Category: Meetings

Citizen Petition Warrant Articles

During the Jan 14, 2019 meeting on the Board of Selectmen; Joseph Cabral presented discussed his petition warrant articles. These articles will be on the upcoming Town Warrant as written below. As part of the process, the Board of Selectmen took a vote to recommend or not recommend; the results are included.

You can also review the original petition, signature pages and other submitted paperwork by clicking the article number

ARTICLE 10 – BY PETITION

This petition article seeks to implement one of the recommendations from the 2018 Municipal Resources Inc. (MRI) report. The study recommended more man-hours for the Litchfield Highway Department. Currently the department does not have the proper staffing to provide appropriate safety standards on the job.

Recommended by Board of Selectmen (5-0-0)

ARTICLE 11 – BY PETITION

To see if the Town will vote to reverse the Code Enforcement Officer, Health Inspector and Zoning Administrator (Three positions in one) back to its prior successful operation as a single, appointed position, reporting to the Board of Selectmen, and being independent of the fire department.  If adopted this change will take effect within 30 days and continue in effect until changed by a majority vote at an annual or special meeting.

Not Recommended by Board of Selectmen (5-0-0)

ARTICLE 12 – BY PETITION

To see if the Town will vote to discontinue the appointed office of Highway Agent and to authorize the Town to elect the Highway Agent.  The current Highway Agent shall continue to hold the office until the 2020 Annual Town Meeting election, at which time, the Town will elect a Highway Agent.  If adopted, the authority of the Town to elect the Highway Agent shall continue in effect until changed by a majority vote at an annual or special meeting.

Not Recommended by Board of Selectmen (5-0-0)

ARTICLE 13 – BY PETITION

To see if the Town will vote to reverse the appointed office of part-time Fire Chief to an elected position. The current Fire Chief shall continue to hold the office until the 2020 Annual Town Meeting election, at which time, the Town will elect a part-time Fire Chief. If adopted, the authority of the Town to elect the Fire Chief shall continue in effect until changed by a majority vote at an annual or special meeting.

Not Recommended by Board of Selectmen (5-0-0)

ARTICLE 14 – BY PETITION

To see if the Town will vote to discontinue/dissolve the Town Administrator position. If passed, this will take effect 30 days from the 2019 town election.

Not Recommended by Board of Selectmen (5-0-0)

Selectmen and TA Update – Jan 18, 2019

The Board of Selectmen conducted a public meeting on Monday, January 14, 2019. Below is a summary of the business conducted and upcoming events/activities.

Consent Review:

  1. Approved December 17, 2018 Meeting Minutes
  2. Approved Town Clerk’s November 2018 Reconciliation
  3. Approved twelve (12) Veterans Tax Credits $3,600 ($300 ea)
  4. Approved Page Road Purchase Order in the amount of $75,000
  5. Approved 2019 ACH School Payment Schedule
    1. 1/1/19 – $1,750,00
    2. 2/1/19 – $1,750,00
    3. 3/1/19 – $1,750,00
    4. 4/1/19 – $1,750,00
    5. 5/1/19 – $802,978
    6. 6/1/19 – $802,977
  6. Approved Accounts Payable Manifest – 01/15/19 – $359,507.39 & 01/15/19 – $83,505.96
  7. Approved Payroll Manifest – 01/10/19 – $53,698.96 & 01/17/19 – $53,492.79

Business:

  1. MRI Inspectional Services Report – Medard Kopczynski presented the MRI Inspectional Services Report. The Board of Selectmen did not formally approve the report because they wanted more time to review it. The Board will continue to discuss the report and consider adopting it at a future meeting to be determined.
  2. Town Flag Update – Matt Lepore presented the proposed Town Flag. He expressed support of Warrant Article #8. If approved by voters, the Board of Selectmen will be authorized to adopt the Official Town Flag after holding two (2) public hearings.  
  3. Equipment Operator / Mechanic – Kevin Brown, Litchfield resident and former contracted plow driver was hired as the first full-time Heavy Equipment Operator / Mechanic for the Litchfield Highway Department. Mr. Brown was highly recommended by John Pinciaro, Road Agent / Highway Manager. This new full time position will help address staffing and safety needs of the Highway Department and begin implementing the 2018 MRI Public Works Feasibility Study
  4. Command Vehicle – The Town Administrator discussed the Fire Dept. Command Vehicle assignment and use Report
  5. 2019 Mileage Rate – 2019 IRS mileage rate approved from 54.5 to 58 cents per mile.
  6. 2019 Warrant – The Board took final votes on the 2019 Warrant and petition #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5 articles.
  7. 2019 Default Budget – The Default Budget was approved by the Board of Selectmen. It represents last years budget, reduced and increased, as the case may be, by debt service, contracts, and other obligations previously incurred or mandated by law, and reduced by one-time expenditures.
  8. Recreation Donation – $50 donation from Margaret and Bob Hanson was accepted in memory of Elizabeth “Betty” Darling for the Litchfield Seniors Annual Christmas Lunch sponsored by the Litchfield Recreation Commission.

Upcoming Events and Notes:

  1. Next Regular Board of Selectmen Meeting January 28, 2019
  2. 2019 Elected Positions Filing Period is Wednesday 1/23 to Fri 2/1 @ 5 pm:
    1. Two (2) Selectmen – 3 Year Term
    2. Two (2) Budget Committee –  3 Year Term
    3. One (1) Budget Committee – 1 Year Term
    4. One (1) Cemetery Trustee – 3 Year Term
    5. Two (2) Library Trustee – 3 Year Term
    6. One (1) Trustees of Trust Fund – 3 Year Term
  3. Town Deliberative Session – February 2, 2019 at 10:00am CHS
  4. Town Voting Day – March 12, 2019, from 7 am to 7 pm CHS
  5. Pat Jewett Volunteer Appreciation Award Nomination Form due Friday, February 15th at the Town Office.

Written by Troy Brown, Edited by John Brunelle

Litchfield Board of Selectmen Meeting – Jan 14 @6pm

Agenda for tonight’s meeting, come join the process and share your feedback.

You can also watch on Comcast channel 22 or online at https://YouTube.com/LitchfieldTV.

MEETING AGENDA

TOWN OF LITCHFIELD BOARD OF SELECTMEN January 14, 2019 – Litchfield Town Hall, Meeting Room

5:00pm Paperwork Review

6:00pm Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance

Review and Approval of Consent Items

1. December 17, 2018 Meeting Minutes

2. Tax Collector’s Reconciliation – Jan

3. Town Clerk’s Reconciliation – Nov 2018

4. Tax Credits & Exemptions – (12)

5. Page Road Purchase Order – $75,000

6. ACH School Payment Authorization

7. A/P Manifest – 00/00/19 – $0.0 & 00/0/19 – $0.0

8. P/R Manifest – 00/00/19 – $0.0 & 0/0/19 – $0.0

Requests for Additional Items / Other Business Public Input (will occur no earlier than 6:15 pm)

Business

1. MRI Inspectional Services Report – Medard Kopczynski

2. Town Flag Update – Matt Lepore

3. Command Vehicle

4. 2019 Mileage Rate

5. 2019 Warrant

6. 2019 Defalt Budget Form

7. Recreation Donation Acceptions – $50.00

Reports & Other Business

1. Administrator Report

2. Selectmen Reports

3. Items Removed from Consent

4. Other Business

5. Next Regular Meeting January 28, 2019

6. Deliberative Session – February 2, 2019 @ CHS Auditorium