MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
OCTOBER 22, 2008
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority, adjourned from Monday, October 20, 2008 was held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday, October 22, 2008.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, City Councilors Rick E. Dalla Valle, Michael Colangelo, Elinor Carbone, Thomas C. Jerram, and Drake L. Waldron, Corp. Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, Superintendent of Streets Robert Lizotte, WPC Administrator Raymond Drew, Building Official Brett Zuraitis, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Superintendent of Parks & Recreation Brett Simmons, and Economic Development Coordinator Rose Ponte. Councilwoman Marie P. Soliani was absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held October 6, 2008, and the minutes of the special joint meeting held October 6, 2008.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #035
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Michael Banziruk, 180 Harvard Drive, thanked Councilors Soliani and Carbone for voting for the Garden Goddess contract for Coe Memorial Park at a previous meeting.
Secondly, he stated that the city’s web site had a column that referred to size after every web page detail and the file has now been changed to “file” size.
Councilor Dalla Valle said, “So, the 40K you said it was going to cost to do the sidewalk at Coe Park was actually 40K size of the file?”
Mr. Banziruk said “Correct.”
Mr. Banziruk inquired as to how Requests for Quotes on items 7 & 14 on this agenda (“Fall/Winter Garden Care and Maintenance of Coe Memorial Park” and “Sidewalk Paving at Coe Memorial Park” respectively) ended up being awarded as bids.
Mayor Bingham stated that his question will be addressed as the items come up.
ROAD SAND BID #225
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to award the bid entitled “Road Sand” to the low bidder, O & G Industries for a price of $19.19 per cubic yard for an annual total estimated at $191,900.00.
TREATED SALT BID #240
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to waive the bid process and purchase “Treated Salt” through the Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials from International Salt Co., LLC, for FY 08/09 at a cost of $87.56 per ton with an estimated cost of $175,120.00 for 2,000 tons.
Councilor Dalla Valle indicated for the record, that in so doing, it gives the city a better price and saves money.
ROAD SALT FOR SNOW AND ICE CONTROL #275
On a motion by Councilor Colangelo, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to waive the bid process and purchase “Road Salt for Snow and Ice Control” off the State Bid from International Salt Co., LLC, for FY 08/09 at a cost of $78.07 per ton with an estimated cost of $117,105.00 for 1,500 tons.
40,000 LB MAXIMUM EXCAVATOR BID #285
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendations from the Purchasing Agent and the Fleet Manager to award the bid entitled “40,000 lb. Maximum Excavator” to the low bidder, Tyler Equipment, in the amount of $149,993.00.
FALL/WINTER GARDEN CARE & MAINTENANCE: COE MEM. PARK #300
Councilor Dalla Valle made a motion to amend the item on the agenda to accept the recommendations from the Purchasing Agent and the Superintendent of Parks & Recreation to award the (bid: sic) work from the quote entitled “Fall/Winter Garden Care and Maintenance Coe Memorial Park” to Renaissance Farm of Burlington, CT in the amount of $5,850.00. Councilor Colangelo seconded the motion. Unanimous.
Councilor Carbone stated that this work is critical for the preservation of those gardens.
Mayor Bingham indicated that putting the flowers to bed was priority #1 after the Council’s recent vote on the Garden Goddess, and this will give the RFP Committee time to view in detail the proposals that will be generated in the coming weeks.
Councilor Dalla Valle pointed out that the $5,850.00 is less than what the Garden Goddess was charging us under the current contract had it still been in effect, and secondly, although Renaissance Farm was not the lowest quote, they were the only one that had a facility to house the plants that will be removed from the ground. The few extra dollars will be in the city’s best interest not to lose those plants.
FINAL BUDGET TRANSFERS #400
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve the final budget transfers for 7/1/07 - 6/30/08. (Approved by Board of Finance on 10/21/08.)
FUNDS FROM CONTINGENCY: EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM #410
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to expend $5,991.80 from Contingency line item 0010.0047.5651.0000 to purchase equipment needed for the Emergency Response Team vehicle. Funds to be reimbursed through Homeland Security Funding. (Approved by Board of Finance on 10/21/2008.)
