DATE:  August 10, 2009
TIME:  6:30 PM
PLACE: Town Office
PRESENT: Selectmen Daniel Donovan, William Condra and Richard Rockwood and Recording Secretary Peggy Arn

The first issue discussed was a letter from the Department of Environmental Services as a result of on inspection of the Recycling Center.  DES issued the letter of deficiency because upon while the inspection was taking place, it was realized that the Recycling Center had removed the top two sections of the incinerator stack.  The conditions of resolving these deficiencies would be to give DES information on the stack ring removal, the statistics on the burning each day and to increase the stack to the height it was.

Selectman Rockwood stated that he would recommend that the town stops using the incinerator now and have all the waste hauled away.  Discussion ensued as to the cost of burning verses hauling.  There would be a savings as a result of not using diesel fuel and possibly using less man-hours.  Maurice stated that he only had enough fuel to burn a couple of weeks.  He suggested that he fill a dumpster, have it weighed and hauled away to get an idea of what this method disposing could cost.  He will try to have a dumpster load in a couple of weeks.  The Board agreed to wait to answer the letter from DES until Maurice reports back to them.  Chairman Donovan stated that he would also like to get a waiver from DES on the time constraints imposed by them to resolve the issue.

Steve Elliott then attended the meeting.  He informed the Board that the emergency generator at the Florence Rideout Elementary School has not been working.  The generator is no longer covered under warranty.  Steve had Powers Generator inspect the generator and they concluded that it needed a new fuel injection pump.  The cost for labor and parts would be $5,708.87.  After a discussion, it was agreed that there was no line item in this year’s budget for this expense, the repairs would be put on hold until next year’s budget.  In the mean time, Steve has asked Carl Boutwell to look at the old fire station generator to see if it could be used in case of emergency.

Brian Adams attended the meeting as a Cemetery Trustee.  He told the Board that he would like to know if the Cemetery Trustees had the authority to control the charges that the Highway Department requires for a burial.  He notes that when a grave has to be opened on a holiday, the fee is more than a regular weekday.  He asked the Board’s opinion as to who should set the fee.  Selectman Richard Rockwood stated that he feels that this a service the town should be giving to people and that there should be a set fee for opening a grave, either for a regular or urn burial.  The Board members agreed with Mr. Rockwood.

MOTION:  Selectman Condra made a motion that the Highway Department should charge a set fee for opening a grave, regular or urn, whether it is on a Holiday or weekday, of $300.00.  Selectman Rockwood seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Brian also asked if a refund could be given to someone who had been charged more for a burial on a Holiday.  The Board agreed that the refund should be given.

The Board received a request from the Wilton Old Home Days committee to temporarily suspend the ordinance that prohibits open containers on public property.  As the ordinance states in section II, The Board of Selectmen may, upon request, temporarily suspend this ordinance for a specific area to accommodate a specific function.

MOTION:  Selectman Rockwood made a motion to suspend Ordinance 200-24, Open Containers on Public Property from August 22nd through August 30th, 2009 for the Wilton Old Home Days celebration.  This is for the Whiting Hill Park area only.  Selectman Condra seconded the motion, which passed with all in favor.

At 7:00 pm, Chairman Dan Donovan adjourned the regular meeting and called a public hearing to order.

Chairman Donovan stated that this was a published meeting to hear comments from Wilton Residents concerning the cable company Comcast.  Wilton’s Franchise Contract with Comcast will expire on December 31, 2009.  The Board had previously met with Bryan Christiansen, Senior Manager of Government & Community Relations to discuss the service provided to Wilton and the expiration of the franchise contract.  At that meeting, Chairman Donovan had asked Mr. Christiansen to provide the town with a list of any or all complaints about Comcast service and the response they had provided.  He had been asked in later communications also, but to this date there has been no response.  Mr. Christiansen had been informed of the public hearing but stated that he could not attend.  He did send a letter via email and asked if this letter could be read into the record tonight.  (copy attached).

Chairman Donovan stated for the record that there were no residents from Wilton attended the public hearing.  Two reporters were present and asked if they had any questions to which they replied, they did not.

MOTION:  Chairman Donovan made a motion that the hearing be adjourned until the information requested from Comcast is received.  Selectman Rockwood seconded the motion.  The motion carried, with all in favor.

The Board reviewed a report from Building Inspector Keith Carmen on his inspection of Forest Road apartments owned by Paul Schafer.  His report consisted of two pages of problems and also areas that he was not able to inspect because there is no electric and no water service to the building.  Several apartments were locked and not accessible to the Building Inspector.

MOTION:  Selectman Rockwood made a motion that the town inform Mr. Schafer that requests additional inspections when no work has been done, he will be billed for the Building Inspectors time.  Selectman Donovan seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

The Board reviewed recommendations from Town Assessor Todd Haywood for two Current Use penalties and approved the amounts he arrived at.

The Board reviewed a request from a resident of Holt Road.  When the 2009 street lighting conversion project was done, three streetlights were removed from Holt Road.  The request was that one be put back.  The Board approved the request.

The Selectmen have been invited by the Historical Commission to be at the opening ceremonies of the Old Home Days.  They want to present the Board with the plaque for the Town Hall building being placed on the Historical Building register.  The Board will attend.

The bills and payroll were reviewed and approved.  The correspondence and informational material was reviewed.

The Board will meet on August 24th and 31st, September 14th and 28th.  They will resume the weekly meeting in October 2009.

The meeting was adjourned on a motion at 8:30 pm with all in favor.

Respectfully submitted;

Peggy Arn, Recording Secretary