Board of Mayor and Burgesses

REVISED MINUTES REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Borough of Naugatuck held the Board of Mayor and Burgesses meeting on a hybrid basis. Everyone was welcomed to attend in person, by Zoom Webinar or by phone. All social distancing requirements were enforced. 1. Mayor “Pete” Hess called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: PRESS: L. Taf Jackson C. Marenghi A. Yilma M. Bronko J. Mizeski, absent F. Dambowsky R. Neth RESIDENTS: C. Herb R. Vitale Four K. Kiernan, virtual DEPARTMENT HEADS: J. Kallipolites, IT Director J. Stewart, DPW Director A. Bruce, Controller, virtual K. Hanks, Deputy Fire Chief OTHERS: D. Sheridan, Board of Finance Chairman, virtual R. Pugliese, NEDC CEO V. Knight-DiGangi, Valley Cmty. Foundation J. Higgins, Board of Finance J. Rodorigo, Naugatuck Ambulance Interim CEO J. Lennon, Pension Board, virtual K. Tremlett, Conservation Commission 2. Burgess W. Francis Dambowsky 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 August 3, 2021. Each member received a copy 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 August. Each member received copies for review. 5. Mayor’s Opening Comments Mayor Hess said two major bonding/borrowing issuances have been completed. The town finalized a new twenty-year contract with Veolia for the wastewater treatment plant. We received an incredible interest rate of 2.9% on the certificates of participation. Naugatuck is one of two towns in the state with a sanitary sewer system that does not have a sewer tax. The contract extends this arrangement for the next twenty years. The mayor hopes the profit sharing plan will generate additional revenue for the borough. The municipal pension bond sale was completed and the town achieved a 2.76% rate. The mayor is very happy with the progress made on the restructuring of Naugatuck Ambulance. He thanked everyone involved.  -2- Revised Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – September 7, 2021 6. Public Comment – None 7. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the reappointment of Brian Falcha (D), 715 High Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as a member of the Park Commission, term to expire September 1, 2026. 8. Jeremy Rodorigo, Interim CEO of Naugatuck Ambulance, Inc., gave a presentation on the current status of affairs at Naugatuck Ambulance, Inc. There was an issue with Naugatuck Ambulance requesting mutual aid numerous times from surrounding municipalities. Borough officials are now sitting on the board of directors giving the borough more oversight at Naugatuck Ambulance, which is still a private agency. Mr. Rodorigo was named interim CEO after President Larry Santoro resigned. There are four ambulances, three of which are not operational. Groton loaned the agency an ambulance. The borough is advancing Naugatuck Ambulance $275,000 toward repairs, the purchase of a refurbished ambulance, a new fly car, radios and equipment. Due to COVID-19, there is an eighteen-month wait to purchase a new ambulance. The hourly rate of EMTs was increased from $13 to $18 an hour. The agency has increased the number of staff from ten employees to twenty-four employees. Increasing staff increases the number of times they can respond to calls instead of asking for mutual aid. The bathrooms and crew quarters were remodeled and uniforms were changed. Mr. Rodorigo said billing inefficiencies were addressed which in turn increased revenue. When Naugatuck Ambulance’s revenue exceeds its expenses, the agency will begin paying back the borough. 9. Mayor Hess gave an update on the results of the Pension Bond Sale that was completed last Wednesday. The bond was reduced and is now $53,835,000, which was the amount required to fully fund our pension plans. The borough received a 2.76% rate. This will give the borough an additional $100,000 savings annually. The mayor thanked Controller Allyson Bruce for her work on the sale of the bond. The borough is currently AA status. We are still in the Alliance District but are no longer considered a distressed community. 10. Valerie Knight-Di Gangi, Program Officer at the Valley Community Foundation, gave a presentation on the Valley Community Impact Initiative. The organization serves Ansonia, Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton. They are looking to include Naugatuck. The organization was formed six years ago to acquire information on the valley region. She handed out an executive summary with the 2019 data. She would like Naugatuck to give a small contribution toward the community resource project especially the Childhood Poverty Reduction Initiative. The childhood poverty rate in four valley towns, including Naugatuck, is 65% to 80%. A survey was conducted last year and the number one issue for parents was childcare, especially second and third shifts. The second issue was the lack of accessibility to community resources and information. Naugatuck resident Kelly Tremlett said parents do not know all of the resources available to them. Transportation to accessing the services is another issue they face. She suggested using the CodeRed emergency system to alert parents to soccer sign ups, etc. Formal commitments for funding came from Ansonia, Derby and Seymour. Ms. Knight-Di Gangi asked the board for a one-time commitment of three to five thousand dollars.  -3- Revised Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – September 7, 2021 11. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Burgess Marenghi and seconded by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses contribute $5,000 to the Valley Community Impact Initiative. 12. Mayor Hess said the Rubber Avenue Roundabout project is underway but there is one decision that needs to be made, what will be in the center of the roundabout. The mayor outlined four options for the center. Option one is a flagpole with the American Flag and a charter oak tree. Option two is no flagpole but some type of tree. Option three is fancy trees. Option four is circular trees around an American Flag. The mayor said the most popular option at the public hearing was the American Flag and a charter oak tree. Board members agreed with option one but with a different type of tree. The mayor said roundabouts are safer statistically. There is less traffic with a better traffic flow. 13. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses add to the agenda a motion to award a contract for the cleaning and removal of oil tanks on the former Risdon Property. 14. 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 execute all contracts and related documents with ACV Enviro, 118 Burr Court, Bridgeport, CT 06605 to “Clean and remove two (2) 8,000 gallon oil tanks from the former Risdon Property site” in the amount of $18,954.80 as recommended by Public Works Director James Stewart. 15. 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: Bill Name Address City/State/Zip Over Paid 2014-01-0064914 GRIFFIN, GRIFFIN & MAYO P.C. P.O. BOX 2184 WATERBURY, CT 06722 -270.00 2014-03-0024927 VERRILLI, MELISSA ASHLEY 291 CARLTON DRIVE CHESHIRE CT, CT 06410 -69.27 2015-03-0534717 VERRILLI, MELISSA A. 291 CARLTON DRIVE CHESHIRE, CT 06410 -52.54 2016-04-0084849 VERRILLI, MELISSA A. 291 CARLTON DRIVE CHESHIRE, CT 06410 -212.38 2017-03-0074383 VERRILLI, MELISSA A. 291 CARLTON DRIVE CHESHIRE, CT 06410 -215.99 2018-03-0075492 ZBRAS, RICHARD SR. 380 HITCHCOCK RD., UNIT 140 WATERBURY, CT 06705 -574.20 2019-01-0001652 CORE LOGIC COMM TAX SERVICE P.O. BOX 9202 COPPELL, TX 75019 -3,641.18 2019-01-0002125 CORE LOGIC COMM TAX SERVICE P.O. BOX 9202 COPPELL, TX 75019 -3,080.12 2019-01-0002672 CORE LOGIC COMM TAX SERVICE P.O. BOX 9202 COPPELL, TX 75019 -3,066.75 2019-01-0002939 DOLAN, THOMAS J. + RUTH A. 159 AETNA STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -47.74 2019-01-0005361 CORELOGIC COMM TAX SERVICE P.O. BOX 9202 COPPELL, TX 75019 -3,164.63 2019-01-0010710 CORE LOGIC COMM TAX SERVICE P.O. BOX 9202 COPPELL, TX 75019 -3,331.76 2019-01-0010857 CORE LOGIC COMM TAX SERVICE P.O. BOX 9202 COPPELL, TX 75019 -2,716.74 2019-03-0050095 ACAR LEASING LTD 4001 EMBARCADERO DR. ARLINGTON, TX 76014 -84.46 2019-03-0050508 ALEXINSKI-VENDITTO, DEBRA A. 256 ANDREW AVENUE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -11.26  -4- Revised Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – September 7, 2021 2019-03-0057202 EAN HOLDINGS LLC 14002 E 21ST ST. STE. 1500 TULSA, OK 74134 -367.42 2019-03-0059245 GONZALEZ, HERNAN A. 100 BENNETT AVENUE WATERBURY, CT 06708 -53.78 2019-03-0067383 ORTIZ, KATHIRIA 140 ANDERSON STREET WATERURY, CT 06708 -180.46 2019-03-0067629 PANZA-PANZA, MARCO R. 35 OSBORNE RD. APT. #1 DANBURY, CT 06810 -285.08 2019-03-0068465 PINTO, LENNY M. 51 IRVING STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -90.00 2019-03-0069468 RG AND JM CONSTRUCTION LLC 1138 WOLCOTT STREET WOLCOTT, CT 06716 -264.60 2019-03-0069469 RG AND JM CONSTRUCTION LLC 1138 WOLCOTT STREET WOLCOTT, CT 06716 -203.40 2019-03-0075370 ZBRAS, RICHARD SR. 380 HITCHCOCK RD., UNIT 140 WATERBURY, CT 06705 -512.56 2019-04-0080937 CORYELL, AJA W. 707 LAKEVIEW ROAD LAVONIA, GA 30553 -62.64 2019-04-0081742 GONZALEZ-FONSECA, ESMERALDA 5 CHURCH ST., APT. 3A NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -4.80 2020-01-0000072 A BETTER WAY WHOLESALE 49 RAYTKWICH ROAD NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -10,057.82 2020-01-0002839 CONNER, MARGARET 10511 WALES LOOP BONITA SPRINGS, FL 34135 -867.38 2020-01-0007403 OBYMACHOW, KAREN 538 CARRIAGE DRIVE ORANGE, CT 06477 -4,186.01 2020-03-0053500 CAPODIFERRO, ESTHER 65 TYLER HILL ROAD NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -5.85 2020-03-0053822 CASE, STACY I. 43 DAMSON LANE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -41.40 ELECTRIC CABLE COMPOUNDS, INC. 