MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
July 20, 2015
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, July 20, 2015.
Those in attendance included Acting Mayor Anne Ruwet, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Gregg Cogswell, Paul Samele and Christopher Anderson. City Councilor Paul Cavagnero was absent. City Engineer Edward Fabbri, Elderly Services Director Joel Sekorski and ZEO/Inland Wetlands Officer Rista Malanca were also present.
Mayor Ruwet opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. starting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held jointly with the Board of Finance on June 1, 2015.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Anderson, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held July 6, 2015. Councilor Samele abstained.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Tom Kandefer expressed his endorsement of the Buttrick Trail improvements and the bridge over Still River, asking the Council to vote in favor of it.
Raymond Royals spoke against the bridge saying it has no ending or plans to allow the trail to continue after the bridge is crossed, and no property owners were contacted to discuss rights-of-way or easements or to solicit their ideas or opinions.
Rista Milanca explained that the Sue Grossman Trail extension grant was written in 2013, with the hope that the trail will extend from Harrison Road and connect to downtown Torrington. She said Winsted plans to do the same thing, connecting the two towns and creating numerous benefits. She noted that the trail follows the city sewer line and ends at Mr. Royals’ property with two private owners on the side. Ms. Milanca said that until the money to build this bridge was in place, no formal agreements or easements could be drafted. She said she is asking the Council to give the Mayor permission to enter an agreement with the DEEP, knowing that the Mayor will have all questions addressed.
Councilor Cogswell said he would prefer to see the issues ironed out before Council votes on it.
Ms. Milanca said it may take several months to get easements and surveys in place and a delay could impede other Buttrick Trail plans such as a ribbon cutting. She added that these projects need to remain combined so that in-kind services done on the Buttrick Trail for the 20% grant match can save the City money because they cannot be done on the bridge project.
Councilor Anderson noted that the motion will be to empower the Mayor, not to commit to the project all at once.
Acting Mayor Ruwet asked Mr. Royals if he was comfortable with the conversation with the Zoning Officer and if he had an opportunity to talk with Mayor Carbone directly.
Mr. Royals replied that he did not find out until Saturday morning and went directly to the other landowners, Gordon Pepper and Pier Bachiero. Both indicated that they have not been contacted, he said. Mr. Royals explained that the City has to have a right-of-way through two private properties in order for this to work. He said he has multiple other concerns and this isn’t necessarily the best idea.
TABLED: BUTTRICK TRAIL AND BRIDGE OVER STILL RIVER
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to table consideration of a resolution empowering the Mayor to execute, sign and deliver in the name and on behalf of the City, a contract with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for funding for the project entitled “Buttrick Trail and Bridge over Still River.”
ASSESSMENT GRANT FOR 18 MASON STREET
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the State of CT Dept. of Economic & Community Development regarding a $100,000 assessment grant for 18 Mason Street.
PURCHASE OF MIDWEST FOLDING TABLES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Director of Elderly Services’ and the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to award bid #MFT-016-070115, Purchase of Midwest Folding Tables, to Bartholomew Contract Interiors of Hartford, CT in the amount of $11,300 and authorize the Mayor execute and administer this contract on behalf of the City. Mr. Sekorski explained that the current tables are in disrepair and this table design will meet all of their needs. He said this purchase is supplemented by a $4,000 grant from Ameriprise, and customer service, timeliness, and reputation were all factors in the decision.
SMALL CITIES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Small Cities Committee, and approve a loan subordination for 1189 E. Main Street and a payment of $800 for Project #143-371.
MAIN STREET REALIGNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to execute agreements with the CT. Dept. of Transportation for the Main Street Realignment and Streetscape Improvements Phase 2. Mr. Fabbri explained that this Project Authorization Letter is a short agreement done for each project, to supplement the Master Agreement signed two or three years ago.
BUILDING DEPT.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Anderson, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Dept. Report for June, 2015.
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Mr. Sekorski updated the Council on the new Meals-on-Wheels truck, the Air Conditioning Repair bids and the new carpeting. He thanked the Council for their support and noted that grant funds help get things done without City money.
BUSINESS: MAYOR & MEMBERS
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Anderson, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Samele congratulated Dominic Samele and Casey Cerruto whose “Ten U Hit Club” baseball team will be moving on to the AABC Willie Mays World Series in Rockford Illinois.
Acting Mayor Ruwet urged the Council to attend the Thursday night Marketplace.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:08 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson, MCTC, CMC
Asst. City Clerk
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