MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
APRIL 20, 2004 (Adjourned from April 19, 2004)
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority, adjourned from Monday, April 19, 2004, was held on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, in the Council Chambers and to discuss budgets.
Those attending included Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Councilors Paul F. Samele, Jr., James F. McKenna, Paul Summers, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Park & Recreation Director Richard Calarco, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, and members of the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, William Grumman and Atty. James Zeller.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
MINUTES #010
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted with the exception of Councilors Samele and Summers who abstained, to accept the
minutes of the regular meeting held April 5, 2004.
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted with the exception of Councilors Samele and Summers who abstained, to accept the
minutes of the special joint meeting with the Board of Public Safety held April 12, 2004.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #050
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
PURCHASE OF LIGHT BARS #060
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to authorize the expenditure of $10,977.00 from the Vehicle Replacement Contingency Line Item 0309-5900-0120 to purchase light bars for police cars. Previously approved by the Board of Finance on 4/20/2004. (Grant reimbursement will follow.)
WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTRACT/
AUTOMATED COLLECTION PROGRAM #070
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, discussion took place on the following:
1) To accept the recommendation to award the Curbside Collection Contract to Waste Management of CT for an estimated annual cost of $1,312,880.00, and,
2) To accept the recommendation to implement an Automated Collection Program by October 1, 2004 with collection costs negotiated with Waste Management and the City of Torrington purchasing the required containers.
Under discussion, Mr. Rollett informed the Council that the Committee opened bids for the city=s new Curbside Solid Waste Collection Contract. The way the contract was bid was to retain a status quo for collection in order to provide the same level of collection services. They also bid it as an alternate for automated collection based on the input and recommendations from the Committee. Unfortunately, because of the cost of the bins, Automated Collection came in more expensive than conventional curbside collection. The bins themselves cost between
$550,000.00 and $600,000.00 to purchase. Mr. Rollett was requesting the Council=s approval to move forward with the regular curbside collection contract for $1.3+ million and to negotiate a cost for automated collection. The committee felt they could purchase the bins on a lease program using City funds, pay less of a cost curbside for automated collection, and enter into a program for a total expense of anywhere from $20,000.00 to $50,000.00 a year.
Mr. Rollett indicated that automated collection is the future and Torrington was actually behind the times. There are cost savings in automated collection. Waste Management is just getting into that business in Connecticut and that=s why they are somewhat conservative in their costs. They still don=t have the experience nor a track record. Torrington will continue to work with them. The cost the city is hoping to negotiate with them, if successful, would represent a significant savings, which could offset the bulk of the lease cost, if the bins were leased over a seven to ten year period. The city could end up paying $30,000.00 to $40,000.00 a year to purchase $600,000.00 worth of bins.
The recommendation from the Solid Waste Advisory Committee was for the City Council to accept the automated collection starting October 1. That would give them time to talk to different bin vendors, finalize prices, choose the best bin, work out a distribution program with Waste Management, and move forward with the program.
Mayor Quinn commended the Solid Waste Advisory Committee for their hard work and dedication during the past year in their attempt to reduce solid waste costs to the city.
Mr. Rollett indicated that further steps are sure to come. The cost of removing items outside the bin, such as mattresses, and possibly assessing fees to dispose of them, will be looked at carefully in the future to make certain that people are paying fairly. It=s an incentive for everyone=s to recycle and manage their waste
properly.
Mr. Rollett indicated that the city still pays Waste Management to pick up approximately 14,000 curbside units including condominiums, municipal buildings, associations, and housing authority properties because they are still considered residential units. The committee will be reviewing this issue very closely to possibly make changes in the near future.
Mr. Rollett further said he had been notified by the Board of Education as well as Waste Management that, in the process of Waste Management re-negotiating their contract with the Board of Education, realized that the waste hauling company had never billed the Board of Education monthly for their disposal, and were looking to the city to pick up that expense. He was talking with the Board of Education to see what they could do to help.
On the previous motion, the board voted unanimously to accept both:
1) The recommendation to award the Curbside Collection Contract to Waste Management of CT for an estimated annual cost of $1,312,880.00, and,
2) The recommendation to implement an Automated Collection Program by October 1, 2004 with collection costs negotiated with Waste Management and the City of Torrington purchasing the required containers.
CT D.E.P. (643 RIVERSIDE AVE.) #800
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to authorize 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. Previously explained and approved by the Board of Finance on 4/20/2004. (Tabled on 3/15/04 & 4/5/04)
CT D.E.P. (3465 TORRINGFORD ST.) #870
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to authorize 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. Previously approved by the Board of Finance on 4/20/2004. (Tabled on 3/15/04 & 4/5/04)
TORRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL PAYMENTS #880
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, discussion took place concerning the request for the following payments from the Torrington High School Building Fund #285: (Tabled 4/5/04)
Jeter, Cook & Jepson Errors in design of tile $24,400.00
West State Mechanical Review heating system $ 393.45
Councilor McKenna indicated that he still didn=t have the breakdown he was looking for, nor did he have an explanation for the errors that were made. He inquired how private contractors could expect the city to pay for their mistakes, and requested explicit information on the problem, the solution, and how they arrived at the solution.
