MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
JULY 19, 2004
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, July 19, 2004, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Councilwoman Marie P. Soliani as Acting Mayor in the absence of Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Councilors Thomas C. Jerram, Paul F. Samele, Jr., James F. McKenna, Paul W. Summers, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, Building Official Francis Cardello, and Chairman of the Torrington High School Building Committee, Atty. William Conti.
Councilor Soliani called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held June 21, 2004.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held July 6, 2004.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
George Sigiel explained that the building located at 45 Water Street in which he coached amateur boxing was about to be sold and asked the Council if they knew of any available space that fifteen to twenty youngsters ranging in age between eight and eighteen could use on a nightly basis. He explained that the youngsters pay an annual fee of $35.00 to United States Amateur Boxing and those who can’t afford the fee receive scholarships awarded by the Rotary Club. In addition to coaching amateur boxing, they are a social organization. They work with the court system for youngsters who need to fulfill community service, they have a Homework Club after school whereby several volunteer teachers come in and help check homework assignments, and they work with the Department of Child & Family
Services. He was hoping to find approximately 2,000 square feet of space. They would be willing to fix up the interior, and pay for lights and insurance.
Mr. Sigiel indicated that he had worked with the Mayor and Economic Development. He said the Park & Recreation Department had a building at Fuessenich Park, however, Mr. Rollett said they couldn’t use it because pipes were exposed with asbestos within the building. Mr. Sigiel suggested the possible use of Southeast School.
Gary Cicognani further explained that he and Mr. Sigiel are both registered as coaches and referees with the United States Amateur Boxing Asso. and their program is part of a national organization. It took almost a year for their organization to get the designation of 501C3 from the Internal Revenue Service. They feel as thought they fill the void in these youngsters’ lives and change their attitudes as well.
OLD FIREHOUSE: J. R. LALIBERTE #350
J. R. Laliberte said it was his belief the Council had received his letter whereby they had requested that he outline specific dates, the scope of work, and the status of where things stand. He was hopeful that the Council would be satisfied with the progress being made. The Building Inspector and the Zoning & Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer had spoken to the architect a number of times and they should be aware of the progress.
Councilor Summers inquired whether the Anti-Blight Committee met since this new information was received.
Councilor Soliani stated that they have, and their recommendation was to move forward with the foreclosure because nothing was done with the facade.
Mr. Laliberte said he had not been made aware of that. It was his belief that the position of the Anti-Blight Committee was that fines would be waived if he continued to seriously work on the building.
Acting Mayor Soliani said as far as she was concerned, none of the reasons for levying fines had been reversed.
Mr. Laliberte stated that no one could have started renovations within the last sixty to ninety days without first doing some work on the planning stages of the construction.
Councilor McKenna expressed concern over statements in Mr. Laliberte’s letter such as “intends” and “fine tuned.”
Mr. Laliberte said his letter also offered a concrete date whereby they will invite bidders to bid. The “fine tuning” meant that bids would include several options. In addition, Mr. Alciati would want to confer with the Building Inspector to make sure that permits would be available for the work planned. He said, “I’m still giving you some defined dates. Even during that process, we’re still going to be able to go out for bid, and I’m giving you dates of when I’ll start the work.”
When Councilor McKenna asked Mr. Cardello if any of the engineering had been discussed with him, Mr. Cardello stated that he had spoken to the Architect on several occasions but didn’t get into any details of the engineering aspect. Further statements from Mr. Cardello were inaudible.
Councilor Jerram remembered being asked by Mr. Laliberte a year ago to hold off any meetings until after Labor Day because he was working on a large project and here it is, almost twelve months later, and we only have a frame work. Unfortunately, it had taken certain actions from the Blight Committee to move this project forward after many years of inaction. Councilor Jerram also expressed a concern that words like “intends” and “fine tune” would bring this project to the winter when weather related delays could occur. Based on prior assurances, he wasn’t certain the frame work they had in front of them would be carried out.
Mr. Laliberte said he was working on the building even before the city began to impose fines on him, he has doubled the amount of money, time and effort to speed up the work process and the city was still threatening foreclosure. He was beginning to lose faith, and thought the city might foreclose even if he continued to spend the kind of money he was spending on the building.
Acting Mayor Soliani asked Mr. Cardello whether Mr. Laliberte had met any of the anti- blight recommendations the city made when fines were imposed upon him.
Mr. Cardello indicated that the asbestos had been abated and he had done some work inside. (The remainder of Mr. Cardello’s response was inaudible.)
Acting Mayor Soliani expressed her concern that nothing would be done to the facade and the fence would still exist around the building by fall and winter. These items should have been addressed early on.
Councilor Summers said although he isn’t 100% satisfied with Mr. Laliberte’s letter because it doesn’t have concrete language, it does have dates. He would vote in favor of giving him the opportunity to meet each date projected.
Acting Mayor Soliani indicated that Mr. Laliberte could still continue with his plans even though foreclosure proceedings continued. If he meets the blight committee’s recommendations, they can always back off on the foreclosure. Her opinion was that most of the items Mr. Laliberte is presently working on would never have begun had the city not started foreclosure proceedings. She pointed out that the city is also spending a fair amount of money in employees’ time with this matter.
