MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL & WPC AUTHORITY
November 14, 2016
A REGULAR MEETING was held by the City Council & WPC Authority in the City Hall Auditorium on Monday, November 14, 2016.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Jaime LaMere and City Councilors Gregg Cogswell, Anne Ruwet, Luisa Noujaim, Drake Waldron and Daniel Farley. City Councilor Paul Cavagnero was absent. Also present were Mayoral Aide Timothy Waldron, Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Board of Education Director of Facilities David Bascetta and Comptroller Alice Proulx.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. starting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
AMEND ORDINANCE 187-23(B)
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Coun cilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously by roll call vote to amend City Ordinance Chapter 187, Taxation, Article VII, Tax Abatement for Volunteer Firefighters, as follows: (Deletions appear struck through and additions are in bold.)
ARTICLE VII.-TAX ABATEMENT FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
§ 187-22.-Statutory authority.
The following article is hereby adopted pursuant to the provisions of §12-81w of the General Statutes as amended
by Public Act 99-272 and Public Act 16-99.
§ 187-23.-Abatement granted.
- Each active
member of volunteer firefighter for the Burrville Volunteer Fire Department, Drakeville
Volunteer Fire Department, and Torringford Volunteer Fire Department (hereinafter the “Volunteer Fire
Departments”) who has served as a an active volunteer firefighter, fire police officer or emergency medical
technician for the City of Torrington for not less than the two immediately preceding calendar years shall have
any real and/or motor vehicle property taxes owed to the City of Torrington by such firefighter, fire police officer
or emergency medical technician abated according to the following schedule:
Completed Years of Service |
Dollar Amount of Taxes Abated |
2 |
$200.00 |
4 |
$400.00 |
6 |
$600.00 |
8 |
$800.00 |
10 or more |
$1,000.00 |
- Said abatement shall
only be for active members and retired members of any of the Volunteer Fire
Departments.
- “Active members”, for the purposes of this article, shall be any member who attends one training drill per
calendar month plus six monthly administrative drills per fiscal year and who performs the duties of a volunteer
firefighter, or fire policeman or emergency medical technician.
“Retired member”, for the purposes of this article, shall be any member of any of the Volunteer Fire
Departments who has retired after providing at least 25 years of service and who performed the duties
of a volunteer firefighter, fire policeman or emergency medical technician.
- Years of service shall not be deemed to have been interrupted by department medical leave, by military service
with the United States, or by injury where Worker’s Compensation is involved. When a person has served as a
volunteer firefighter, fire police officer or emergency medical technician, left such service and returned to
volunteer firefighting duty, a person shall not be eligible for the tax abatement until he or she has completed one
full calendar year of service. A person’s total years of service will then include the number of previous years served.
§ 187-24.-Application of abatement.
The tax abatement under this article shall be applied first against any real property taxes owing to the City of
Torrington, then against motor vehicle taxes owing to the City of Torrington. In the event that a tax to which the
abatement is applied is paid in installments, then the exemption shall be applied 50 percent to each installment.
§ 187-25.-Maintenance of records.
The Tax Collector of the City of Torrington shall maintain a record of all taxes abated in accordance with this article.
§ 187-26.-Applicability.
- The tax abatement under this article shall be applicable for any real property or motor vehicle of a volunteer
firefighter, fire police officer, emergency medical technician or an individual who is a retired member of
any of the Volunteer Fire Departments eligible for such abatement whether such property is owned individually, jointly, or as tenant income with one or more other persons.
- This article shall be applicable to taxes owing beginning with the taxes on the Grand List of October 1, 2002
except with respect to taxes owing by an individual who is a retired member of any of the Volunteer Fire Departments, the abatement shall begin on the Grand List of October 1, 2016.
MINUTES
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held October 17, 2016. Councilor Noujaim abstained.
On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Telephonic Meeting held November 3, 2016. Councilor Cogswell 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.
Local business owner Tina Sessa encouraged the Council to explore other routes when considering a Woodridge Lake sewer project and to hear public opinion when the time comes to make the decision.
MAYORAL APPT: Christopher Beyus
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Mayor’s appointment of Christopher Beyus as an Alternate member of the Planning & Zoning Commission, replacing Melanie McMillan, to complete the remainder of a five-year term to expire December 1, 2020.
RESOLUTION: Sue Grossman Still River Greenway
On a motion by Councilor Farley, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following Resolution #143-16-16, authorizing the Mayor to execute documents to plan, design and prepare construction plans for a portion of the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway:
RESOLVED: that Elinor Carbone, Mayor of the City of Torrington, be and hereby is authorized to execute on behalf of this municipal corporation a Personal Services Agreement with the State of Connecticut for financial assistance to plan, design and prepare construction plans for a portion of the Sue Grossman Still River Greenway.
IN ADDITION, that Elinor Carbone, Mayor, is hereby authorized to enter into such agreements, contracts and execute all documents necessary to said grant with the State of Connecticut.
RESOLUTION: Homeland Security Grant
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following Resolution #143-16-17, authorizing the Mayor to execute documents for the 2016 Homeland Security Grant Program:
RESOLVED, that the City of Torrington may enter into with and deliver to the State of Connecticut
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and
Homeland Security any and all documents which it deems to be necessary or appropriate; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that Elinor Carbone, as Mayor of the City of Torrington, is authorized and
directed to execute and deliver any and all documents on behalf of the City of Torrington and to do
and perform all acts and things which she deems to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the terms
of such documents, including, but not limited to, executing and delivering all agreements and documents contemplated by such documents.
