TOWN/UNIVERSITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Audrey Beck Municipal Building

Council Chambers

4:00 pm

Minutes

Present: P. Barry, M. Beal, T. Callahan, M. Hart, J. Hintz, R. Hudd, E. Paterson, S. Rhodes, J. Saddlemire, N. Silander, W. Simpson

Staff: M. Capriola, J. Jackman

1. Opportunity for Public to Address the Committee

Cynara Stites of Hanks Hill Road addressed the Committee about negative behavior from students living off-campus and the impact such behavior has on neighborhoods in Storrs.

2. August 18, 2009 Meeting Minutes

The minutes of August 18, 2009 were passed unanimously, with the motion made by Barry and seconded by Simpson.

3. Hunting Lodge Road Bikeway

Mr. Hart provided an update. The project will be completed this fall. The bikeway is already in use and has improved pedestrian safety. Litter has been problematic along the bikeway; the Town has been actively enforcing the litter ordinance as a result.

4. Mansfield Downtown Partnership Update

Mayor Paterson provided an overview of the upcoming Festival on the Green celebration and events. The events will be held the weekend of September 11-13^th.

5. Four Corners Sewer Project Update

Mr. Hart provided an update on the project and spoke to the limitations for providing water to the Four Corners. Installing sewer to the Four Corners is estimated to cost between $5-6 million, adding water to the project would bring the total to approximately $14 million. UCONN has the capacity to provide sewer to the Four Corners, but not water. The Four Corners Sewer Advisory Committee is beginning to look at zoning and design elements of the project.

6. University Spring Weekend

Mr. Rhodes provided an overview of the draft Spring Weekend report for 2009. The report is a joint Town/University initiative and will be submitted by the Town/University Relations Committee. Discussion occurred and suggestions were offered as improvements to the draft. The Committee agreed to the following revisions:

· Attempt to determine direct costs for public safety personnel for Spring Weekend (Thu-Fri-Sat) that are above and beyond normal staffing requirements for a weekend. Public safety costs should encompass Mansfield Fire & EMS, Mansfield Police, Connecticut State Police, and UCONN Fire and Police.

· Attempt to define “infraction” and “warning” for the purposes of reporting statistics to ensure consistency in reporting amongst the various public safety entities.

· A goal will be to reduce the number of outside visitors at the events and to gain better information about the outsiders (i.e. guests of students, no affiliation to university or students, etc.)

· To take a qualitative approach to the report.

7. Preparations for Fall Semester

Mr. Saddelmire announced that the fall semester opening went smoothly from a logistical perspective. 12,346 people have moved into on-campus housing (largest amount of people living on campus in UCONN’s history). Mr. Jackman and Mr. Hintz provided an update on prevention and outreach activities related to students moving into off-campus housing for the fall semester.

8. Other Business

Mayor Paterson requested that enforcement of ordinances be noted as a future agenda item.

The meeting adjourned at 5:30pm

Next Meeting: October 13, 2009

Respectfully Submitted,

Maria E. Capriola, Assistant to Town Manager

Town of Mansfield