MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
JANUARY 4, 2016
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, January 4, 2016.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Jaime LaMere, and City Councilors Drake Waldron, Gregg Cogswell, Luisa Noujaim, Paul Cavagnero and Daniel Farley. City Councilor Anne Ruwet was absent.
Mayor Carbone opened the meeting at 6:31 p.m. starting with the Pledge of Allegiance. The new Corporation Counsel, Jaime LaMere, was introduced to the City Council.
MINUTES
On an amended motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded as amended by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular meeting held December 21, 2015, with the addition of the words “to fulfill the remainder of” to replace the word “for” in the following paragraph regarding Mayoral Appointments: “On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the reappointment of Marie Soliani and Lucille Paige to the Cable TV Advisory Council to fulfill the remainder of for a two-year term to expire 7/1/2016.”
OPEN TO PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Mrs. Susan Cook expressed her gratitude for the Council’s consideration of her tax abatement request and described her funeral home expansion and its impact on the community.
HENDEY PROPERTY FEASIBILITY STUDY
Torrington Historic Preservation Trust President Mark McEachern and Mike Goman of Goman and York Property Advisors, LLC presented their marketing feasibility and redevelopment recommendations on the potential use of the Hendey Machine Co. property. Mr. Goman said this is a great location with a great opportunity to bring this underutilized site back to productive use, and to preserve an historic part of Torrington’s past to make it a part of Torrington’s future. He said his recommended first step is to form a project team made of the two property owners, the Department of Transportation, the City, and private investors and ask them to begin to work together.
REVIEW TAX INCENTIVE POLICY
Director of Economic Development Erin Wilson described the purpose of the City of Torrington Tax Incentive Policy of 2005, and explained the application and approval process. She said it was designed to mimic the State’s Enterprise Corridor Zone, but it narrows the scope to downtown. Mayor Carbone said this is an attempt to attract development and encourage revitalization of blighted neighborhoods. Ms. Wilson said the Tax Incentive Policy is great for our current situation where assessments have decreased over time and our mill rate has gone up. She said it is an opportunity to encourage development in our downtown and outside areas.
Mayor Carbone explained that providing a tax abatement as incentive helps property owners invest in their property and delay tax increases. She said it is not a loss of revenue, just a delay in implementation.
TAX ABATEMENT: Cook Funeral Home
Councilor Farley disclosed that he was involved in the sale of products to this project before he became a Council member, and it was felt that no conflict of interest exists for him regarding this vote. On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Tax Abatement Request for the Cook Funeral Home expansion project.
SMALL CITIES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments:
Vendor Requisition # Date Amount Description Fund
Transfer 14-SC-64 12/14/2015 $8,015.00 Project 143-433 271
Transfer 14-SC-65 12/14/2015 $19,269.00 Project 143-391 271
Transfer 14-SC-66 12/14/2015 $19,783.00 Project 143-392 271
Transfer 14-SC-67 12/14/2015 $32,330.00 Project 143-402 271
Transfer 14-SC-68 12/14/2015 $29,235.00 Project 143-387 271
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. No business was presented.
BUSINESS: MAYOR & MEMBERS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Mayor Carbone announced a Streetlight Information Session on January 12th at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium. She reported that the State will make additional cuts to municipal aid, but they are unknown. Mayor Carbone also announced that her budget memo will be issued to Department Heads shortly.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted to adjourn at 7:38 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson, CMC, MCTC
Asst. City Clerk
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