Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES APRIL 2, 2019 1. Mayor “Pete” Hess called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: PRESS: L. Taf Jackson D. Hoff M. Araujo M. Bronko R. Neth L. Marshall R. Burns, absent R. Vitale J. DeOliveira D. Wisniewski, absent RESIDENTS: C. Herb None DEPARTMENT HEADS: J. Goggin, Tax Collector A. Bruce, Controller J. Stewart, Public Works Director S. Hunt, Chief of Police J. Lawlor, Human Resources Director OTHERS: S. Ribeiro, Assistant to the Public Works Director Attorney E. Fitzpatrick A. Burkitt, Advanced Energy Efficiencies D. Sheridan, Finance Board Attorney G. Hale, Advanced Energy Efficiencies J. Litke, Board of Education 2. Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the minutes of the regular meeting of March 5, 2019. Each member received copies for review. 4. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the monthly reports of March. Each member received copies for review. 5. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth to recess to Executive Session at 6:00 p.m. for discussion on the following: Real Estate (0 Andrew Avenue, Recycling Center, Park Department Building-Rubber Avenue, Real Rock Associates LLC), Collective Bargaining (UPSEU Dispatchers Union) and Pending Litigation (Borough Development Corporation) inviting in Human Resources Director J. Lawlor and Attorney E. Fitzpatrick. Mayor Hess reconvened the meeting at 7:15 p.m. 6. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses recess to the Retirement Board at 7:16 p.m.  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – April 2, 2019 Mayor Hess reconvened the meeting at 7:18 p.m. 7. Public Comment – None 8. Mayor Hess appointed Michele J. Russell (D), 42 Bridle Trail Drive, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, filling the unexpired term of A. Regan, term to expire September 1, 2019. 9. Mayor Hess appointed Joanne S. Allison (D), 912 Prospect Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as an alternate member of the Police Commission, filling the expired term of A. Barnes, term to expire October 1, 2021. 10. Mayor Hess appointed John T. Rodgers (R), 48 Mulberry Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as an alternate member of the Police Commission, filling the expired term of J. Alves, term to expire October 1, 2023. 11. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses award the bid for “Street and Park Light Maintenance” to Turri-Masterson, Inc., 766 Riverside Avenue, Torrington, CT 06790 and authorize Mayor Hess to sign a three-year term contract, commencing on July 1, 2019 and terminating on June 30, 2022 as recommended by Public Works Director James Stewart. 12. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the bid and authorize Mayor Hess to execute all contracts and related documents for the “Fireworks Display” to Pyrotecnico, P.O. Box 149, 299 Wilson Road, New Castle, PA 16103 in the amount of $15,000 and an additional event scheduled anytime from September to December 2019 in the amount of $5,000 as recommended by the Assistant to the Public Works Director Sandra Ribeiro. 13. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses add Naugatuck Construction, 61 Olive Street, Naugatuck, CT 06670 to the vendor list for “Building Repairs” as recommended by the Assistant to the Public Works Director Sandra Ribeiro. 14. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses abate the Real Estate Taxes on listed parcels and Grand List years in the amount of $610,950.37 as recommended by Tax Collector James Goggin. 15. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to sign all contracts and related documents to sell real estate known as  -3- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – April 2, 2019 64 Scott Street, Naugatuck designated on the Assessor’s records as Account #010-9050 to Kitchen Cabinets of Connecticut LLC for the purchase price of $12,500. 16. Mayor Hess discussed the Microgrid and High School Solar Roof Projects. There is a major problem with the solar roof at the high school. Major technology failed. Now the high school roof needs to be replaced. Moving forward, the Roof Replacement Project will be separate from the Solar Roof Project and the Microgrid Project. There will be a three to five million-dollar savings over twenty years. The town is working to investigate state reimbursement. The board decided to proceed with the high school roof projects, the insurance analysis and the microgrid project. