MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL AND WPC AUTHORITY
June 9, 2011
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the Auditorium on Thursday, June 9, 2011, adjourned from Monday, June 6, 2011.
Present were Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Council Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Councilors Gregg Cogswell, Elinor Carbone, Drake Waldron, and Marie Soliani. Also present were Deputy Police Chief Christopher Smedick, Superintendent of Streets Robert Lizotte, Fleet Manager Emil Castro, Director of Public Works Gerald Rollett, Superintendent of Parks and Recreation Brett Simmons and John Russell of Marola Motors. City Councilors Paul Samele and Gerald Zordan were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:39 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.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held on May 2, 2011.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the special joint meeting, and Public Hearing, held on May 5, 2011 with the Board of Finance, regarding Budgets.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the special joint meeting held on May 5, 2011 with the Board of Finance, regarding the extension of the Tax Collector contract.
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. There was no one who wished to speak.
ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION: SHARON WAAGNER
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to appoint Sharon Waagner to the Arts & Culture Comm. to fill a vacancy for a 4 year term expiring Dec. 31, 2012. Mayor Bingham noted that Ms. Waagner serves as the Communications Liaison for the Downtown Partners, and will be very helpful to connect the Downtown Partners to the thriving ACT Commission. He said he looks forward to having her serve.
ORDINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council considered recommendations from the Ordinance Subcommittee.
Councilor Soliani proposed a Public Hearing be scheduled to consider a proposed ordinance providing property tax exemptions for farm buildings used exclusively for farming.
Councilor Cogswell proposed a Public Hearing be scheduled to add to Ordinance 75-3 Alcoholic Liquor, Exceptions. This Public Hearing would consider the addition of Section B allowing alcohol sale and consumption at outside dining venues on public sidewalks.
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a Public Hearing on Monday, June 20, 2011 at 6:30 pm to consider a proposed ordinance providing property tax exemptions for farm buildings used exclusively for farming.
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a Public Hearing on Monday, June 20, 2011 immediately following the 6:30 pm Public Hearing on proposed exemptions for farm buildings scheduled above. This is to consider an amendment to Ordinance 75-3, Alcoholic Liquor Exemptions for Outside Dining.
PLOW TRUCK
Mr. Lizotte explained he is trying to replace one of his trucks with a ten-wheel dump truck that is capable of plowing. The reason he is looking for a ten-wheeler is to have the ability to tow the excavator. He said plowing operations would be much more efficient with this vehicle.
Mayor Bingham asked for expected efficiency numbers. Mr. Lizotte explained that in the outlying areas such as Burrville, the truck comes back to the garage four or five times in a typical storm. With a ten-wheel truck, he said, this could be accomplished in two trips back to the Street Dept. to get reloaded.
Councilor Soliani asked how the excavator is moved now. Mr. Lizotte said the towing is contracted out for $175.00 each time.
Councilor Cogswell asked if the ten-wheel truck would still be necessary if we didn’t have an excavator to tow. Mr. Lizotte said it would, as he’s been trying to replace current trucks with ten-wheelers since 2005, as they would allow greater efficiency during the construction season.
Mr. Rollett added that a year was spent looking at other towns, and we are behind the times on this. He said he will look for more ten-wheel trucks in the future, as they are more efficient, and help get more work done with less manpower.
Councilor Cogswell asked if another ten-wheel truck is planned in the near future. Mr. Castro said there is a plan for one more in the immediate future.
Councilor Carbone said she has reservations on this purchase, as the Blue Ribbon Commission is looking at the plow truck inventory. She said she feels there is a disconnect in the information provided and would like to see this purchase tabled.
Mr. Lizotte said that since this purchase has been pushed off, the price has gone up because of the price of steel. Mr. Russell said that prices go up twice a year, and the International brand represents 50% of municipal trucks in America. He said because of world markets they’ve already realized an increase of $600.00 per truck.
Mayor Bingham noted the other concern raised in the past was the time needed to build the truck. Mr. Marola said it would take 90 to 150 days, depending on component availability.
Councilor Carbone asked if this price is correct. Mr. Castro said there is a difference due to the lubrication system and an expected discount. The price should be about $191,050.00, he said. Mr. Russell added there was a $700.00 error made by the lubrication company.
In answer to Mayor Bingham’s question, Mr. Lizotte said he has 24 employees, plus two management positions, 19 plow routes, 19 primary plow trucks and one spare. He said there is one driver per truck, but three routes in town have two employees each, which are the downtown route, the lower west side, and the south end. Mr. Rollett said those are routes where the trucks back out into traffic on main roads.
Councilor Soliani said she isn’t comfortable enough to approve this purchase, and she would agree to table it until the 20th. She requested the cost figures for the towing contractor, and said she’s not convinced we need a plow truck that costs this much money.
Mayor Bingham asked for the price difference between the four-wheel and ten-wheel trucks. Mr. Castro said the last truck purchased, a 4 x 4, was about $195,000. He noted that the ten-wheel truck is about two or three thousand less.
Councilor Cogswell said he has seen that other municipalities who are using these trucks. Mr. Russell listed other
towns who purchased ten-wheel trucks. He said ten years is a nice life cycle for a municipal truck, and noted the problem of corrosion in truck maintenance. He reminded the Council that when they spend a lot of money on maintenance, they aren’t getting a good return on their investment.
