CORRECTED MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
August 12, 2013
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, August 12, 2013.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan Bingham, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Elinor Carbone, Paul Samele, Gregg Cogswell, Gerald Zordan and Marie Soliani. Fleet Manager Emil Castro, WPCA Administrator Raymond Drew and Fire Chief Gary Brunoli were also in attendance.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held July 16, 2013.
On a motion by Councilor Soliani, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special & Telephonic meeting held July 24, 2013. Councilors Waldron and Zordan abstained.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one present who wished to speak.
P & Z HEARING OFFICERS
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Mayor's reappointment of Planning & Zoning Citation Hearing Officers under § 161-9E(1) of Blight Task Force Hearing Officers James P. Steck, Esq. and Joel D. Perlotto, Esq. for two year terms to expire December 31, 2014.
SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING - NWCTCOG
Councilor Zordan described a recommendation for a Public Hearing due to the organization change of the former Litchfield Hills Council of Elected Officials, now called the Northwest CT Council of Governments.
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing for Monday, August 19, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.
SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING – Beer at Fuessenich Park
Atty. Rigat read a recommendation from the Ordinance Subcommittee that the City Council conduct a public hearing to examine the question of whether beer sales should be allowed at the Torrington Titans games. Councilor Cogswell clarified that this public hearing is to discuss the issue, and is not a recommendation for an ordinance. Councilor Zordan agreed that it is just to discuss the issue at this point. Councilor Soliani said they are looking for both a large public input and the full Council's input.
Councilor Carbone asked how this is different from the issue discussed at a public hearing less than two years ago. Councilor Soliani said that is what they are looking for input on, such as should beer be allowed at any professional sports activity that goes on at the Park. Councilor Zordan said that he received a lot of feedback after the public hearing two years ago. Councilor Cogswell said a lot of people didn't attend the last public hearing and he hopes more will this time.
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a second public hearing for Monday, August 19, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.
FIRE DEPT. AIR CONDITIONING
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to
accept the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent and the Fire Chief to award the complete replacement of the Copeland Rooftop Compressor at Fire HQ to Pelletier Mechanical Services, LLC of Thomaston, CT in the amount of $40,905, having been unanimously approved by the Board of Public Safety on August 7, 2013 and pending Board of Finance approval.
FIRE MARSHAL'S VEHICLE
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Fleet Manager's and Purchasing Agent's recommendation to purchase a 2014 Ford Explorer as a replacement of the Fire Marshal's vehicle from Crowley Ford of Plainville, CT for the amount of $24,899.25 from the Vehicle Replacement Fund, having been unanimously approved by the Board of Public Safety on August 7, 2013 and pending Board of Finance approval.
FIRE DEPT. UNIFORMS
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to
accept the Purchasing Agent's recommendation to extend the bid contract for Fire Department Uniforms with Mag & Son Clothing for either one or two years having been unanimously approved by the Board of Public Safety on August 7, 2013.
SMALL CITIES PAYMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Small Cities Fund 250, Housing Rehabilitation Loan Repayments:
Vendor |
Invoice # |
Amount |
Description |
FedEx |
2-328-73470 |
$27.30 |
|
L. Wagner & Assocs. |
HRLR-218 |
$1312.50 |
Professional Svcs, 4/15/13 – 6/30/13 |
NCDA |
HRLR-220/34 |
$375.00 |
NCDA Membership for T. Waldron |
Mayor Bingham noted that the $500,00.00 revolving housing rehabilitation grant has been received and he is still encouraging people to apply for these loans.
WPCA PUMP REPAIR
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Waldron, voting herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the repair of Pump #1 at the New Harwinton Rd. Pump Stn. by Assoc. Electro-Mechanics, Inc. of Springfield, MA for an estimated amount of $14,325.00.
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for May 2013. Councilor Zordan noted there was a very nice increase in the amount of activity.
ADD SECTION B
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to add Section B to the agenda.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Zordan, the Council voted unanimously to enter executive session under pending litigation at 6:40 pm, inviting Atty. Rigat, Corporation Counsel.
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to enter open session at 6:45 pm.
SETTLEMENT: Torrington v. Church St. Gardens, LLC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve the proposed settlement in City of Torrington v. Church Street Gardens, LLC.
(Docket Number LLI-CV-6009082-S).
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, 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 Soliani, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Mr. Drew reported on a recent paint recycling event, saying it was well attended and about 3,000 cubic feet of paint was recycled.
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 announced the expansion of the "It's Happening Here.com" website with a new interactive map where local businesses can input their information by pinning it on the map.
He said five or six businesses have been approved for the Façade Improvement grant totaling about $65,000. The grant is for $500,000, he said, so there's a lot more money to distribute.
Mayor Bingham further reported that the Coe Memorial Park Gardener contract will go out for re-bidding this week because only one response was received.
He said his summer reading program has been very successful.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Zordan, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:52 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
| 
