MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
FEBRUARY 19, 2008
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, February 19, 2008.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors Rick E. Dalla Valle, Michael Colangelo (arrived at 7:00 p.m.), Elinor Carbone, Thomas C. Jerram (arrived at 7:00 p.m.), Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, and WPC Administrator Raymond Drew.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:50 p.m. immediately following a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the City Employees’ Retirement Fund.
MINUTES #590
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held February 4, 2008.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #600
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
PRESENTATION: PLAQUES OF APPRECIATION #610
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to present plaques of appreciation to former Councilmen James F. McKenna and Andrew J. Slaiby for their service to the City of Torrington.
VIBRATORY ROLLER BID #680
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 bid for a 4100 Vibratory Roller, to Wesco, Inc. of Norwalk, CT for a cost of $3,475.00 with the trade-in of the City’s roller.
RENTAL OF PORTABLE TOILETS BID #690
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to award the bid entitled Rental of Portable Toilets for 2008 to the low bidder, A Royal Flush of Norwalk, CT for $87.83 per month for a regular unit and $118.70 for a Handicap unit.
GASOLINE BID #695
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to award the Gasoline Bid to the low bidder, Dime Oil Co. of Waterbury CT, for 105,000 gallons, + or - 5%, at a cost of $2.9855 per gallon, for a total cost of $313,477.50, pre-pay.
Councilors Jerram and Colangelo arrived at 7:00 p.m.
#2 HEATING FUEL BID #890
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 bid for #2 Heating Fuel to the low bidder, Dime Oil Co. of Waterbury, CT, for 42,800 gallons, + or - 5%, at a cost of $2.7715 per gallon, for a total cost of $118,620.20, pre-pay.
DIESEL FUEL BID #900
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to award the bid for Diesel Fuel to low bidder, Dime Oil Co. of Waterbury, CT, for 100,000 gallons, + or - 5%, at a cost of $2.8720 per gallon, for a total cost of $287,200.00, pre-pay.
WAGE BUDGET TRANSFERS #940
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the wage budget transfers for contracts settled in 2007/2008, contingent upon the Board of Finance’s approval at their meeting on February 26, 2008.
BUDGET TRANSFERS #945
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the budget transfers for 7-1-07 to 12-31-07, contingent upon the Board of Finance’s approval at their meeting on February 26, 2008.
REPLACEMENT OF VEHICLES #950
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendations from the Purchasing Agent and the Fleet Manager to replace five vehicles: one for Public Works, one for Planning & Zoning, one for the Fire Chief, and two for the Building Department.
BUSINESS IN SECTION B #990
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, the Council voted unanimously to consider business in Section B.
SECTION B:
FRIAR ASSOCIATES’ CONTRACT - CITY HALL RENOVATION #1010
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, a discussion took place in regard to the request to approve Friar Associates’ contract for architectural services relating to the renovations of Torrington City Hall.
Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver stated she and Michael Clark thoroughly reviewed Friar Associates’ contract and Friar Associates has agreed with all the changes submitted. Atty. Weaver believed that the contract was solid and ready to go. The overall cost of the project is $14,982.597 and the total cost of what the city will be paying in compensation to Friar Associates is based on a percentage of the cost of the work (which is a lesser amount than the cost of the project in that it does not include permitting fees, escalation and the like). The percentage to be paid to Friar Associates was actually presented to the Municipal Renovations Committee when they were proposing to do the work.
Mr. Clark noted that the negotiated amount to Friar Associates was
$1,148,625.00, which is a reduction of $46,438.00 from the schematic cost estimate originally done by O & G. There were also negotiations for additional work that hadn’t been included in Friar’s initial contract draft that would amount to about $42,000.00, which has to do with re-locations of City Hall personnel to temporary quarters during renovations. There will be no charges billed for the additional services which relate to space planning and set up for the relocation of City Hall personnel to other quarters during renovations.
Councilor Carbone asked if the contract was time sensitive.
Mr. Clark said it is time sensitive, in that Friar Associates has already done a considerable amount of work since the referendum was held. He noted that the Municipal Renovations Committee thoroughly reviewed the contract and made significant changes for the benefit of the city, and that Atty. Weaver has reviewed all requested changes and Friar has agreed to accept the changes.
Councilor Dalla Valle felt the Council should review the contract prior to voting on it.
VOTE TO TABLE: FRIAR ASSOCIATES’ CONTRACT #1230
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to table the request to approve Friar Associates’ contract for architectural services relating to the renovations of Torrington City Hall.
FRIAR ASSOCIATES’ PAYMENTS #1235
Councilor Jerram moved to authorize the following payments from expense line item #0316 5900 0000 for City Hall Renovations. Councilor Soliani seconded the motion.
Councilor Dalla Valle didn’t think the Council should be paying installments on a contract that had just been tabled. Therefore, the following motion was made:
VOTE TO TABLE: FRIAR ASSOCIATES’ PAYMENTS #1255
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to table the following payments:
$86,147.00 Friar Asso. Installment #1 services rendered for Jan. 2008
$86,147.00 Friar Asso. Installment #2 services rendered for Feb. 2008
END OF SECTION B
RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #1265
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to re-open the meeting to the public for “Agenda” items only.
Dennis Tanner, 451 Harwinton Avenue, inquired whether any of the city’s current vehicles will be traded-in for the new ones the Council voted to purchase.
Mayor Bingham indicated that the vehicles will go to auction and the proceeds will go into the Vehicle Replacement Contingency account.
Councilor Colangelo asked if the city agencies, including the volunteers, will be apprised of the fact that vehicles are available prior to sending them to auction.
Mr. Tanner noted that Drakeville could certainly use another vehicle for Fire Police. He noted that it could be discussed at their Fire Service Coordination Committee meeting scheduled for March 5.
Mayor Bingham said they would hold off on selling the vehicles to see what can be done. Should the volunteers end up getting a city owned vehicle, the matter would have to come back to the City Council for their approval.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1410
On a motion by Councilor Colangelo, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1420
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
The Council thanked former Councilmen James McKenna and Andrew Slaiby for their years of service on this board.
Councilor Jerram commended the Fire Department for their quick response to his home to extinguish a chimney fire.
Mayor Bingham asked for two volunteers to be on the budget sub committee. Councilors Dalla Valle and Carbone volunteered their time.
Councilor Dalla Valle noted that he and Mr. Scoville had been appointed by Mayor Bingham last year to look at Park & Rec and asked the Mayor if he still wanted them to do it again this year.
Mayor Bingham said “absolutely.”
ADJOURNMENT #1565
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:18 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
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