MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
APRIL 17, 2006
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, April 17, 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, Andrew J. Slaiby (arrived at 6:34 p.m.), Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, and Tax Collector Robert Crovo.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the special meeting held March 27, 2006 on budgets, and the minutes of the regular meeting held April 3, 2006.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #030
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
BYRNE & BYRNE #050
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $2,925.00 from Contingency to Byrne & Byrne for professional services rendered in the Dziedzic Properties, LLC vs. Torrington ZBA matter and referred it to the Board of Finance.
DOG FUND #065
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $3,905.00 from the Dog Fund to pay the Town of Harwinton for board and care of seized dogs and cats in regard to the Wheeler matter, to be reimbursed to the City of Torrington by Lee Wheeler at $200.00 a month as ordered by court.
Councilor Soliani inquired whether Torrington had the same rates as Harwinton, and, if not, we should consider charging more.
Dog Warden Tony Bonaccasio indicated that Torrington’s rates were lower than Harwinton’s. It was his belief that people wouldn’t claim their dogs if the rates were much higher.
Councilor Slaiby arrived at 6:34 p.m.
Mr. Bonaccasio explained that Harwinton volunteered their help when the court ordered 27 dogs and 16 cats to be housed while the court case was pending because we didn’t have adequate capacity. He noted that this was an adjusted bill from one that was much higher. He said he didn’t think Harwinton was going to charge us at all because it was a state order to seize the animals, and that’s what prompted him to ask for an adjustment on the bill.
Mr. Bonaccasio further explained that he had funds to cover this invoice in the Dog Fund. It’s money that he collects when a stray dog is claimed by its owner for a fee. By state statute, the funds may only be used for equipment or for animal care. The court ordered Lee Wheeler to reimburse the city $200.00 a month. If he doesn’t pay, he will be held in contempt of court.
APPOINTMENT: EDC #200
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to appoint William Battle to the Economic Development Commission to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Karen O’Donnell for a term to expire in 2008.
TORRINGFORD SCHOOL PAYMENTS #220
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following invoices from the Torringford School Building Fund #314:
Friar Associates, Inc. Inv. #3 Installment #19 $ 15,691.00
O & G Ind., Inc. Inv. #21 Services thru 3/31 $294,800.00
Sch Furn (partial payment) App. #2 Library Furniture $ 11,989.28
RE-OPEN MEETING TO THE PUBLIC #225
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to re-open the meeting to the public for “agenda items” only. There was no public participation.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #245
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Councilor Soliani inquired about the100% increase in Line Item 5601 - Interest Expense in next year’s Tax Collector’s Budget.
Mr. Crovo said he thought it was the interest the city pays him on the money he gives the city out of his pre-payment account.
Councilor Dalla Valle pointed out that a change took place several years ago, “To where he was holding all the money in his account and drawing the interest and holding back the money from the city using it. So we (the Council) changed it to allow him (Mr. Crovo) to give us the money on a more frequent basis than just twice a year so that we had access to money more frequently. But rather than cost him any money, we chose to pay him any interest that he would have accrued had he put it in the bank. If he put it in the bank, he would have tied up the city’s money, so he’s freeing up the money on a weekly, monthly, what is it that you pay us?”
Mr. Crovo said he pays the city every day, but he gives the city money every time he collects $300,000.00 or more in pre-payments.
Councilor Dalla Valle didn’t think the interest rate had risen that much to create such a change and thought it should be checked.
A discussion took place in regard to complaints filed against the Tax Collector.
Councilor Jerram inquired what would trigger a late bill.
Mr. Crovo stated that sewer bills are sent out at the end of May, early June. It’s a two part bill due June 1, late August 1, and again due January 1, late February 1. Any half paid late will trigger a bill in April, which, by law, has to be a demand notice because he can lien for a late sewer bill.
Mr. Crovo said he sends out a late notice on personal property by August 15, a late notice on automobiles by October 1 and everything is sent out in early April. If someone missed paying their taxes on their house in July, they would not get a late notice until April. Whether he sends out late notices or not is a pure business decision as opposed to being statute driven. In order to place a lien, Mr. Crovo is required by State Statute to send a demand notice on real estate or sewers.
