MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
OCTOBER 4, 2004
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, October 4, 2004, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Acting Mayor Marie P. Soliani, 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, Superintendent of Streets Robert Lizotte, WPC Administrator Raymond Drew, and Building Official Francis Cardello. Absent was Mayor Owen Quinn, Jr.
Acting Mayor Soliani 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 September 20, 2004.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #025
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Michael Driscoll, 26 Alvord Street, urged the Council to vote in favor of the foreclosure on property located at 7 George Street.
George Siegel, coach for amateur boxing on Water Street, asked for an update on his request for the city’s help to find him a new location for his business in order to serve the youth of the town.
Acting Mayor Soliani said she personally didn’t think the city knew of any place available. She asked Mr. Siegel if he had contacted the Economic Development Coordinator for help.
Mr. Siegel indicated that he had contacted her a year ago. He and his partner had also approached Park & Recreation and United Way, to no avail.
Mr. Siegel’s partner also spoke on behalf of their club and the work they do with the youth of the area. He hoped the school on Oak Avenue could be made available to them.
Acting Mayor Soliani said they would do their best to re-consider the request.
Bridget Beauchaine, 113 Sharon Avenue, informed the Council that Mr. Rollett had authorized the photos of her home that she had spoken about during the last meeting. She stated that a private contractor had given her a quote of $2,000.00 to bring the situation up to par. She also reported that the city had worked on a driveway on Workman Avenue to rectify a situation similar to hers. As a taxpayer, she asked why she couldn’t have her problem resolved as well, since she never had this problem until the city reclaimed the road.
OLD FIREHOUSE: J.R. LALIBERTE #180
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to hear from J. R. Laliberte on the old firehouse.
Mr. Laliberte indicated that the work on the back roof of the annex part of the building will begin tomorrow. The masons will begin the week of 10/11, and the roofers will begin on the main roof the week of 10/18.
He stated that they had worked out a way to do the entire roof on the building and three quarters of the bell tower. All the mason work around the sides of the building and the back roof will be done. The front part of the bell tower and the front right corner of the building won’t be worked on until CL&P can move the telephone pole, which has become a bigger issue for him. A few weeks ago, they were concerned that they would have to stop short with the roof ten to fifteen feet from the front of the building if CL&P didn’t move the pole, and therefore, they wouldn’t have a watertight roof for the winter. After meeting with the architect, the mason, the roofer and the carpenter, they now believe they can get everything done except the front part of the facade of the building. He stated that Rick Reynolds, the engineer from CL&P, had informed him that this pole was the main line for all of downtown. Electricity goes directly from the sub station underground to that pole and that
pole feeds all of downtown including part of Charlotte Hungerford Hospital’s main electrical supply. Mr. Reynolds informed him that he was a month and a half to two months away from being able to begin that work because much of their manpower had been sent to Florida. He stated that he does have a CRS number, which is a registry number for work to be done, and that, although Mr. Reynolds didn’t have a detailed plan available for tonight’s meeting, he or his boss could attend the next meeting or send the Council a letter with more details.
The front facade will not be completed and the fence will have to remain until the pole is moved. Everything else, all the way around the building and the entire roof will be done. Once the roof is done, they can start working on the interior, which will include the replacement of a main carrying beam that Mr. Cardello wanted addressed. The work on the front right corner is budgeted and the permit has been pulled. The mason is ready to work on it. They will be able to get to the two sides and the back part of the bell tower by using a lift. The front part of the bell tower needs very little work compared to the rest of the bell tower. Unfortunately, the part that looks most unsightly is the front part of the building. It’s not a huge expense so it’s not being
put off because of an expense reason, but rather because it’s a safety issue.
Councilor Jerram asked Mr. Laliberte to have CL&P write a detailed letter to the Mayor’s Office about the telephone pole.
Councilor Soliani asked Mr. Laliberte to see if Mr. Reynolds or his boss could attend the next Blight Committee meeting on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
Mr. Laliberte informed the Council that the cost to move the pole is between $40,000.00 and $50,000.00 and that CL&P will most likely bear the expense.
MOTION TO TABLE #600
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to table the foreclosure of the Old Firehouse: J.R. Laliberte to November 1, 2004. (Tabled on 7/19, 8/16, 9/7, & 9/20.)
