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Minutes 04/05/2004
                                MINUTES
                   CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
                   APRIL 5, 2004

A   REGULAR  MEETING  of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, April 5, 2004, in the Council Chambers.

Those in attendance included Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Councilors Thomas C. Jerram, Marie P. Soliani, James F. McKenna, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Director of Elderly Services Nancy Gyurko, Superintendent of Equipment Maintenance Michael Michaud, Park & Recreation Director Richard Calarco, and Officer Robert Shopey.

Mayor Quinn called a Public Hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. to consider adopting an ordinance regarding Rules & Regulations for Coe Memorial Park.

City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero read the legal notice.

PUBLIC HEARING
Chairman of the Ordinance Committee Councilor McKenna, said the proposed ordinance was requested by the Park & Recreation Commission as well as the Coe Park Subcommittee.  

Hans Reichardt, neighbor to Coe Park, stated that he has appeared before the City Council and the Park & Recreation Commission on a number of occasions complaining about the lack of supervision at Coe Park and the lack of enforcement of ordinances already in effect pertaining to Coe Park.  He reported that people were littering and letting their dogs run, and using the back wall near his home as a public toilet.   

Personally, he didn’t believe any of the ongoing renovations at Coe Park were necessary and felt the funds could have been better spent on decent housing for the homeless.

Park & Recreation Director Richard Calarco said the committee worked on the proposed ordinance to make it simpler and more enforceable than the previous ordinance, especially with the closing of the park at sundown, except when there are scheduled events. It would allow the police department to patrol it better and correct the problems that have arisen in the past.  Additional lighting, which tends to detract unwanted activity, has already been turned on in the back of the park to correct some of the toilet issues.  The commission will revisit the issue during their May meeting.

With no further comments or questions from anyone, Mayor Quinn called the public hearing to a close.

ACCEPT ORDINANCE #260
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to accept the ordinance regarding Rules & Regulations for Coe Memorial Park.

MINUTES #270
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board, with the exception of Councilor Soliani who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held March 15, 2004.

On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board, with the exception of Councilor Soliani who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the budget meeting held March 24, 2004.

LITCHFIELD FORD #290
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted to accept the recommendation from the Purchasing Agent and the Superintendent of Equipment Maintenance to purchase a 2003 Ford Explorer from Litchfield Ford for $18,535.00 to replace the Fire Marshal’s vehicle.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #310
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to open the meeting to the public.  There was no public participation.

LITCHFIELD FORD #330
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted to accept the recommendation from the Purchasing Agent and the Superintendent of Equipment Maintenance to purchase nine (9) Police Interceptors at $21,023.63 each from Litchfield Ford.

POLICE DEPT. GRANT #400
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to authorize the use of $9,200.00 from the Vehicle Replacement Contingency Fund as the city’s 20% portion to purchase a vehicle for the Traffic Department and referred it to the Board of Finance.

Mr. Michaud explained that Officer Shopey would receive a grant for a Ford Expedition valued at $41,000.00 if the city paid its share of 20%.

CLEANING & CRACK SEALING BID #480
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to accept the recommendation from the Purchasing Agent and the City Engineer to award the  bid entitled “Cleaning & Crack Sealing of Joints & Cracks in Street Pavement” to BFC, Inc., of West Moreland, NH at $0.98 per pound.  

CHORE PROGRAM #490
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted to accept the recommendation from the Services for the Elderly Commission to authorize the   Mayor to sign a grant application to the WCAAA for the Torrington Chore Program in the amount of $109,512.00.

MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM #510
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to accept the recommendation from the Services for the Elderly Commission to authorize the Mayor to sign a grant application for the Assisted Medical Transportation Program in the amount of $109,234.00.

SMALL CITIES #520
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to authorize the payment of $300.00 from Small Cities Fund #250 to Safe Homes for one risk assessment performed.
        
CT D.E.P. #525
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to table the payment of $61.59 from Contingency to the Ct. D.E.P. for the required payment to the Special Contaminated Property Remediation and Insurance Fund for the Torrington Metal Products, Inc. property located at 643 Riverside Ave. and refer it to the Board of Finance.  (Tabled on 3/15/04)  

CT D.E.P. #530
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to table the payment of $487.48 from Contingency to the CT. D.E.P. for the required payment to the Special Contaminated Property Remediation and Insurance Fund for the TBS Industries, Inc. property located at 3465 Torringford St. and refer it to the Board of Finance.  (Tabled on 3/15/04)

GORDON, MUIR & FOLEY #540
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to authorize the payment of $145.00 from Contingency to Gordon, Muir & Foley, LLC for professional services rendered in the Southwest School matter and referred it to the Board of Finance.

SELL POPPIES #545
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to approve the request from the Polish Army Veterans’ Assoc. Post 110 to sell Poppies on May 6, 2004.

TORRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL PAYMENTS #5560
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, discussion took place in regard to the request to authorize the following payments from the Torrington High School Building Fund #285:

Jeter, Cook & Jepson             Errors in design of tile       $24,400.00
West State Mechanical   Review heating system   $     393.45

Councilor McKenna inquired why the city was being asked to pay $24,400.00 if the design was incorrect.  The Council requested more detailed information about the “errors”.   

On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to table the request to authorize the aforementioned payments from the Torrington High School Building Fund.

PROCLAMATIONS #640
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to accept the following Proclamations:

A.  Holocaust Remembrance Day, Sunday, April 18, 2004
B.  National Youth Service Day, Tuesday, April 20, 2004
C.  Elks National Youth Week, May 3 - May 9, 2004
D.  Senior Center Week, May 9 - May 15, 2004

BUS: DEPT HEADS #660
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted to consider business presented by Department Heads.  There was none.

BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #670
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.

ADD TO AGENDA #710
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to add an item to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote in regard to several appointments.

APPOINTMENTS: TORRINGFORD SCHOOL BUILDING COMMITTEE #720
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to appoint Christine McCarthy and Reverend Dwayne Moon to the Torringford School Building Committee.

Mayor Quinn informed the board that appointments had been made to the Torrington Development Corporation and an organizational meeting was scheduled for April 6 at
8:00 a.m.

ADD TO AGENDA: PERSONNEL #790
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted to add an item to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote in regard to Personnel.

Mayor Quinn requested hiring Jordan Silver to fill in on a part time basis in the Economic Development Office at $9.00 an hour until Christina Emery returns from maternity leave.  Mr. Silver has been working as a non-paid intern for some months.  Funds are available from the Mayor’s budget.  The matter will be revisited upon Mrs. Emery’s return.

        Councilor Jerram made a motion to accept the hiring of Jordan Silver as a temporary part-time employee in the Economic Development Office.  Councilor Soliani seconded the motion.  Unanimous.

ADJOURNMENT #950
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.


ATTEST:   JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO
                 CITY CLERK