Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES MARCH 5, 2024 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. Vitale R. Neth A. Yilma M. Bronko D. Neth-Kunin F. Dambowsky J. Rosenblatt RESIDENTS: K. Gallo M. Smith Unable to determine due to the format C. Marenghi DEPARTMENT HEADS: J. Stewart, Public Works Director J. Kallipolites, IT Director K. Hanks, Deputy Fire Chief S. Ribeiro, Park Superintendent OTHERS: J. Mizeski, former burgess 2. Burgess Dorothy Neth-Kunin led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the minutes of the regular meeting of February 6, 2023 and the special meeting of February 6, 2023. Each member received copies for review. 4. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the monthly reports of February. Each member received copies for review. 5. Mayor’s Opening Comments Mayor Hess said there will be a special meeting to be held on March 21st at 7 p.m. 6. Public Comment – None 7. Deputy Fire Chief Kenneth Hanks gave the monthly update on the Naugatuck Ambulance Corps (NAC) in the absence of Chief Kyle Kelley. They responded to four hundred fifteen calls. One mutual aid call in and thirty-one mutual aid requests out from Bethany, Woodbury, Prospect, Beacon Falls, Waterbury, Middlebury, Oxford and Seymour. A few more EMTs were hired. They received a heart monitor that is connected directly to the hospital. Looking to replace a fly car. 8. Mayor Hess created an in-depth summary of the Borough of Naugatuck Development Projects. The document can be found on the borough website. The mayor will revise the  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – March 5, 2024 document as work progresses. Infrastructure upgrades on Church Street are being done to the sanitary sewers, storm water lines, electric and gas lines, city water and fiber lines. Downtown roads will be paved once all the infrastructure upgrades are completed. There are nine projects currently underway fully funded by Federal ARPA Funds, a CT Community Challenge (CCC) Grant, Community Investment Funds (CIF), Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Funds and private money. The projects are 1). Church Street/Downtown 2). Naugatuck Industrial Park – Phase III 3). Rail Line and Train Station Upgrades 4). Major Hub Development 5). Parcel B 6). Parcel A 7). Rubber Avenue Upgrades 8). Naugatuck River Greenway – Phase II and 9). Façade and Sidewalk Improvements. He said there are five additional projects in the planning stage. 1). Former Risdon Property 2). Scott Street/Nettleton Avenue 3). Pedestrian Bridge River Crossing 4). Breen Field and 5). Upgrade of Senior Center. The mayor said there are several private projects going on as well. The Amazon Project, the Assisted Living Facility on North Main Street and Haynes Quarry Expansion to name a few. 9. Mayor Hess discussed Sewer Backup Claims/Insurance Claims. He said Veolia maintains the main sewer lines and Travelers Insurance handles all claims for the borough. There are two unusual claims that are neither fault of the borough nor the fault of the homeowners. Travelers turned down the claims, saying it is not the fault of the borough. The homeowners’ insurance companies turned down the claims as well, yet it is not the fault of the homeowners. The mayor said the first incident occurred on an empty lot. A root ball grew in the Y and blocked the mainline causing a sewer backup in the house next door. The second incident was caused from grease being poured down a drain causing a backup. The residence that caused the backup is unknown at this time but damage was caused to a home on another street. Both are serious cases. Mayor Hess wanted to bring these two incidents to the board. 10. Townwide Sidewalk Improvements – discussion/possible action. Passed. 11. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the appointment of Kayla C. Rios, 145 Round Hill Road, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as an elector of the Non Union Pension Board, filling the vacancy of Francine Fruin, indefinite term. 12. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the appointment of Kayla C. Rios, 145 Round Hill Road, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as an elector of the Board of Education and AFSCME Pension Board, filling the vacancy of Francine Fruin, indefinite term. 13. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the appointment of Kayla C. Rios, 145 Round Hill Road, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as the UPSEU Union Representative of the UPSEU and Chapter 90 Pension Board, filling the vacancy of Francine Fruin, indefinite term.  -3- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – March 5, 2024 14. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the appointment of Smith A. Payne, Jr. (D), 1 Van Avenue, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as an alternate member of the Board of Finance, filling the unexpired term of R. Egbumokei, term to expire June 1, 2025. Mayor Hess swore in Smith A. Payne, Jr. as an alternate member of the Board of Finance. 