MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
JANUARY 7, 2003
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Tuesday, January 7, 2003, adjourned from a meeting scheduled for Monday, January 6, 2003, in the Council Chambers.
Present were Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Council members Anne L. Ruwet, Paul F. Samele, Jr. (arrived at 6:08 p.m.), Marie P. Soliani, David M. Bascetta, Richard E. Dalla Valle, and James D. Reginatto, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, and Fire Chief John Field.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Councilor Reginatto, seconded by Councilor Bascetta, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held November 4, 2002.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #030
Thomas C. Jerram and Donna Isely thanked Councilwoman Anne. L. Ruwet for her years of service on the Board of Councilmen.
Bill Knight, 140 East Pearl Street, inquired about the city ordinance that required residents to shovel their sidewalks within a certain amount of time after a storm, and about the enforcement for those who violated the ordinance.
Mayor Quinn noted that he his office had received several complaints about sidewalks not being cleared and the matters had been turned over to the Police Department for enforcement. If Mr. Knight wished to report a particular property, it would be referred to the Police Department as well.
HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION PHONE BID #140
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Reginatto, discussion took place in regard to the Board of Public Safety’s recommendation to award the Bid for a Hostage Negotiation Phone, to Rescue-Phone, Inc. of Crofton, MD for $5,000.00.
Councilor Bascetta expressed his concern over the current budget and suggested that the Council take a hard look at all purchases coming before them, and place a spending freeze until they knew more about what was going to happen in terms of state funding.
Councilor Samele arrived at 6:08 p.m.
Councilor Reginatto agreed with Councilor Bascetta and took it one step further in requesting a hiring freeze on city vacancies until they knew where they were going with their present budget. He felt it was easier not to fill an opening than to layoff personnel. He listed several positions presently open: Purchasing Department, Data Processing Department and Street Department. Other positions may be open, as well, through retirements.
Councilor Reginatto indicated that he wasn’t voting against the motion. He merely wanted more time to assess the situation.
MOTION TO TABLE #260
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Reginatto, the Council voted unanimously to table the Board of Public Safety’s recommendation to award the Bid for a Hostage Negotiation Phone, to Rescue-Phone, Inc. of Crofton, MD for $5,000.00.
TRENCH COATS BID #280
Corp. Counsel Vasko made the Council aware that the bids may not be valid after a certain period of time, should they chose to table these items.
Mayor Quinn indicated that the administration would find out the status of these items and report back to the City Council at a later date.
On a motion by Councilor Reginatto, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to table the Board of Public Safety’s recommendation to award the Bid for Fifty-Eight Trench Coats for Firefighters to Mag & Son of New Britain, Ct. for $7,076.00.
SAND PRO MACHINE #360
On a motion by Councilor Reginatto, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to table the recommendation from the Superintendent of Equipment Maintenance and the Purchasing Agent to waive the bid process and purchase a Toro Sand Pro machine from Turf Products of Enfield, CT. at a cost of $10,637.25. (Turf Products is the holder of the State of Connecticut bid award for Toro brand products.)
SMALL CITIES: REGISTER CITIZEN #380
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $386.72 from Small Cities Fund #258 to the Register Citizen for a Public Hearing notice in regard to Small Cities’ projects.
GORDON, MUIR & FOLEY #390
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Bascetta, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $1,921.30 from the Southwest School Building Account to Gordon, Muir & Foley LLP for professional services.
CHARTER REVISION #410
Upon Mayor Quinn’s request, Councilor Soliani made a motion to table the Charter Revision questions and the scheduling of a referendum date for Charter Revision. Councilor Samele seconded the motion. Unanimous.
BUSINESS: DEPARTMENT HEADS #430
On a motion by Councilor Reginatto, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Mr. Rollett updated the Council in terms of costs for the recent ice storm.
Mr. Rollett explained the city’s policy on having either one or two men in a plow.
City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero requested adding a Resolution to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote.
ADD TO AGENDA #570
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to add a Resolution from the Economic Development Coordinator in regard to the Downtown Torrington Redevelopment Project.
RESOLUTION: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT #600
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the Resolution that pertained to the Downtown Torrington Redevelopment Project.
