:46] Thank you.

[2:28:47] Yes is that what's it used for.

[2:28:51] For that.

[2:28:53] 148,000 then what are we.

[2:28:55] Is it.

[2:28:55] Where does it go or what's it do.

[2:28:58] What that does is.

[2:28:59] I know you've seen my finance reports before.

[2:29:02] So on non-recurring, you basically have a purpose.

[2:29:06] It can be working on sidewalks.

[2:29:08] You can be doing the foundry.

[2:29:09] There are sections that are called undesignated.

[2:29:12] And the only time that can have a purpose is by resolution.

[2:29:16] When we come back, we have a resolution

[2:29:18] and say we have a purpose for this designation.

[2:29:22] Maybe we'll do something during a budget process and say,

[2:29:26] perhaps we'd like to use that one.

[2:29:27] 44 does that come to the town council for a vote

[2:29:31] or it goes to finance and then through finance.

[2:29:35] Then it comes to council, a consent,

[2:29:37] but then it comes as a consent.

[2:29:39] So we don't have any talk.

[2:29:41] Not always.

[2:29:41] Well, you can pull it out.

[2:29:42] You can pull it out if you take it off.

[2:29:44] Consent yeah.

[2:29:46] And just keep in mind that the restriction

[2:29:48] that does occur with that is it can't be operational.

[2:29:52] So it would be those things that are

[2:29:54] more of a non-recurring type.

[2:29:56] So it'd be I mean basically that you can't use salaries.

[2:30:00] You can't do exactly the garden or something like that.

[2:30:04] Yes correct.

[2:30:06]

[2:30:11] So I think, friend, I think the best

[2:30:15] understand was I hate to do this,

[2:30:18] but it was kind of found money.

[2:30:21] And now that we've found it, we're

[2:30:24] going to take what we had land preservation because the land

[2:30:28] preservation that hadn't been touched

[2:30:30] or whatever this was originally designated for 19 years.

[2:30:34] So we're trying to get that the money

[2:30:38] that was excess in the other.

[2:30:40] So we're trading $100,000 to get the contingency fund is

[2:30:46] gaining $100,000 of the found money is

[2:30:49] really what it comes down to.

[2:30:51] And we still have to designate the use of that.

[2:30:54] Should we come to use it somehow, some way.

[2:30:57] Correct I think it was a fairly easy discussion.

[2:31:01] We did vet it pretty thoroughly.

[2:31:03] Yes thank you.

[2:31:04]

[2:31:07] OK, so for a motion.

[2:31:10] Sure whoa.

[2:31:12] What's that.

[2:31:14] So I'll Yeah You sure.

[2:31:17] We can just have a quick discussion about it

[2:31:20] like two weeks OK.

[2:31:23] Whereas the Rocky Hill land preservation trust fund,

[2:31:26] whereas the town of rocky Hill established the land

[2:31:28] preservation trust fund in May.

[2:31:31] Actually, that should be 2003 for the exclusive purpose

[2:31:37] of funding capital improvements and non-recurring expenses

[2:31:41] on land conservation areas owned by the town

[2:31:44] and the acquisition of additional conservation

[2:31:46] and open space properties.

[2:31:47] And whereas available funds have been identified

[2:31:51] in the real property acquisition fund for the purpose

[2:31:54] of land preservation.

[2:31:57] Oh, actually, scratch that.

[2:32:00] I want to go back.

[2:32:01] I'm sorry.

[2:32:02] After space property's open space properties, it should say.

[2:32:07] And whereas available funds have been identified in the capital

[2:32:11] non-recurring fund received and unexpended

[2:32:14] subsequent to the foundry riverfront project

[2:32:17] in the amount of 49,008 28.

[2:32:21] Be it resolved that the above land preservation funds below

[2:32:25] be transferred to the trust fund and hereby

[2:32:28] are reserved for the purpose of the land preservation trust,

[2:32:31] as reflected below from account 409500005950.

[2:32:40] Non-recurring foundry 49,008 28.

[2:32:46] Do I add the real property acquisition too in that

[2:32:53] just for transfer purposes.

[2:32:54] No go ahead and I'll correct you when you get to the last part.

[2:32:57] OK from account 519500005950.

