MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL AND WPC AUTHORITY
SEPTEMBER 19, 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, City Councilors Marie Soliani, Gerald Zordan, Gregg Cogswell, Elinor Carbone, and Drake Waldron. Also present were Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, Comptroller Alice Proulx, City Clerk Joseph Quartiero, and Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli. City Councilor Paul Samele and Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes from the regular meeting held September 6, 2011.
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.
Mr. Chris Wiley urged the Council to stop their addition to spending and get the budget in line for next year's revaluation of property to keep the mill rate from increasing. He said State and Federal government cannot stop their addiction to spending either. He recalled a past effort to improve the 'gateways into Torrington' such as South Main Street, Main Street, Harwinton Avenue. He suggested Highland Avenue improvements be considered. He said he is in favor of the Fire Department getting a Live Burn Trailer.
Councilor Zordan pointed out that the zero increase in spending achieved during the past budget season does not indicate an addiction to spending.
BUDGET TRANSFERS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to authorize budget transfers for FY2010/2011 identified in the Comptroller's Memo dated September 14, 2011. Councilor Carbone asked if this closes out the 2010/2011 budget. Ms. Proulx said they are still working on it.
BUDGET TRANSFERS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the transfer of FY2010/2011 general fund budget balances to Capital Projects fund 0310 and/or Capital Reserve Fund 0311 identified in the Comptroller's Memo dated September 19, 2011.
SANITARY SEWER PUMP STATION RECONSTRUCTION & ROW CLEARING
Acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvements for Capital Project D-13 New Harwinton Rd. Pump Station Reconstruction and D-19 Sanitary Sewer ROW Clearing.
DATE CONTRACTOR INVOICE # AMOUNT DESCRIPTION
9/7/11 P & G Pepper 11028 $6,400.00 Central Interceptor ROW Clearing
9/7/11 P & G Pepper 11031 $8,910.50 New Harwinton Rd to Torringford St. ROW Clearing
9/7/11 P & G Pepper 11032 $2,239.50 Hay & Seed Central Int. ROW
9/10/11 Wright Pierce 78157 $13,527.58 Design Efforts New Harwinton Rd. Pump Stn. Reconstr.
RESOLUTION: NATURAL GAS CONTRACT
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute an extension of the natural gas contract.
BE IT RESOLVED the City of Torrington hereby approves the cooperative purchasing of gas procurement for the extension of the Gas Contract ending September 30, 2012 through the CCM Energy Purchasing Program to take advantage of increased purchasing power of a collective purchasing group;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of City Council, the Mayor, in his sole discretion, is authorized to execute, on behalf of the City of Torrington, an extension of the gas contract. Where practical, the mayor shall submit the agreement to the City Council for review; however if time does not permit such a review by the City Council, the mayor is authorized to execute the agreement, in which case the Mayor shall provide the City Council with a copy of the executed agreement at the City Council's next regularly scheduled meeting;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, any agreement executed pursuant to this resolution may be of duration of more than twelve months but shall not exceed sixty months.
Mayor Bingham explained that prices are low. Mrs. Zucco has been working with the consultants, he said, and we'll potentially lower our prices for this year.
LIVE BURN TRAILER
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent and the Fire Dept. Training Officer to award the purchase of the Class A Live Fire Burn Trailer to American Fire Training Systems, Inc., of Lockport, IL in the amount of $167,500.00, having been approved by the Board of Public Safety on September 7, 2011.
Training Officer Hepburn explained this will provide more realistic fires to their training needs and help them meet training mandates. This can be opened up to area Departments, along with a potential fee for service and maintenance to offset the cost, he said, and it has built-in safety mechanisms to avoid firefighter injuries. He said one of the advantages of this trailer is that it doesn't have the maintenance that a gas trailer would. This trailer, a 'burn box', has two burn areas made of specially designed, replaceable panels rated for 20 to 25 years, with minimal maintenance costs. He further described the burn trailer as being like a tractor trailer reinforced with steel, with special paneling inside. He said it will be stationed behind Fire Headquarters on Water St. and can be moved to different areas.
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Fund #316, Municipal Renovations:
VENDOR INV# AMOUNT DESCRIPTION
Horizon Engineering 22 618.75 Prof Svcs 7/2-7/29/11
McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter 710981 1,302.00 Prof Svcs 7/31/11
O&G #23-CTYHALL 63,957.32 services thru 7/31/11
Soundworks & Security LLC 4288901 190.00 disable/enable smoke detectors
Councilor Soliani asked if we are close to having all our bills paid for this project. Mayor Bingham said he would ask that a report be presented at the next City Council meeting.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for August, 2011.
Councilor Zordan noticed there are a lot more building costs this year, compared to last year, and asked if that is an indication that there may be an increase in the Grand List. Mayor Bingham said he would get a report on this for the Council.
OPEN TO PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, 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.
Mayor Bingham reported that the first Charter Revision Commission meeting has been scheduled for September 26th.
Mr. Quartiero added that he will be changing codifying companies from General Code to Municipal Code because it will be half the price for online charter and ordinance service. With the upcoming Charter revision, he said, several thousand dollars will be saved. He noted that Municipal Code, based in Tallahassee, FL, is a reputable company, with 35 lawyers on staff.
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 commended the 9/11 ceremony at the North End Fire Station.
Councilor Carbone said the EOC is a remarkable facility, nicely done, with a nice opening event.
Councilor Soliani requested the Torrington Housing Authority attend a Council meeting, saying there seems to be a number of complaints again.
Councilor Waldron asked to add to the agenda.
ADD TO THE AGENDA
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to add to the agenda.
SMALL CITIES CHANGE ORDERS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to approve change orders to projects #143-266 and #143-270. Councilor Waldron explained Small Cities projects usually include roofing, furnaces, siding, leaking, lead paint and
general home improvement for people whose income qualifies. He said under this Federal program, the City will be reimbursed the loan
amount when the property is sold, creating additional funds to be loaned out.
Councilor Waldron noted that Southeast School is back in our hands. Although City Council made the right decision on the agreement, Mayor Bingham said, they couldn't judge the program because they aren't members of the Board of Education. Mayor Bingham said a use for that building should be found, to make it work for the City.
Mayor Bingham said the 9/11 ceremony was fitting and very touching to see.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, and unanimously approved, the meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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