MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
MAY 19, 2003
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, May 19, 2003, in the Council Chambers.
Attending was Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Councilors Thomas C. Jerram, Paul F. Samele, Jr., Marie P. Soliani, David M. Bascetta, Richard E. Dalla Valle, James D. Reginatto, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Treasurer, Richard J. Friday, Secretary to the Mayor Jayne Martigneni, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, City Planner Martin Connor, WPC Administrator Raymond Drew, Park & Recreation Director Richard Calarco, Data Processing Manager William Hoffman, Police Chief Roger Janelle, and Deputy Police Chief Robert Milano.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Councilor Reginatto, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held April 21, 2003.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the special joint meeting with the Board of Finance held May 8, 2003, in regard to the Tax Collector.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #040
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Bascetta, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Michael Alciati, 171 Charles Street, reported that a drainage ditch, that measured approximately 200 feet long, 60 feet wide and 30 feet deep running through his property, was a major hazard to neighborhood children. He stated that he was paying taxes on the property and allowing the town to use it, and that the town should have some liability because the city didn’t have an easement on this property.
Mr. Alciati presented pictures and a map of the ditch to the Council. He requested that the city fill the ditch to a level consistent with the existing property, and that a pipe be installed to eliminate the hazardous condition. He explained that storm drains run from the road to the ditch, and by the size of the trees within the ditch indicate that it has been in existence for quite some time.
It was determined that the ditch was approximately 130 feet into Mr. Alciati’s property line.
Councilor Bascetta inquired whether the ditch was in some way related to the undermining problem when the storm drains caved in, in that area of town.
Mr. Alciati said he wasn’t an engineer but assumed it was related to the cave-in because the storm drains are what caved in the road and the ditch was part of the storm drains.
Councilor Jerram inquired whether the ditch was noticeably deeper than it was when Mr. Alciati bought the home five years ago.
Mr. Alciati said no, that the ditch had changed very little in the past five years.
An unidentified women from the public stated that the roots of the trees were becoming exposed and the trees were dying and falling into the ditch. She noted one tree in particular was in the direct path of a home.
Mr. Rollett explained that the area in question was known as Cook Brook, which had been brought before this Council for a number of years to try to remedy erosion and drainage problems throughout its watershed. All of the erosion occurring from this ditch ends up in Besse Pond. The collapse of the road was a storm drainage system that leads into Cook Brook under Charles Street. Cook Brook is a combination of pipes and stonebox culverts, some of which are exposed and some are enclosed, and old culverts which continue to run through back yards between Charles and East Main Street. Mr. Rollett stated there was money in the budget and encumbered funds from prior budgets, as well as concurrent budgets to remedy this problem. Approximately 150 feet of piping would be needed throughout
this property, in addition to filling it, obtaining easements or a right of way, because at the moment it’s a private area. The city would like to have easements to the affected properties so it could maintain it and stop the problem from occurring in Besse Pond. Besse Pond cannot be cleaned up until Cook Brook is stabilized. Mr. Rollett reported that they encountered problems in coming to terms with downstream property owners to acquire the necessary easements which would be necessary to get the equipment to the proper place to do the necessary repairs. The city could take the properties by eminent domain if the need should arise. He reported that the project was in progress.
Mr. Aliciati said he would be willing to grant the city an easement if the hole was repaired.
Mr. Rollett further explained that three or four properties were affected between Charles and Winthrop. Merely filling in the ditch would create more of a concentrated flow and erosion problem into Besse Pond. The goal is to stabilize Cook Brook and everyone involved has to agree. That includes property owners, wetlands, the Corps of Engineers and the taxpayers.
Councilor Jerram inquired as to what legal avenues the city had to pursue the easements.
Corp. Counsel Vasko explained that the street collapsed because the prior owner of Mr. Alciati’s home decided to fill in the drainage ditch. Other than negotiating with the property owners, the city could try to obtain the properties by eminent domain. However, other issues may be involved, like the cost to the city to acquire those properties. He could research the matter for other options and report back to the City Council.
Mayor Quinn told Mr. Alciati that his concern was on record and the city would keep him apprized of the situation.
NEW WORLD SYSTEMS #410
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Bascetta, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of up to $10,240.00 from Line Item 0010-0047-5652-0000 - Management Operations to New World Systems for a Position Control Module to implement shared services with the Board of Education and referred it to the Board of Finance.
VALMARK ELECTRIC #460
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $964.56 from Contingency to Valmark Electric for work performed during the November ice storm and referred it to the Board of Finance.
