Board of Selectmen: Public Works Facility Upgrade, Lori Clinton’s Proposed Code of Conduct, New Goshen Library Director, Allen Kinsella’s Service Honored

12/10/24
Following up on a Board of Finance comment that stop signs and speed humps need to be approved by the Connecticut Dept. of Transportation (CT-DOT), First Selectman Todd Carusillo met with CT-DOT, who advised him that stop signs and speed humps are the purview of the local traffic authority. In Goshen, the First Selectman is that authority. Carusillo proposes to install additional stop signs on Town roads within Woodridge Lake to help stop dangerous speeders and, if necessary, to install several speed humps as well. Carusillo further advised residents that Eversource wants people to call them directly when they see a tree limb down on a power line at 1(800)-286-2000 to have the power lines properly repaired.
For Old Business, the Board of Selectmen appointed Selectman Scott Olson to be Goshen’s “Light Official” to go through town and review the condition of public town lights. If any lights need to be replaced or repaired, Olson will report the issue to Eversource to have it resolved.
Olson then motioned to add Public Works Supervisor Garret Harlow to the meeting’s agenda to discuss a new septic plan for Goshen’s Public Works facility at 38 Torrington Road. This was unanimously approved. Harlow reported that the current septic system at the property was deemed a failed system by Torrington Area Health District. He drafted a proposed plan to replace the septic system as well as install a new storage building on the property in addition to other upgrades to the property. (Note: The new plan replaces the earlier initiative to build a Public Works facility at 190 Sharon Turnpike, which drew opposition from Town residents who voted in August of 2024 to preserve the land as open space or for passive recreation.)
“The building is approximately 5,000 sq ft,” Harlow explained. “There’s also an additional smaller building on the site that would be taken down at the same time. The building would be possibly eight bays… It’s pretty much a metal building with a shed roof. There isn’t much to it…” The plan would additionally enclose the area beneath an existing overhang to provide additional indoor storage space. The new storage building will house two tractors, a grader, a bulldozer, a trailer, an excavator, and other small equipment, as well as a Northwest Hills Council of Governments’ (COG) vacuum truck. Carusillo claimed Goshen shouldn’t be housing any COG equipment, but Harlow explained that the town already agreed to store the truck in an interior environment and that this agreement has been standing for five years. According to Harlow, Goshen utilizes the vacuum truck annually in the summer to clean out catch basins and that Goshen gets a $1,000 discount whenever they have to use it, since they’re housing the truck. Carusillo additionally suggested that Goshen could use state grants to cover 50% of the costs relating to the Public Works property. However, Harlow reported that he has been submitting this plan for approvals and cost estimations and determined that the town won’t be able to afford everything included in the plan, “We’ll have to pick and choose what we go after ultimately.” Olson suggested that a needs assessment for this property should have been conducted before the plan was drafted and proposed. Harlow reported that the plan was already submitted to the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission. After a brief discussion, Selectman Dexter Kinsella motioned to approve Harlow to present the proposed plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission. This was unanimously approved.
12/17/24
Over the weekend a deer walked over the frozen West Side Pond and fell through the ice. Animal Control was unable to help the deer but several Goshen firemen went out and were able to rescue the deer. The Board of Selectmen received a letter of resignation from Andy Savage from the Affordable Housing Plan Committee.
Scott Olson motioned to have Public Works Supervisor Garret Harlow recommend that the Planning and Zoning Commission host a public hearing on the proposed plan to build a storage facility, install a new septic system, and upgrade other aspects of the 38 Torrington Road property. This was unanimously approved. According to Carusillo, Olson is currently working with Harlow on completing a needs assessment for the property. Board of Fire Commissioners member Seth Breakell expressed confusion on how the needs assessment is being conducted at the Public Works facility. When the Fire Commissioners were proposing an addition to the Goshen Fire Company building, they were told that none of the Fire Company staff were allowed to complete the needs assessment, and they had to hire an out-of-town professional to conduct the needs assessment. Olson responded, claiming it’s the Board of Finance’s choice to accept or reject the needs assessment if it was conducted by town residents.
