MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
APRIL 12, 2004
A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, April 12, 2004, in the Council Chambers to accept the Fire Department and Police Department Budgets and to appoint several members of the City Council and Board of Finance.
Those attending included Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Councilors Thomas C. Jerram, Marie P. Soliani, Drake L. Waldron, James McKenna, newly appointed Councilor Paul W. Summers, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Public Works Director, Gerald Rollett, and Park & Recreation Director Richard Calarco.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 7:20 p.m.
APPOINTMENT: PAUL W. SUMMERS #1210
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted unanimously to accept the appointment of Paul W. Summers to the Board of Councilmen, effective immediately.
Mayor Quinn administered the oath of office of Councilman to Paul W. Summers.
APPOINTMENTS: JAMES R. NICHOL & DANIEL T. FARLEY #1290
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted unanimously to accept the appointments of James R. Nichol and Daniel T. Farley to the Board of Finance.
RECESS #1300
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to recess this meeting and reconvene to the Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and Board of Public Safety.
The Special Joint Meeting of the City Council and Board of Public Safety ended at 7:15 p.m. and the City Council re-opened this meeting.
BUDGETS #1750
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted to discuss budgets.
PARKS #1770
Mr. Calarco explained how he was re-assessing his department’s machinery for better efficiency.
He added a new line item for “overtime - snow removal”.
He was looking to add a person of which half the funding would be paid by Coe Park. One person would be assigned a half day to maintain Coe Park and be assigned other duties for the remainder of the day, particular at the play grounds. The Council considered checking with Personnel as to whether or not this would be a Union position and/or a Union issue.
The bottom line to the Parks Budget had a 5.25% increase.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted to tentatively approve the Parks Budget. (The additional employee would be re-visited.)
RECREATION #2410
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted to tentatively approve the Recreation Budget.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN: PARKS #2600
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to receive the Park’s Budget Capital Improvement Plan.
COE GODFREY FUND #2630
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to tentatively approve the Coe Godfrey Fund. (The additional employee, same as in the Parks Budget, would be re-visited.)
Mr. Calarco indicated that the Sub Committee and the Park & Recreation Commission will be discussing the issue of Coe Park protection after hours during their joint meeting in May.
For Council information, Mr. Rollett stated that the city was taking over some maintenance of Board of Education fields. This would help support the other half position being requested for a park employee since it would be funded partly through the Board of Education. Further discussion will be forthcoming on this issue.
Mr. Calarco indicated that the Board of Education was included in the Master Plan and they were taking inventory on what they owned for machinery.
CITY REAL ESTATE #3070
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to tentatively approve the City Real Estate Budget.
PUBLIC WORKS #3180
Mr. Rollett indicated that $10,000.00 from his salary had been re-allocated from the Public Works Budget to the Water Pollution Budget. He also stated that he had included a 10% increase in his salary line item. He said he reviewed the increase with Personnel and Mr. Gritt had indicated that there would be no issues with the proposal, and that it was just a matter of bringing it before the Council.
Mayor Quinn indicated that he could support allocating a portion of Mr. Rollett’s salary to WPCA, however, they should make certain they are treading on sound ground in relation to the Management Resolution.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted to tentatively approve the Public Works Director’s Budget.
CITY HALL #3480
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to tentatively approve the City Hall Budget.
LANDFILL #3570
Tipping Fees had increased from $64.75 to $70.00 a ton for solid waste disposal with continued increases in the years to come. (A committee is actively looking at ways to decrease these costs.)
It was suggested that Corp. Counsel and Mr. Rollett meet to assess CRRA and look at possible options and/or alternatives.
Mr. Rollett indicated that the Solid Waste Advisory Committee will be making a presentation to the City Council during an off-meeting night in the very near future about the direction the City of Torrington is going in solid waste issues. That may be a good time to talk about the CRRA issue and our disposal options.
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted to tentatively approve the Landfill Budget.
SANITARY SEWER/STREET LIGHTS TAPE 2 #300
Mr. Rollett indicated that he added a line item for “Electric - Maintenance”.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to tentatively approve the Sanitary Sewer/Street Lights Budget.
HEALTH #390
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted to tentatively approve the Health Budget.
ADJOURNMENT #470
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to adjourn.
Joseph L. Quartiero, CCTC, CMC
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