Town of Mansfield

Four-Corners Sewer Planning Advisory Committee

Minutes of the Meeting, 12-2-08

Present:  Nesbitt (Chair), Hart, Rawn, Ferrigno, Tussing, Plante, Girard, Spak, Schafer,  Roberts (UConn-guest), Pacholski (UConn-guest), Hultgren

The meeting was called to order by Chair Nesbitt at approximately 7:05 PM.  Introductions were made.

Nesbitt reviewed the committee’s charge and underscored the importance of getting participation from the property owners in the four-corners area as well as the general public.  A discussion ensued regarding on how to gain this input through meetings, surveys, educational forums, etc., and what the next steps should be.

Hultgren gave a brief history of the sewering project and a discussion of the project’s scope followed.

Nesbitt noted the need for water along with sewer and the consensus of the committee was that the two should be done concurrently if at all possible.  To that end a committee meeting with the CT Water Co. was scheduled to hear an update on its plans to bring water into the area (7:00 PM, Tues Dec 9^th in the Town Office Building).

Discussion took place regarding the types of development that would be permitted in the four-corners area and what types of businesses have been interested in locating here over the years.  The advantages and disadvantages of having a design district for this area were discussed.  The need for economic data/analysis to show the benefits of the sewering project to the community was noted. 

Two committee meetings in January were discussed:  The first, in the second week in January, would be an organization meeting to plan for a public-informational meeting to be held during the 3^rd week.  Nesbitt asked members to bring a list of what might be presented/discussed at that public meeting to the December 9^th meeting.

Hultgren circulated a spreadsheet with trial assessments of all the properties and summaries of the assessments to residential properties noting that as configured, the residential assessments are too high.  He said that alternative ways to lower these assessments will be presented at a future committee meeting.  Roberts suggested one way to possibly do this would be to expand the sewer service area down Hunting Lodge Road to increase the number of properties served/assessed.

Nesbitt circulated a contact listing and asked members to update their contact information.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:30 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Lon Hultgren

Director of Public Works