MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
NOVEMBER 20, 2006
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, November 20, 2006, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors James F. McKenna, Thomas C. Jerram (left at 6:57 p.m.), Rick E. Dalla Valle, Andrew J. Slaiby, Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, Tax Assessor Donna Patchen, Purchasing Agent Charlene Antonelli, Fleet Supervisor Michael Michaud, and Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m., immediately following a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the City Employees’ Retirement Fund.
MINUTES #090
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held November 6, 2006.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #100
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Joseph Friscia, 2600 Torringford West Street, spoke on behalf of the City’s newly appointed Conservation Commission members who endorsed the city’s approval of a Resolution to participate in the 20% by 2010 Clean Energy Campaign. In doing so, the Council will send a message to the citizens of Torrington validating their concern for a clean, healthy environment. He urged the Council to sign up for the CT Clean Energy Option.
OVERTIME: ASSESSOR’S OFFICE #170
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, a discussion took place concerning the Assessor’s request for overtime.
At the request of Councilwoman Soliani, Tax Assessor Donna Patchen explained the only other alternative to overtime, which was to close the office to the public and add one-half hour of straight time for three employees. She couldn’t promise how much this will help, but suggested that the matter be re-visited at the end of January. She anticipated having to uphold such an aggressive schedule because they will need to start the additional veterans’ program, the state run elderly program, and the elderly freeze program, as soon as she signs the grand list. The impact on the veterans’ program has been intense and there’s no way to know what the impact will be on the elderly tax freeze program.
Councilor Dalla Valle asked whether the increase in hours was a union issue.
Mrs. Patchen said she spoke with Tom Gritt, the Personnel Director, and he didn’t think so.
Mrs. Patchen stated that closing her office to the public from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. would give her staff 1½ hours of uninterrupted time.
City Clerk Joseph L Quartiero thought his office might have a problem if the Assessor’s Office was closed to the public until 9:30 a.m. because title searchers use both offices to perform their work. He thought it would better if her office was closed to the public until 9:00 a.m. instead of 9:30 a.m., and even better if they closed from 3:30 to 4 p.m.
On the previous motion, the Council voted unanimously to oppose the request from the Assessor for overtime for her office staff.
ADD TO AGENDA #510
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to add an item to the Agenda by 2/3rds vote in regard to additional time for the Assessor’s Office.
ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE ASSESSOR’S OFFICE #530
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to approve 2½ hours of additional time for three employees in the Assessor’s Office allocating funds not to exceed $4,500.00 from Contingency for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Councilor McKenna suggested that perhaps the Assessor’s Office could work with the City Clerk’s Office to figure out which hours would work best for everyone.
Councilor Dalla Valle wanted to make sure Mrs. Patchen would be able to come back before the Council to request more funds if she ran into a problem.
Councilor Jerram amended his motion to include the appropriate payroll taxes that would be necessary. Councilor McKenna amended his motion. Unanimous.
MOVE ITEM #600
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Board voted unanimously to move #6 on the Agenda to the present time (Mercury Associates).
MERCURY ASSO. #610
A discussion took place on the recommendation from the Vehicle Replacement Committee to waive the bid process and hire Mercury Associates as the consultant to perform vehicle replacement and fleet management practice.
Councilor Jerram, a member of a subcommittee who met in regard to vehicle replacement, stated that the committee reviewed a number of questions that came about in terms of what the appropriate level of funding should be, and what was the appropriate method of managing our fleet of vehicles.
He stated that the Purchasing Agent was able to identify two vendors who specialize in fleet maintenance with a specific area for government functions. One company they met with was Mercury Associates, who presented a three phase plan to get on track.
Fleet Manager Michael Michaud indicated that Phase I will identify the actual fleet and determine the life expectancy of each vehicle based on depreciation and/or repair costs. A utilization schedule will then be prepared. If a vehicle is not utilized, the city should look at alternatives like renting and/or sharing amongst departments, etc.
Mr. Michaud explained that the maintenance costs for all vehicles are currently charged to his department. The new plan will charge each department for their equipment, as well as maintenance. This will force each department to get a real feel for the operating costs of each vehicle and eliminate much of the avoidable repair costs.
Councilor Dalla Valle inquired whether the plan included reviewing the practice of cars going home with employees.
Mr. Michaud said yes. In addition, they will set up a program where it will be advantageous for an employee to use their own vehicle to go back and forth.
Councilor Jerram said the goal will be to pin point with much greater accuracy how much to budget into the vehicle replacement account in order to sustain the fleet and determine the right size of the fleet.
Mr. Michaud indicated that the Council will receive a report after each phase is complete. A number of meetings will take place with department heads that have vehicles and the Council will get constant feedback on its progress.
Mayor Bingham stated that the completion of Phase I will be detrimental to the city in terms of the upcoming budget process. He indicated that funds from the Vehicle Replacement Account will pay for the services of Mercury Associates.
