Academy School. Keep It? Sell It? Board Of Selectmen Will Discuss Monday Night.

The Board of Selectmen will have a discussion at their meeting tonight, at 7:30 p.m. at town campus, about whether the board thinks the town should keep or sell Academy School.

David Kadamus, a community volunteer who is chairman of the town's Academy Ad Hoc Investigation Committee, said that decision is the main decision that must be made before the town can decide the school's future. The school is located right next to the town green, in an important part of town, adjacent to both the historic district and close to the town's thriving restaurant and retail district.

The investigation committee has held a series of public meetings and has meet many times to gather information and discuss options for the school's future. A report the committee made in September is included with this article.

Also in the agenda at the meeting Monday night is administrative procedures at the senior center, the creation of a dog park at Bauer Park on the east side of Copse road (that won't use town funds, the agenda says), a $500,000 STEAP grant for streetscape improvements downtown, and the re-alignment of Copse Road-Fort Path Road.

The selectmen also will "discuss and take action on the donation of services to develop a trail system within the coastal forest at Constitution Park from Andrew Murphy, an Eagle Scout candidate."

7:15 p.m.        Regular Session (will be adjourned to executive session)

                        1.         Discuss union negotiations:  Facilities

                                    Regular Session

                        2.         Pledge of Allegiance lead by Sean Condrin

3.         Approval of minutes – October 9, 2012 and Special Board of Selectmen meeting of October 11, 2012

4.         First Selectman’s comments

5.         Citizen comments

                        NEW BUSINESS

6.         Discuss and take action on the donation of services to develop a trail system within the coastal forest at Constitution Park from Andrew Murphy, an Eagle Scout candidate.

7.         Discuss and take action on the following resolution:

RESOLVED that Fillmore McPherson, First Selectman, is empowered to execute and deliver in the name and on behalf of the Town of Madison a certain contract with Department of Energy and Environmental Protection of the State of Connecticut for the fulfillment of the America the Beautiful grant, and is authorized to affix the Corporate Seal.  This grant is for an urban forestry project involving the Conservation Commission’s data collection for the Notable Tree Inventory.  Grant funds requested were $2,000.

8.         Discuss and take action on Master Lease Purchase Agreement with CalFirst (California First National Bank).  This replaces an agreement originally entered into with Acme Auto Leasing LLC.

9.         Discuss and take action on a sense of the board to keep or dispose of Academy School.

10.       Discuss administrative procedures for the Senior Center.

11.       Discuss and take action to endorse the creation of a Dog Park at Bauer Park, to be located on the east side of Copse Road.  This does not anticipate the use of Town funds.

12.       Discuss and take action on the Police Department’s request to apply for a Bulletproof Vest Grant.

13.       Discuss and take action on acceptance of a $500,000 grant through the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) for streetscape improvements to the downtown business district.

14.       Discuss and take action on the award of a contract in the amount of $47,850 for the construction of the realignment of the Copse Road-Fort Path Road intersection to Testori Brothers Excavation, LLC of Madison, CT.

15.       Discuss and take action on the award of a contract in the amount of $33,500 for the provision of a 2013 Chevrolet 3500HD four wheel drive rack body utility truck with snow plow package to Northwest Hills Dealerships of Torrington, Connecticut.

16.       The following line transfers are designated as routine and appropriate for approval as a single action by the Board of Selectmen, if so desired.  A Board member may request removal of any line transfer item from the consent agenda for review and discussion.

            Motion:  To approve Line Transfers totaling $21,153.40

17.       Tax Abatements/Refunds

18.       Liaison Reports/Selectmen Comments

19.       Adjournment