In answer to Councilor Carbone’s inquiry, Mr. Castro explained the new truck will replace a 15 year old vehicle. He said the lifetime repair cost for the vehicle he is proposing to retire has been $91,000, with $8,000 spent last year alone.
Councilor Soliani asked if we are defeating our own purpose with the chemicals that we purchase. Mr. Rollett replied that the City uses chemicals that are much less corrosive than what the State puts down. He said this truck is the most cost effective option for the City, a major manpower saver that would do the hauling work of just over two regular trucks.
Councilor Carbone said she processed the numbers with $8000 in repairs last year to the truck that is preferred to be retired, the cost of transporting the excavator eight or nine times a week, and the increased savings in back and forth deployment for refilling with sand. She noted that $195,000 was paid for a 4 x 4, and this one is $3,000 cheaper.
Councilor Carbone asked if the new trucks will corrode as quickly as the old ones. Mr. Castro said stainless steel will last as long as the truck itself.
Mr. Lizotte said these trucks were placed into the Vehicle Replacement Plan, and cautioned against getting away from the program. He said last year a repair was done to a truck that cost $28,000 causing the truck to be out of service for three months. Mr. Lizotte said we can’t really afford to not have a truck available to take care of the roads when its snowing.
Mayor Bingham asked for a clarification about excavator’s transportation. Mr. Lizotte said the excavator problem was the gross weight of the trailer was a little less than it should be, so he had the trailer modified and recertified by Marola’s. Still it exceeded axle weight limits. It’s a liability issue, he said.
Councilor Carbone asked what is done with retired plow trucks. Mr. Castro said they are sent to auction.
PLOW TRUCK PURCHASE: STREET DEPT.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept 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 $191,050 tabled on April 18, May 2, and May 16th, and to forward it to the Board of Finance.
PLOW TRUCK PURCHASE: PARKS & REC.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Fleet Manager, Purchasing Agent and Parks & Recreation Superintendent to award the purchase of one plow truck from Marola Motor Sales at the bid price of $95,917.00, and to forward it to the Board of Finance.
Councilor Soliani asked if the vehicles can be shared between Departments. Mr. Rollett said we don’t have enough equipment in either Department. Mr. Simmons explained the Parks and Recreation Department clears snow from parking lots and access roads, and treat municipal lots, fire houses and the police department with salt applications. He said the truck to be replaced is a four-season truck, the Department’s work horse for hauling materials and equipment. Mr. Rollett said it is about half the size of the Street Department’s trucks, which couldn’t operate with efficiency on a parking lot, and is the right size vehicle for the type of work they are doing. In the event of major problems, he said, the Departments will share wherever they can.
Councilor Carbone asked if there is currently a vehicle of this size and nature being used. Mr. Simmons said he has an equivalent Ford dump truck. Mr. Castro said the truck to be replaced is currently out of service because parts cannot be found.
Councilor Carbone asked how many trucks Parks and Recreation has in their Department. Mr. Simmons said he has six trucks being driven by eight full-time employees and six seasonal. He has one dump truck and the rest are pickup trucks. He noted that his employees are spread out over 26 parks in the City.
POLICE INTERCEPTOR PURCHASE
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Fleet Manager and Purchasing Agent to award the purchase of two (2) Ford Police Interceptors from Crowley Ford, LLC of Plainville, CT for $57,244.00, having been approved by the Board of Public Safety on May 4, 2011, tabled by City Council on May 16th, and to forward it to the Board of Finance.
ARMORY: FRONT ENTRY REPAIRS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to award the Armory Building Front Entry Repairs contract to RJB Contracting, Inc. and authorize the Mayor to execute and administer the contract, and approve payment applications.
SMALL CITIES FUND #251 & MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS FUND #316
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments:
VENDOR |
Req. # |
AMOUNT |
Fund # |
DESCRIPTION |
Boston Lead Co., LLC |
4751 |
$400.00 |
251 Small Cities |
Risk Assessment |
Boston Lead Co., LLC |
4750 |
$700.00 |
251 Small Cities |
Risk Assessment |
Republican American |
|
$784.06 |
251 Small Cities |
Notice of Public Hearing Ads for Housing Rehab & Sen. Ctr. Project |
O & G |
#20 |
$82,560.17 |
316 Mun. Renov. |
Services through 4/30/2011 |
OPEN TO PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public on "agenda items" only. There was no one who wished to speak.
BUSINESS FROM DEPARTMENT HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. No business was presented.
BUSINESS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Soliani thanked the Mayor and Atty. Weaver for all their help on a difficult day.
Councilor Carbone agreed that a lot of time and effort was expended, and said she appreciated it.
Councilor Cogswell expressed appreciation for all the work put into the contract and all the help given the Council.
Mayor Bingham said it wasn’t the best situation moving forward with the Tax Collector contract because of the actions of the Tax Collector and the issues surrounding that. He said he appreciates Council’s understanding of the tough but right decision to make. He gave his word that he will watch for performance of that contract and to immediately prepare a backup plan.
Mayor Bingham said the City was recently recognized for setting an example and taking a leadership role in risk assessment and avoidance by our liability/auto/property and worker’s compensation insurer, CIRMA. We have had a fantastic year, he said, even though trends for both Connecticut and the nation are going up.
ADD SECTION B
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to add Section B to the agenda.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to enter Executive Session under pending litigation at 7:17 p.m., inviting Attorney Weaver.
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to enter Open Session at 7:31 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Carbone and unanimously approved, the meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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