[2:33:03] Real property acquisition 148,003 21

[2:33:08] and $0.47 to account 789004820.

[2:33:17] Land preservation transfer and the amount would be 49,008 28.

[2:33:23] And then to account 409540959.

[2:33:30] Non-recurring 0.

[2:33:32] 59 50.

[2:33:34] 59 50.

[2:33:35] Description undesignated.

[2:33:37] Undesignated in the amount of one.

[2:33:40] 48 three.

[2:33:41] 21 and $0.47.

[2:33:46] I'll second.

[2:33:48] I'll I'll second.

[2:33:50] I was there a second.

[2:33:53] Any discussion.

[2:33:54] Can you read it again.

[2:33:57] What? yeah.

[2:33:58] One more time.

[2:33:58] No all in favor.

[2:34:01] Aye Aye.

[2:34:03] Thank you.

[2:34:04] All right.

[2:34:05] Thank you guys.

[2:34:06] So mayor's report.

[2:34:09] First of all.

[2:34:10]

[2:34:13] We have announcement as of the last, hour,

[2:34:19] that Rocky Hill girls basketball is going to the Division

[2:34:23] Ii championship game.

[2:34:24] Along so Terry with a.

[2:34:30]

[2:34:33] With a overtime win over Enfield 1 point victory, 4948

[2:34:41] and led by senior Catherine Harding's

[2:34:44] 20 points, 20 points out of 49.

[2:34:47] I got to give it a little more oomph than that.

[2:34:50] 49 to 48, 49, 48 wins the game.

[2:34:54] The championship game will be either next Saturday or Sunday,

[2:34:58] the 21st or 22 at Mohegan Sun.

[2:35:00] Tickets are only $12.

[2:35:02] Residents should consider going and supporting our lady.

[2:35:05] Reclaiming my time.

[2:35:08] I'm trying to keep this short, but that's good.

[2:35:11] That's great news.

[2:35:13] And it was great to see a bunch of people

[2:35:15] here to talk about stuff here.

[2:35:19] I hope we see this much participation

[2:35:22] from the public in our budget process coming up here.

[2:35:26] Pretty soon we're going to be talking about that stuff

[2:35:29] and have all the budget hearings, everything

[2:35:30] coming up real soon here.

[2:35:32] We asked about concierge, so I'll just touch on that.

[2:35:36] We're the town is in communication with the attorney

[2:35:40] general's office, who is negotiating with JC in regards

[2:35:45] to what oversight looks like for us

[2:35:50] and them throughout for the next year or so.

[2:35:55] Basically, what we've asked for is that they have

[2:35:58] a plan for maintenance, plan for and if anything,

[2:36:04] that they recently fixed brakes and a plan for maintenance

[2:36:10] on all of the rest of the stuff that they're fixing now.

[2:36:14] And my ask was that plan goes through all of next winter to

[2:36:22] and basically the attorney general's office

[2:36:26] is handling that.

[2:36:27] But they're in close communication with our fire

[2:36:31] Marshal, building officials, and the town to make sure

[2:36:34] that this doesn't become a thing that happens again.

[2:36:41] And to counselor Sweeney's point,

[2:36:45] we want to them to acknowledge that, we

[2:36:49] had some significant costs related to this.

[2:36:54] And besides that, I just got to give

[2:36:57] a shout out to the Board of Ed held a future chefs

[2:37:02] competition today.

[2:37:05] I am surprised that I have made it past 9:30 after having six

[2:37:11] different dinners this evening.

[2:37:15] From our students, we had six finalists that cook

[2:37:19] stuff from all over the world.

[2:37:21] It was great.

[2:37:22] And it was my pleasure to be there.

[2:37:26] I encourage everybody to look out for that next March

[2:37:30] and try to get on the judging panel,

[2:37:32] because it was really good.

[2:37:33]

[2:37:36] There's a lot of other stuff going on.

[2:37:38] I will just try to share that online

[2:37:41] with everybody so we can move along

[2:37:44] with the rest of our evening.

[2:37:46] I would say just a couple highlights.

[2:37:48] We have the Harlem Wizards game coming up in a couple of weeks

[2:37:54] through the education foundation's fundraiser.

