Common Council

COMMON COUNCIL MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT SPECIAL MEETING QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 6:00PM MINUTES A Special Meeting of the Common Council of the City of Middletown, Questions to Directors Workshop, was held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, beginning at 6:00 PM. This meeting was a hybrid meeting with in-person participation in the Common Council Chamber and remote access via WebEx. The meeting was also simultaneously livestreamed on local cable access television, on the City’s webpage, and on the City’s Facebook page. Present: Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell Councilman Anthony Mangiafico Councilwoman Grady Faulkner, Jr. Councilman Michael A. Marino Councilman Darnell Ford Councilman Edward McKeon Councilman Anthony Gennaro, Sr. Councilman Eugene Nocera Councilman Vincent Loffredo Councilman Philip Pessina Councilwoman Linda Salafia Hon. Benjamin Florsheim, Mayor Linda Reed, Clerk of the Common Council Sgt. DiMassa, Middletown Police - Sergeant-at-Arms Absent: Councilwoman Meghan Carta Also, Present: Arts & Culture – Kisha Michael, Coordinator Central Communications – Wayne Bartolotta, Directors City/Town Clerk – Ashley Flynn-Natale Economic & Community Development – Christine Marques, Director Equal Opportunity & Diversity Management – Faith Jackson, Director Finance – Carl Erlacher, CPA Fire Department – John Woron, Fire Chief General Counsel – Brig Smith, Esq. Health – Kevin Elak, Director Library – Ramona Burkey, Director Police Department – Eric Costa, Police Chief; Sgt. DiMassa, Sergeant-at-Arms Public Works – Christopher Holden, PE, Director Recreation -- Cathy Lechowicz, Director Water & Sewer – Joseph Fazzino, Director Youth Services, Justin Carbonella Absent: Assessor -- Damon Braasch, CCMA II Human Resources Division – Justin Richardson, Division Director Land Use – Marek Kozikowski, AICP Technology Services – Brianna Skowera, Director 1. Call to Order The Chair calls the meeting to order at 6:03 PM. He welcomes everyone to the Common Council’s Special Meeting, the Questions to Directors Workshop. A. Pledge of Allegiance The Chair asks everyone to join him reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. B. Council Clerk Reads the Call of the Meeting and Mayor declares call a legal call and meeting a legal meeting The Clerk of the Common Council reads the Call of the Meeting and the Chair declares the call a legal call and the meeting a legal meeting.  September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 2 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS 2. Questions to Directors Workshop Opens The Chair opens the Questions to Directors session at 6:05 PM. He notes that the last 20 minutes of this workshop will be dedicated to a presentation on the community mosaic project, which will be under the purview of the Public Works Department. There will be opportunity and discussion on that project beginning at 6:40 PM. The Chair calls on Councilman Edward McKeon. Councilman Edward McKeon calls on the Economic & Community Development (ECD) Director Christine Marques. He prefaces his questions by stating that he know it is a little unfair, so she can reach out, phone a friend. He asks for a brief presentation on the question on tonight’s’ agenda regarding the boathouse referendum. He adds that former Councilman Gerry Daley is here, as well, as the Committee chair, so he may be able to help. ECD Director Christine Marques explains that they are proposing a boathouse next to the existing boathouse. It is up for referendum with an estimated costs of $13.5M. The estimate was prepared by the design professional: the architect and the structural engineer. There is a 10% contingency for unforeseen circumstances as well 7% -- actually 8% -- for inflation costs. Councilman McKeon asks if they may get a sense form the Chairman how long this project has been in the works, why it is important, and why it is coming before the Council now. Boathouse Committee Chair Gerald Daley states that he will start and bring up some of the professionals as they proceed. This includes Lori DiBattisto of DiBattisto Associates, the structural engineer working with them, and Christina Wash, the architect working on these plans. In front of you is a power point presentation to give some of the highlights. Mr. Daley explains that this PowerPoint presentation provides highlights of the crew program September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 3 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Middletown High crew began in 1971. The boathouse was built in 1978. The team has a long and proud tradition of excellence and success, including an Olympic medalist. There are boys and girls teams, but they practice as one team. They go to a number of regattas and championships. This year they won the championship that is referenced. It is a successful program and has been for some time. They have had as many as 100 to 120 students participate on teams. Middletown crew is an American Rows program. It is a program of US Rowing, launching in 2010 as a rowing diversity initiative. It is focused on trying to promote healthy lifestyles for middle school and high school students and to concentrate on highlighting that advantages of rowing to the under advantaged, to people with disabilities, and people of all ages and socioeconomic circumstances. