MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
February 6, 2017
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, February 6, 2017.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Jaime LaMere and City Councilors Gregg Cogswell, Anne Ruwet, Drake Waldron and Daniel Farley. City Councilors Paul Cavagnero and Luisa Noujaim were absent. Also present were Mayoral Aide Timothy Waldron, WPC Administrator Ray Drew, Director of Elderly Services Joel Sikorski, Elderly Nutrition Supervisor Sherry Cote, Parks & Recreation Superintendent Brett Simmons, Board of Education Director of Facilities David Bascetta, Parks & Recreation Commission Chair Patricia Fairchild and Deputy Police Chief Christopher Smedick.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:48 p.m. with a moment of silence to acknowledge the passing of Leonard F. Dube, former director of the City of Torrington’s Veterans Service Office.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held January 17, 2017.
OPEN TO PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one present who wished to speak.
APPOINTMENTS
On a motion by Councilor Farley, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Mayor’s appointment of Alternate Art Mattiello as a Regular Member of the Services for the Elderly Commission for the remainder of a three-year term to expire July 6, 2019.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Mayor’s recommendation and re-appoint Timothy Waldron as Board Member for the Torrington Area Health District for a three-year term to expire January 9, 2020.
PURCHASE FOOD TRANSPORT VEHICLE
On a motion by Councilor Farley, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to waive the bid process and authorize the purchase of a Hot Shot II Chevy Colorado 6 Series 70/30 Food Transport Unit from sole-source vendor, Delivery Concepts East of Hampstead, NC at a price not to exceed $43,500.
Mr. Sikorski explained the bid process should be waived because Delivery Concepts is a sole-source provider of fiberglass box trucks and have been providing trucks to the city since the 1980s.
UPS SYSTEM FOR POLICE DEPT.
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted in favor of accepting the IT Director’s, Police Captain’s, and Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to purchase an Easton 9170+ UPS System with 5-year Flex Plan Warranty coverage for $17,919.96 from Bomara Assocs. of Chelmsford, MA, previously approved by the Board of Public Safety on February 1, 2017. Councilor Farley abstained, questioning possible rebates and questioning the structure of the bid submissions.
35 YEARS SERVICE: Deputy Chief Smedick
Mayor Carbone recognized Deputy Chief Smedick for having completed 35 years of service, saying she is proud of what he does for the City of Torrington.
RESOLUTIONS: THS ADA Accessible Elevator Project
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following resolutions for the THS ADA Accessible Elevator Project:
Resolution #143-17-2
RESOLVED: That the Board of Councilmen of the City of Torrington, with the Mayor as its representative, hereby approves the Educational Specifications for “The Torrington High School ADA Accessible Elevator Project.”
Resolution #143-17-3
RESOLVED: That the Board of Councilmen of the City of Torrington, with the Mayor as its representative, hereby establishes a Building Committee for The Torrington High School ADA Accessible Elevator Project, naming David Bascetta, Director of Facilities, as the Building Committee.
Resolution #143-17-4
RESOLVED: That the Board of Councilmen of the City of Torrington, with the Mayor as its representative, hereby authorizes, at least, the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the Torrington High School ADA Accessible Elevator Project.
Resolution #143-17-5
RESOLVED: That the Board of Councilmen of the City of Torrington, with the Mayor as its representative, hereby authorizes the Torrington Board of Education to apply to the Commissioner of Education and to accept or reject a grant for the Torrington High School ADA Accessible Elevator Project.
Resolution #143-17-6
RESOLVED: That the Board of Councilmen of the City of Torrington, with the Mayor as its representative, hereby authorizes the Torrington High School ADA Accessible Elevator Project in the amount of $550,000.00. The funds were budgeted for the 2016-2017 fiscal year from the Torrington Board of Education’s Capital Improvement Fund. The project is eligible for reimbursement from the State of Connecticut at the rate of 72.5% on the dollar, leaving the City of Torrington’s share to be approximately $151,250.00.
FUESSENICH PARK PLAZA IMPROVEMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Superintendent of Parks & Recreation’s recommendation to award the Fuessenich Park Plaza Improvement Project to low-bidder Mass-West Construction of Granby, MA for the amount of $333,000, funded by the Parks Capital Reserve Fund, the Fuessenich Park Partnership Fund and the Municipal Revenue Sharing Account.
SMALL CITIES, SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a Public Hearing on Monday, March 6, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the 2017 Small Cities Program Application and to solicit citizen input.
SMALL CITIES PAYMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to authorize a payment of $150 from Fund #250 to the City of Torrington for Requisition #HRLR-257 dated 1/12/2017 for Title Searches performed for two projects.
SMALL CITIES PROJECT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Small Cities Committee and approve Project #143-470.
EAST SEWER BASIN REHABILITATION PROJECT
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement for Capital Project D-2Ab East Sewer Basin Rehabilitation Project and Capital Project D-1Aa Central Sewer Basin SSES Flow Metering:
DATE CONTRACTOR INVOICE# AMOUNT DESCRIPTION
01/09/2017 Weston & Sampson 465045 $15,875.00 Central Basin Flow Metering
01/28/2017 Insituform Technologies Pay Req #1 $282,101.34 East Basin Sewer Construction
TAX COLLECTOR TAX REFUNDS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the 45 tax refunds indicated on the list dated February 6, 2017.
TAX COLLECTOR SEWER USAGE FEE REFUNDS
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously vote to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the 19 sewer usage fee refunds indicated on the list dated February 6, 2017.
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Mr. Sekorski said that spring projects will be announced soon.
Mr. Simmons reported that the Winter Carnival was a success, and thanked the Mayor for the support of the Mayor’s Committee on Youth.
BUSINESS: MAYOR & MEMBERS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilors Cogswell, Ruwet & Farley congratulated Deputy Chief Smedick, expressed condolences to the Dube family, and expressed concern about the State budget. Councilor Waldron asked if there is any news about the Courthouse. Mayor Carbone said there is still work to be done, and she will keep them informed. She noted that there is no news on the proposed Torrington Area Health District consolidation, and that the City, the NHCOG and the Board objected to it. Mayor Carbone commended the Winter Carnival and noted what a great asset the Sullivan Senior Center is to the City, with growing needs for Senior Center services.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson, MMC
Asst. City Clerk
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