MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
MARCH 3, 2008
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the Council Chambers on Monday, March 3, 2008.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors Rick E. Dalla Valle, Michael Colangelo (arrived at 6:37 p.m.), Elinor Carbone, Thomas C. Jerram, Marie P. Soliani, and Drake L. Waldron, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, and Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Stephen Nocera.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES #025
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held February 19, 2008.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council, with the exception of Councilor Jerram who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the special meeting held February 25, 2008 on budgets.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #055
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Karla Woodworth, member of the Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative, stated that she is currently working with the Parks & Recreation Department and trying to get more parents involved to get the city parks to represent what they mean to their children. She didn’t believe the parks represented the children well at the current time. She reported that most of her safety concerns have been met, but more work needs to be done. She volunteered her services, and asked how she could get more information on how to get the parks to represent Torrington.
Mayor Bingham thanked Mrs. Woodworth for the work she is doing on the Torrington Early Childhood Committee, and asked if she attends the Parks & Recreation Commission meetings on a regular basis.
Mrs. Woodworth said she had not been attending the meetings, but has been meeting with Parks Director Mark Lavoie on a regular basis to keep the ball rolling.
Councilor Dalla Valle, a member of the TECC, indicated that the committee created a list of safety concerns and the Parks & Recreation Commission member assigned to “safety” also kept his own list on an ongoing basis. He stated many safety issues have been resolved by the two people working together. Mr. Lavoie said he would allow Mrs. Woodworth and her group to volunteer in the parks to keep them nice. He thought it was a great step in the right direction. The parents in the Collaborative have accepted this project, which they are required to take on. The new college course offered at Northwestern is empowering them to come out of that class and keep things going. He believes they are doing an exceptional job. He stated the Council doesn’t need to take any
action to let them help in the parks. It’s being done through the Parks & Recreation department.
Mrs. Woodworth indicated the committee would like to step it up and be able to obtain grants and whatever else they can do. They don’t merely want to clean up the parks, they want to be involved in updating and perhaps incorporate some forward ideas, i.e., a meditation park, an obstacle course, etc.
Councilor Dalla Valle indicated that the city needs a handicapped play scape, and several grants are available for such projects. This might be something the TECC would like to look pursue.
Mayor Bingham said the city would be willing to help Mrs. Woodworth and the TECC apply for any grant that interests them. The city always accepts free money to do the right thing for our parks.
CONTRACT: FRIAR ASSOCIATES #205
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to approve Friar Associates’ contract for architectural services relating to the renovations of City Hall.
PAYMENTS: FRIAR ASSOCIATES #210
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments from expense line item #0316 5900 0000 for City Hall Renovations: (Tabled 2/19/08)
$86,147.00 Friar Asso. Installment #1 svcs rendered for January 2008
$86,147.00 Friar Asso. Installment #2 svcs rendered for February 2008
WAIVE SEWER CONNECTION FEE: NEIDT ROAD #220
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council, acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, voted unanimously to waive the sewer connection fee of $2,500.00 for Mr. & Mrs. David Claussen of 5 Neidt Road, Harwinton, CT.
Public Works Director Jerry Rollett indicated this sewer project was done through a Developer’s Agreement with Mr. & Mrs. Claussen for the extension of sanitary sewers on Neidt Road. The sewer construction is complete. However, we have not yet received our final certified costs and we have not yet accepted the sewer. There is one failing septic system in the area that ended up being part of the project under the Developer’s Agreement. Harwinton has already agreed to waive their sewer connection fee and is requesting that Torrington waive its sewer connection fee as well so this person can connect. It doesn’t authorize a connection at this point; it merely puts the various approvals in place so the connection fee is waived.
WAIVE SEWER CONNECTION FEE: ALLEN ROAD #255
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council, acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, voted unanimously to waive the sewer connection fee of $2,500.00 for each of the following on Allen Road, Torrington:
Bruno Arcoma, 405 Allen Road
Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Serbek, 387 Allen Road
Mr & Mrs. Vittorio Cristiano, 371 Allen Road
Thomas Smith and Robert Knauf, 362 Allen Road
Pieritalo Bauchiero, 361 Allen Road
Public Works Director Jerry Rollett indicated that this project was brought to the city by residents on Allen Road because of failing septic systems. They used the city’s plans and hired a contractor through a Developer’s Agreement and completed the construction project. Although it’s in the final stages of completion, it has not formally been accepted. Again, it’s a procedural issue whereby the residents are bearing the cost of tens of thousands of dollars to build this sewer so he is recommending that the $2,500.00 sewer connection fees be waived for those particular residents, who are acting as the Developer.
NORTHERN TREE SERVICE #315
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendations from the Purchasing Agent and the City Engineer to award a unit price contract to the low bidder, Northern Tree Service, Inc. from Palmer, Ma, in the amount of $217,723.37 for the Local Flood Protection Project Vegetation Clearing Contract - Phase I Construction. ($145,148.91 will be reimbursed to the city by the CT DEP and the remaining $72,574.46 will be paid by the city).
RE-OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #355
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to re-open the meeting to the public for “Agenda” items only.
Mike Clark, Chairman of the Municipal Renovations Committee, thanked the Council for approving the Friar Contract.
Mayor Bingham thanked Mr. Clark for all the work he was doing as chairman of that committee.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #410
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero informed the Council that the new land record system has been rescheduled to April 1.
He requested permission from Mayor Bingham and the Council to purchase a Spanish course for his staff, at a cost of approximately $80.00. The staff would like to learn basic Spanish because of the influx of Spanish speaking people doing business in the Clerk’s office.
Mayor Bingham said it was great of his staff to show that initiative, and the Council thought it was a great idea.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #500
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council.
Councilor Jerram reported that he will be tending his resignation of his position on the Torrington Youth Service Bureau.
Mayor Bingham asked the Council to e-mail him if there was any interest in this position.
ADJOURNMENT #535
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:50 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
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