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 4 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS The other group that benefits from development of a boathouse is Central Connecticut Rowing, a non-profit 501(C)(3) rowing club based in Middletown, their mission is to promote rowing and growth of the community in the City and throughout the State. They hope to expand through this project. One important point, which is not a criticism of the high school, is that the rowing program is s not at the same location as the high school project. The crew team is one of the only programs that did not benefit from the building of the new high school. That got people thinking that it might be time for a new boathouse. The facility is substandard. There is no heat. There is no access to those with disabilities. They share the building with Central Connecticut Rowing does not provide enough space for the current number of participants in both programs. The high school and community rowing programs are both growing and need this boathouse for additional space. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 5 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS For schools, the rowing program makes for a more attractive school district here in Central Connecticut, Crew helps kids get into college and increases scholarship funds. Middletown has a special focus on its diversity program to recruit students of all backgrounds and is recognized as an American Rows program. For the community, the adult recreation programs cannot accommodate all of the adults, who want to participate. Consequently, some go to other towns to grow their programs or simply store their shells. Separating the community rowers and high school repowers gives each its own space and is more in line with current safety standards. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 6 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Mr. Daley states that, while he is not a rower, but it is economic development, in line with the City’s riverfront plan. It has economic development potential. It meets the goal creating small and varied attractions in the area as recommended by the Project for Public Spaces. It increases the poetical of restoring the regatta – the head of the Connecticut Regatta – which many of us remember form the 1970s and 1980s. This would benefit the Tate’s project, bringing people in to enjoy the riverfront. The design fits in with the boathouse and Tate’s with classic New England architecture, highlighting out heritage as a riverfront town. Cost estimates were prepared this summer, so the estimates are current. They feel that the budget is realistic and has co sufficient contingency and cost escalation factors. The Clerk of the Works and project management is included, including cost overruns. An important point, a specific project ice this limits spending to what is provided in the bond, They simply cannot spend any more than what voters approve. They have to get the project done within that budget. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 7 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS The plan is for a working riverfront building, but not a palace. It is an adequate facility for the program. Part of the cost is related to the complexity of the site, including the storm sewer adjacent to the site. It needs to be relocated whether this is built or not. I will take care of problems on the riverfront that needs to be addressed whether or not this project goes forward. It includes modest upgrades to the existing boathouse to be used by the community rowing program, Delays would increase costs and require that the estimates be redone. The building committee has met for 7 years. Part of the work has been to address the brownfields reclamation and other funding to get the project to this point so that the boathouse could move forward. The site plan shows what the project will look like when the project is completed. The white block is the new boathouse. Next to that in brown is the existing boathouse. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 8 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 9 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS The synopsis provided offers a history of the project. It is important to document all that has gone on. It stated with a $2.6M Urban Act grant awarded in 2015 to the City. It was for per-development riverfront activity to advance development of a boathouse. They have put that $2.6M from the State to clean up the area at Columbus Point near the boathouse. It was predicated on the fact that a boathouse would be developed. Also, it is important to note that the Return to the Riverfront initiative includes plans for a new boathouse. They first hires Tighe & Bond and AIC Architects of Boston to come up with a remediation plan as a preliminary concept. After that work was done, it was determined by City leaders that it was too grand a plan, The building committee was asked to scale back and develop a plan to support the high school team and the community rowing program, which is how we got to where we are today. It was funded and completed the 40% design. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 10 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS They propose a 12,000 sq. ft. building with bays for boat storage and a special area to repair boats, the latter space to be shared with Connecticut Rowing. The 2nd floor would be a multi-purpose space. It would be used for workouts as well as community events. It would also include expanded locker rooms and bathrooms, which are sorely needed. It would also include modest renovations to improve access to the existing boathouse. With the extra space, the City and Connecticut Rowing would be able to look at expanding opportunities to include a middle schools program. Mr. Daley invites Christine to address the Common Council. Councilwoman Jeannette Blackwell calls a point of order. She notes that this is the Questions to Directors session so she did not anticipate a workshop taking this amount of time. She has questions for directors. While