MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
November 15, 2010
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, November 15, 2010.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan Bingham, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Gerald Zordan, Elinor Carbone, Marie Soliani, and Gregg Cogswell, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Police Chief Michael Maniago, WPC Administrator Ray Drew, former State Representative Brian Mattiello and City Clerk Joseph Quartiero.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:39 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held October 18, 2010. Councilor Zordan abstained.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one who wished to speak.
FOG RECEIVING FACILITY
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council acting herein as Water Pollution Control Authority, voted unanimously to approve a payment of $11,430.89 from fund #490, Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvements for Torrington Regional FOG Receiving Facility to Wright-Pierce, Inv. #73788.
Mr. Drew explained this is the final construction administration payment, the project is complete, punch list items are being finished, and the scheduled loan closing is April 1, 2011. Mayor Bingham said he is working on scheduling a Special City Council Meeting to tour the facility.
EMERGENCY DISPATCH EXPANSION
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s and the Fire Dept. Deputy Chief’s recommendation to award RFP #RFP-DEO-022-101310 Request for Design/Build Proposal for Emergency Dispatch Expansion Project/EOC for Torrington Fire Headquarters to Burlington Construction Co., Inc. of Torrington, CT in the amount of $1,319,386.00.
Deputy Chief Brunoli said 2 out of 11 bidders were excluded due to paperwork and resubmission after bid closing. United Construction out of Litchfield was the low bidder, he said, but due to our Charter’s city-based bidder preference, this was offered to Burlington Construction who agreed to meet the lowest bid figure.
Mayor Bingham added he is working on compiling a multitude of funding sources including an agreement with Litchfield County Dispatch which asks for $400,000 up front for which LCD will receive a free lease for a number of years at the negotiated rate of $20,000 to cover expenses. At the end of this contract, he said, they will keep some of the equipment that has been purchased off this grant. LCD President Jim Farkas commended the cooperation exhibited between all parties involved and said the 19 neighboring towns in Litchfield Cty. Dispatch are excited to include Torrington as the 20th.
Mayor Bingham said the two federal grants they are working off of are directly attributed to the support of our four federal representatives, Senators Dodd and Lieberman and Congressmen Murphy and Larson.
WILLOW GARDENS
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to authorize reimbursement to the City of Torrington of $912.00 for miscellaneous costs incurred on Willow Gardens Senior Housing Project from Fund #288.
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Fund #316, Municipal Renovations:
VENDOR |
INV# |
AMOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
O&G |
#17-CTYHALL |
185,095.21 |
services thru 9/30/10 |
Horizon Engineering |
18 |
500.00 |
Prof Svcs 8/28-10/1/10 |
Picture This on Granite |
735 |
7,563.85 |
veterans wall |
W.B. Mason |
SDC455-000 |
999.80 |
furniture-probate |
Pennie Zucco |
111010 |
40.70 |
reimburse-UPS fees |
POLICE DEPT. - ROOF FINANCING
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to approve a proposal presented by Lt. Newkirk to use approximately $135,000 from the Capital Reserve Account along with $92,000 from the Equipment Maintenance Capital Improvement Account for a roofing project at the Police Department and refer it to the Board of Finance.
Chief Maniago said the Police Department roof was evaluated by architect Jacumski and Humes who recommended total replacement. These monies are earmarked to replace Street Dept. fuel tanks but will be repaid in $18,400 increments over the next five years in time for the fuel tank work to begin. The total cost of the roof may be as high as $227,000.
In response to Councilor Zordan’s question, the Chief said he’s hoping the project may be done by the end of January. Councilor Carbone asked if the City has ever previously borrowed against an account like this, and if there is any risk to bond ratings. Mayor Bingham said that will be discussed by the Board of Finance, and won’t affect our bond ratings because Torrington’s sound fiscal management is due to this type of saving for long periods of time.
BUILDING DEPT REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for October 2010.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, 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
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Deputy Chief Brunoli commended the firefighters who responded to recent fires.
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
ADD TO AGENDA
Councilor Zordan made a motion to add to the agenda. This was seconded by Councilor Soliani and unanimously approved.
SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING
Ordinance Change – Sidewalk Trash & Bldg. Permit Refunds
Councilor Zordan made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing for Monday, December 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. for making amendments to Section 128-16 and Section 85-4. Councilor Zordan explained that in Section 128-16 Paragraph A the word ‘conviction’ should be changed to the word ‘discovery’ regarding the penalty for leaving trash on the sidewalk. He added that the “10 days” should be changed to “5 days” to be consistent with the rest of the Charter. In Section 85-4, regarding the refund of Building Permit fees, Councilor Zordan said the Ordinance Committee recommends the addition of ‘any refund of Building Permit fees of $100 or less shall be at the discretion of the Building Official, any refund greater than $100 shall be at the discretion of the City Council, and
any and all refunds are to be paid to the owner of record of the property.’ Councilor Soliani seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.