Councilor Dalla Valle requested placing this item on the next Council Agenda for an executive session under Contracts.
Mr. Crovo said he would be open to discussion in either open or executive session.
Councilor McKenna said he would like an opinion relative to FOI before going into an executive session.
Councilor Soliani said she suspected most complaints came from people who bought a home whereby the previous owner paid the first installment and they weren’t aware that they owed a second installment.
Mr. Crovo said there’s no way for him to know that such a transaction has taken place. Typically, they will get a notice in April that they didn’t pay their share of the taxes.
A person is late with their real estate taxes on August 2. If they owed $1,000.00, on August 2nd, they now owe $1,030.00; 3% is charged from the date it was actually due, which is July 1, by Statute. This $30.00 would be deducted from the principal. Therefore, they would still owe $30.00 on the principal, and from that time until April, they would be charged interest on the $30.00 until it is paid.
Councilor Dalla Valle was concerned about the fact that he deducts the $30.00 from the principal and continues to draw interest. It’s then held for five or six months without notifying the home owner that it’s due.
Mr. Crovo said it was done by statute.
Several councilors asked Mr. Crovo if he could do another billing to let these people know they are late.
Councilor Jerram asked how many people were late in their bills.
Mr. Crovo said his latest mailing included 10,000 late bills.
Councilor Dalla Valle said his request for executive session was to discuss the possibility of changing the Tax Collector’s contract to have him send another bill.
Councilor McKenna said it was his opinion that we had a big problem if 10,000 people are late paying their tax bills.
Mr. Crovo said it was probably very typical for a town of Torrington’s size to have that many late bills. Some could be people who have moved out of Torrington and not paid their car taxes, and some could go back to 1998 or earlier.
Councilor Dalla Valle asked Mr. Crovo if he would consider doing an additional mailing sooner than April.
Mr. Crovo said he would definitely think about it; however, if he did send out another mailing, he estimated the numbers would probably come down to a mere 9,500 or 9,200.
Councilor McKenna said it would cut down on the number of complaints.
Councilor Jerram indicated that an additional mailing would cost Mr. Crovo approximately $5,000.00.
Councilor Jerram asked what the outstanding amount was on 10,000 delinquent bills.
Mr. Crovo stated “$5,700,000.00".
Councilor Soliani said her concern throughout the years has been the treatment to the taxpayers and that we should be looking at any way possible to soften this. If there was any way to help people, especially when it’s an honest mistake, it would be appreciated by this Council.
Councilor Dalla Valle asked if his office could be more user friendly.
Mr. Crovo explained that people are usually upset and angry when they pay their taxes, and his office staff is subjected to a lot of verbal abuse and a great number of people saying they never received a bill. His office makes every effort to make certain taxpayer’s get their bills in a timely manner. He assured the Council that his office treats the public with courtesy.
Mr. Crovo said he values his job as well as the respect of the City Council. He does his job very well, and, in order for him to make a go of his job, he needs to do it correctly and collect everyone’s interest.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1590
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
Councilor Jerram stated that opening day ceremonies for Little League will take place on Saturday at the Oak Avenue Park.
Councilor Slaiby stated that Youth Service Day will take place on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in Coe Park.
Mayor Bingham mentioned that he would be attending POG Training in regard to Homeland Security, and invited the Council to attend as well.
Mayor Bingham announced that Al Vasko had resigned his position as Corporation Counsel. On behalf of the city, he thanked him for his dedication and devotion during his16 years of service. He appreciated working with him for the past four months, and wished him well in his future endeavors.
He also announced that the new Corporation Counsel, Ernestine Yuille Weaver, will be starting on Monday, April 24. He noted that she has all the qualifications necessary to fill the position, and that he was certain she would serve the City of Torrington well. He was proud to have her as the new Corporation Counsel.
ADJOURNMENT #1800
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:22 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
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