this is really important and the public needs to hear about it, she has other questions The Chair states that it is now 6:19 PM. If appropriate, perhaps we can entertain questions to other directors He imagines that people will stay, If it is workable for his colleagues, can they resume this presentation during the regular meeting when we get to that agenda item. Councilwoman Blackwell replies that, is they want to get through their presentation, her concerns is that directors be here for the 7PM Council meeting. Mr. Daley replies that they can move through the presentation quickly. The chair asks that they wrap up the presentation quickly so they can go into the regular questions to directors session. If there are further questions, they can address them during the regular meeting Multiple speakers (inaudible) Christina Wash (Middletown): She started rowing at the old Canoe Club. She is now on the board of CCR (Connecticut Rowing Club) and is thrilled to see this project come this far. They next slides are rendering sf the boathouse from different angles. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 11 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 12 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS This is the multi-purpose room, which would be used for exercise as well as community events. This is the 1st floor plan, showing the bays on the right as well as the circulation core and coach office and the middle bay. The shared repair bay is on the left for the high school and the club. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 13 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS On the 2nd floor right to left, it’s the multi-purpose room. The triangles show (inaudible). There is room for weights. Partitions can be moved to create an open space with lots of windows that look back towards the City. The middle bay is the circulation core with an elevator and stairs to get up high with the boat storage. On the left are the restrooms, locker rooms, and mechanical spaces. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 14 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS These are the font, rear, and side elevations, which face the existing boathouse and Canoe Club/Tate’s. This is the new boathouse site plan. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 15 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS It also shows that they are taking up a little of the existing parking with the building. There will be more parking when Harbor Drive is dead-ended and Route 9 is reconfigured. They are confident that, with all working together, there will be even more parking available that currently. This is a drone shot. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 16 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 17 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 18 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Mr. Daley concludes, stating that this is the budget information. The Chair calls on Councilman Eugene Nocera followed by Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell. Councilman Eugene Nocera states that if they can provide a written explanation. He thanks the committee for their work, sorely needed. When they renovated the boardwalks, the sidewalk, the guardrail, the benches, the also did brownfield work near Sumner Creek, they are now doing the work on Tate’s Restaurant, soon to be a reality. There was no information how they would address the floodplain issue. It is a substantial issue that need responses. Mr. Daley replies that they have worked with Tighe & Bond. Councilman Nocera interjects, stating that rather than providing an explanation now, as they are pressed for time, they would appreciate a written explanation later. Alternatively, they can talk about it later. Mr. Daley replies that they do know that they have to comply with Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA requirements. Councilman Nocera asks if they have done that. Mr. Daley replies that the design is not finished, noting that it is a 40% design. That will be in the next step. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 19 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS The Chair calls on Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell. Lori DiBattista, the structural engineer, states that they have been working with Tighe & Bond on the parameters. The building will be lifted above the flood plain. Any flooding will flow through the repair bay area, which is allowed. The structure will be designed to do that. They are compliant with FEMA and will be working with the Army Corps of Engineers. Councilwoman Jeanette Blackwell states that the Economic Development Commission did discuss this. Another area that she would like to discuss quickly is the 10% contingency. She asks if Mr. Daley of ECD Director Marques can discuss and to how they arrived at $13.5M. Mr. Daley replies that it is 10% of the construction cost, which is the customary amount. As he recalls, as discussed at EDC, the question was whether this would be adequate. On top of the 10% contingency, there is a 4% escalator for each of the 2- years. They really have between 17-18% contingency. They erred on the side of estimating this adequately. They did not try to skinny down the numbers. They hope to bring this in for less than what is requested. Any funds that are not used will be returned. Councilwoman Blackwell asks Director Marques to speak to this. ECD Director Marques replies that there is a 10% contingency for any unforeseen conditions. When you do the math, in addition to that is 7-8% for inflation. In her experience, that is a very good number for contingency, Projects that she has worked on this is rare to see. She is very confident in