[1:59] Mhm.
[3:54] » Mhm.
[5:35] » I'd like to call this meeting to order.
If you could please stand for the
[5:38] pledge.
[5:40] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America, and to I
[5:45] pledge allegiance to which it stands one
nation under God, indivisible, with
[5:50] liberty and justice for all.
[5:58] » Thank you. It's good to have everyone
here, August 18th.
[6:02] Board of Selectmen meeting. Is there any
public comment?
[6:05] Any public comment?
Any public comment? Hearing no public
[6:09] comment.
First on the agenda, the Waterford
[6:12] Utility Commission to consider and act
on a request from the Director of
[6:16] Utilities, Jill Stevens, for an
additional appropriation of $200,000 for
[6:20] a new project, water distribution system
emergency capital reserve for fiscal
[6:25] year '27, identified in the general fund
balance.
[6:29] » So.
>> Second.
[6:31] » Hi Jill, how are you?
>> I'm well, and you?
[6:35] » Good, thank you.
Um
[6:37] how about we just how about we just go
ahead right into you what this is,
[6:41] um and why why it was set up with the
Board of Finance.
[6:45] » Okay.
>> Thank you.
[6:45] » Yeah. Um after the Quinley Way water
main break last summer,
[6:50] um and I went through the emergency
appropriation process, the Board of
[6:54] Finance rightfully suggested that we set
aside some capital funds for emergency
[6:59] water repairs that are tripped through
the threshold in the interlocal water
[7:03] agreement. This isn't for anything other
than
[7:07] uh a break like the Quinley Way Quinley
main um sorry, Quinley Way main break.
[7:12] It's not for maintenance or anything
that Veolia or New London would usually
[7:17] um cover for us during the uh
the term of the interlocal agreement.
[7:22] It's simply to fix any breaks in the
distribution system, any main breaks.
[7:27] » Okay. Uh Richie, any questions on this?
>> No, I have I have none. Thank you.
[7:31] » Okay, thank you. Greg, do you have any
questions on this?
[7:34] » Yeah, they're older notes, I guess.
>> Okay, go ahead.
[7:36] » A couple weeks ago, but um
[7:41] if we
We talk about material cost, right? And
[7:46] there's a threshold there.
>> Correct.
[7:47] » Um greater than $5,000, correct?
>> That's as with the cost escalation that
[7:52] that every year goes up based on the
engineering and
[7:55] » So the initial was 5,000, but then it's
been adjusted to Do you know where we
[8:00] are?
>> Yep.
[8:00] » Yes, $15,658.
>> So since we contracted annual increases
[8:06] have amounted to 15,600 from 5,000.
>> It's based on the engineering news uh
[8:12] the engineering record news index. It's
a It's a construction cost escalation
[8:16] factor that's used commonly.
>> party that's referenced and that's used
[8:19] as the
>> Yep.
[8:20] » the benchmark. Starting I guess
initially that was $5,000 once upon a
[8:24] time.
>> Yep.
[8:27] » Um
when we I know we're looking at a new
[8:31] contract, a water contract. I I don't
know where we're at with that. I know we
[8:35] doing the study, right?
>> Correct.
[8:37] » on options and how to proceed with that.
>> That's correct.
[8:40] » about proceeding with that.
Um one question is kind of where are we
[8:44] with that? And would this
threshold be something that would carry
[8:48] over into any potential new contract,
whether it be with New London or another
[8:51] party?
>> Um that's a great question and one I I
[8:54] don't have an answer for yet until we
have uh we would enter into
[8:58] negotiations.
It depends on what direction that we
[9:01] take with the study. If we determine
that we're going to take over
[9:04] operational control of our system, then
there would be no third party that we
[9:07] would have to spend that money on. We
would be responsible for 100% of all of
[9:12] the operation maintenance um repairs,
emergency or otherwise, if we don't
[9:18] [clears throat] use a a contract
operator. If we use a contract operator,
[9:22] then something like this could be built
into the contract. Um but that is
[9:26] something that the commission will make
a decision on and then bring it forward
[9:31] through the appropriate channels after
the study has been completed. Um it's at
[9:37] the end of the term um for the study
that we're looking at getting a document
[9:42] from RLW likely in the next couple of
weeks um and that will be a draft that
[9:48] goes to the commission for them to
review. And after that once the
[9:53] report is accepted, it will be made
public.
[9:57] » So, it'll be presented to Utility
Commission in a couple weeks and
[10:02] » Yes, and then the it's for as a draft.
So, then the commission will review it.
