MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
FEBRUARY 17, 2004
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Tuesday, February 17, 2004, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Councilors Thomas C. Jerram, James F. McKenna, Virginia K. Kovaleski, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Comptroller Alice Proulx, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, Tax Assessor Brian Lastra, and Economic Development Coordinator Christina Emery. Absent were Councilors Paul F. Samele, Jr., and Marie P. Soliani.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES #010
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted, with the exception of Councilor Waldron who abstained, to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held February 2, 2004.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #020
On a motion by Councilor Kovaleski, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted to open the meeting to the public.
Mayor Quinn recognized Michael Sanfeliz, a boy scout who was in the process of getting his Eagle Badge.
TAX ABATEMENT APPLICATIONS #070
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Kovaleski, the board voted to accept the following Tax Abatement Applications after a brief explanation on each of the applications from Tax Assessor Brian Lastra.
A. Colucci, LLC, real estate exemption of $31,725.00 for three years.
B. Pulp Paper, personal property exemption of $6,425.00 for three years.
C. Assessment Deferral for Rehabilitation of Residential Real Property for $20,300.00 for five years. (James Rokos)
THOMAS CHRISTIANO, INC. #370
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to authorize a payment of $24,320.00 from DSS Reich & Tang, Tax Exempt Proceeds Fund to Thomas Christiano, Inc. for payment #4 on the Senior Center Garage Project.
CARDINAL ENGINEERING #380
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Kovaleski, the board voted to authorize a payment of $11,533.12 from the Northwest Interceptor Fund #302 to Cardinal Engineering, Inc. for construction, administration, and inspection services on the East Main St./New Harwinton Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements, and Phase 1 from Columbus Rd. to Torrington Heights Rd.
P & G PEPPER CONSTRUCTION #390
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Kovaleski, the board voted to approve the City Engineer’s request to award a contract to P & G Pepper Construction Services, Inc., in the amount of $1,339,643.02 for the East Main St. Sanitary Sewer Project from Torrington Heights Rd. to New Harwinton to Norton St., and the Tara Drive/Windtree Sewer Project.
City Engineer Edward Fabbri amended his request. He indicated that the East Main St. Sanitary Sewer Project from Torrington Heights Rd. to New Harwinton to Norton St. would be paid from the Northwest Interceptor Fund #302, and that the Tara Drive/Windtree Sewer Project would be paid from the Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund.
SMALL CITIES: REPUBLICAN/AMERICAN #440
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to authorize the payment of $90.20 from Small Cities Fund #250 to the Republican/ American for an Invitation to Bid ad.
APPOINTMENT: P & Z #450
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to accept the City Planner’s recommendation to appoint Donna Greco to fill the vacant position of Alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a five-year term to expire December 1, 2007.
PROCLAMATION # 460
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to accept the Proclamation: Miss Greater Torrington, March 7, 2004.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #480
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Kovaleski, the board voted to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Comptroller Alice Proulx furnished the Council with city budgets and invited them to call her if they had any questions.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #530
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the City Council.
In anticipation of the Public Hearing, Councilor Jerram asked Corp. Counsel Vasko to explain the difference in changing the Code of the City as opposed to changing the Charter.
Corp. Counsel Vasko explained that the entire book entitled the “Code of the City of Torrington” was in two parts, namely the City Charter and the City Ordinances. The City Charter is the constitution of the City and the Ordinances are the laws of the City of Torrington. Any change to the Charter requires the appointment of a Charter Commission and a Referendum vote. The Charter gives the Council the authority to pass, amend or delete any ordinances. The citizens of the city could also recommend changes to the ordinances by petition.
A short recess was taking prior to the Public Hearing.
PUBLIC HEARING: AMEND CHAPTER 20 OF THE TORRINGTON CODE #700
A Public Hearing was held at 7:00 p.m. to consider an amendment to Chapter 20 of the Torrington Code entitled “Economic Development Commission.” The proposed amendment would delete Section 20-9 entitled “Statutory Powers.”
City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero read the legal notice.
Dr. Isadore Temkin, 24 Torringford West Street inquired whether the new economic development board would have a residency requirement for members serving on it.
Mayor Quinn said “No.”
Dr. Temkin felt the ordinance should contain a residency requirement, or at least, that Torrington would be the primary source of employment for members. His reasoning was that, if this ever had to go to a referendum and a group of members from out of town came up with the plan, you could have difficulty passing it.
