MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
March 21, 2016
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, March 21, 2016.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, City Councilors Paul Cavagnero, Anne Ruwet, Gregg Cogswell, Daniel Farley, Luisa Noujaim and Drake Waldron.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order 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 Regular Meeting held March 7, 2016. Councilor Farley abstained.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Sharon Wagner thanked the Council for rescinding the November 16, 2015 Streetlight Master Plan vote, expressed her concern about a zero budget for the Police and Fire Departments, suggested the City save money by not having City Hall heat repaired, offered to buy City Hall employees warm socks and urged the Council to do all they can to keep the University of Connecticut in Torrington.
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Rachel Kelly to the Arts & Culture Commission to complete the remainder of a four-year term to expire 12/31/2019.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider the Mayor's reappointment of Gerald Rollett as Public Works Director for a four-year term ending March 11, 2020. Councilor Farley noted that according to the City Charter, the Public Works Director is responsible for all city-owned structures except those owned by the Board of Education. He suggested Mr. Rollett be more involved in heating and cooling decisions at the Police Department. Mayor Carbone replied that Mr. Rollett was consulted during the Police Department’s HVAC improvements and the creation of a Facilities Maintenance Director position has been discussed for some time.
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to appoint Patricia Ward to the Board of Assessment Appeals as an alternate member. It was noted that Ms. Ward resigned from the Republican Party in order to comply with Title XII §C12-3 of the City Charter regarding party affiliation limits on this Board. Mayor Carbone expressed her gratitude for the efforts Ms. Ward made in order to serve on this Board.
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 3/11/2016. Addendum 1
WPCA - SEWER TAX REFUNDS
Acting herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the sewer usage refunds indicated on the list dated 3/11/2016. Addendum 2
PARKS DEPT. Extend Portable Toilet Rental Contract
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to extend the current Portable Toilet Rental Contract with Suburban Sanitation Services, Inc. for the 2016/2017 season.
SMALL CITIES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Small Cities Committee and approve projects #143-392 Phase 3, #143-399 and #143-412. Councilor Waldron noted that they are all good projects.
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for February 2016.
BUSINESS: Department Heads
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. No business was presented.
BUSINESS: Mayor & Members
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Cavagnero asked why the Fire Chief was not at the meeting, as he requested. Mayor Carbone said it couldn’t be coordinated for this meeting, that she will try for the April meeting, and noted that the Council was sent an email from Chief Brunoli.
Councilor Ruwet said residents need to pay attention to and be present for the State budget deliberations.
Councilor Farley updated the Council on the actual fuel prices contracted after the last meeting. He said none of the prices stayed the same, but they all fell within the 10% range.
Councilor Noujaim said the potential closing of East School seems to be a hot topic and asked for a budget update.
Mayor Carbone said she communicated to the Board of Education her concerns regarding school closing discussions being held during the budget process without benefit of a facility use evaluation, whether or not there is a redistricting plan and if due diligence has been performed and where the public process is. She pointed out that East School is 40 years old and in need of approximately $35,000,000 in renovations.
Councilor Cavagnero said the Board of Education creates a public outcry every year, which, in his opinion, is a form of budgetary extortion. He said City Council should fight it.
Mayor Carbone explained that all Board of Education authority comes from our State’s Statutes and the State Department of Education.
Councilor Cavagnero said the City cannot move forward until this is dealt with, and that a major change must occur on the state level. He noted the City Council can review the Board of Education budget and ask the big picture questions as is done for the Police Department, Fire Department and Public Works. He said the process is flawed and the City Council has a responsibility as elected officials to address the core problem. Councilor Cavagnero said he wants to know the Board of Education’s goals and how they plan to leverage the money the City gives them into an educational system that will attract students from Litchfield County.
Councilor Waldron noted that Torrington lost a civic leader this week, Bob Good, who served on City Council for seven terms, and as the Public Works Director in the 1970s and 1980s. His wife, Marilyn Good, worked in the Registrar of Voter’s Office, he said, and that Torrington lost a good man.
Mayor Carbone reported she has been in communication with civic leaders, state representatives, and all our delegates, gathering information about legal proceedings relating to the continued operation of the University of Connecticut campus in Torrington. She said she will continue with due diligence and reach back out to our delegates, the Governor and the Board of Trustees. Mayor Carbone said she will keep the Council informed.
OPEN TO PUBLIC – Agenda Items Only
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public on agenda items only.
Mary Bagnaschi agreed with Councilor Cavagnero’s remarks about the Torrington Board of Education and said she does understand that it is a very big problem. She reminded City Council they are the legislative body of the City and have the authority to change charters and address issues. She supported Councilor Cavagnero, saying that clearly we have to come up with some solutions. Ms. Bagnaschi said that she was a former City of Torrington employee who worked at the Torrington Housing Authority for 6.5 years, under the same union, AFSCME Local 1579. Ms. Bagnaschi said she was illegally fired in February of 2006 and has since detailed her complaints in emails, phone calls and in person to three Mayors, and will not give up. She said the Torrington Housing Authority is a City Board and City Commission,
but the City Council does not read the minutes of the THA meetings and does not know what is going on over there. Ms. Bagnaschi said the City has allowed so much state and federal intrusion into what the City is supposed to do, and she will pursue it to the fullest extent.
Sharon Wagner offered to assist with the Mayor’s efforts regarding UConn Torrington, in any way she can. She agreed with Councilor Cavagnero regarding the Board of Education and said we are all sharing the same concern.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council adjourned at 7:18 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson CMC
Asst. City Clerk
MINUTES Page 3 Vol. 26 Page 525
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
March 21, 2016
Addendum 1 Addendum 2
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