Tax District Meeting Minutes, dated 10.27.2022

PRESIDENT’S REPORT – by Christopher Rossetti (transcribed as submitted)

Precision Landscape Management completed the landscape enhancements they were contracted to provide this season. A proposal for a specimen drooping/weeping cedar with solar illumination to be installed on the top of the mound on the bed closest to the main road has been requested but not as yet received.

As a condition of the approval of the redevelopment of the old Dakota Restaurant parcel into a Firestone, the developer is required to erect an 8’ privacy fence. Coincidentally in early October a tree from the Dakota parcel fell and took out two sections of the existing rotting wooden fence. This fence was quite old and had been damaged and repaired on multiple prior occasions. For safety reasons I had the sections on the Dakota perimeter removed, the tree cut up and hauled away and the electrical conduit running along the fence removed and the underground line capped. JH Property offered to do it for $3645.00. Avon Heritage was at Pond Place for a private job, gave a price of $2500 and indicated he could start at once and was engaged. Because the amount of fencing to be removed was reduced and the conduit removal was later assigned to the electrical contractor the invoice will be significantly less. JS Electrical of Plainville was immediately available to scope out the job and perform the electrical work and was engaged. They are also repairing the pathway light on Clover that has been out.  

All Tax District funds not in our operating account with White & Katzman are now invested in CDs of varying short-term maturities. Efforts are underway to have those with TD Bank transferred to our LPL account with Gilbert & Timme for better ease ofoversight as suggested by Bria Gilbert.

Due to complaints about water pooling and ice sheets forming on the walking path between Clover and Dove a proposal has been obtained from each JH Property Services and Avon Heritage. The JH proposal was verbal and withdrawn due to JH’s heavy seasonal workload. The much less expensive proposal from Avon Heritage is for $800 and I am recommending we act on it.

Quotes for purchase and installation of a black iron handrail along the retaining wall where the jogging path descends from 28 Gray Pine Common to 27 Gray Pine Common for safety purposes were sought by Lois Hessert-Blawie from several artistic wrought iron contractors. Only one was received for over $4,000.00, Meanwhile I have been working with Alyre Saunier the head of W&Ks maintenance division to devise a less expensive solution which would be a 32’ long black pvc pipe attached to 5 posts running adjacent to the retaining wall for about $1,400.00. A quote to replace the top layer of rotting timbers on the retaining wall and adding an additional layer is also being sought, estimated at about $4,000.00 which would include subsequent power washing and re-staining the entire retaining wall.

M&S Paving of South Windsor satisfactorily completed contracted road repair work earlier this month with one minor exception which requires a call back. The tenant at 9 Finch ran over a section of curbing before it was fully set. Funds are being held back pending a satisfactory resolution.