MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
NOVEMBER 5, 2007
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held on Monday, November 5, 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, and Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Acting Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, and Police Chief Robert Milano.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES #070
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council with the exception of Councilor McKenna who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the special joint meeting with the Board of Finance held July 30, 2007 in regard to Vehicle Replacement.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council with the exception of Councilor Soliani who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held October 1, 2007. (Tabled on 10/15/2007)
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council with the exception of Councilor Soliani who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the Special meeting held October 4, 2007 in regard to the proposed Alcoholic Liquor Ordinance.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council with the exception of Councilor Soliani who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held October 15, 2007.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #105
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
LETTER OF INTENT: WELCOME CENTER PROJECT #115
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the board voted unanimously to accept the Letter of Intent to approve negotiation terms of a lease with the Department of Transportation for the Welcome Center Project. (Paperwork was to be distributed at meeting.)
JoAnn Ryan, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce informed the Council that the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism awarded the Chamber of Commerce a $100,000.00 grant for the purchase, the move, and the renovation of the Welcome Center to the location of the Route 8, Exit 44 Commuter Parking Lot. The Department of Transportation has allowed the move of the Welcome Center to that location. Mrs. Ryan noted that the Chamber is following steps given to them at the grant meeting and by the Department of Transportation officials, which is to forward a Letter of Intent from the City of Torrington to the Department of Transportation to enter into a lease agreement for $1.00 per year for the Welcome Center to be at that location.
Mrs. Ryan thanked Mayor Bingham and the Council for their support. She is convinced that they would not have received the grant had it not been for the collaboration of the City of Torrington, the Council of Elected Officials, the Council of Government, the Historical Society, the Church, Economic Development, the city’s department heads, and the Chamber.
Councilor Dalla Valle asked if there was a plan to move the fence.
Mrs. Ryan indicated that the fence will be removed.
Councilor Soliani asked Mrs. Ryan to come back before the Council with the completed site plan when it becomes available.
Mrs. Ryan indicated that she will keep in close touch with the Council on this project.
INTERNATIONAL SALT #225
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to waive the bid process and award the purchase of Ice-B-Gone to the sole source vendor, International Salt. (800 tons at $74.48 per ton, total cost $59,584.00.)
TRANSFER OF FUNDS: TORRINGTON WATER SUPPLY #250
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the Council voted unanimously to accept the request from the Public Works Director to allocate Torrington Water Supply revenue to be used for water supply contingency expenses and capital expenditures. A total of $24,781.00 is requested to be transferred to a fund for exclusive use for Torrington Water Supply expenses and to allow future annual transfers of income, when available, in amounts not to exceed 5 percent per year.
Mr. Rollett noted that there have been years when we’ve had no revenue, which may still occur in the future, however, his request was to transfer 5% of whatever the revenue is each year to this capital fund.
Councilor Jerram asked if this was something the city should look into divesting itself of in the future.
Mr. Rollett said yes, that was part of his recommendation.
NONDISCRIMINATION AGREEMENTS AND WARRANTEES CERT. #280
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to accept the request from the Elderly Services Commission to adopt the Nondiscrimination Agreements and Warranties Certification.
I Ryan J. Bingham, Mayor of the City of Torrington, an entity lawfully organized and existing under the laws of Connecticut, do hereby certify that the following is a true and correct copy of a resolution adopted on the 5th day of November 2007, by the governing body of the City Council, in accordance with all of its documents of governance and management and the laws of Connecticut and further certify that such resolution has not been modified, rescinded or revoked, and is at present in full force and effect.
RESOLVED, That the City of Torrington hereby adopts as its policy to support the nondiscrimination agreements and warranties required under Conn. Gen. Stat. S 4a-60(a)(1) and S 4a-60a(a)(1), as amended in State of Connecticut Public Act 07-245 and sections 9(a)(1) and 10(a)(1) of Public Act 07-142, as those statutes may be amended from time to time.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certificate this 5th day of November, 2007.
Mayor Ryan J. Bingham
SECTION 8-24: CITY HALL ADDITION, RENOVATION & IMPROVEMENT #290
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Slaiby, the City Council voted unanimously to accept the favorable Section 8-24 recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission in regard to the $14,982,597 Torrington City Hall Addition, Renovation and Improvement and City Barn Site Traffic Division Building Construction Project.
Mayor Bingham noted that the full presentation of the project as well as the request to set a referendum date will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2007.
SMALL CITIES: NCDA #305
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $375.00 from Small Cities Fund #250 to NCDA for an annual membership fee.
SMALL CITIES: REGISTER CITIZEN #310
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $381.26 from Small Cities Fund #250 to The Register Citizen for a Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds, Invoice #2213077.
SMALL CITIES: SAFEHOMES, INC. #320
On a motion by Councilor McKenna, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $300.00 from Small Cities Fund #250 to SafeHomes, Inc. for a Risk Assessment performed, Invoice #3762.
RECOMMENDATIONS: ORDINANCE COMMITTEE #325
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to hear recommendations from the Ordinance Committee.
Councilor Dalla Valle, Chairman of the Ordinance Committee, informed the board that the committee reviewed the following three items:
1) Storage of unregistered motor vehicles on personal property. Their conclusion was that this item falls under the purview of the zoning regulations.
2) Register ATV’s within the city. This is a state issue; however, Corporation Counsel Weaver will research the issue to see what, if anything, can be done on a city level to help identify the owners of ATV’s within the city.
3) Alcohol Consumption on City Property. Based on the fact that the Parks & Recreation Commission and the Coe Memorial Park Sub Committee opposed any alcohol in any public parks and/or facilities under their domain, an ordinance has been drafted and a public hearing should be scheduled
SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a Public Hearing for December 17, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. on the proposed ordinance to eliminate alcohol use at any city facility.
Councilor Dalla Valle indicated that no problems have ever taken place at the facilities; however, the public hearing is based on the request from the Parks & Recreation Commission who oversees the park facilities.
REOPEN MEETING TO THE PUBLIC #460
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. There was none.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #470
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor McKenna, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #480
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
The City Council wished each other well in tomorrow’s election and thanked Councilors Slaiby and McKenna for their years of service on this board.
RECESS #580
Mayor Bingham called for a ten minute recess at 6:50 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING #630
Mayor Bingham called the Public Hearing to order at 7:00 p.m. to consider the utilization of a recently awarded $25,000.00 Justice Assistance Grant for in-depth drug enforcement investigations.
City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero read the Legal Notice.
Police Chief Robert Milano informed the Council that the Police Department received a Justice Assistance Grant, which is awarded to municipalities based upon crime statistics. The grant has a predetermined dollar amount whereby the city matches a program to the dollar amount and submits that proposal to the United States Justice Department. The city’s proposal was to use the $25,000.00 as backfill money that would enable him to take someone from Patrol and put him/her as a third person in their Narcotics Unit so they could have a greater capacity to conduct multiple and more in-depth investigations. The grant will be used instead of using the overtime account, which is mostly used to augment the regular Patrol force.
There were no questions or comments.
Mayor Bingham called the Public Hearing to a close at 7:04 p.m.
JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT #700
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to utilize a recently awarded $25,000.00 Justice Assistance Grant for in-depth drug enforcement investigations.
ADJOURNMENT #705
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:06 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
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