Corp. Counsel Vasko explained that the architect=s original invoice was for $26,420.00, however, they agreed to reduce it to $24,400.00 because of the errors made.
MOTION TO TABLE #1050
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to table the matter pending further information about the errors.
FIREWORKS DISPLAY #1070
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Samele, the board voted
to accept the Park & Recreation=s recommendation to award the Fireworks Display bid to Fantasy Fireworks for $11,500.00.
Park & Recreation Director Richard Calarco explained where and how the display would be held.
SMALL CITIES #1270
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to authorize the following 0% deferred loans from Small Cities Grant SC2002 for housing rehabilitation:
$15,800.00 Project 143-189 P1
$19,150.00 Project 143-190 $ 3,500.00 Project 143-163
SMALL CITIES: CHANGE ORDER #1280
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to approve a change order for $1,300.00 from Small Cities Grant SC2002 for project 143-168.
PUBLIC HEARING: P & Z THE AQUIFER PROTECTION AGENCY #1290
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted
to set a public hearing for 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 3, 2004, to adopt an ordinance designating the Planning & Zoning Commission as the City=s Municipal Aquifer Protection Agency.
Due to time constraints, Corp. Counsel Vasko indicated that he proposed the draft ordinance sent to him by the state.
RESOLUTION: EUDL #1340
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to adopt a Resolution authorizing Mayor Quinn to execute a Grant Award for the AEnforcing the Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) Discretionary Program: Community Trials Initiative@ on behalf of the City of Torrington.
Resolved, that Owen J. Quinn, Mayor, be and hereby is authorized to sign the grant agreement entitled AEUDL Community Trials Program Between the State of Connecticut and the City of Torrington for the Enforcing the Underage Drinking Laws Discretionary Program Community Trials Initiative@ as awarded to the City.
Adopted by the Board of Councilmen of the City of Torrington this 20th day of April, 2004.
GORDON, MUIR & FOLEY #1370
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to authorize the payment of $174.00 from Contingency to Gordon, Muir & Foley, LLP for professional services rendered in the Southwest School matter. Previously approved by the Board of Finance on 4/20/2004.
SECTION B: #1380
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to consider business in Section B.
TORRINGFORD SCHOOL PAYMENTS #1385
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to approve the following invoices from the Torringford School Building Fund #314:
Friar Asso. Invoice 11, Prof. services (1 of 3 installments) $26,733.00
Friar Asso. Invoice 7, Misc. Reimbursable Expense $ 7,750.00
Friar Asso. Invoice 8, Misc. Reimbursable Expense $ 255.04
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1400
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1420
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the City Council.
Councilor Summers said he was pleased with the turnout for National Youth Day at Coe Park.
Mayor Quinn recognized the National Holocaust Remembrance Day.
BUDGETS #1500
BOARDS & AGENCIES #1520
The highlights included the following changes:
Community Development increased by $3,000.00 for Christmas Lights.
Economic Development decreased by $65,199.
Housatonic Valley Asso. - new request for $1,000.
Veterans Administration, - new request for $5,000.
Torrington Library increase of $12,600.
Susan B. Anthony increase of $6,000.
Deputy Fire Chief Giampaolo urged the Council to approve the funds for the Veterans= Administration to run programs throughout the year to commemorate veterans and to upgrade furniture in the Veterans= Service Office.
The Council requested back up information from Susan B. Anthony.
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to tentatively approve the Boards and Agencies Budget.
COMPTROLLER #1950
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to tentatively approve the Comptroller=s Budget.
BOARD OF TAX REVIEW #2000
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to tentatively approve the Board of Tax Review Budget.
INSURANCE #2100
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to tentatively approve the Insurance Budget.
PENSIONS & BENEFITS #2130
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to tentatively approve the Pensions & Benefits Budget.
Ms. Proulx explained that the Officials and Wage Increase Line Item consisted of the following contracts that have not been renewed: Management Resolution, Local 818, the Elected Officials, Police Department and Fire Department. All contracts will expire June 30, 2004, with the exception of the Fire Department=s contract, which expired in 2001.
TAX COLLECTOR #2260
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to tentatively approve the Tax Collector=s Budget.
CONTINGENCY #2420
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted to tentatively approve the Contingency Budget.
The city still had approximately $200,000.00 in the current Contingency Account.
ADJOURNMENT #2550
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted to adjourn at 7:55 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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