MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
September 15, 2010
A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the City Hall Council Chambers on Wednesday, September 15, 2010.
Those in attendance included Acting Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Gerald Zordan, Marie Soliani and Paul Samele, Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Police Chief Michael Maniago and Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Stephen Nocera.
Acting Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held August 16, 2010. Councilor Soliani abstained.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Linda Gallagher requested the reappointment of Atty. Slaiby to the Torrington Housing Authority be taken off the table. She said their captain, George Julian, passed away and they are waiting for his notes to be mailed to them.
Mary Bagnaschi read a letter she prepared protesting the reappointment of Atty. Slaiby based on her concerns about ‘numerous management problems’. She suggested the City ‘evaluate the By-laws that created the Housing Authority over 50 years ago and amend them to include a system of checks and balances’.
Dave Murelli spoke in support of Atty. Slaiby saying he’s done an excellent job. He said providing security guards 24/7 will cost $127,592, which would have to come from the City.
APPOINTMENTS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously
to appoint Gregg G. Cogswell to the Board of Councilmen to complete a 2 year term expiring December 5, 2011. Atty. Weaver administered the Oath of Office to Councilor Cogswell.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously
to appoint Angelo J. LaMonica to the Board of Public Safety to complete a 4 year term expiring December 5, 2011.
Councilor Waldron made a motion to approve the reappointment of Atty Samuel Slaiby to the Torr. Housing Authority for a 5 year term to expire Sept. 1, 2015. It was seconded by Councilor Samele and Atty. Slaiby was invited to speak.
Atty. Slaiby thanked Mayor Bingham for the confidence he showed, and for this honor bestowed on him. He said he has been on the THA for thirty years, a challenging job. He said he is deeply indebted to all the commissioners and staff of the THA for the great management job they have done, working very hard to maintain the high performance rating they’ve had for several years in a row. He explained the history behind the Tower’s senior project designation issue so that it could be understood.
This included the federal government’s deinstitutionalization of the disabled in the 1980’s, the recognition of the problems facing the disabled, and the gradual increase of applications from disabled persons due to federal mandates. He noted that young disabled persons and the elderly are a bad mix in a high-rise building, but you have to work with what you have. The elderly applicants decreased in number, he said, to the point where in 2005, 70% of the applicants were young disabled persons and THA could not fill the vacancies with the elderly, whom the project was designated for, at the risk of losing THA’s elderly designation from the State. He credited the professional staff at the Housing Authority for attaining Federal site designation for three former State sites, because inspectors were so impressed
with the sites’ condition despite their age and budget problems.
Atty. Slaiby explained the Towers most likely will never be designated elderly housing again, unless demographics change. He said although the Towers won architectural awards, it no longer meets the needs of a modern facility for either the elderly or the disabled, and with its fourteen stories, common hallways, entrances and exits, is a recipe for a bad social mix. He stressed that we have to make the best of what we have.
Atty. Slaiby reminded the Council of the Towers’ security audit performed by Former Police Chief Milano which resulted in many changes including security hours, the certification of security personnel, reduced nighttime accessibility, and limited use of the laundry room. He’s hoping to give the Police Dept. access to their video surveillance system, but does not have the money to increase security to 24/7.
He said the THA is fortunate enough to have reserve funds but are spending them down now, as they fight for every dime in their budget.
Councilor Waldron said he’d like to hear the information from the Julian family and withdrew his motion. Councilor Samele withdrew his second. Atty. Slaiby pointed out there is some THA business on hold waiting for this decision, and that, under statute, he is still to act as Commissioner until a new one is appointed. On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to table the reappointment of Atty Samuel Slaiby to the Torr. Housing Authority until October 4, 2010. Councilor Cogswell abstained.
OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to approve the City of Torrington Other Post-Employment Benefits Declaration of Trust.
POLICE CHIEF VEHICLE
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent and the Fleet Manager to purchase a 2010 Ford Explorer for the Chief of Police from MHQ Municipal Headquarters, West Hartford, CT in the amount of $26,579 from the Vehicle Replacement Fund, having been approved by the Board of Public Safety, and tabled by City Council on August 16, 2010. Councilor Soliani thanked the Chief for the updates he sent.
TORRINGFORD SCHOOL NOTES
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to authorize payment of $57.45 to US Bank for fees associated with the issuance of notes on May 1, 2010, Line Item 0314.8888.5900.0000 – Torringford School.
WATER STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to authorize payment of $33,610.43 to Pierce Builders Inc. d/b/a HPJ Construction for Payment Application #1 from Fund #0282, Water Street Improvements Project.
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS COMMITTEE INVOICES
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from the Municipal Renovations Fund #0316:
$5,510 to Giordano Signs & Graphics, Invoice #27769, for floor directories
$2,500 to Horizon Engineering, Invoice #16, for Prof. Svcs 7/3/2010 through 7/30/2010
$188,229.49 to O & G, Invoice #15-CTYHALL, for services through 7/31/2010
$226.06 to Mayor’s Office Supplies Line Item #0010.0011.5280, for postage
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Dept. report for the month of August 2010.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public on "agenda items" only.
BUSINESS BY DEPT HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Deputy Fire Chief Brunoli brought the Council up to date on his plans to submit a SAFER grant application, having been approved by the Board of Public Safety. The three year grant would allow the hiring of 8 personnel, 2 for each shift with priority given to laid-off firefighters first and new-hires last. He said should the City accept the grant if awarded, it would be responsible for the third year costs associated with the 8 personnel. Deputy Chief offered an info packet to the Council.
Police Chief Maniago invited the Council to see their new Dispatch Center with upgraded technology and furniture.
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Cogswell thanked everyone for their support and said it is a pleasure to be here.
Councilors Samele, Zordan, Soliani and Waldron welcomed Councilor Cogswell.
Councilor Solilani spoke about the negative comments she has been receiving from the people of Torrington and concerns about the Emergency Management position being filled by a candidate with ‘absolutely no qualifications’. She said there seems to be a lot of ‘outrage out there’ for what was done.
She said she is looking for an explanation and a resolving of this ‘very deleterious problem’. Councilor Soliani said what she is concerned about the most is the safety of the City of Torrington, as job descriptions were not followed.
Acting Mayor Carbone also welcomed Councilor Cogswell and commended Chief Maniago for the excellent police work this week on both the bomb threats and the drug bust. Chief Maniago gave credit to his staff and their dedication to the City.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to
adjourn at 7:18 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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