Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.
It’s your town – get informed and get involved.
Wallingford Planning and Zoning - August 9, 2010 - PART 1
Wallingford Planning and Zoning - August 9, 2010 - PART 2
Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.
It’s your town – get informed and get involved.
Wallingford Planning and Zoning – July 12, 2010 - PART 1
Wallingford Planning and Zoning – July 12, 2010 - PART 2
Wallingford Planning and Zoning – July 12, 2010 - PART 3
Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.
It’s your town – get informed and get involved.
Wallingford Planning and Zoning - June 14, 2010 - PART 1
Wallingford Planning and Zoning - June 14, 2010 - PART 2
Town Council Chambers
6:30 P.M
1. Opening Prayer – Reverend Dean Warburton, First Congregational Church
2. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call
3. Consent Agenda
3a. Consider and Approve Tax Refunds (#186 - #274) totaling $18,218.11 Acct. # 001-1000-010-1170 - Tax Collector
3b. Acceptance of Federal/State Highway Safety Grant and Appropriation of $4,091 to Revenue Highway Safety Acct # 001-1050-050-5883 and to Police Overtime Acct # 001-2005-101-1400 – Police Chief
3c. Consider and Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health (CADH), fiduciary for the State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health, Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control, in an amount of $9,095 and designate Eloise Hazelwood, Director of Health, as Administrator of said program for the purpose of conducting education and outreach – Health Director
3d. Consider and approve Appropriation in the Amount of $9,095 to State Grant Revenue Acct # 224-1040-050-5073 and to Lead Poisoning Expenditures 2010- 2011 Acct # 224-3010-6056-6003 – Health Director
3e. Consider and Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation, for the purchase of alternative/clean fuel vehicle(s) and to Execute any amendments, rescissions and revisions thereto – Program Planner
3f. Acceptance of Donation from the Wallingford Foundation for Science and Technology After School Club (formerly Young Astronauts Club) and Appropriation in the amount of $2,000 to Donations Acct # 226-1042-701-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 226-3070-611-6500 – Youth & Social Services
3g. Acceptance of Donation from the Wallingford Foundation for the Bebes Activos playgroup and Appropriation for Youth & Social Services Special Fund in the amount of $500 to Donations Acct # 213-1042-070-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 213-3070-600-6000 - Youth & Social Services
3h. Acceptance of Donation to Youth & Social Services Special Fund and Appropriation in the Amount of $70 to Donations Acct # 213-1042-070-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 213-3070-600-6000 - Youth & Social Services
3i. Acceptance of Donation to Youth & Social Services Special Fund and Appropriation in the Amount of $120 to Donations Acct # 213-1042-070-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 213-3070-600-6000 - Youth & Social Services
3j. Acceptance of PPL Corporation Community Grant and Appropriation of $3,500 to Miscellaneous Revenue Acct # 001-1075-070-7040 and to Continuing Education & Training Acct 3 001-2030-501-5700 – Fire Chief
3k. Consider and Approve an Appropriation of Funds in the Amount of $2,100 to Miscellaneous Revenue Acct # 001-1075-070-7040 and to Continuing Education & Training Acct 3 001-2030-501-5700 – Fire Chief
3l. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $6,930 to Electronic Time Recorders Acct # 001-5015-999-9114 from Crew Cab Truck w/Platform Body & Accessories Acct # 001-5015-999-9113 – Public Works
3m. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $71,451 to Uncollectible Accounts Expense Acct # 904 from Customer Records & Collection Acct # 903 – Electric Division
3n. Consider and Approve Third Amendment to Intermunicipal Agreement – 1070 North Farms Road, LLC – Water Division
3o. Approve Amended Minutes of Special Town Council Meeting of April 20, 2010
4. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
5. PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER
6. Presentation by David Stein of Silver, Petrucelli and Associates, Inc. regarding the Fire House Feasibility Study – Fire Chief
7. Consider and Approve a Request for Bid Waiver in the range of $8,150 - $11,000 for AECOM – Water Division
8. Conduct a Public Hearing at 7:00 P.M. with respect to Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems, Chapter 177, Article II of the Code of the town of Wallingford– Ordinance Committee
9. Revaluation Update Presentation – Comptroller & Assessor
10. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(D) of the Connecticut General Statutes with respect to the purchase, sale and/or leasing of property – Mayor
11. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200(6)(B) of the Connecticut General Statutes regarding strategy and negotiations with respect to the pending matter of Vece v. DeMaio (Town of Wallingford)
12. Motion to Consider and Approve the settlement of the pending litigation matter of Vece v. DeMaio (Town of Wallingford) as discussed in Executive Session.
