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Minutes 03/15/2010 Approved

MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
MARCH 15, 2010                                      
A   REGULAR  MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the Senior Center Main Room on Monday, March 15, 2010.
Those in attendance included Acting Mayor City Councilor Thomas Jerram, City Councilors Elinor Carbone, Marie Soliani, Drake Waldron and Rick Dalla Valle, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, Fleet Manager Emil Castro, Superintendant of Streets Robert Lizotte, Board of Public Safety Commissioner James Potter, City Treasurer Arthur Mattiello,  and City Clerk Joseph Quartiero.  City Councilor Paul F. Samele, Jr. was absent.

CALL TO ORDER #84
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Carbone, Acting Mayor Jerram called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

MINUTES #90
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously
to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held March 1, 2010.

MINUTES #98
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously
to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held March 3, 2010. Councilor Soliani abstained.

MINUTES #107
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously
to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held March 8, 2010. Councilor Dalla Valle abstained.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #116
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one who wished to speak.

RESCUE PUMPER #123
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent's and Fleet Manager's recommendation to award the purchase of a Rescue Pumper to Yankee Fire & Rescue, Inc. of Palmer MA in the amount of $449, 993.00 pending approval from the Board of Finance. Councilor Dalla Valle asked why Yankee Fire & Rescue was chosen over the lowest bidder. Deputy Chief Brunoli explained they met the specifications with no exceptions; The lower bidders supplied lesser material and didn't meet the specs for the engine requirements that they are looking for. He added that this pumper is replacing Engine 5 which is 25 yrs. old. Acting Mayor Jerram asked what will happen to Engine 5 and Deputy Chief Brunoli answered that there is a market for used apparatus.   

BOND COUNSEL #190
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Evaluation Committee's recommendation to hire Robinson & Cole of Hartford, CT to provide Bond Counsel services.
City Treasurer Mattiello explained this is necessary to meet the bond requirements due in May. He said seven responses to the Request for Proposal were received and reviewed by a committee. Treasurer Mattiello said Robinson & Cole offer a savings of  9 or 10 thousand dollars.

BUDGET MODIFICATIONS #250
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following modifications to the General Fund budget.
-a) 0010.0078.4050.0000 Educ. Cost Sharing Grant, reduce by $3,432,395
-b) 0010.0078.4050.0002 Educ. Cost Sharing Grant -ARRA, increase by $3,432,395

BUDGET TRANSFERS: SALT #257
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously
to authorize the following.
-a) transfer $90,000 from contingency line item 0010.0047.5651.0000 to salt line item 0010.0031.5258.0000
-b) transfer $31,848 from sand line item 0010.0031.5259.0000 to salt line item 0010.0031.5258.0000

WATER ST. SIDEWALK PROJECT #287
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $557.00 for Invoice #1029 to the City of Torrington Engineering Dept. from Fund #0282 for the Water Street Sidewalk Project.

BUILDING DEPT. REPORT #295
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to
accept the Building Dept. Report for the month of February 2010.

MRC INVOICES #302
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to authorize payment of the following invoices:
Vendor
Invoice #
Amount
Description
Mike Clark
20510
89.26
tagger gun & supplies
CL&P
30510
2,560.07
Electric 2/4/10-3/3/10
Special Testing Laboratories
24289
360.00
Inspections
Torrington Business Park
30110
9,461.73
March Rent
Torrington Water Co.
30410
404.00
Fire Protection
Yankee Gas
30310
966.41
Gas 2/1/10-3/3/10
Councilor Soliani remarked on her tour of the Municipal Renovations at City Hall, saying it will be magnificent and that Mr. Clark is a credit to the city. Acting Mayor Jerram agreed that Mr. Clark's huge commitment and guidance on the project has been phenomenal. Councilor Dalla Valle asked if the exterior granite will be cleaned. Councilor Soliani said she thinks that is in the plan.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY #346
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public on "agenda items" only.  There was no one who wished to speak.

BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS #356
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.  Chief Field thanked the Council for their consideration on the Pumper purchase.

BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL #370
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Dalla Valle said he attended a meeting with the Hispanic community and Superintendent Leone in relation to the violence and alleged harassment taking place in the schools. He said this is something we need to take a close look at.
Acting Mayor Jerram said Mayor Bingham is in Washington D.C. seeking federal funds for some current local projects.

ADJOURNMENT #447
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:42 p.m.


                                                                                                                                                                                    
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC                                                                            
                CITY CLERK                                                                                                                                                 




Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk