MINUTES OF THE MEETING
TARIFFVILLE VILLAGE ASSOCIATION
April 20, 2006
The meeting was called to order by John Nagy at 7:23 PM. John thanked St. Bernard’s Church for hosting our regular meetings and Trinity Church for allowing us to re-locate tonight because St. Bernard’s was in use.
- REVIEW MINUTES OF January 5, 2006 and February 4, 2006 MEETINGS
(Please note that there was no general membership meeting in March due to the PTO Meeting at Tariffville School on March 29 which everyone was encouraged to attend.) – Minutes accepted as written.
- REPORTS:
- TREASURER’S REPORT : TERRY SALLS: Check book balance is $9,328.81. Terry thanked those who had given donations above the membership level: John Hampton, Tony Braz, Carol Clapp, George and Kathy Mattingly, Dana Pomfret, Laura Stevens and Florence Pelczar.
- COMMITTEE REPORTS
- MEMBERSHIP, PHONE TREE- CHET AND LAURIE MATCZAK: No Report
- FUND RAISING AND NON-PROFIT STATUS-JOAN NAGY: Joan indicated that she and Amy are waiting for town approval of 31 Main St. as a park, a budget, and a town-supported design for the Green and gazebo before moving forward on designing a glossy brochure for fund raising. Joan and Amy will begin putting together a list of potential donors. Everyone is encouraged to submit names of potential donors to Joan or Amy. Frank is looking into the Association of Professional Fundraisers to see if they provide any pro bono services. John indicated that we should be ready to begin serious fundraising by the end of 2006 and that as soon as we have an approved design and begin fundraising, we will post the design and a fundraising “thermometer” on the Green.
- EVENTS PLANNING- JENNIE WINIARSKI: Tariffville School Carnival is May 25 from 4:00-7:00 (Rain date is May 30). We plan to have a booth again. The Memorial Day parade is May 29. Board members need to do a phone tree to encourage members to march. Kathy Oakes will put an invitation to march in the school PTO bulletin (inviting parents and children). Joan will call Evan Woolacott. Trinity does not have anyone to run their community outreach event at the church.. The TVA can assist with manpower if the church organizes it. Kathy Oakes will inform us of the status. [Ed. Note: since the meeting, Moe Lavallee has taken on responsibility to run the Trinity community event] Frank Plona, a long time village resident now living in Canton, suggested via an e-mail to Joan a Day at the Beach, the beach being a section of the river used for swimming during the 1920s through 1940s. The area is behind Governor’s Bridge and would need cleaning up. More discussion is needed, but everyone was enthusiastic. It is time to begin working on the raffle/silent auction for the Festival in September. Laurie needs help! John suggested that Laurie give each board member a list of people to contact. Laurie indicated that each potential raffle/silent auction donor receives a letter and follow-up letters and phone calls. Carolyn Clement will e-mail Laurie a sample donor form that the PTO uses. Laurie will have a packet ready for each board member for our May 11 Board Meeting. She asks that any member who knows someone who might be willing to donate a cottage rental or some other large item should contact her.
- PLANNING AND DESIGN- FRANK HAVILAND: We are scheduled to give our presentation to Culture, Parks and Recreation on April 27 at 7:30 PM. At that time, we will ask to officially designate 31 Main St. as a town park, ask for funding for the installation of a power terminal, and ask for funding for a water fountain and spigot. The Tariffville Water Commission (Scott Madigan) is still debating whether to fund the water. John will be requesting a minimum of 3 picnic tables to be placed on the Green as soon as possible when he meets with Gerry Toner sometime before the meeting. Frank pointed out that we will have to give the same presentation about the Green to BOS, Design Review Board and Zoning. He suggested that we also point out that the Green is part of a larger plan that includes the designation of Tariffville as a “village zone”. Frank will get us on the Zoning agenda.
- MAINTAINENCE –RICHARD MARTINIK: John Hampton indicated that we still have 2-3 weeks before sand collection in the village. Thank you to the Nagy family for sweeping sidewalks at 31 Main St., on Winthrop St. and from the village center islands. Howard Beach indicated that the town and state are actively working on cleanup behind Checkered Flag. They are working out the details and timing.
