General Counsel Commission

MINUTES GENERAL COUNSEL COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING OF JANUARY 23, 2024 Present: Council Member Blackwell, Council Member Nocera, and Council Member Salafia, Council Member Sweeney, and Council Member Pulino. Staff: Deputy General Counsel, Kori Wisneski Public: Deborah Shapiro, John Mills, Marek Kozikowski, Kristen Rzasa, Chris Holden 1. Call to Order: Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. Public Comment: Chris Holden, the Director of Public Works, spoke regarding two ordinances on the agenda. The first was the historic and honorary street designation ordinance. He explained that there would be a second street sign that is different than the original street sign. Public Works is developing an application process for applicants to go through to make sure they meet all the requirements to apply. The second ordinance is an ordinance regarding park fees. Director Holden explained that his office did an evaluation of the park fees for various towns and cities with similar size. He determined that Middletown’s fees were very low at $25 and adjusted the fees to be appropriate for the cost of maintenance. The ordinance also helps providing the parks facilities to residents with an earlier reservation for residents and then non-residents could reserve after that. Vinnie Loffredo, a member of the city council, addressed the Baker Tilly update. He explained that as a member of the council, he has not received an update and wishes that if there has been material provided by Baker Tilly that all the members of the city council receive it. He also suggests that when the study is completed, that the folks doing the study complete a workshop before the city council. Council Member Loffredo also spoke on impact bargaining, that process, and expressed his concern that impact bargaining was premature at this time. Kisha Michael, the Arts & Culture Coordinator, spoke in support of ordinance 44- 11. She explained that the ordinance amendment is an attempt to lower the amount requirements for an individual to $2000 for MCA grants. All funding is required a 1 to 1 match and individuals are having a difficult time to find the support to match. Marek Kozikowski, the Director of Land Use, spoke regarding the right to farm ordinance. He explained that it was an initiative that came out of the Commission on Conservation and Agriculture. The commission drafted on ordinance based on other communities that have a similar farming opportunities. The ordinance was sent to OGC to vet and get feedback and the result is presented before the commission. Marek explained that the ordinance comes from the Connecticut General Statutes section 19A- 341, which deems certain agricultural activities that lead to certain types of odors, noises, dust, or uses of chemicals or pollution, not a nuisance. This encourages farming and advertising as a right to farm community. Deb Shapiro, the official Municipal Historian for Middletown and past Director of the Middlesex County Historical Society, spoke in favor of the honorary street naming program. She explained that this would be one of the first in Connecticut. She explained that when you go the NY you will see East 41st Street and then above it honoring someone. The program would be the same here in Middletown. She then went into detail regarding the past history in Middletown and some individuals who may be able to receive recognition through this program. John Mills, an independent scholar and Founder of a non-profit called Alex Brand Corporation, spoke in favor of the honorary street naming program. He goes into detail about Prince Mortimer, who was a slave from Middletown, and is someone he would like to see recognized here in the City. Kristen Rzasa, a commissioner of the Conservation and Agriculture Commission, asked that the right to farm ordinance be tabled. She asked for the commission to not support it because there is an ethics violation that is ongoing related to this ordinance and questions over the legality of the meeting held to vote on the ordinance. She explained that her commission has a special meeting which the ordinance is back on the agenda. 3. Approval of Minutes Council Member Salafia made a motion to approve the meeting minutes and Council Member Sweeney seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4. New Business A. Ordinance – Federal, state, or other grants (44-11) Council Member Salafia made a motion to approve the ordinance and Council Member Nocera seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. Council Member Sweeney asked what the three levels of grants are. Kisha Michael explained that grants are offered to organizations, businesses, or individuals. She explained the creation of a third tier, which would be for individuals to have access to funding of $2,000 or less. The motion was voted on and passed unanimously. B. Ordinance – Right to Farm (Ch. 228) Council Member Nocera made a motion to approve the ordinance and Council 2 Member Salafia seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. Council Member Salafia questioned if the ordinance will be back on next month’s agenda for Conservation and Agriculture Commission. Director Kozikowski explained that it is back on the agenda to provide an update regarding what occurred at this GCC meeting and to encourage commissioners to attend the council meeting, but not to review language. Attorney Wisneski explained that a proposal came to OGC and Christopher Forte reviewed it and provided his suggestions. The draft before GCC is based on 19A- 341 and is what is being presented tonight. She also explained that she is not privy to ethics complaints because they are confidential in nature at the initial stages and she is concerned that Commissioner Rzasa mentioned that in a public forum. More discussion ensued regarding needing the ordinance or not. The motion was voted on and passed unanimously. C. Ordinance – Historic and Honorary Street Designation (262-14 to 262-15) Council Member Salafia made a motion to approve the ordinance and Council Member Sweeney seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. Council Member Blackwell asked how the streets would be determined to be honorary. Attorney Wisneski explained that public works commission is working to put together an application process. Within the application, the applicant would suggest the street, who to honor, and why. It would then go through public works commission and then on to the council for final approval. More discussion ensued regarding the language that an individual must be deceased at least one year to be honored and how that would work. The motion was voted on and passed unanimously. D. Ordinance – Designation of picnic area (214-21) Council Member Nocera made a motion to approve the ordinance and Council Member Pulino seconded the motion. Discussion ensued. Council Member Nocera expressed his appreciation for the Parks and Public Works department for coming up with a reasonable plan. The motion was voted on and passed unanimously. 5. Other A. Recruitment Efforts 3  Attorney Wisneski explained that Maria Scarlett has done an amazing job of getting her name and the City of Middletown’s name out in the community. She stated that Director Richardson would provide a full list of events that she has attended in the coming days. B. Baker Tilly Update Attorney Wisneski explained that they have received the pay scale and talked to the unions regarding the pay scale. She explained that no job descriptions had been provided yet, but the consultants are drafting the jds. She explained that she also talked to counsel leadership, who was going to talk about the pay scale to their caucuses. The intent is to get the draft job descriptions without any pay information imbedded and have HR review them by department. From there, HR will sit down with the supervisors to make sure they agree with the job descriptions. Discussions with the union will follow to see where they stand because Attorney Wisneski believed this is where the last study failed. After union consideration, then it would go to council with the full report and a big presentation. More discussion ensued regarding if the employees would get to see the job descriptions at the same time they are released. C. Fair Rent Commission Update Attorney Wisneski explained that Fair Rent Commission has met twice and will be hearing complaints starting next month. The commission has finalized their bylaws and there’s a website with everything uploaded on it for public view. 6. Adjournment: Council Member Sweeney made a MOTION to adjourn and Council Member Salafia seconded the motion and the meeting adjourned. 4