MINUTES -- PUBLIC HEARING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
MAY 7, 2012
A PUBLIC HEARING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, May 7, 2012 to discuss the Fiscal Year 2012 Community Development Block Grant program and to solicit citizen input.
Present were Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Weaver, City Councilors Elinor Carbone, Gerald Zordan, Marie Soliani and Drake Waldron, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Board of Public Safety Commissioner James Potter, City Treasurer Arthur Mattiello, Water Pollution Control Administrator Ray Drew, City Engineer Ed Fabbri, Tax Collector Robert Crovo, Mayoral Aide Timothy Waldron, City Clerk Joseph Quartiero and Public Works Director Gerald Rollett. Mr. Larry Wagner, Small Cities Community Development Program Administrator, was also present. City Councilors Gregg Cogswell and Paul Samele were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the public hearing to order at 6:30 p.m.
City Clerk Joseph Quartiero read the legal notice.
Mayor Bingham noted that no written comments were received. There was no one from the public who wished to speak.
Mr. Wagner recounted recent projects in this program including renovations to the Senior Center, ADA renovations to City Hall, a variety of housing rehabilitation programs, and sidewalks on Summer St., Water St., and Maiden Lane. He said this federal program from the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development is very valuable to the City. It is distributed by the State on a competitive basis with applications due once a year, he said, and there are several different categories with different dollar amounts per category. Mr. Wagner said that due to cutbacks, the program has gone from 15 million dollars two years ago to 10 million dollars this year. As a consequence of that, he said, the maximum dollar amount per category has gone down. He noted that it is still a very valuable program, providing a grant to
the City for a variety of different needs.
Mr. Wagner said that part of reason for this public hearing is to talk about the program, answer any questions and talk about any needs the community might have. He said that Torrington does have a program income plan. In the past we have done a significant number of housing rehabilitation programs, meaning loans to income-eligible households. That money comes back to be recycled again, he said. For about 10 years we did not apply for housing rehabilitation, applying for other kinds of projects instead. He said the program was operating self-sufficiently because, as people subordinate, sell or transfer their property, those funds come back to the City to be used again.
Councilor Soliani asked if there is any money left. Mr. Wagner replied that we have enough funds in our current housing rehab grant to match or fund the people on the waiting list. He said it then becomes a matter of what else our needs are and we would apply for another grant for either sidewalks or rehabilitation of private property. Mr. Wagner said we do get program income back regularly but we don't get $300,000 a year back.
Mayor Bingham said we did work with one of the downtown property owners to possibly plan a joint project but it doesn't look like we're going to meet the deadline and will have to try again next year. He said we are going to apply, as there's no way we'd let a grant application go by without applying. Mayor Bingham said applications were submitted for the Senior Center last year but the project was denied. He said he may apply for a sidewalk project and hopes to pull a project together in time.
Mayor Bingham closed the public hearing at 6:36 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
MAY 7, 2012
A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council & WPC Authority was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, May 7, 2012.
Present were Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Weaver, City Councilors Elinor Carbone, Gerald Zordan, Marie Soliani and Drake Waldron, Deputy Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Board of Public Safety Commissioner James Potter, City Treasurer Arthur Mattiello, Water Pollution Control Administrator Ray Drew, City Engineer Ed Fabbri, Tax Collector Robert Crovo, Mayoral Aide Timothy Waldron, City Clerk Joseph Quartiero and Public Works Director Gerald Rollett. Ms. Mary Cecchinato, Executive Director of the Torrington Child Care Center was also present. City Councilors Gregg Cogswell and Paul Samele were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held on April 16, 2012. Councilor Soliani abstained.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held on April 23, 2012, regarding budgets. Councilor Soliani abstained.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held on April 23, 2012. Councilor Soliani abstained.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Tax Collector Robert Crovo informed the Council of upcoming tax sales. He said that although he has been working with delinquent taxpayers, there will still be approximately 74 properties sold in a tax sale. Mr. Crovo said he spent the last six months notifying people, working with them, talking with them, and trying to have people pay in some way. He said a lot of promises were made that were not kept and this is the last resort. The accounts have all been turned over to a marshal that does tax sales, title searches have all been done, and now he'll start to notify people about the tax sale, although the actual date has not been set yet. He said it will be approximately August 11th, and he will report the actual date to the Council. Mr. Crovo said it is important for the public
to know that people, at this time, have a chance to avoid that tax sale. Many delinquent taxpayers would be allowed to make a significant payment and not ever go through the actual tax sale, although fees would apply for the marshal and title searcher, for example, which are the taxpayers' obligation. He said the good thing is that until the tax sale, he can still make a deal. Unfortunately once the tax sale occurs, a partial payment cannot be accepted because someone will have bid on that property. The property owner then has six months to redeem their property and still own it, but they have to pay their taxes in full.
Mr. Crovo said it is very important to know that if you're going to save your property, now is the time to do it, because it can be done with a partial payment. He estimated that he spoke with 45 to 50 people on the phone, maybe 10 to 20 in person, and some he never heard from. Nothing would make me happier, he said, than to say there is no tax sale but it's just not going to happen in these economic times.
