Committee of the Whole

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - AGENDA City Municipal Building | Council Chambers 295 Meridian Street, Groton, CT 06340 Monday, January 13, 2025 | 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 Piazza, Councilor Sheffield, and Councilor Norris. Excused: Councilor Artale and Councilor Patterson. II. NEW BUSINESS OR REFERRALS A. Senator Somers and Representative Bumgardner 1. Upcoming Legislative Session The meeting was primarily about discussing the upcoming legislative session and the various committees the speakers are part of. Senator Summers and Representative Bumgardner discussed their roles in the session, with Summers being the senior deputy leader in the Republican caucus and Bumgardner serving on four legislative committees. They also discussed the focus of the session, with housing being a major priority. The speakers also addressed concerns about the cost of building residential homes and the issue of affordable housing. They discussed potential solutions, such as adjusting the ratio of journeymen to apprentices and reducing property tax on affordable housing units. The conversation ended with a discussion about the need to protect tenants from predatory landlords and the importance of affordable education. Mayor Hedrick to send Senator Somers information about the needed funding for the Shore Avenue Seawall project cost overrun. Senator Somers to send Mayor Hedrick information about lead remediation programs from the Department of Public Health website. B. Police Department 1. Bulletproof Vests Chief Burton requested funding to match the grant awarded to the police department for the purchase of four new bulletproof vests; each of which cost approximately $800. 1  COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - AGENDA City Municipal Building | Council Chambers 295 Meridian Street, Groton, CT 06340 The grant would match up to 50% of a total cost of $3,400. The life expectancy for each vest is 5 years. Motion to move to Mayor and Council meeting January 21, 2025: Deputy Mayor Depot. Second: Councilor Piazza. Motion carried, 4-0-0. C. Groton Utilities 1. Transformer Repair General Manager Robarge requested approval of a purchase order in the amount of $351,894 to refurbish a transformer at the Buddington sub station. Current transformer is leaking oil, nearly 7,000 gallons. Restoring unit to operable condition. Manufactured in 1970. Last refurbished in 1984. Refurbishing usually every 30 years adequately maintains unit. An entirely new transformer is almost 6 million dollars. Motion to move to Mayor and Council meeting January 21, 2025: Deputy Mayor Depot. Second: Councilor Sheffield. Motion carried, 4-0-0. 2. Fleet Vehicle Purchases Manager of Operations Ducette stated need for replacing three older vehicles with new Ford trucks better suited for hauling heavy equipment, adding features like 4-wheel drive, snow plows, and stainless steel beds. The purchases aim to maintain reliable utility operations expected by residents. Motion to move to Mayor and Council meeting January 21, 2025: Deputy Mayor Depot. Second: Councilor Piazza. Motion carried, 4-0-0. III. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn: Councilor Piazza. Second: Deputy Mayor Depot. Motion carried, 4-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:08pm. ATTEST: APPROVED: Dani Baycura City Clerk 2 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - AGENDA City Municipal Building | Council Chambers 295 Meridian Street, Groton, CT 06340 3