Committee of the Whole

City of Groton, Connecticut City Municipal Building 295 Meridian Street Groton, CT 06340 Committee of the Whole Minutes Council Chambers Monday, January 23, 2023 6:00 PM Mayor Keith Hedrick, Deputy Mayor Gweneviere Depot, Councilor Rashaad Carter, Councilor Lisa McCabe, Councilor Paul Norris, Councilor Christine Piazza and Councilor Stephen Sheffield City Clerk Edward Jacome Mayor Keith Hedrick called the meeting to order at 6:18 p.m. I. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Keith Hedrick, Deputy Mayor Gweneviere Depot, Councilor Rashaad Carter, Councilor Lisa McCabe, Councilor Paul Norris, Councilor Christine Piazza, Councilor Stephen Sheffield, City Clerk Edward Jacome and Finance Director Ron Yuhas II. NEW BUSINESS OR REFERRALS: A. Groton Utilities: 1. Scan Optics Purchase Order Director of Utilities Ron Gaudet stated this was a purchase order to digitize thirty-six boxes of paperwork from the Water Filtration project for a total not to exceed $14,537.05. Deputy Mayor Depot inquired on why this was not budgeted and if future projects will be budgeted. Director Gaudet stated this was something recent his Executive Administrator worked on and completed. He also stated future projects to similar extents will be budgeted. There was brief discussion from the council on the urgency of this item and the future of document retention. Motion to move to Mayor and Council Meeting February 6, 2023 made by Councilor Norris, second by Deputy Mayor Depot. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 2. T1 Sales Water & Wastewater Supplies Meter Purchase Order Director Gaudet stated this is for the purchase of replacement of six, eight, and ten inch meters with associated parts, equipment, and labor to install AMR meters for Pfizer, the Montville and Mohegan sun region, and the Groton Airport in the amount not to exceed $106,836.12. Deputy Mayor Depot inquired if the current meters are at the end of service. Director Gaudet stated that the meters are at their end of life. Councilor Norris inquired on how the meters are being funded. Director Gaudet stated it will be paid from the Water Bond Fund.  2 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 Motion to move to Mayor and Council Meeting February 6, 2023 made by Councilor Norris, second by Deputy Mayor Depot. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 3. Wright Pierce Engineers Purchase Order for Construction Administration/HVAC Upgrade Project Director Gaudet stated this was a purchase for Wright Pierce Engineers to provide construction administration for the Operations Building HVAC Upgrade Project at the Wastewater Treatment Facility not to exceed $166,430.00. Motion to move to Mayor and Council Meeting February 6, 2023 made by Deputy Mayor Depot, second by Councilor Norris. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 B. Real Estate: 391 Long Hill Road Purchase General Manager of Information and Technology (IT) Sue Blanchette, General Manager of Projects and Planning Bruce Kruszewski and Project Manager Joshua Rehrig presented and asked for approval on the 391 Long Hill Road Purchase which would be used for IT space, and the price not to exceed $475,000.00. There was lengthy discussion from the council on advertisement in search of available property in the city only, the number of IT employees and both current and future space needed based on the 2019 Plan of Conservation and Development. Motion to move to Mayor and Council Meeting February 6, 2023 made by Councilor McCabe, second by Councilor Norris. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 A recess was called at 7:50pm Called back to order at 7:55pm C. Fire: Purchase Order for Turn Out Gear Fire Chief Robert Tompkins stated this is for the purchase of four sets of turnout gear not to exceed $17,120.00. Deputy Mayor Depot inquired if this was a budgeted expense and if there was a plan on replacing future gear. Chief Tompkins stated that this item is a budgeted expense. He stated that normally three sets of turnout gear are replaced yearly and with fifteen firefighters they would each have an extra pair after five years. Motion to move to Mayor and Council Meeting February 6, 2023 made by Deputy Mayor Depot, second by Councilor Norris. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 2  3 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 D. Public Works: Sweeper Repair Director of Public Works William Robarge requested approval to spend $18,606.56 to repair current 2010 sweeper. He reminded the council that in November they approved the purchase of a new sweeper. Once the new sweeper arrives it will serve as primary sweeper with the 2010 sweeper as backup. Councilor Norris inquired if this cost will be covered in the FY23 operating budget. Director Robarge confirmed that was correct. Motion to move to Mayor and Council Meeting February 6, 2023 made by Councilor Norris, second by Deputy Mayor Depot. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 E. City Budget Presentation: 1. FY24 Highway Budget Director Robarge stated the budget would have a 6.09% increase in the operating budget and an overall increase of 1.30% in the total highway budget with the capital budget. The increase in the operating budget includes administrative costs to salaries and benefits and contractual services. The highway capital budget includes mil and repaving for Beach Pond and South Prospect Road, replacement of 2005 work truck, air compressor and funding for engineering and installation of traffic counting measures. Councilor Norris inquired on percent increase for salaries and healthcare and benefits. Finance Director Ron Yuhas stated salaries had a 2.5% increase. He also stated while it is still early there is a place holder of 5% for healthcare and benefits. Motion to move to Mayor and Council Meeting February 6, 2023 made by Councilor Norris, second by Deputy Mayor Depot. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 2. FY24 Police Budget Chief of Police Eric Jenkins stated the increase based on inflation is 3.30% or $193,605.00. The bulk of these increase are related to general support which includes medical insurance, pension cost as well as vehicle maintenance and fuel cost. He also stated an additional request of $25,000 under general material and supplies for four speed signs. Councilor Norris inquired on more information from the data processing and special event line items. Chief Jenkins stated the data processing line item covers, computer leases, record management system and covered terminals. The special event line item covers submarine launches and firework events. 3  4 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2023 Motion to move to Mayor and Council Meeting February 6, 2023 made by Deputy Mayor Depot, second by Councilor Sheffield. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 III. EXECUTIVE SESSION Enter into Executive Session pursuant to CGS 1-200 (6)(B) -To discuss litigation Mayor Hedrick entertained a motion to enter into Executive Session pursuant to CGS 1-200 (6) (B) to discuss litigation and to include the Mayor and Council, Finance Director Ron Yuhas, Chief Jenkins and Captain Lieteau. Motion made by Deputy Mayor Depot, second by Councilor Norris. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 The executive session began at 8:33 p.m. The executive session ended at 8:58 p.m. IV. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn made by Councilor McCabe, second by Deputy Mayor Depot. All in favor. Motion carried. 6-0-0 Mayor Hedrick adjourned the meeting at 8:59 p.m. 4