MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
DECEMBER 18, 2006
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, December 18, 2006, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors James F. McKenna (arrived at 6:37 p.m.) Thomas C. Jerram, Rick E. Dalla Valle, Andrew J. Slaiby, Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, and Board of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Colangelo.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. NOTE: There was no quorum for the Board of Trustees of the City Employees’ Retirement Fund.
MINUTES #040
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held November 20, 2006.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the board, with the exception of Councilor Soliani who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the special joint meeting with the Board of Finance held on 11/29/06.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held December 4, 2006.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #070
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Robert Crovo, Tax Collector for the City of Torrington, informed the Council of his plans to hold a Tax Sale in March of 2007 on approximately 149 properties with 114 owners that he felt were far enough behind in their delinquency to get a demand note and a letter stating that their property will be included in a Tax Sale. He noted that the property owners will be given approximately 75 days to pay in full or, in most cases, pay down their note by a predetermined amount. The properties total more than $1 million worth of delinquent taxes. Once the Tax Sale starts, fees, which can be substantial, will be applied. Property owners will receive three notices. The first will be sent “Return Requested,” soon after the holidays, the second will be sent “Certified” about 20 days
later, and the third will be sent approximately fifteen days later, with a forwarding address so he can be reasonably assured whether or not they received it.
He stated that he would entertain any suggestions from the Council to better inform the public or make the process more efficient.
Councilor McKenna arrived at 6:37 p.m.
Councilor Dalla Valle inquired where any excess money would go if the property brought excess money from the Tax Sale.
Mr. Crovo indicated that his office holds the money in an escrow for six months, the amount of time the property owner has the right to redeem his property. If the money is never redeemed, it goes to Litchfield Superior Court and gets disbursed to other lien holders against the property. Anything left after all liens are fulfilled goes to the property owner.
RESOLUTION: TORRINGTON CHILD CARE #365
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted unanimously to adopt a Resolution and to authorize Mayor Bingham to execute the Torrington Child Care Center Contract #143-CDC-29 for the year 2007 in the amount of $181,896.00.
RESOLUTION:
I, Joseph L. Quartiero, Secretary for the Board of Councilmen of the City of Torrington, a Connecticut corporation (the “Contractor”), do hereby certify that the following is a true and correct copy of a Resolution duly adopted at a meeting of the Board of Councilmen, of the Contractor duly held and convened on Monday, December 18, 2006, at which meeting a duly constituted quorum of the Board of Councilmen was present and acting throughout and that such Resolution has not been modified, rescinded, or revoked, and is at present in full force and effect:
RESOLVED, that the Mayor, Ryan J. Bingham, is empowered to enter into and amend contractual instruments in the name and on behalf of this Contractor with the Department of Social Services of the State of Connecticut for a Child Day Care Program, and to affix the corporate seal.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has affixed his signature and the corporate seal of the Contractor this 4th day of January 2006.
Joseph L. Quartiero, CMC
Secretary for the Board of Councilmen
ELECTRICAL SERVICE BID #390
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted unanimously to reject both bids for electrical service and go out to re-bid.
CITY FUNDED VOLUNTEER VEHICLE REPLACEMENT POLICY #425
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the board voted unanimously to approve the Board of Public Safety’s recommendation to accept the City Funded Volunteer Vehicle Replacement Policy.
Mayor Bingham said he heard neither good nor bad response from the volunteers. He pointed out that the policy was actually outlined within a motion during the budget process.
Councilor Jerram said the highlight of the policy is that the Council supports the volunteers and their largest expense, being vehicles, but not necessarily their equipment. The policy addresses concerns put forth by the volunteers that they can no longer afford to purchase certain vehicles and, at the same time, provide protection for the city by seeing that these funds are expended in an appropriate fashion determined by the Fire Safety Coordination Committee, the Chief, the Board of Public Safety, and the Council. If, for some unknown reason, any of the three volunteer departments cease operations, any vehicles or apparatus acquired under this policy will return ownership to the city.
Commissioner Colangelo stated that the Board of Public Safety unanimously endorsed the plan, especially the point where the truck or the vehicle goes back to the City.
