MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
January 7, 2013
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, January 7, 2013.
Present were Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Gregg Cogswell, Paul Samele, Elinor Carbone, Marie Soliani and Drake Waldron. City Councilor Gerald Zordan was absent. Atty. Paul Griffin, THA Chairman David Murelli, THA Commissioner Robert Milano, THA Executive Director Claudia Sweeney, City Zoning & Wetlands Enforcement Officer Kim Barbieri, Building Official Brett Zuraitis, Atty. Peter Herbst, Fleet Manager Emil Castro, Director of Student and Professional Operations Bill Joslyn, Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Kloscko, Director of Facilities David Bascetta, Board of Education Chairman Ken Traub, and Personnel Director Thomas Gritt were also present as well as Donna Labbe, Coordinator for the Discovery Collaborative and Mary Cecchinato, Co-Chair of Torrington Early Childcare
Collaborative. Architect Joseph Alicata and Municipal Renovations Chair Michael Clark were also present.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held December 17, 2012.
PRESENTATION: TORRINGTON EARLY CHILDHOOD COLLABORATIVE
Ms. Cecchinato explained that they were chosen to be the subject of a video to showcase what Torrington does as a community, and played the video for City Council.
Ms. Labbe noted that they have raised $400,000 in grants over the last year to help support early childhood in the community. She said Torrington is looked at in a leadership role, and they are proud of what they have accomplished.
Mayor Bingham commended them for doing a great job and thanked them for the presentation.
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. Steven (no last name) expressed his concern for homeless people who are turned away from shelters via lottery process and urged the Council to determine who's responsible for turning people away. He requested education for people on hyper- and hypothermia.
FUESSENICH pARK pARTNERSHIP COMMISSIOn
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Mayor's reappointment of Paul Summers and Collin Good to the Fuessenich Park Partnership Commission for four year terms expiring December 31, 2016.
ADD TO AGENDA
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to add Section B to the agenda.
FUESSENICH pARK pARTNERSHIP COMMISSIOn
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to appoint Tammy Ostroski to the Fuessenich Park Partnership Commission, replacing Mary Coutant, for a four year term expiring December 31, 2016.
HOUSING AUTHORITY PERMIT FEE WAIVER AGREEMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council considered
acceptance of a Housing Authority Permit Fee Waiver Agreement. (Addendum 1)
Atty. Griffin reminded the Council that they decided to waive permits at their October 15th meeting. He said he worked with Corporation Counsel and the City's Building Official to prepare a proposed written agreement concerning a policy for permit waivers for the City of Torrington. He read some of the highlights of the proposed agreement.
Ms. Sweeney noted that the Housing Authority cannot raise rents, tax or make any additional money. She said that each year for the past 12 years, capital improvement funds have decreased to one third of what they were in 2001, while she has more federal units than she had in 2001.
Mr. Murelli thanked Mr. Zuraitis for his insight and ideas that will save the City and Housing Authority some time and effort every time they have a project with permit fees.
Councilor Cogswell questioned the automatic renewal after 10 years. Atty. Rigat recommended
that the parties include a 30-day window to opt out when the automatic renewal is due.
Councilor Waldron amended his motion to have the agreement include this modification, Councilor Carbone amended her second, and the Council voted unanimously to accept a modified agreement.
AGREEMENT: BRD. OF EDUC. & PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADMIN. ASSN.
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council considered an agreement between the Torrington Board of Education and the Torrington Public Schools Administrators' Assn. effective July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2016.
Mr. Joslyn explained that this 14-member bargaining unit includes school principals, assistant principals, and directors of Special Education who had no wage increases for two years in a row. They arrived at a 3-year contract with a 1-year salary increase of 1.75% and an opportunity to negotiate in the subsequent two years. He highlighted other features such as health insurance, language changes, and empty position deletions.
A vote was taken and the Council accepted the agreement unanimously. Councilor Waldron abstained from the vote.