Councilor Waldron inquired whether Dr. Temkin was suggesting that members of the Economic Development Commission be residents of Torrington.
Mayor Quinn said he thought Dr. Temkin was jump starting to the formation of an Economic Development Corporation.
Economic Development Coordinator Christina Emery stated that the change in the ordinance did not create a new entity. It is merely removing the language which designates the EDC as the development agency for the city. Upon the anticipation of a $100 million downtown project, the state has asked us to form a nonprofit 501C3 development corporation, similar to what’s been done in the Naugatuck Valley Development Corporation. At that point, there will be a separate group of incorporators, who will be responsible for the bylaws and for appointing a board. Whether or not there’s a residency requirement, which is usually not the case, could be considered. Presently, the Economic Development Commission members are all Torrington residents.
Mayor Quinn further explained that, at the present time there is an Economic Development Commission appointed by the Mayor and ratified through the legislative branch, the City Council. The EDC will continue to meet on a monthly basis. They will be informed of a downtown project, have reports given to them, etc. and will continue to operate.
Corp. Counsel Vasko indicated that the proposed changes would delete the statutory power which designates the Economic Development Commission as a development authority for the City of Torrington. By State Statute, the City Council can designate a corporation or an entity to be the development agency for the city. It would not necessarily need to be the Economic Development Commission, which is more of a planning and an overall economic force for the city, as opposed to directing and overseeing a specific development project. The amendment comes from the EDC’s suggestion made when the city originally entered into the downtown agreement with Mr. Hayes and his group that we form a separate corporation to oversee the project. Because of time constraints, the Economic Development Commission
has acted as the authority for the city, but as the project gets closer to fruition, the State DECD strongly suggests that we form a corporation to oversee the project, similar to what the Naugatuck Valley did for their projects. This is generally how most cities and towns handle development projects because an Economic Development Commission which meets monthly doesn’t have the expertise nor the time to devote to projects.
Dr. Temkin said he wanted to get his point up front, because eventually the city would have a board, and he felt that board should be made up of local people, residents, or their primary source of employment should be Torrington.
JoAnn Ryan, 155 Cypress Court, President of the Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, and President of the newly formed 501C3 Northwest Connecticut Economic Development Corporation, applauded the city’s efforts in moving forward by bringing Torrington to the forefront by economic development and were ready and able to offer the Chamber’s assistance to Torrington, just as they would offer any other town in their region.
She gave Mayor Quinn and the City Council credit for covering all bases.
For the record, Mayor Quinn stated that Mrs. Ryan and her group had met with him to offer their assistance. He looked forward to working on mutual projects.
Councilor Jerram stated that the Economic Development Commission, as it is created under the Code, does have the residency requirement, so it could be perceived that by eliminating the statutory authority of the Economic Development with the authority to acquire properties, we are foregoing the resident protection of having Torrington residents/ taxpayers’ impact on those decisions. He echoed Dr. Temkin’s sentiment that members of future agencies should be Torrington residents and/or have primary business in the City of Torrington.
Mr. Temkin said “Primary employment, not primary business.”
Councilor Jerram stated that Chapter 20 of the Code specifies that you have to be a resident to be on the Economic Development Commission, and by eliminating the authority in SubSection 9, the residency requirement is eliminated.
Mayor Quinn agreed that Chapter 20, SubSection 2 talked about the Commission’s composition, including a residency factor. He said “When we go to the new entity, there will not necessarily be a residency factor, and therefore (sentence unfinished.)”
Councilor Jerram said he imagined there would be meetings at that point in time when these issued could be brought up.
Mayor Quinn said “Right.”
Corp. Counsel Vasko said another issue that should be raised is that the new corporation as the development agency will have eminent domain powers, however they couldn’t exercise those powers without the approval of the City Council, so the ultimate decision for any acquisition of property by eminent domain would be the Council’s and not necessarily the developmental agency.
Having no further comments or questions, Mayor Quinn brought the public hearing to a close at 7:17 p.m.
AMEND CHAPTER 20 OF THE TORRINGTON CODE #1150
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to amend Chapter 20 of the Torrington Code entitled “Economic Development Commission” by deleting Section 20-9 entitled “Statutory Powers.”
ADJOURNMENT #1160
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to adjourn at 7:18 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
| 
