MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
AUGUST 16, 2004
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, August 16, 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, Comptroller Alice Proulx, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, Building Official Francis Cardello, and Zoning & Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer Kimberly Barbieri. Absent was Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
MINUTES #010
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held on August 2, 2004.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #020
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Bridget Beauchaine, 113 Sharon Avenue, stated that in good faith she stopped attending City Council meetings last November because she was told the matter of her street would be re-addressed in the spring, and to date, she has not seen or heard from anyone. She reported that the part of her driveway the city replaced was falling apart, and that water and sand were still accumulating in front of her property.
She pointed out that the city was working on storm drains on Johnson Street and Workman Avenue; some of the drains were new, some renovated. She was hoping the city would work on Sharon Avenue as well because it’s in between Johnson and Workman. She inquired whether anything was going to be done on Sharon Avenue.
Mayor Quinn said the final report from the Public Works Director stated that all work on Sharon Avenue had been completed to satisfaction with the exception of curbing by the telephone pole. Ms. Beauchaine could get a copy of the report from Mr. Rollett.
FORECLOSURE: OLD FIREHOUSE #280
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, discussion took place in regard to the foreclosure of the Old Firehouse: J.R. Laliberte (Tabled on 7/19/2004.)
J. R. Laliberte introduced the architect Joseph Alicata, whom he hired to work on the firehouse. He submitted plans to the Council and pointed out that they had already been reviewed by the Building Official Francis Cardello. As a courtesy, the plans were also submitted to the State’s Historic Preservation Officer, but there was no requirement to do so since no state funding was forthcoming and no changes will be done on the historic look of the building.
Mr. Alicata explained the work that would be addressed in the drawings.
Mr. Laliberte indicated that a walk through with those invited to bid would take place next Tuesday or Wednesday. An ad will also appear in Sunday’s paper inviting any other contractors who may be interested in bidding to attend the walk through. He will be looking for a very rapid response from those contractors.
Mr. Cardello said the bid specs looked good, however, they weren’t in detail because it depended on how the contractors were going to bid.
Mayor Quinn said the Council was interested in knowing what was in the bid package to get the job done and the time frame for getting it done.
Councilor Summers asked Mr. Laliberte why the bid packages hadn’t gone out to contractors by now if the specs were ready August 3rd.
Mr. Laliberte said he wasn’t aware they were ready on August 3rd. He said the Council had asked him to attend this meeting to show them the plans. The date to receive quotes was August 26th. He still believed he could meet that deadline.
Mayor Quinn stated that he was not present at the meeting when Mr. Laliberte last appeared before the Council, but it was his belief that bid specs were to be in the mail on August 2nd, and Mr. Laliberte was to report on the status of the bids on August 16th. He found it hard to believe that Mr. Laliberte could possibly have bid packages in hand ten days from now.
Councilor Jerram said it was his understanding that Mr. Laliberte was to have bid packages in hand by the 1st meeting in September, at which time he could inform the Council on how he was going to proceed.
Councilor Soliani thought Mr. Laliberte was being given too much time.
Mayor Quinn reviewed the current issues with this property.
Windows are required to be repaired.
Roof, weather sealed and repaired.
Masonry to be secured.
Property to be maintained.
Additionally, the building is a health and safety issue since pedestrians cannot walk in front of the building.
Mr. Laliberte indicated that the plans called for the entire front to be removed and replaced since it cannot be repaired.
The third issue reported by Mayor Quinn was the declaration and grant preservation, restrictions and covenants requiring a full plan of restoration for the building and the City Council’s approval.
Mr. Laliberte indicated that the Council had before them the plan, the scope of the work, except for the replacement of windows, since there were no broken windows in the building.
Zoning & Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer, Kimberly Barbieri stated that some of the windows were boarded up.
Mr. Laliberte said the windows in the alley were boarded up for protection, but the windows on the inside were not broken.
Mrs. Barbieri said the ordinance specifically states that boarded up windows are an indication of blight. Being that the building is vacant, people can’t maintain a presence at the building to protect it from being vandalized.
Councilor Jerram said he thought they should concentrate on the blight issues and whether Mr. Laliberte’s plan will resolve them. The declaration signed when Mr. Laliberte acquired the property is a completely separate issue, and another meeting with Mr. Laliberte could be scheduled to review his plans for preservation.