Mayor Bingham updated the Council on plans for the Light Up Main event.
FUESSENICH PARK PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION
He then spoke about the Fuessenich Park Partnership, stating the partnership had been created to raise money from individuals and create opportunity for match grants from the State. Grant monies for future projects would be used for park updates not included in the City budget.~ Mayor Bingham said he had previously worked with Fuessenich Park Partnership; first with Mary Jane Gryniuk, Ray Turri, Ray Oneglia and Jack Fitzgerald, to attract a new baseball team when the Torrington Twisters left; and then with Brett Simmons and the Parks and Recreation Commission, on the bleachers project. ~In July 2010, he said, after P.A.L. painted the bleachers because the right structure couldn’t be identified for their renovation, and after the baseball season, Mrs. Gryniuk said she’d figure out with the partnership what the future
holds. During the summer of 2010, they considered creating a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.~ Ultimately it was decided the partnership would be better suited by involving the City directly, potentially creating an “investment arm” to raise money. Mrs. Gryniuk recruited Brian Mattiello to create a Draft Governance Document to describe the future of Fuessenich Park Partnership.~ The Partnership’s current account will be closed by writing a check to the City.~ Funds will be invested based on the advisement of this group and allocated to projects in collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Brian Mattiello said that a spirit of cooperation and common purpose guided the partnership’s work, but misunderstandings and frustrations need to be redirected. They have some resources, he said, that are not large sums of money, but meaningful nonetheless, which have an important history to honor including how they were raised, and how the partnership was created. He said they have a reason to make those funds relevant and useful for today.
Mr. Mattiello reported that the Partnership felt the best next step was to formalize their group by giving it a governance document, aligning its purpose with the City, and trying to take that purpose into both history and the needs of today. They felt the ex-officio membership of the Supt. of Parks and Recreation was important, he said.
Mr. Mattiello said the words that are key to the function of this group are that the “sole purpose of the Partnership is to collect, manage, and disperse funds for the preservation and development of Fuessenich Park in Torrington.” He said e 726
FUESSENICH PARK PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION CONT’D
is where they’ll work hard with the commission to find balance between projects that would normally be the City’s responsibilities such as basic maintenance and upkeep vs. those items of greater need.
Mr. Mattiello said as membership comes together, as they get organized, and as some key communications get underway, they can then get to the next important place for these funds and for our park. The next step, he said, is for City Council to endorse this direction. Councilor Soliani said the City Council needs to recognize those who given so much of their time and funds to the Fuessenich Park endeavor.
Councilor Carbone commended the clarity of the Fuessenich Park Draft Governance Document which allows appointees to know exactly what the parameters of their responsibilities are. She questioned the investment plans for the funds that have been turned over. Mr. Mattiello said initially the funds should stay with the City, and the document’s permissive language allows outside locations for the fund, such as the Community Foundation. He said the immediate need is for membership organization and getting communication set up between the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Fuessenich Park Partnership.
ADD TO AGENDA
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to add to the agenda.
ESTABLISH FUESSENICH PARK PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to establish the Fuessenich Park Partnership Commission, with membership terms based on the Fuessenich Park Partnership Commission Draft Governance Document 11/10 as follows:
“The Partnership shall consist of 7* members and two ex-officio members, all of whom shall be appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. One ex-officio member shall be the Superintendent of the Parks and Recreation Department for the City of Torrington and the other shall be a representative of the Fuessenich Family. All members shall serve without compensation. Of the members first appointed, three* shall serve until December 31, 2012, three* shall serve until December 31, 2013, and three* shall serve until December 31, 2014. Thereafter, each succeeding member shall be appointed for a four-year term. There will be a term limit of three terms for a total of 12 years.”
(*Note: Brian Mattiello indicated via email that he is aware the membership terms do not add up, and this will be corrected.)
Councilor Zordan asked for a clarification that the Council is not approving the entire document. Mayor Bingham replied ‘Not necessarily, but it will be part of the record.’ He said the Council is adopting the membership terms, and this will be the basis for the Fuessenich Park Partnership Commission’s creation. Councilor Zordan asked if there is any City Council involvement in how any of the money is spent. Mayor Bingham said it would be the Commission’s decision.
Councilor Soliani agreed that it should be stated in the final document that the monies be used strictly for preservation and renovations or whatever’s needed only at the Park.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to enter Executive Session under pending litigation at 7:20 p.m.
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to return to open session at 7:48 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:49 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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