Town Council - Special Meeting

tonight and uh i want to call this a special meeting of the plymouth town council to order july 20 uh 2026 at 7 00 p.m here at the town hall uh roll call we have uh councilman zaspersky councilwoman boyard councilman green councilman councilman engel so we have a full forum present this evening fire exit notifications if you exit Directly out the back of this room, go to your left, go through two doors and you'll exit outside. If you go to your right, you can exit through the police station through their door, take a left and then out directly outside. Item four is the Pledge of Allegiance.

Congratulations to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic from which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you, everybody. Appreciate that. Item five is our invocation. I'd like to ask God's blessing for the town of Plymouth and the United States of America. Is there a motion to accept those minutes? Okay. Motion, Mr. Tisha. And second, Mr. Green. Thank you. Any discussion on the minutes from June 16th, 2026? Any discussion? Hearing none, everyone in favor, say aye. Aye. Is there any opposition? Any abstentions? Motion carries. Thank you very much. Item seven. Any public comments on the agenda? I know it's a special meeting. We have a short agenda this evening, but is there any comment? And in light of the fact that we've got kind of a light crowd, I will open the floor to any public comment on any topic at this time, if you'd like to make additional comment. That's correct. That's correct.

I'll start with the speed grant. Hasn't that already been done? Hasn't the money already been allocated for different projects?

I'd be glad to respond to that. It was the allocation for 2025 was already processed. This is to authorize the town to remain in the program. It expires every four years. Oh, okay. Yep.

Remember, I got a couple concerns. We need to get the 2024 audit. This is going on over two years. And I've been requesting it and requesting it and requesting it. Nobody's seen it. And that is something you're in violation of the church. I also will be bringing forward the petition again. A lot of people are willing to sign it. So I've got to just get it into the town clerk, get it approved, and I'll start it the day of the early primaries of the voting. And I'll do a right-state bill election. A lot of people still want it. Wilton was mentioned to me. I did homework on it. The homes in Wilton, Connecticut are between 1.3 and 1.5 million. And they have a financial person and still have a mayor. To me, we need a town manager and still lead the council as our legislative body. The council has the final say. And that's why you're our legislative body. And I don't want to see that. And I also am going to add on there that we do this for five years and automatically have it come back as a vote in like three or four and see if people are happy with it with the town manager or to go back to a mayor. And with that, anybody comment?

Thank you. Thank you. where I do have a limited number of printed copies of the 2024 audit available. They just arrived late last week, so we do have the printed copies. Again, I've got a limited amount, but certainly we can make one available for you if you'd like. And then there is an electronic version of those, too. So for the record, the 2024 audit is back. and we have filed the appropriate documentation with OPM and we have an additional filing that we have to make by July 31st at their at their requirement so regretfully we're still behind where we'd like to be right now but the 2024 is absolutely completed so I just want to make sure clarification so thank you item a this is a resolution authorizing the town implement to participate in the state program we received and one of the main reasons why we had to gather here tonight it is requirement that we have a resolution from the authorizing body which is the town council for us to enter into the program this is a four-year commitment it really Other than authorizing us to participate, there is no other criteria. It's already been filed. We have, from an economic standpoint, the filings from OPM were already classified as a community that meets this small-town economic assistance program. So there was a draft motion in the packet. I believe Mr. Engel was involved.

state to write into this agreement ray if you could make that motion yes i'd like to make a motion that the mayor be authorized on behalf of the town of plymouth to accept the 2026 steep grant under the conditions and prerequisites for the state assistance imposed by connecticut general statute 4-66 and or the state and to enter into and execute any and all agreements, contracts, documents within the state as may be necessary to obtain said 2026 steep grant.

