MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
April 2, 2012
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, April 2, 2012.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Elinor Carbone, Paul Samele, Gerald Zordan, Marie Soliani and Gregg Cogswell, City Clerk Joseph Quartiero, City Treasurer Arthur Mattiello, WPC Administrator Ray Drew, Purchasing Agent Pennie Zucco, Mayoral Aide Tim Waldron and Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held on March 12, 2012. Councilors Cogswell and Samele abstained.
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on March 19, 2012.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Mtg. held jointly with the Board of Public Safety on March 26, 2012.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Mary Bagnaschi complained about having been illegally fired and about having been arrested twice.
Liz Kristen of French St. complained about blighted properties in the City. She suggested that those sentenced to community service be assigned clean up. Mayor Bingham offered to meet her to tour blighted areas.
Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, and acting herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Impr. for Capital Project D-13 New Harwinton Road Pump Station Rehabilitation.
Date |
Contractor |
Invoice # |
Amount |
Description |
3/9/12 |
Wright Pierce |
82230 |
$3,431.30 |
New Harwinton Road PS Upgrade |
2/10/12 |
Delray Contracting |
Req. #2 |
$9,770.75 |
New Harwinton Road PS Upgrade |
portable toilet rentals
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent's recommendation to extend the current bid contract for portable toilet rentals for the upcoming year with A Royal Flush, Inc. of Bridgeport, CT at the same prices and terms as the current contract.
ELECTRICAL SERVICES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent's recommendation to extend the current bid contract for electrical services for the upcoming year with Connole's Electric, LLC of Torrington, CT at the same rate, terms and conditions as the current contract.
SWIMMING POOL FILTRATION SYSTEM
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent's recommendation to award a contract for a swimming pool filtration system renovation to Brock Enterprise, LLC of North Haven, CT in the amount of $9,937.00.
CITY CANVASS INITIATIVE GRANT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to execute and deliver in the name of and on behalf of this municipality a contract with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Office of the Arts for a City Canvass initiative grant in the amount of $170,000.
CONTINGENCY FUNDS – Microphone Repair
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council considered payment of $748.25 from Contingency for repair of microphones in the Auditorium to Sound Works & Security and refer this to the Board of Finance.
Mr. Quartiero explained the contingency funds are needed because the microphone warrantee expired. Councilor Soliani said she'd prefer this be paid for with Municipal Renovations funds.
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to table this decision until the next meeting.
SMALL CITIES PAYMENTS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to approve a payment of $125.28 to the Republican-American from Small Cities Fund #251 for invoice #749510, an invitation to bid ad for project #143-276.
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to authorize payment of $4,400.44 from MRC Fund #316 to McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP for legal services rendered. Mayor Bingham explained this is for the HVAC system.
SMALL CITIES PROJECTS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Small Cities Committee's recommendation to accept Project 143-308 in the amount of $41,350; Project 143-309 in the amount of $22,730; and Project 143-310 in the amount of $24,500.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, 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 Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. No business was presented.
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Mayor Bingham read a memo regarding an RFQ for a Small Cities Consultant. (Addendum 1)
ADD TO AGENDA On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted 5/1 to add to the agenda. Councilor Cogswell was opposed.
SMALL CITIES CONSULTANT On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council considered approval of L. Wagner & Assocs. as our Small Cities Consultant. Mayor Bingham suggested this be tabled while Mrs. Zucco made copies of the proposals for the Council members to review. Councilor Carbone made a motion to
table, seconded by Councilor Zordan, and unanimously approved. |
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL Cont'd
Councilors Cogswell, Samele and Carbone, Soliani and Waldron had no further business. Councilor Zordan asked for more information on the Blight Ordinance status. Mayor Bingham said the blight committee had a recommendation that levied a financial assessment on properties. This was approved by the Board of Finance. The recommendation will next be considered by the Ordinance Committee, and passed on to City Council.
Mayor Bingham announced a Wine Tasting fundraiser for the City's "Bring Back the Fireworks" campaign, to be held on April 13th.
SMALL CITIES CONSULTANT Cont'd Timothy Waldron explained the Small Cities Consultant RFQ review. He said three proposals were received, and rated by the committee. L. Wagner and Assocs. was chosen based on their permanent staff and many years' experience working with the City of Torrington. Mr. Waldron said the proposal rated as second place set a fee at $75,000 whereas L. Wagner would charge per diem, $1,000 per day. Mayor Bingham noted that fees are only payable if the grant is won. Councilor Soliani made a motion to approve L. Wagner & Assocs. as Small Cities Consultant. It was seconded by Councilor Carbone and unanimously approved. |
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PENDING LITIGATION
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to go into Executive Session regarding pending litigation with Attorney Weaver at 7:00 pm.
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to go back into open session at 7:15 pm.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:15 pm.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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