Town of Greenwich

The Representative Town Meeting addressed numerous agenda items, primarily focused on appointments to various town committees and boards. Key resolutions included appointments to the Claims Committee (e.g., Francis "Kip" Burgweger, Glen Canner, Craig Chapman, Edward D. Dadakis, Aaron Leonard, Jane Sulich, Jane Weisbecker, Gregory Zorthian, Kimberly Blank), the Labor Contracts Committee (e.g., Adam Leader, Anthony G. Cicchetti, Glen Canner, Kimberly Blank, Hale Bayram), the Flood and Erosion Control Board (Donna LaViolette), the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Advisory Council (Vinay S. Pande, Michael Gaudiano), the Affordable Housing Trust (Brian Myers, Allison Berman), the Harbor Management Commission (Robert Pruett, Jenny Larkin, Bernard Armstrong), the Board of Ethics (Joui Hessel), and the Riverside School Building Committee (Andreas Duus III, Benjamin Chynsky). Additionally, the meeting addressed an appropriation of $700,000 for Galvanized Pipe Replacement at Nathaniel Witherell and considered an amendment to Town Charter Article 13 regarding meeting procedure.

The Special Meeting agenda focused on two primary requests for appropriation. The first item addressed an interim funding request from the Board of Education totaling $1,905,000 for the remediation of water damage at the Cos Cob Elementary School while awaiting insurance reimbursement. The Board approved this interim allocation from the Town's General Fund. The second item concerned an additional appropriation of $450,000 for The Nathaniel Witherell Tower Renovation Project. The BET Budget Committee reviewed the documentation, noting that cost reductions were achieved via 'value engineering' and that state demands related to fire safety had increased expenses. The Board voted to approve this appropriation. The meeting concluded with an adjournment.

The Budget Decision Meeting focused on voting upon the 2017-2018 Budget. Key discussions involved the Economic Development Marketing funding for the Office of the First Selectman, which was conditioned upon matching funds and plan approval, following a failed motion to delete the expenditure. The Board approved an HR Committee motion concerning the Tax Collector's Office staffing structure. Adjustments were made to fire department contributions for Round Hill and Banksville Fire Stations. A reduction in the Town Contribution to TAG was approved, and its remaining funding was conditioned on performance review. Funding for GEMS was conditioned on a mid-year review. The Board addressed the transfer of certain Board of Education expenses from the Town Budget to the BOE Budget, with a motion to table the transfer passing. An increase to the Sewer Taxes contribution was approved. In the Capital Budget section, the Board voted against deleting funding for a Fire Study but approved conditioning its release pending scope review, oversight committee establishment, and arbitration completion. Funding for the Round Hill fire station A&E Reinstatement was reinstated. The annual paving budget was reduced by $1,000,000. Funding for the Greenwich Avenue Streetscape and Repaving Implementation was conditioned. Advanced A&E funding for Schools was conditioned upon request by BOE Operations. Budget Resolutions were approved to update the STEAP Grants authorization, delete the MISA Gift Resolution, and add a new resolution for BOE Athletic Gifts. Finally, amendments to the Bonding Resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds were discussed, and the Board approved the General Fund operating budget as amended, along with appropriations for several other funds.

The meeting covered updates from the First Selectman regarding a Fire Department promotion ceremony, activities of the Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities, the Chamber of Commerce's annual business survey results, and the unveiling of the Permit Process Improvement Initiative. Further updates included recent events such as Bastille Day and Founder's Day celebrations, and discussions related to proposed changes to Floor Area Ratio regulations for educational facilities by the Planning & Zoning Commission. A report was provided concerning the proposed flooding control project for the Byram River, including bridge replacement and dredging plans. In Old Business, the Board voted not to authorize litigation concerning lighting on the Greenwich High School property. New Business involved authorization for a $1 million self-insured retention for a legal case and approval of a contract request from the Harbor Management Commission to study Greenwich Harbor dredging and spoil disposal. The Board also discussed summer resident access to beach and pool passes. Finally, nominations were made for positions on the Alarm Appeals Board, and the meeting concluded with an Executive Session to discuss pending litigation, settlement of claims, and interviewing candidates for Boards and Commissions, followed by approval of a tax credit settlement.

The agenda for the regularly scheduled monthly meeting includes an Agency Session to cover the Director's Report and review/approval of draft minutes from December 19, 2016. The Public Session will address public hearings for applications such as #2016-138 (21 Cedarwood Drive), which was continued. Consent Approvals include application #2016-185 (17 Round Hill Club Road). The agenda also lists numerous Pending Applications, New Applications for Review (including #2017-002 through #2017-010), Agent Approval Permits, Applications To Be Received, Old Business concerning a Cease & Correct Order, and several Violations requiring Cease & Correct Orders. Finally, a section is dedicated to Bond Releases for multiple prior applications and a general procedural discussion under Other Business.