Town Council - Regular Meeting

We are in session. The town council made a motion to move up number 11, which was executive session, which was to discuss the contract. So we went into executive session. Katie?

Yes. So do I have a motion to return to regular session? So moved. Okay. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? No motions were made and no votes were taken during executive session. Okay.

I'd like to entertain a motion to add to the agenda the approval of the UPSI New Milford Emergency Dispatchers Unit number 911. So moved. Thank you. And we have a second. Second. Any discussion? Thank you. All those in favor? Aye.

Aye. Any opposed?

Aye. Any abstentions? Thank you, everyone.

So it's added to the agenda. You want to take care of it now?

We just moved to do it.

No, you just moved to add it to the agenda.

So we'll make a motion to approve the New Milford Emergency Dispatch Unit number 911. Second.

Thank you. Thank you. Mary Jane?

All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Aye. Thank you. Any abstentions? Thank you. Katie?

Okay, item four. I'd like to move that we accept items 4A and B, the prior minutes and the tax collector.

Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? Thank you. Mayor's comments. We did tax collector too, right? Yes, that was both A and B. So good luck to the Milford Greenway softball team as they're playing Waterford right now at home. This is today's playoff competition. So I know Councilman Rolando is there as a coach. So we wish the whole team success. They're 20-2, I believe, is their record. Good news to them. Also congratulations to the soccer club of New Milford U15 as they are district winners. So big congratulations. Congratulations to the New Milford Greenway flag football six to eight year old team called the Commanders and coach Jesse Hinckley for their spring championship. big huge congratulations to the milford youth baseball and softball 10u orioles as they are in-house champions as well as the pirates are in-house champions so good yeah so good good job to those teams new milford high school track girls four time 100 relay brianna taylor haviland and kayla they set a new school record so big huge congratulations to that team outstanding Big huge congratulations to our youth agency pre-K graduates. I was able to attend, and a big thank you to our amazing teachers, Lori, Mary Beth, and Maddie, who helped out as well. And this is a wonderful pre-K, so for those parents that their child may not be wanting to go for a full day, we have the pre-K at, through the youth agency, check the website. for seeing if you want to register your child for spring pre-K with the youth agency. Thank you to Jason. A big congratulations to Isabella Pilch. She's an ambassador Girl Scout from Troop 40297. and as a rising senior at Canterbury School, has officially earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award. This is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, like Eagle Scouts and Boy Scouting. Only a small percentage of Girl Scouts remain in the program through the senior and ambassador levels. Of those who remain, only 5% earn the Gold Award. For her Gold Award project, Isabella developed a sustainable peer mentoring initiative training student mentors at Skadacoke Middle School and connecting them with the younger students at Northville Elementary School. And they could benefit from additional support and encouragement. Her project was carefully designed to continue serving the community long after her direct involvement ends. So a big thank you to Isabella, her fellow sister scouts of 40297, also troop leader Christina King, and her parents Claudia and Michael. She also has a big brother, Tyler, and it was just great to see her accomplishment and lasting service. So great job. So a big thank you to the Organized for Pets in the Park. Very well received yesterday. It was at Petty Bone Field. Teddy Bear Festival on Saturday. A big thank you to the Women's Club. Had a lot of people there getting their teddy bears. I believe I was talking to Pat. I think there's 300 teddy bears that they were able to adopt. Good to see the farmer's market continuing with a lot of people. I believe this is their third or fourth week and uh also thank you to the northfield pto for their touch a truck event that they had this past friday lots of kids there learning about not only our town vehicles but also the commercial vehicles that was great the milford high school had their grad party car show on saturday those proceeds went to the grad party and great to see a lot of different cars there as well knights of columbus had their car show on friday night And then the chief and the New Milford Police Department did their part in the Olympics torch run this past Friday, where they started here by the bandstand. They ran all the way to the New Milford-Brookfield border. So a big, huge thank you as we create the awareness for the Special Olympics. And our infrastructure, our Brookside Bridge project continues. The contractor continued demolition work on the top of the old abutments. And we'll be continuing on that in the next few days. The deck is off, so they're making progress. On Cornwall Drive and Adams Lane today, the contract continued with the topsoil backfilling behind the curbs. So the curbing is in, the top course is in, and then if you are in that area in the next couple of days, they continue with the backfill. Please take extra caution. Lanesville Fire Department renovation project. The concrete contractor was placing the concrete for the walkway at the southern side of the building. The general contractor was installing the lintels along the northern edge of the building. They're prepping for paint along the metal siding, installing the new metal siding along the knee wall and the roof. They're cleaning up the site and they're setting the offsets for the curbing and the topsoil. Looking for hopefully sometime end of July to have this completed, which would be outstanding. Petty bone sidewalk project, and that's the sidewalks that will run along the front of Petty Bone. The contractor continued the pouring of the new sidewalks along the front side. Getting excited for that to complete. And then we'll have that phase completed. And a big, huge thank you to the Litchfield County American Irish Club. They're going to do their road bowling tournament this year. they are actually going to benefit the freitas family for those who know the freitas family the husband passed away so those proceeds will be going to help uh mrs freitas and the young family so a big huge thank you i believe there's still a couple spots left if you would like to put on a team if not you can be a sponsor and again those proceeds go to help them out as well big thank you to dr parlato and the principals at Sarah Noble and at Northville and at Hill and Plain is this year they're doing an initiative where all students from the 5th grade to kindergarten are all going to be reading the same book this year in the district. Wild robot, which is pretty cool. So a big huge thank you to Doctor Carlotto and then for allowing me also to talk about it in public. This book that the whole district is going to read so. Big congratulations and looking forward to all the students in those grades reading Wild Robot. We'll be talking more about that through the summer. In speaking with Chief Ceruto, the statistics for this last week, motor vehicle stops so far this year is 1,713. Motor vehicle accidents are 379, 78 are in parking lots. DUI so far this year is 30, which is down three from last year. Our crash car that we have out each spring and summer will be out in the next few weeks. In the last few years, the car will be moving around in different areas to create the awareness of what can happen to a vehicle that does get into a car accident. We're also giving out, as we did last year, free traffic vests to pedestrians and bike riders. so they can be seen more clearly to drivers. You can either pick them up at the mayor's office or at the police department. We receive these through a grant funding. We'll also be looking to do pedestrian safety classes this summer. I'll be able to give those dates to the council at our next meeting. And again, to just emphasize the number one reason for accidents in New Milford is driving too close. Please make sure to travel a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you. The number two is distractive driving. Please keep your eye on the roadway and concentrate on driving. By doing just these two things, we can self-do ourselves. Just take the self-responsibility. We can substantially reduce our accidents. And again, I'll be updating the council as we move forward with those. Events that'll be happening June 12th, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the library is a Thomas Edison, A Life of Invention. On June 13th, the Farmer's Market with music on the bandstand by Denmark Jams. June 13th, also 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the library. John Cilio, he's a wonderful local historian out of Sherman, is going to be doing Explores the Historical Accounts of the Liberty Bell, part of our America 250 program. June 13th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is the Pet Thrift Shop. Animal Welfare does this monthly and this is where you can get some great discounts on all sorts of things from leashes, dog beds, brushes, and all the proceeds go to help animal welfare. Townwide tag sale also is going to be on Saturday, and the main one is going to be at Pettibone, and then there are different tag sales in tandem at the same time all throughout the community. You can go to the website of the park and rec, and you can see those other tag sales listed.

