NEW HAVEN — During Monday’s Town of New Haven Council meeting, Mayor George Gibbs and Council members met to discuss new and old business, as well as hear from public speakers and departmental reports.

The meeting opened with Mayor Gibbs leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Silent Prayer. Minutes were read and approved, and the financial report also was read and approved.

Two building permits were approved. This included No. 584 for Dan Riggs - new storage building. Councilwoman Frances Taylor made the motion to approve the permit, and Councilwoman Sarah Gibbs seconded. Building permit No. 587 for Pamela Elias - roof and inside remodeling, also was motion to approve by Taylor, and seconded by Councilman Jeff Russell. There was one abstaining vote. The motion carried.

For public speakers, Council first heard from Clyde Weaver who made a request that there no longer be a Zoning Commission. He suggested it be changed to a Planning Commission and the change be effective immediately. Weaver also reported in order for this to happen, three members will need to make inspections and five members will be needed for the Board of Appeals.

Gibbs made the motion to dissolve the Zoning Commission, which currently has six members, and create a Planning Commission. The six members will now be considered on the Planning Commission. A Board of Appeals with five members also will be created, and names of the members appointed will be announced at the next Council meeting. Councilman Jim Elias seconded the motion, and the motion carried.

Other public speakers:

• Jack Ramsey spoke to the Council about the update on the Sewer Project. The was discussion on Pump Station No. 1. Ramsey will talk to the contractors and get back with Council members on this matter.

• Elias made a motion to pay the Pay Request No. 2 for Ameritcon for $11,340; Pay Request No. 2 for C.J. Hughes for $104,361; and Pay Request No. 3 for $22,831. The grand total is $138,561 for Drawdown No. 3. Taylor seconded, and the motion carried.

• Ramsey also represented the Council with a Sewer System Operating and Maintenance Agreement for The Town of Hartford for the Council to look over. Council will look over this and get back to Ramsey at the next Council meeting on April 21.

• Ramsey additionally spoke to Council members about the Water Service Ordinance. Taylor will look over this and Council will have the first reading at the next Council meeting.

New business:

• Taylor made a motion to donate $150 from the General Fund to the Women’s Club for the Easter Egg Hunt. Gibbs seconded, and the motion carried.

Old business:

• Discussion ensued on the sewer problems on 7th Street. Johnny Oldaker will make some calls and discuss it at the next Council meeting.

Departmental reports:

• Sewer — Elias made a motion to make Oldaker the Sewer Project Coordinator over the Sewer Project. Mike Taylor will assume the crew work responsibility during this time. Russell seconded, and the motion carried.

• Water — Council will have the first reading of the Sewer and Water rate increase at the next Council meeting.

• Garbage — Elias made a motion to allow Taylor to start the Garbage rate increase for the businesses. Russell seconded, and the motion carried.

Discussion also ensued on the dumpsters for New Haven Elementary. Oldaker stated that one six-yard dumpster would cost $1,110, and shipping would be $300.

• Recreation — Council members talked about opening the pool. Russell made a motion to proceed with plans to open the pool, and place an ad in the newspaper for lifeguards. Elias seconded. One ‘no’ vote was recorded, due to the pool needing to be core drilled and checked for a sink hole before being opened. The motion carried.

A Pool Funding Committee also was established after being motioned by Russell, and seconded by Taylor.

• Employees — A Personnel Policy was discussed by Council members. Taylor made a motion to adopt the use of the time-off form and change the request for leave in the personnel policy for employees. Elias seconded, and the motion carried.

• Police — Police qualification is today, Friday, April 15. Each officer will need 100 rounds of ammunition.

Taylor will be working on the changes in the fines and court cost.

Mayor Gibbs called for an Executive Session. Upon returning to Regular Session, accounts payable were read and approved and Elias made a motion to adjourn. This was seconded by Russell, and the motion carried.

The next New Haven Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 21.