SCILLIA, DOWLING & NATARELLI #470
On a motion by Councilor Reginatto, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $350.00 from line item 0312-5900-0000 to Scillia, Dowling & Natarelli, LLC for additional work in assisting the Treasurer’s office with debt sale accounting entry.
CARDINAL ENGINEERING #490
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $7,049.38 from Bond Fund #302 to Cardinal Engineering Asso., Inc. for Sanitary Sewer Improvements on Highland Avenue.
CARDINAL ENGINEERING #530
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $27,681.77 from Bond Fund #302 to Cardinal Engineering, Inc. for sewer design and survey work on East Main Street / New Harwinton Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements.
DISPATCH LOGGER #540
On a motion by Councilor Bascetta, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Board of Public Safety to award the Dispatch Logger for Fire Department to the low bidder Dictaphone Corporation of Stratford, Ct. for $11,925.40.
FRIAR ASSO. #570
On a motion by Councilor Reginatto, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $1,750.00 from Torringford School Building Committee Fund #314 to Friar Associates for pre-referendum professional services.
SRSNE SITE PRP GROUP #600
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Reginatto, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $700.00 from Contingency to SRSNE Site PRP Group for assessment #16 and referred it to the Board of Finance.
SMALL CITIES (PROJECT #143-164) #620
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Bascetta, the Council voted unanimously to authorize a 0%-deferred loan of $6,050.00 from Small Cities Fund #263 for project #143-164.
SMALL CITIES (PROJECT #143-182) #630
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to authorize a 0%-deferred loan of $6,000.00 from Small Cities Fund #263 for project #143-182.
SMALL CITIES - TITLE SEARCH #690
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Reginatto, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $75.00 from Small Cities Fund #263 to the City of Torrington for a limited Title Search performed.
SMALL CITIES - TITLE SEARCHES #700
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Bascetta, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $225.00 from Small Cities Fund #263 to the City of Torrington for three limited Title Searches performed.
SMALL CITIES - RISK ASSESSMENTS #720
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $550.00 from Small Cities Fund #263 to Safe Homes, Inc. for two risk assessments performed.
SMALL CITIES - EXPERIAN #730
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $150.00 from Small Cities Fund #274 to Experian for annual membership fees due for the Credit Rating Service Co.
TRANSFER OF FUNDS #740
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to transfer funds from Contingency to the Election’s budget to cover the overdrawn amount not to exceed $1,000.00 in line item 0010-5265-0000 and referred it to the Board of Finance.
WEIGOLD FLOOR COVERING #830
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Jerram, a discussion took place in regard to the request for the payments of $1,108.80 and $545.90 from the Torrington High School Renovation Fund #285 to Weigold Floor Covering for Invoices #8345 and #8346.
Councilor Dalla Valle thought the cost of $500.00 to install $45.00 worth of materials was steep.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to table the payments of $1,108.80 and $545.90 from the Torrington High School Renovation Fund #285 to Weigold Floor Covering for Invoices #8345 and #8346, pending further information.
RECOMMENDATIONS: ORDINANCE COMM. #880
Councilor Soliani, Chairman of the Ordinance Committee, requested permission from the Council to allow the Building Official to institute fines of $99.00 a day per unit on property located at 476 Main Street, a trailer park owned by Robert J. Wardle.
Atty. Vasko indicated that the car dealership at that location had already been cited.
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to institute fines of $99.00 a day per unit on property located at 476 Main Street, owned by Robert J. Wardle.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #950
On a motion by Councilor Reginatto, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #980
On a motion by Councilor Bascetta, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the Council.
Councilor Jerram stated that someone had approached him to find out whether Friday Road, a.k.a. Whiting Road, off Klug Hill Road, was a city street.
Mayor Quinn stated that the matter would be researched.
Councilor Jerram stated that some of the downtown merchants had asked him to see if the city could designate a day where they could dispose of their own brush at a central location, similar to the Hazardous Waste day.
Mr. Rollett stated that such an event could possibly be coordinated with the Fire Dept.
Councilor Dalla Valle requested adding an item to the agenda by 2/3rds vote in regard to scheduling a public hearing for Small Cities.
ADD TO AGENDA - PUBLIC HEARING #1110
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to add the item to the agenda by 2/3rds vote.
PUBLIC HEARING - SMALL CITIES #1120
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing date of June 16th, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. to gauge the interest for a skateboarding park in the City of Torrington through Small Cities’ funding.
ADJOURNMENT #1190
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:18 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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