MINUTES
PUBLIC HEARING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
June 20, 2016
A PUBLIC HEARING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, June 20, 2016 to review and discuss proposals for participation in the 2016 Neighborhood Assistance Act.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Jaime LaMere and City Councilors Paul Cavagnero, Gregg Cogswell, Anne Ruwet, Daniel Farley and Luisa Noujaim. Councilor Drake Waldron was absent. Also present were Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, Campion Ambulance Director of Operations Fred Rosa, and Zoning & Wetlands Enforcement Officer Rista Malanca. Bill Donald and Joe McCarthy of Van Zelm Engineers were also present.
Mayor Carbone called the public hearing to order at 6:31 p.m. Asst. City Clerk Carol Anderson read the legal notice. There was no one present who wished to speak. Mayor Carbone declared the public hearing closed at 6:33 p.m.
MINUTES -- REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
June 20, 2016
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE ACT
On a motion by Councilor Noujaim, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously, by roll call vote, to accept the proposals for participation in the 2016 Neighborhood Assistance Act from The Susan B. Anthony Project, KidsPlay Children’s Museum, Inc., and The Arc of Litchfield County, Inc.
GOOD DEED AWARDS
Mrs. Malanca explained that the Conservation Commission spearheaded these awards to recognize people and organizations who do a really good job helping to keep Torrington beautiful, while raising awareness of litter and dumping. Mayor Carbone said that nominations may be sent to gooddeedaward@torringtonct.org. She presented ten awards to citizens who do great things every day without being recognized, including Torrington Maintenance Supply, Torrington Family Kempo, Scarpelli’s Restaurant, Torrington Trails Network, Doyle’s Medical Supply, Angie’s Coffee & More, Ivy Altman, India Altman, Vital Gateway, and Harry B. Baldwin.
CITY HALL SUPPLEMENTAL HEATING
Mr. Rollett explained that City employees have complained about cold under-desk areas for the past six years.
VanZelm Engineers Bill Donald and Joe McCarthy reported on their assessment, which found a 10-degree difference above and below the desks. They determined that the problem is caused by a lack of insulation on the concrete exterior walls and recommended supplemental radiant and convective electric heat at a unit cost of $3,000 and a total cost range of $40,300 to $51,000.
Mr. Rollett said this purchase will go out to bid and return to City Council for authorization. He said it has been approved by the Municipal Renovations Committee for payment from that fund, and added that this proposed low wattage system will cost about $200 per month to operate.
Councilor Cogswell recommended that a couple of the new units be tested before the bid is proposed and Mr. Rollett agreed that a trial run would be the most efficient and cost-effective way to do it.
Mr. Rollett explained the complexity of rearranging workstations and the affect that even placing a box on a file cabinet can have on the airflow in the office spaces.
Councilor Cavagnero suggested that less expensive portable heaters be considered. Mr. Rollett replied that these would not be approved by OSHA. Councilor Cavagnero said this seems to be an extraordinary cost and it feels like we’re over-engineering and overpaying.
Mr. Rollett noted that most issues occur when employees sit against or adjacent to an exterior wall, while some departments have employees that work in the field more often than they work at their desk. He said the HVAC installer was sued, resulting in a $600,000 award that allowed significant modifications to City Hall HVAC as a result.
Mr. Rollett said he is trying to find room in his budget to cover the installation of solar film for the windows on the south side of the building and the corner offices on the south side. He said the benefits are derived primarily from the reflection of solar heat gain and noted that a trial window was done in Personnel, which created a marked improvement in summer cooling.
Mr. Rollett said he will report back to City Council after trying the proposed heaters in a few offices.
HEARTSafe COMMUNITY
Mr. Rosa noted that Torrington was one of the first to become a HeartSafe Community, a three-year designation. He said that it really is a community award in which everyone plays a role to make this community the best it can be in cardiac care. Mayor Carbone added that Torrington has been a HeartSafe Community since 2007 and that Campion Ambulance really does takes the lead.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the meetings held May 16, 2016.
On a motion by Councilor Noujaim, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special & Telephonic Meeting held June 8, 2016. Councilor Cavagnero abstained.
OPEN TO PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one present who wished to speak.
APPOINTMENTS
Econ. Devel. Commission
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Mayor’s appointment of John Giansanti to the Economic Development Commission for a five-year term to expire February 9, 2021.