Thank you. Is there a second on the motion? Second, Sue? Thank you. And I just wanted, before I open it for discussion, I just want to comment, too. The language is kind of convoluted. Even though it says 2026, it's really for a four-year program. whether or not that happens uh then we would automatically be enrolled if it comes in 2027 then the same you know we would also have to submit the appropriate uh project for reimbursement or uh authorization to spend so i just want to again it's very convoluted but we have it is what it is i want to offer that up to you folks um is there any questions on motion on the floor i pres I presume so. I mean, it looks like it's every two years. It looked like historically it was 23, 25, which we didn't get anything in 25, and then we're hoping in 27 it'll open up again, and we'll get some funding. Any other questions, comments? Okay, thank you. We'll just do a voice vote. All those in favor of the resolution say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? Thank you very much. Motion carries. All right. Item nine. We are in receipt of several resignations. It took us a little while to get kind of all the paperwork in order and make sure we had all the appropriate documents supplied to the town clerk's office. So I want to thank members of the WPCA and Wetlands for helping get the documentation in order so we can accept these resignations so then we can in turn get these positions filled. I will make a kind of public appeal to let people know that we have openings on Wetlands, WPCA, Board of Housing Appeals, property and so on there has been a delay in our web page getting that updated and getting that information out there but we will make sure that we do that I'll also leverage the mayor's Facebook page to put out an appeal for folks to come in and help support the community by joining these boards we'll take them one at a time I think I got them in order here We've got two sides, I'm a mess. All right, let's go. There is a, thank you, there's a resignation from Dean Ferrante from the Inland Wetland Commission. Do I have a motion to accept the resignation from Dean? Motion, thank you. Mr. Green, second with Sue. Any discussion? Any questions? All those in favor of accepting the resignation from Dean Ferranti, say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? Motion carries, thank you. Okay, the second one is a letter of resignation from Nate Brown. This is also from the Inland Wetlands Commission. Is there a motion to accept the resignation of Nate Brown from Inland Wetlands? No. That's a motion from Mr. Zagurski. Second from Ray Angle, thank you. Any questions or discussion on the motion? Hearing none, all those in favor of accepting the resignation of Nate Brown, say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? Thank you, motion carries. Last one is from the WPCA. I'm sorry, that's right. Oh, that's right, we got two right from WPC. I beg your pardon, okay, right. This is James from James Maloney. The letter was sent to the chair of England Wetlands and then filed with the town clerk. Is there a motion to accept the resignation of James Maloney from the Water Pollution Control Authority? Motion, Mr. Green. Second, Mr. Zagorski. Thank you. Any questions? Any discussion? All those in favor of seconding the resignation say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? Motion carries. Thank you again. And there we go. Finally, thank you. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Appreciate that organizational assistance. Finally, a motion, I'm sorry, a motion would be in order to accept the resignation of Scott Gray from the Water Pollution Control Authority. Is there a motion? Motion, Mr. Green. We'll take a second from Ron Tisha. Thank you. Any discussion? Any questions? Hearing none, all those in favor of accepting the resignation say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Motion carried unanimously. I thank you again. As I said, special meeting tonight, short, very short agenda. I will move to item 10, which is if anyone from the town council has any comments. I'll start with Mr. Zagurski. Any general comments, Mr. Zagurski? Okay. Sue Boyard, anything? Okay, we're probably gonna have a long meeting in August, but we will get that done.

Mr. Green. I'm happy to see that there's roadway construction occurring across the town.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Aggressive, very aggressive posture by the public works people and we're almost full. We're almost full. We're interviewing for the very last position in public works, so we will have a full crew. Mr. Tisha, any general comments?

Now, the only issue I have is that there was no non-agenda item on the agenda tonight. I'm sorry, which one are you referring to? There was no non-agenda items. Oh, you mean public comment on non-agenda? Yes. Yeah, and I was told originally that when there's a special meeting that there isn't usually... that on the agenda. But then tonight, someone was allowed to speak on that agenda. Thank you. I did have people that wanted to come tonight to speak on that agenda, but I was told that they wouldn't be on there. I apologize.

It's optional, I would say. I don't think there's any requirement. I know we had a special meeting last time we did include it, and we'll make sure that that doesn't happen again. So pass along that to the individuals that you spoke to. In light of the situation, if you want to comment on another agenda item, I'll recognize the floor. No problem. You're welcome. Go ahead, please.

Connie Caprales, South Eagle Street, Cherryville. It has come to my attention that you were considering making Marcus Long part-time. I think it's a poorly thought-out discussion or thoughts. We have to worry about any projects that are coming forward that with Mr. Long being part-time, that any developer, scrupulous or not, may take advantage of this community by bypassing some of the rules for their own benefit because they know there's no watch guard to take care of this. I understand we need a full-time enforcement officer, but in the past, The town had a full-time secretary, a part-time zoning enforcement officer, and a town planner. I know that times are different today, but that seemed to work when I was on planning and zoning in the 80s. And I sincerely think you should reconsider that thought. He works many, many hours, goes to many meetings, in reference to planning and zoning issues. So I think you should reconsider that thought. Thank you.

Thank you for your input. If there's anybody else? Well, I am acknowledging the floor and you're all set. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Mr. Engel, any general comments this evening?

I just want to thank the Housing Authority for the nice lunch that they put on for us over there. It was very nice. It was great to see all the seniors and gathering with them on that about a weekend habit. It was very good. Any updates on our website before I forget?

I know we spoke about it. Yeah, I met with the director of this projected. I am also meeting tomorrow with the department head meeting and going to talk to the department heads to make sure that they got their changes and their requests in. I know there was some delay. There was a couple of departments that didn't meet the deadlines that we expected that we set to get the data in for the updates and their input to revise their sections of the website. I am cautiously optimistic by in August that we'll get it. The other major delay was the effort to install the new police department's communication tool that replaced their old communications. So that also took a lot of time, but I'm hopeful we'll get that back on track. Yeah, no, that's a good question. I don't mind responding at all. You're welcome. Okay, next item is item 11, which is adjournment. Is there a motion to adjourn? Motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. Motion to adjourn. Second. Joe Green, is there any discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor of adjournment, say aye. Aye. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? The meeting is adjourned. Thank you. Enjoy the rest of July. We will see you first part of August. A couple of weeks.