MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
JULY 6, 2004
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Tuesday, July 6, 2004, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Councilors Thomas C. Jerram, Paul F. Samele, Jr., Marie P. Soliani, James F. McKenna, Paul W. Summers, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, WPC Administrator Raymond Drew, Director of Elderly Services Nancy Gyurko, Supervisor of the Elderly Nutrition Project Joel Sekorski, and Zoning and Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer Kimberly Barbieri.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held on June 7, 2004.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #030
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Thomas Slaiby, 16 Wilson Avenue, said the city’s proposal to fix the odor problem at the Middle School was not at the location where the problem was occurring and the city has not investigated a large concrete box where the smell is coming from. He said he had not seen any reports of anyone investigating that concrete box that may be cracked, damaged, or even the possibility that it could have been designed incorrectly. The only suggestion made was to change a pump above from where the smell was coming from.
Mr. Rollett stated that it was determined after a year’s worth of studies and investigations, that the retention pond at the Middle School pump station and the long force main was creating extensive gasses. Those gasses are release when they are pumped onto Country Club Road. The cause is at the Middle School pump station and that’s where the problem will be remedied. The Board of Education has been and will continue to be involved every step of the way.
RESOLUTION: STILL RIVER GREENWAY PROJ = TABLED #170
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to table the adoption of a Resolution incorporating a Certificate of Incumbency, and to table the authorization of the Mayor to enter into a Personal Services Agreement with the State of Connecticut for financial assistance in regard to the Still River Greenway Project.
SECTION 8-24 REFERRAL: LINTON ST & HASSIG ROAD #180
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council, acting herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority, voted unanimously to accept the favorable recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission on the Section 8-24 Referral to extend sanitary sewers on Linton Street and Hassig Road.
LINTON ST & HASSIG RD #190
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council, acting herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority, voted unanimously to approve the extension of public sanitary sewers beginning at the intersection of Linton Street and Hassig Road, extending approximately 3,854 feet to serve properties along Linton Street and the proposed Country View Estates Subdivision.
Mr. Fabbri stated that 36 new homes were proposed in the Country View Estates Subdivision.
EXTENSION OF SEWERS: BRIGHTWOOD AVE. #220
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council, acting herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority, voted unanimously to approve the extension of a public sanitary sewer beginning at the easterly end of Brightwood Avenue Continuing 92 feet east to the existing cul-de-sac to serve Lot 1 of a proposed subdivision by KRM Properties.
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $54,295.36 from the Northwest Interceptor Fund #302 to P & G Pepper Construction Services, Inc. for construction services on the East Main Street / New Harwinton Road and Phase 2 from Torrington Heights to Norton Street Projects.
STILLWATER POND ROAD CULVERT REPLACEMENT #235
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to accept the City Engineer’s recommendation to reject all bids on the Stillwater Pond Road Culvert Replacement Project and value engineer the project and negotiate a contract with the low bidder, W. W. Manchester.
APPRAISALS: MACHUGA PROPERTY #240
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to approve two appraisals done on the Machuga property as submitted, as part of the contract to purchase the property. (Paperwork sent under separate cover: large manila envelope.)
Councilor Jerram was asked if the appraisals met with his satisfaction.
Councilor Jerram indicated that his concern was that we estimate at market value and not public use value because we tend to see other issues arise when there’s an unsubstantiated definition of public use value. So, the market value is open, therefore you have a typical buyer and seller.
Mayor Quinn asked if we complied.
Councilor Jerram said “Yes.”
LITCHFIELD FORD #270
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Purchasing Agent, the Superintendent of Equipment Maintenance and the WPC Administrator to waive the bid process and purchase a 2003 Ford Taurus offered by Litchfield Ford for $12,750.00, for use by the WPC Administrator.
MEALS ON WHEELS TRUCKS #290
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Purchasing Agent and the Services for the Elderly Commission to waive the bid process and purchase two Hot Shot Meals-on-Wheels trucks for the Elderly Service’s Nutrition Program from Delivery Concepts East at $33,106.00 each.
SPECIAL DIET MEALS ON WHEELS CONTRACT #305
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Services for the Elderly Commission to extend the Special Diet Meals-on-Wheels contract with the Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Dietary Dept. for the preparation of meals for the period covering October 1, 2004 to September 30, 2005.
DELIVERY OF SPECIAL DIET MEALS ON WHEELS CONT #310
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Services for the Elderly Commission to extend the contract for the delivery of the Special Diet Meals-on-Wheels to Kim Bickford for the period covering October 1, 2004 to September 30, 2005.
