MINUTES PUBLIC HEARING/SENIOR CENTER
CITY COUNCIL AND WPC AUTHORITY
MAY 16, 2011
A PUBLIC HEARING was held in the Auditorium on Monday, May 16, 2011, by the City Council & WPC Authority to solicit citizen input and discuss the Fiscal Year 2011 Community Development Block Grant Multi-Jurisdictional Program Application for a Multi-Jurisdictional Senior Center Renovations Project. The City’s Program Income Reuse Plan and current CDBG projects will also be discussed.
Present were Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Councilors Gregg Cogswell, Paul Samele, Elinor Carbone, Gerald Zordan, Marie Soliani, and Drake Waldron and Larry Wagner of L. Wagner & Assocs. LLC.
Mayor Bingham called the Public Hearing to order at 6:30 p.m.
City Clerk Joseph Quartiero read the Legal Notice.
Mr. Wagner explained the State allows more than one community to submit together a multi-jurisdictional grant application if the project benefits those regions as a whole. In this case, he said, the City is proposing to act as a lead agency for several communities in the region for improvements to the Senior Center including additional storage space for medical equipment, the dining area, ADA improvements, a new entryway to facilitate people coming in and out, handicapped accessible bathrooms – a variety of different projects. Mr. Wagner noted the Senior Center was first built in 1979 and has had several additions and renovations, but this is a major one that will occur.
He said the City of Torrington is well–experienced with the Small Cities Program having participated since 1978, when one of the first projects was the Senior Center. This project entails a variety of improvements mostly to expand the facility and make it more ADA accessible.
Mr. Wagner said the purpose of this Public Hearing tonight is to listen to comments and answer questions about the project.
There was no one from the public who wished to speak.
Mayor Bingham closed the public hearing at 6:37 p.m.
RESOLUTION: SENIOR CENTER RENOVATIONS PROJECT
On a motion from Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to
adopt the following resolution and authorize the Mayor to apply to the State of CT for and amount not to exceed $750,000 to undertake and carryout a Small Cities Community Development Program and to execute an Assistance Agreement for a Multi-Jurisdictional Senior Center Renovations Project:
WHEREAS, federal monies are available under the Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C § 5301, et. seq., as amended, also known as Public Law 93-383, and administered by the State of Connecticut, Department of Economic and Community Development as the Connecticut Small Cities Development Block Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 127c, and Part VI of Chapter 130 of the Connecticut General Statues, the Commissioner of the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development is authorized disburse such federal monies to local municipalities; and
WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest that the City of Torrington make an application to the State for $750,000 in order to undertake and carryout a Small Cities Community Development Program and to execute an Assistance Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE Town Council
- That it is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for the state financial assistance imposed by
Part VI of Chapter 130 of the CGS
- That the filing of an application for State financial assistance by City of Torrington in an amount not to exceed $750,000 is hereby approved
and that Mayor, Ryan J. Bingham is directed to execute and file such application with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, to provide such additional information, to execute such other documents as may be required, to execute an Assistance Agreement with the State of Connecticut for State financial assistance if such an agreement is offered, to execute any amendments, decisions, and revisions thereto, to carryout approved activities and to act as the authorized representative of the City of Torrington .
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
| 
