Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES AUGUST 12, 2020 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Board of Mayor and Burgesses are practicing social distancing per executive order of Governor Ned Lamont. The meeting was held by Zoom, a remote video conferencing platform, and by phone. 1. Mayor “Pete” Hess called the special meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: PRESS: L. Taf Jackson C. Marenghi A. Yilma M. Bronko J. Mizeski F. Dambowsky R. Neth RESIDENTS: J. DeOliveira R. Vitale Unable to determine due to the format C. Herb DEPARTMENT HEADS: J. Stewart, Public Works Director A. Bruce, Controller OTHERS: S. Ribeiro, Assistant to the Public Works Director L. Wehry, IT Department 2. Burgess Dambowsky led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. Mayor Hess gave an update regarding COVID-19 and Tax Collections for Fiscal Years 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. He said Naugatuck is doing well from a COVID-19 standpoint. Not one borough employee has contracted the virus. All borough departments are functioning well during this time. The 2019/2020 FY cash flow is good. We collected over one hundred percent of what they projected to collect. The collection of motor vehicle taxes was weak last year. Regarding FY 2020/2021, 1.7 million more in revenue was collected in the month of July which is more than last July. We also collected more motor vehicle taxes than we did last year. Mayor Hess said we are off to a good start and doing well from a cash flow standpoint. He said the golf course is breaking records during COVID-19. They are over approximately $30,000 in revenue. 4. Mayor Hess led a discussion regarding Storm Debris Pickup. He declared a state of emergency last Tuesday due to Storm Isaias making us eligible for reimbursement of overtime and certain other items. He said the Public Works Department is doing a great job cleaning up after the storm. They have incurred a lot of overtime. The State of Connecticut also declared a state of emergency which allows for FEMA reimbursement. People have been calling the mayor’s office asking for curbside pickup of storm debris. Storm debris would have to be picked up on the weekends to make the overtime eligible for reimbursement. It would be five weekends in a row on Saturday and Sunday. Residents would have to call by a certain date to be added to the list. The estimated cost in overtime is $33,600 for six DPW employees, ten hours each day on the weekend which would be reimbursed seventy-five percent by FEMA. Storm debris is limited to trees, limbs and brush excluding stumps, construction debris and household items.  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Special Meeting – August 12, 2020 VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Marenghi that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize the Public Works Department to implement a curbside pickup with written rules to be defined by the street department to pickup organic storm debris directly related to Storm Isaias excluding stumps, construction debris and household items in an amount up to a maximum sum of $35,000 and further direct Jim Stewart and/or the finance office to apply for all appropriate FEMA reimbursements. 5. The Borough of Naugatuck will receive $2,900 per person per year for every person counted on the 2020 Census. Mayor Hess thinks this is a critical issue and we need to get the word out and encourage residents to sign up for the census. He thinks it is worth spending money to advertise the need for borough residents to fill out their census forms. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Burgess DeOliveira and seconded by Burgess Mizeski that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve an amount not to exceed $5,000 for 2020 Census Related Expenses. 6. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Mizeski to recess to Executive Session at 6:48 p.m. for discussion on the following: Real Estate (41 Rayktwich Drive), Contract Negotiations (AFSCME Public Works Union) and Pending Litigation. No one was invited into executive session. Mayor Hess reconvened the meeting at 7:06 p.m. 7. The following motion emanated from Executive Session. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Mizeski that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to enter into a modified lease with regard to property owned by the Borough of Naugatuck located at 41 Rayktwich Drive as discussed in executive session. 8. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth to adjourn the special meeting at 7:08 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