Mr. Laliberte said “How can you expect me to have confidence that you’re going to stop the foreclosure proceedings when you told me you would waive the fines if I continued to show you I was doing serious work on the building? Instead of waiving the fines, you’re continuing down the path of foreclosing......How can you expect me to continue to put the kind of money into the building when I know that there’s a risk that’s getting bigger at each Council meeting that I come to, even though I’m doing the work and spending the money, there’s a risk that you’re going to take the building from me? Who in their right mind would keep throwing money away not sure that it’s going to be their’s in the end?”
Councilor McKenna said that was the risk he took when he purchased the building six years ago for $1.00 and promised to renovate. He assumed Mr. Laliberte anticipated spending money on this building.
Mr. Laliberte said he expected to have a tenant much before now, which he still doesn’t have, but is committed to doing the work regardless of whether or not he has a tenant.
Councilor McKenna asked how he could expect a tenant to enter into a lease with him without being assured that the work was going to be done.
Mr. Laliberte said the first six pages of a 27-page lease with a serious tenant addressed things he would have to do within a 180-day process. It’s a long term lease agreement with the tenant doing a lot of work as well.
Councilor Jerram reiterated Mr. Cardello’s previous statement that was inaudible, that Mr. Laliberte had remedied one or two items on the blight list but not the entire list. He thought they were making strides in that direction.
Councilor McKenna asked Mr. Laliberte if he was willing to set in stone the dates in his letter. If he failed, the city would begin foreclosure. The dates included the following:
August 3 - Bid packages ready for review
August 26 - Bid due date
September 16 - Award bids
(Mr. Laliberte is to give the Anti-Blight Committee an update within seven days of each date from the above timetable.)
Mr. Laliberte said “I believe that’s what I thought this letter was doing.”
MOTION TO TABLE #1170
Councilor Summers vote to table until August 16, 2004, the foreclosure of the Old Firehouse - J.R. Laliberte. Councilor Jerram seconded the motion. On a 4-2 vote, the motion to table carried. Councilors Samele and Soliani opposed.
T.H.S. RENOVATION PROJECT COMPLETE #1200
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to accept Atty. William Conti’s letter dated 6/22/04 whereby the Torrington High School Building Committee accepted the Torrington High School Renovation Project as complete and turned the Torrington High School Complex over to the City of Torrington.
Atty. William Conti, Chairman of the Torrington High School Building Committee, publicly thanked each and every member of the committee for their dedication to the eight year project and everyone else who was involved in one way or another.
W. W. MANCHESTER #1250
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $3,300.00 from the Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to W. W. Manchester for the Hemlock Street Sanitary Sewer Repair and referred it to the Board of Finance.
CARDINAL ENG. #1250
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $5,775.00 from the Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to Cardinal Engineering for inspection services rendered at the Tara Drive Sanitary Sewer Pump Station Removal and referred it to the Board of Finance.
P & G PEPPER / CARDINAL ENG. #1260
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments from the Northwest Interceptor Fund #302 for work performed on the East Main Street/New Harwinton Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements and Phase 2 from Torrington Heights to Norton Road Project:
P & G Pepper Const. Services $339,875.57
Cardinal Engineering $ 12,338.12
T.H.S. INVOICE #1270
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $875.00 from the Torrington High School Building Fund #285 to Soufleris & Ciesco Memorials for Invoice #1969.
SMALL CITIES: PROJECT 143-193 #1275
On a motion by Councilor Summers, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize a 0% Deferred Loan in the amount of $16,400.00 from Small Cities SC-2002 Grant to Project #143-193 for roofing, gutters, and electrical work.
BUS: SECTION B #1300
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to consider business in Section B.
UNIVERSAL ROLLOUT CONTAINERS #1320
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Purchasing Agent and the Public Works Director to award the financing of the Universal Rollout Containers to the low bidder, J. P. Morgan Chase Corp. for the seven-year lease proposal at 3.5% per annum.
STILLWATER POND ROAD CULVERT REPLACEMENT #1330
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to accept the City Engineer’s recommendation to award the Stillwater Pond Road Culvert Replacement Contract to W. W. Manchester in the amount of $99,803.01.
REIMBURSEMENT: TORRINGFORD ELEM. SCHOOL #1340
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to reimburse $936.28 to the Torringford Elementary School from the Torringford School Building Fund #314 for the purchase of 500 corrugated boxes needed to move school contents.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1360
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1390
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Acting Mayor Soliani and members of the City Council.
Councilor Jerram requested the presence of Kim Barbieri, Zoning & Inland Wetland Enforcement Officer, for the August 16 meeting, and asked that she bring her file on Mr. Laliberte.
He inquired about the status of Bike Week and the decision not to close Main Street. He wanted to know if something could be done from the City Council’s perspective to continue to support the bikers and provide safety to visitors coming to Torrington as well.
Acting Mayor Soliani said she thought Acting Chief Milano was already aware of the matter, but would bring this concern to his attention.
Councilor Summers thought the multiple events being held on Friday night in the downtown area was a great sight to see.
Acting Mayor Soliani reported that the Purchasing Agent was waiting for the heating oil prices to come down before bringing the matter to the Council.
She thanked Dave Rivera and Jayne Martigneni for their support during the past week while she was Acting Mayor.
ADJOURNMENT #1630
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:20 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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