MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
JUNE 20, 2005
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, June 20, 2005, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., City Councilors Paul F. Samele, Jr., Marie P. Soliani, James F. McKenna, Paul W. Summers, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, Economic Development Coordinator Christina Emery, and Police Chief Robert Milano. Absent was Councilman Thomas C. Jerram.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
MINUTES #010
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the special joint meeting with the Board of Finance held May 26, 2005.
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Samele, the board with the exception of Councilor Waldron who abstained, voted to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held June 6, 2005.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #045
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
OLD FIREHOUSE #055
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Soliani, a discussion took place in regard to the foreclosure of the Old Firehouse: J. R. Laliberte (Tabled on 7/19, 8/16, 9/7, 9/20, 10/4, 11/1, 12/20, 02/07, 04/18, & 5/2.)
Mayor Quinn pointed out that work was ongoing at the Old Firehouse. It was his belief that the facade was scheduled to be done and work on the roof had already been done.
VOTE TO TABLE: OLD FIREHOUSE #070
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Samele, the board voted unanimously to table the foreclosure of the Old Firehouse: J. R. Laliberte until July 18, 2005.
REALLOCATE FUNDS: POLICE DEPT. #080
On a motion by Councilor Summers, seconded by Councilor Samele, the board voted unanimously to reallocate a sum not to exceed $20,000.00 from the Police Department’s Capital Expenditure Acct. (roof repair line item) to pay for repairs to the cooling tower at the Police Department, and referred it to the Board of Finance.
OVEREXTEND POLICE CANINE LINE ITEM #110
Chief Milano informed the Council that he had received $1,800.00 in donations toward the purchase of an animal. He requested the Council’s approval to use funds in his budget under training and equipment if needed, and to refer the matter to the Board of Finance.
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to overextend the police canine line item in the current budget by $3,000.00 to purchase a new canine and to readjust the canine line item through public donations and through the training and equipment line item currently in the budget and referred it to the Board of Finance.
Chief Milano explained that the cost for an animal will be in the $3,000.00 range, but it’s too early to know the exact price tag. He noted that his department received calls from people offering a dog and those offers would be evaluated by someone experienced in that field. He pointed out that the selection of an animal is very sophisticated, and they want to be certain they get the right animal with the right temperament. A number of different factors will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
Mayor Quinn gratefully acknowledged the kindness shown by those people who offered to donate an animal.
CARDINAL ENG. #190
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $4,655.00 from Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to Cardinal Engineering Assoc. for engineering services on the East Main Street/New Harwinton Road Sanitary Sewer Improvements and referred it to the Board of Finance.
ROOSEVELT AVE. #195
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted unanimously to approve the proposed extension of the Roosevelt Avenue roadway and the public sanitary sewer, beginning at the existing westerly end of pavement on Roosevelt running 425 + feet west to the proposed new end of street, adjacent to lots being developed on the north side and other future development south and west. Proposed improvements will be at the developer’s expense. (In accordance with the City Engineer’s memo dated June 15, 2005 - see attached memo.)
W. W. MANCHESTER #200
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to award the bid entitled Brass Mill Dam Road Sanitary Sewer Extension to the low bidder, W. W. Manchester Construction Co., for $36,809.00.
SMALL CITIES: RECORD JOURNAL #210
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $178.56 from Small Cities Fund #250 to the Record Journal for an Invitation to Bid ad.
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT #215
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for April 2005.
FAIR HOUSING POLICY / FAIR HOUSING RESOLUTION #220
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted unanimously to accept the Fair Housing Policy Statement for the City of Torrington and adopt the Fair Housing Resolution.
CITY OF TORRINGTON
FAIR HOUSING RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, All American citizens are afforded a right to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice; and
WHEREAS, State and Federal Fair Housing laws require that all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, lawful source of income, sexual orientation, familial status, be given equal access to rental and home ownership opportunities, and be allowed to make free choices regarding housing location;
WHEREAS, the City of Torrington is committed to upholding these laws, and realizes that these laws must be supplemented by an Affirmative Statement publicly endorsing the right of all people to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Torrington hereby endorses a Fair Housing Policy to ensure equal opportunity for all persons to rent, purchase and obtain financing for adequate housing of their choice on a non-discriminatory basis: and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor of the City of Torrington or his designated representative is responsible for responding to and assisting any person who alleges to be the victim of any illegal discriminatory housing practice in the City of Torrington.