Mayor Quinn said Mr. Laliberte had agreed a number of years ago in the spirit of the sale of that building for $1.00 that he was going to put the property to good use. If Mr. Laliberte wanted to get off the blight list, then he had to address the issues stated earlier.
Councilor Jerram pointed out that Mr. Laliberte had complied with the Council’s wishes. (Mr. Laliberte brought forth the plan on July 21 (sic, July 19). That required him to have the bid specs prepared and ready to present to the Council at this meeting.)
MOTION TO TABLE #930
Councilor Jerram made a motion to table the foreclosure of the Old Firehouse - J.R. Laliberte until the September 7th meeting, which would be the final due date for his bid package. Councilor Summers seconded the motion. On a 4-2 vote, the motion carried. Councilors Samele and Soliani opposed.
ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT: MACHUGA PROPERTY #1020
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Environmental Report in regard to the Machuga Property Acquisition.
Councilor Summers inquired about the clean-up of subsurface oil on the property.
Mrs. Barbieri stated that it is relatively minor and would be part of the general clean up of the property.
TRANSFER FUNDS - TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SQUAD #1055
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the transfer of $1,000.00 from Contingency line item 0010.0047.5651.0000 into line item 0010.0024.5387.0000 Traffic Enforcement Squad, which was inadvertently omitted from the original approved budget, and referred it to the Board of Finance.
TRANSFER: SOCIAL SERVICE BUDGET #1060
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to transfer $828.69 from various accounts within the Social Service Budget and $1,566.47 from Contingency into the Social Service Eviction Special Account to cover an overdraft, and referred it to the Board of Finance.
BUDGET TRANSFERS #1070
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize year end budget transfers for fiscal year ending June 30, 2004, per Comptroller’s memorandum dated August 4, 2004, and referred them to the Board of Finance.
TRUMBULL CONST. CO. #1080
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the final invoice (retainage) of $10,527.38 from Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to Trumbull Construction Co. for Sanitary Sewer Improvements to Oakbrook Lane/West Horace Street and Perkins Street, and referred it to the Board of Finance.
TRUMBULL CONST. CO. #1110
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the final invoice (retainage) of $24,476.88 from the Northwest Interceptor Fund #302 to Trumbull Construction Co. for Sanitary Sewer Improvements - Torrington Phase III Sewers, Contract 4 - Highland Ave.
CARDINAL ENG. #1110
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $11,229.37 from the Northwest Interceptor Fund #302 to Cardinal Engineering for construction, administration and inspection services performed on sanitary sewer improvements to East Main Street/New Harwinton Road and Phase 2 from Torrington Heights to Norton St.
CARDINAL ENG. #1120
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $522.50 from the Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to Cardinal Engineering Asso. for inspection services performed on the Tara Drive Sanitary Sewer Pump Station Removal, and referred it to the Board of Finance.
SMALL CITIES #1130
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following Small Cities payments:
Republican American Fund #250 $149.10 Notice of Bid Ad
City of Torrington Fund #250 $225.00 3 Limited Title Searches
Safe Homes, Inc. Fund #250 $700.00 1 Risk Assess &
1 Abate Plan
Safe Homes, Inc. Fund #250 $550.00 2 Risk Assessments
Safe Homes, Inc. Fund #250 $300.00 1 Risk Assessment
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1140
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero informed the Council that he had received a $12,000.00 check from the state for the grant he applied for in regard to historic preservation. He pointed out that he had received $39,000.00 to date on such grants.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1170
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the City Council.
Councilor Jerram pointed out that the Municipal Buildings Committee was suspended due to the fact that costs had escalated far beyond anyone’s imagination.
Mayor Quinn informed the Council that the Committee brought the matter before him to see if they could gain his support and he expressed his opinion that the city could not financially move ahead. He asked the committee to try to come up with more innovative means of financing. He noted that several municipal buildings had code issues that needed to be addressed, however, he could not support a referendum at this time.
Councilor Waldron stated that the sewer project on New Harwinton Road seemed to be moving along well. He also noted that school will start next week.
Councilor Samele stated that the Torringford School Building project was moving along well.
Councilor Soliani strongly recommended that either Planning & Zoning or the Mayor’s Office keep Mr. Laliberte’s feet to the fire. She feared that the bid packages would go on until September if he wasn’t forced to present them to someone in City Hall on August 26t
Councilors Jerram, Waldron, and Soliani commended the city for a very successful Heritage Day celebration. It was a tribute to everyone involved.
ADJOURNMENT #1410
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:20 P.M.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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