Minutes

Present: P. Barry, T. Callahan, B. Clouette, R. Miller, AJ Pappanikou, E. Paterson,

G. Zimmer

Staff: M. Berliner, M. Hart, L. Hultgren, C. van Zelm

1. Opportunity for Public to Address the Committee

None.

2. October 11, 2005 Meeting Minutes

Mr. Clouette made a motion, seconded by Mr. Zimmer, to approve the minutes from September 13 and October 11, 2005. The motion passed unanimously.

3. WRTD Fare Free Program Demonstration

Lon Hultgren, Mansfield’s Director of Public works, conducted a presentation regarding the fare free program. His presentation reviewed the following subject areas:

· Origin and history of the fare free program

· Budget contributions

· Who the program serves

· Prepaid fare contributions

· Fare free effect on ridership

· Trip purpose

· Increasing ridership

· How fare free works

· Per trip cost v. contributions

· Bus systems in other communities

· Commitment

Mr. Barry asked if the route includes stops for shopping, hospitals and banking? Mr. Hultgren replied that the route does include stops for these reasons, and staff is looking to extend service along Route 6 in North Windham.

Mr. Callahan suggested that the committee would be interested to see the expense side of the budget. Mr. Berliner also asked if there are certain industry standards to compare our program against.

Mr. Pappanikou asked if the statistics are calculated by semester? The stats are calculated on a monthly basis. Mr. Pappanikou also asked if the buses are accessible. The buses are accessible.

Mr. Callahan pointed out that we need to be cognizant of the fact that the growth in ridership may not be keeping pace with the increase in our population.

Ms. Paterson emphasized the importance of the fact that the program serves many people who do not own personal vehicles.

Mr. Clouette asked if the routes include the major student apartment complexes. They do not, but the UConn shuttle handles those locations. Mr. Clouette also commented that numbers alone do not tell the story of the success of this program. Service and flexibility are key.

4. Update re: Mansfield Downtown Partnership

Cynthia van Zelm reported that both the Mansfield Town Council and the UConn Board of Trustees have unanimously approved the proposed municipal development plan for Storrs Center. The next step will be to begin work on the special design district for submission to the planning and zoning commission.

Mr. Barry asked whether the new 1A building would be permanent? The building will be permanent.

Mr. Zimmer asked where the new 1A building would be located. The building will be located behind the Health South building.

5. Community-Campus Partnership

Matt Hart reported the partnership is in the process of forming four standing committees: legislative initiatives; partnership promotion; recommendations; and outreach on alcohol and other drug issues. The standing committee structure will hopefully allow the partnership to work more effectively to address various issues.

Ms. Paterson complimented Mr. Hart and Ms. Bell-Elkins for their assistance to the partnership to date. Mr. Pappanikou asked if the partnership had assigned a staff member to each standing committee, in order to provide continuity. Mr. Hart replied that the partnership has appointed at least one town or university staff member to each standing committee.

6. Community Quality of Life Issues/Spring Weekend

Mr. Hart reported on the draft housing code and the center for off-campus services. In its current draft form, the code will apply to the entire town with respect to complaints. However, the code will also carry certain license provisions that apply to an overlay zone encompassing the greater Storrs area. Under the license to rent program, the landlord will need to pass an inspection for each dwelling unit to receive a license for that unit. The code will exempt certain properties, such as those owned by UConn, or that are age-restricted. Units owned by the Mansfield Housing Authority or that are less than six years old will be exempt from the license to rent program. The town hopes to introduce the code for fiscal year 2006/07.

University staff, particularly Julie Bell-Elkins and Sam Miller, has taken the lead on the design of a proposed center for off-campus services. The center could potentially offer housing referrals and ratings, as well as other related support services. The university may attempt to provide these services with existing staff.

Mayor Paterson asked if commuting students could be assessed a small fee to help fund the center. Mr. Callahan thought that it would be unlikely that the university could assess commuters only, and would probably need to extend the fee to the entire student body.

7. Update re: Uconn Water System

Mr. Callahan reported that the university was making progress with its efforts to address the issues involving its water system. Currently, staff is in the process of finalizing a request for qualifications to select a private management company, and the draft has been circulated to the town and the Connecticut Department of Public Health for comment.

Ms. Paterson asked if the university would continue to own the infrastructure but hire an outside manager to administer the operation? This is a possibility.

Mr. Pappanikou asked if at some point in the future the entire operation were to be sold to a private company, would the university need to pay for the service? The university would probably need to pay for water if it sold the infrastructure to a private entity.

Ms. Paterson inquired about the Willimantic River aquifer, and if the university increases its draw upon the Willimantic, are there studies that show the watershed could accommodate that increased demand? Mr. Callahan replied that the university had not conducted as rigorous an analysis for the Willimantic as of yet.

Mr. Miller reviewed some of the recent issues regarding the Fenton River. Unfortunately, the university’s peak demand on that aquifer typically occurs during times of low flow. If, because of low flow, the university needs to cease to draw from the Fenton for a period of time, the university will need to have strong diversion and conservation measures in place. UConn has made progress with respect to conservation, saving about 150,000 gallons per water per day. The university has engaged the services of a conservation consultant, and needs to expand its outreach to students living off-campus. Conservation is where we will see the most significant reduction in usage.

8. 2006 Town/University Relations Committee Meeting Dates

The committee accepted the proposed schedule, to continue to meet at 4:00 PM on the second Tuesday of every month, with no meeting scheduled for January or July 2006.

9. Other Business

None.

The committee meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Matthew W. Hart

Minutes

Assistant Town Manager