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Torrington Blue Ribbon Commission
Minutes of Meeting
Tuesday October 25, 2011
Torrington City Hall, 5 PM Office of the Mayor
Members Present: Mayor Bingham, Doug O’Connell, Elinor Carbone, Lorel Purcell, Mike Clark, and Ken Traub; also present: advisor Mayoral Aide Stephen Nocera.
- The meeting was opened at 5:00 PM on a motion by Ms. Carbone, seconded by Ms. Purcell and approved by the membership.
- Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of 9.13.11 was made on a motion by Ms. Carbone, seconded by Ms. Purcell, and unanimously approved by the commission.
- Ms. Purcell reviewed/ updated the BRC task list and schedule:
Regarding the MSW Program under Review by the BRC, Mr. Clark provided the following information:
- He and Jerry Rollett, Torrington Public Works Director attended a meeting at the State DEEP offices in Hartford on September 27th. The purpose of the meeting was to apprise municipalities of updates and changes to the State DEEP program currently in place and planned in the near future. Most notable among the changes discussed were the site change for processed solid waste disposal from Hartford to Putnam CT. The closing of the Hartford site is in process and the Putnam site will be usable for approximately five years after operations begin there. When that disposal site closes, it is likely that processed waste will have to be transported outside of Connecticut at a higher cost to municipalities. This factor alone was suggested as being sufficient reason for all CT cities to move forward with efforts to increase recycling
with the attendant decrease in solid waste disposal/costs.
- Following the general DEEP meeting the State DEEP director and staff members met with Mr. Clark and Mr. Rollett for discussions pertaining to Torrington’s PAYT program currently under analysis. It was brought to the attention of DEEP that recycling education for Torrington residents was crucial to the program under consideration, and that the education program had to start very soon. Mr. Clark requested information regarding grant money availability for recycling education; State officials stated that there was currently nothing available, but that they would look further into the possibility. They suggested requesting that CRRA and USA Hauling participate in an education program.
- Mr. Clark stated that he and task group partner, Ms. Carbone, would request assistance from Mr. Nocera in pursuing grant monies and also Mr. Nocera’s and Mr. Rollett’s assistance in developing an expansion of the recycling information currently on the City’s web site.
Regarding Bid/Purchasing Consolidation:
- Ms. Purcell stated that her task group is in the stages of finalizing analysis and expects to have a draft recommendation available to the BRC at the next session. She stated that it will probably suggest that purchasing specific to BOE will remain under BOE, and all other purchasing of a like nature will be handled centrally at City Hall.
Regarding Landlord Licensing/Fees:
- Ms Carbone stated that the task is ongoing.
Regarding combined purchasing among the volunteer and paid fire departments:
- Ms Carbone stated that her group was scheduled to meet on Thursday and would have a recommendation for the BRC at the next scheduled meeting.
Regarding the citywide energy audit:
- Mayor Bingham stated that the Northwest Conservation Commission will provide grant funding for an energy audit of all City buildings at no charge.
Regarding Shared Facilities Equipment:
Mr. Traub stated that he is working with the City Equipment Maintenance department to perform deeper equipment utilization and assignment analysis, and intends to meet with union leaders as required in the near future. The task is ongoing.
4) Under Other Business:
- Mayor Bingham stated that cooperative purchasing/sharing of equipment among neighboring communities is under analysis and appears promising. He also stated that the possibility of a regional animal pound operation was under review.
5) Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 5:25 PM on a motion from Mr. Clark, seconded by Ms Carbone and approved by the commission.
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