The Town of Goshen received three bids to replace a VHF Motorola Radio Repeater for Goshen’s radio system at Brass Mountain. Utility Communications, Inc of Hamden submitted a bid for Total Price for Equipment of $10,097.71 and an Installation Price of $500. The Naugatuck-based Motorola Service Elite Specialist NorcomCT submitted a bid for Total Price for Equipment of $11,933.04 but no Installation Price was detailed. The Pittsfield, Massachusetts-based Pittsfield Communications Systems, Inc. submitted a bid for Total Price for Equipment of $10,566.83 and an Installation Price of $600. Utility Communications and Pittsfield Communications Systems are registered to work in the state according to the Connecticut State Business website while Norcom is not. After a brief discussion, Selectman Dexter Kinsella motioned to have Carusillo, Gary Stango, and Garret Harlow receive and review the bids. This was unanimously approved.
Planning and Zoning Commission Clerk Lori Clinton then discussed Goshen’s proposed code of conduct and explained why the Town needs one. “It is the Town’s responsibility to set all elected and appointed officials up for success and to give them as many tools as possible to make that happen,” Clinton explained. “The code of conduct is just one tool but a very important tool. It covers everything from how to conduct yourself in a meeting, treatment of town staff and residents, dealing with the press, and more.” Clinton claimed that if a code of conduct were in place, Goshen wouldn’t be dealing with recent complaints from town staff and receiving negative press over complaints regarding the Library Board of Directors. She further suggested that the code of conduct would enforce some kind of accountability for behavior that’s deemed inappropriate or unacceptable. Clinton ended her presentation by proposing that the code of conduct be reviewed and discussed by the Board of Selectmen and a vote to accept the code of conduct be placed on the Tuesday, February 11th Board of Selectmen meeting agenda. After reading the proposed code of conduct, Olson expressed concern that it would make the First Selectman the “judge, jury, and the executioner when it comes to receiving any complaints.” He suggested that the Selectmen table the code of conduct until January in order to give the Selectmen more time to properly review the code and that a committee be appointed to critique it. In Public Comment, Joana Kimball expressed support for the code of conduct and claimed that she has never seen such disrespect among individuals in Goshen in her 50 years of living in the town.
12/23/24
The Board of Selectmen held a Special Meeting on Monday, December 23rd to avoid scheduling conflicts for people celebrating Christmas Eve on Tuesday, December 24th. First Selectman Todd Carusillo met with Region 20 Acting Superintendent Kristen Della Volpe, State Senator Stephen Harding, and First Selectmen from Litchfield, Morris and Warren, requesting assistance from Harding to obtain State Financial Aid for spiraling school startup costs. The Selectmen and school officials are looking to receive $1.6 million in state aid but noted that it may not be available until late Spring 2025, if Region 20 receives aid.
Carusillo announced that the Goshen Public Library has a new Library Director, Linda Senkus Benedict of Winsted. Benedict has 30 years of library experience including previously working as an Adult Information Services Librarian at Waterbury’s Silas Bronson Library from 2013-2023, and Director of Winsted’s Beardsley and Memorial Library from 2007-2012. She is replacing former Library Director Tabitha Guarnieri who resigned in November, stating Goshen was home to a “toxic environment I’ve had to deal with from Town Hall and a member of the library board.” Guarnieri claimed she was repeatedly verbally harassed, cut down, and disrespected in public meetings but was told by leadership that these events were not bullying or harassment. Benedict's first day was Monday, December 23rd and she received training from Guarnieri, whose official last day at Goshen Public Library was Friday, December 31st.
The Pittsfield, Massachusetts-based Pittsfield Communications Systems, Inc. bid to replace a VHF Motorola Radio Repeater for Goshen’s radio system at Brass Mountain for Total Price for Equipment of $10,566.83 and an Installation Price of $600 to replace was chosen of the three bids received last week.
Carusillo thanked Allen Kinsella for his 26 years of service to the town. Kinsella resigned as Vice Chairman of the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission in June. Selectmen Scott Olson wished Kinsella good health and longevity. Selectmen Dexter Kinsella, Allen’s brother, presented Allen with a Years of Service Award for his years of dedicated service to Goshen.
12/31/24
In a brief Special Meeting held early on New Year’s Eve, First Selectman Todd Carusillo thanked Public Works Supervisor Garret Harlow and his crew for keeping Goshen roads safe following a heavy snowfall the previous Saturday. Selectmen Scott Olson announced that Tuesday, January 7th’s Board of Selectmen meeting will follow-up with a needs assessment for the Public Works facility at 38 Torrington Road and a continued discussion on Lori Clinton’s proposed Code of Conduct. Both Carusillo and Olson wished everyone a Happy New Year!