Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES MARCH 21, 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 special meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: PRESS: R. Vitale R. Neth A. Yilma M. Bronko, absent D. Neth-Kunin F. Dambowsky J. Rosenblatt RESIDENTS: K. Gallo M. Smith Unable to determine due to the format C. Marenghi DEPARTMENT HEADS: D. Goewey, Director of Grants, virtual J. Stewart, Public Works Director OTHERS: N. Keenan, Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc. L. Wehry, IT Assistant R. Meier, Richter & Cegan, Inc., virtual M. Cegan, Richter & Cegan, Inc. J. Lennon, DPW Foreman 2. Burgess Charles Marenghi led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. Nicholas Keenan from Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc. and Michael Cegan from Richter & Cegan Landscape Architects gave a presentation on the final design for the Downtown Major Hub Development Project. The Downtown Parcel A & B Major Hub Development Project is Water Street, Old Firehouse Road, Rubber Avenue and the new street. Mr. Cegan met with the CT Department of Transportation (CTDOT) several times. He said the new train station is key to the project. He elaborated on the design with a slide show depicting the streetscape and elements of the new train station. Input from the board and the Arts Commission Mural Subcommittee were incorporated in the plans. The main pedestrian corridor from Church Street to the train station connects the historic architecture to the new. Elevated lighting takes it to the next level. Eversource agreed to turn the transformer box, which is next to the main gateway between Church Street and the train station. A discussion took place regarding four options for the panels alongside the arch. The board preferred the tree branch design. They also preferred “Downtown Naugatuck” centered on the archway. The CTDOT does not want to maintain bricks so they agreed to stamped concrete in a brick pattern. The train trestle needs to be addressed by the state. It is an eyesore. Mr. Keenan said the total cost of the construction should be 7.9 million dollars and the overall project total should be 10.07 million dollars. Mayor Hess said six million will come from the CT Community Challenge (CCC) Grant and four million will come from Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Funds. Bidding on the project will be in April and awarded in June. Construction will begin July 2024 through July 2025. This project has to be done first before the train station is built. The state will be going out to bid on the train station in late 2024 and construction will begin in 2025.  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – March 21, 2024 4. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the final design as presented by Kleinfelder Northeast and instruct Public Works Director James Stewart and town staff to put out to bid the plans for the Downtown Major Hub Development Project. 5. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor Hess to sign a renewal contract with Sullivan & LeShane, Inc., 287 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106 to work with the borough as its registered lobbyist from March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025 in the amount of $40,000. 6. Motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses adopt the following Municipal Resolution in Support of Execution of Financial Assistance Proposal, as if read: WHEREAS, the Borough of Naugatuck applied for, and received, a $3,000,000 Connecticut Communities Challenge Round #3 grant award for a project entitled “Underutilized Downtown Building Repurposed for Childcare Center;” WHEREAS, the matching funding for this project will be provided by way of the Naugatuck YMCA; WHEREAS, the Borough is in receipt of a Financial Assistance Proposal from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; WHEREAS, pursuant to the Borough of Naugatuck’s Code of Ordinances, the legislative power and authority of the Borough is 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 execution and filing of all contract documents related to this grant award, including the Financial Assistance Proposal. ROLL CALL VOTE: FOR OPPOSE ABSTAIN Mayor N.W. Hess R. Neth None None R. Vitale D. Neth-Kunin F. Dambowsky J. Rosenblatt K. Gallo M. Smith C. Marenghi Motion carried 9-0-0  -3- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – March 21, 2024 7. Motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses adopt the following Municipal Resolution in Support of FFY 2023 Section 5310 Application, as if read: WHEREAS, the Connecticut Department of Transportation is soliciting applications for the FFY 2023 Section 5310 Traditional Capital, Nontraditional Capital, and Operating Projects, and; WHEREAS, the program provides a unique opportunity for the Borough to pursue the acquisition of a new ADA-minibus, in partnership with HRD; WHEREAS, it is desirable and in the public interest that the Borough of Naugatuck make an application to the CTDOT for no greater than $80,000. WHEREAS, pursuant to the Borough of Naugatuck’s Code of Ordinances, the legislative power and authority of the Borough is 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 FFY 2023 Section 5310 Grant Application for an amount no larger $80,000. Commit the required match share of 20% for this vehicle acquisition, if awarded funding. ROLL CALL VOTE: FOR OPPOSE ABSTAIN Mayor N.W. Hess R. Neth None None R. Vitale D. Neth-Kunin F. Dambowsky J. Rosenblatt K. Gallo M. Smith C. Marenghi Motion carried 9-0-0 8. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve Skyeye Technologies LLC, 88 Moonlight Circle, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as an Approved Vendor upon passage and through end of Fiscal Year 2025 as recommended by Controller Allyson W. Bruce. Contracts shall commence upon vendor completing all borough requirements and the purchase order is received by vendor. 9. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses waive the bid and approve the purchase of Cameras for Linden Park in an amount not  -4- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Special Meeting – March 21, 2024 to exceed $19,750 utilizing the Town Clerk’s Local Capital Improvement Fund. In addition, the mayor and deputy mayor are authorized to purchase Two Additional Cameras for the Industrial Park or other areas on similar terms. 10. Burgess Charles Marenghi asked to have a discussion regarding the Animal Shelter. He visited the Naugatuck Animal Shelter and said it was not something he would be proud to say is in Naugatuck. He said the staff is super committed and hardworking. The facility needs a lot of work and it is not up to the new codes. He suggested creating a subcommittee to explore options. Regionalization was discussed. The facility needs to be addressed before regionalization can be considered. Mayor Hess appointed Burgess Dambowsky, Burgess Marenghi and Burgess Smith to a Naugatuck Animal Shelter Subcommittee. 11. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses recess to Executive Session at 8:45 p.m. for discussion on the following: Real Estate (Uniroyal/Lanxess Property Lots 2, 6, 7, 11, 12) and Pending Litigation. No one was invited into executive session. Mayor Hess reconvened the meeting at 9:03 p.m. 12. There were no matters emanating from Executive Session. 13. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt to adjourn the special meeting at 9:03 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