What's the time at Pettibone?

They start at 9.

9 until...

I believe one or two until they sell, I think, I believe. I'll definitely check that out and let everybody know.

Yep.

Also on June 13th, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the McCarthy Observatory is the second Saturday Stars. Have some great volunteers there where you get to see not one but two of our telescopes. They have moon rocks, all sorts of cool stuff there as well. June 14th from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the Green is the Picnic for Pride celebration. June 14th, 3.30 p.m. at the Center Cemetery. is the Tsar, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Dar, Daughters of the American Revolution, grave markings, the Patriot recognition. If you haven't been to one of those, it's very special, where we continue to pay recognition for our patriots who are really buried there at different cemeteries. Grad party golf tournament is on June 15th from 8 a.m. is the registration. 9 a.m. is the tee time. I believe you still can register. June 18th. Second Rock the Block concert, that's at 6.30 p.m. Anchor Management is the band, and they're a terrific band. If you can come on down, help support the merchants and the restaurants in the downtown. This is some great music. Relax and enjoy. Great time. Thank you to Gary Goldring and Bank Street Group for putting those on. June 20th, 9 a.m. to noon, the Farmer's Market. Music from 10 a.m. to noontime on the bandstand is By Pearls. June 25th, 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. at the library is Lawyers in the Library. These are scheduled 20-minute pro bono sessions. So if you have a legal question that you'd like to get some answers to, you can register at the library and schedule your time with those lawyers. And thank you to those lawyers that are doing this pro bono. June 27th, 9 a.m. to noon is the Farmer's Market, and also 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Green is the Commission on the Arts Outdoor Art Festival. So they'll have music, they'll have art, all sorts of great stuff, music, just lots of great things. Thank you to Lou Mandler and the entire committee for the art festival again this year. July 2nd, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the library, Jerry Monahan recounts the stories of Connecticut military heroes. And then on July 3rd, starting at 5 p.m. here on the town green, is our 250th July 4th activities and festivities. We're going to have here on the town side, we're going to have music, inflatables, have all sorts of great things, signing of the Declaration of Independence, We're going to have the women's clubs, cupcakes, lots and lots of fun stuff. And at dusk, we're going to be firing off the fireworks at Young's Field. So you'll be able to see them all throughout the downtown. So please come down and help us celebrate America's 250th birthday. On July 4th, 9 a.m. to noon on the Green is the Farmer's Market, music on the bandstand by Potter's Field. The Merwinsville Hotel is going to do their Sunday tour, and that's 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you haven't been to the Merwinsville Hotel, it's up in Galeageville. It's a true gem that we have here, and thank you to Jeremy Ruman for keeping that alive. July 9th, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. John Cilio, again, is going to do another talk, and that is The Life of a True American Hero, Roger Sherman. Farmer's Market, July 11th, 9 a.m. to noon. And the music on the bandstand, Dean Schnellbeck. And then we're also having Fun for Everyone at the Stars and Stripes and Stories Family Day at the library. And second Saturday stars on July 11th. So a lot going on and more to follow.