15. Mayor Hess appointed Steven K. Hunt (R), 18 Partridgetown Road, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as a regular member of the Fire Commission, filling the expired term of H. Kuczenski, term to expire May 1, 2025. 16. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses waive the bid for “Portalets” to CT Potty Rentals, 574 Boyden Street, Waterbury, CT 06704 in the amount of $94.00 per unit as recommended by Park Superintendent Sandra Ribeiro. 17. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to enter into a contract for the Naugatuck Industrial Park Phase III with Civil 1 Engineers to prepare the “OSTA Traffic Study” in an amount not to exceed $52,000 as recommended by Public Works Director James Stewart. 18. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to enter into a contract for the Naugatuck Industrial Park Phase III with SLR for “Peer Review Services of the Proposed Road Design & Site Plans” in an amount not to exceed $26,000 as recommended by Public Works Director James Stewart. 19. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to enter into a contract with Woodard & Curran in an amount not to exceed $22,000 to prepare a “Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)”. Lanxess will pay $11,000 of the cost. Motion withdrawn and amended. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses amend the motion in an amount not to exceed $22,500 to prepare a “Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)”. Lanxess will pay $11,250 of the cost. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses vote on the motion  -4- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – March 5, 2024 as amended and authorize Mayor Hess to enter into a contract with Woodard & Curran in an amount not to exceed $22,500 to prepare a “Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)”. Lanxess will pay $11,250 of the cost. 20. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to enter into an agreement with Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc., 400 Capital Boulevard, Suite 104, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 to finalize a Subdivision Plan for Parcels A and B incorporating the final property lines agreed to by the State of Connecticut DOT. Motion withdrawn and amended. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses amend the motion to include the amount of $25,700. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses vote on the motion as amended and authorize Mayor Hess to enter into an agreement with Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc., 400 Capital Boulevard, Suite 104, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 to finalize a Subdivision Plan for Parcels A and B incorporating the final property lines agreed to by the State of Connecticut DOT in the amount of $25,700. 21. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to sign a work order with Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc., 400 Capital Boulevard, Suite 104, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 to provide construction, engineering and inspection services for contract “FY24-B062 Sanitary Sewer Improvements” as recommended by Public Works Director James Stewart. Motion amended. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to sign a work order with Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc., 400 Capital Boulevard, Suite 104, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 to provide construction, engineering and inspection services for contract “FY24-B062 Sanitary Sewer Improvements” in the amount of $49,920 as recommended by Public Works Director James Stewart. 22. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale 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:  -5- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – March 5, 2024 Bill Name Address City/State/Zip Over Paid 2020-03-0059028 GRANT, FELICIA N. 933 RUBBER AVENUE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -21.96 2021-03-0060945 HYUNDAI LEASE TITLING TRUST 4100 WILDWOOD PARKWAY ATLANTA, GA 30339 -434.00 2022-01-0000084 54 QUINN STREET LLC 27 NORTH RIDGE RD. NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -360.00 2022-01-0001037 BILLUPS, RHONDA G. 39 HORTON HILL ROAD 9-I NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -371.56 2022-01-0001514 BUTKUS, THOMAS A. + NICOLE C. 611 ANDREW MOUNTAIN RD. NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -600.00 EVANS, ROBERT T. + JACQUELINE M. 15 PLEASANT AVENUE 2022-01-0003325 NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -2,631.17 2022-01-0003777 GABIANELLI, DONALD A. + 16 CAITLIN CIRCLE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -69.50 2022-01-0005328 KNAPP, BARBARA E. 95 CHESTNUT STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -600.00 2022-01-0005657 LANXESS CORPORATION 111 RIDC PARK WEST