RESOLUTION: THS Fuel Tank Replacement
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to adopt the following Resolutions #143-16-18 through #143-16-21, authorizing the Board of Education to apply for the grant, to establish a Building Committee, to prepare drawings and specifications, and to approve the THS Fuel Tank Replacement project for approximately $41,250 from the Board of Education Capital Improvement Fund:
#143-16-18
RESOLVED: That the Board of Councilmen of the City of Torrington, with the Mayor as its representative, authorizes the Torrington Board of Education to apply to the Commissioner of Education and to accept or reject a grant for the Torrington High School Fuel Tank Replacement Project.
#143-16-19
RESOLVED: That the Torrington High School Fuel Tank Replacement Project Building Committee is hereby established as THE BUILDING COMMITTEE with regard to the proposed Torrington High School Fuel Tank Replacement Project, naming David Bascetta, Director of Facilities, as THE BUILDING COMMITTEE.
#143-16-20
RESOLVED: That the Board of Councilmen of the City of Torrington, with the Mayor as its representative, hereby authorizes, at least, the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications for the Torrington High School Fuel Tank Replacement Project.
#143-16-21
RESOLVED: That the City of Torrington approves the Torrington High School Fuel Tank Project in the amount of $150,000.00. The funds were budgeted for the 2016-2017 fiscal year from the Board of Education’s Capital Improvement Fund. The project is eligible for reimbursement from the State of Connecticut at the rate of 72.5% on the dollar, leaving the City of Torrington’s share to be approximately $41,250.00.
Mayor Carbone confirmed that this is in the capital budget.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS/TRANSFERS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to approve the Comptrollers request to complete the budget amendments/transfers listed in the memo dated October 19, 2016, pending Board of Finance approval.
PURCHASE FORD EXPLORER/FIRE DEPT.
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Fleet Manager and Purchasing Agent to authorize the Mayor to award, execute and administer a contract for a 2017 Ford Explorer for the Fire Department from Torrington Ford Lincoln for $27,494. Councilor Ruwet noted that this purchase was on the Vehicle Replacement schedule.
PURCHASE GIS
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of a selection committee to authorize the Mayor to award the GIS contract to New England Geosystems of Middletown, CT for $4,000.
THS TURF COMMITTEE
On a motion by Councilor Cogswell, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the payment of $2305.64 to Giordano Signs for Invoice #8511 dated October 20, 2016 for the installation of black fence screen under the bleachers.
SMALL CITIES GRANT PROGRAM
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 a Change Order to Project #143-423 for
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Farley, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the following payments:
Vendor |
Invoice # |
Invoice Date |
Amount |
Fund Used |
Description |
Republican American |
15-SC-35 |
Oct. 13, 2016 |
$113.43 |
272 |
(2) invitation to bid ads |
L. Wagner & Assocs. |
HRLR-252 |
Oct. 25, 2016 |
$600 |
250 |
Prof. Svcs. 7/1/16 – 9/30/16 |
TAX COLLECTOR TAX REFUNDS
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 37 refunds indicated on the list dated November 14, 2016.
TAX COLLECTOR SEWER USAGE FEE REFUNDS
Herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, 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 5 sewer usage fee refunds indicated on the list dated November 14, 2016.
BUILDING DEPARTMENT REPORT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cogswell, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for September 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. Mr. Bascetta confirmed the figures in Resolution #143-16-21.
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 Cogswell commented that the Veteran’s Day ceremony was very nice.
Councilor Ruwet agreed and noted that 80% of our voters came out to the polls on Election Day.
Councilor Farley said he was also happy about the Election Day turnout. He said he would like to see the City work with our unions to change the contract language on pensions to give the City some recourse. Mayor Carbone explained that the Council only voted on the pension calculation. She noted that there is no current language to provide recourse, except through the state statute, and that it is her goal to address some of the language in the contracts due to expire on June 30, 2017.
Councilor Noujaim asked the City for tolerance, to help and support one another after the Election, especially with our children, as tensions create insecurity and anxiety for them.
Councilor Waldron wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and noted the upcoming Tree Lighting Ceremony.
Mayor Carbone reported that the Parks Department is working on new holiday decorations and announced new business openings such as Ocean State, Pursue the Clue, Sasso’s Pizza, and Good News Coffee. The $25 million Senior Living project is underway, she said, and ‘Light Up Main’ will be held November 25th. Mayor Carbone commended Chief Brunoli for a successful Emergency Management Drill, noting that he did a phenomenal job in getting different departments to work together. Mayor Carbone said the newly hired Superintendent of Schools will begin in January and that she will attend the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities Annual Convention tomorrow along with several city employees to look for State and local partnerships to learn to look outside of the box to increase revenue sources.
Councilor Ruwet requested quarterly joint meetings with the Board of Education and the new Superintendent and Mayor Carbone agreed.
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. There was no one present who wished to speak.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Noujaim, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:00 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson, CMC
Asst. City Clerk
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