RESOLUTION: Forbes School Roof Project
On an amended motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded and amended by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following resolution as requested in Superintendent Kloczko's Memorandum dated December 4, 2012 (Addendum 2):
RESOLVED: that the City of Torrington approve the Forbes School roof replacement project. the town share of this project shall not exceed $400,000.00 (the funds will come from the City’s undesignated fund balance, pending Board of Finance approval). The balance of the project will be
funded by a State of Connecticut grant,
RESOLVED: that the City Council/Mayor of the City of Torrington, with the Mayor as it's representative, authorizes the Torrington Board of Education to apply to the Commissioner of Education and to accept or reject a grant for the Forbes School roof replacement project,
RESOLVED: that the Forbes School roof replacement building committee is hereby established as the building committee with regard to the proposed roof replacement project at Forbes School.
RESOLVED: that the City Council of the City of Torrington with the Mayor as it's representative, hereby authorizes, at least, the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the Forbes School roof replacement project at Forbes School. |
Mr. Traub said the Board of Education has to meet four criteria to apply to the State for a 75% reimbursement grant for this project and that the City needs to set aside their portion of the funding prior to document evaluation. Mr. Traub said the funds will be included in the Board of Education budget in July 2013.
Mayor Bingham explained that City Council does not have authority over the undesignated fund balance. Mr. Traub said the State does not recognize the Board of Finance as the governing body of the City.
Councilor Soliani asked for clarification that they are only approving the Board of Education's ability to go out for the grant and that the City needs to set $400,000 aside.
Mayor Bingham asked if this project could be put on hold if the upcoming City budget requires a large amount of cuts. Mr. Traub said it could, and added that, beginning with the roof, the ultimate goal is to put solar energy in the building to lower their dependence on electricity. He said this 25-year roof has been in place for 29 years.
Councilor Carbone questioned wording in the resolution that required the City's portion of the funds come from the City's undesignated fund balance.
Mr. Alicato, Architect, explained that the State now asks to see where cities' funds come from.
Mayor Bingham recommended the resolution be amended to include "pending Board of Finance approval" when referring to the City's undesignated fund balance.
Mr. Traub said the sooner their application is submitted, the sooner they can lock in the higher reimbursement rate.
LAND TRANSFER TO CONSERVATION COMMISSION
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve a land transfer that is currently a part of a vacant parcel at 2101 Winsted Road, from C & J Mgt. LLC to the City of Torrington Conservation Commission.
On behalf of the Conservation Commission, Mrs. Barbieri explained that the Torrington Trails Network created the Buttrick Trail on the old Buttrick Road and is trying to get it designated by the State as a blue trail. This trail comes out at the trail head for the existing Sue Grossman Greenway whose parking lot is constantly full. She said Mr. Chris Oneglia offered to donate a section of land to be used a parking area for the trail itself and wants to transfer this piece of land to the City at the same time as his upcoming closing.
BUDGET TRANSFERS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the budget transfers for fiscal year 2012/2013 listed in the City Comptroller's memos, pending Board of Finance Approval.
PURCHASE VEHICLE: Traffic Division
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent's recommendation to purchase a one ton 4 x 4 extended cab with 6' utility body for the Traffic Division from Ray Seraphine Ford, Inc. of Rockville, CT in the amount of $37,644.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT REPORTS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Building Department reports for November and December 2012.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Samele, 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 BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Mr. Clark gave a report on the Municipal Renovations and said that $14,982,597 was approved at referendum to renovate City Hall. The total expenditures through June, 2012 were $14,172,983.90, which is $809,613.10 under the approved referendum budget for the project. The bond funding applied to date has been $12,840,215.84 with outstanding debts of $43,792. He thanked the Mayor, Steve Nocera and Ed Cook for obtaining $679,000 in grants, and noted the incredible generosity of Anne McDonald, O & G Corporation, Torrington Savings Bank and the wonderful people of Torrington who contributed over $200,000 to the Veteran's Memorial Fund. Mr. Clark said an additional $427,000 in legal costs were recovered through arbitration. Another $10,000 to $15,000 in expenses are expected to trickle in.
Mr. Clark said he wants to recommission the heating and air conditioning portion of the project as the system is incredibly complex, and he wants to review the security system. At the end of the day, he said, the project will have been completed for $14,251,776.02 or nearly three quarters of a million dollars under budget, which exceeds 2 million dollars less that the taxpayers will have to pay back than what they approved at referendum.
Councilor Soliani thanked Mr. Clark for his volunteerism and for this report.
BUSINESS BY 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. No business was presented.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:26 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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