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses select Advanced Energy Efficiencies as our energy consultant to manage the microgrid project and to solicit proposals for the solar project at the high school in order to achieve the highest possible energy cost savings. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor “Pete” Hess to file an application for ZREC approval for the solar project at the high school. 17. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Controller Allyson W. Bruce to refund the following tax refunds approved by Tax Collector James Goggin as if read with one exception: change Quicken Loans to Stephanie Yuhan, 65 Longwood Drive: Acar Leasing LTD $188.82 4001 Embarcadero Drive Arlington, TX 76014-4106 2017-03-0050095 Overpaid Acar Leasing LTC $210.15 P.O. Box 9000 Lutherville, MD 21094-9000 2017-03-0050170 Overpaid Aceto, Pasquale H. $51.75 71 Osborn Road, Apt. 2E Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-03-0050271 Overpaid Alsdorf, Harry L., Jr. and Laura $2,436.81 280 Wedgewood Drive Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-01-0000234 Overpaid  -4- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – April 2, 2019 Barbieri, John $109.04 215 Church Street Naugatuck, CT 06770 2013-03-0015839 Overpaid Behlman, Timothy $63.02 26 Corn Tassle Road Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-04-0080397 Overpaid Bierce, Lawrence $29.97 306 Southbury Road Roxbury, CT 06783-2102 2017-03-0052189 Overpaid Cirne Properties LLC $1,302.77 39 Algin Drive Middlebury, CT 06762 2017-01-0003352 Overpaid Cirne Properties LLC $2,413.88 39 Algin Drive Middlebury, CT 06762 2017-01-0003351 Overpaid Corelogic Tax Service $145.75 1 Corelogic Drive Westlake, TX 76262 2016-01-0008736 Overpaid Corelogic Tax Service $2,161.93 Refunds Department P.O. Box 9202 Coppell, TX 75019 2016-01-0000482 Overpaid Cumberland Farms, Inc. $12.49 165 Flanders Road Westborough, MA 01581-1000 Attention: Tax Department Cumberland Farms, Inc. $320.29 100 Crossing Boulevard Framingham, MA 01702 2017-01-0002377 Overpaid Daly, Susanne $18.90 23 Bingham Street Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-03-0055860 Overpaid Dowling, Kevin $27.63 85 Quinn Street Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-03-0057033 Overpaid  -5- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – April 2, 2019 Dzwonchyk, David $37.35 381 North Main Street Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-03-0057266 Overpaid Edwards, Erin $400.95 35 Shelter Hill Avenue Oakville, CT 06779 2017-04-0081619 Overpaid Fitzpatrick, Susan $916.96 68 Michael Land Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-01-0003514 Overpaid Fonseca, Michael $121.37 131 Albion Street Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-03-0058269 Overpaid GV Home Improvement LLC $96.45 87 South Main Street, Apt 3 Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-03-0059932 Overpaid Hartman, Catherine $54.34 9225 W Charleston Boulevard, Apt# 2132 Las Vegas, NV 89117 2012-04-0002061 Overpaid Hartman, Catherine $66.29 9225 W. Charleston Boulevard, Apt# 2132 Las Vegas, NV 89117 2014-03-0010246 Overpaid Hartman, Catherine $219.70 9225 W. Charleston Boulevard, Apt# 2132 Las Vegas, NV 89117 2012-04-0002060 Overpaid Hildreth, Terrie $3.16 98 Melbourne Court Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-03-0060601 Overpaid Howard Engineering Company $12.18 P.O. Box 1315 Wooster Street Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-01-0004679 Overpaid Inzitari, Gary $7.16 78 Woodbine Street Naugatuck, CT 06770 2013-01-0059823 Overpaid  -6- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – April 2, 2019 Kasmin, Susan $581.41 108-047 Clark Road Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-01-0002673 Overpaid Knapp, David C., II $48.31 1493 Dunbar Hill Road Hamden, CT 06514 2017-03-0062554 Overpaid Leretta $11.86 Attention: Central Funds 1123 S. Park View Drive Covina, CA 91724 2017-01-0010555 Overpaid Leretta $73.25 Attention: Central Funds 1123 S. Park View Drive Covina, CA 91724 2017-01-0007967 Overpaid Leretta $333.50 Attention: Central Funds 1123 S. Park View Drive Covina, CA 91724 2017-01-0002724 Overpaid Leretta $2,612.84 Attention: Central Funds 1123 S. Park View Drive Covina, CA 91724 2017-01-0001602 Overpaid Leretta $2,931.70 Attention: Central Funds 1123 