TURN-OUT GEAR #415
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Board of Safety’s request to go out to bid for 35 sets of turn-out gear on a purchase only proposition, and to use the Fire Department’s capital account, (estimated to be $64,559.60) for the purchase of turn-out gear and reimburse the capital account in the next three years. (Approved by Board of Finance on 10/21/2008.)
GEOINSIGHT #430
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to waive the bid process and award the Corrective Action Project for Closed Sludge Drying Beds to GeoInsight, Engineer of Record, for the sum of $49,850.00, from which 50% will come from the WPCA Capital Reserve Fund #31, and the other 50% will come from the General Fund, Landfill Encumbrance PO #06-6531 (The 50% totaling $24,925.00 from the General Fund, Landfill Encumbrance was tabled by the Board of Finance until Corp. Counsel has a chance to review the matter.)
INVOICES: MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS FUND #515
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments from the Municipal Renovations Fund #0316:
Joseph Merritt & Co. Inv. I0098843 $408.11 Printing cost
Friar Assoc. Inv. 17 $86,147.00 Professional Svcs
Friar Assoc. 7442 $370.00 Reprographics
REIMBURSE : COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELLNESS #525
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, a brief discussion took place in regard to the reimbursement of city permit fees to the Community Health and Wellness Center. (Tabled by the Board of Finance on 10/21/2008 for further information.)
MOTION TO TABLE #535
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Jerram, the Council voted unanimously to table the reimbursement of city permit fees to the Community Health and Wellness Center.
SIDEWALK PAVING: COE MEMORIAL PARK #540
Councilor Jerram made a motion to amend the item on the agenda to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to award the (bid, sic) work from the quote entitled “Sidewalk Paving Coe Memorial Park” to J. Fragale & Sons, Inc. in the amount of $4,585.00. Councilor Colangelo seconded the motion. Unanimous.
BUDGET TRANSFERS: FLEET CHARGEBACKS #565
On a motion by Councilor Colangelo, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the budget transfers relating to fleet chargebacks. (Approved by the Board of Finance on 10/21/2008.)
Councilor Dalla Valle requested a copy of the recent policy relating to chargebacks. He expressed his concerns over the upcharges, and requested a copy of those as well.
Comptroller Alice Proulx explained that upcharges are overhead costs for handling the parts, i.e. ordering them, keeping them in inventory, etc., similar to those in the private sector.
Mayor Bingham stated that it’s simply a great means of accountability and a tool for departments to look at the real costs for vehicle operation. Modifications to the policy are expected to take place along the way.
ARTS CULTURE COMMISSION #705
On a motion by Councilor Colangelo, seconded by Councilor Jerram, a discussion took place in regard to establishing the Arts Culture Commission of Torrington.
Mayor Bingham said he was asking the Council for an initial authorization for the group to develop themselves as an actual commission through the city, which would include an ordinance. The group will develop goals, structure a committee of nine members including several organizations that will be part of the group as advisory members. Hundreds of arts organizations will pull together and get involved on events such as Torrington Day. A public hearing will be required to create a new ordinance in order to establish the official commission.
Funding does not necessarily go along with the new commission, but it will give us an opportunity to join with other organizations for grant writing opportunities.
Rose Ponte, Economic Development Coordinator, stated that the commission will be a formal recognition to give all the arts organizations an alliance and strength in numbers so they can continue to foster the development of the arts and to augment what we already have and make it stronger through economic development.
Mayor Bingham stated that the group will not have commission status until an ordinance allows them to be a commission. He suggested that the name be changed to Arts Culture Committee of Torrington.
AMEND MOTION #935
Councilor Colangelo amended his motion to establish the Arts Culture Committee of Torrington. Councilor Jerram amended his second. Unanimous.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #940
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public on “agenda items” only.
There was no public participation.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #945
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Colangelo, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
There was none.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #970
On a motion by Councilor Jerram, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Bingham and members of the City Council. There was none.
ADJOURNMENT #990
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:00 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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