MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
OCTOBER 19, 2015
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, October 19, 2015.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Paul Samele, Paul Cavagnero, Anne Ruwet, and Gregg Cogswell. City Councilor Christopher Anderson was absent. Police Chief Michael Maniago, Economic Development Director Erin Wilson, Elderly Services Director Joel Sekorski, Elderly Nutrition Supervisor Sherry Cote, and Inland Wetlands Officer Rista Milanca were also present.
Mayor Carbone opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the Torrington High School students who served the City as interns in the summer of 2015.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held September 21, 2015. Councilor Samele abstained.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held October 5, 2015. Councilors Cavagnero and Samele abstained.
OPEN TO 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.
TAX REFUNDS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the refunds indicated on the list dated 10/8/2015. Addendum 1
REPLACE ARMORY ROOF
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent and the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation to award the Armory Building Roof Replacement Project in the amount of $87,400 to the Imperial Company Restoration Contractor Inc. of Cromwell, CT with the following additions if found to be necessary: Removal of existing facing brick – $75 SF; Cleaning, reporting & sealing existing brick – $40 SF; Wood Deck Replacement – $12.50 SF.
FIRE DEPT. PURCHASES
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of LED light bulbs through sole source Connole’s Electric LLC of Torrington in the amount of $14,019.68 from capital account 103N Headquarters Interior. This was previously approved by the Board of Public Safety on October 7, 2015.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve the purchase of a battery, capacitor and fan replacement for two UPS systems in the Fire Dept. Headquarters Communications Room from sole source Emerson Network Power, Liebert Services of Chicago, IL for $15,588.94 from Capital Acct. 103G Fire-Dispatch HQ/NES.
SANITARY SEWER CAPT. IMPROVEMENT
Acting herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to approve a $4,016 payment from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement for mainline sewer repairs on Wall Street to Performance Excavating for their invoice dated 9/30/2015.
DENIED: ELECTED OFFICIALS SALARY
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council considered a salary increase for the positions of City Clerk, effective 1/4/2016; and Treasurer, effective 12/7/2015. This was tabled on August 17, 2015.
Councilor Cogswell said he is opposed to a mid-term salary increase for the City Clerk, but is willing to consider an increase for the Treasurer. He said his opposition doesn’t reflect on the people in these positions, but rather the position itself. Councilor Ruwet asked if this was included in the budget and Mayor Carbone replied that it was not, but the Treasurer’s raise increase is small enough for the City to absorb. She said the increase for the City Clerk’s position is also not a tremendously large sum of money.
Councilor Cavagnero agreed that although this is not against the people who hold these positions, he would vote against this because it’s hard to ask people to make sacrifices if the government can’t ask their own people to hold the line.
Councilor Ruwet noted the comparisons to other municipalities’ larger pay scales and said she would support the motion as it stands.
Mayor Carbone reminded the Council that the motion on the floor is for both positions, and no motion had been made to break out the two positions. The Council voted 1 to 4, with Councilor Ruwet voting in favor and Councilors Cavagnero, Cogswell, Samele and Waldron voting against.
SMALL CITIES
On an amended motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded as amended by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Small Cities Committee recommendation and approve Project 143-358 and Project 143-370. Councilor Waldron said both projects have plenty of equity.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments:
Vendor Requisition # Date Amount Description Fund
Safe Homes, Inc. SC-14-15 10/13/2015 $ 800 Lead Paint Testing Project #143-387 277
Safe Homes, Inc. SC-14-16 10/13/2015 $1930 Lead Paint Testing Project #143-402 277
Transfer 14-SC-35 9/29/2015 $1198 Project 143-339 271
Transfer 14-SC-34 9/29/2015 $1040 Project 143-327 271
COOLING TOWER REPLACEMENT
On a motion by Councilor Samele, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent, Patrol Division Commander and Architectural Consultant to award the Police Dept. Cooling Tower Replacement contract to Performance Plumbing & Heating LLC of Torrington, CT, referencing City Ordinance Chapter 6, Article 1, City Based Bidder Preference, for the contracted price of $82,420 and to authorize the Mayor to act on behalf of the City regarding the execution of the contract and its administration.
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Samele, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Dept. report for September 2015.
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Mr. Sekorski informed the Council of an upcoming project to install four new television sets in the Senior Center, financed with fundraising and grant monies.
Ms. Wilson presented signage samples for a branding and imaging project augmenting the “It’s Happening Here” slogan with “Historic Treasures, Contemporary Pleasures”. She explained the preservation of place grant received, her anticipated planning grant applications, future marketing campaigns and brownfield assessment grants.
BUSINESS: MAYOR & MEMBERS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilors Cogswell and Ruwet expressed their gratitude for the 275th anniversary celebration.
Mayor Carbone announced upcoming events such as the Trunk or Treat event, an emergency management drill, and a Veterans’ Day Observance. She wished the municipal election candidates luck in the upcoming election.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:29 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson, CMC, MCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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