Town Council Chambers
6:30 P.M
1. Opening Prayer - Father Gary Simone, Most Holy Trinity Church
2. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call
3. Consent Agenda
3a. Consider and Approve Tax Refunds (#89 - #185) totaling $13,249.04 Acct. # 001-1000-010-1170 - Tax Collector
3b. Merit Review Anniversary Increase – Mayor
3c. Confirmation of Request from the First Congregational Church for use of Parade Grounds September 12, 2010 from 9:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. for annual "Catch the Spirit" event – Chairman Robert F. Parisi
3d. Acceptance and Appropriation of donation from Super Stop and Shop of $2,500 to Professional Services – Entertainment Acct # 001-4001-901-9017 and to Miscellaneous Revenue Acct # 001-1075-070-7040 - Parks and Recreation
3e. Acceptance and Appropriation of $160 from Operation Fuel to Youth & Social Services Special Fund to Donations Acct # 213-1042-070-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 213-3070-600-6000 - Youth & Social Services
3f. Consider and Approve the Appointment of Joe Rusczek as an Alternate to the Zoning Board of Appeals to fill a vacancy for a term ending January 8, 2011 - Chairman Robert F. Parisi
3g. Set a Public Hearing for September 28, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. regarding Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems, Chapter 177, Article II – Ordinance Committee C-Chairmen
3h. Approve Minutes of Special Town Council Meeting of August 12, 2010
3i. Approve Minutes of Special Town Council Meeting of July 19, 2010
3j. Approve Minutes of Special Town Council Meeting of April 19, 2010
3k. Approve Minutes of Special Town Council Meeting of April 20, 2010
4. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda
5. PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER
6. Report out from the Town Pension Commission regarding latest performance reports, progress on the creation of a new investment strategy, and update on the activities of the investment - Councilor Vincent F. Testa, Jr.
7. Discussion on recent emissions violations at the Covanta Energy facility, the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection lawsuit and possible Town of Wallingford participation in pending legal action - Councilor Vincent F. Testa, Jr.
8. Presentation by Proton Energy systems regarding the Town’s use of a 2009 Toyota Highlander fuel cell hybrid vehicle - Mayor
9. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(D) of the Connecticut General Statutes with respect to the purchase, sale and/or leasing of property – Mayor
This week’s FROM WALLINGFORD is written by my counterpart on the column – Stephen Knight
Transportation Game-Changers: The Appian Way of ancient Rome, the Erie Canal of the 1820s, the 19th century Clipper ship, the transcontinental railroad completed in 1869, the New York City subway system of the early 20th century, the Interstate Highway System begun in 1956, the Boeing 707 developed in the late ‘50s, and the Sea-Land containership. These are but a few of the transportation projects that have not only transformed how we move about but eventually transformed either national or worldwide society.
With that as a backdrop, I have read with great interest the debate in the Record-Journal about the commuter railroad that the State of Connecticut is committed to building. The letters in the Record-Journal in response to the hyperbole- laden, this-is-the-answer-to-our prayers rhetoric from Speaker Donovan (I ask you: do they teach courses at the capital to write like that?) have been thoughtful and articulate. I especially enjoyed Bud Sielaff of Wallingford’s analysis of the supposed benefits of the project.
I would like to weigh in with these two observations: 1) proponents of this project – and I include myself in their ranks – really should level with the people as to the actual costs, and 2) the benefits of this project will take years if not decades to be realized.
First of all, let’s talk costs: the $800 million price tag is just to build the system. If this system is built, there will have to be an annual subsidy of millions of dollars to operate it. There is not a commuter rail system on the planet that is self-sufficient. I ride Metro North into New York on a fairly regular basis, and the trains are invariably packed, yet the State of Connecticut supplements their operating budget by many millions every year. And the State is buying 300 new railcars to the tune of $760 million to replace the 30 to 40-year old rolling stock now in use. Bottom line: these rail systems are big bucks to build and to operate.
Now that that’s on the table, we had better talk about benefits. And I’m not talking about 4,000 jobs, billions of gallons of gas saved and all the other supposed benefits Speaker Donovan listed that letter writer Sielaff so deftly refuted. I am speaking of the long-term benefits of an attractive, efficient alternative to the motor vehicle, long-term being defined as a period of at least fifty years. Yes, intelligent transportation planning needs to look to that far of a horizon.
Connecticut is one of the most densely populated states in the country, and despite the unattractive economic climate here presently, it probably will remain so for the next century. We have been told that miles driven in Connecticut are up by 30 percent over the past twenty-five years. That rate of increase is unsustainable for the future, given that land for additional lanes of interstate is almost impossible to purchase given current land values — even if the land were available, which it is not. We are built out. And can you imagine the disruption of constructing a fourth lane of I-91 in each direction? We’d all be at each other’s throats by the time we got to work each day. A veritable ten-year road rage epidemic.
So the ultimate benefit this commuter rail line will have is to protect the quality of life we enjoy here — in Wallingford and in Connecticut. It will be expensive. It will take decades for its impact to be realized. It is politically risky for our state leaders to ask Connecticut voters to assume this financial obligation at this precarious time.
All that said, we just have to find a way to avoid the slow, inexorable strangulation we are facing because of our total dependence on the automobile. Our transportation arteries are clogging. We need a bypass. Commuter rail from New Haven to Springfield is one of those “procedures” that will keep our state economy alive.
