Common Council

REGULAR COMMON COUNCIL MEETING COMMON COUNCIL CHAMBER MUNICIPAL BUILDING MONDAY, APRIL 1, 2019 7:00 P.M. AGENDA 1. Call to Order A. Pledge of Allegiance B. Clerk of the Common Council reads the Call of the Meeting and Mayor declares call a legal call and meeting a legal meeting 2. Accept/Amend the Agenda 3. Approval of Minutes: Special Meeting (Questions to Directors) of March 4, 2019 at 6:00 PM 4. Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of March 4, 2019 at 7:00 PM 5. Public Hearing on Agenda Items – Opens 6. Public Hearing on Agenda Items – Closes 7. Appointment of Deputy Director Of Water & Sewer A. Interview/Questions to candidate, Donald Fisco B. Approving the appointment of Donald Fisco as Deputy Director of Water & Sewer with compensation as UPSEU #6457, Salary Grade 17, Step 5 ($52.66), 40 hours; and that this appointment shall take effect upon adoption. 8. Mayor requests Clerk of the Common Council to read appropriation requests and certificate of Director of Finance. A. Human Resources: $15,000 -- Acct. No.1000-05000-55135-0170; appropriation to cover cost of Police Union arbitration B. Public Works: $155,000 – Acct No. 2380-22000-55410-0000-00000-0000-000; appropriation request from Bulky Waste Fund Balance to Waste Removal line item due to increased tonnage April 1, 2019 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 2 9. Old Business A. ORDINANCE No. 4-19: Amending Section 214-37 (“Field Usage and Fees”) of the Middletown Code of Ordinances to adopt field usage priorities, rental requirements, closure and restriction guidelines, general conditions of use, insurance requirements, cancellation & refund procedures, additional supervision standards, and pesticide usage guidelines for fields at Bielefield School, Donovan Park, Hubbard Romagielli, Hubbard Barone, Lawrence School, Ron McCutchen, Snow School, Smith Park, Country Club Road, Pat Kidney, Palmer Field, Moody School, Spencer School, Vinal Technical High School, and Long Hill Road (Postponed from March 4, 2019 regular meeting). B. RESOLUTION No. 15-19: Approving the rates for use of the athletic fields at Bielefield School, Donovan Park, Hubbard Romagielli, Hubbard Barone, Lawrence School, Ron McCutchen, Snow School, Smith Park, Country Club Road, Pat Kidney, Palmer Field, Moody School, Spencer School, Vinal Technical High School, and Long Hill Road Field, as approved by the Public Works & Facilities Commission, as amended by the Finance & Government Operations Commission, and as outlined in this Resolution (Postponed from March 4, 2019 regular meeting). 10. Department, Committee, Commission Reports and Grant Confirmation Approval A. City Clerk’s Certificate B. Monthly Reports -- Finance Department: Transfer Report to March 21, 2019. C. Grant Confirmation & Approval – Public Health Emergency Preparedness – State Emergency Preparedness Grant on behalf of Mass Dispensing Area 36 for exercises, equipment, supplies, and sheltering of communities: $9,696 D. Grant Confirmation & Approval – Finance Department – Local Capital Improvement Program (LOCIP): $361,271 E. Grant Confirmation & Approval – Board of Education – miscellaneous grants: $2,597,411.30 F. Grant Confirmation & Approval – Police Department – State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, High Visibility Enforcement Grant for distracted driving, especially involving hand held mobile devices: $30,000 11. Payment of all City bills when properly approved 12. New Business, Resolutions, Ordinances, etc. A. Approving that the City of Middletown shall be the Host Community and co-Sponsor of the 2019 Citizens Bank 5K Summer Fun Run event along with Citizen’s Bank, and Central Business Bureau, a Division of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce; that the City Departments of Public Works and Park and Recreation, Economic Development, Police, Fire, and Health render all such assistance and support as may be required to ensure the public health and safety of the many race participants and observers; that April 1, 2019 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 3 the costs and fees, including personnel and subsidiary expenses for the Showmobile cannot be waived; that the City of Middletown shall expend no more than $5,000 for said event without further Councilmanic approval; that the organization receiving funding from the City be requested to file a report to the City indicating the expenses and accomplishments for the City of Middletown; and that the Citizens Bank 5K Summer Fun Run is a special event, which will be subject to the provisions of Section 218-10 of the Middletown Code of Ordinances. B. Approving that the City of Middletown shall be co-sponsor of the 2019 Cruise Night on Main Street along with the Central Business