MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
OCTOBER 20, 2014
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, October 20, 2014.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Paul Cavagnero, Gregg Cogswell, Anne Ruwet, Drake Waldron and Paul Samele. City Councilor Christopher Anderson was absent. Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, WPCA Administrator Ray Drew, City Engineer Ed Fabbri, Fleet Manager Emil Castro and Mayoral Aide Timothy Waldron were also present.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance.
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 6, 2014.
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. There was no one present who wished to speak.
PRESENTATION: WATER POLLUTION CONTROL FACILITY PROJECT UPDATE
Mr. Drew said he is continuing his public awareness campaign, having received the revised Draft Permit. He said the compliance schedule includes 18 months to submit design specifications or proposed upgrades, 24 months to begin construction, and 4 years 11 months to complete construction and be in compliance. The WPCA would be in violation of the permit if the compliance schedule wasn’t met, he said, and DEEP could then issue an order to abate pollution and pay penalties of up to $25,000 per day. Mr. Drew added that nitrogen removal at our current level of treatment would require an estimated annual payment of $76,000. He stressed the importance of this project for the sustainability of the WPCA infrastructure and its impact on long term economic development. Mr. Drew noted that the new State Courthouse is
proposing a daily flow of 50,000 gallons. He said he is searching for energy incentives and anything else he can find to ease the burden on taxpayers and added that the infrastructure is aging as the facility celebrates 75 years of operation.
Mayor Carbone noted that Electors are concerned about the cost and the message that needs to be conveyed is that this project is timed to coincide with the retirement of existing debt, minimizing the impact to the taxpayer. Mr. Drew added that the impact is five years away.
APPOINTMENTS: Parks and Recreation Commission
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Mayor’s re-appointment of the following members of the Parks and Recreation Commission for five-year terms:
James Pescatore, term to expire December 1, 2014
Patricia Fairchild, term to expire December 1, 2015
Francis DuCotey, term to expire December 1, 2016
Daniel Lovallo, term to expire December 1, 2017
Gerard Carbone, term to expire December 1, 2018
ASPHALT ROLLER
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Fleet Manager, Supt. of Streets and Purchasing Agent and authorize the Mayor to award the purchase of an asphalt roller and trailer to Hertz Equipment rental Corporation of South Hackensack, NJ, in the amount of $11,135.00 and to authorize the Mayor to act on behalf of the City regarding the execution of the contract and its administration.
LOADER BACKHOE
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Fleet Mgr., Supt. of Streets and Purchasing Agent and authorize the Mayor to award the purchase of a loader backhoe to W.I. Clark Co. of Wallingford, CT in the amount of $86,480.00 after options and trade-in, and to authorize the Mayor to act on behalf of the City regarding the execution of the contract and its administration.
ROOF INSPECTION SERVICES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to waive the bid process and accept the State DAS-authorized service contract for FY14-15 roof inspection work as listed in the Public Works Director’s memo dated October 15, 2014.
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE
Councilor Ruwet noted that the committee has no recommendation regarding Public Works Grievance #14-06 at this time.
SMALL CITIES COMMITTEE
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Small Cities Committee regarding Project #143-332 and approve the project. Councilor Waldron noted that after comparing the assessed property value to the cost of the work needed, there is no risk to the City.
LAWRENCE LANE UNDERDRAIN
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the City Engineer’s recommendation to authorize the Mayor to award a contract to Hemlock Construction Co. of Torrington, CT in the amount of $14,775.00 and to authorize the Mayor to act on behalf of the City regarding the execution of the contract and its administration including approval of pay applications.
ADD TO AGENDA
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to add Section B to the Agenda.
Section B: Release Lien
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept Corporation Counsel’s recommendation to release the Anti-Blight Ordinance Lien recorded in Volume 927, Page 638, of the Torrington Land Records, after the property was brought into compliance with the City’s Anti-Blight Ordinance.
SANITARY SEWER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement for Capital Project D-2A East Drainage Basin Rehabilitation.
DATE CONTRACTOR INVOICE# AMOUNT DESCRIPTION
9/13/14 True Blue Environmental Req. #4 $82,935.88 East Drainage Basin I/I Rehab
9/16/14 Weston & Sampson 438208 $1,650.00 James St Sewer Repl.
9/16/14 Weston & Sampson 437212 $7,300.00 East Drainage Basin I/I Rehab
SMALL CITIES INVOICES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments from fund #270, 2013 Citywide Housing Rehab.:
Vendor Amount Invoice # Date Description
Republican Amer. $ 127.36 968761 8/31/2014 Invitation to Bid Ad
City of Torrington $ 75.00 13-SC-22 9/8/2014 Title Search
L. Wagner & Assocs. $ 900.00 HRLR-231 10/1/2014 Prof. Svcs. 7/1/14 to 9/30/14-- Housing Rehab
L. Wagner & Assocs. $3525.00 13-SC-24 10/1/2014 Prof. Svcs. 7/1/14 to 9/30/14 2013 Small Cities, Gen Admin
L. Wagner & Assocs. $7312.50 13-SC-25 10/1/2014 Prof. Svcs. 7/1/14 to 9/30/14 2013 Small Cities, Program Costs
Transfer $ 400.00 13-SC-26 10/2/2014 Transfer from Fund #270 to Fund #277
Transfer $ 400.00 13-SC-27 10/2/2014 Transfer from Fund #270 to Fund #277
Transfer $5000.00 13-SC-28 10/2/2014 Transfer from Fund #270 to Fund #277
Transfer $3300.00 13-SC-29 10/2/2014 Transfer from Fund #270 to Fund #277
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. There was no business presented.
BUSINESS BY MAYOR AND COUNCIL
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Cavagnero asked the Mayor and Council to consider inviting the Board of Education to an upcoming meeting to discuss their goals for this coming year. Mayor Carbone said that the Board is still deliberating a joint meeting schedule.
Councilor Cogswell said he hopes everyone will get out and vote and he will do his best to advocate passage of the referendum question for the Water Pollution Control facility upgrade.
Councilor Ruwet agreed with Councilor Cavagnero and noted that City Council gave their unanimous, non-partisan support.
Mayor Carbone reported that the THS Athletic Field ribbon cutting went well and she thanked those who worked on the project including Councilor Cogswell, Tim Waldron, State Rep. Michelle Cook and the staff members who assisted. She announced the upcoming Trunk or Treat event on October 25th and noted that the next City Council meeting will be pushed back to November 10 due to Election Day. Mayor Carbone said she attended several meetings regarding epidemic preparedness with Torrington Area Health, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, City Staff and our First Responders, and posted information on our website.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously
to adjourn at 7:06 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson CMC
Asst. City Clerk
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