Adopted by the City of Torrington on June 20, 2005.
INVOICES: TORRINGFORD SCHOOL #230
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted unanimously to authorize the following invoices from the Torringford School Building Fund #314:
Friar Assoc. Inc. Inv. #22 Installment #9 $ 15,691.00
Education Connection Inv. #30092 Miscellaneous $ 600.00
O & G Industries Inv. #11 Serv. thru 5/31/05 $1,270,071.00
HISTORICAL MARKER/MONUMENT #240
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to authorize the use of $2,500.00 from Contingency to help pay for the design, construction and installation of a Historical Marker / Monument commemorating the 1955 Flood, and referred it to the Board of Finance.
Chief of Staff David Rivera informed the board that a Historical Marker / Monument would be built to commemorate the Flood of 1955 and pay tribute to those who stepped forward to help their neighbors, the professionals and volunteers in any way they could and to pay tribute to seven residents of Torrington who lost their lives.
The Marker / Monument would have a drawing depicting then and now along with text, and be constructed similar to a drafter’s table. The monument would be placed in the municipal parking lot near the library, facing the center bridge, so that when you looked up after looking at the monument, you could picture how the center of Torrington was before the flood compared to how it looks today.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #330
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Samele, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #340
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn
and members of the City Council.
Councilor Summers stated that the Torrington High School graduation was a well-run program with short speeches by students, the Chairman of the Board of Education Paul Cavegnaro, and the newly appointed Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Susan O’Brien.
PUBLIC HEARING: NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE #390
Mayor Quinn called the Public Hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. to review and discuss proposals for participation in the 2005 Neighborhood Assistance Act.
Assistant City Clerk Joline LeBlanc read the legal notice.
Collin Good, Intern in the Mayor’s Office for the summer of 2005, explained that the Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program was designed to provide funding for municipal and tax exempt organizations by providing a corporation business tax credit for businesses who make cash donations to these entities. Businesses can receive a credit of 60% of their approved contribution for certain programs approved by the Department of Revenue Services. Any tax credit that is not taken in the income year in which the contribution was made may be carried back to the immediately proceeding income years, beginning with the earlier of such years. A business is limited to receiving $75,000.00 in tax credits annually. A nonprofit organization is limited to receiving $150,000.00 in contributions
in the aggregate. The total charitable contributions of the contributing business must equal or exceed its prior year’s amount, unless the contribution is an open approved space acquisition fund. The minimum contribution on which credit can be granted is $250.00. The program has a $5 million dollar cap, which, if exceeded, results in a proration of approved donations. Each business requesting a tax credit under NAA must complete a separate form for each program it wishes to sponsor. The contribution must be cash and needs to be made in the corporation’s income year that begins on or after January 1, 2005.
The following businesses have submitted an application:
United Way, request for $150,000.00
LARC, request for $150,000.00
Northwest CT Chamber of Commerce, request for $60,000.00
Susan B. Anthony Project, request for $75,000.00
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, request for $25,000.00
Eighty applications were mailed out, a few dozen inquires were received, and five businesses applied for funds. A legal advertisement was placed in the Republican American, as required by the state, that explained how to apply and how to take advantage of the Act. Should the applications meet with the Council’s approval, they will be mailed to the Department of Revenue Services to meet the July 1, 2005 deadline.
Councilor Summers inquired whether the applications were in proper form.
Mr. Good indicated that they were.
William Egan, Executive Director of United Way of Northwest Connecticut, Inc. thanked Mayor Quinn for continuing to sponsor the Neighborhood Assistance Act.
Mayor Quinn called the public hearing to a close at 7:07 p.m.
VOTE ON NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE #615
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to approve the aforementioned applications submitted for participation in the 2005 Neighborhood Assistance Act.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PROPERTY DISPOSITION #625
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Samele, the board voted unanimously to go into an executive session under Property Disposition. Economic Development Coordinator Christina Emery, Chief of Staff David Rivera, and Jeff Schroeder were invited to attend.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
Jeff Schroeder and David Rivera left the executive session at 7:25 p.m.
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by James McKenna, seconded by Paul Summers, the board went into open session at 7:35 p.m.
On a motion by Paul Summers, seconded by James McKenna, the board moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into lease negotiations with Shookie Recreation, LLC for a lease of the Southeast School building.
On a motion by James McKenna, seconded by Paul Summers, the board adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
ALBERT G. VASKO
CORPORATION COUNSEL
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