Minutes

Present: A. Barberet, P. Barry, T. Callahan, B. Clouette, R. Hudd, AJ Pappanikou, E. Paterson, L. Schilling

Absent: E. Daniels, J. Gauthier, W. Simpson

Staff: M. Berliner, M. Hart, G. Padick

1. Opportunity for Public to Address the Committee

None

2. March 9, 2004 Meeting Minutes

Pahil Barry made a motion to approve the minutes from the March 9, 2004 meeting. Chief Hudd seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

3. Update re: Mansfield Downtown Partnership

Tom Callahan reported that the Partnership had signed an agreement with the master developer, Storrs Center Alliance, LLC, and that the developer would shortly begin work on the municipal development plan. Storrs Center Alliance also plans to conduct a public meeting with the community in May.

Betsy Paterson reported that the Partnership’s Festival on the Green will be held on September 18^th from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., following the Know Your Town Fair.

[Clouette] – is there a theme to the festival? [Paterson] – there is not really a theme per se, but the event will commemorate Mansfield.

4. Substance Abuse Workgroup

Betsy Paterson reported that she, Tom Callahan and Martin Berliner were working to put together a more permanent workgroup to replace the temporary committee. Tom Callahan explained that the temporary workgroup is comprised of several representatives from both the town and the university, and that they have focused their work on eight to ten recommendations from President Austin’s Task Force. Betsy, Tom and Marty have met with President Austin to discuss the viability of a more permanent coalition, and good progress has been made. For example, the Town Council has adopted an ordinance regulating the possession of alcohol by minors, as recommended by the Task Force. Marty added that town staff was preparing a draft workplan to support the recommendation.

5. UConn Spring Weekend

Chief Hudd stated that Spring Weekend was scheduled to run two weeks from now, and all indications are that it will prove one of the busiest weekends we have ever had. He hopes that all goes well. Martin Berliner explained that public safety and emergency services personnel were in the process of conducting their planning meetings. Also, the former Rugby House is scheduled for demolition in the near future to remove the structure as a potential fire hazard.

[Callahan] – is the owner of Rugby House responsible for pulling the permit? [Berliner] – yes.

Chief Hudd added that his department is working with the Dean of Students office to identify and press charges against those students who had committed violations following Final Four victories. Betsy Paterson stated that she wanted to commend John Saddlemire and his staff for sending the right message in the wake of that event. She has also noted that some students appeared very upset with the behavior exhibited by their peers.

On a related note, Phil Barry commended Martin Berliner and Greg Padick for their presentation to the student life committee regarding off-campus housing issues.

6. Community Liaison

Tom Callahan provided an overview of the Community Liaison program established by the City of Fort Collins, Colorado and Colorado State University. One of the key components of this program was creation of a Community Liaison Coordinator position. While Fort Collins is a much larger community than Mansfield, the program may have some application to Mansfield and he would like the committee to discuss the concept in more detail in the future.

Martin Berliner added that the town and the university had done a lot of work on this issue back in 1997-99, and that work had fallen by the wayside in the absence of an assigned staff person. Town staff has recently focused a lot of attention to off-campus housing issues. He proposes that a study group be formed to review the work completed in 1999 and to examine the entire issue in more detail.

7. Other

Tom Callahan reported that Congressman Simmons has earmarked $4 million dollars for the Hillside Road extension, and this amount represents roughly one half of the estimated project cost. Hopefully, the federal legislation will pass

The committee adjourned the meeting at 5:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Matthew Hart

Minutes

Assistant Town Manager