FORECLOSURE: 7 GEORGE STREET #610
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, discussion took place in regard to the foreclosure on property located at 7 George Street: Sherman I. Weisman.
Councilor Soliani reported that Mr. Weisman had attended the Blight Committee meeting on June 23 at which time he gave them a very detailed schedule stating that improvements and blight, non-compliance issues would be completed by September 15th. The only work done to the property to date was mowing the lawn and cleaning up shrubbery on July 7. No phone calls have been returned.
MOTION TO FORECLOSE #660
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to foreclose on property located at 7 George Street owned by Sherman I. Weisman.
P & G PEPPER #670
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $215,160.54 from the Northwest Interceptor Fund #302 to P & G Pepper Construction Services, Inc. for work performed on the New Harwinton Road Sanitary Sewer Project.
TRANSFER OF FUNDS #670
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the transfer of $10,000.00 from the $20,000.00 appropriated for South Chapel Drainage Improvements on Purchase Order #04-6652 for guide rail installation at Torrington Heights Road, Stillwater Pond Road and Highland Avenue, and referred it to the Board of Finance.
TRACKING SOFTWARE #700
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to table the request to authorize “up to” $4,500.00 from Contingency to purchase permit tracking software to issue and maintain permits, schedules and violations by the Building, Planning & Zoning and Engineering Departments, and refer it to the Board of Finance.
NAME CHANGE: DUMP ROAD #710
On a motion by Councilor Summers, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider the proposed name change from Dump Road to Vista Drive prior to the Public Hearing scheduled for October 18, 2004.
SANITARY SEWER LINE: HARRIS DRIVE #820
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to approve a 90 foot extension of public sanitary sewer from near the Harris Drive pump station across Winsted Road to Butterick Road to serve two proposed commercial buildings on the southwest corner of Butterick Road and Winsted Road. (The proposed sewer line running south from the public extension will be a private lateral maintained by the property owner. The extension will be paid by the developer.)
SAND BID #850
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to approve the recommendation from the Public Works Director to waive the bid process and accept the State Bid for Sand for Snow and Ice Control for fiscal year 2004-2005. The two lowest bids ranged from $14.95 to $17.20/CY. Materials will be purchased from the lowest priced supplier to the maximum extent practicable.
The Superintendent of Streets, Robert Lizotte, indicated that we will be under budget if we are able to fill the entire bid with the lower price. If we need to pay $17.20, we will be $14,000.00 over budget which he proposed using town aid funds. There isn’t enough storage space to acquire it all at one time.
INCREASE IN SALARY: REGISTRARS # 900
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted, with the exception of Councilor Waldron who abstained, to approve a 5% increase in salary for the Democratic and Republican Registrar of Voters effective January 2005, in conjunction with Article XIX of the Connecticut Constitution.
MACHUGA PROPERTY #920
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to table the final approval to purchase the Machuga parcel for use as an open space and recreational facility.
SMALL CITIES: REPUBLICAN AMERICAN #925
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $92.40 from Small Cities Fund #250 to the Republican-American for an Invitation to Bid ad.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #930
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #940
On a motion by Councilor Summers, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the City Council.
In light of the information Mrs. Beauchaine furnished the Council in regard to Workman Avenue, Councilor Jerram inquired whether they could ask Mayor Quinn to get together with the Public Works Director to see what exactly occurred on Workman Avenue.
Councilor Jerram requested an update on the dirty dozen for the next meeting.
ADD TO AGENDA: STREET LIGHTS - WEIGOLD ROAD #1010
Councilor Jerram made a motion to add the three street lights on Weigold Road to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote. Councilor Summers seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Councilor Jerram made a motion to approve the installation of three street lights on Weigold Road (pole numbers 2232, 4403, and 4408). Councilor Summers seconded the motion. The Council voted to approve the motion, with the exception of Councilor Soliani who opposed. Motion carried.
Councilor Soliani extended Mayor Quinn’s invitation to a bulb planting event at Coe Park sponsored by the First Renaissance Team on October 16, at 10:30 a.m. The rain date will be October 17.
ADJOURNMENT #1150
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:07 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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