East Mountain Neighborhood Association

March 15, 2006

Meeting Minutes

Attendees: 63: Carrie Ferrucci, Mark Tierney, Chris Colwell, Marcia Schultz, Keith Schultz, William Burnes, Tim Connolly, Richard Pagano, Theresa Pagano, Peter Amedeo, Carol Amedeo, Maureen Mead, Erin Norton, Pat Norton, David Ferraro, Pat Kelly, Carl Viarengo, Judy Calabrese, Rosemary Carlson, Fran Moran, Leanne Copes, Christine McCarthy, Frank Mc Carthy, Jean Guisto, Mike Ptak, Timothy Cavanaugh, Shirley Shaw, Kathy Frageau, Barbara Stere, Mike Stere, David Semeraro, Veronica Boulden, Wayne Riemer, Robert Lyons, Dick White, Bobbi Cremins, Tom Cullen, Marguerite Smith, Janet Shaw, Steven Shaw, Fran DePaola, Frank DePaola, Ned Mencio, Pam Mencio, Joanne Byrne, Marge Horzepa, Donna Burnes, Richie Hamel, Claire Hamel, Jan Perigard, Bob Perigard, Bea Perigard, Nazih Noujaim, Cathy Filippone, Tony Loechner, Claudette La Flamme, Larry Davino, Cecile Davino, Rick O’Connor, Turner Langdon, Ronnie Ayotte, Dollyanne Martin, Diane Barth, Nancy Santarpia, Maria Lopes, Mary Repko, Bill Paternoster, bob Salvi, Carol Lynne Penta, Louis Stefanelli, Julie Stefanelli, Nancy Ptak, Joe Padua.

The meeting was called to order at 7:12 PM by Michael Ptak, who led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mike thanked all in attendance.

Treasurer’s Report: Jean Guisto reported a $7,494 balance with $500 set aside for the scholarship. There has been $4, 475 donated toward professional assistance to refute the condo development plans to date. Pledges and donations are still being accepted and encouraged. The report hard copy is available for review upon request and at tonight’s meeting.

Secretary’s Report: Pam Mencio presents a hard copy of the February minutes for review at tonight’s meeting. She also reported complaints that those members without computers feel discriminated against, since the meeting minutes are not made available to them. Everyone is advised to call any of the board to request a copy and they can be retrieved from any one of the officers. Also at issue is the email bounce-back problem. Everyone is advised to either share their correct email address or inform the officers that they do no wish to receive emails. Those who have not yet given their email address are asked to do so if they wish to receive emails.

The Condo Project: There was a third Inlands- Wetlands hearing last evening at the city hall, which has been continued until April 5^th. At that meeting we were able to present a refute of the site plans for inlands-wetlands through a soil scientist that we have retained upon the advice of an attorney, with whom the committee met. George Logan is a soil scientist/biologist whose very impressive presentation and credentials enabled him to find problems with the developer’s plans to that effect. George was hired upon the recommendation of a well-known civil engineer and through searching the internet’s numerous listings of soil scientists throughout New England. It was very apparent that George’s findings and recommendation were strongly aligned with those of the independent third party reviewer hired by this city. Assisting George in his work was an associate, who actually came to the area and walked the terrain with Bob Perigard and Ned Mencio for over three hours, gathering soil and water samples and taking photos, although not ever trespassing on the posted area proposed. Permission was asked by Mr. Logan at the hearing to walk the actual site, but that request was refused by the developer. Mr. Logan found issue with the fact that all information was not provided by the developer, proposed buffer zones as they are now are inappropriate, and that the area, in it’s present state, is not suitable for development.

The EMNA to date has paid $1200 to retain George Logan.

Tim Connolly addressed the group, stating that the 3^rd plan that was submitted on March 7^th, not only wasn’t shared with our request of all information to present to Mr. Logan, but afforded very little time to review the changes made at that time. Tim said that it is unfair for the developer to be aware of proposed further changes, but that we are not. He also said we’re fighting with 30 or 40 people from East Mountain of over 1000 residents; it is vital to muster numbers to defend our neighborhood.

Ned Mencio said that if this project passed Inlands-Wetlands review there are still other steps that the project must pass, such as traffic and zoning.

Tim stated that we may be able to appeal based on George Logan assessment.

Nancy Ptak shared that indeed the meetings run a long time, but that shouldn’t keep people from attending, since the numbers are more important that staying the entire length of the meeting.

Larry Davino shared his belief that the money is well spent to retain such a qualified person to represent us.

Another attendee stated his own idea of sending a newsletter with a dotted line around the address to be used by each home receiving the letter as a chance to vote, using their address as the vote.