- TARIFFVILLE SCHOOL ISSUES- KATHY OAKES: Kathy did a presentation on the $6,200,000 renovation to Tariffville School which is slated to take place in 2008 if it is passed at the May 16 referendum. In response to the public’s question of “why a renovation now?”, Kathy said that the current space is too small, thus limiting programs; only minor renovations have been made since 1984; the Kindergarten has not been at the school for 3 years because of space limitations (there is no predicted date for their return because enrollment changes occur right up to the beginning of school, but it will not be in 2006); space is needed to accommodate the Meadowood housing development if it becomes a reality; the temperatures on the 2nd floor in the Fall and Spring are unhealthy; and a new state process requires local approval 1 year before a project begins, so a lack of approval now would push the whole pipeline of projects back to 2009-10. To a question about the feasibility study being done on making Squadron a 5-6 school, Carolyn noted that Tariffville is expected to stay at capacity no matter what the outcome is. Renovation improvements will include removal of modular classrooms; additional classroom, tutor and special ed space; bathrooms; enclosing and using courtyard space; improved nurse and office space; replacement windows/improved ventilation; new sprinkler system and code corrections. The cost for a taxpayer with a $250,000 assessed home value will be an additional $125/year for 10 years. This figure covers all capital expenditures on the referendum. Both the Library and School renovations have been approved by the Board of Finance and both are within the budget guidelines. Kathy emphasized that if we want to continue to have a school in Tariffville, it is imperative that we complete these renovations. VOTE on May 16 at Henry James. The future of Tariffville School depends on us! There will be a town meeting on May 2 at 7:00 at Simsbury High School where residents can ask questions. The TVA board will be calling people to remind them to vote.
- HISTORIC DISTRICT/ VILLAGE DISTRICT- JANE FENTON: No report
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- JENNIE WINNIARSKI: No report
- RECREATION, BIKE PATH, RIVER, TRAILS – BRYAN WEST: Bryan needs to sit down with Rich Sawitzke regarding mapping for the bike path and a budget. Rich is enthusiastic about the project.
- WEBSITE- WAYNE COSTE, SCOTT GLAZIER: Scott Glazier will be taking over the website from Wayne Coste. Thanks to Wayne for his “stellar” service to the TVA. Some improvements envisioned for the site in the future include: A new host that can handle e-mails and offer more features, including graphics; the ability to post documents rapidly; a calendar based format for events so people can see a month at a glance; access to a web master (Scott); links to someone in the TVA, local schools, churches, Tariffville businesses, other non-profits and the town; photographs of public events (Scott indicated that no permission is needed for public event photos to be posted, unless a person objects to its use – if a person’s name is posted, permission must be obtained first); maps/satellite photos, water levels, weather, etc. to inform outdoor enthusiasts about the village; a virtual historic walking tour; membership information, with the possibility to pay dues on-line someday. John Nagy, Frank Haviland, and Bryan West will work with Scott to set goals and time lines and choose a host provider. Anyone else interested in working with Scott can contact him at his e-mail address.
- PUBLIC SAFETY- AMY SALLS: The Tariffville School sign was vandalized on April 16. This $2500 sign is repairable (it was split in half and ripped from the posts), but insurance does not cover it. John offered some funds from the TVA. They will probably do a fund drive at the Carnival. It was noted that we need to hit the problem of vandalism head on. It was suggested that we “deputize” the kids who hang out on that corner and ask them to keep an eye on things. People felt that if we actively recruit young people to help raise funds for repairs and if we put our trust in them, they will respond favorably and become part of the solution. A “penny drive” was suggested as a way to raise money.
- OTHER BUSINESS:
Elections: Because of the change in meeting date and the absence of many members because of vacation week, we will be holding our annual elections at the May meeting.
Non-Profit Mailing: John Nagy will look over the documentation for this.
Gersten Property: John Hampton will ask for a status report at the next BOS meeting
Tariffville Park: John Nagy will ask Gerry Toner for an update on improvements to Tariffville Park, including road grading, brush clearing and playground improvements. Frank also requested that John ask Gerry about the pathway that runs directly from the rear of the school to the park. Would they be willing to clear it?
NEXT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING IS THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2006
7:00PM – 8:30PM AT ST. BERNARD’S CHURCH
Board of Director’s meeting is the 2nd Thursday of the month at Trinity Church. All invited, but call John Nagy first at 658-5973 to verify meeting date and time, due to frequent changes in schedule and location! Next scheduled meeting is:
May 11, 2006, from 6:00- 8:00pm.at Trinity Church
Meeting adjourned at 8:44 PM. Minutes submitted by Joan Nagy, Secretary
