MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL AND WPC AUTHORITY
May 2, 2011
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the Auditorium on Monday, May 2, 2011.
Present were Mayor Ryan Bingham, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Gregg Cogswell, Paul Samele, Elinor Carbone, and Marie Soliani, and Gerald Zordan, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Brett Simmons, Fleet Manager Emil Castro, Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Board of Public Safety Commissioner James Potter, Comptroller Alice Proulx, WPC Administrator Raymond Drew, City Engineer Ed Fabbri, Personnel Director Thomas Gritt and City Clerk Joseph Quartiero. Atty. Victor Muschell was also present.
Mayor Ryan Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
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. There was no one who wished to speak.
PENSION AGREEMENT CHANGES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve changes to the Pension Agreement between the City of Torrington and AFSCME Local 1579, City Hall Employees, Public Works Employees and Board of Education Custodians as detailed in the letter from Attorney Victor Muschell dated April 21, 2011.
Atty. Muschell said this is a significant point in the City’s history, where all city employees except the Police Department will phase out the traditional defined benefit plan. He noted that in 2011 the contribution to the pension fund was $1,125,000 or 13.76% of payroll. When the defined contribution plan is fully implemented and the pension plan is gone, the maximum amount from the City will be 6%.
RESOLUTION: CITY-WIDE HOUSING REHAB LOANS
On a motion by 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 $300,000 to undertake and carryout a Small Cities Community Development Program and to execute an Assistance Agreement for a City-Wide Housing Rehabilitation Revolving Loan program.
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
$300,000 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 1. That it is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for the state financial assistance imposed by Part VI of Chapter 130 of the CGS 2. That the filing of an application for State financial assistance by City of Torrington in an amount not to exceed $300,000 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 City of Torrington
SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING: Senior Center Renovations
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a Public Hearing on May 16, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. to solicit citizen input and discuss a potential 2011 Small Cities project for Multi-Jurisdictional Senior Center Renovations that the City intends to apply for.
SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING: Sewer Fee
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the City Council acting herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority voted unanimously to schedule a Public Hearing on May 16, 2011 immediately following the Public Hearing for Small Cities project for Multi-Jurisdictional Senior Center Renovations set 6:30 p.m., to set the Sewer User Fee for the period from July 1, 2011 and ending June 30, 2012.
PLOW TRUCK
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted 5/1 to table acceptance of the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent, Fleet Manager, and Superintendent of Streets to purchase a 2011/2012 International 7600 SFA Plow Truck from Marola Motors of Torrington, CT in the amount of $192,700.00, tabled on April 18, 2011, pending approval from Board of Finance.
Councilor Soliani said she’d like to wait until the budget is completed and we know exactly where we are, and also that she is still not in favor of this purchase. Councilor Cogswell was opposed to tabling this.
SMALL CITIES
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Small Cities grants:
VENDOR |
Req./Inv. # |
AMOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
FUND |
L. Wagner & Assocs. |
10-SC-06 |
$300.00 |
Prof. Sers.Title Search for 4 properties 04/19/2011 |
251 |
L. Wagner & Assocs. |
HRLR-187 |
$2730.00 |
Prof. Svcs. 1/1/2011 to 3/31/2011 |
250 |
L. Wagner & Assocs. |
10-SC-03 |
$3000.00 |
Prof. Svcs. Gen’l Admin 11/1/2010 to 3/31/2011 |
251 |
L. Wagner & Assocs. |
10-SC-04 |
$6427.50 |
Prof. Svcs. Program Costs 11/1/2010 to 3/31/2011 |
251 |
L. Wagner & Assocs. |
143-CDBGR17 |
$1575.00 |
Prof. Svcs. 11/1/2010 to 3/31/2011 |
282 |
LED STREETLIGHT FIXTURES
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously on the following:
to accept the recommendation of City Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco and City Engineer Ed Fabbri to award the contract to the low bidder, Summers Group, Inc. d/b/a Rexel, for new cobra head style LED streetlight fixtures at a unit price of $286.00.
to authorize the Mayor to act on behalf of the City regarding the execution of the contact and its administration including approval of pay applications.
to approve the use of the same vendor, at the option of the City, to purchase additional fixtures when anticipated additional funds become available at the same or lower unit price approved under this bid.
Mayor Bingham applauded the Purchasing Agent, City Engineer and Director of Public Works for the many hours put into this purchase that will ultimately save taxpayers a lot of money. He added the next step will be to put out to bid for installation.
COE MEMORIAL PARK BUDGET
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted 5/1 to accept the Parks and Recreation Director J. Brett Simmons, Coe Memorial Park Budget for 2011-2012 as listed in attached memorandum.
Councilor Soliani voted in opposition.
UCONN PARTNERSHIP PROJECT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to approve a Resolution to authorize the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Agreement with UCONN for a partnership project.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, 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 Fire Chief Brunoli updated the Council on the Dispatch Center project. The local Carpenter’s Union is on strike, but it should be short-lived. The roof is going on, and the floors are being poured.
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Cogswell thanked the administration for the agreement with the unions, saying it’s a great step in the right direction.
Councilor Soliani congratulated the Mayor on the Memorandum of Agreement with UConn.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Samele and unanimously approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:31 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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