[10:07] There'll be some back and forth with the
consultant and some decisions that need
[10:11] to be
made um which will
[10:14] be made public
>> But if it's a study
[10:18] I mean, the findings of a study are kind
of
[10:21] the findings what
>> Once it's out of draft, once it's once
[10:25] it's out out of the draft form and Nick,
you might want to
[10:29] help with that explanation. Um,
where this is in preparation for
[10:35] negotiations with a contract. So,
that draft study is something that the
[10:40] commission
go goes back and forth with the
[10:43] consultant and and our attorney and once
the study is complete, it is released to
[10:48] the public.
I think I said that correctly.
[10:54] » So,
before it's released, basically the
[10:56] commission will have made a decision on
what they want to pursue.
[11:00] » No, the commission will make it will not
make a decision on the outcome of the
[11:03] study. That's for the consultant to give
them a give the town advice on what the
[11:08] our options are, what the capital costs
are associated with that.
[11:12] » Is any negotiating going on before the
ROW's
[11:18] study some
>> No, we've had conversations with the
[11:21] city of New London to see if they're
interested in continuing which they are
[11:24] um and they understand that we are in
the process of completing the study and
[11:28] once the study is complete, then if New
London is the option that we decide to
[11:32] pursue, then negotiations will begin.
>> Um, can you remind me again when the
[11:37] current contract's up?
>> June 30th, 2028.
[11:44] » Uh, thank you. Um,
I'm just going to go through my notes
[11:48] here and make sure I don't have anything
else. I may not.
[11:58] Um, I'm all set. Thank you.
>> Sure.
[12:02] » Rich, any other follow-ups?
>> I have none. Thank you.
[12:04] » Okay.
Um, thank you, Jill. Hearing no other
[12:07] questions, all those in favor, please
say I.
[12:09] » I.
>> I.
[12:11] Oppose, abstentions?
Thank you. Thanks again, Jill.
[12:14] » Thank you.
>> Uh, recreation and parks to consider and
[12:17] act on a recommendation from Shay David,
purchasing agent on behalf of the
[12:20] director of recreation and parks for
surplus of the below asset, which has
[12:23] outlived its usefulness to the town and
has been replaced according to the fleet
[12:27] management plan. Asset number 101451,
a 2016 Toro Groundsmaster 10-ft mower,
[12:34] serial number
316000766.
[12:39] Um, engine hours, 1,997.
>> So moved.
[12:44] » Second.
>> And if you can remember, this was what
[12:47] tabled
um, last meeting.
[12:50] All right.
Um,
[12:53] how about we uh, follow-up? Uh, do you
have a follow-up to this, Rich?
[12:57] » Um, 1997 or 2,000 hours uh,
for a 10-year-old machine,
[13:05] not a whole lot, really. What's what's
uh, what do we consider the life
[13:10] expectancy at?
>> Uh, typically with the with our mowers,
[13:13] it's anywhere from 8 to 10 years and uh,
usage is hard to tell cuz you have a
[13:20] hard usage, you know, hard wear and tear
on a machine versus um, soft, but 2,000
[13:26] with the 10-ft mowers is actually right
about 2,000 to 2,500.
[13:31] Um the 2,500 you typically rarely see
because that means you're putting into a
[13:35] lot of the at that point after 2,000
hydraulics and other issues arise that
[13:40] typically
um set off the cost of the replacement
[13:44] cuz you'll get some money for that. Um
>> Have we had a lot of maintenance on this
[13:48] particular unit?
>> Most of our equipment yes, most of our
[13:51] equipments require quite a bit of
maintenance unfortunately. Um just part
[13:55] of the the nature of the um of the work
and the responsibilities. There's
[13:59] uh all preventive maintenance is
scheduled through um public works and we
[14:04] make sure we manage it that way and make
sure everything goes out. Um they check
[14:08] it thoroughly.
>> What about extraordinary repairs? Any
[14:11] any history of excessive parts
replacement?
[14:14] » Um not on 60, I don't believe there was
any on this one in particular.
[14:22] » No other questions, thank you.
>> Mr. Craig.
[14:26] » Um I did a little bit of homework on
these. I mean
[14:30] to Rich's point, I think 2,000 is kind
of on the lighter side. I
[14:35] I looked up what a what what model is
this? I didn't see it in the back of
[14:38] » It's a Ground Master.
>> Yeah.
[14:40] » Uh
>> 4,500 or
[14:42] » Uh it's a could be
I'm not sure if it's a 4,500D
[14:49] or 4,200D.
>> So, I saw a 4,500D with 3,000 hours it's
[14:53] for sale for about $40,000
online.
