WWML Willoughby Wallace Memorial Library - Minutes of the Stony Creek Association

January 8, 2002

A meeting of the Stony Creek Association Executive Board was called to order by President Peter Brainerd at The Church of Christ at 7:32pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2002.

Present: Peter Brainerd, President; Gregory Ames, Treasurer; Jake Greenvall, Tax Collector; Board Members: Lucia Blanchard, Daniel Bullard, Ron DeFord, Sandra Fischer, Dorothy Leachman, John Opie, Jonathan Waters, Marvin Zimmerman, Vice-President

Absent: Stan Fisher, Nina Smith, Clerk

Public: 8

Minutes: A motion was made/seconded and unanimously approved to accept the minutes of December 4, 2001.

Police and Traffic: Police Chief Robert Gill and Police Commissioner Jack Mooney addressed the board and public regarding new developments in dealing with summer bussing problems in the Creek. Plans were discussed. John reviewed his minutes on a Thimble Island Shuttle Meeting, December 17, at which Police Chief Gill, Police Commissioners Jack Mooney & Bruce Morris, Peter Brainerd and John Opie were present. The purpose of the meeting was to review a proposal made by Wayne Cooke to the Police Commission and 1st Selectman Unk DaRos on Dec. 14, 2001 (both attached in file) to create a shuttle bus service (called The Connecticut Trolley Car Co., LLC) to transport passengers from Hilltop Orchards (to be known as the Thimble Islands Visitors Center) to Stony Creek village to connect with chartered islands tours. Tough some suggestions were deemed unlikely to be acceptable to the community, consensus was reached at the meeting. A Transit Style bus (<200" wheel base) for organized tours and a small trolley-type shuttle bus for incidental passengers would transport from Hilltop Orchards to the Lewis B Memorial triangle, discharge passengers, and leave the village. Though Cooke would like to have the trolley go to the public dock, the SCA board strongly recommends that it turn at the triangle due to traffic congestion & inherent safety issues. The Police Commission will disallow busses of greater than 200" wheel base length (regardless of use) from traveling south of the Veterans' Memorial Triangle – no exceptions. Three-foot-wide yellow stripes rather than signage will be tried to more clearly designate the "No Parking" areas in front of the Stony Creek Marine & Tackle and post office. Responsibility was noted: Cooke for his shuttle busses, boat operators for tours and busses prearranged by them or their associates. Upon adoption of guidelines for operation, the Police Commission will draft a letter to Wayne Cooke and all boat operators clearly stating guidelines and expressing their expectation of compliance and responsibility. SCA recommends no new or special signage relating to shuttle services be authorized nor any rights to explicit use of spaces or areas be allowed. A motion was made/seconded and unanimously approved to endorsed the Thimble Island Shuttle Meeting of December 17, 2001's minutes and recommendations. John had prepared a drawing of the current parking restrictions at the Lewis Memorial Triangle dated 1/6/02 (attached in file.) Beth Milne noted that the boat operators are working on trying to book prearranged bus tours to stagger bus arrivals in the village.

John submitted a report on a Indian Point Road Utility Line meeting held 12/27/01 on Indian Point Rd. with Paul LaFrancois & Tony Sarubbi, (CL&P), Robert McCarthy, Jr. (SNET), Ed Masotta (Dir. Public Works, Bfd.), John Opie (SCA & RTM Rep.) to discuss the feasibility of burial of utility lines for the full length of Indian Point Road. The town dock is scheduled to be replaced in the first quarter of 2002, a new pedestrian walkway is being constructed, and repaving is scheduled for fall. Buried lines would compliment the streetscape and eliminate hazards from the power lines passing directly over the boat launch ramp. Three residential customers are serviced by IP utilities of which 2 are already underground. Upon review and discussing John's report a motion was made/seconded and unanimously approved to reimburse the Town of Branford $600 as 50% of the costs for an engineering study on the project which needs to be done.

Maintenance: Dan questioned when work to correct drainage problems would begin at 309 Thimble Island Road. It should begin soon according to Masotta – it is in the hands of a sub contractor.

Administration: The sale of old street signs is slow. Nina will send out a budget worksheet for board members to fill out prior to the February meeting.

Old Business: None

New Business: None

A motion was made/seconded and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Nina N. Smith

Secretary

The next meeting of the Stony Creek Association Executive Board will be held on Tuesday, February 5th at 7:30 pm at the Church of Christ, Fellowship Hall.

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