2020-03-0057031 108 RADO DRIVE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -355.72 2020-03-0057059 ELY, ROSANGELA G. 60 BLACKMAN ROAD WATERBURY, CT 06704 -28.35 2020-03-0059368 GUTHRIE, PATRICIA E. 24 INWOOD DRIVE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -21.82 2020-03-0059476 HAMED, MOHAMMAD M. 267 PARK AVENUE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -80.05 2020-03-0059583 HARPER, BARBARA A. 409 CHERRY STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -40.60 2020-03-0061799 KIWAK, ZBIGNIEW J. 580 FIELD STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -6.07 2020-03-0061991 KOZMA, JUSTIN S. 139 PHYLLIS DRIVE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -67.32 2020-03-0062289 LAINEZ, ADAM M. 193 SPRING ST., # F1-3 NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -71.55 2020-03-0062710 LEPAGE, RICHARD J. 56 JOSEPH ROAD NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -126.40 2020-03-0064224 MAURICE, DAVID C. 124 FOREST STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -69.75 2020-03-0064352 MCCOWAN, JUDY 1013 WEID DR., APT 8C NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -57.60 2020-03-0065245 MORAIS, JOAO A. 249 EVENING STAR DR. NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -26.06 2020-03-0065669 MYERS, GARY B. 19 SCOTT STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -16.02 2020-03-0066254 NOLAN, GRACE S. 19 DEERING LANE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -4.54 2020-03-0068754 RICHARD, RITA M. 108 CLARK RD., TRLR 89 NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -15.12 2020-03-0069991 SANTA-MARIA, MASON C. 80 MANNERS AVENUE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -85.05 2020-03-0070723 SHEAK, TANZILA I 182 MEADOW STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -185.84 2020-03-0071552 STABLER, ALEXANDER T. 65 COLD SPRING CIRCLE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -171.28 2020-03-0072351 THOMPSON, DARRYL J. 53 CONRAD ST., APT 30C NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -39.75 2020-03-0072408 THURA, MIN 185 QUINN STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -30.96 2020-03-0074143 WINGARD, CHARLES J. 17 LINCOLN STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -9.58 TOTAL -39,231.65 16. Public Comment – None 17. Burgess Comments/Sub-Committee Reports Burgess Herb said he had a wonderful dinner at the Sao Paio Festival in the restaurant downstairs in the Portuguese Club. He will once again participate in the Mission 22 Hike this year.  -5- Revised Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – September 7, 2021 Burgess Bronko questioned why people on Crestwood Drive are being charged a fee because they are not hooking up to public water even though the town is receiving a grant. Mayor Hess said the borough does not determine who benefits from the grant or not. There is a state law that determines the grant does not offset the fee charged for residents who do not hook up to public water. Burgess Vitale announced the following events in September. An Elks Ceremony in remembrance of 9/11 on Saturday. There will be a grand opening for the Water Street Pub on September 12th. The Harvest Moon Festival will be held on September 17th and 18th. The VFW Service Awards will be held on September 19th. The Mission 22 Hike will be September 25th. Burgess Marenghi wished everyone a safe and successful school year. He asked everyone to keep the students and staff in their prayers; we are still in a pandemic. Burgess Dambowsky said many people have stepped up to work toward the restructuring of Naugatuck Ambulance. He and Chief Russell were in constant contact during the recent hurricane monitoring the dams in case evacuations were necessary. Burgess Neth spoke about the condition of the parking lot behind town hall. He was told the DPW would be working on it. He sends his condolences to Burgess Mizeski on the passing of his mother. Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson said condolences to Burgess Mizeski. There will be a Naugatuck Youth Services fundraiser on September 22nd at 5 p.m. for $40. The Housing Authority will be meeting tomorrow. The town will fill the potholes on Weid Drive and then bill the Housing Authority for the work. 18. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth to recess to Executive Session at 9:20 p.m. for discussion on the following: Real Estate (Parcel B – RFP, 1221-1247 New Haven Road, Lanxess Property), Collective Bargaining (UPSEU, Chapter 90 Union) and Pending Litigation. No one was invited into executive session. Mayor Hess reconvened the meeting at 9:49 p.m. 19. There were no motions emanating from Executive Session. 20. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Taf Jackson and seconded by Burgess Neth to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:50 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