Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 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. 1. Mayor “Pete” Hess called the special meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: PRESS: R. Neth G. Mudry, absent A. Yilma M. Bronko D. Neth-Kunin F. Dambowsky M. Smith, absent DEPARTMENT HEADS: C. Marenghi R. Vitale J. Stewart, DPW Director J. Mizeski, virtual OTHERS: N. Kulikauskas, Kleinfelder Northeast L. Wehry, IT Assistant P. Westgate, Kleinfelder Northeast, virtual J. Lennon, Pension Board J. McGrath, Executive Aide to the Mayor M. Cegan, Richter & Cegan 2. Lee Wehry led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. Motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses adopt the following resolution for an Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) 2022 Grant Application; as if read: WHEREAS, CGS Section 7-131d appropriates funding to be awarded by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“CTDEEP”) for Open Space and Land Acquisition Investments under the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (“OSWA”) Discretionary Grant Program, and WHEREAS, the OSWA Discretionary Grant program provides a unique opportunity for municipalities and other qualified applicants to acquire land for use as public open space in perpetuity & further DEEP’s charge by CT General Statute 23-8 to meet the open space goal of 21%; holding 10% of the state as open space by the State and municipalities, and WHEREAS, the Borough of Naugatuck (“Borough” or “Naugatuck”) will be applying for a DEEP OSWA grant for the acquisition of 45 acres of land along Gunntown Road (“Gunntown Road - Wilmot Property Site Acquisition Project”), in order to enable the ultimate connection of passive recreation trails, including the Mission 22 Trail with the Larkin State Bridle Trail & the conservation of open space in the Borough, and WHEREAS, under the grant application’s requirements, a municipality located on the “Distressed Municipality List” can apply for funding from CTDEEP up to 75% of the site’s Fair Market Value and must commit funding for the remaining 25%, and  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Special Meeting – September 28, 2022 WHEREAS, the Borough of Naugatuck was most recently listed on the State’s Distressed Municipality List in 2019; CGS Sec 329 formally recognizes a municipality as distressed for five years after the placement on such a list, and WHEREAS, pursuant to the Borough of Naugatuck’s Charter and Code of Ordinances, the legislative power, and authority of the Borough are vested in the Mayor and Board of Burgesses, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF BURGESSES OF THE BOROUGH OF NAUGATUCK HEREBY: Approve the completion and filing of a grant application by the Borough for the CTDEEP OSWA Grant Program and acceptance of such grant funds, if awarded, for the Gunntown Road - Wilmot Property Site Acquisition Project, in order to enable the expenditure of this funding, and The Borough commits the 25% match for this project by way of Capital Reserve Funds, which are readily available and accessible. The funding committed at tonight’s meeting shall be for exclusive use at the Gunntown Road - Wilmot Property Site Acquisition Project. ROLL CALL VOTE: FOR OPPOSE ABSTAIN Mayor N.W. Hess C. Marenghi None None R. Neth J. Mizeski M. Bronko D. Neth-Kunin F. Dambowsky R. Vitale Motion carried 8-0-0 4. Neil Kulikauskas, Senior Program Manager from Kleinfelder Northeast and Michael Cegan, Partner from Richter & Cegan, Inc. gave a presentation on Downtown Storm Water and Sanitary Sewer Upgrades as well as Streetscape Designs for Church Street and Maple Street. Kleinfelder Northeast investigated the storm water and sanitary sewer system in the greater downtown area. Mr. Kulikauskas said the borough has old infrastructure with very old pipes. They are recommending replacing the existing water pipes and extending it because there are some flooding issues. There are challenges with drainage on Church Street with a major repair needed at the town green. The flow from Parcel B needs to be removed, extending the drainage on Old Firehouse Road. Removing the drainage and isolating the pump house takes away the borough’s obligation to the pump house and allows the developers to do what they need to do. The capacity would be restored in the pipe under the bridge from Maple Street. Mr. Cegan said they want to make the sidewalks more pedestrian friendly. The sidewalks would be widen with pavers and the cost was not enough to move away from pavers to stamped concrete. There will be new light fixtures, bike racks and stringed lights. The current trees would be replaced with higher, narrower trees that will not block the businesses. The project will cost 10.1 million dollars with the borough utilizing 9.2 million in ARPA Funds.  -3- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Special Meeting – September 28, 2022 5. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses go out to bid and proceed with the Downtown Sanitary Sewer, Storm Water and Streetscape Design Project as presented by Kleinfelder Northeast, and modified by the borough board utilizing ARPA funding up to the amount of 9.2 million dollars. 6. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to enter into a design contract with Kleinfelder Northeast for the final design of the Storm Water and Sanitary Sewer Upgrades as well as Streetscape Designs for Church Street and Maple Street. 7. Discussion/possible action on Standards for Streetscape Design and Sidewalk Amenities on Church Street, Maple Street, Old Firehouse Road and Rubber Avenue from Water Street to Hoadley Street. Tabled. 8. Motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses adopt the following resolution for the Connecticut Communities Challenge Round #2 Grant Program; as if read: WHEREAS, Public Act No. 21-2 (2021), Sec. 488, authorizes the State of Connecticut’s DECD Commissioner, in coordination with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, to implement the Connecticut Communities Challenge and appropriate funding under the state’s Economic Action Plan, and WHEREAS, the Connecticut Communities Challenge Round #2 Grant program provides a unique opportunity for municipalities and other qualified applicants to improve the livability, vibrancy, convenience, and equity of communities throughout the State, and WHEREAS, the Borough of Naugatuck (“Borough” or “Naugatuck”) will be applying for a Connecticut Communities Challenge Round #2 Grant for the site improvements related to parcels A & B in the Borough’s historic downtown district to enable the ultimate development of these two parcels (“Parcels A & B Major Hub Development Project”), and WHEREAS, under the grant application’s requirements, a municipality located on the “Distressed Municipality List” may apply for funding from the State of CT DECD up to 75% of the site’s Fair Market Value and must commit funding for the remaining 25%, and WHEREAS, the Borough of Naugatuck was most recently listed on the State’s Distressed Municipality List in 2019; CGS Sec 329 formally recognizes a municipality as distressed for five years after the placement on such a list, and  -4- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Special Meeting – September 28, 2022 WHEREAS, pursuant to the Borough of Naugatuck’s Charter and Code of Ordinances, the legislative power, and authority of the Borough are vested in the Mayor and Board of Burgesses, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND THE BOARD OF BURGESSES OF THE BOROUGH OF NAUGATUCK HEREBY: Approve the completion and filing of a six million dollar ($6,000,000) grant application by the Borough for the Connecticut Communities Challenge Round #2 Grant and acceptance of such grant funds, if awarded, for the Parcels A & B Major Hub Development Project, and The Borough commits the 25% match for this project by way of our Capital Non- Reoccurring Fund and funding previously earmarked by the Borough board for this project. ROLL CALL VOTE: FOR OPPOSE ABSTAIN Mayor N.W. Hess C. Marenghi None None R. Neth J. Mizeski M. Bronko D. Neth-Kunin F. Dambowsky R. Vitale Motion carried 8-0-0 For the record: Mayor Hess: “Burgess Smith and Mudry are absent. Burgess Mudry voiced his moral support. It passes unanimously, eight to nothing.” 9. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko to adjourn the special meeting at 6:59 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