MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
JUNE 4, 2007
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, June 4, 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, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, and the City’s Consultant to Small Cities, Lawrence Wagner. Councilwoman Marie P. Soliani was absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., immediately following a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the City Employees’ Retirement Fund.
PUBLIC HEARING #1040
The legal notice was read.
Mayor Bingham called the Public Hearing to order at 7:04 p.m. to review the city’s proposed application to the State DECD for funds under the Small Cities Program for proposed activities in the areas of housing, economic development or community facilities and to review the status of its current Small Cities’ projects and programs.
Larry Wagner, the City’s Consultant for Small Cities, indicated that the city has participated in the Small Cities Program since 1978. Over the years, projects have included work at the Senior Center, FISH, Susan B. Anthony, Housing Rehabilitation, Small Business Loans, and a variety of public infrastructure projects. The federal program originates at the Department of Housing and Urban Development with a block grant that is given to each state to be distributed to cities who qualify and are less than 50,000 in population. Until recently, the process has been an open and rolling application. The process is now a competitive round of funding, where applications are due once a year. If the state gets fewer applications than money, they’ll have another consideration in February, but
that’s not expected to be the case. The state has $12 million available for funding and approximately 120 communities are eligible to apply.
Under the new regulations, all applications will be due September 14th at 4:00 p.m. and every application will be required to have a public hearing and a vote by the governing body. The state will then decide who will get funded, through competition. Communities will only be allowed one project, and while there is no limit to what the project amount can be, given the fact that the state has $12 million, it will average $1 million or less per project. The eligibility requirements remain the same as in the past. They include housing rehabilitation, senior centers, infrastructures in certain low and moderate income neighborhoods, public housing renovations, etc. In fact, the application has stayed the same for the past ten years. Very high priority will be
given to projects that are ready to move forward: plans in place, environmental reviews are done, other funding, if any, is in place, etc. The State of Connecticut has eliminated its 10% max this year but has put in its place a requirement for leveraging of other funds. The 10% was clear; however, the leveraging is not as clear, in terms of what communities will have to do to leverage.
Mr. Wagner said the purpose of the public hearing is to hear community needs. The Council will decide which project will move forward. The project will be developed into an application, and a formal resolution will come back to the Council for a vote. The needs can come from the public, the Council, staff, etc. This public hearing is to begin the process to see what kind of project could be funded with this program.
Tom Slaiby, Wilson Avenue, suggested filing an application for projects like a downtown infrastructure, anything for schools or public recreation, or any improvements that will help our image and tax base.
Claudia Sweeney, Executive Director of the Housing Authority, asked the Council to consider a project at Willow Garden, an elderly Connecticut State Housing site, to repave the existing pavement and create a new parking area to enable residents to better access their apartments. Not only are the current parking spaces a long distance from the apartments, they are in disrepair, making it very difficult for the elderly to safely get in and out of their homes.
Michael Clark, member of the Municipal Renovations Committee, asked if any renovations to City Hall would be eligible for funding.
Mr. Wagner said renovations for government buildings are not eligible with the exception of specific ADA projects. Since the city can only submit one application for one project, it really needs to choose the highest priority project. ADA improvements, like an elevator, or the renovations of a handicap accessible bathroom is eligible, but it wouldn’t pay for the plumbing. The important thing to keep in mind is that the state scrutinizes whether the project is ready to move forward and whether or not the city has other, non ADA related funds, in place.
Councilor Jerram, member of the Municipal Renovations Committee, asked if the construction of new ADA accessible bathrooms off the back of the building and a new elevator shaft would be applicable.
Mr. Wagner said it would be eligible, however, if you were to say the project was worth $1 million, it would become a competitive issue with the state because they only have $12 million for the entire round of funding.
Councilor Jerram asked Mr. Wagner if he thought the project would be more palatable to the state if it was estimated at only half a million.