Yes, sir.

There we go. That's right.

All my wonderful grandmasters from zero to 80. Good, good. They're getting better and better, you should see.

That's awesome.

You should see them.

We'll see how quick they put me in checkmate again, Sal.

The attention span is expanding, and their skills are astronomical.

Awesome.

What's the youngest child, about seven, eight?

Yeah, six, seven, yeah. Really? Yeah. Is that? They're good.

Who do you usually play with?

I usually play like the sixth grader, seventh grader, somewhere around there. It's pretty good.

I bet. Big kudos to parents. They come with the kids. They sure do. They do the right thing.

That's good. Very good.

Yes, library one from one to five. On the 27th. Got it. Thank you, Sal. Thank you, sir.

Okay, so let's back to our agenda. Thank you for doing that. Item number six, I'd like to move, this is Parks and Recreation, I'd like to move that we accept the following donations that they receive for their eight mile and 5K road races. They would like to have the monetary donations deposited into the recreation gift revenue account. one zero four five zero five zero zero four four seven zero nine and they would like to thank the following people for their donations uh valley vet 250 ptsm 500 ibs bank 500 robotics and beyond 50 jesse's ice cream 51 scoop ice cream vouchers Daily and Auverde LLC, $50. SE Global Business Group, $500. O'Keefe Orthodontics, $1,200. New Milford Fitness and Aquatics, $500. Big Y, $50 gift card. Stop and Shop, $75 gift card. Stu Leonard's, $50 gift card. Connecticut Running Company, A total of 12 gift cards of varying denominations. BD provisions, they gave $10 and $20 gift cards, quite a few, 15 altogether. They would like to have the monetary donations from the road race and movie nights put into gift fund 335-1000. 5, 9, 9, 0, 2. He also from Northeast carpet and flooring received 250 and Don Huff $900. So I'm confused.

Is the recreation gift revenue the first part?

Yes, Stephanie. I'm assuming that is what it's about because they separated those two from the first group was one and then that Northeast gift revenue and the other one is for the road race. Exactly. So do I have a second?

Thank you. Any discussion?

Yes.

All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Aye. Thank you. Any abstentions? Thank you.

Item 6B, I'd like to move that we approve the request that the fireworks, the following donations for our fire, Meyer's office and fireworks, they would like to take the following monetary donations to be deposited in the economic development fireworks. That account is 104- And those donations from Ann's Petroleum, $1,500. Distinct Storage, $500. O&G Industries, $15. Dawn Huff Caldwell Banker, $250. Second. Second.

Thank you, Tom. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? Thank you, and thank you to the donors.

item b2 the mayor's office uh we'd like would like us to approve the following donation from h.h taylor and stuns it's a table valued at 800 that's been in storage at the first congregational church of new milford have a second thank you tom all those in favor aye opposed any abstentions thank you Okay, item 6C, the youth agency requests and would move that we approve their acceptance of $1,000 donation from the Holland Family Foundation. They're extremely thankful for the donation. The funds will be utilized for childcare scholarships and tuition aid. The awarded money will be deposited into an account recommended by the finance director.