Councilor Jerram made a motion to initiate (a contract) with Mercury Asso. for all three phases at a total cost of $74,152.00. Councilor Dalla Valle seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Mayor Bingham thanked the subcommittee for their hard work.
CLEAN WATER ACTION #950
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, a discussion took place in regard to the Clean Water Action - “20% by 2010 Challenge”.
Councilor Jerram left at 6:57 p.m.
Colin Bennett, member of a non-profit environmental group called Clean Water Action, and Denise (Clapsetto ?), a Torrington resident, urged the Council to adopt a Resolution and to support the 20% Clean Energy by 2010 Campaign. This program was created under the auspices of the Connecticut Legislature and is overseen by the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.
The Resolution is a non-binding commitment whereby Torrington will support a certain amount of its electricity usage from clean and renewable sources. Once the Resolution is passed and 100 residents have signed up
for clean energy, the city will qualify for a $10,000.00 solar (panel?), which produces electricity and the city can install it anywhere it wants to. Also, the first forty towns to adopt the Resolution will receive a $5,000.00 grant to promote energy efficiency and conservation.
Mayor Bingham stated that the Corp. Counsel will review the Resolution and the matter will be placed on the next Council agenda.
RESCUE TOOLS # 1335
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Board of Safety’s recommendation to award the bid entitled “Rescue Tools” to Shipman’s Fire Equipment Co. for $53,861.00 ($60,410.00 less trade-in), and to approve the borrowing of $10,122.00 from capital reserve and referred the matter to the Board of Finance.
M.E. O’BRIEN & SONS #1345
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to waive the bid process and award a contract to M.E. O’Brien & Sons to purchase an Icon Shelter Systems, Inc. shelter for Joe Ruwet Park for $11,462.00, using the State of Connecticut bid contract.
WRIGHT-PIERCE #1380
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $2,240.00 from the Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Fund #490 to Wright-Pierce for work performed on the South Main Street Pump Station and Sewer - Final Design and referred it to the Board of Finance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH #1385
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, a discussion took place concerning the request to authorize the payment of $6,320.38 from Contingency to purchase GIS computer software from Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (Funds will be reimbursed through a grant.)
Mayor Bingham said the city was able to get the software from the approved state vendor from Homeland Security and the city will be reimbursed directly. Thus, there is no need to borrow funds from Contingency.
Councilors Soliani and Dalla Valle withdrew their motion and second. The item was removed from the agenda.
SMALL CITIES #1430
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $7,300.00 from Small Cities Fund #250 for an emergency roof replacement on Project #143-245.
SMALL CITIES #1440
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $16,475.00 from Small Cities Fund #250 for an emergency roof replacement on Project #143-244.
TORRINGFORD SCHOOL PAYMENTS #1450
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of the following invoices from the Torringford School Building Fund #314:
Vendor Invoice Description Amount
Travellers/St Paul Builder’s Risk Ins. Policy $ 3,277.00/Mo.
Industrial Safety 737481 Retainage $ 499.50
Insalco Appl. #2 Snow Blow/Lawn Mower/etc $ 12,120.00
BKM Appl. #2 Retainage Kindergarten furn $ 7,873.25
Bartholomew Co 019901 Flags & Mountings $ 1,232.50
OfficeMax 845838 35 overhead projectors $ 4,455.50
Hewlett-Packard 41126581 Tape Drive $ 2,617.00
O & G Industries #28 Professional Services $149,088.00
APPOINTMENT: HOUSING AUTHORITY #1460
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to re-appoint Dr. Mario D’Angelo to the Torrington Housing Authority for another five year term to expire August 31, 2011.
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT #1500
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for October 2006.
SECTION B #1510
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to consider business in Section B.
SMALL CITIES #1515
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, a discussion took place in regard to the payment of $5,600.00 from Small Cities Fund #250 for an emergency boiler and well tank replacement on Project #143-248.
Councilor Soliani made a motion to table the matter. Councilor Dalla Valle seconded the motion. Unanimous.
RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #1560
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to re-open the meeting to the public on Agenda Items only. There was no public participation.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1565
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads.
Corporation Counsel Yuille Weaver reported that Jeff Schroeder from Shookie Recreation has fallen behind on his lease with the city and will be present to address the City Council at their next meeting.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1600
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
Councilor Dalla Valle noted that Mayor Bingham, the Council and the Legislators were invited to hear a brief presentation by the Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative and enjoy a spaghetti supper.
Councilor Dalla Valle introduced his grandson, Brandon Herman, who was interested in politics and was present to observe city government at work.
Councilor Slaiby inquired about street sweepings.
Councilor Slaiby informed the Council that the Mayor’s Committee on Youth will be holding a Toy Drive at K-B Toys on Friday from 10 to 4 p.m.
Councilor Waldron noted that Torrington High School was hosting a football game against Watertown.
Mayor Bingham stated that Main Street had beautiful new Christmas lights, and that lighting festivities will be held beginning at Coe Park on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Everyone is invited.
Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
ADJOURNMENT #1850
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:21 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
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