Mr. Wagner said the problem is that no one knows who is applying and what they are applying for. The state has on occasion approved projects costing $1 million. He noted that he was leaving several copies of the state’s revised plan on how they will allocate the funds, and the City Clerk’s Office could disperse them to the Council members.
Mr. Wagner indicated that the state DECD Small Cities Program is only for new requests for projects and does not affect the city’s housing rehabilitation revolving fund.
Councilor Jerram asked if Ms. Sweeney’s request for improvements to Willow Gardens fall under the housing rehabilitation revolving fund.
Mr. Wagner said no, the housing rehabilitation revolving fund is limited to private residential properties. There’s a different category under the law for publicly owned residential property.
Mayor Bingham closed the public hearing at 7:24 p.m.
APPLICATION PROCESS TO DECD UNDER SMALL CITIES #1925
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, a discussion took place in regard to whether or not they should proceed with the application process to the State DECD for funds under the Small Cities Program at this time.
Mr. Wagner said the Council should decide which project they want to proceed with.
MOTION TO TABLE #1945
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to table the application process to the State DECD for funds under the Small Cities Program at this time.
MINUTES #1950
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council, with the exception of Councilors McKenna and Jerram who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the special meeting held May 10, 2007 on budgets.
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of special meeting held May 14, 2007 on budgets.
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of special joint meeting with Board of Finance held May 14, 2007 on budgets.
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council, with the exception of Councilor McKenna who abstained, voted to accept the amended minutes of the regular meeting held May 21, 2007. (Councilor McKenna was listed as present; minutes were amended to reflect that he was absent.)
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #2010
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Fletcher Waldron, Chairman of the Beautification Committee, thanked the Council for their support, and his committee for making Torrington look so beautiful.
APPOINTMENT: SCHOOL READINESS COUNCIL #2020
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to appoint Councilor Dalla Valle as the Mayor’s designee / representative to the School Readiness Council known in our community as the Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative.
SMALL CITIES: RJB CONTRACTING, INC. #2060
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $76,388.10 from account 0279.5910.0000 to RJB Contracting, Inc. for the Neighborhood Sidewalk & Pedestrian Safety Improvements Project. Funds will be reimbursed from a Small Cities Grant.
FINAL ACCEPTANCE: PENNY LANE #2065
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to grant Final Acceptance to Penny Lane in the Pleasantview Subdivision.
RECOMMENDATION: SMALL CITIES COMM. #2080
Councilor Waldron made a recommendation to accept a Small Cities emergency roof replacement for project #143-238. Councilor Slaiby seconded the motion. Unanimous.
RECOMMENDATION: ORD COMM #2130
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to approve the ordinance entitled “Billable Services for the Fire Department,” as submitted and discussed during the public hearing held on May 21, 2007.
Councilor Jerram inquired whether the Fire Department could bill out-of-city residents involved in car accidents who require city services.
Corporation Counsel Weaver said it was very clear that it would be unconstitutional and discriminatory to do so.
In regard to pumping out flooded basements, the ordinance allows the Fire Department to develop a plan to charge residents who frequently request their services.
REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC #2370
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to reopen the meeting to the public for “Agenda Items” only.
Ron Raymond asked the Council if they will be voting on the ordinance entitled “Construction Projects” during this meeting. He was informed that the Council will vote on the ordinance after they have gathered more information. (Mr. Raymond left his phone number with the City Clerk.)
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #2440
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #2455
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
Mayor Bingham and the Council commented on how great the Memorial Day Parade was.
Councilor Dalla Valle stated that a regional terrorist exercise was held on Saturday and everything went very well.
Councilor Slaiby stated that the Mayor’s Committee on Youth held a very successful concert to raise funds for the skate park.
Mayor Bingham noted that he wants to move forward on the city’s two pension funds. He welcomed any information the Council can gather from friends of theirs who may be investment strategists, etc. Meetings will be scheduled in the near future to specifically discuss the pensions.
ADJOURNMENT #2730
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:41 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
| 