[14:57] » Yeah.
>> Um
[15:00] New new unit, how much would a new unit
cost?
[15:03] » A new unit for a 10-footer from Toro
>> tight.
[15:08] » is about $103,000.
[15:11] 107 right in there for the last time.
So, what we've done
[15:16] uh as part of our long-range vision
for trying to decrease our costs as
[15:22] we've moved on from Toro to Ventrac,
which we've discussed a few different
[15:27] times about its capabilities.
Um I do believe that this will 100% cut
[15:33] our costs cuz as the Ventrac is a
multi-functioning piece. So if the
[15:38] actual base goes, like what happens with
some of these Toros,
[15:43] we're only replacing the base which base
which is 20 to 30 grand.
[15:47] Not 107,000.
We may have an attachment that goes with
[15:51] it, uh
a 9-ft mowing deck attachment that may
[15:55] go with it that have to be replaced, but
we're not talking about $107,000
[15:58] each cycle anymore.
Um we've made this much more manageable
[16:02] and actually much more effective and
efficient.
[16:05] In in our field,
uh
[16:07] capability and reliability is
everything.
[16:10] » Guys, I know with like residential
mowers, I mean you can get a a new deck,
[16:14] right? I went through this years ago. I
I bought a tractor uh
[16:18] 10 12 years ago for 1,200 bucks.
>> Sure.
[16:21] » If you can believe that back then and
>> Yeah.
[16:23] » uh a couple years ago to get
You know, I mean unfortunately I bought
[16:27] a stamp deck, not a a fab deck, but so I
had issues with it and to get a new deck
[16:31] it was going to be almost what the
original replacement cost was. So I
[16:35] » That's typically what happens when the
fleet management plan comes around, you
[16:38] know, it it it's if it doesn't need
replacement, we don't replace it. If
[16:42] it's on the cusp and someone else can
use it or we're going to get more value
[16:46] for it, it's the right time where those
costs offset each other.
[16:49] » But I you know,
when I was looking into this,
[16:53] it seemed like 4,000 to 7,000 hours is
kind of
[16:58] the lifespan.
>> Was that Was that for a commercial or
[17:01] was that just for your home?
>> No, commercial. Commercial uh
[17:05] 4500D
that I saw the price of.
[17:09] » Yep.
>> Um
[17:10] I I
I think I um
[17:15] I'm hesitant with replacing things with
the replacement cost of everything right
[17:18] now in our our economy.
>> I get that.
[17:21] » So, I'd like to see it kind of sold on
for a couple years, maybe until
[17:25] something changes.
Um
[17:27] » Just note, this has already been
replaced.
[17:29] » Okay.
>> I know, but then there'll be another
[17:31] replacement one in a couple years.
>> But so as far as getting rid of the hold
[17:36] on to it.
>> and in the hopes that you don't pull the
[17:39] trigger on them.
>> The the only
[17:42] um
other consideration would it be that we
[17:45] do it would be an offsetting price to
the current
[17:50] price. You know, it's sort of why would
a seller
[17:53] if it's going to sit there
and not if I have enough guys to run all
[17:57] the machines. Um
>> I hope that you get more staff
[18:00] eventually, too.
>> I don't have a problem holding on to it.
[18:02] I just want to explain what might be
>> I I I,
[18:05] you know, there we could use a couple
more passes here and there.
[18:08] » Sure.
>> So, I don't I said I think it's
[18:10] necessary to take out of inventory. I'd
rather see it manned and have a little
[18:13] more life and then we can reset the
conversation in
[18:16] » Could I um
>> Could I could I possibly entertain a
[18:20] different thought is that um in speaking
with um
[18:25] Fire Chief Haley or Fire Manager Haley
um talking about using some of the
[18:32] surplus as mowers come along to go to
them to help with some of their
[18:36] maintenance at their buildings.
>> Well, that's a great point.
[18:40] » So, it it may be something.
>> they own a a lot. Um by Hunts Brook that
[18:47] I don't think they've touched this year.
>> He's just it's just in conversation.
[18:51] That could be a
a good resolution as well to help
[18:56] uh new operations that are coming
transition better into our operations.
[18:59] » be more willing to support a transfer
within [snorts] the town than a surplus
[19:03] of this machine.
>> Okay.
[19:05] » It'd be probably my response to your
thought. I think it's a good thought.
[19:08] » Yeah.
That transfer would need to be to a
[19:11] private organization.
>> It couldn't go to it's
[19:15] » It would be going to sending it over
because fire services does not have this
[19:19] type of equipment. So, if you want it to
cover
[19:23] the
surrounding area, the firehouses, that
[19:26] would be giving it to a volunteer
company not part of the town.
