MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
January 22, 2013
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, January 22, 2013.
Present were Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Gregg Cogswell, Paul Samele, Elinor Carbone, Marie Soliani, Gerald Zordan and Drake Waldron. Parks and Recreation Superintendent Brett Simmons, Parks and Recreation Commission Chairperson Patricia Fairchild, City Treasurer Arthur Mattiello, Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Kloscko, Director of Facilities David Bascetta, Elderly Services Director Nancy Hodkoski, Tax Collector Robert Crovo, and Personnel Director Thomas Gritt 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 Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held January 7, 2013. Councilor Zordan abstained from the vote.
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.
R. Thomas Crovo updated the Council on tax collection, saying there are approximately fifty properties in various states of foreclosure. He said he is pursuing the top 1,000 highest delinquent motor vehicle taxpayers, and that there are 8.3 million dollars outstanding in all types of back taxes. He noted that very few properties are transferred in tax sales, as oftentimes the banks will refinance.
REAPPOINT PERSONNEL DIRECTOR
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Mayor's reappointment of Thomas Gritt as Personnel Director for a 4 year term ending Jan. 5, 2017. Mayor Bingham clarified that this appointment and that of the Public Works Director are made by the Mayor in accordance with the City Charter.
REAPPOINT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to acknowledge the Mayor's reappointment of Gerald Rollett as Public Works Director for a 4-year term ending March 11, 2016.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION: L. Soliani
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Mayor's appointment of Lisa A. Soliani to the Economic Development Commission for a 5-year term expiring February 9, 2017. Councilor Soliani abstained from the vote.
RESOLUTION: Forbes School Roof Project
On an amended motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded and amended by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following resolution as authorized by the Board of Finance on January 15, 2013:
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 Capital Reserve Fund). The balance of the project will be funded by a State of Connecticut grant, and
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, and
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, and
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 roof replacement project at Forbes School.
Mayor Bingham explained that this is a good plan that works for the City, our bond rating and the Board of Education.
RESOLUTION: Senior Center Home Management Contract
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following resolution for the Home Management Contract #143-SBG-35/12DSS5002AD for the Oct. 1, 2012 – September 30, 2013 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 the City of Torrington with the Department of Social Services of the State of Connecticut for a Social Services Block Grant program, and to affix the corporate seal.
Senior Center Meels-on-Wheels
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to sign the Home Management Contract #143-SBG-35/12DSS5002AD for the Oct. 1, 2012 – September 30, 2013 contract year in the amount of $44,424, providing Therapeutic Meals-on-Wheels prepared by Charlotte Hungerford Hospital to people under the age of 60 and foot clinics at the Sullivan Senior Center provided by Foothills VNA, Inc.
FUESSENICH PARK 2013 LEASE EXTENSION: Torrington Baseball Group, LLC
On an amended motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Parks and Recreation Commission's recommendation to create a five year extension on the Fuessenich Park Lease Agreement with Torrington Baseball Group, LLC and to extend it for the 2013 season.
Mayor Bingham said Torrington Baseball Group wants to send a signal to the community that they are here to stay. He said the new Titans have done a great job building a relationship with the community, while building their support base, the participants and the league itself, which has grown since their inception.
Councilor Carbone clarified that this extends the contract to the year 2020 and it would still be renewed on an annual basis.
Mayor Bingham said this contract started in 2011. With 2013 being the third year of their five-year contract, these additional five years would make it a total of ten years, with seven more extensions.
SANITARY SEWER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority voted unanimously to approve a payment of $22,963.00 to Delray Contracting for Requisition #10 dated 1/3/2013 from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement for Capital Project D-13 New Harwinton Road Pump Station Rehabilitation.
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS PAYMENTS
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Municipal Renovations Fund 316:
Vendor Invoice # Amout Description
Air Temp Mechanical proposal $14,490.00 boiler flue repair
Van Zelm Engineers 38115 $ 3,580.25 prof svcs thru 12-29-12
SMALL CITIES PAYMENTS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Small Cities Funds:
Vendor Requisition # Amount Fund Description
L. Wagner & Assocs. HRLR-211 $8,835.30 250 Housing Rehab Prof. Svcs. 10/1/12 – 12/31/12
L. Wagner & Assocs. 11-SC-59 $1,700.00 251 Citywide Housing Prof. Svcs. 10/1/12 – 12/31/12
City of Torrington 11-SC-60 $979.88 251 Citywide Housing Remaining Balance
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, 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.
Mr. Simmons announced that the skating rink opened today, and the Winter Festival will be the first Saturday in February.
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.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn 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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