Committee of the Whole

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - AGENDA City Municipal Building | Council Chambers 295 Meridian Street, Groton, CT 06340 Monday, August 26, 2024 | 6:00 PM COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - AGENDA Mayor Keith Hedrick, Deputy Mayor Gweneviere Depot, Councilor Erin Artale, Councilor Paul Norris, Councilor Tony Patterson, Councilor Christine Piazza and Councilor Stephen Sheffield and City Clerk Dani Baycura The following minutes meet all requirements under CT FOIA for public meetings and is not a transcript of the meeting. Please visit Groton Municipal Television on YouTube to view the meeting in further detail. Mayor Hedrick called the meeting to order at 6:01pm. I. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Hedrick, Deputy Mayor Depot, Councilor Artale, Councilor Sheffield, Councilor Norris and Councilor Patterson (via Zoom at 6:03pm). Excused: Councilor Piazza. II. NEW BUSINESS OR REFERRALS A. Board of Ethics Application Application to serve on the Board of Ethics was received by Margaret Robertson. Deputy Mayor Depot thanked Ms. Robertson for her interest in serving and stated based on resume, she believed her to be a reasonable candidate for the position. Councilor Sheffield also gave his appreciation for the applicant’s interest and inquired as to the longevity of residency in the City. Ms. Robertson replied she has been a resident since 1986. Motion to move to Mayor and Council meeting 9/3/24: Deputy Mayor Depot. Second: Councilor Sheffield. Motion carried. 5-0-0. B. Finance -Property Tax Refund – Pfizer Fuel Cell Director Yuhas presented a Tax Collector’s request for property tax refund in the amount of $383,469.87, for Fuel Cell Energy. The request comes after the entity engaged in litigation with the Town of Groton regarding overpayment of property taxes. Fuel Cell Energy was determined to have provided satisfactory proof that it is entitled to exemption on the assessment lists of 2016 – 2021. The amount to be paid is the City’s portion of the refund of excess payments. Motion to move to Mayor and Council meeting 9/3/24: Deputy Mayor Depot. Second: Councilor Sheffield. Motion carried. 5-0-0. C. Groton Utilities 1. Purchase 2 Boom Trucks – Altec General Manager Robarge presented request for two new service vehicles for the electric department. The request is in line with departments budgeted vehicle service and replacement plan as current trucks will be at end of life by the time the new vehicles are available, in 2.5 years. Due to the specs and availability of such vehicles, the decision was to request funding to complete the order. 1  COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - AGENDA City Municipal Building | Council Chambers 295 Meridian Street, Groton, CT 06340 Motion to move to Mayor and Council meeting 9/3/24: Deputy Mayor Depot. Second: Councilor Sheffield. Motion carried. 5-0-0. 2. Annual Report FY24 Informative review only. Director Yuhas stated he would provide Council a more thorough financial update at the next Committee of the Whole meeting. D. Police Department 1. Semi-Annual Software Support – Tritech Chief Burton presented request for continued software support from Tritech Software Systems for mandatory records management. Newly approved technology transfer to Nexgen, will not be ready in time. Both systems will overlap for a time ensuring continuity during the mitigation process. Tritech does not offer month to month however, so this will be a six-month extension of records management service. Deputy Mayor Depot inquired how this will affect the budget. To which Chief Burton responded it would not at all as the department was prepared for this expense and as such is reflected in the budget. Motion to move to Mayor and Council meeting 9/3/24: Deputy Mayor Depot. Second: Councilor Sheffield. Motion carried. 5-0-0. 2. Purchase 2 Pursuit Vehicles – Gengras This purchase is also a budgeted expense and would replace two 2016 vehicles. Chief Burton has implemented a 5-year fleet management plan that would see all vehicles within a three-year warranty period ultimately reducing high repair costs. Councilor Sheffield asked if there would be a trade-in. Chief responded the pushed-out vehicles, from 2006 and 2008, would go to City auction. Motion to move to Mayor and Council meeting 9/3/24: Deputy Mayor Depot. Second: Councilor Sheffield. Motion carried. 5-0-0. E. Ordinance 1. In Line of Duty Declarant: Police and Fire Personnel Mayor Hedrick explained circumstances regarding how this came to be a proposed ordinance. Per Public Act 24-16 commencing October 1, 2024, the appropriate Chief will have authority to declare a line of duty death in the event the first responder passes from a cardiac event, stroke or pulmonary embolism. The act requires an ordinance be in place by October 1, 2024, if municipalities now or ever, wish to appoint an alternative authority to make such declaration. Chief Tompkins spoke against the ordinance stating Chiefs are the experts and if this decision were to rest on the Mayor, future Mayor’s could be politically influenced to declare one way or another. 2  COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - AGENDA City Municipal Building | Council Chambers 295 Meridian Street, Groton, CT 06340 Deputy Mayor Depot asked for clarification on the wording, would each party listed get a vote? It was explained the City Attorney, licensed medical professional and each Chief would be consulted and their opinions would be considered, however the Mayor makes the final declaration. Director Yuhas stated the ordinance is an effort to make a consistent policy which both departments would follow. Chief Burton explained briefly what his and Chief Tompkins’ procedure would be and that the resulting evidence would be critically looked at but from the insight of a fellow first responder. Chief Burton was in favor of a committee approach involving the Mayor but in a majority consensus format. Chief Burton requested the ordinance be reviewed within 6 months and asked that be written within the ordinance. This was agreed by Mayor and Council. Councilor Sheffield where the union plays in and if the head of the union has a say. Chief Tompkins responded no per the law unions do not have a say in line of duty deaths. However, this public act was lobbied for by the unions and would be against this ordinance. Deputy Mayor Depot asked why the rush to Council since this Public Act was voted for in May. She expressed frustration at not having enough time to thoroughly consider this and asked the Mayor if a procedure was going to be put in place after each legislative session so things like this are not rushed through. Mayor Hedrick replied he has in past relied on the local representatives supplying such information but a regular post session briefing from representatives will be requested going forward. Further discussion ensued, please visit Groton Municipal Television on YouTube to view the meeting in full. Motion to move to Mayor and Council meeting 9/3/24: Councilor Sheffield. Second: Deputy Mayor Depot. Motion carried. 5-0-0. III. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn: Deputy Mayor Depot. Second: Councilor Sheffield. Motion carried. 5-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:36pm. ATTEST: APPROVED: Dani Baycura City Clerk 3