General Counsel Commission

MINUTES GENERAL COUNSEL COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING OF JUNE 13, 2024 Present: Council Member Blackwell, Council Member Nocera, and Council Member Salafia. Staff: Deputy General Counsel Kori Wisneski Public: Sandra Russo-Driska, Bobbye Knoll Peterson, Christine Marques, Emma Jean, Raymond Bagwell 1. Call to Order: Meeting was called to order at 6:32 p.m. 2. Public Comment: Sandra Russo-Driska, 84 Pearl Street, but spoke as Manager of the Downtown Business District. She spoke in regards to the raising of the parking fees and questioned why we are doing this at his time. She mentioned that the money raised by parking goes to the general fund and questioned if raising the rates is to help parking infrastructure. Sandra expressed that it would be great if when boards and commissions meet with items like this on the agenda, that the organizations that are directly impacted or affected are notified. Christine Marques spoke regarding the parking ordinance on the agenda. She explained that the changes were presented to the parking advisory committee, which has representatives from the business community and have to either own a business or live in town to be appointed. She further explained that two council members are on the committee. Christine explained that the recommendations are based on comparables from New Britain, Hartford, and West Hartford. She also explained that the revenue from parking goes to the general fund, but also the improvements come from the general fund. She mentioned that the committee actually wanted to increase the hourly rate and decided to go with $1.75. Diane Jarvey, Amatos Toy Hobby, 395 Main Street, spoke in opposition of the suggested parking fee and ticket amount changes. She expressed that implementing these changes will hurt the ability to do business and the tax base, as businesses leave or close. She mentioned that the parking department contributed $400,000 to the general fund and raising the rates would bring it so $500,000, $600,000 or $700,000, which is ridiculous. Jennifer Alexander, 110 Washington Street, is a member of the parking committee. She explained that the unanimous vote at the parking committee meeting was inaccurate because she was not in attendance and the vote was unanimous of the members that were in attendance. She expressed that this is a premature proposal that shouldn’t be voted through. She explained that this first came forward in February and she questioned it and wanted to know more about what we raise and what we spend. She requested a report regarding what parking is earning and spending, which was produced at the April meeting. The report stated that parking brought in $960,000 and spent $555,000, which forty percent of that number is the economic development. Jennifer suggested to wait another two quarters to monitor the earnings and spendings and then bring back a revenue neutral proposal that makes the behavior changes. Bobbye Knoll Peterson first spoke to how eloquently Director Marques spoke on the thought behind that parking ordinance change. She then spoke regarding the noise ordinance, specifically as it will affect the proposed music venue. She expressed that the concert venue has real potential to bring people to our downtown and she fully supports what is being proposed and hopes that the commission will approve an exemption from the noise ordinance on the weekends until midnight. 3. Approval of Minutes Council Member Nocera made a motion to approve the meeting minutes and Council Member Salafia seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4. New Business A. Ordinance – Noise Ordinance (206-3) Attorney Wisneski introduced the ordinance. She explained that this has gone through the commission previously and also went to council and was referred back at that level. Council Member Blackwell called Attorney Wisneski to discuss the proposed changes, in light of what was discussed at the council level. Noise generated by lawn care is being proposed from 7am to 8pm, instead of 9pm. Under subsection T, the exception that is being proposed for noise generated on properties known as 245 deKoven Drive, 80 Harbor Drive and River Road is 11pm Sunday through Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday. This was suggested by the individuals who will run the venue. Attorney Wisneski further explained that Public Works requested to have a noise exception for recycling purposes from 4am to 8pm, based on their needs. Discussion ensued regarding punctuation in the ordinance. Council Member Blackwell mentioned that she did research to get an idea of what other towns are doing with respect to their noise ordinance and Simsbury and Groton are 10pm and New Haven is 11pm week nights and midnight weekends. More discussion ensued regarding time proposals. Council Member Salafia made a motion to change subsection I from 7am to 8pm as opposed to 9pm and Council Member Nocera seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Council Member Blackwell made a motion to add a 7am to 8pm time from to subsection L and Council Member Salafia seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 2  Council Member Salafia made a motion to remove “pursuant to the lease of the property by the City of Middletown to NHCPA Riverbend, LLC for use of the properties as an outdoor music venue” in subsection T and Council Member Nocera seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Council Member Nocera made a motion to embed the times from until 11pm Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday and Council Member Salafia seconded the motion. The motion passed with 2 ayes (Nocera and Salafia) and 1 nay (Blackwell). Council Member Nocera made a motion to embed a 4am to 8pm timeframe for all recycling and other solid waste collection under subsection U and Council Member Salafia seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Council Member Nocera made a motion to approve the ordinance with the recommended changes and Council Member Salafia seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Ordinance – Parking Ordinance (285-17, 285-20 and 285-21) Attorney Wisneski introduced the ordinance. She explained that this ordinance came to her office through the parking division and had been reviewed by the parking commission. She further explained that the rates changes are in red line format and additional changes with respect to enforcement are highlighted. She also mentioned that the state legislature has changed the enforcement piece for people in handicap parking, which is up from $150 to $250 and we ticket pursuant to the state mandated rate. Council Member Nocera expressed concern in the significant jump on rates and thinks it should go back for review by the parking authority. Council Member Salafia expressed that she would like to simply kill the ordinance instead of sending it back. Council Member Blackwell expressed that she requested the minutes from the May 14 meeting and there was a council member in attendance with other business owners. She also requested documentation of the revenue from the last six months to be provided to the GCC commission. Discussion ensued regarding the rate change. Council Member Nocera made a motion to send this draft ordinance back to the parking committee to spell out the specific areas GCC wants the committee to address and Council Member Salafia seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 5. Other A. Recruitment Efforts Attorney Wisneski explained that she forwarded the commissioners the excel spreadsheet of recruitment efforts. Attorney Wisneski explained that Maria is working with Faith Jackson on the Juneteenth event. Attorney Wisneski mentioned that if any had 3 any suggestions on upcoming events, to let HR know. B. Baker Tilly Update Attorney Wisneski gave an update on Baker Tilly. She explained that Director Richardson is working on it and scheduling meetings with department heads on the next phase and the intent is to get it to the council members as soon as possible after review with the unions. 6. Adjournment: Council Member Nocera made a MOTION to adjourn and Council Member Salafia seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously at 7:40 p.m. 4