MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
MARCH 12, 2007
A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, March 12, 2007, 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, Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Comptroller Alice Proulx, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, and Administrative Aide to the Mayor, Stephen Nocera.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m
RESCIND VOTE - CLOVER CONST. #020
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, a discussion took place in regard to rescinding the Council’s vote of 3/5/07 which awarded the bid to Clover Construction of Bristol, CT for the overhaul of three Torrington sidewalks in the amount of $419,078.00.
Daniel Hoolihan, President of Clover Construction was given permission to speak. He pointed out that he included the four forms necessary to place this bid and he considered what he submitted to be a complete bid package. He was looking forward to working with the city.
Corp. Counsel Weaver indicated that the qualifications must be included at the time the bid is submitted, in addition to the application that is part of the bid package.
City Engineer, Edward Fabbri, stated that, during the pre-construction meeting which Clover Construction was part of, Jennifer Gonzales from Wagner & Asso. reviewed the items that needed to be submitted with the bid and the qualification statement was included. It was actually issued in the pre construction minutes and issued as part of the addendum that was sent out. It was made very clear at the meeting that qualifications had to be submitted.
Corp. Counsel Weaver said “The qualifications are a material need for the submitting and first selecting of a contractor.”
Councilor McKenna asked if the low bidder had that information. Mr. Fabbri said yes.
VOTE #200
On the previous motion, the Council voted unanimously to rescind their vote of 3/5/07 which awarded the bid to Clover Construction of Bristol, CT for the overhaul of three Torrington sidewalks in the amount of $419,078.00.
REJECT ALL BIDS ON GO OUT TO RE-BID #205
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to reject all bids on the Neighborhood Sidewalk and Pedestrian Safety Improvements and go out to rebid.
Councilor Dalla Valle asked that bid specifications be made very clear. He also asked to see the check list once the bids are received so the board can make an informed decision.
BUDGETS #300
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to discuss, review, and vote on budgets.
ASSESSOR’S BUDGET #310
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to table the Assessor’s Budget.
BUILDING DEPT. #330
Line Item 5101, reduced by $55,000.00 to zero.
Line Item 5103, reduced by $28,607.00.
Line Item 5104, increased by $1,500.00.
Line Item 5105 will now be Line Item 5199 - contract services.
FICA reduced by $7,882.00.
Line Item 5223, reduced to $2,000.00.
Line Item 5350. reduced by $2,500.00.
After the Mayor’s review, total cuts amounted to $96,259.00 for a new grand total of $367,317.00.
The Budget Subcommittee made the comment to look at charging an administrative fee for contract services by 5 to 10%.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Building Dept. Budget.
CITY CLERK #435
Line Item 5111, reduced to zero. The total in this line item will be moved to Line Item 5235, Land Records, which will then have a total of $20,000.00.
Line Item 5216-0002, reduced from $7,000.00 to $6,000.00.
Line Item 5803, reduced from $20,000.00 to $10,000.00.
Line Item 5346, software, will be further looked at.
Also, will look at whether city Ordinances can be done in- house.
Councilor Jerram pointed out that wage increases for the City Clerk, Mayor and Treasurer will have to be determined prior to the election.
Ms Proulx indicated that those wage increases are included with the unsettled contracts.
Total cuts, $11,600.00. New bottom line of $788,799.00.
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the City Clerk’s Budget.
Councilor Jerram asked to keep in mind items 5346 and 5354, which is $22,000.00 and $12,500.00 respectively, for later purposes.
COMPTROLLER #610
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Comptroller’s Budget.
CORP. COUNSEL #625
$45,000.00 was added to this budget for Legal Support Fees and reduced from Contingency. Insurance litigation deductibles will now be taken from the Corp. Counsel’s budget rather than Contingency. This will be a wash.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Corp. Counsel’s Budget.
ELECTION #715
Line Item 5200, reduced from $15,000.00 to $4,000.00.
Line Item 5265 - Miscellaneous Expenses, increase of $5,000.00 to purchase absentee ballots. The state may either reimburse the city or purchase the absentee ballots themselves. A decision from the Secretary of the State will be forthcoming.
Grand Total of $52,700.00.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted to tentatively approve the Election Budget.
PERSONNEL #765
Councilor Dalla Valle made a motion to tentatively approve the Personnel Budget. Councilor Dalla Valle withdrew his motion.
Line Item 5223 - Education, Schools; new line item, adding $5,000.00, to cover the cost of hiring a Customer Service Trainer from CCM.
Reduction in Labor Negotiation Fees by $5,000.00.
No change in the grand total.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Personnel Budget.
PLANNING & ZONING #830
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Planning & Zoning Budget.
PURCHASING #850
Line Item 5346 reduced by $2,600.00. Down to zero.
Grand Total $121,808.00.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Purchasing Budget.
REGISTRARS #870
Line Item 5280, reduction of $500.00
Line Item 5289, reduction of $500.00
Line Item 5350, reduction of $3,600.00 to zero.
Grand Total, $126,556.00.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Registrars Budget.
SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY #910
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Services for the Elderly Budget.
Mayor Bingham stated that the increase in Building Maintenance is for upgraded lighting for their 25th anniversary and change the image of the center for the upcoming baby boomer generation.
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Councilor Dalla Valle pointed out that the Director started budgeting for the new image during the current budget, but warned the Council at that time that she may not have enough to complete the work and would probably ask for more in the 2007/2008 budget.
Mayor Bingham indicated that Ms. Gyurko increased the hours for the rent rebate and fuel assistance position from 16 to 20. That creates an increase in the Extra Help Line Item.
TREASURER #1075
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the Treasurer’s Budget.
DATA PROCESSING #1090
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to table the Data Processing Budget.
ADJOURNMENT #1095
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:40 p.m.
JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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