[2:37:56] I would encourage everybody to jump on that.

[2:37:58] And Parks and rec has put out a bunch of other events

[2:38:00] that are coming up in the coming months as well.

[2:38:03]

[2:38:05] And I'll throw it over to the town manager.

[2:38:09] All right.

[2:38:10] Sorry, I think I'm catching whatever has given me

[2:38:14] parks and rec in recognition of America 250 campaign

[2:38:20] and to raise funds for the Rocky Hill schools.

[2:38:23] The Education Foundation is offering an opportunity

[2:38:26] to purchase the America 250t shirts, which you

[2:38:29] have a photo in your package.

[2:38:33] You're wearing yours tonight, right.

[2:38:36] Black and white.

[2:38:36]

[2:38:40] 100% of the proceeds will go to support the Rocky Hill schools.

[2:38:45] If you need, if you'd like to have a t-shirt,

[2:38:48] you can contact the Board of Ed office

[2:38:50] and see Sandy for assistance.

[2:38:52] Or you can do click the link below and within the photo

[2:38:56] which is online, by the way.

[2:38:58]

[2:39:00] Some more mundane activities here at town Hall.

[2:39:05] I'll go through them pretty quickly.

[2:39:08] Sidewalks several sidewalks.

[2:39:12] Being prepared to go out to bid.

[2:39:14] Central hills phase Ii.

[2:39:16] Elm Street sidewalks.

[2:39:19] Both grant both grants.

[2:39:22] Hayes road, which is in the capital improvement program

[2:39:26] for this upcoming budget.

[2:39:27] And Glastonbury Avenue, another grant languishing with the state

[2:39:31] right now.

[2:39:31]

[2:39:35] Bulky waste pick up at curbside has

[2:39:37] resumed in the transfer station will now

[2:39:39] be open Thursdays and Fridays.

[2:39:42]

[2:39:45] Tax department has sent out some delinquent notices

[2:39:48] for real estate, personal property,

[2:39:50] motor vehicle supplemental.

[2:39:52] Quite a few Bills went out there as far as planning

[2:39:56] and economic development goes.

[2:39:58] The town planner, Kim Richey, attended economic Development

[2:40:00] Commission this past last week to discuss the Connecticut

[2:40:06] municipal Development Authority district

[2:40:09] and how it will blend in with the plan of conservation

[2:40:12] and development to review specific tasks associated

[2:40:18] with the plan of development and recommendations specific to.

[2:40:23] Economic development trying to get the commission

[2:40:25] to take on some of those.

[2:40:27] Implementation tasks related to economic development.

[2:40:33] He completed multiple searches for part time custodian, a per

[2:40:38] diem custodian, a full time office manager

[2:40:41] for the senior center, and the head mechanic

[2:40:43] and the assistant mechanic.

[2:40:46] You just heard earlier that public safety, I think,

[2:40:50] is being advertised.

[2:40:52] A position has been open for recreation supervisor

[2:40:55] in the parks and rec department, and that

[2:40:57] will be posted this week.

[2:41:01] You got a replacement position.

[2:41:03] Yes it is.

[2:41:04] Yes it is.

[2:41:06] Thank you.

[2:41:06]

[2:41:09] The town clerk has been meeting with the registrar's office

[2:41:12] concerning election, concerning election related Bills

[2:41:17] in the upcoming primaries for the elections in November,

[2:41:22] and they required a list of offices to be filled,

[2:41:26] were sent for the 26 election were sent to the Secretary

[2:41:30] of State's office.

[2:41:32] That concludes my report.

[2:41:36] OK I apologize, I actually did have

[2:41:40] one quick question about what he just said in his report.

[2:41:43] The town clerk met with the registrars.

[2:41:45] Did they meet with both registrars or just one.

[2:41:48] She meets with both.

[2:41:48] Just make sure.

[2:41:50] Thank you.

[2:41:52] It's a team.

[2:41:53] We had a motion.

[2:41:53] Do we have a second.

[2:41:55] All in favor.

[2:41:57] I have a great evening, everyone.

[2:41:59] Oh, boy.

[2:42:01] Next time you're to order.

[2:42:04]

Town Council Meeting - Third Monday

Transcript