Bureau, a Division of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, that this event be recognized as a special event and that Section 218-9 C of the Middletown Code of Ordinances be in effect for this event; that fees, including personnel for the Showmobile, cannot be waived; that City Departments of Public Works and Park and Recreation, Economic Development, Police, Fire, and Health render all such assistance and support as may be required to ensure the public health and safety for this event; that the City shall expend not more than $10,000 for said event without further Council approval; that the organization receiving funding from the City be requested to file a report to the City indicating the expenses and accomplishments for the City of Middletown; and that Cruise Night on Main Street is a special event, which will be subject to the provisions of Section 218- 10 of the Middletown Code of Ordinances. C. Approving that $36,000 of the Art Support Services Grant (FY 18/19) be allocated as follows for general operating support: Organization Amount Oddfellows Playhouse $10,000 The Buttonwood Tree $10,000 The Greater Middletown Concert Assoc. $ 8,000 The Greater Middletown Chorale $ 8,000 TOTAL $36,000 and that any agency receiving an Arts & Culture Office grant award must comply with the City’s matching fund ordinance. D. Approving that W. Vance Cotten, Sr. is hereby appointed to the Common Council of the City of Middletown to fill the unexpired term of Councilman Thomas J. Serra effective from the conclusion of the April 1, 2019 meeting to November 12, 2019; and that, as a Councilmember, W. Vance Cotton is appointed to the following Councilmanic Commissions and Committees: Finance & Government Operations Commission, Public Works & Facilities Commission, and Economic Development Commission. E. ORDINANCE: Amending Section 253 (“Solid Waste”) of the Middletown Code of Ordinances, adding Article IV – Plastic Bag Ban banning use of plastic bags for retail checkout of purchased goods, to require use of reusable checkout bags, encouraging retailers to make reusable bags available for sale, and allowing retail establishments to sell recyclable paper checkout bags for ten cents ($0.10) per bag; and that this Ordinance shall become effective six (6) months following date of adoption to allow April 1, 2019 COMMON COUNCIL -- REGULAR MEETING Page 4 retail establishments to dispose of inventory and convert to alternative packaging materials compliant with this Ordinance. F. Approving a revised agreement for Stubborn Beauty Brewing Company to lease an additional 8,500 square feet of space at the R. M Keating Historical Enterprise Park, 180 Johnson Street (“Keating Park”); and, that the Mayor is authorized to sign the lease agreement, subject to review by the Office of General Counsel as to content and form. G. Approving an agreement for Good Vibes Kettle Corn LLC (“GVKC)” to lease 580 square feet of space at the R. M. Keating Historical Enterprise Park, 180 Johnson Street. Building J --- 1st floor, at the rate of $4.50 per sq. ft., increasing at three percent (3.0%) per year; and that Mayor is authorized to sign the lease agreement, subject to review by the Office of General Counsel as to content and form. H. Approving that the Mayor is authorized to sign an application to the State of Connecticut Local Capital Improvement Program (LoCIP) requesting an additional $50,000 to hold additional public meetings and public outreach associated with the 10- year update of the City’s Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD) and for final printing costs associated with the revised Plan; and that a new Capital Improvement line item entitled, Planning, Conservation & Development Phase II, Account # 3560- 14000-57030-30215-2019-000, be created. I. Approving that, since the Common Council, after considering the use of only grass fields versus artificial turf fields, approved Ordinance No. 19-15, which provides for construction of only grass fields on City properties, and since such Bond Ordinance subsequently was ratified by City voters at referendum, and since the Common Council has enacted Ordinance No. 13-17, which limits pesticide applications as set forth in Connecticut General Statues Section 10-231a and 10-231b, in keeping with the spirit and intent of these laws, that the Office of General Counsel draft an Ordinance to clarify and memorialize this decision, thereby ensuring that any new athletic fields constructed on City-owned property, including replacement field surfaces, shall be limited exclusively to natural grass. 13. Mayor’s Appointments 14. Meeting Adjourned HEARING DEVICES AVAILABLE FOR USE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER K: review/ agenda/ 19 April 01 -- regular agenda – 1 April 2019