this estimate, especially in the area they are building in: the floodplain and reclaimed land. It is not virgin land. There are brownfield factors and other activates, suggesting it has been developed for 400 years in some form. He is confident in the 18% contingency. Mr., Daley adds that he is happy that they did factor in project management and clerk of the works. Both are factored into this budget, which will help assure that they avoid costs overruns. The Chair calls on Councilman Vincent Loffredo. Councilman Vincent Loffredo asks for someone to come to the podium to speak to the proposed ordinance. He asks who is available to address this boathouse ordinance, the bond ordinance. The Chair asks if either the Director of Finance or General Counsel is present to address the proposed ordinance. Finance Director Carl Erlacher states that he does not have much to add, noting that it was drafted by outside bond counsel. Councilman Loffredo states that the draft language starting with Section 3, going forward to Section 8, the City Treasurer is mentioned in this ordinance. The City Treasurer position is eliminated as of November. If approved, this language represents that there is a City Treasurer. It seems out of order. We need to have that language removed since the position will not exist. Finance Director Erlacher replies. “That is correct,” noting it is in existence now, but will not be in place after the November election. Councilman Loffredo reiterates that his is November ordinance on the November ballot. The Office of Treasurer is not on the ballot. He wants to also draw attention to the question in Section 11. He reads Section 11 of the proposed bond ordinance, suggesting a text change: The Mayor, the City Treasurer, Director of Finance and any other proper City official are each hereby authorized to apply for and accept any available State or Federal grant in aid of the financing of the Project, and to take all action necessary or proper in connection therewith. He recommends that “City Treasurer” be deleted from this language and replaced by the appropriate City post, adding that it is not really the Mayor, who has sole responsibility, but the Mayor and other appropriate officials. He asks City Attorney Brig Smith, who was involved in Charter revision, to address this question: in light of the elimination of the City Treasurer position, in looking at this ordinance, how do we ensure that it is proper order, if approved by the voters. Attorney Smith states that he is now just looking at the language. Councilman Loffredo states that, looking at Section 3, he notes that beginning from Section 3 until Section 11, it refers to the mayor and the Finance Director. When we get to Section 11, it refers to the Mayor, City Treasurer, and Director of Finance. With the elimination of the City Treasurer, it would be inappropriate to have just the Mayor. We would also need to have the Finance Director and any other appropriate City official. He adds that, unless you recall that the responsibility formerly held by the City Treasurer was voted through Charter revision to be housed where. Attorney Smith states that he needs a few minutes. The Chair interjects saying that he is not quoting that Charter, but he recalls that the responsibilities at stake here – the authorization of bonding after the sale – would be executed by the Mayor and Finance Department  September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 20 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Attorney Smith states that he has the answer. Councilman Loffredo states that the language being suggested is to remove the City Treasurer in the various sections to be sure it refers to the Finance Director and to be sure that it carries over. Section 11 where it says “the Mayor, the City Treasurer, Director of Finance and any other proper City official,” we would eliminate the phrase “City Treasurer.” Attorney Smith states that the Charter provides: Termination of the Office of the City Treasurer. The position of City Treasurer shall be terminated at 11:59:59 P.M. on the Monday following the certification of election of November 2023. All references to the elected City Treasurer shall be deleted from this Charter thereafter and the duties of a treasurer shall be assigned to other officials of the City. Councilman Loffredo state that there is a direct reference to the Director of Finance. He states that he will offer that amendment when they get to the ordinance. He asks that Attorney Smith look at that language so that when they get to that point in the meeting he may recommend how to properly represent this language. Attorney Smith asks, to clarify, if Councilman Loffredo is looking for verbiage to change the two (2) positions, so where it says Mayor and City Treasurer . . . Councilman Loffredo continues, saying he suggests replacing City Treasurer with “Finance Director and other appropriate officials”. Attorney Smiths states “and any other officials” is copacetic as it is. Councilman Loffredo reiterates that he suggests that it be included because the Charter represents the facts that it will be carried on by other facts, not simply the Director of Finance. He asks Attorney Smith to look at the language before that get to that item on the regular meeting agenda. Thank you. The Chair calls on Councilman Eugene Nocera, noting that they have three (3) minutes left. Councilman Eugene Nocera asks Library Director Ramona Burkey to the podium. He notes that, on tonight’s agenda, there is an appropriation request for an additional $200K to move to Phase 2 of the Library/City Hall Feasibility Study Committee. He asks of an update. Library Director Burkey states that they are in the waning days of using the original appropriation for the first phase of