[19:30] » Or well, it could also be through fire
services through Director Haley. So, see
[19:35] » His department is not set
>> internally with Parks and Rec, and Parks
[19:39] and Rec can provide services to the
firehouses, too. Similar in a fashion to
[19:43] how they do the Board of Ed currently.
As an idea.
[19:47] » Yeah, there's Yeah, I'm sure that's a
different discussion rather than as it
[19:50] comes along. I don't know what they're
doing now to maintain their property.
[19:54] Um so, it's
>> privately.
[19:56] » They do a lot of I think uh contractor
or do it privately, but as they're
[20:01] coming
I don't want to speak out of turn. I
[20:03] mean, this isn't really my my
wheelhouse. This is, you know, Chief
[20:06] Haley's. Um
but I know that they're working on as
[20:10] this now becomes town-owned fire
departments. These are now town
[20:14] properties that need to
um be maintained
[20:18] um
under the
[20:21] uh ordinances. Recreation and Parks
maintains some of the grounds.
[20:25] Um understanding where our current
responsibilities and capabilities we
[20:29] just discussed. He's got guys there on
shift, on call that are sometimes
[20:34] available and willing and wanting to do
some of that work.
[20:38] Um so, we had just talked about when
mowers might become available.
[20:43] Not a solid arrangement or agreement,
just a discussion.
[20:47] » Yeah, I think it's a conversation uh you
know, maybe for for Rob to have with his
[20:51] staff. Maybe there's a a way forward
there. Um but I think in that spirit um
[20:56] excuse me, the first selectman should
have with department heads.
[20:59] Um if he wants to. Um I would support
that. Um and in that spirit, I would
[21:04] prefer I'm going to vote tonight to keep
this in town inventory.
[21:08] Um, just because I think it's a valuable
asset that could be leveraged somewhere.
[21:12] If not in Parks and Rec, maybe to your
point, somewhere else, too.
[21:14] » Is this the type of machine that you
would use on a small a small piece of
[21:17] property? I mean, the
the fire companies don't have huge
[21:21] properties for the most part.
>> This one in particular, no, cuz it's a
[21:24] 10-footer.
Um,
[21:26] it could have been used, yes, but would
it hit all the areas very well? No, but
[21:31] just throwing it out there for uh any
spaces.
[21:34] If it's going to be
uh if it's going to be held on to,
[21:37] that's all.
Um,
[21:40] » But
>> if we we we have the replacement for it,
[21:42] so I don't we we'd only use it if say
something else goes down, potentially.
[21:47] Um,
>> I guess um
[21:50] just just to keep the conversation going
a little bit. Um,
[21:55] the only firehouse we own is Oswego.
>> Correct.
[21:59] » And the amount of land there, it's seven
strips of land. And to have this with
[22:03] the bays only cut down down to three
now,
[22:06] there's no place to put, I mean, a 10-ft
wide mower.
[22:10] » Mhm.
>> I get the point of if we can get the
[22:13] funding a good amount back for this unit
that can be applied to our next mower.
[22:19] » Mhm.
>> But to Greg's point,
[22:22] just what is what's left in the
inventory coming up? Is there anything
[22:26] smaller coming up in the next year or so
that's
[22:30] that would be conducive for, you know,
one
[22:33] » I got a 54-in deck or
>> something smaller that we have.
[22:36] » I think we just went through those this
year. The only things we have coming up
[22:40] are trailers and uh maybe one of our
backhoes at one point, but our our
[22:45] mowers are this we've pretty much gone
through this last cycle.
[22:48] » This is all Ventracs now that we're on.
>> In the next 5 years, we have no mowers
[22:52] coming up for replacement in the that
was approved last year.
[22:57] » Got you.
Okay.
[22:59] » I'm still going to support keeping it in
the inventory rather than surplus at
[23:01] this point. Okay. All the same.
>> Okay.
[23:06] Um well, we have
any other questions, Rich, on this?
[23:09] » I have none, thank
>> We have We have a motion and we have a
[23:11] second.
Um to
[23:16] surplus this this specific unit. Um all
those in favor, please say I.
[23:21] » I.
>> I. Opposed?
[23:23] » I.
>> Thank you.
[23:26] All right, thank you for that, Infillo.
>> Thank you. Yeah, sure.
[23:28] » Um
to consider uh recreation parks,
[23:31] consider and act on awarding a contract
for grass seed and fertilizers to Tom
[23:35] Irwin Inc. through cooperative
purchasing.
