MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
OCTOBER 23, 2013 - Adjourned from October 21, 2013
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, having been adjourned from Monday, October 21, 2013.
Those in attendance included Mayor Gerald Zordan, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Gregg Cogswell, Paul Samele, Drake Waldron, and Elinor Carbone. Also present were Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, WPCA Administrator Ray Drew, Public Works Director Jerry Rollett and Mayoral Aide Timothy Waldron. City Councilor Marie Soliani was absent.
Mayor Zordan called the meeting to order at 6:05 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 October 7, 2013.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held October 15, 2013, regarding streetlights
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held jointly with the Board of Finance on October 15, 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.
Mr. Andrew Nargi of 217 Weed Street, explained the process he went through to try to obtain a refund of his tax overpayment from June 30, 2010. Since he has so far been unable to get this refund, he requested the Mayor and City Council cause a check to be issued to him.
Ms. Christine DeSousa of 11 Marion Ave. described what she went through to try to obtain a tax overpayment refund from both 2011 and 2012. She said that unbeknownst to her, both she and her mortgage company paid the same bill.
Ms. Susan Williams of 107 Albany Ave. reported on her attempts at obtaining a tax overpayment refund since before 2007, saying the amount isn't large but it's a matter of principle.
Ms. Bridget Beauchaine of 27 Sharon Ave. added that when she changed addresses, her tax bill was not addressed to the correct address. She said the Tax Collector's Office had no intention of addressing the issue.
Fire Chief Gary Brunoli of 23 Lynn Heights said that he has a similar story and that the Tax Collector's Office makes it so difficult to obtain a refund, people who don't have time to pursue it probably give up.
ARTS & CULTURE COMMISSION: J. Hodorski
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Mayor's appointment of Jessica Hodorski as a member of the Arts & Culture Commission, replacing Nancy Yurgeles, for a four-year term expiring 12/31/2016.
CITY COUNCIL APPT.: W. Traub
On an amended motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded and amended by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Torrington Republican Town Committee’s appointment of Wendy A. Traub to the Board of Councilmen to fulfill the remainder of Former Councilman Gerald A. Zordan’s term which expires 12/02/2013.
OATH OF OFFICE: W. Traub
As a Justice of the Peace, Mayor Zordan took the Oath of Office from Mrs. Traub.
Councilor Traub joined the meeting at 6:32 p.m.
SCHEDULE PUBLIC HEARING
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to schedule a public hearing at the next City Council meeting regarding the sale of the city water supply system to the Torrington Water Company. Councilor Traub abstained.
SEWER EXTENSION: 383 Torringford Street
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Director of Public Works and the WPCA Administrator to approve the proposed sewer extension of approximately 92 LF to serve property located at 383 Torringford Street as described in Mr. Drew's memo dated 10/16/2013. Addendum 1
SANITARY SEWER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT: East Drainage Basin I
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to approve a payment of $5,330.00 from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement for Capital Project D-2A East Drainage Basin I/I Rehabilitation to Weston & Sampson's for Invoice #425133 for Phase A Preliminary Engineering. Councilor Traub abstained.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS COMMITTEE
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Comptroller to establish a Retirement Benefits Committee to review and bring forth recommendations to the City Council regarding maintenance and compliance of the 401a and 457b retirement plans with committee members to include the Mayoral Aide, Corporation Counsel, Personnel Director, Treasurer, Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller and a Payroll staff member.
SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Carbone, the Council considered authorizing the Mayor to award a contract to Millennium Builders, Inc. of Rocky Hill, CT in the amount of $250,770.00 from the Public Works Municipal Revenue Sharing Account for sidewalk improvements at various locations, Bid #TSI-027-101613.
Mr. Rollett explained that this is a start for the approximately 5 miles of City-owned sidewalks whose upkeep and maintenance the City is clearly responsible for. The Council voted unanimously to approve with Councilor Traub abstaining.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for September 2013. Mayor Zordan noted that there was approximately 5.4 million dollars worth of construction in September this year versus 1.3 million last September. He said this bodes well for the City.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously
to open the meeting to the pubic on "agenda items" only. There was no one who wished to speak.
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Traub, 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 Carbone, the Council voted unanimously
to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Carbone welcomed Councilor Traub to her new position and thanked the public for speaking out tonight.
Councilor Traub thanked everyone for their support.
Councilor Waldron clarified the date of the next meeting.
Mayor Zordan also welcomed Councilor Traub and thanked everyone who stood up and said what they had to say about the Tax Collector. He said we take this very seriously.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Carbone, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously
to adjourn at 6:42 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson CCTC
Asst. City Clerk
Addendum 1
City Of Torrington
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY Tel: (860) 485-9166
140 Main Street Fax: (860) 485-0730
Torrington, CT 06790-5245
MEMO
TO: Mayor Gerald A. Zordan and Water Pollution Control Authority
CC: Jerry Rollett, DPW
Raymond Rigat, Corporation Counsel
Ed Fabbri, City Engineer
FROM: Ray Drew, Administrator WPCA
DATE: 10/16/13
RE: Proposed Sewer Extension, 383 Torringford Street
Mr. Dennis Ducatelli of 383 Torringford Street has notified the WPCA and Department of Engineering that his septic tank serving his property is failing. Pursuant to Torrington Code, Article 170, Section 170-12(B) the failing septic system cannot be repaired and property shall be connected to the public sewer system. Mr. Ducatelli has submitted a sewer extension plan titled “Sewer Extension Plan- Prepared for Dennis Ducatelli 383 Torringford Street Map #139, Block 3, Lot 33 Torrington Connecticut” the proposed extension shall begin at manhole located in front of house #367 extending in a northerly direction approximately 92 LF.
The proposed sewer extension was reviewed by WPCA and Department of Engineering and was submitted to Planning and Zoning Commission for an 8-24 recommendation. The Planning and Zoning Commission gave a favorable recommendation at its October 9, 2013 meeting.
Construction and permitting of the proposed sewer extension shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and Local Statutes, Rules and Regulations and Standards.
It is therefore the recommendation of Jerry Rollett, Director of Public Works and Ray Drew, Administrator WPCA to approve proposed sewer extension as presented.
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