MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
AUGUST 5, 2002
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, August 5, 2002, in the Council Chambers.
Present were Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Councilors Anne L. Ruwet, Marie P. Soliani, David M. Bascetta, and Richard E. Dalla Valle, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Purchasing Agent Charlene Antonelli and WPC Administrator Raymond Drew. Absent were Councilors Paul Samele and James Reginatto.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #010
On a motion by Councilor Bascetta, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There wasn’t any public participation.
MOWER WITH TIP UP DECK #050
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council, after a brief discussion, voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent and the WPCA Administrator to reject both proposals submitted on the Mower with Tip Up Deck, and that the vendors of ride-on mower vendors be contacted to conduct performance testing of other models of ride-on mowers that will address the stability concerns, but may or may not include the tip-up deck feature originally required in the specifications. (Tabled on 7/29/02.)
Under discussion, Mr. Rollett informed the Council that the Flail mower approved during their July 29 meeting couldn’t be used for the purpose that this one was being proposed.
Councilor Dalla Valle felt it was unnecessary for Ms. Antonelli to bring her recommendations to “reject” any bid to the Council for their approval, since she was more than capable to determine whether bids met specifications, etc.
Ms. Antonelli indicated that it was the request of a prior administration that the results of each bid come before them.
Councilor Ruwet believed there must have been some justification from the previous Council to want to see the results of each bid.
Mayor Quinn noted that the point was well understood. He would research the issue and come back with some thoughts on that issue.
RAFFERTY FINE GRADING # 180
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Public Works recommendation for the city to extend last year’s contract at last year’s bid prices with Rafferty Fine Grading for pavement reclamation services for the 2002-2003 fiscal year.
CARDINAL ENGINEERING # 200
On a motion by Councilor Bascetta, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $2,100.00 from Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to Cardinal Engineering, Inc. for preliminary engineering work on the East Main Street / New Harwinton Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements and referred it to the Board of Finance.
CARDINAL ENGINEERING # 210
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $13,071.25 from Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to Cardinal Engineering, Inc., for Phase II Study Work on the Sanitary Sewer Infiltration / Inflow & Evaluation Study and referred it to the Board of Finance.
WRIGHT-PIERCE #230
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payments of $10,412.50 and $4,462.50 from the WPCA Capital Reserve Fund to Wright-Pierce for services rendered concerning the Sludge Disposal Study.
ADD TO AGENDA #330
Purchasing Agent Charlene Antonelli requested adding an item to the agenda by 2/3rds vote with regard to the purchase of a vehicle for the Building Department.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Bascetta, the Council voted unanimously to add the item to the agenda.
VEHICLE: BUILDING DEPARTMENT #350
Ms. Antonelli explained that the vehicle was an additional car for the department to be used by the newly hired electrical inspector. She noted that Building had planned for this vehicle and there was sufficient money within the vehicle replacement account.
Councilor Dalla Valle stated that there was no request in Building’s budget for a new vehicle and their intent was clearly to replace a vehicle.
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to table the request for an additional vehicle in the Building Department.
Councilor Bascetta noted that insurance and maintenance costs in adding a new vehicle to the fleet should be kept in mind as well as the cost of the vehicle itself.
BUSINESS: DEPARTMENT HEADS #610
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero informed the board that he had received a $10,000.00 grant check from the Connecticut State Library to be used specifically for vitals and land record restoration.
BUSINESS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #780
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the City Council.
Councilor Ruwet requested a report on where the additional $200,000.00 worth of budget cuts came from.
Councilor Dalla Valle noted that they had already voted to approve those cuts as a whole.
Mayor Quinn informed the Council that unexpended funds from prior year reserves in the Fire Department budget were used for the new air conditioner compressor, eliminating the need to go to the contingency fund.
Councilor Ruwet inquired about appointments that needed to be done.
Mayor Quinn said he would bring them forward to the City Council.
Councilor Dalla Valle requested a list of vacancies so the Council could recommend people to fill positions that may still be open.
Mayor Quinn said he had been interviewing people, but would be happy to share the information and accept recommendations.
Councilor Dalla Valle said it was his understanding that the matter concerning Deputy Police Chief Milano’s pay had still not been resolved.
Mayor Quinn said he would furnish him with the information before the next City Council meeting.
Councilor Bascetta informed the board that he had spoken with Gerry Rollett in regard to curbside weed control and that Mr. Rollett would follow through with it.
Councilor Bascetta noted that the Southwest School had been omitted from the past two agendas.
Corp. Counsel Vasko said he should have an answer by the next meeting.
Councilor Bascetta asked that the item be formally placed on the next agenda. He also noted that the Southwest Committee was waiting for a resolution on a driveway issue on the street that runs parallel to the back side of the school. The committee felt the city should take care of those items since they were set up by the city.
In regard to Councilor Bascetta’s concern over the curbside weeds, Councilor Dalla Valle indicated that he could perhaps provide the city with a resolution.
Councilor Ruwet inquired whether a joint meeting with the Charter Revision Commission had been scheduled.
Mayor Quinn said none had been scheduled to date.
ADJOURN #1120
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Bascetta, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:07 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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