the feasibility study, not just to look at the future of the library, but also City Hall. That committee was constituted over the winter and has been meeting since March, They spent the bulk of their initial meetings working on City Hall feasibility with the thought that, if there is a place to site a combined City Hall/Library project. That is not in the cards. There isn’t anything large enough to accommodate such a campus, particularly downtown. For the past few months, they have been doing some though exercises as to what a new library might look like on a new site, most of which are theoretical sites in the downtown area with one exception, they are typically include the current library site. What needs to happen now, rather than look at them conceptually as to what they might actually look like for the future of the library and narrow it down to a final site, final options, and go to the voters with that. The library is in dire need of mechanical repairs. They are starting to make expensive band aid repairs. If we don’t want to continue to do that, we need to make a long-term plan. This $200K will hopefully get us there. She is accompanied tonight by Brandie Doyle the Assistant Director of Administrative Services, noting that she did the building grant application to the State for Community Investment Funding, which may reimburse the City for this appropriation. Councilman Nocera notes that at Finance & Government Operations Commission (F&G) meeting, they asked Finance Director Erlacher if it is possible to, rather than take revenue from the General Fund, take it out of the infrastructure bond. The answer was vague, but the Director was to look into int. He does not believe it is possible and asks Director Erlacher if that is correct. Finance Director Erlacher replies it is yes and no. If they do receive the grant, they could reimburse the General Fund. If not, then we could take it from the bond. Right now, at this point in the new fiscal year, we have not had an appropriation, so we are in good shape. The Char calls on Councilman Vincent Loffredo. Councilman Vincent Loffredo states that he has questions for other director, but has not had an opportunity to call on them. He asks that directors stay. He will hold his questions for later. (Inaudible) Library Assistant Director of Administrative Services Doyle states that, if they receive the grant it will be for $250K, the standard amount for a planning grant. 3. Questions to Directors Workshop Closes There being no further available time, Questions to Directors closes at 6:43 PM. 4. Presentation (6:40 PM): Proposed Large Scale Community Mosaic Project -- Harbor Park Tunnel (Public Works Director Christopher Holden) September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 21 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS Public Works Director Christopher Holden states that they are very excited about this project, noting that the artist, Kate Ten Eyke is here tonight. She is spearheading this project. He wants to explain the resolution, it is to provide approval for the artwork in the tunnel and authorizing about $15K for Public Works to do improvements in the tunnel to prevent weathering of the artwork and additional lighting and whatever they need to do for the walls. It is not requesting $500K. Part of the funding is in place: $100K from the Downtown Business District with ARPA money. The title is Mosaics on Main, Tunnel Vision. Kate Ten Eyke offer the following presentation. The project was born last year. It will be a historical project. She is an Art Professor at Wesley. She describes the history of the river. The proposal is to change the ugly tunnel walls to something with color, texture, movement, and history. She describes the changing history to be depicted in the tunnel mosaic. What they need form the City is assistance with the space. They cannot have water leaks so there needs to be a drip edge as well as better light, glowing light. She believes that reject will be funded through grants and private funding. Wesleyan grants office has agreed to go after some grant money in conjunction with the City, suggesting the National Foundation for the Arts grants could yield up to $150K. Being able to apply for any grants requires that the City sign on to the project. . Councilman Eugene Nocera notes that arts community is already involved through the Middletown Commission on the Arts. September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 22 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 23 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 24 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 25 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 26 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 27 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 28 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 29 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 30 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 31 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 32 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS  September 5, 2023 COMMON COUNCIL – SPECIAL MEETING Page 33 QUESTIONS TO DIRECTORS 5. Meeting adjourned There being no further questions, Councilwoman Linda Salafia moves to adjourn. Councilman Grady Faulkner Jr, seconds the motion. There being no discussion, the Chair calls for a voice vote. The motion to adjourn is unanimously approved by a vote of 11 to 0 (AYES: Councilmembers Blackwell, Faulkner, Ford, Gennaro, Loffredo, Mangiafico, Marino, McKeon, Nocera, Pessina, and Salafia’ ABSENT: Councilwoman Carta). The matter is approved. The meeting is adjourned at 6:59 PM. ATTEST: LINDA S.K. REED, COMMON COUNCIL CLERK K: review/minutes/ 2023 Sept 05 – Ques to Directors – 5 Sept 2023