[23:38] CRCOG
bid number 789 for fiscal year 2027.
[23:44] » So moved.
>> Second.
[23:47] » Um
Rich, any questions on this?
[23:49] » none on this one.
>> Greg, any questions on this?
[23:52] » Uh
yeah, what is the last page in the back
[23:56] up represent? Is that the total scope?
>> Uh that is
[24:00] » Providing for materials or
>> Yeah, well, I was just kind of giving an
[24:03] idea. This is our fall
um expense.
[24:08] Uh should it be should everything be
approved? Um we will have another one in
[24:12] the spring. Anytime it's over $35,000
annually, um we come forward uh to
[24:21] justify waving it through as a state
service contract or
[24:25] uh a cooperative contract.
Helps that you know, we I think we've
[24:29] had these
conversations. I think last year was the
[24:32] first year we did this. Came through and
had um
[24:36] the request for the
to use off the state contract.
[24:40] » Does um
CRCOG um
[24:44] Sourcewell the bid through?
>> Sourcewell is CRCOG, yeah.
[24:49] » All right.
Did we look at any other consortiums or
[24:52] » Uh we look I look locally cuz I like to
you know, that's one of the things we
[24:56] do. So, we'll look at John Deere
Landscapes, Lesco, which we do use for
[24:59] some products, but when it comes down to
our organic and granular, we have gone
[25:05] with Tom Irwin for the last 13 plus
years.
[25:08] Um
it's more than a product at this point.
[25:12] We've got to build a relationship where
there's seminars, there's dashboards
[25:16] that help
entering
[25:19] um your information to deep every year
as far as what you use and how you use
[25:23] it and when you put it down.
Um so, there's a lot of resources other
[25:28] than just the product, but
we know the product works and that's the
[25:32] risk I don't want to get away from.
>> I understand. Um
[25:38] I guess if we are looking at other
consortiums, it's kind of
[25:42] you know, supplemental to what CRCOG
provides.
[25:45] » Yep.
>> it it would be good maybe to
[25:48] you know, just have that on record and
backup, but if the CRCOG put it out to
[25:52] bid and you know, they they awarded it,
I mean
[25:54] » CRCOG source, well, we sometimes look
into Massachusetts. There's a lot of
[25:57] different ones we'll look at just to see
where pricing sits so that we're
[26:01] comfortable.
>> I mean, I'd just run it by some other
[26:03] consortiums or
directly solicit a number to us some of
[26:06] those vendors you had just mentioned.
>> Okay.
[26:08] » Or like vendors.
>> Yeah.
[26:12] » Um but I don't have any
other questions.
[26:15] » Rich, any follow-ups?
>> All set, thank you.
[26:17] » Okay, hearing no other questions, all
those in favor, please say I.
[26:20] » I.
>> I.
[26:22] Thank you, Ryan.
>> Thank you.
[26:26] » Uh public works to consider and act on
authorizing the first selectman to sign
[26:30] on behalf of the Board of Selectmen, the
Connecticut Department of
[26:33] Transportation, C DOT, Connecticut DOT,
master municipal agreement for
[26:38] rights-of-way projects.
So, we'll
[26:40] » Second.
>> Uh Nick, thanks for joining Gary on this
[26:45] one.
>> Sure.
[26:49] » So, can you give us an um just a a
short, a brief
[26:54] um
[26:56] piece of information regarding this this
request.
[27:00] » Yes.
>> Thanks, Nick.
[27:03] » Nick Cappello, town attorney.
Uh
[27:06] the it's it's essentially the long and
short of it, a state requirement, state
[27:09] statutory requirement that in order to
get state funding
[27:14] uh for these road projects and these
rights-of-ways,
[27:17] there's a whole process of
um filing a letter,
[27:21] an authorization letter, and
and then um you you must have this
[27:27] master municipal agreement in place
um
[27:31] that and ours lapsed, that's why it's
being redone.
[27:36] Uh Gary can actually uh speak to
operationally
[27:41] how it works um
in the management of Waterford's road
[27:45] roads, but
essentially um
[27:48] in order to get the state funding, and
then there's all as you saw from it,
[27:52] there's requirements in the agreement
about, you know,
[27:55] the
for contractors and other people
[27:58] involved in the project uh
in order for them to comply with various
[28:02] state requirements, but
the bottom line is you you don't get the
[28:06] state's money unless you have a master
municipal agreement with
[28:10] um with the state.
So, it lays out the terms and conditions
[28:15] for
for getting, you know,
[28:18] the state funds. Because actually they
won't fund these road projects without
[28:24] this core agreement in place.
