Special Town Meetings

IT WAS STANDING ROOM ONLY AT THE TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM THURSDAY, JULY 9, 2009 FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING...


Previously...
Town Engineer, shown above, pointing at bridge location illustration, is to get confirmation that the structural elements are already accurately drawn to A-2 quality (by the bridge engineer).  P&Z gave a unanimous positive vote on the Flood Zone permission, however...at the Special Town Meeting, such testimony not given by the Town Engineer.  FORUM photo of existing Valley Forge Bridge site above, right.

ENTIRELY NEW VALLEY FORGE BRIDGE:  THE CALL of Special Town Meeting Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 7pm (until @ 8:30pm), in the Town Hall Meeting Room. 
SIMPLE MAJORITY OF THOSE PRESENT AND VOTING needed for override of P&Z negative 8-24.   Very, very few present supported override - no vote was taken on the wording of the original call.  OPINION:  it was the sense of the meeting that an A-2 survey was needed before the project went any further, and the reworded motion reflected that.  First revision made and seconded and failed (not specific enough, we suspect);  new motion passed by voice vote.

Special Town Meeting supported the majority of the4 Planning and Zoning Commission's position (presented by its Chairman): 8-24 of Valley Forge Bridge. Those present and voting supported and amended motion re: the need for an "A-2" survey map/new 8-24 to P&Z.  DISCUSSION:  Selectmen Bliss and Weinstein noted funding for this year would be in peril, as the time it takes for an A-2 survey to be done, P&Z to advertise and hold another 8-24 public hearing and if a negative 8-24 results, the time for another Special Town Meeting will most likely run out the clock on this year's deadline for State of Connecticut special "stimulus" package funding or $$ from other sources as well.

BREAKING NEWS: Voters say get A-2 survey and 8-24 review for Valley Forge bridge
Weston FORUM
Written by Patricia Gay
Friday, 10 July 2009 12:23

Voters at a town meeting last night overwhelmingly approved a motion requiring the selectmen to get an A-2 survey and 8-24 planning and zoning review for the Valley Forge bridge project.

It was standing room only in the Meeting Room at town hall, as 72 registered voters, the Board of Selectmen, and Ken Bernhard, town counsel, debated how the Valley Forge bridge project should proceed.

The selectmen called for the town meeting in order to override the Planning and Zoning Commission’s 8-24 statutory denial of the bridge project. The denial was based solely on the selectmen’s failure to submit an A-2 survey.

Last night the voters had the final say and told the selectmen to get the A-2 survey and an 8-24 review as soon as possible.

After three failed attempts by others to amend the original call of the meeting, Larry Roberts proposed the following amendment:

“The town of Weston will obtain an A-2 survey and present it to the Planning and Zoning Commission for an 8-24 approval, and the commission will act on it as soon as possible.”

The motion was approved in a voice vote, with no opposition.

Seth Miller, a neighbor of the bridge, said he was very pleased with the town meeting’s decision. “I appreciate everyone who came out tonight. My driveway is effected by this project and I want to know where the property lines are and if there are any easements,” he said.

Read the full story about the town meeting in next week’s issue of The Weston Forum.

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING OCTOBER 16, 2008 AT 8PM AT TOWN HALL:  to rebuild the Lyons Plains Fire Station in partnership with the Weston Volunteer Fire Department (up to $900,000, over a three year period).  Approved in voice vote - no discussion after Fire Department urged a "yes" vote.


Special Town Meeting June 11, 2008 OK's $1,100,000 for transfer into the Town's post employment benefits trust fund;  $586,585 for expenses associated with the design and renovation of the Weston High School Auditorium - by voice vote.

Special Town Meeting set for Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 7:30p.m. in the Weston Middle School Cafeteria.  Special Board of Selectmen's Meeting Tuesday, May 27, 2008 also names Moderator. 

QUESTION:  DOES THIS SPECIAL TOWN MEETING FALL UNDER SECTION 2.4(d) OF THE WESTON CHARTER?  WE THINK SO...

Special Town Meeting approves easement for CL&P - April 5, 2007, 7:15pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room necessary because wording of previous Special Town Meeting did not meet CL&P's latest legal standards (?) - that was the explanation given when we asked the question why this meeting was necessary.

Selectmen conducted a pre-Town Meeting Public Hearing;
YES to High School Roof and Auditorium Repair
A quick Town Meeting, well attended in the Weston High School Cafeteria gives a unanimous vote of "YES" with no voices raised to say "NO" although there was a question or two from some doubters during discussion;  Moderator called the question after five (5) speakers including First Selectman Woody Bliss.


WARNING!!!
Special Town Meeting  January 17, 2007 at 7pm, Town Hall Meeting Room - to re-allocate moneys within three parts of Referendum of Nov. 15, 2001.
Special Town Meeting divided the question into three parts.  First part approved.  Second part changed to special fund for school projects (instead of putting the $$ - if any - into the General Fund or specifying it for Booster Barn and bleachers - this proposed change a close voice vote);  third part approved.

Both items pass in brief Special Town Meeting, it is reported.

On road acceptances...from Jan. 13, 2005 Weston FORUM:

We were out of Town, so our vote couldn't be counted (and it would have been "yes"), but we taped the Special Town Meeting on January 20th to see whether "one vote" made a difference...it did!  THANK YOU, TOWN TV CHANNEL 79 - we taped it (the power of knowing how to set the VCR) and watched it upon our return Monday, January 24.

(YES) 44 - (NO) 43
The meeting was shifted from the Town Hall Meeting Room to Library Community Room when Moderator Richard Troxell determined that an accurate count would not be possible at the smaller room at Town Hall (there were people standing because the seating capacity had been exceeded).  Once Town Meeting reconvened in the Weston Library across the parking lot, the Board of Selectmen made their pitch for approval ("yes").  A total of six people spoke to First Selectman Bliss' motion as modified, a vote was taken (voice and standing count) on that motion and only then did it occur to anyone to ask for a secret ballot.

A vote to "reconsider" was made, (if successful by 2/3 majority, under reconsideration, the secret ballot request would be allowed).  The motion "to reconsider" failed by virtue of not getting a 2/3 vote (not close).  The meeting was adjourned.



If memory serves, this meeting was adjourned to the Middle School Cafeteria because so many people showed up to vote "no" on item #2...
RESULTS:  Nature Education Center at Lachat gets "YES" from Town Meeting;  Easement at Revson goes down ("NO")...
Special Town Meeting of Thursday, June 17, 2004 :  background on the first of the two items in the "call" here...

ITEM TWO relates to School Project:  twin-trunk oak tree would stay if Item #2 carried - but it didn't and so Town Meeting said, in effect, "TIMBER!"  The map below is dated June 2, 2004 ("Option C-1") - please remember that this is in no way an official source of information!



On enlarging the School Complex area...