MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
APRIL 3, 2006
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, April 3, 2006, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors James F. McKenna, Thomas C. Jerram, Rick E. Dalla Valle, Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Albert Vasko, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Director of Elderly Services Nancy Gyurko, Superintendent of Streets Robert Lizotte, Building Official Brett Zuraitis, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, and Personnel Director Thomas Gritt. Councilor Andrew J. Slaiby was absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held March 20, 2006.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC # 030
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Jeff Schroeder thanked the Council for their generosity in the extension of his lease payments, on behalf of his business Shookie Recreation He hoped to be moving forward with lots of great programs for the city.
UPDATE ON STREET SWEEPING #075
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to hear an update on street sweeping procedures.
Public Works Director Jerry Rollett explained that two of their three sweepers are usually doing spring sweeping even before all the snow is gone. This picks up some of the cleaner sand for recycling. Recycling is done as much as possible because of the cost of sand, and because of the stringent regulations placed by the D.E.P. on how the sand is disposed of.
The three sweepers are presently sweeping streets according to plow routes, starting in the central urban areas, which is the highest priority regulated by the D.E.P., and spreading out city wide.
Mr. Rollett informed the board that for the past three years they have been experimenting with anti icing agents, with a goal to eliminate sand to the maximum extent possible. Anti icing agents were used on approximately 10% of the city roads this year. No sand was applied in the downtown area this year. The snow was managed properly and no complaints were received. Next year they will expand to 20%, going into the higher elevations of the city. Anti icing agents will also be used on most of our city maintained sidewalks, municipal parking lots, and perhaps on the school parking lots.
He stated that some towns used this agent on all their roads and have experienced some problems. The use of anti icing agents takes a different mind set for the employees. It takes some experimenting, proper application, and better training. The City of Torrington is working on that. Ultimately our goal will be 100% no sand in the City of Torrington with some exclusions, such as heavy ice events, and residents using sand. The sweeping procedures will then be at a minimum.
Mr. Rollett expects the entire downtown area to be swept in approximately one week. Sweeping will then take place throughout the entire town. All streets are swept and some get a second sweeping. The goal for the future is to have a sweeping operation in the downtown area on a weekly basis.
Press releases inform the public which and when streets will be swept. Postings are also on Torrington’s web site. The D.O.T. notifies us of their sweeping operations for Main Street, and we issue another press release so downtown merchants can be aware of it.
Councilor Jerram inquired whether the anti icing agent would create a savings in the future.
Mr. Rollett said the agent adds about $10.00 per ton to the cost of salt. However, they are putting down a lesser application rate with no sand which should save the city money.
The agent is a mixture of molasses and calcium chloride/sodium chloride. When it’s mixed with salt, it lowers the freezing temperature to 20 degrees below zero, where salt itself starts working at about 20 degrees above zero. Using less salt is better for our equipment and it’s less corrosive on concrete as well. It is environmentally safe. It will remain on road surfaces until another storm comes, unless there’s a rain storm at which time it will wash away.
MEDICAL TRANS. GRANT APP. #390
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Services for the Elderly Commission to authorize Mayor Bingham’s signature on the Medical Transportation Grant Application to the Western CT Agency on Aging in the amount of $114,204.00.
CHORE PROGRAM GRANT APP. #400
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Services for the Elderly Commission to authorize Mayor Bingham’s signature on the Torrington Chore Program Grant Application to the Western CT Agency on Aging in the amount of $128,997.00.
MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING: HOMELAND SECURITY #410
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to adopt a Resolution and to authorize Mayor Bingham to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding Between the State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security, and the City of Torrington to receive grant funds in the amount of $196,387.00.
RESOLUTION:
I, Joseph L. Quartiero, do hereby certify that the following is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted by the Board of Councilmen at its meeting on April 3, 2006, at which a quorum was present and acting throughout, and that the resolution has not been modified, rescinded, or revoked and is at present in full force and effect.
RESOLVED, that Ryan J. Bingham, Mayor of the City of Torrington, be and hereby is authorized to act on behalf of the Board of Councilmen in executing a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, for participation in the FY 2005 State Homeland Security Grant Program.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has affixed his signature this 4th day of April, 2006.
Joseph L. Quartiero, City Clerk
SMALL CITIES: I.C.S. #420
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $44,828.60 from Small Cities Grant #143-DSS to I.C.S., Inc. for payment application #6 for work done in regard to the Sullivan Senior Center project.
SMALL CITIES: BL COMPANIES #425
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $850.00 from Small Cities Fund #276 to BL Companies for professional services in regard to the Sullivan Senior Center project.
SMALL CITIES: COMM. HEALTH & WELLNESS #430
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $13,500.00 from Small Cities Fund #278 to Community Health & Wellness Center for services rendered from January 20, 2006 through February 20, 2006, to be paid upon drawdown #12.
