MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
JULY 5, 2005
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Tuesday, July 5, 2005, 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, Paul W. Summers, and Drake L. Waldron (arrived at 6:37 p.m.), Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Fleet Manager Michael Michaud, WPC Administrator Raymond Drew, and Parks & Recreation Director John Timm. Absent was Councilman James F. McKenna.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted to approve with the exception of Councilor Jerram who abstained, the minutes of the regular meeting held June 20, 2005.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #025
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
LEASE AGREEMENT: SCHOOKIE RECREATION #040
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted unanimously to approve the Lease Agreement between the City of Torrington and Schookie Recreation, LLC.
Councilor Waldron arrived at 6:37 p.m.
EXTENSION OF PUBLIC SANITARY SEWER: DENNISON DRIVE #050
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted unanimously to approve a 33' extension of public sanitary sewer on the west side of Winsted Road, approximately 250' south of Dennison Drive to serve a proposed log cabin sales office. The cost of the extension will be paid by the developer.
PURCHASE: PLOW TRUCKS #060
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted unanimously to accept the recommendations from the Purchasing Agent and the Fleet Manager to award the bid entitled “Four Plow Trucks” to Marola Motors for a total of $557,600.00.
Councilor Jerram inquired whether they could proceed with the motion since the Vehicle Replacement Plan called for the replacement of these vehicles in the 2004-05 fiscal year as opposed to the 2005-06, and because each of these vehicles were over $100,000.00.
Corp. Counsel Vasko indicated that the motion was in order. He explained that whatever was left in the vehicle replacement account at the end of the year rolls over into the next fiscal year and can be used to purchase vehicles.
SKATE PARK: BESSE POND PARKING LOT #100
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Samele, the board voted unanimously to accept the proposal to install the Skate Park at Besse Pond parking lot and to waive the bid process to purchase all the equipment from New England Recreation Group, Inc., including the installation of Pro Series Skate Park through the State Contract.
Councilor Jerram noted that the Charter called for anything over $100,000.00 to go to referendum and inquired whether this motion was procedurally correct.
Corp. Counsel Vasko assured Councilor Jerram that it was. He explained that the Skate Park would be funded from the $50,000.00 that the Council set aside several years ago and donations that totaled approximately $18,000.00. Funds from the Besse Trust Fund, which are separate from the budget, would pay for the remainder.
Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission Patricia Fairchild stated that the commission unanimously supported the forward movement of the Skate Park, and urged the Council to approve the motion.
Councilor Waldron inquired about the time frame for construction.
Parks & Recreation Director John Timm indicated that construction would begin in mid-August and take a week to 10 days to complete.
Councilor Waldron stated that the lower parking lot was a major traffic route for the high school and the driveway has a “No Left Turn” sign at the end of it. He believed a recommendation should be made to eliminate that sign before the school year begins.
Mayor Quinn indicated that Officer Shopey would be made aware of the matter.
Councilor Jerram inquired whether any security measures other than lighting were built into the plan for when the park is closed.
Mr. Timm indicated that the park will have a security fence around it, and that they will be looking into the installation of motion detector lighting.
Mayor Quinn added that Police Chief Robert Milano and Public Works Director Gerald Rollett had made certain during the pre-planning process that security would be addressed.
BESSE TRUST FUNDS: SKATE PARK #260
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted unanimously to accept the proposal to secure Besse Trust Funds in the amount of $56,500.00 to complete the Skate Park project to include the installation of equipment, security fencing, security lighting, asphalting the parking lot and landscaping the area.
Mayor Quinn took this time to thank John Timm and all those who were involved, including the Fire Department, the Police Department, Campion Ambulance, etc., in the planning of the 4th of July fireworks display. From his perspective, he thought the fireworks display was second to none and a spectacular evening for residents of Torrington.
SMALL CITIES: CITY OF TORRINGTON #265
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to authorize the payments of $37.50 and $1,346.06 from Small Cities Fund #275 to the City of Torrington for miscellaneous expenses associated with Grant #143-HR-02.
SMALL CITIES: TRANSFER FUNDS #270
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to authorize the transfer of $25,000.00 from Small Cities Fund #275 (2002 PE Account) to Fund #277 (2002 Housing Rehab Escrow Acct.)
SMALL CITIES: COMM. HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER #340
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Samele, the board voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $13,501.00 from Small Cities Fund #278 to the Community Health & Wellness Center for services rendered from May 20, 2005 through June 16, 2005 in regard to the subrecipient agreement executed on February 8, 2005.
SMALL CITIES: L. WAGNER & ASSO. #345
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to authorize the payments of $5,005.00 and $17,555.00 from Small Cities Fund #275 to L. Wagner & Asso. for professional services rendered from 1/1/05 through 5/29/05. To be paid upon receipt of drawdown #11.
SMALL CITIES: L. WAGNER & ASSO. #350
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $7,475.00 from Small Cities Fund #276 to L. Wagner & Asso. for professional services rendered from 1/1/05 through 5/29/05. To be paid upon receipt of drawdown #10.
SMALL CITIES: L. WAGNER & ASSO. #360
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $6,227.50 from Small Cities Fund #278 to L. Wagner & Asso. for professional services rendered from 11/1/04 through 5/29/05. To be paid upon receipt of drawdown #5.
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT #380
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for May 2005.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PENDING LITIGATION & PENDING CLAIMS #390
On a motion by Councilor Summers, seconded by Councilor Samele, the board voted unanimously to go into an executive session under Pending Litigation and Pending Claims. Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, WPC Administrator Raymond Drew, and Keith McHale from Wright-Pierce were invited to attend the executive session under Pending Claims. The executive session was held at the end of the meeting.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #400
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #415
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Summers, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the City Council.
Councilor Jerram thanked John Timm for his efforts in preparing for the fireworks display and the Police Department for working 16 hour shifts over the holiday week-end.
Councilor Jerram inquired about the status of lights for Weigold Road.
Corp. Counsel Vasko said he was looking into the matter and should have a response by the next meeting.
Councilor Summers commended City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero for a very well-prepared Annual Report.
Mayor Quinn stated that he had received many compliments on the Annual Report. The new format is readable and it puts a new spin on the City of Torrington. Mr. Quartiero should be commended for putting it together.
Councilor Samele thanked Mayor Quinn for bringing back the fireworks and all those who were involved.
Councilor Soliani also commended the Parks & Recreation Department and especially the Traffic Division of the Police Department for doing a wonderful job prior to, during, and after the fireworks display. The event was beautiful, the crowds were great, and it was a lovely evening for all who attended.
EXECUTIVE SESSION #550
On the previous motion, the board went into executive session at 6:50 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Paul Summers, seconded by Paul Samele, the board went into Open Session at 7:42 p.m.
On a motion by Paul Summers, seconded by Tom Jerram, the board, acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, adopted the report prepared by Wright-Pierce regarding the Woodridge Lake Sewer District.
On a motion by Paul Summers, seconded by Tom Jerram, the board moved to authorize Mayor Quinn to obtain outside counsel to represent the Zoning Board of Appeals in the matter of Dziedzic Properties, LLC vs. Zoning Board of Appeals.
On a motion by Paul Samele, seconded by Tom Jerram, the board adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Albert G. Vasko
Corporation Counsel
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