S. Park View Drive Covina, CA 91724 2017-01-0007690 Overpaid Leretta $5,407.22 Attention: Central Funds 1123 S. Park View Drive Covina, CA 91724 2017-01-0004544 Overpaid Leretta $6,549.98 Attention: Central Funds 1123 S. Park View Drive Covina, CA 91724 2017-01-0007490 Overpaid Liberty Bank $8,278.32 315 Main Street, P.O. Box 2700 Middletown, CT 06457 2017-01-0000010 Overpaid  -7- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – April 2, 2019 Litke, Mary F. $293.32 179 Webb Road Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-01-0005824 Overpaid McCracken, Laura $211.65 116 Midfield Drive, Apt. 19 Waterbury, CT 06705-5930 2017-03-0065107 Overpaid Mendes, Kathleen $339.30 40 Hickory Road Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-01-0006631 Overpaid Mycek, Zdzislaw $335.25 77 School Street Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-03-0066475 Overpaid Perez, Victor $1,588.06 79 Richard Avenue Wolcott, CT 06716-1512 2017-03-0068327 Overpaid, 2017-03-0068328 Overpaid, 2017-03-0068329 Overpaid Salwierz, Marybeth $185.85 37 Country Hill Road Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-03-0070888 Overpaid Sarracco Mechanical Services, Inc. $581.47 61 Mattatuck Heights Waterbury, CT 06705 2014-03-0021510 Overpaid Yuhan, Stephanie $1,785.81 65 Longwood Drive Naugatuck, CT 06770 2017-01-0010937 Overpaid 18. The following motions emanated from Executive Session. Motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor “Pete” Hess to enter into a contract to acquire the Risdon Property at 0 Andrew Avenue as discussed in executive session and to obtain a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for said property. Burgess J. DeOliveira and Burgess D. Hoff opposed. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor “Pete” Hess to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the UPSEU Dispatchers Union for a four year contract commencing on July 1, 2018 as discussed in executive session.  -8- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – April 2, 2019 VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Borough of Naugatuck accept the conveyance in lieu of real property taxes on three parcels of property in Westover Estates owned by Real Rock Associates designated by our assessor’s office as 055-2343, 055-2341 and 055-2342 provided that Real Rock Associates also conveys title free and clear of any encumbrances to the Borough of Naugatuck relating to property owned by Real Rock Associates, two building lots, designated as 055-2333 and 055-2332. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor “Pete” Hess to enter into a stipulated settlement agreement regarding the case of the Borough of Naugatuck vs. the Borough Development Corporation as recommended by counsel and the Superior Court as discussed in executive session. 19. Public Comment – None 20. Mayor and Burgess Comments Burgess Neth asked the mayor for an update with the brick situation on the Maple Street Bridge. Mayor Hess said there was a settlement conference with engineers. They are attempting to finalize a monetary settlement. Engineers are not in agreement with the resolution of the brick situation. Burgess Herb said the Conservation Commission is excited about Earth Day in April. He said builders are shying away from Naugatuck because of high taxes and the education system. Mayor Hess disagrees with the builders. He said the reality is far different from their perception. There are many inquiries into Naugatuck. There is a lot of commercial activity that is not public. Burgess Hoff is concerned about the cell tower going up in the area of Maple Hill Elementary School. She said the tower appears from Simsbury Road as if it is right in their backyard. She commented on the loss of Helen Wilmot. Mrs. Wilmot was a very active but behind the scenes person in the community. Mayor Hess said Helen Wilmot was an unsung hero. Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson said the funeral home on North Main Street is concerned with the width of the new sidewalks on the opposite side of the road. She asked who would be responsible for shoveling the snow on the sidewalks. Pancakes with the Easter Bunny will be on April 13th. She wished everyone an enjoyable Easter. Burgess Bronko said ION Bank will sponsor a Shred-It Day on April 20th. Burgess DeOliveira wanted the board to vote on a resolution against the governor’s proposal to add tolls to Connecticut highways. Motion by Burgess DeOliveira and seconded by Burgess Hoff to add to the agenda the Resolution in Opposition of the Implementation of Tolls on Connecticut Highways. Mayor Hess ruled the motion out of order.  -9- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – April 2, 2019 For the record: Mayor Hess: “First of all, the issue of tolls, as I said at our last meeting, is a state issue and not a borough issue. Secondly, myself and the borough board have spent the last three years and four months since I’ve been mayor doing our best to keep partisan politics out of our borough board meetings. We’ve never had one vote since I’ve been here on partisan grounds and I intend to keep it that way. I also want it to be clear that I’m not in favor of tolls. But what I am in favor of and what I know the residents are in favor of is a solution for transportation funding. The two most important projects in my judgement to benefit Naugatuck are our Port of Naugatuck Project and our Transit Oriented Development Project and the improvements to the Waterbury Branch Line. In order for those projects to go forward, the state transportation fund has to be involved and fund them. Right now, the state transportation fund will be insolvent in three years unless there’s a new revenue source. Cutting spending is good. I’m all for that but it’s not a sustainable solution. Hartford has to choose a way to fund it whether it’s tolls or any other remedy. So, I would ask our representatives, and anyone who’s interested, to work on a solution in Hartford that will fund transportation. I’m going to continue work to run our board like a business. I don’t want politics to play any role in any of our decisions. And I would note, and like the record to be clear, that if the Democrats brought up a motion along the same lines in favor of tolls, I would also rule it out of order. I would also note that it makes no business sense to inject ourselves into a statewide political fight with the very people we’re asking to help us fund our downtown projects. I think that is poor business judgement. So, I think that this position I’m taking is what’s best for Naugatuck. I’m pro Naugatuck. I’m all business. I could care less about Democratic or Republican politics at the local or state level. So, for all of those reasons, I’m ruling your motion out of order. And I would further state just so we’re clear on the rules and Robert’s Rules that in order for me to be overruled, we need a two-thirds vote of the legislative body which consists of nine burgesses and one mayor that’s ten people that’s six and two thirds, seven votes. So if seven people want to overrule me raise your hands.” Burgess DeOliveira and Mayor Hess debated whether or not the mayor could rule the motion out of order. For the record: Burgess DeOliveira: “At this point, anyone then who would vote against having a vote on this resolution would be against our residents because what this does is . . . This resolution is pertaining specifically to Naugatuck. So if we sit here right now and rule this out of order, we are ruling something that . . .” Mayor Hess asked the board to take a vote to overrule him on ruling Burgess DeOliveira’s motion out of order. RESULT OF VOTE: FOR: OPPOSED: ABSTAIN: D. Hoff C. Herb L. Taf Jackson None M. Bronko R. Neth R. Vitale J. DeOliveira Motion failed 3-4-0  -10- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – April 2, 2019 Burgess Vitale resented Burgess DeOliveira’s comment that a vote against the tolls motion showed that the burgesses do not care about the people of Naugatuck. He said Detective McCarthy is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Special Olympics. The Historical Society is hosting a Trivia Night on April 3rd from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Jesse Camille’s Restaurant. There will be “Coffee with a Cop” on April 26th 8 p.m. at Dunkin Donuts on Bridge Street. People are starting to pile things outside the dumpster on Parcel B alongside the businesses. Two men went to High Rock and hauled away tires dumped there and brought them to the transfer station. Burgess Vitale thanked them for their community service. 21. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth to adjourn the meeting at 8:54 p.m. A digital recording of this meeting is available in the office of the Borough Clerk for further review. Attest: Nancy K. DiMeo Borough Clerk