MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL AND WPC AUTHORITY
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday, September 6, 2011.
Present were Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Councilors Marie Soliani, Paul Samele, Gregg Cogswell, Elinor Carbone, and Drake Waldron. Also present were Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, Director of Elderly Services Nancy Hodkoski, City Treasurer Arthur Mattiello, City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Acting Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Kloczko, Board of Education Chairman Frank Rubino, Director of Human Services William Joslyn, and Emergency Management Director Rick Dalla Valle. City Councilor Gerald Zordan was absent. Mr. Bob Rath of "Our Piece of the Pie, Inc." was also present.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held August 15, 2011.
AGENDA CHANGE
Mayor Bingham stated that the vote for wage increases for the Mayor and City Clerk is being removed from the agenda and the two positions will take two zero wage increases in a row.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Mr. Ray Bottass of Pierce St. spoke about the water damage on his property caused by the pipes running from the City's ball field and the State's DOT property. He said a 54" pipe attempts to remove water from the DOT property and Route 8, down through the ball field into a 24" squash pipe. He said water can't be forced from a big pipe into a smaller one, it's just not going to happen. Mr. Bottass said the ball field is completely under 3 or 4 feet of water and all of the dirt from the field is going down the back of his yard. He said, based on his years of experience in construction excavation, the ball field and DOT yard have to be cleaned up and the right size pipe installed. He added that he takes pride in his yard, and expects something to happen to resolve this situation.
Mayor Bingham replied that he will set up a meeting with the City and the DOT and push for the problem to be allieviated.
Mr. Bill Lamoin of Allen Rd. applauded the Mayor for removing the salary increases from the agenda and encouraged infrastructure funding in the 2012 budget. He noted there are only 10 cities in CT that have a mill rate higher than Torrington, and said we cannot afford that. He said local realtors cannot sell houses here because our taxes are too high and that we really need some deep actions. Mr. Lamoin encouraged the Council to reduce our costs, and added that we have a great Fire Department, Police Department, and a great Public Works Department but the cost structures are too high. He said Council needs to work on that because a mill rate greater than all surrounding towns is way too much.
SOUTHEAST SCHOOL CONTRACT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council considered the execution of a Real Estate Contract with a right of reverter, for conveyance of 196 Oak Avenue, formerly known as Southeast School, with Our Piece of the Pie, Inc. with said contract contingent entirely upon the execution of an Agreement between Our Piece of the Pie and the Torrington Board of Education for the provision of educational services.
Mayor Bingham explained the intent is to convey the building to Our Piece of the Pie of Hartford, CT so they can run a program with the Board of Education for an alternative high school. He noted there is a huge benefit in having this vacant building utilized to its best ability with infrastructure updates that we wouldn't be able to do ourselves.
Councilor Waldron welcomed the idea and asked if regular school programs would be cut should the "money follow the students." Although he will abstain from the vote due to a conflict of interest, he said, he applauded this contract.
Mr. Joslyn confirmed that when students are moved around, there is going to be an impact in how schools are staffed in the future and noted one program at the middle school that will no longer be needed once the Torrington Learning Academy is staffed.
Mrs. Kloczko said this is a joint venture and we're going to need money to do it.
Councilor Carbone asked for clarification that with this contract we are conveying the property subject to a reversion of title at the end of a term. She said she suspects it's going to be a highly successful program.
Atty. Weaver said the contract is for five years, with language in the real estate contract indicating it is entirely contingent upon, and subject to, the other agreement.
Mr. Rath said they are excited about working with Torrington.
Councilor Cogswell asked for clarification about Schedule B, which lists out things that need to be done within the school. He asked if Our Piece of the Pie is taking responsibility. Mr. Rath said yes.
The Council voted unanimously in favor, with Councilor Waldron abstaining.
Mr. Rubino added that all Board of Education decisions will be completed by September 21, 2011.
RESOLUTION: Home Management Contract, Senior Center
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following Resolution empowering the Mayor to enter into and amend contractual instruments on behalf of the City of Torrington for the Home Management Contract #143-SBG-34/10DSS5002AD for the October 1, 2010 – March 31, 2012 contract year:
RESOLVED that the Mayor, Ryan J. Bingham, is empowered to enter into and amend contractual instruments in the name and on behalf of this Contractor with the Department of Social Services of the State of Connecticut for a Social Services Block Grant program, and to affix the corporate seal.
AUTHORIZED TO SIGN: Home Management Contract, Senior Center
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to sign the Home Management Contract #143-SBG-34/10DSS5002AD for the October 1, 2010 – March 31, 2012 contract year in the amount of $66,635.
UNITED WAY THERMOMETER
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve the display of a United Way thermometer in front of City Hall from September 12th to November 14, 2011. Councilor Soliani opposed.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Reports for July, 2011.
OPEN TO PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, 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 Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Deputy Fire Chief Brunoli reminded everyone of the Open House/Dedication Ceremony for the new dispatch EOC. He offered individual tours for anyone who couldn't make the event.
Mayor Bingham thanked Deputy Chief Brunoli, Emergency Mgt. Dir. Rick Dalla Valle and all emergency service personnel for their work planning for and executing a very good emergency operations systems during the previous hurricane.
BUSINESS FROM MAYOR AND COUNCIL
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Cogswell echoed the Mayor's comments to all emergency service personnel.
Councilor Carbone thanked the Mayor and City Clerk for withdrawing their requests and also thanked the emergency service personnel.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, and unanimously approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted, Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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