7:05 p.m.
Canoe Brook Senior Center
11 Cherry Hill Road
Branford, Connecticut
Present: Pam Fowler, Peter Black, Jay Bodner, Alice Lambert, Chris Sullivan, Alinor Sterling. Absent: Dorothy Docknevich.
The Committee met and heard the following items.
1. Approval of minutes. Motion to approve November minutes made by Rep. Fowler, seconded by Rep. Lambert. All in favor.
2. To consider, and if appropriate, approve an ordinance establishing a Community Forest Commission. Motion to add language regarding funding and remove reference to First Selectman by Rep. Fowler, seconded by Rep. Bodner. All in favor. Final proposed ordinance is attached to these minutes.
3. To consider and, if appropriate, approve changes to the Purchasing Ordinance, Chapter 75 of the Code of the Town of Branford. General agreement regarding elimination of Branford business preference. Rep. Sterling will get in contact with Terry Elton and Ed Lazarus before final vote. Discussion regarding sealed bid threshold/threshold for obtaining three quotes. We will do further research on state requirements. Rep. Black will draft language regarding sole source justifications. Recommendation to eliminate “per year” language in subsection 75-2(A)(1). New draft attached to these minutes. Motion to re-refer by Rep. Black, seconded by Rep. Fowler. All in favor.
4. To consider and, if appropriate, approve a request from the Registrars of Voters for the realignment of the voting districts and polling places. Report on expenses by registrars. Discussion with registrars concerning coordinating to some extent school district lines with new voting district lines. Motion to approve a seven district redistricting plan, roughly along lines proposed by registrars, with reservation that the Committee may adjust the borders of the districts by Rep. Sullivan; seconded by Rep. Black. All in favor. Motion to re-refer by Rep. Black; seconded by Rep. Fowler. 5 in favor; Rep. Lambert abstained. Discussion of time table for redistricting.
5. To consider and, if appropriate, approve an ordinance establishing a Strategic Review Committee. Presentation by the First Selectman concerning the need for a Strategic Review Committee. We would like to take comment on this item from Shirley Rasmussen. Motion to re-refer by Rep. Black, seconded by Rep. Sullivan. All in favor. Rep. Fowler will try to get both school district and zoning overlaid on seven voting district proposal for next meeting. Our plan for the next meeting is to go over district lines.
6. To consider and, if appropriate, amend Chapter 220 Taxation, of the Code of the Town of Branford, to include an exemption as permitted by Public Act 07-242 to allow for a property tax exemption with respect to motor vehicles that are exempt from sales and use taxes under subdivision (110) or (115) of section 12-412 of the general statutes, as amended. Motion by Rep. Black to amend our ordinance to allow a tax exemption in this respect to the maximum extent allowable by the statute, effective with the next grand list, with a five year sunset, seconded by Rep. Lambert. All in favor. Rep. Sullivan recused himself from this vote and from deliberation as a committee member on this item.
Motion to adjourn. All in favor. Meeting adjourned 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Alinor Sterling
Rules and Ordinances Committee Chair
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