A petition was available for signature tonight and those attending the meeting were encouraged to sign it and take a form to have others sign it, then send it back to Mike Ptak. That petition will remain available for a time and can be available upon request.

Erin Norton assured the members that the commission cares about the time length of the hearing and so do try to regulate the time for speaker opportunity.

Park Renovation: The bids are to be opened on Friday. Mike observed people walking the site. There are 6 or 7 contractors bidding on the renovation. The procedure is for the bids to go to the corporation council, then the board of aldermen, then the oversight board. David Aldorando is still being encouraged to talk with the state speaker to get additional funding.

A Tag Sale is suggested for this year. A prospective date is chosen for May 13^th at the playground of the park, as suggested and agreed, with a rain date for May 20^th. It will probably take place on the same weekend that the Prospect town tag sale will be held. A dumpster will be provided once again by Bob Perigard. It is also suggested that a charity, such as St. Vincent DePaul Society will be notified that items left over will be available to them to take as desired.

A breakfast fund-raiser is discussed for late April, if Father David has the hall available for that time. Father usually charges $150 for the use of the hall. A motion was made and seconded to approve the request for the rental money. Further plans for the breakfast will be discussed and formalized at the April meeting. A volunteer sign-up sheet was passed and 24 people volunteered to help. Thank you to all of them.

Earth Day: is May 6^th this year.

Flower Flag: The date for planting the flower flag is tentative for May 27^th. Request for volunteers will be made at the April meeting.

Flags: Thirty new flags and poles will be needed this year at a cost of approximately $1100. This expense is noted as the largest of our expenses. Turner Langdon made the motion to approve the money for flags; Pat Norton seconded the motion.

June cookout and meeting: A time change for the meeting was suggested form 7PM to 6PM. A volunteer sheet was passed with 21 people volunteering. Again, thanks to all.

The Wendell Cross School will, again, sponsor a golf tournament this year. In the past the EMNA has contributed $100 for sponsorship. Larry Davino made a motion to approve the $100 donation, another member seconded the motion.

Duck Race: Nancy Ptak stated that the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a “Duck Race” to benefit schools in Waterbury, Naugatuck and Watertown. She is selling chances at $5. per chance to “buy” a rubber duck having a bar code, placed into the Naugatuck River and raced to a finish down the river. There will be various prizes, including a trip to Disney, a $500. gift certificate to the mall, etc. The school will make $2.50 per duck. The race will be on May 7^th at 2PM to the Whittemor Bridge in Naugatuck. See Nancy for tickets.

Police Community Officer Report: Joe Padua reports many car break-ins on East Mountain and in the East end. The police are aware of two perpetrators, male and female in some of the events, who have not yet been arrested and another male who has been in court. Joe warned of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day and of too much celebrating and the possible consequences.

David Ferraro reported that on last Saturday at 6:25 AM, as he was preparing for work he observed 2 men on Pineridge Rd., one in a car and another at a parked car trying the door, in order to enter the car. He saw them later on Peach Orchard Rd checking every parked car for unlocked doors, working their way down Purdy Rd. to Butternut Ridge Rd. The police were called and several patrol cars arrived eventually and followed the pair down Hamilton Ave., where they got away. Neighbors are warned to lock their cars at all times.

Dick White announced the Exchange Club award, known as the Book of Golden Deeds, or, (the Atta Boy Award), which this year will be presented to Mike Ptak. Mike will be honored at a dinner at the Villa Rosa (the Ponte Club) on Tues, March 28^th. The tickets are $30 per person. Please contact Dick White or any of the officers for tickets.

Larry Davino requests that everyone remember this weekend as the anniversary (third) of the beginning of the war in Iraq.

Scholarship news: Claudette LaFlamme stated that the deadline is at the end of April and that the information has been forwarded to all the schools.

Newsletter: It’s time to prepare and publish another newsletter. Please get articles to Tony Loechner.

Bob Lyons: raised the issue of the dirt bikes on the property of the proposed condo development. A meeting with the mayor has been set for March 28^th. Ned Mencio and Officer Joe Padua talked about the issue today. Bob Lyons voiced concern that the trucks enter the site from the state road Rte 69, that the land has been dug up by the activity, that sump pumps are being employed. The Health Dept. will be asked to investigate the emotional and mental impact of the continuous noise and the state will be asked to measure noise levels if the city cannot perform that procedure. Carol Amedeo stated that the dirt bikes were running around the streets in the dark last week. A request for show of hands, as to those who are bothered by the noise, resulted in numerous responses; those persons were asked to inform the police.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:20PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Patricia Mencio, Secretary