MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
JUNE 5, 2006
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, June 5, 2006, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors James F. McKenna, Andrew J. Slaiby, Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, Director of Elderly Services Nancy Gyurko, and Nutrition Supervisor Joel Sekorski. Councilors Thomas Jerram and Rick E. Dalla Valle were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
PART TIME POSITION #005
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the City Clerk and Personnel Director to hire a part time position as of July 1, 2006 in the City Clerk’s Office.
SOUTHWEST SCHOOL ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT #030
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, a discussion took place in regard to the Southwest School Roof Replacement Project.
Councilor McKenna asked how the city could do multi-million dollar renovations and not include roofing and asbestos removal.
David Bascetta, Facilities Director for the Torrington Public Schools, stated that the roof at the Southwest School was made from a GAF asphalt shingle, which had a tendency to fail. As a member of the Southwest School Building Committee, the committee figured the roof would last another fifteen years since it was less than twenty years old at the time of the renovations, unfortunately that is not the case.
Mr. Bascetta stated that the warrantee would only reimburse the city between $150.00 to $200.00.
In regard to the asbestos removal at the high school, Mr. Bascetta stated that the upper level in Building A was never done because the building committee ran out of funds. He explained that the school system has a three year re-inspection on their asbestos procedures, and pointed out that this particular asbestos needs to be removed because it’s not adhering to the floor.
Both projects are reimbursable by the state, possibly at a higher rate than when the renovations were done.
Nancy Haynes, Director of Business Services, said the most the state will reimburse the city will be 74%, depending on what they rule as eligible, but that information won’t be known until the Board of Education applies for the grant.
Mr. Bascetta said it was his belief that the original reimbursement rate for the Southwest School was 70%, and that the rate increased somewhat thereafter. In terms of the asbestos, Mr. Bascetta didn’t know what the original reimbursement rate was when the renovations were done.
Councilor Soliani inquired as to who quoted the estimate of $120,000.00 for the roofing project, since it hasn’t gone out to bid.
Mr. Bascetta said the architects furnished him a professional cost estimate.
Councilor Soliani asked if the need to do these repairs is a result of our failure to include the items at the time of the renovations in order to keep the costs down.
Mr. Bascetta felt the roofing at Southwest School was something that was overlooked and not discovered until they toured the roof the year before last and saw that the shingles were physically cracking. It was his belief that the School Building Committee felt it was something they didn’t have to include in their renovations. In terms of the asbestos removal at the high school, it was his opinion that the funding at the high school was never enough to do everything they wanted, and it finally caught up with them.
VOTE: SOUTHWEST SCHOOL ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT #220
On the previous motion, the Council voted unanimously to:
a. Establish a building committee of one person naming the Director of Facilities as committee chair,
b. Authorize the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the proposed project including the professional cost estimates; and
c. Authorize the Board of Education to submit Form ED049 to the State Department of Education.
ASBESTOS FLOOR TILE REPLACEMENT - T.H.S. # 225
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously in regard to the Asbestos Floor Tile Replacement at Torrington High School to:
a. Establish a building committee of one person naming the Director of Facilities as committee chair,
b. Authorize the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the proposed project including the professional cost estimates; and
c. Authorize the Board of Education to submit Form ED049 to the State Department of Education.
BUS. IN SECTION B #230
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to consider business in Section B.
MEALS ON WHEELS TRUCKS #250
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation from the Services for the Elderly Commission to waive the bid process and purchase two Meals-on-Wheels Trucks at an estimated cost of $85,072.00, from which $40,000.00 will come from a grant from the Seherr-Thoss Foundation and the remaining balance will be paid with Nutrition Program funds.
SEWER CONNECTION FEE: TARGET RETAIL STORE #300
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor McKenna, a discussion took place on the request to waive the sewer connection fee of $70,000.00 for the Torringford Development LLC, Target Retail Store Development Project in lieu of constructing a municipal sewer extension from Stonehouse Way to Louis Circle estimated to cost $103,000.00.
City Engineer Edward Fabbri cited several examples of similar situations that were approved in the past. The main difference from those approved in the past was that they were residential and this project is retail. He noted that the city did have an interest of extending the sewers through this particular property in our master plan. As part of Torrington Development’s construction project, Target agreed to extend the sewers through their property and connect into the residential subdivision to the east of their property. Fabbri sated Public Works Director Gerry Rollett asked the developer to provide written documentation on what it would cost to extend the sewers so he could compare that cost with the city’s connection fees. They came up with a cost of $103,000.00 to
extend the sewers; the connection fee is $70,000.00. Mr. Fabbri felt it would benefit the city to approve this request.
On the same motion, the Council voted unanimously to waive the sewer connection fee of $70,000.00. Torringford Development LLC, Target Retail Store Development Project agreed to pay the estimated $103,000.00 for the construction of a municipal sewer extension from Stonehouse Way to Louis Circle in lieu of the sewer connection fee.
WRIGHT-PIERCE #500
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $8,250.00 from Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to Wright-Pierce for preliminary engineering design work on the South Main Street Pump Station and Sewer Design, and referred it to the Board of Finance.
SMALL CITIES: CITY OF TORRINGTON #510
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payments of $60.88 and $21.82 from Small Cities Fund #276 to the City of Torrington as reimbursement for miscellaneous costs in regard to the Senior Center project. To be processed upon receipt of drawdown #12.
SMALL CITIES: I.C.S. #520
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $40,204.95 from Small Cities Fund #276 to I.C.S., Inc. towards application #8 for work done on the Senior Center project. To be processed upon receipt of drawdown #12.
SMALL CITIES: L. WAGNER & ASSO. #525
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payments of $2,225.00 and $935.00 from Small Cities Fund #276 to L. Wagner & Asso. for professional services rendered from 01/01/06 to 5/19/06 in regard to the Senior Center project. To be processed upon receipt of drawdown #12.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #530
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to re-open the meeting to the public for “agenda items” only. There was no public participation.
BUS: BY DEPT. HEADS #540
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero stated that the Annual Reports were scheduled to be printed this week and will be available soon. He also informed the Council that the Assistant City Clerk’s former office was recently wired for additional computers and scanners.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #570
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
Councilor Slaiby noted that there was still a considerable amount of debris in the street following the last storm and asked if the street department will be tending to it.
Mayor Bingham said he would get back to him tomorrow with an answer.
ADD E/S TO THE AGENDA #640
Councilor Waldron made a motion to add an executive session to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote under pending litigation. Councilor Soliani seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Councilor McKenna congratulated the city for another wonderful Memorial Day Parade.
EXECUTIVE SESSION #680
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to go into Executive Session under possible Pending Litigation at 6:53 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to reconvene into Open Session.
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:20 p.m.
Ernestine Yuille Weaver
Corporation Counsel
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