Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES DECEMBER 6, 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 regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: PRESS: R. Neth G. Mudry None M. Bronko D. Neth-Kunin F. Dambowsky M. Smith RESIDENTS: C. Marenghi R. Vitale Unable to determine due to the format J. Mizeski DEPARTMENT HEADS: J. Stewart, Public Works Director A. Bruce, Controller E. Carter, Zoning Enforcement Officer J. Lawlor, Human Resources Director OTHERS: L. Wehry. IT Assistant D. Goewey, Grant Writer E. Fitzpatrick, Borough Attorney, virtual N. Grello, Labor Attorney K. Kelley, Naugatuck Ambulance Chief, virtual E. Bronko, Zoning Commission M. Leonard, Conservation Commission Chair, virtual 2. Jim Stewart led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 4, 2022 and November 1, 2022 and the minutes of the special meeting of November 22, 2022. Each member received copies for review. 4. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the monthly reports of November. Each member received copies for review. 5. Mayor’s Opening Comments Mayor Hess spoke about the recent tragedy and murder of baby Camilla. A vigil was held on the green Saturday that would have been her first birthday. The borough is rallying around her mom. Pink “Justice for Camilla” bracelets are being sold for $2 at The Loaded Goat, all Dunkin Donuts locations in Naugatuck and in the lobby of town hall. All proceeds will be given to her mother. Monetary donations are being accepted and encouraged to help her mom relocate and receive therapy. There will be a lengthy executive session tonight. The mayor said it might be necessary to hold a special meeting before the end of the year.  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – December 6, 2022 6. Public Comment – None 7. Chief Kyle Kelley gave the monthly update on the Naugatuck Ambulance Corps (NAC). The new ambulance has a few issues that will be resolved. NAC provided mutual aid seven times on Sunday alone. On January 1st they will be changing the paramedics vendor to Waterbury Hospital. They held their first annual food drive at Walmart. 8. Mayor Hess gave an update on the status of Borough of Naugatuck Grant Applications. He introduced our grant writer, Danielle Gowey. She submitted the CT Community Challenge Grant Application. The grant is critical to our downtown development plans. We have gone through round one. Most grants have several rounds. The state is giving feedback and asking many questions. She also filed for an open space grant application to acquire the land at the Wilmot property to connect Gunntown Park to Andrew Mountain Road. We are going into round two of the CIF process for the industrial park project at the former LANXESS property, now being called Naugatuck Industrial Park Section Three. There is a CT DEEP Climate Resilience Fund for areas related to the climate. The money will be used to clean out Thurston’s Pond to restore it to its former beautiful spot. Students from the high school will be involved as well. Ms. Gowey will soon be working on the Greenway Project. Mayor Hess is pleased to have her working on our team. 9. Mayor Hess said the board previously voted to purchase equipment for a Disc Golf Course. The course will be located on the Andrew Avenue property pass the dog park and community garden. The course will wind its way through the active open space of the property. It will start out as a nine hole course and then work up to an eighteen hole course. Local disc golf people are giving input on the course. He said no employees will be working the course on a daily basis. 10. Mayor Hess instructed the Town Wide Sidewalk Improvement Committee to prioritize the sidewalk data. Our new GIS Coordinator will collect data over the winter on sidewalks in the borough, starting with school zones, safety issues and sidewalks in the worse shape. We have the school walking routes from the Board of Education. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain the sidewalk in front of their property. The mayor thinks we should set aside $150,000 a year toward a sidewalk improvement program. The borough would pay for half of the cost to add or repair the sidewalk, the property owner will pay for the other half. If the property owner refuses, the town will assess the owner one hundred percent of the cost. He thinks it may take seven or eight years to complete the sidewalk improvement project. 11. Mayor Hess gave an update on the Property Revaluation. Notices will be going out to property owners this week regarding the new revaluation assessment on their properties. There are dramatic increases in values. Residential real estate up forty-two percent, apartments up seventy-two percent, condominiums up fifty percent, commercial and industrial up thirty-two percent. Median increase would be $529. We could implement all at once for a mill rate reduction or we could phase it in over five years, four years, three years or two years. A decision needs to be made by the board in the spring.  -3- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – December 6, 2022 12. Mayor Hess said the borough has good regulations. The Cannabis Committee will be given strict regulations to look over from other municipalities. Along with the borough attorney, the committee will make a recommendation. The mayor likes the City of Norwalk’s regulations. 13. Mayor Hess appointed Samuel L. Carmody, Eversource Representative, as a member of the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC/NEMAC), filling the term of L. Vasquez, indefinite term. 14. Mayor Hess reappointed Steven K. Hunt (R), 18 Partridgetown Road, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as an alternate member of the Fire Commission, term to expire December 1, 2027. 15. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses ratify the Zoning Commission’s decision to Opt-Out of CT State Public Act 21-29 for Accessory Dwelling Units on residential properties. 16. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor “Pete” Hess to sign a contract for Vehicle GPS Service with Verizon Connect under the GSA contract pricing as recommended by Public Works Director James Stewart. 17. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses refer to the Joint Boards of Mayor and Burgesses and Board of Finance the end of year transfers for the 2021/2022 Budget as recommended by Controller Allyson W. Bruce. 18. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko 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 2009-03-0002997 BROWN, LEIDY M. 56 48 VAN CLEEF STREET, 1R CORONA, NY 11368 -228.09 2009-03-0002998 BROWN, LEIDY M. 75 77 SO MAIN ST. 32 NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -1376.60 2009-04-0000560 BROWN, LEIDY M. 37 31 101 ST., 2FL CORONA, NY 11368 -806.03 2010-03-0002996 BROWN, LEIDY M. 37 31 101 ST., 2FL CORONA, NY 11368 -735.73 2019-03-0072508 STEWART, AUSTIN R. 575 LONG LANE MIDDLETOWN, CT 06457 -77.85 2019-04-0084133 STEWART, AUSTIN R. 575 LONG LANE MIDDLETOWN, CT 06770 -41.94 2020-03-0067367 PEREZ, FREDERICK W. 20 DEVONWOOD DR. 232W FARMINGTON, CT 06032 -18.14 2021-01-0003532 STANKYE, TIMOTHY PATRICK 111 WOOSTER ST. UNIT 7C NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -266.78 2021-03-0050221 ACAR LEASING LTD 4001 EMBARCADERO DR. ARLINGTON, TX 76014 -551.56 2021-03-0054462 CHLUDINSKY, KARL E. 21 ANDREW MOUNTAIN RD. NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -33.34 2021-03-0055018 CORBETT, LLOYD G. 60 WALNUT STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -26.01  -4- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – December 6, 2022 2021-03-0058448 FUNICELLO, ANTONIO 75 SHARON AVE., FL 2 NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -10.19 2021-03-0058449 FUNICELLO, ANTONIO 75 SHARON AVE., FL 2 NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -65.18 2021-03-0058547 GALLAGHER, SUSAN L. 143 SPENCER STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -8.04 2021-03-0061183 IVERSON, SUSAN V. 41 ARAPAHO ROAD BROOKFIELD, CT 06804 -183.40 2021-03-0061336 JANIS, NANCY S. 66 KINGSWOOD DRIVE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -190.88 2021-03-0061712 JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NA P.O. BOX 901098 FORT WORTH, TX 76101 -194.42 2021-03-0061737 JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NA P.O. BOX 901098 FORT WORTH, TX 76101 -413.38 2021-03-0062591 KUSMIT, JOHN F., JR. 9 HARVEST LANE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -58.27 2021-03-0063994 MAIGNAN, JACQUES R. 434 MILLVILLE AVENUE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -72.00 2021-03-0066293 NASUFI, FANOL 58 MULBERRY STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -25.55 2021-03-0066649 NISSAN INFINITI LT LLC P.O. BOX 254648 SACRAMENTO, CA 95865 -282.08 2021-03-0067765 PAYNE, JOSEPH M. 26 ELMHURST STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -333.78 2021-03-0070947 SCHENCK, DANIEL A. 89 CELANTANO DRIVE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -18.93 2021-03-0071117 SCULLIN, JOAN M. 271 SPENCER STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -41.74 2021-03-0071698 SIRICA, EDWARD G. 45 HERITAGE DRIVE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -12.44 2021-03-0074292 WAGNER, CARRIE L. 68 KLAN DRIVE WOLCOTT, CT 06716 -20.32 TOTAL -6,092.67 19. Public Comment – Agenda Items Conservation Commission Chairwoman Melissa Leonard asked if we received the grant for the Water Company property. Mayor Hess replied that we did. 20. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko to recess to Executive Session at 7:54 p.m. for discussion on the following: Real Estate (Bank of America Building, Parcels A, B, Y & Z, Naugatuck Industrial Park Section 3, Breen Field, Acquisition of Land for Downtown Parking, Tax Incremental Financing District, Sale of Former Recycling Center – Rubber Avenue, Church Street, Maple Street, VNA Building, Easement – 39 Brighton Road), Personnel (Building Inspector, Assistant Building Inspector, Public Works Director), Collective Bargaining (Naugatuck Administrative Negotiating Association Agreement, Police Union, Fire Union) and Pending Litigation inviting in Labor Attorney N. Grello and Human Resources Director J. Lawlor. Mayor Hess reconvened the meeting at 9:26 p.m. 21. Mayor and Burgess Comments/Sub-Committee Reports Burgess Neth-Kunin said the Planning Commission will be holding a Cannabis Regulations Public Hearing on December 14th. She attended the BOE Conference on bullying. She wondered if grant money is available regarding the issue. Burgess Dambowsky said retired Lieutenant Gabriel passed away. He commended the police department for the work they did the past few weeks. Burgess Smith added to Burgess Dambowsky’s comments to include the EMS responders that answered the call.  -5- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – December 6, 2022 Burgess Vitale said the Historical Society will hold their grand opening on December 10th . Breakfast with Santa will be on December 17th. Burgess Vitale thanked the Public Works Department for all they have done during the year especially the dog park. He thanked Facilities Manager Mike Massicotte. He does whatever is asked of him, a man of all trades, and masters them all. NAC will be going with Waterbury Hospital for paramedics and medication that will save a good deal of money. Congratulations to Mark Pettinicchi on his retirement. Mayor Hess said pink “Justice for Camilla” bracelets are being sold for $2 at The Loaded Goat, all Dunkin Donuts in Naugatuck and in the lobby of town hall. All proceeds will be given to her mother. Monetary donations are being accepted as well to help her mom relocate. He encouraged everyone to get a bracelet or two and to promote them. 22. The following motion emanated from Executive Session. 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 an easement agreement with David and Catherine Zuzick at 39 Brighton Road with regard to a .22 acre garden area in the rear of their property that is borough open space. 23. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Neth and seconded by Burgess Bronko to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:34 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