BYRNE & BYRNE #450
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to move the following item to executive session under pending litigations. (Payment of $2,925.00 to Byrne & Byrne for professional services in the Dziedzic matter - tabled at the end of the meeting.)
RECOMMENDATIONS: PERS. COMM. #475
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to hear recommendations from the Personnel Committee.
Councilor Jerram explained that, in the year 2000, the Police Chief and the Deputy Police Chief took advantage of buying back time for prior years served. They are two Management Resolution employees who are subject to terms of a union contract which they are no longer part of. The union negotiated a cap of 60% on their retirement benefits with the Chief and Deputy buying back time in anticipation that they were to receive 2% per year. It worked out to be another 7½% on what their retirement would be. Because the other 16 Management Resolution personnel have no cap on what their retirement plan would be, the sub committee provided a favorable recommendation to approve the capping of the Police Chief and Deputy Police Chief’s pension at 67%.
Councilor Jerram requested adding to the agenda by 2/3rds vote a motion to approve the request by the Police Chief and Deputy Police Chief to increase their retirement plan to 67%. Councilor Dalla Valle seconded the motion. Unanimous.
ADD TO AGENDA: INCREASE THE PENSION PLAN #580
Councilor Jerram made a motion to approve the request from the Police Chief and Deputy Police Chief to increase their pension plan from 60% to 67%. Councilor Dalla Valle seconded the motion.
Councilor Dalla Valle noted that 67% would be a maximum.
Councilor Soliani asked if this would place the Police Chief and the Deputy Police Chief on an even playing field with the other Management Resolution employees. Councilor Dalla Valle indicated that it wouldn’t, because other Management Resolution employees have no cap, but all they asked for was to be made whole for the 3½ years that they bought in.
Personnel Director Tom Gritt said the Council could change it if they want to. He explained that the buy-back wasn’t available to the Management Resolution personnel. There are two different plans with different benefits to each one. Forever, people from lower ranks have been promoted to Deputy or Chief and they were kept in that pension plan. One reason is because it has a 25 year and out provision. That’s a benefit that Management Resolution people don’t have. That decision took place a while back. It’s just now with this buy-in, we have a person who has made it to the 30 year max which we negotiated back in 2000. They didn’t even anticipate reaching that max when they bought in. They are merely asking for the opportunity to work a maximum of 3 ½ more years and get a pension benefit for what they paid into the plan.
VOTE #690
The vote was unanimous.
RE-OPEN MTG. TO THE PUBLIC #700
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to reopen the meeting to the public for “agenda items” only. There was no public participation.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #710
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #725
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
Councilor Dalla Valle indicated that he had come up with two scenarios to get rid of the trailer proposed in next year’s budget for $4,500.00; one was with the help of Deputy Chief Giampaolo. Someone will apply for a permit to remove it, at no cost to the city. If that doesn’t work, the Fire Department has graciously offered to chop it up and it can be disposed for a maximum of $1,000.00.
Secondly, he reported that the bee problem on Hoffman Street has been taken care of.
Councilor Dalla Valle indicated that shopping carts are being picked up on a regular basis. Anyone can report a stray cart by calling 496-0111.
Mayor Bingham stated that the Torrington High School Band was leaving this week-end to perform in the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington D.C. An in-school rally will take place tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. and another one was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The public is invited.
He reported that the fund raiser for Project Graduation was very successful,
and that the Fire Department’s Award Dinner will be held on Thursday at Bogey’s.
He also stated that a class will be held at 8:00 a.m. on April 5th, at the NW CT Chamber, to educate local businesses on the city’s bidding process.
PUBLIC HEARING: CHAPTER 85 #915
Mayor Bingham called the public hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. to consider repealing the current Chapter 85 of the Torrington Code and adopting a new Chapter 85 of the Torrington Code updating the City’s building construction standards and permit and certificate fees.
Assistant City Clerk Joline LeBlanc read the legal notice.
Building Official Brett Zuraitis informed the board that the building code changed as of the first of the year and Torrington’s building construction standards had to be brought up to date. The update included increases in fees, i.e., $1.00 per thousand. Many of the cost estimates were also brought up to a more current standard than what it was in the 2000 ordinance.
Mayor Bingham asked for any comments, concerns or questions from the City Council and the public. There were none.
Mayor Bingham closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m.
REPLACE CHAPTER 85 #1020
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to repeal the current Chapter 85 of the Torrington Code and adopt a new Chapter 85 of the Torrington Code updating the City’s building construction standards and permit and certificate fees.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: #1030
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to go into executive session under pending litigation at 7:05 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
On a motion by James McKenna, seconded by Marie Soliani, the board went into open session at 7:07 p.m.
On a motion by Tom Jerram, seconded by Richard Dalla Valle, the board moved to table Item 12. (Byrne & Byrne payment of $2,925.00.)
On a motion by Tom Jerram, seconded by James McKenna, the board adjourned at 7:08 p.m.
ALBERT G. VASKO
Corporation Counsel
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