Annual Report of the Town of Salem, Connecticut 2010-2011

Attorney Butts stated that Plan A is not on the agenda tonight. Mr. Pletcher than stated that the town
is in violation and the meeting is out of order. Attorney Butts stated that he disagreed with Mr. Pletcher’s
statement and that the meeting will proceed accordingly.
Athena Sartori, the petition originator, stated that according to Robert’s Rules, this current Town
Meeting was illegal.
“As a point of order,” Jimmy Savalle stated, “I made that motion to table that subject. And if you
understand and listen to the rest of the motion, the Board of Education was to come back with a Plan B
that would satisfy the taxpayers of the Town of Salem. Don’t just take the first part of the first sentence of
the motion. Listen to the whole motion. The Selectmen and the Board of Education have come back with
a Plan B to the Taxpayers. They followed through. Don’t just take the part of what you want to hear.”
Item#1 of Agenda. (Greg Preston/Ed Chmielewski) John Butts asked if there was a motion to approve
the “Emergency Responder’s Awards Ordinance”? At this point, Mr. Pletcher shouted out, “Mr. Chairman,
you are out of order!” Mr. Butts continued, asking, “Is there someone who wanted to speak in favor of
the ordinance and answer any questions”? Kevin Lyden, First Selectman, said he would speak about the
ordinance. “This came about 2 ½ years ago. Lewis Buckley was the chairperson of this committee with
Norm Rabe and myself. We looked into it, and to become a Fire Fighter 1, you have to go through
approximately 40 hours of training. EMT’s have to go through 300 hours of training. They qualify each
year by the number of drills, accidents or fires that they go to. Currently we do give a $400 stipend to our
firefighters and emergency responders. The surrounding towns also offer their departments incentives as
well. Many calls are late at night or are several hours long. We have less emergency responders than we
had twenty years ago. This is an effort to “Thank” our existing emergency responders that hopefully can
be retained for future years. Last year there were 60 people involved in the departments. There are now
only 42.”
Attorney Butts thanked Mr. Lyden and asked if there were any more questions or comments? Rich
Amato asked if the incentive was one per household or one per individual responder? The answer was
one per individual responder. George Householder asked if the volunteers who live out of town but still
respond in the town of Salem, would still receive the $400 stipend? The answer, per Kevin, was “Yes.” Ed
Chmielewski stated that the Town was very lucky to have the Fire Departments and the Emergency
Responders and this stipend was a very small price to pay. “God Bless our emergency responders,” stated
Ed. (applause).
John than proceeded for a YES or NO vote, which would first be asked of the folks at home on this issue
and then would be voted on by the folks attending the meeting here at school.
Home Vote
House Vote
NO’S – 2
No NO votes.
The Ayes have it The Ayes have it Motion PASSED
John than stated, “Items# 2, 3, and 4 of Agenda reflects the submission of a petition to revisit the vote
from last January. It reflects the best efforts of the Board of Finance, the Board of Education, the Board of
Selectmen, and myself as Attorney. If you have ever been through a town meeting that has been
adjourned to a referendum and that requires bonding, you will remember it. I well do. With a good faith
attempt to allow anyone who cares to, we are here this evening to personally overlook, compare, contrast
last year’s Building Committee’s best efforts with this year’s Building Committee’s best efforts. So Item #2
TOWN OF SALEM 2011 ANNUAL REPORT Page 10