Thank you, Mary Jane. And just real quick, a big, huge thank you to Holland Family Foundation. They do a lot of stuff that they don't even really want you to even mention. So a big, huge thank you to them, not only for this, but for the other ones that they do. All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? Thank you.

Okay. Item 6D, I'd like to move that we accept or allow the fire marshal's office to accept the following donations from our New Milford Home Depot. 30 fire blankets, market value $400.80. It comes from the fire extinguisher blankets, 40 inches square, designed to put out small grease fires. And D2, they also received a donation from the local Home Depot. The donation is 104 CO detectors with a total market value of $3,324.88. Those are manufactured by Kid A, the people that you see with the battery backup. Upon acceptance by the council, the fire marshal's office will distribute these to community residents during the upcoming local public outreach and town event. Do I have a second?

Second.

Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Thank you.

Item D, Sub E, New Milford Library. I make a motion that we accept that they requested permission to accept a donation in the amount of $100 from Debbie Johnson in memory of Barbara Ahern. The donation will be used for library materials, specifically books about bookstores. That's good.

Thank you, Mary Jane. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? Thank you.

Moving on, item number seven. I'd like to move that we transfer $18,000 from the Registrar of Voters Election Personnel, account number 104-149-00051-321. Move to Registrar of Voters M&S, account 104-149-00051-321. 1-4-9-0-0-5-6-0-0-1. I'm sorry. Thank you, Tom.

Olga, can you speak a little bit?

I can briefly speak, you know, to that respect. So, yes, the budget referendum mainly, I guess, contributed to the overall overage. So there were a couple of things. They do have to program and code the machines. It was a new company, so they don't know the exact cost after it actually takes place, so that was over. This is also, it was the first year when the date was changed, so there was a need just to make sure that the word is spread out from the community to do additional mailing of the notices to the residents of the town. So all of that in combination drove the account a little higher. But again, they do have money in their department, just in a different line because the personnel cost was lower than expected.

So we have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Abstentions? Thank you.

Item number eight.

The mayor's office has requested and I'd like to move that we approve the closure of Young's Field Road from Bridge Street, Patriot's Way, Bank Street, Railroad Street for the fireworks display to be had on July the 3rd for 30 minutes prior to the display, which would be approximately 9 p.m. The road would then be opened after completion of the fireworks about 9.50 p.m. Second.

Second.

Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor? Aye. Opposed? Any abstentions? Thank you.

Item 9. These are some grants, some information from our grant writer. The first one is a SeaTow Foundation Life Jacket Grant. The Town of New Milford Parks and Rec Department has received an in-kind grant from SeaTow Foundation providing 58 new life jackets for USET Lynn Deming Park. They've done this free of charge. The life jackets can be borrowed daily by swimmers and boaters and should be returned when they're finished so they remain accessible to others. This initiative promotes water safety while expanding access for all park visitors. The second one is the First Light Sustains Grant Award of $5,000. The New Milford Community Ambulance has been awarded a $5,000 grant through First Light Sustains to fund the purchase of two IV infusion pumps for use on ambulances. This equipment will enhance EMS providers' ability to deliver intravenous medications and fluids with greater accuracy, safety, and consistency during emergency medical transport. improving the overall quality of patient care in the community. Funds will be received and be put into an account determined by the Director of Finance. Item C for the grants is a bullet-proof vest program. The Police Department was awarded $3,229.95 from Patrick Leahy Bullet Proof Vest Grant. The funds will be used to purchase new bulletproof vests and enhance officer safety and ensure they are properly equipped while serving the community. The funds will be deposited into an account determined by the finance director. And lastly, item D. For the year 25, we have an emergency management performance grant of $15,138. The town of Milford was awarded this from a, it's called an EMPG grant for program for funding period of October 1st, 2025 through September 30th of 2026. The funds will support expenses related to the town's emergency operations, EOC, associated staffing and other emergency management activities. Eligible uses include salaries and or stipends for emergency managers, directors, and the support staff, organizational costs such as phone, fax, internet, equipment including radios, computers, and printers, travel, training, EOC activations, and emergency response efforts. I didn't pose this as a motion because these are you said they were already here. OK, I'd like to. I'd like to make a motion that we do that ABC and E for number 9 and we have Paul second any discussion.

All those in favor. Opposed. Any abstentions?

Thank you 10 mayor.

Nope, it's nothing on there and item 11.

We already get done.

I'd like to make a motion to adjourn. Thank you. We have a second. Thank you. Any discussion?

All those in favor? Aye. Absolutely.

That's it. Go Knicks. Thank you, everybody, for tuning in tonight. Thank you.