Durham selectmen busy, even in summer
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Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 6:04pm
At a meeting on July 12, the Durham Board of Selectmen were updated on grants in progress, the activity center at the Carolyn Adams building, public access television programming, Lake Grove permit amendments, Blue Trail Range and White’s Farm.
First Selectman Laura Francis reported that August 1 is hoped-for date for moving senior exercise classes from the firehouse to the activity center. Painting is happening this week, and many donations have been received though others are welcome. Call 860-349-3625 if you have any questions about what they might need.
Francis was delighted to report that the production of the first Channel 19 public access cable program has been set for August 11. The program will be produced by a task force that has meeting for several months, and the show will feature the weekly summer farmers market, the GoFar program, a program on internet safety developed by high schoolers for presentation to younger students and other perhaps little-known facets of Durham life. Further information will be available after filming about when the show will be aired.
Francis encouraged her fellow selectmen to review correspondence from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) about the Blue Trail Range stray bullets issue for discussion at the next meeting on July 26.
The DEP is also involved in an ongoing discussion about the town-owned White’s Farm property off Maple Avenue and how best to take care of Allyn Brook now and in the future.
The town has received a $3,000 Historic Documents Preservation grant from the state which will allow for the scanning of land records. The town clerk’s office received a positive review of their recent passport day program from the Federal Passport Agency.
Two grants are in the application stage – a STEAP grant to replace the culvert under Pickett Lane near Allyn Brook Park and a federal Department of Justice grant in conjunction with Durham Middlefield Youth and Family Services to identify and intervene peer to peer in situations of dating violence.
Seven young people have qualified for the Youth@Work program of the Workforce Alliance and have begun work in various town and school district departments. More money is available if other youth qualify and would like to join the program. Call the first selectman’s office at 860-349-3625.
Appointments & resignations
The resignation of Brian Ameche from the Conservation Commission was accepted with gratitude for his years of service. The resignation of Simone Howe from the Skating Pond Committee was also accepted with gratitude.
Jonathon Handley was appointed as fire inspector, replacing Robert Morpurgo who has moved to West Hartford. Greg Hanks was appointed to fill a vacancy till 2011 on the Durham Fire Company Board of Trustees.
The board authorized Francis to sign an agreement supporting the Shoreline and Central Connecticut Regional Energy Initiative. Besides Francis, Jennifer Muir and Paul Griese were appointed as Durham’s representatives to the steering committee, with Richard McManus and Maryjane Malavasi appointed as alternates.
Other business
Developer Brian Ferris was in attendance to ask for a release of his bond for the reconstruction of Crooked Hill Road. There is an $80,000 balance in the account with the town slated to pay about $14,000 worth of outstanding bills. The selectmen approved reducing the bond to a 10 percent retainer plus the $14,000 needed for the bills.
The selectmen discussed two sign requests – one for stop sign at Parmelee Hill and Pent roads and one for a speed limit sign on Harvey Road. Both were referred for further consideration – the first to the town engineer and the second to the resident state trooper.
Sight line problems with the Public Safety sign in front of the firehouse will be addressed by Kurt Bober of the Public Works Department, and the sign will be moved for greater safety.
Resident Donia Viola had comments about Miller’s Pond safety (Francis reported that 13 tickets were issued the prior weekend), insurance for the Youth@Work participants (on town policy at no extra charge) and using the resident state trooper to control traffic at the intersection of Pickett Lane and Main Street rather than installing a traffic light (town can’t assign trooper there every day as per agreement with the state).
The next meeting of the Durham BOS will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 26, in the third floor meeting room at Town Hall. The public is always welcome with a public comment period both at the beginning and at the end of the agenda.