>> Okay. Thank you, Gary.
[28:28] » Uh that is correct. Uh the only thing
I'd like to add to that that is we
[28:33] currently have one now that's that's in
the works, which is the Niantic
[28:38] Niantic River Road Sidewalks. That is
funded through uh the state uh using
[28:45] state funds. So, we need to have the
service agreement. Currently, that's
[28:48] $3.2 million
that the state's going to
[28:51] has committed to us. We have a
commitment letter. From the commitment
[28:55] letter, then we go to a project
authorization letter. After everything
[28:59] has been done, after all the permits
have been issued and all the agreements
[29:03] have been signed, then they'll give us a
the last letter is a project project
[29:08] authorization letter. To get that last
letter, you need to have this.
[29:13] I look at it, it's it's
It is the boilerplate. Just like we have
[29:17] construction contracts, they have all
how are we going to react with the the
[29:22] contractor and what methods that we use
and for that interaction or what we
[29:27] require our contractors to have, you
know, on the books, equal opportunity,
[29:32] all the state requirements. So, this is
just what it is is is it really is a
[29:39] boilerplate that but as Nick says, this
is not signed, those funds are those
[29:43] funds will not be committed. And those
are any state or or federal funds that
[29:48] could be used on in the right-of-way.
Could be for roads, could be for
[29:52] sidewalks, could be for drainage, but
any project that could be funded by the
[29:56] state or the federal government.
The funds flow down through CTDOT. Used
[30:00] to be CONNDOT, but now the CTDOT.
They flow down through them
[30:05] to the town, so
um
[30:08] I've used this before. I think the
town's used it before. It's not onerous.
[30:12] It's it's not anything that we haven't
done before.
[30:15] » So, help me to understand,
Naugatuck River Road is not a state
[30:19] highway.
So,
[30:21] how does the state get involved with the
funding? It's good that they do,
[30:25] » uh
That's
[30:27] and because there are state funds were
allocated to the different COGs for the
[30:33] the local Council of Governments to
uh work on projects within the local
[30:38] through through the local road networks
through the town's network. So, the flow
[30:42] of money comes from the state and
federal government down to the cog down
[30:48] through the cog's recommendations back
up to the state then into the town. So,
[30:52] we we are using state funds for that for
that project.
[30:55] » so is is Crossroads a similar situation?
>> If if if we use money for for the the
[31:01] remainder of Crossroads, yes, we have
several years ago about 6 years ago we
[31:05] did the pavement uh the pavement
resurfacing on Crossroads and put those
[31:09] bike lanes in. That that was using
federal money
[31:14] federal to state money. That was using
state money uh to do that and that was
[31:18] in a tune of $800,000 I do believe for
for that project. So,
[31:24] it is as as as [snorts] as Nico said,
this is what's required under under the
[31:29] state statutes to use con- con. dot. ct.
money
[31:33] which is state money or the federal
money that flows through con. dot.
[31:37] » Thank you.
[31:40] » Greg?
>> Um
[31:44] So, you had mentioned one road project
that this pertains to currently
[31:49] or prospectively. Are there any others?
>> Uh currently that we have right now in
[31:57] public works, no.
Uh
[31:59] we
are talking about not this round but the
[32:03] next round of of projects and it's
uh it's in the cog's uh transportation
[32:10] plan is the remainder of Crossroads
which would be from uh Parkway South all
[32:14] the way down to Route 1. Uh that portion
is is in the cog's transportation plan
[32:19] also in the state's
I don't want to misquote it. It's
[32:23] state's bicycle way plan. And so, uh
that would be an opportunity to use
[32:29] uh those state funds for uh the
resurfacing of that road and
[32:33] improvements to the sidewalks and and
anything else all the way down to Route
[32:37] 1. All the way down to Route 1 right
here.
[32:38] » Correct.
>> Um
[32:41] Are you going to put a a bike lane down?
It's pretty tight.
[32:44] » Uh well, you can go from bike lanes down
to shared, you know, share the road. So
[32:48] like you could use a right-hand turn
lane there.
[32:50] Yeah, I don't don't know. Again, the
right way is it gets to Route 1 gets
[32:53] really narrow. It's tight. Really tight
really quick. Uh but there's other ways
[32:58] of doing it. We can, you know, you can
have a bike lane that then with signage
[33:02] and that narrows down to share the road.
Uh which is the, you know,
[33:07] signs on the side and the
uh
[33:10] the icons
uh that are painted in the road.
[33:14] » Anything we can do to keep cars from
idling there just moving they could
[33:18] probably have the impact that
state and federal government was looking
[33:21] for.