In answer to Councilor Soliani's question, Mr. Crovo said the list will be published in the newspaper. He resists giving the list out as he is opposed to public humiliation to have people pay their taxes. Councilor Soliani requested a copy of the list, as she gets telephone calls.
RESOLUTION: Sue Grossman Still River Greenway Project Phase 2
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a "First Supplemental Agreement to the Original Agreement between the State of Connecticut and the City of Torrington for the Construction, Inspection, and Maintenance of the Still River Greenway Utilizing Federal Funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" for the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway Project Phase 2:
RESOLVED, that Ryan J. Bingham, Mayor, be and hereby is, authorized to sign the
Agreement entitled "First Supplemental Agreement to the Original Agreement
dated July 27, 2009 between the State of Connecticut and the City of Torrington for
the Construction, Inspection and Maintenance of the Still River Greenway Utilizing
Federal Funds Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009."
MAIN STREET REALIGNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve a contract with Milone and MacBroom for consulting services for Main Street realignment streetscape improvements. Councilor Zordan asked where the realignment is taking place. Mayor Bingham said there is a small bump onto Water Street. Mayor Bingham said the City Engineer has been working tirelessly with the State, and construction should start early fall and finish late November. He cautioned that there are a lot of hurdles to jump through to get it done.
SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING: Sewer User Fee
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a Public Hearing on May 21, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. to set the Sewer User Fee for the period from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.
SANITARY SEWER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement for Capital Project D-13 New Harwinton Road Pump Station rehabilitation, Capital Project D-6 Central Interceptor Inspection and Drain Installation:
Date |
Contractor |
Invoice # |
Amount |
Description |
3/31/2012 |
P & G Pepper |
11045 |
$7850.00 |
Installation of Curtain Drain at Larkspur |
4/16/2012 |
Wright-Pierce |
82782 |
$3265.48 |
New Harwinton Road PS Upgrade |
4/16/2012 |
Wright-Pierce |
82784 |
$1146.68 |
Central Interceptor Inspection |
RESOLUTION: Fair Housing
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to readopt the following Fair Housing Resolution:
Whereas, All persons are afforded a right to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice; and
Whereas, Federal fair housing laws require that all individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin be given equal access to all housing-related opportunities, and be allowed to make free choices regarding housing location; and
Whereas, Connecticut fair housing laws require that all individuals, regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, age, lawful source of income, familial status, learning disability, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation, be given equal access to all housing-related opportunities, including rental and home ownership opportunities, and be allowed to make free choices regarding housing location; and
Whereas, The City of Torrington is committed to upholding these laws, and realizes that these laws must be supplemented by an Affirmative Statement publicly endorsing the right of all people to full and equal housing opportunities in the neighborhood of their choice.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the City of Torrington hereby endorses a Fair Housing Policy Statement to ensure equal opportunity for all persons to rent, purchase, obtain financing and enjoy all other housing-related services of their choice on a non-discriminatory basis as provided by state and federal law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the chief executive officer of the City of Torrington or his/her designated representative is responsible for responding to and assisting any person who alleges to be the victim of an illegal discriminatory housing practice in the City of Torrington and for advising such person of the right to file a complaint with the State of Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or to seek assistance from the CT Fair Housing Center, legal services, or other fair housing organizations to protect his or her right to equal housing opportunities
FAIR HOUSING POLICY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to readopt the Fair Housing Policy. (Addendum 1)
RESOLUTION: Torrington Child Day Care
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into or amend contractual instruments in the name and on behalf of the City of Torrington with the State of CT, Department of Education for a Child Day Care program:
RESOLVED, that the Mayor, Ryan J. Bingham, is empowered to enter into or amend contractual instruments in the name and on behalf of the City of Torrington, with the State of Connecticut Department of Education for a Child Day Care Program if such an agreement is offered, and to have the corporate seal affixed to all documents required as a part of any offered agreement.
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments from MRC Fund #316:
VENDOR |
INV# |
AMOUNT |
DESCRIPTION |
McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter |
737987 |
25,870.36 |
Prof Svcs 3/31/12 |
O&G |
#27-CTYHALL |
30,400.68 |
services thru 2/29/12 |
Councilor Soliani asked if we are almost at the end of this project, and Mayor Bingham said it might be the end.
SMALL CITIES PAYMENTS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments from Small Cities Fund #251:
Vendor |
Inv # |
Amount |
Fund # |
Description |
Republican-American |
10-SC-37 |
$ 171.68 |
251 |
Invitation to Bid Ad |
L. Wagner & Assocs. |
HRLR-203 |
$3,525.00 |
250 |
Professional Services 1/1/12 through 3/31/12 |
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, 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 BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, 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 Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Carbone reported that a public hearing will be held on May 17th for the Charter Revision Commission work. They have completed a substantive part of the work and are required to hold a public hearing at this point. She thanked our Corporation Counsel for all her help with this.
Mayor Bingham reminded the Council of upcoming budget meetings, and announced an upcoming program called "Celebrating the Traditional Family" at the Workman Memorial AME Zion Church.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:23 pm.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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