MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
MAY 15, 2017
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, May 15, 2017. Present were Mayor Elinor Carbone, City Councilors Paul Cavagnero, Gregg Cogswell, Anne Ruwet, Daniel Farley, Luisa Noujaim, and Drake Waldron. Public Works Director Jerry Rollett, City Engineer Ed Fabbri, Construction Project Coordinator Mark Zordan, Water Pollution Control Administrator Raymond Drew, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Brett Simmons and Mayoral Aide Timothy Waldron were also present.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 7:24 p.m.
SET SEWER USE FEE
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously by roll call vote to accept the recommendation of the WPCA Administrator and set the sewer use fee for the year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018 as follows:
For Residential Users $250.00 per dwelling unit
For All Other Users $250.00 per 65,000 gallons of volume of flow
DISCUSSION WITH STATE LEGISLATORS
State Senators Kevin Witkos and Craig Miner and State Representatives Jay Case, Brian Ohler and Michelle Cook updated the Council on the State Budget and their efforts on behalf of Torrington. The Council expressed their opposition to cuts in state aid, the local option to tax hospitals, the motor vehicle mill rate cap, and the notion of passing the burden of financing teachers’ retirement funding to municipalities.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting and Public Hearing held jointly with the Board of Finance on May 1, 2017. Councilor Ruwet abstained.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held May 1, 2017. Councilor Ruwet abstained.
OPEN TO PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one present who wished to speak.
WPCA BUDGET
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve the WPCA Budget for year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018.
WPCA 5-YR. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to approve WPCA Five-Year Capital Improvement Budget/Program for year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2022.
WPCA MISC. FEE SCHEDULE
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to approve WPCA Miscellaneous Fee Schedule for year beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2018.
PRESENTATION: Pavement Management Report
City Engineer Ed Fabbri gave the highlights of this report on the plan to pave and maintain 163 miles of road this year. This includes eight miles of paving, milling, overlaying and reclaiming roads at a cost of $2,230,000. Councilor Cogswell commended the report, saying it is a useful document. Mayor Carbone asked Mr. Fabbri to return and present more details at a later date.
SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING, NAA
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing on Monday, June 5, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. to review and discuss proposals for participation in the 2017 Neighborhood Assistance Act.
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the City Engineer’s recommendation to authorize the Mayor to award, execute and administer a contract, including change orders and payment applications for Bid #DAI-027-051117, Torrington Drainage and Associated Improvements, as presented.
POOL FILTER REPLACEMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation’s recommendation to award Bid #PFR-032-050817, Pool Filter Repair-Replacement Project at William L. Besse Pool, to Construction Services of New England, Inc. of West Simsbury, CT in the amount of $44,500.
HVAC SERVICES CONTRACT EXTENSION
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent and authorize the Mayor to extend the current bid contract with Tradesmen of New England, LLC of Bloomfield, CT for Bid #HVAC-014-070711, HVAC Services Bid Extension Request, with the same rates, terms and conditions.
Plumbing Contract Extension
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent and authorize the Mayor to extend the current bid contract with West State Mechanical, Inc. of Torrington for FY17/18 for Bid #PST-014-091213, General Plumbing and Related Repairs with the same rates, terms and conditions.
RELEASE TAX LIENS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept Corporation Counsel’s recommendation and authorize the Mayor, pursuant to CGS §12-179, to release the sewer use and tax liens described in Atty. LaMere’s Memo dated 5/15/17.
TAX COLLECTOR REFUNDS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the 26 tax refunds indicated on the list dated May 15, 2017.
TAX COLLECTOR SEWER USAGE FEE REFUNDS
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously vote to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the seven sewer usage fee refunds indicated on the list dated May 15, 2017.
SMALL CITIES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments from Small Cities Grant Funds:
Fund # Vendor Requisition # Invoice Date Amount Description
250 Republican-American HRLR-265 4/24/2017 $283.04 Notice of Intent Ad
250 L.Wagner & Assocs. HRLR-266 5/4/2017 $22,230.00 Prof. Svcs. 1/1/17 to 3/31/17
272 L.Wagner & Assocs. 15-SC-51 5/4/2017 $17,347.50 Prof. Svcs. 1/1/16 to 3/30/16
272 L.Wagner & Assocs. 15-SC-50 5/4/2017 $18,400.00 Prof. Svcs. 1/1/16 to 4/30/17
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
City Clerk Quartiero noted that the former Tax Collector has been paying his invoices for the tax lien releases.
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.
Councilor Cavagnero read a letter from the Democratic Town Committee Chairman requesting a public information session on the possible Woodridge Lake Sewer Connection proposal. Mayor Carbone said the matter is being discussed by the Department of Public Health and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. She added that because no application has been received, there is no point in having an information session on a proposal that doesn’t exist yet. WPC Administrator Ray Drew explained the process.
Councilor Farley spoke about a recent memorial service for Len Dube, saying it was well attended and a fitting tribute.
Mayor Carbone announced upcoming events.
OPEN TO PUBLIC: AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public to discuss agenda items only. There was no one present who wished to speak.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson, MMC, MCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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