>> Right. Right. So So uh that that'd be
[33:24] the next one. Uh there there are only
these funds uh at least through the cog
[33:29] can only be used on a
major roads on a national road network.
[33:34] And Cross Roads is
on it.
[33:37] Uh there's several others in in town
that are on that uh that list.
[33:43] Uh Foxhall Street is not on that uh
highway list but that doesn't mean that
[33:48] we can't apply as we get further along
with the preliminary design on that to
[33:52] to apply for state federal
uh road funds for that.
[33:56] » Do we have the opportunity to apply for
state and federal road funds for every
[34:00] project?
>> Uh not for everyone because they
[34:03] estimate that there's certain criteria
of traffic flow and and vol- traffic
[34:08] flow traffic volume and that. So the the
pavement on the smaller roads of a
[34:11] Quaker Hill
uh that would not that wouldn't even get
[34:15] a point anywheres.
>> Maybe Old Norwich though.
[34:18] » Uh Old Norwich uh
could have been one but we but we went
[34:23] and did that ourselves. Right? Because
we were working on uh the Niantic River
[34:28] Roadside Works using funds for that. Any
projects we have here we do compete with
[34:33] the entire
uh cog.
[34:36] The 11 12 communities in cog, all the
communities that cog. So we So we do
[34:40] complete. Uh the cog did approve several
years back a sidewalk up in Basra.
[34:46] So So it's they they rate them all that
the projects they have.
[34:51] And then there's again there's not
unlimited amount of money, but the money
[34:55] that's available to the cog then
um
[34:59] gets
gets approved, gets spent.
[35:02] » Yeah, I mean if there's federal state
money available for cuz we're going to
[35:05] need infrastructure help in this town.
Uh this is the reality we're going to
[35:09] face with housing and
>> Absolutely.
[35:11] » if we have the growth that we're looking
to have, um we're going to need
[35:13] infrastructure behind it and we're going
to need to keep up with it and make
[35:16] certain specific improvements in certain
areas.
[35:19] » Correct.
>> Uh so every little bit I'm sure is going
[35:21] to help.
>> Yes, and
[35:23] the the um prior agreement expired in
February of '25. This is a 10-year
[35:28] agreement. Um
we don't know um
[35:34] what what might become you know
uh down the road, so it's it's prudent
[35:38] to have it in place uh just because we
may not in the moment be able to foresee
[35:43] what projects
what monies might be available for a
[35:46] project 3 to 5 years down the road, so
it's would seem prudent to have this
[35:51] agreement in place to be in a position
to utilize those funds.
[35:55] » So we haven't had the uh the opportunity
in the last 18 months to apply for any
[35:59] of this this these funding.
>> Correct. Um
[36:05] » It's all my funding, Rich.
>> Say again?
[36:08] » No.
[36:12] » We also don't want to jeopardize getting
the money for Niantic River Road.
[36:16] If this is not in place, that money may
go away.
[36:19] And that project will come to a
standstill.
[36:23] » I was going to ask you just about 32.
32 is a state project, has nothing to do
[36:28] with this agreement, correct?
>> Correct.
[36:31] » Cuz they mentioned this during our when
when we met with DOT here, but I didn't
[36:36] know if this had anything to do with it.
Okay.
[36:38] » But if they were to there's a little
connection spot between Old Norwich Road
[36:43] and Route 32 where they did that study,
and that might go on to some of the
[36:47] municipal road. And I think maybe that's
where they this would be pertinent to
[36:50] that third Route 32 project.
>> Cuz we just paved Old Norwich Road.
[36:55] » They're doing going to do 32
>> Correct.
[36:57] » at some point. And there's a little gap
there that we didn't pave and and I
[37:01] think they're looking at reconfiguring
it, right?
[37:03] » Correct.
>> Correct.
[37:04] » And they're going to pave that section.
That's not
[37:07] Okay.
Thank you.
[37:10] Rich, any other follow-ups?
>> I have none. Thank you.
[37:12] » Any other follow-ups, Greg?
>> No, I mean, can we just put it on our
[37:15] calendars in 10 years when this expires
and make sure we're throwing darts at
[37:20] every available project that
even comes close to meeting the
[37:24] criteria?
>> Um
[37:27] that
That's all I have to say.
[37:30] » I think this was back in the day when we
first applied for this 4 years ago, it
[37:34] was bike lanes. That was the initiative
from the state of Connecticut DOT and
[37:38] COG. So, this is why
even Niantic River Road we were like,
[37:42] "Oh, really? All right, this might
qualify." And when two people passed
[37:45] away on the road, we were like,
"Pedestrian
[37:49] conscious at the time." And this is how
slow municipal government works, Gary.
