Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Councilors Rick Dalla Valle, Gerald Zordan, Marie Soliani, and Elinor Carbone, WPC Administrator Ray Drew, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, and Fleet Manager Emil Castro.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:43 p.m.
MINUTES On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the special meeting held jointly with the Board of Finance and the Board of Education on July 19, 2010. Councilor Zordan abstained.
On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held on July 19, 2010.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. Mr. John Schnyer of the City of Torrington Street Dept. asked about scrap metal receipts in the City, questioning the accountability procedure and documentation, since the transactions are in cash. Mr. Schnyer questioned the
fiscal responsibility of GPS units in Street Dept. trucks, saying the existing radios and procedures work very well. He said that every day there are ways to save money in every department including the Police Department grass that cost $5800 of our “hard-earned money.” He stressed that he prefers to be put to work rather than sit on a bench like “a relief pitcher.” He challenged the Council and Department Heads to take care of managing the business of the City.
SVCS. FOR THE ELDERLY COMM. On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following appointments to the Svcs. for the Elderly Commission with terms expiring July 6, 2013: Voting Member Archie Perez to a second term, Alternate Member Doris Richards replacing Voting Member Evelyn Lukes for a first term, and Joan Altschuler for a first term as an Alternate Member.
FOG RECEIVING FACILITY On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council acting herein as Water Pollution Control Authority, voted unanimously to approve a payment of $9,971.84 from fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvements for Torrington Regional FOG Receiving Facility to Wright-Pierce, Inv. #72470. Mr. Drew added that the project is continuing and they expect to have the new facility online by August 16th.
ROTARY LUBE PUMP On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council acting herein as Water Pollution Control Authority, voted unanimously to waive the bid process and purchase one CL 520 Rotary Lube pump from Boerger, LLC of Minneapolis, MN for the lump sum cost of $23,256.00 plus freight. In answer to Councilor Zordan’s question about what this is used for, Mr. Drew said this pump loads 6% - 7% liquid sludge onto tanker trucks
which are sent to a Naugatuck treatment facility for thickening and incineration.
LUBRICATION SYSTEM On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the council voted unanimously to accept the Fleet Manager’s and Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to purchase/install a lubrication system from Lubrication Technologies, Inc., of West Springfield, MA, in the amount of $4935.00 from the Vehicle Replacement Fund, pending approval from the Board of Finance. Councilor Soliani asked why this is coming from the Vehicle Replacement Fund. Mr.
Castro replied that this was in the original specifications for the vehicle designated to come from that fund, but hadn’t been included in the particular pre-built vehicle that was purchased. He explained that this is for the 2010 plow truck.
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Fund #316, Municipal Renovations:
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS, Cont’d
$ 2,013.50 to BKM Total Office for Invoice #564562 for furniture $ 204.86 to BKM Total Office for Invoice #564569 for furniture $ 3,011.00 to Horizon Engineering for Invoice #15 for Prof. Svcs. 5/29 – 7/2/10 $234,919.48 to O & G for Invoice #14-CTYHALL for services through 6/30/10
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public on "agenda items" only. No one wished to speak.
BUSINESS BY DEPT HEADS On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Dalla Valle, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. Deputy Chief Brunoli reported that on May 18, 2009 the Fire Dept. applied for a Diesel Exhaust System Grant for headquarters, which was awarded on March 5, 2010. He said the $45,000 grant requires a $5000 match and that in the grant process, the necessary quotes were obtained, and the chosen vendor
had installed the system at the North End Station. He added the quotes were within $1000 of each other, and the award went to Air Clean Specialists out of Massachusetts whose warrantee and service contracts were better. Deputy Chief Brunoli said he is coming to City Council because the contractor now has to get paid. (the matching funds) He apologized for presenting this request after the work is completed, but a memo is supposed to be forthcoming to make the grant process more uniform. Mayor Bingham said “Okay” and asked if there were any questions from the Council. There were none.
ADD TO AGENDA On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to add an Executive Session regarding lease negotiations to the agenda.
EXECUTIVE SESSION On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to enter Executive Session under Lease Negotiations at 7:00 p.m.
OPEN SESSION On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to return to Open Session at 7:10 p.m.
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council. Councilor Dalla Valle distributed a copy of his letter of resignation to each member of the Council, and explained that effective immediately he is resigning in order to pursue other ventures. Mayor Bingham said it has been a pleasure serving with him. Councilor Carbone
said she thinks Councilor Dalla Valle was one of the hardest working Councilmen and appreciates everything he’s done. Councilor Zordan thanked Councilor Dalla Valle for all his many years of service to the City. Councilor Soliani wished Councilor Dalla Valle all the best and that, while she’s never doubted his devotion to the City, being at opposite ends of some issues have made the two of them rise to the top. Councilor Soliani asked for a report on parking fines collection, and if there could be signage for the Saturday Farmer’s Market. Mayor Bingham said they aren’t City-sponsored. Councilor Soliani asked if someone could look into it.
ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Councilor Dalla Valle, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:17 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted, Carol L. Anderson, CCTC Asst. City Clerk
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