MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
April 15, 2013
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, April 15, 2013.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Gerald Zordan, Elinor Carbone, and Gregg Cogswell. Councilors Marie Soliani Paul Samele were absent. Also present were WPC Administrator Ray Drew, Superintendent of Streets Robert Lizotte, Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Comptroller Alice Proulx, Economic Development Director Rose Ponte
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and first paused for a moment of prayer for those involved in the tragedy at the Boston Marathon.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held April 8, 2013.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held April 8, 2013.
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. There was no one present who wished to speak.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the appointment of Ashley Ross to the Conservation Commission.
ROAD SALT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Superintendent of Street's request for $39,480 in funding to purchase 500 tons of treated road salt, as described in his memo dated 4/10/2013.
BUDGET TRANSFERS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the budget transfers for FY 2012/2013 listed in the City Comptroller's memo dated 4/11/2013, pending Board of Finance approval.
FINANCIAL AUDIT SERVICES: Blum Shapiro
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent's recommendation to award the extension of Financial Audit Services to Blum Shapiro of West Hartford, CT, pending Board of Finance approval, for the next three fiscal years for the contracted prices of $64,000/$64,750/$64,750 and to authorize the Mayor to execute and administer this contract.
Mayor Bingham said the first three years with Blum Shapiro went very smoothly. Councilor Zordan added that he has been happy with this company for fifteen years. Mayor Bingham said the current pricing is $64,750.
MUNICIPAL RENOVATIONS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve the payment of $55.93 to Staples for Invoice #115908145 from the Municipal Renovation Fund #316 for a mailroom cork board.
WPCA - BIO-DIESEL OPERATIONAL DEMO
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to execute agreements between the City of Torrington and RPM Sustainable technologies, Inc. for the purpose of conducting a Bio-Diesel Operational Demonstration at the Water Pollution Control Facility.
Mr. Drew said RPM appears to have secured the necessary funding to move ahead with this project. He said he anticipates the demonstration to last one year, using our brown grease as the feedstock to drive their bio-diesel plant. It has some potential benefits to the City if the project proves viable, he said, and he understands that the necessary approvals have been received from the State of CT D.E.E.P., the Town of Harwinton, and the Fire Marshals in both towns.
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for March, 2013.
MARKETING CAMPAIGN: Website Design
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve 3 payments totaling $18,000 for website design and creation by PictureThisWEBCENTER, to be paid from the marketing campaign budget.
Mayor Bingham explained this is part of the $100,000 grant received from the Office of the Arts, matched by the sales tax revenue received last year. He noted that this is a local company that he is excited to be working with.
Mrs. Ponte said she is familiar with PictureThisWEBCENTER's work and is looking forward to working with him. She updated the Council on the Marketing Consultant's work, saying the campaign slogan will be unveiled shortly.
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 Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Mr. Drew updated Council on WPCA projects including the New Harwinton Road Pump Station which is fully functional and complete, negotiations with D.E.E.P. regarding the MPS permit renewal and our phosphorous limit, and D.E.E.P.'s review of our all-encompassing facility upgrade studies for the treatment plant which could cost $51,300,000. He said an RFQ was done in January for the East Drainage Basin Rehabilitation work and this is awaiting D.E.E.P.'s approval.
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.
Mayor Bingham noted the sad passing of a wonderful woman, Joyce Riley, who had been very involved with Torrington Youth for many years.
He reported that the Community Tag Sale successfully raised over $1800 for the Fireworks Fund, and the next event will be a Wine Tasting on June 14th at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts.
Mayor Bingham invited everyone to attend the Earth Day Clean-up on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.
No other Business was presented.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:45 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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