Public Works & Facilities Commission

PUBLIC WORKS & FACILITIES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY MARCH 13, 2019 TIME: 7:00 P.M. ROOM 208 MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT Members Present: Councilman Carl. R. Chisem Councilman Sebastian Giuliano Councilman Gene Nocera Councilman Philip Pessina Absent: Councilman Thomas Serra Staff Present: William Russo, Director of Public Works Christopher M. Holden, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works Kimberly O’Rourke Recycling Program Coordinator Others: Jennifer Mahr, 99 Old Farms East Maria Holzberg, 192 Coleman Road Janine Janaki, 263 Hunting Hill Road Tisha Zawisky, 553 Ridge Road Darrell Gagnon, 888 Laurel Grove Road Marc Levin, 57 Forest Ridge Road Haddam CT 06438 Joe Hoydilla, Middletown Resident Rebecca Maclachlan, Middletown Resident Joyce, Middletown Resident Chair Chisem opened the Public Works & Facilities Commission meeting at 7:00 P.M. Chair Chisem requested a motion to approve the minutes dated February 13, 2019. Motion to approve the minutes was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. Councilman Pessina made a motion to add an additional item, 5L Fields, to the agenda, so members of the public can speak on it. The motion was seconded by Councilman Nocera and passed unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Marc Levine of 57 Forest Ridge Road Haddam, CT has come before the Public Works & Facilities Commission to seek usage of Pat Kidney Field or Palmer Field for games during the following time frame: Only on Thursdays and Saturdays May 30, 2019 to August 2, 2019. Director Russo states that he will work with Marc to get him access to the field for the dates that he is requesting. Maria Holzberg of 192 Coleman Road, Middletown National Affairs Legislation and delegate of the Garden Club. Maria introduced the members of the Garden Club that were present. One of the Garden Clubs legislative priority’s this year is Bring Your Own Bag legislation. The Garden Club has worked with the city attorney’s office to draft an ordinance to eliminate plastic bags from being passed out at a checkout counter. It would allow for paper bags, but it would require merchants to charge a 10 cent fee. The purpose is to encourage the use of reusable bags and ban single use plastic bags. Darrell Gagnon of 888 Laurel Grove member of the Middletown Resource Recycling Advisory Council is not in support of the plastic bag ban. He states that he believes that the plastic bag ban is a mistake and that “no one wants to be told what to do.” He states that single use plastic bags is an inaccurate term. He expresses in detail his beliefs on why he thinks the plastic bag ban is a mistake. Jane Harris a resident of Middletown did a test marketing at the Russell Library book sale. She traditionally hands out plastic bags with their purchase, but this month she got a donation of reusable bags from the Garden Club. She handed them out instead of the plastic bags. She got a lot of great feedback from the public. Everyone was enthusiastic after receiving the reusable bags. Joyce is a resident of Middletown and is in the support of the plastic bag ban. She owns a farm here in Middletown and often finds plastic bags in her animals feed. Joseph Hoydilla is in the support of the plastic bag ban because of the harm it causes the sea life. Rebecca Maclachlan of 35 Clover Street is in support of the plastic bag ban. She is not in support of the artificial turf. She believes the field should not be built for health reasons. She talks about the proposed legislation bill 5249 that prohibits the purchase or use of artificial turf by the state and municipalities because of the tremendous controversy surrounding the potential danger that synthetic fields can pose. Janine Janaki of 263 Hunting Hill Avenue is in support of the plastic bag ban. She read a quote from George Bernard Shaw. Tisha Zawisky of 553 Ridge road is not in support of the artificial turf. She states that she agrees with Rebecca Maclachlan’s comments about the health issues that the artificial turf pose. She wants to point out that the lease Middletown Youth Soccer does not indicate anything about installing synthetic playing fields that would require pesticides, herbicides and fungicides for maintenance. That in fact it violates town ordinance on the use of these agents. Jennifer Mahr of 99 Old Farms East speaking as the chair of Old Farms resident Association, she is here with two questions concerning the Country Club Field from her organization. First question If we look at the proposed language of the new ordinance for field use Country Club is listed as a field that is governed by the new policy. How can this be if the field is leased to Middletown Youth Soccer which is a private organization? The second question If the lease requires Middletown Youth Soccer to pay its shares of improvements, can we see what the share is? Can there be an explanation of what Middletown Youth Soccer is responsible for. CORRESPONDENCE: Letter regarding plans proposed by Middletown Youth Soccer for Artificial Turf installation on City public land- The office of General Counsel instructed the Public Works & Facilities Commission not to discuss this matter at this meeting. It will be on the next General Counsel meeting agenda. Director Russo did want to go on record and state that Park Bonds is not committing one cent into the Youth Soccer Turf Investment. Director Russo also goes on to state that the Youth Soccer is funding 100 percent and the City of Middletown is not funding any part of this project. NEW BUSINESS: a. Bring your Own Bag Ordinance- Approval for the Ordinance to move to the Council. A motion was made by Councilman Nocera. The moton was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. b. Middlesex County Historical Society’s Annual Car Show- Historical Society’s annual request to use the parking lot at Palmer Field to hold the car show. A motion was made by Councilman Pessina. The motion was seconded by Councilman Nocera and approved unanimously. c. Carp Anglers Group Fishing Event- Carp Anglers request permission for about 75-100 fisherman to stay at Harbor Park past sunset. A motion was made by Councilman Nocera. