MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
July 5, 2016
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday, July 5, 2016.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, City Councilors Paul Cavagnero, Gregg Cogswell, Anne Ruwet, Daniel Farley, Drake Waldron and Luisa Noujaim. Also present were Torrington Housing Authority Executive Director Claudia Sweeney, Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Public Works Director Gerald Rollett, WPCA Administrator Ray Drew, Economic Development Director Erin Wilson and Parks & Recreations Superintendent Brett Simmons.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Public Hearing and Regular Meeting held June 20, 2016. Councilor Waldron abstained.
OPEN TO PUBLIC
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one present who wished to speak.
TORRINGTON HOUSING AUTHORITY
Ms. Sweeney updated the Council on recent mandates from HUD which include a smoking ban that will be difficult to enforce, the inadmissibility of arrest records in determining applicants’ eligibility for housing, the issue of residents’ income growing to exceed limits, and the inability of the Housing Authority to use applicants’ past criminal history as criteria in their decisions.
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS
Arts & Culture Commission
On a motion by Councilor Cavagnero, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Mayor’s appointment of Janet Iffland to the Arts & Culture Commission to fill the remainder of a four-year term that expires December 31, 2016.
Services for the Elderly Commission
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Mayor’s re-appointment of Ray Aeschliman to the Services for the Elderly Commission for his second three-year term that expires July 6, 2019.
SANITARY SEWER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to approve a payment from “Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement” for Capital Project D-2A East Drainage Basin Rehabilitation to Weston & Sampson for Invoice #458218 dated 6/15/2016 in the amount of $7,500.
EAST BASIN SEWER REHAB
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to award Bid# EBS-041-053016 East Basin Sewer Rehabilitation Project, CWF-695-DC to Insituform Technologies, LLC, 17988 Edison Street, Chesterfield, MO 63005 for the Base Bid amount of $2,410,051.00.
STATE/REGIONAL BIDS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to waive the City bid process and accept the State/Regional Bids for roadway work and materials for FY2016-2017 based on the State/Regional Contracts listed in the Public Works Director’s Memo dated June 21, 2016. Mr. Rollett noted that de-escalation costs are included.
COE CARRIAGE HOUSE CUPOLA
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to modify the 2016/17 Coe Memorial Park Capital Budget (Fund 0041) to the amount of $66,000.00 and authorize the Mayor to award Bid #CPC-032-051916 in the amount of $59,951.00 to Burlington Construction of Torrington for the Coe Memorial Park Carriage House Cupola Project, as recommended by the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Coe Memorial Park Committee.
FIREHOUSE PAINTING & REPAIRS
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s and Fire Chief’s recommendation to authorize the Mayor to award the Painting & Repairs To Exterior Overhangs at Fire Headquarters Bid, to Ferraro's Painting & Restoration of North Haven in the amount of $6525.00, pending Board of Public Safety Approval.
TABLED: Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to table acceptance of the Purchasing Agent’s and Fire Chief’s recommendation regarding the Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Bid.
18 MASON STREET, Environmental Engineering Svcs.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Economic Development Director’s recommendation to award the Request for Proposals for Environmental Engineering Services - 18 Mason Street contract to BL Companies of Meriden, CT, and to authorize the Mayor to act on behalf of the City regarding the execution and administration of the contract.
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 22 refunds indicated on the list dated June 28, 2016.
WPCA - SEWER TAX REFUNDS
Acting herein as the Water Pollution Control Authority, on a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogwell, the Council voted unanimously to vote to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the 7 sewer usage refunds indicated on the list dated June 28, 2016.
SMALL CITIES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments:
Vendor Invoice # Date Amount Fund # Description
NCDA HRLR-249 6/16/2016 $ 375.00 250 Membership Dues 7/1/16 -6/30/17
City of Torrington 15-SC-17 6/15/2016 $ 150.01 272 (2) Title Searches
Boston Lead Co., LLC 15-SC-18 6/15/2016 $1200.00 272 (2) Lead Tests
Republican American 15-SC-19 6/15/2016 $ 118.32 272 Invitation to Bid Ad
BUILDING DEPT. REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Dept. Report for May 2016.
BUSINESS BY DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads. Chief Brunoli reported on the Fire Department’s responses to recent incidents and Ms. Wilson announced the receipt of a $100,000 Assessment Grant for the Stone Container property.
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.
Councilor Cavagnero requested more information on plans for the former Hendee site and requested that Council’s involvement in decisions be increased.
Councilor Cogswell objected to how comments are phrased and urged caution.
Councilor Ruwet asked if there is a rain date for the Fireworks.
Councilor Farley reported that he was happy to attend the Naugatuck River Greenway groundbreaking.
Councilor Noujaim reminded citizens to wear reflective clothing at night.
OPEN TO PUBLIC: AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public to discuss agenda items only. There was no one present who wished to speak.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson CMC
Asst. City Clerk
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