[37:53] Cuz now we're 4 years later um
and still plugging away.
[37:57] » I would like to take a
moment here
[38:01] to talk about fatalities on roads.
Bloomingdale Road,
[38:05] you know, the Coast Guard cadets run on
that road, so does UConn College, and a
[38:09] lot of other pedestrian use there. And
I'd like to see if we can
[38:15] you know, maybe
next time we do Bloomingdale Road, or
[38:19] even outside of that, get a sidewalk
project going to see if we can get money
[38:22] for that for Bloomingdale Road.
>> Runners don't run on the sidewalk
[38:25] anyway, it seems.
Every time you see them, they're in the
[38:28] street.
>> Yeah, well, they're running
[38:30] » Sidewalk or not.
>> They'll run three wide, you know, on
[38:33] Bloomingdale. That's not a good road to
do that. A lot of dog legs.
[38:36] » Yeah.
>> And hills.
[38:40] » Yeah.
Can you I can
[38:41] » Cuz it's a big It's a big lift for the
town to put a sidewalk through there,
[38:44] you know, and
I think it's going to provide benefit to
[38:48] you know, the Coast Guard Academy, too.
>> Right.
[38:53] Good point.
Um any other follow-ups? Rich?
[38:56] Any other follow-ups? You? Okay, good.
Thank you. And thanks for the
[38:59] explanation for this 10-year plan.
I appreciate it. Um so, all those in
[39:04] favor, please say I.
>> I. I.
[39:07] » And Gary, thank you. Appreciate it.
Uh no appointments or resignations,
[39:13] no new business, no old business, but I
do have correspondence that I think they
[39:17] have gone to everyone.
They went to me. Um it was about
[39:23] It was anonymous. We still added it, and
I and it was still accepted by
[39:29] um Was this your department that ended
up getting this directly, the finance
[39:33] department? The Flock camera letter.
It wasn't addressed to anyone except
[39:38] town representatives.
Um and I just figured just put it all on
[39:43] um on mine, start the conversation. I
mentioned it to the chief. Police chief.
[39:48] He got a copy of it as well. So, the
police commission, who's responsible for
[39:53] Flock cameras and that nature, are going
to start talking about that maybe at the
[39:56] next meeting. So, I did want I just
wanted to have this on cuz I know you've
[40:00] talked about Flock, I think.
>> Yeah.
[40:02] » I know Rich, you've talked about Flock
cameras, too.
[40:05] So, just to have this kind of out here.
Here's a letter that everyone got in the
[40:09] region, not just our town. So, this was
a
[40:13] a pretty thorough uh correspondence.
>> Yeah, I'm I'm happy to go publicly
[40:17] against Flock. You know,
I'm happy to speak to a public.
[40:21] » Yeah. So, you got the correspondence. I
will keep you guys in mind even if
[40:26] there's something that the police
commission and the chief does have
[40:29] information, I'll have them share. I'll
have them come to the next meeting so we
[40:32] can talk about it, but this will be a
transparent conversation with our town.
[40:36] And or at least with me.
So, okay. I wanted to give you that
[40:40] update.
I do have a tax refund. You just looked
[40:44] at it before the meeting. There's only a
couple of names. If you guys could just
[40:47] take a quick peek at that.
[40:57] Pretty small.
>> So, this is one page, right?
[41:00] » Yeah.
[41:05] So, thanks for that and I'll entertain a
motion for a tax refund in the amount of
[41:09] $5,952.83.
[41:12] » So moved.
>> Second.
[41:14] All those in favor, please say aye.
>> Aye.
[41:16] » Aye.
>> Aye.
[41:18] » Good.
Thank you for that.
[41:22] And
I do have a board of selectmen meeting
[41:26] minutes for the August 4th. Were you
guys able to take a peek at the minutes?
[41:31] » I have no comments.
>> Any questions or comments? Or I'll How
[41:34] about I entertain a motion to accept the
meeting minutes?
[41:36] » So moved.
>> Second.
[41:37] » Thank you. Now, is there any questions
on that at all?
[41:39] » I have none.
>> I have none.
[41:40] » No. Okay, all those in favor, please say
aye. Aye. Opposed? Abstentions? Good.
[41:45] Thank you very much. I'll entertain a
motion to adjourn.
[41:47] » So moved.
>> Second.
[41:48] » Thank you. All those in favor?
>> Aye.
[41:50] » Have a great night, everyone.