SMALL CITIES: SAFE HOMES, INC. #320
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $550.00 from Small Cities Fund #275 to Safe Homes, Inc. for two risk assessments performed.
SMALL CITIES: CITIZEN NEWS #325
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $70.00 from Small Cities Fund #250 to Citizen News for publishing a legal notice, Invoice #24049510.
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT #350
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for March, 2004.
TORRINGFORD SCHOOL BUILDING INVOICES #360
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following invoices from the Torringford School Building Fund #314:
Friar Associates Invoice #12 $26,733.00
Friar Associates Invoice #13 $26,733.00
Friar Associates Invoice # 9 $ 250.00
GORDON, MUIR & FOLEY #370
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $2,604.00 from Contingency to Gordon, Muir & Foley, LLP for professional services rendered in the Bismark vs. Torrington matter and referred it to the Board of Finance.
FORECLOSURE PROCEEDINGS: 199 WATER STREET #380
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to authorize Corporation Counsel Vasko to begin foreclosure proceedings against 199 Water Street. (No paperwork furnished for the agenda.)
Fines of approximately $800.00 a day were authorized by the Council at the beginning of in June.
RECOMMENDATIONS: SMALL CITIES #415
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to hear recommendations from the Small Cities Committee.
Councilor Samele, Chairman of the Small Cities Committee, made a motion to deny a subordination request from Anthony Lawrence. Councilor Jerram seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Councilor Samele made a motion to deny Project 143-136. Councilor Jerram seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Councilor Samele made a motion to approve Project #143-195. Councilor McKenna seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Councilor Samele made a motion to approve Project #143-200. Councilor Jerram seconded the motion. Unanimous.
ADD TO AGENDA: PROJECT 143-207
Councilor Samele made a motion to add to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote Project #143-207. Councilor Summers seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Councilor Samele made a motion to approve Project #143-207. Councilor Summers seconded the motion. Unanimous.
ADD TO AGENDA: 98 HYDE STREET
Councilor Samele made a motion to add to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote the demolition of the blighted property located at 98 Hyde Street. Councilor Summers seconded the motion. Unanimous.
MOUNTAINTOP TRUCKING
Councilor Samele made a motion to award the demolition bid for property located at 98 Hyde Street to Mountaintop Trucking in the amount of $12,750.00. (The recommended low bidder was not selected because they did not supply the city with the required bid bond.) Councilor Summers seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Mayor Quinn pointed out that this was the first time the city was able to use Small Cities funds in a Lien and Clean Project.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #630
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Public Works Director Jerry Rollett requested adding an item to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote in regard to awarding a bid for automated collection carts.
ADD TO AGENDA: COLLECTION CARTS #650
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to add the awarding of the automated collection carts to the Agenda.
AWARD BID TO CESCO #660
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to award the purchase of approximately 13,600 Universal Rollout Containers to Cesco, New Haven in the amount of $569,150.00. Payment will be made through a lease program. The city has $100,000.00 in the current budget and the first year’s lease payment will be about $94,000.00.
ADD TO AGENDA: 139 WALL STREET & 432 MAIN STREET #780
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to add two items to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote: 139 Wall Street and 432 Main Street.
139 WALL STREET
Councilor Jerram made a motion to waive the fines for the Wall Street property with the payment of $7,000.00, contingent upon all parties agreeing. Councilor McKenna seconded the motion. Unanimous.
432 MAIN STREET
Councilor McKenna made a motion to levy fines on property located at 432 Main Street. Councilor Summers seconded the motion. Unanimous.
BUS: MAYOR & COUNCIL #910
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the City Council.
The Council commended everyone involved in the July 4th fireworks. Councilor Soliani suggested increasing funds for future firework displays by asking local merchants and businesses to donate funds.
Mayor Quinn added that Mr. Calarco had intentions of making it a community event in the future.
Councilor Jerram requested an update on the blighted property at the base of Highland Avenue.
Kim Barbieri stated that the owner of that property spent a lot of money excavating the underground tank that was part of the gas station, which actually turned out to be seven tanks, one of which held 30,000 gallons. He is still trying to balance that project with running a business. The small building in the back is scheduled to be demolished.
Mayor Quinn stated that the building is secure and better looking than it was, however, there is obvious work that needs to be done.
ADJOURNMENT #1150
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:00 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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