MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
December 6, 2010
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, December 06, 2010.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Gerald Zordan, Elinor Carbone, Paul Samele, and Gregg Cogswell, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Building Official Brett Zuraitis, and City Clerk Joseph Quartiero.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING
At 6:30 p.m., Mayor Bingham called the Public Hearing to order to obtain public input on proposed amendments to the City’s Code of Ordinances. City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero read the legal notice. No one from the public wished to speak. Mayor Bingham closed the public hearing at 6:32 p.m.
Mayor Bingham called the regular meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.
ORDINANCE CHANGE: SOLID WASTE PENALTY
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Board of Councilmen voted unanimously to amend Section 128-16 of the Code of Ordinances by decreasing the length of time (from 10 days to 5 days) that solid waste may be left before penalties may be imposed.
Councilor Carbone asked how this is enforced. Mayor Bingham explained that once a complaint is received, a letter is issued by the Public Works Department. If there’s no response, the municipal solid waste hauler is asked to remove it and the cost forwarded to the homeowner. He added that a lien is placed on the property if the invoice is not paid. Councilor Carbone clarified that we are then relying on the public to notify us.
ORDINANCE CHANGE: BUILDING PERMIT REFUNDS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Board of Councilmen voted unanimously to amend Section 85-4 by adding language to delineate how building permit refunds will be approved, and designating the property owner as the payee of refunds paid.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held November 15, 2010. Councilor Samele abstained.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Vincent Merola requested the Council consider adopting the State’s option to Municipalities to abate taxes on high-mileage or hybrid motor vehicles. Mayor Bingham said this is something to consider, will get an estimate of the potential revenue loss, and go from there.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION: APPTS. OF G. EUCALITTO & N. FRITCH
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council, voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Gary Eucalitto to the Conservation Commission, replacing Kevin Fitzgerald, who resigned on November 30, 2010.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council, voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Nicole Fritch to the Conservation Commission, to replace Nancy Schroeder-Perez, who has moved out of town.
FUESSENICH PARK PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION APPTS.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following appointments to the Fuessenich Park Partnership Commission:
Term to Expire 12/31/12 |
Term to Expire 12/31/13 |
Term to Expire 12/31/14 |
Ex-Officio |
Paul Summers Mary Coutant Collin Good |
John D. FitzGerald Christopher Cook Jennifer Ives-Groebl |
Brian Mattiello Gerard Carbone Gary Mercier |
Brett Simmons, Parks & Rec. Cleveland Fuessenich |
Councilor Carbone abstained from the vote.
EOC ARCHITECT AGREEMENT AMENDMENT #1
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept Amendment #1 to Design Agreement Between the City of Torrington, CT and Jacunski Humes Architects, LLC dated 7/28/2010 for M/E/P Consulting Services, Bidding Assistance, and Construction Administration Services not to exceed $35,200, approved by the Board of Public Safety on December 1, 2010.
EOC ARCHITECT AGREEMENT AMENDMENT #1 Continued
Deputy Chief Brunoli explained the original proposal was $12,800 to create the specifications. Due to the fact that this project was initially funded from their capital account, there weren’t sufficient funds to pay an architect to do the whole project. Under the advice of the City Engineer, it was determined that it’s best to have an architect’s supervision, in order to obtain what was specified. Deputy Chief Brunoli said this architect has done 60 of these projects, is number one in the State, and will make sure the City gets what it’s paid for. He further explained this project will be done in nine months or less, won’t cost more than $35,200, and will be paid for from grant money, not the City coffers.
NAT’L COMMUNITY DEVEL. ASSN: Membership for S. Nocera
On a motion by Council Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve payment of $375.00 to National Community Development Assn.from Fund #250, Small Cities Rehab. Grant, for membership dues for Stephen Nocera, invoice #MEMB-2010-11.
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Fund #316, Municipal Renovations:
VENDOR |
INV# |
AMOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
VanZelm Engineering |
0034758 |
2,002.00 |
Prof svcs thru 10/30/10 |
Alice Proulx |
120210 |
567.10 |
reimburse-car damage |
A&R Autobody |
9768-1 |
135.68 |
car damage due to contractor |
Dave's Auto Upholstery |
122710 |
3,489.52 |
car damage due to contractor |
Executive Glass |
112310 |
630.70 |
car damage due to contractor |
Christine Upton |
91510 |
10.00 |
car cleaning |
Nancy Michna |
91610 |
9.00 |
car cleaning |
Sheryl Lewis |
91510 |
8.00 |
car cleaning |
Mayor Bingham explained the car damage. He said a contractor mistakenly caused brick sealant to fall and harden onto employees’ cars. This sealant had to be professionally removed. There is some consideration for subrogation as a claim to the contractor’s insurance, he said.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Waldron, 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 updated the Council on EOC grant money acquisition. Mayor Bingham added that EOC contracts will be on upcoming Council agendas for their approval.
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Carbone congratulated the Fire Department for their excellent work recently, and commended the Christmas Parade.
Mayor Bingham added that in order to save $2600, there will be no residential sand distributed this year until further notice.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilor Waldron motioned to adjourn at 6:48 pm. It was seconded by Councilor Samele, and unanimously approved.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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