DRIVE PITTSBURGH, PA 15275 -400.08 2022-01-0005658 LANXESS CORPORATION 111 RIDC PARK WEST DRIVE PITTSBURGH, PA 15275 -2,452.66 2022-01-0005659 LANXESS CORPORATION 111 RIDC PARK WEST DRIVE PITTSBURGH, PA 15275 -2,462.16 2022-01-0006699 LERETA REAL ESTATE SERVICES 901 CORPORATE CENTER DR. POMONA, CA 91768 -2,260.10 2022-01-0006763 MEZZO, WILLIAM, JR. 146 OSBORN ROAD NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -600.00 2022-01-0007961 PETERSON, ALAN R. + PATRICIA A. 111 WALNUT STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -600.00 2022-01-0008850 ROTATORI, DEAN 848 NEW HAVEN ROAD NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -171.24 2022-01-0010377 UBER, ALLYN G. + KERRY S. 76 CELENTANO DRIVE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -476.00 2022-01-0010871 CORELOGIC P.O. BOX 9202 COPPELL, TX 75019 -3,040.01 2022-03-0056316 DELGADO, ROBERT A. 41 TANGLEWOOD LANE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -199.48 2022-03-0057633 ENTERPRISE FM TRUST 9315 OLIVE BOULEVARD ST. LOUIS, MO 63132 -301.10 2022-03-0061263 HYUNDAI LEASE TITLING TRUST 4100 WILDWOOD PARKWAY ATLANTA, GA 30339 -444.70 2022-03-0064185 LYNN, AMANDA K. 4 ADRIATIC LANE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -583.96 2022-03-0064186 LYNN, TIMOTHY J. 4 ADRIATIC LANE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -416.14 2022-03-0064573 MANOUSE, CHRISTOPHER A. 8 ROUGH WING ROAD NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -356.58 2022-03-0071586 SCHEITHE, EARL S., SR. 11 PORTER AVENUE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -306.69 2022-03-0072127 SIERRA RIDGE MEDIA ARTS LLC 10 SIERRA RIDGE ROAD NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -234.76 2022-03-0072426 SMIERCIAK, ESTELLE M. 25 NORTH CIRCLE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -97.38 2022-03-0072770 SPARDONE, NEIL T. 95 LINCOLN STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -65.52 2022-03-0074632 VAULT TRUST 500 WOODWARD AVENUE DETROIT, MI 48226 -167.02 2022-04-0084050 SOBOLESKI, STEPHEN M. 58 DAMSON LANE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -66.06 TOTAL -20,789.83 23. Public Comment – Agenda Items – None 24. Mayor and Burgess Comments/Sub-Committee Reports Burgess Gallo read to students at a couple of schools. She attended Trades Union meetings. The high school is making plans to incorporate the students in the trades courses into honors night. Griffin Hospital will be taking over the different medical classes at the high school. She said the high school put all of this together very quickly. Burgess Marenghi attended the Inland Wetlands Commission meeting regarding the Millville Nursery Property. There is a lot of public opposition to the development. He complimented the commission on their patience and fairness. They listened to three hours of public comment. The Arts Commission is scheduling the summer concerts on the green. The Fair Rent Commission went to mediation on a few situations, steering people away  -6- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – March 5, 2024 from litigation. He took a walk at Linden Park on Sunday and he was happy to see everyone outside together. He believes Linden Park is a superior recreation center for town. Burgess Smith said she would not go to Linden Park ten years ago. Now she goes with her children. Congratulations to the Naugatuck Track Team for a job well done. Burgess Neth-Kunin read to a Pre-K class and enjoyed it very much. She would go back again. Burgess Dambowsky said a member of CERT went to training classes. Now CERT will not have to hire someone to train new members. He thanked all volunteers sitting on boards and commissions in the borough. Burgess Neth attended the Park Commission meeting. He was impressed by how the commission handled a situation with a coach that did not abide by the rules. The Conservation Commission wants the Park Commission to mow the meadow at Gunntown Park. He found the Inland Wetlands Commission meeting to be very interesting and enlightening. It is budget season and they are going to try to keep the budget down for residents. He asked if there was a design yet for the new Public Works Department Building. Deputy Mayor Vitale said spirit investigators gave a presentation at the Tuttle House with photos and film. He found it very fascinating. 25. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Bronko to recess to Executive Session at 8:49 p.m. for discussion on the following: Real Estate (Parcels A, B, C, Y & Z, Naugatuck Industrial Park Section III, 30 Church Street, Tax Incremental Financing District, Church Street, Maple Street, Amazon Project) and Pending Litigation. No one was invited into executive session. Mayor Hess reconvened the meeting at 9:44 p.m. 26. There were no motions emanating from Executive Session. 27. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt to adjourn the regular meeting at 9:44 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