MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
AUGUST 20, 2007
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, August 20, 2007 in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors James F. McKenna, Rick E. Dalla Valle, Andrew J. Slaiby, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Engineer Edward Fabbri, Purchasing Agent Shirley King, and WPC Administrator Raymond Drew. Councilors Thomas C. Jerram and Marie P. Soliani were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council, with the exception of Councilor McKenna who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held August 6, 2007.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #030
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: SUE GROSSMAN STILL RIVER GREENWAY
#040
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to approve the INTERLOCAL Agreement Between the City of Torrington and the Town of Winchester for the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway.
SCHULTZ CORPORATION: STILL RIVER GREENWAY #050
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to award the Construction of the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway to the Schultz Corporation for a Base Bid of $837,000.00.
Mayor Bingham commended all who were responsible for getting the Still River Greenway to where it is today.
Councilor Slaiby asked if each town would be responsible for their own side of the trail once it is completed.
Arthur Mattiello, Chairman of the Still River Greenway Committee, said yes. He added that the committee, as “friends” of the trail, will continue to help maintain the trail with any of the money that may be left over or funds that may be raised in the future. That maintenance will service both Torrington and Winsted.
Ted Barlow said the Committee greatly appreciates the Council’s approval of the aforementioned motions.
Councilor Dalla Valle said his group of workers will be available to help the committee with the upkeep and maintenance of the trail.
KENNEDY ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS #160
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to waive the bid process and hire Kennedy Electrical Contractors for the lump sum cost of $12,850.00 to perform electrical services as outlined in the Middle School Wastewater Pump Station scope of work.
Ray Drew, WPC Administrator, said he never anticipated the cost of this item to be more than $10,000.00. Proposals were sent to three local electrical contractors and two failed to respond. The reason he is asking the Council to waive the bid process is because they need to have the conduit in the ground and the ground closed up before school starts on Monday.
UNICO: ADOPT ISLAND #260
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, a discussion took place in regard to UNICO’s request to adopt the island at the intersection of Routes 202 & 4.
Councilor Dalla Valle asked who would provide the insurance to cover anyone working on the island.
Mayor Bingham indicated that anyone working on the island would be covered under the city’s umbrella insurance for liability. He noted that they will have to go through a safety course and work through the D.O.T. guidelines.
Councilor Dalla Valle noted, not only were they voting to let UNICO adopt the intersection, but also to put them on the city’s insurance.
Mayor Bingham said the city is required under the program, to cover them under the city’s insurance if it’s under the local jurisdiction to adopt a spot within the city, and UNICO wants to take care of this island.
Councilor Dalla Valle said he was all for UNICO doing a service project but this is the most dangerous intersection in town. He expressed his concern over the liability issue. We have groups doing this type of work all over town and the city doesn’t carry insurance for them.
As part of the Beautification Committee, Ted Barlow asked the board if the city would be liable for anything happening to him while he’s mowing the lawn at that intersection.
Councilor McKenna indicated that the city is liable for anyone getting hurt while doing volunteer work on a city-owned piece of property. If UNICO was to adopt that intersection, they would automatically be under the insurance policy.
MOTION TO TABLE #535
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to table UNICO’s request to adopt the island at the intersection of Routes 202 & 4.
DRF DIVERSIFIED SPECIALTIES #555
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendations from the Purchasing Agent and the Superintendent of Parks & Recreation to award the bid entitled “Fire Exit Doors” to the only bidder, DRF Diversified Specialties.
Raymond Drew, member of the Safety Advisory Committee, indicated that the doors need replacement because they are a safety concern.
BENCO, LLC #660
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendations from the Purchasing Agent and the Superintendent of Parks & Recreation to award the bid entitled “Bannon Street Playground Shelter Roof - Installation” to the only bidder, Benco LLC.
Shirley King, Purchasing Agent, said this is also a safety issue.
Councilor Dalla Valle said he was pleased to see bids going to local companies.
KATHY SICKLER, RECORDS MANAGEMENT #720
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to waive the bid process and hire Kathy Sickler, Records Management Consultant, to do a Records Needs Assessment Survey for a fee not to exceed $50,000.00 for the following departments: Building, Engineering, Parks & Recreation, Planning & Zoning, Social Services, Corporation Counsel, Economic Development, Comptroller, and Personnel, in accordance with the approved state application for the competitive grant awarded to the City Clerk by the Public Records Administrator.