Services for the Elderly Commission
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following Mayoral appointments for the Services for the Elderly Commission:
• Alternate Commissioners Frank Morando and Dora LaMere to become Regular Members for three-year terms to expire July 6, 2019, as their first of no more than two terms.
• John Silano and Gloria Novak to fill these two vacant Alternate Member positions
• Arthur Mattiello as an Alternate Member, replacing Brian Mattiello, who resigned on April 28, 2016.
Coe Memorial Park Commission
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Mayor’s appointment of Judith Addazio to the Coe Memorial Park Committee for a five-year term to expire December 31, 2018, replacing Jennifer Plasky.
SANITARY SEWER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to approve a payment from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement for Capital Project D-1A Central Drainage Basin SSES in the amount of $41,300 to Weston & Sampson for Invoice #457093 dated 5/11/2016 for Central Basin Flow Metering.
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to approve the following payments from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement for Mainline Sewer Repairs:
DATE CONTRACTOR INVOICE# AMOUNT$ DESCRIPTION
6/6/16 P&G Pepper Kinney St $3,794.40 Kinney St Sewer Repair
6/6/16 P&G Pepper Field St $3,272.50 50 Field St Sewer Repair
6/6/16 P&G Pepper Scoville St $1,498.46 Scoville St Sewer Repair
6/6/16 P&G Pepper E Main St $9,000.00 289 E Main St Sewer Repair
CANFIELD FARMS, DISSOLUTION AND EASEMENT RELEASE
On a motion by Councilor Farley, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to execute documents dissolving the Canfield Farms Homeowner’s Association and releasing the Storm Drainage Easement held by the City of Torrington.
TAX REFUNDS
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the eleven refunds indicated on the list dated May 25, 2016.
WPCA - SEWER TAX REFUNDS
Herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority, On a motion by Councilor Noujaim, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the eight sewer usage refunds indicated on the list dated May 25, 2016.
SECTION B
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to add Section B to the Agenda.
Section B
SMALL CITIES
On a motion by Councilor Noujaim, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Small Cities Committee and approve Project #143-423. Councilor Farley explained that there is plenty of value in the home, and recommended approval.
CLEANING SVCS., STREET DEPT. ARMORY & REC HALL
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation and authorize the Mayor to award the FY2016/2017 cleaning services contract for the Street Dept., Armory and Recreation Hall Facilities to KeeClean Mgt., Inc. of Shelton, CT in the amount of $32,256. Councilor Farley abstained.
SMALL CITIES
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments:
VENDOR INVOICE # DATE AMOUNT FUND # DESCRIPTION
L.Wagner 14-SC-74 5/18/2016 $ 9000.00 271 Prof. Svcs.
City of Torrington 14-SC-75 5/18/2016 $ 8.01 271 Misc. Expenses
City of Torrington 14-SC-76 5/18/2016 $ 3613.76 271 Misc. Expenses
Republican American 15-SC-14 5/20/2016 $ 169.36 272 Invitation to Bid Ad
L. Wagner HRLR-248 5/18/2016 $ 900.00 250 Prof. Svcs. 1/1/16-3/31/16
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Noujaim, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Dept. Report for April 2016.
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, 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 Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by the Mayor and members of the City Council.
Councilor Ruwet commended the online agenda packet and asked that amendments be included online as well. She suggested the agenda not be amended within a 24-hour period prior to the meeting.
Councilor Farley agreed about the online agenda and noted that he enjoyed touring downtown sidewalks with our Senators and the Mayor. He said he also enjoyed attending the Torrington High School Graduation.
Councilor Noujaim thanked the Mayor for her message regarding the Orlando victims, and sent her thoughts and prayers to the families.
Mayor Carbone reported that the recent bond refunding will yield an actual net value savings of $1,053,256.31 over the next 14 years, a resounding success that we should all be proud of. She said the Downtown Sidewalks work is done, and she is beyond pleased with the results. Mayor Carbone commended the Engineering Dept for both their design work and their many hours of oversight. She said she is excited about Main Street Marketplace returning to Main Street and explained that it is now privately run as a 501c3 under CT Main Street. Mayor Carbone said that Main Street Marketplace’s existence is to promote Downtown Torrington and bring it back to vitality, while noting that it was a successful concept brought forth from the Arts & Culture Commission.
OPEN TO PUBLIC: AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public to discuss agenda items only.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Farley, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to enter Executive Session under pending litigation at 7:31 p.m., inviting Atty. LaMere.
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to enter Open Session at 8:11 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson CMC
Asst. City Clerk
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