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. d. Proposal for Marszalek Park- Discussion regarding reallocation of LoCIP money from Veterans Park to Marszalek Park. Director Russo request the commission to make a motion to use the $9000.00 for the study. Once Milone and Macbroom is ready with the results of the study, they will be brought in to make a presentation. A motion was made by Councilman Nocera. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. e. Acceptance of City Street-S S2008-7 Higby Rd.-Pashley Ln.- Deputy Director Chris Holden states that the street is complete and there are no issues with it. He ask that the Commission accept it as a City street. A motion was made by Councilman Pessina. The motion was seconded and by Councilman Giuliano and approved unanimously. f. Eastern States Building Officials Federation 70th Annual Education Conference- A continuing education course for Dean Lisitano. A motion was made by Councilman Giuliano. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. g. Milone and Macbroom- Proposal- Harbor Park Boardwalk Renovation – Deputy Director Chris Holden has introduced a proposal for the Harbor Park Boardwalk. Director Russo states that the Department of Public Works are in conjunction with the Department of Planning Conservation and Developing. The Commission looked it over. A motion was made by Councilman Nocera. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. h. Hemlock Place- drainage issues- Access agreement to access residential backyards to do the drain work. A motion was made by Councilman Nocera. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. i. Scoreboard- Snow School and Pat Kidney- Director Russo introduced three different proposals to the Commission. Director Russo is looking for permission to spend the $4850.00 to finish the Ed Collins scoreboard. To finish it Director Russo was asked to name the football field after Ed Collins. It is recommended that the name goes over the scoreboard. The second proposal in the amount of 23,610.00 is for Snow School. The little league came to Director Russo and expressed that they do not have any scoreboards and wanted us to install scoreboards for the two fields. They also asked for a flag pole to be installed. We are getting the flag pole separate from the scoreboard. The third proposal in the amount of 26,795.00 is for Scoreboards with timers on both basketball courts at the Pat and Kidney field. We are working with Dean Wilbourn to have the High School basketball team out there having a game every Wednesday night for approximately 6 weeks. The timer would be a remote that the league would be responsible for running during the games. A Middletown group wants to have a two on two tournament around July 13, 2019. As part of that they agreed to donate three hundred dollars to the camp fund. Councilman Pessina asked that we have Cathy add this to her recreation committee agenda. A motion was made by Councilman Nocera. A motion was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. j. Resolution- Saybrook Rd. – Resolution allows us to abandon the road and deed that property to the adjacent property owner. A motion was made by Councilman Giuliano. The motion was seconded by Councilman Pessina and approved unanimously. k. Appropriation- Bulk Waste Fund- Three bills have been paid in this year’s budget. A bill for June came in to the office in July causing the Department to pay it with this year’s budget. We are now short the funds in the Bulk Waste Fund. Amount requested is $ 115,000.00 for the bulk  waste fund. A motion was made by Councilman Pessina. The motion was seconded by Councilman Giuliano and approved unanimously. OLD BUSINESS: a. February 2019 Public Works Overtime- The Public Works & Facilities Commission reviewed their February 2019 monthly reports. Director Russo states that with the storms we are short. The actual figures will be presented to the Council at the next meeting. b. February 2019 Building Permits- The Commission reviewed their February 2019 Building Permits. Building continues to be very busy and will likely exceed the expected $500,000. If permits continue at this pace it can be anticipated to surpass that. OTHER: a. February 2019 Monthly Report- Highway Division- The Public Works & Facilities Commission reviewed their February 2019 monthly reports for the Highway Division. b. February 2019 Overtime Report-Parks Division – At this time, there was no Overtime to report for the month of February 2019 available to review for the Parks Division. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: As there was no further discussion, a motion was made to end the meeting. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The Public Works & Facilities Commission meeting adjourned.