SMALL CITIES: SAFEHOMES, INC. #860
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $627.00 from Small Cities Fund #250 to SafeHomes, Inc. for a Risk Assessment, Invoice #3682.
RECOMMENDATIONS: SMALL CITIES #870
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to consider recommendations from the Small Cities Sub Committee.
Councilor Waldron explained that project #143-230, tabled on August 6, 2007, was a little risky on the equity side, however, after speaking with Larry Wagner, the sub committee voted to recommend approval of the project.
MOTION #915
Councilor Waldron made a motion to approve Project #143-230 in the amount of $35,110.00 from Small Cities funds. Councilor Slaiby seconded the motion. Unanimous.
BUSINESS IN SECTION B #925
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business in section B.
SECTION B
RESOLUTION - DECD FUNDS: WILLOW GARDENS #930
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to adopt a Resolution concerning DECD funds in the amount of $700,000.00 from Small Cities in regard to the Housing Authority / Willow Gardens project.
Mayor Bingham noted that a Resolution to this effect was approved by the Council on August 6, 2007; however, the Attorney General changed some language and a new Resolution needs to be approved.
RESOLUTION:
I, Joseph L. Quartiero, City Clerk, certify that below is a true and correct copy of a resolution duly adopted by the City of Torrington at a meeting of its City Council duly convened on August 20, 2007, and which has not been rescinded or modified in any way whatsoever and is at present in full force and effect.
WHEREAS, federal monies are available under the Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. Section 5301, et seq, as amended, also known as Public Law 93-383, and administered by the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development as the Connecticut Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 127c, and Part VI of Chapter 130 of Connecticut General Statutes, the Commissioner of the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is authorized to disburse such federal monies to local municipalities; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest that the City of Torrington make an application to the State for $700,000.00 in order to undertake a Small Cities Community Development Program and to execute an Assistance Agreement.
RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #990
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to reopen the meeting to the public for “Agenda Items” only.
Ted Barlow commended Ed Fabbri, Kim Barbieri, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Weaver, and the Still River Greenway Committee for their hard work on the Still River Greenway project.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1065
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Edward Fabbri indicated that the DEP is reviewing the city’s application for a permit to work on the Weed Road project. He met with the neighbors of the area to update them on how the project was moving along, and assured them that the city will move the project as quickly as possible. The change order with Dayton Construction will most likely be written up within the next week and the culvert will be ordered. It will take approximately eight weeks to manufacture the unit. During that time the city should receive the permit from the DEP and the installation should start by the end of October.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1180
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
Councilor Dalla Valle noted that Heritage Day is scheduled for Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Councilor Waldron recognized Boy Scout Bill Cornish, Star Rank, from Troop 1 who was present during this meeting to obtain his Citizenship in the Community badge.
Councilor Waldron indicated that the graffiti problem at the skate park was growing.
Mayor Bingham said he has already met with Chief Milano, Mark Lavoie Superintendent of Parks & Recreation, and a concerned citizen. He informed the board that the graffiti will be removed, the skate park will be closed during school hours, and the police force will involve a small skating committee to create a program to try to develop a good relationship with those who use the park.
Corp. Counsel Weaver stated that the cost of getting a local contractor for the Northend Fire Station project was going to be significantly higher than what the city was going to receive from the insurance company. Our insurance company would pay 100% of the cost. The insurance company still owes the city money on the job. Funds are coming from CIRMA and the Hartford Insurance Company, which is the insurance carrier for the driver who drove into the building. CIRMA will go after the driver for the $10,000.00 deductible we had on the building.
If the city bid the job, we would have had costs associated with determining the structural damage and we would have had to spec out the job even before we started the project. The cost of the city doing the project was going to be higher.
Mayor Bingham noted that Heritage Day will be bigger and better than it’s ever been, and encouraged everyone to participate.
He also noted that a Polka Concert will be held in front of City Hall on September 7, and a Carnival will be held on September 14, 15, and 16 in the Armory and the Armory parking lot. The city will be sponsoring a walk to raise money for Diabetes. A Street Fair and a DARE Car Show is also scheduled.
ADJOURNMENT #1570
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:25 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
| 