TRANSFER OF FUNDS #530
Councilor Slaiby made a motion to authorize the transfer of $15,000.00 from Contingency to the Election Budget for unanticipated costs due to two primaries and one referendum in the 2006-2007 budget year. Councilor Waldron seconded the motion.
Councilor Slaiby amended his motion to authorize the transfer $16,200.00 from Contingency to the Election Budget for unanticipated costs due to two primaries and one referendum in the 2006-07 budget year. Councilor Waldron amended his second. Unanimous. (An additional invoice totaling $1,127.93 was received by the City Clerk on this very day to pay for Police Department services during the election, primaries, etc.) The matter was referred to the Board of Finance.
APPOINTMENTS: TAHD
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the board voted unanimously to approve the following appointments to the Torrington Area Health District:
Robert Waselik, for a three-year term to expire January 9, 2010
Robert Good, for a three-year term to expire January 9, 2010
TORRINGFORD SCHOOL INVOICES #775
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted unanimously to authorize the following payments from the Torringford School Building Fund #314:
Travelers 5763P8117 Builder’s Risk Insurance $ 3,277.00
Test-Con, Inc. 4085 Concrete tests $ 866.00
Insalco Appl #1 Showcase $ 3,318.25
BKM Kindergarten Chairs $ 3,399.54
TV Lab & Appl. 2 Sound Systems $ 3,305.00
Micro Computer 0382758-IN Wireless Units$ 4,114.00
KI c/o BCI Appl #4 Compression Bars $ 3,881.60
O & G Industries #29 Professional Services $230,655.00
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT #780
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the board voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for November 2006.
RECOMMENDATION: ORDINANCE COMMITTEE #790
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the board voted unanimously to hear recommendations from the Ordinance Committee.
Councilor Dalla Valle made a motion to schedule a public hearing for a new ordinance concerning “Vacant Buildings” on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Councilor McKenna seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Councilor Dalla Valle made a motion to schedule a public hearing for a new ordinance concerning “Skateboards, in-line Skates, and Scooters” on Tuesday, January 2, 2007 immediately following the public hearing on Vacant Buildings, scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Councilor McKenna seconded the motion. Unanimous.
RE-OPEN MEETING TO THE PUBLIC #1100
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the board voted unanimously to re-open the meeting to the public on Agenda Items only. There was no public participation.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1115
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1130
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
Councilor Waldron stated that the Torrington High School boys have a home basketball game on December 27th. They are expected to raise three championship banners.
Councilor McKenna noted that Santa’s Parades gets bigger and better each year.
Councilor Dalla Valle stated that a dinner was served for the Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative on December 7th. Good connections were made with state representatives in attendance.
Councilor Dalla Valle recognized the holiday dinner put on by the Lions Club for city kids and their families.
He also reported that a Suitcase Drive was kicked off last Thursday for foster children. The purpose of the drive was to collect suitcases for children moving from home to home in the Foster Care System. He thanked everyone involved in the event.
Mayor Bingham informed the Council that $1,000.00 was donated to five different charities by City Hall employees who participate in the Dress Down Day Fund.
Mayor Bingham updated the Council on the Brownsfield Grant which the city received. He noted that the city contracted with HRP Consultants and the following four sites were chosen; Kelley’s, Torin Corp., Church Street Dam and Stone Container. The city has spent approximately three quarters of the funds on Phase One assessments in terms of finding out what contaminates the sites have and how much it will cost for remediation, etc. Several sites are entering into Phase II to find out how big the pools are, whether there are any further contaminates, etc. The city will apply for two more grants in the near future.
Mayor Bingham reported that Mark Lavoie was the new Parks and Recreation Director. He was looking forward to great things from Mr. Lavoie’s experience and knowledge of turf management.
Mayor Bingham stated that he has meetings scheduled with the state delegation to discuss Torrington’s priorities going into this legislative session. If the Council has any suggestions on either the local or federal level, please let him know.
EXECUTIVE SESSION #1560
Councilor Dalla Valle made a motion to go into an executive session under contract negotiations at 7:18 p.m. Councilor Slaiby seconded the motion.
Councilor Dalla Valle amended his motion to invite Mr. & Mrs. Schroeder (Shookie Recreation) into the executive session. Councilor Slaiby amended his second. Unanimous.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to reconvene into an open session.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn.
Ernestine Yuille Weaver
Corporation Counsel
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