RESOLUTION
Certified a true copy of a resolution adopted by the City of Torrington at a meting of its City Councilmen on January 7, 2003, and which has not been rescinded or modified in any way whatsoever.
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Section 8-195 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is authorized to extend financial assistance for economic development projects; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest that the City of Torrington make application to the State for $50,000.00 in order to undertake the planning phase of the Downtown Torrington Redevelopment Project and to execute an Assistance Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNCILMEN:
1. That it is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for State Assistance imposed by Section 8-195 of The Connecticut General Statutes;
2. That the filing of an application for State financial assistance by the City of Torrington in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 is hereby approved, and that the Mayor, Owen J. Quinn, Jr. is directed to execute and file such application with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, to provide such additional information, to execute such other documents as may be required, to execute an Assistance Agreement with the State of Connecticut for State financial assistance if such an agreement is offered, to execute any amendments, decisions, and revisions thereto, and to act as the authorized representative of the City of Torrington.
Councilor Bascetta inquired whether residents were required to shovel out fire hydrants located in front of their property.
Chief Field indicated that the City of Torrington did not have such an ordinance. The hydrants are privately owned and the city pays a substantial amount of money to rent them. There had been some discrepancies over the years on whose responsibility it was to clear them from snow. Representatives from the Water Company feel their responsibility is solely to paint them and keep them running, and the responsibility to shovel them rests on the property owners where the hydrant is located in front of. The Fire Department’s policy and procedure is for crews to go out the following day of a six inch snow storm to clean them out. Any ordinance to clear the hydrants from snow would go hand in hand with the current ordinance to keep sidewalks clear.
BUSINESS: MAYOR AND MEMBERS #670
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the City Council.
Councilor Reginatto spoke in regard to the Council’s 5-1 vote in opposition of having the Fire Marshal’s vehicle placed in Category A, which was overruled by the Board of Public Safety. He inquired whether the Council would have a say in the Fire & Police Chief and the Deputy Fire & Police Chief’s vehicles. It was his understanding that those positions fell in the Management category and the Council had control over Management.
Corp. Counsel Vasko indicated that the Board of Public Safety had control over the Police and Fire Departments, including their personnel, however, he would supply them with a definitive answer during their next meeting.
Councilor Reginatto stated that they had just set a precedent whereby “We can put another town’s equipment in a city vehicle. We have the Burlington Fire Marshal’s equipment in the city’s vehicle. We were told that we had duplicates in that vehicle, so we weren’t using the city’s equipment, Torrington city’s equipment, we were using the Burlington’s cameras, whatever they need to be a Fire Marshal, and all he has to do is pay back mileage to do a second job with a vehicle. So, if I put a plow on a pick up truck I’m taking home to plow peoples’ private driveways for a second job, as long as I pay the city mileage, I can do that. If I want to deliver pizzas with a city vehicle, I can do that now. Cause, this is what
we’re saying, we can run a second business with a city vehicle, as long as we declare it as personal use and pay the city back mileage, and I don’t think we intended to have anything like that done with our city vehicles.”
Mayor Quinn thought Corporation Counsel Vasko should research that grey area.
Councilor Reginatto inquired how the Council could have implemented a plan that involved five vehicles they didn’t have jurisdiction over.
Councilor Dalla Valle pointed out that no one had consulted the Council in regard to the Supreme Court’s decision on the Torrington vs. Harwinton lawsuit.
Mayor Quinn noted that the city had lost its appeal. He would see to it that the Council received a copy of the last notice.
Councilor Dalla Valle suggested the Council recommend that all department heads submit an immediate 15% cut across the board in the upcoming budget, anticipating contractual obligations they would have to meet along with a reduction in state funding.
Mayor Quinn stated that he would pass that along to the department heads.
Councilor Bascetta noted that the Middle School continued to have roofing problems and hoped he and Mayor Quinn could follow through on the matter.
Councilor Ruwet officially announced her resignation from the Board of Councilmen in order to further serve the people of Torrington as a State Representative in the 65th district.
Mayor Quinn and the Council wished State Representative-Elect Ruwet well in her new endeavors.
ADJOURNMENT #1125
On a motion by Councilor Reginatto, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:40 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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