Board of Mayor and Burgesses

MINUTES REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF MAYOR AND BURGESSES DECEMBER 3, 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 7:04 p.m. with the following in attendance: BURGESSES: PRESS: R. Vitale R. Neth, virtual 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 S. Ribeiro, Parks Superintendent J. Lawlor, Human Resources Director A. Bruce, Controller D. Goewey, Director of Grants OTHERS: K. Kelley, NAC Chief, virtual L. Wehry, IT Assistant E. Fitzpatrick, Borough Attorney, virtual N. Grello, Labor Attorney J. Lennon, DPW Foreman 2. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. 3. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the minutes of the regular meeting of November 6, 2024. Each member received a copy for review. 4. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt 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 said the annual tree lighting festival will be held on the first Saturday in December with a visit from Santa Claus. 6. Public Comment – None 7. Chief Kyle Kelley gave the monthly update on the Naugatuck Ambulance Corps (NAC). NAC responded to less requests for service in November. All vehicles are in service. 8. Mayor Hess said all Borough of Naugatuck Development Plans are on schedule. The Department of Transportation is ahead of schedule and out to bid for the train station  -2- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024 project. They plan to award the bid in March. Target date for commencing construction is in the spring. All of our teams are working cooperatively together to stay on schedule. Contractors are working on a better winter schedule to keep going through the winter. 9. Mayor Hess said the Building Committee is recommending replacing the Turf Field at Naugatuck High School. Money was put aside in the Capital Reserve Account after we did the bond restructure. We will be modeling the field in Killingly, Connecticut. Input was received from coaches of the various sports teams. A ten-year maintenance agreement is being negotiated with the company. Maintenance will be three times a year. Only professionals will maintain the field this time. We will have a ten-year warranty. The turf field will be done prior to graduation in May 2025 and the track will be done in the summer of 2025. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses proceed with the high school turf field and appropriate $1,138,285.00 and proceed to enter into an agreement with FieldTurf USA and authorize Mayor Hess to enter into appropriate contracts that will include a maintenance agreement and a warranty of ten years. 10. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the appointment of John Didato (D), 285 Hillside Avenue, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as a member of the Park Commission, filling the expired term of D. Carangelo, term to expire October 1, 2028. 11. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses approve the appointment of Joseph D. Pascucci, 168 Evening Star Drive, Naugatuck, CT 06770 as an alternate member of the Zoning Commission, filling the expired term of A. Bordas, term to expire July 1, 2026. Mayor Hess swore in Joseph D. Pascucci as an alternate member of the Zoning Commission. 12. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses authorize Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess to sign a contract with Playground Boss, 1101 Central Expressway S, Suite 200, Allen, Texas 75013 for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 to “Purchase and Install a Playscape for Linden Park Playground” in the amount $49,874.00 as recommended by Parks Superintendent Sandra Lucas-Ribeiro. Contracts shall commence upon vendor completing all borough requirements and the purchase order is received by vendor.  -3- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024 13. 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 enter into a Waste Water On-Call Engineering Support Services with Kleinfelder Northeast, Inc., 400 Capital Boulevard, Suite 104, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 in an amount not to exceed $125,000.00 as recommended by Public Works Director James Stewart. 14. 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 accept a $70,000.00 grant from NVCOG to complete a Limited Phase 11/111 Environmental Site Assessment/Remedial Action Plan at 226 Rubber Avenue and commit a ten percent, ($7,000.00) match. 15. Motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt that the Board of Mayor and Burgesses adopt a Municipal Resolution in Support of Community Investment Fund 2030 (CIF 2030) Grant Application – Naugatuck Industrial Park III – Phase II, as if read: WHEREAS, C.G.S. Section 32-285a, as amended, authorizes the State of Connecticut’s Community Investment Fund to award grants to eligible applicants for eligible projects, and WHEREAS, the CIF grant program provides a unique opportunity for Naugatuck, a Public Investment Community and Alliance District, to further projects that promote economic or community development and enable consistent and fair treatment to all, especially underserved individuals, and WHEREAS, one such transformative project includes the Naugatuck Industrial Park III, a former brownfield site, now remediated, that has commenced phased redevelopment for industrial, commercial, and other use, and WHEREAS, the Naugatuck Industrial Park III – Phase II project will expand the work undertaken in Phase I, through infrastructure improvements that will unleash the site’s redevelopment potential and create hundreds of jobs, increase the grand list, and promote equity for historically disadvantaged and environmental justice, and 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 Round #6 CIF Grant Application for an amount not to exceed three million dollars ($3,000,000) by Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess III, or his designee,  -4- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024 The Borough, through the Phase I CIF award, has previously committed four million dollars ($4,000,000) in local Tax Incremental Financing. Since the last CIF Application in Round 2, the Borough has committed an additional three million dollars in TIF funds to Phases I and II of Naugatuck Industrial Park III, bringing the total committed TIF funding for this site to seven million dollars ($7,000,000). The Borough, by exceeding a 1:1 ratio of State: Local funds, displays strong local commitment to this project and highlights the importance of this project for the municipality, region, and state and for the residents who will live, work, and play in the surrounding areas. ROLL CALL VOTE: FOR OPPOSE ABSTAIN Mayor N.W. Hess C. Marenghi None None R. Vitale R. Neth M. Bronko D. Neth-Kunin F. Dambowsky J. Rosenblatt K. Gallo M. Smith Motion carried 10-0-0 16. 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 enter into a contract for Naugatuck Industrial Park III – Phase I Sitework and Utilities with Guerrera Construction Company, Inc., 154 Christian Street, Oxford, CT 06578 in the base bid amount $5,899,900.00 as recommended by Public Works Director James Stewart. 17. 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 lock-in an agreement for delivery prices for “Fuel Purchases of #2 Heating Oil, Regular Unleaded Gasoline and Dyed Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel” in December – January for purchases in Fiscal Year 2025-2026 from East River Energy, 401 Soundview Road, P.O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437 as recommended by Controller Allyson W. Bruce. 18. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt 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 2023-03-0053128 BROWN, TAMMARRAH E. 70 CLIFF STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -99.00 2023-03-0053849 CAREY, THOMAS A. 50 FAIRCHILD STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -12.47 2023-03-0053850 CAREY, THOMAS A. 50 FAIRCHILD STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -36.52 2023-03-0054227 CCAP AUTO LEASE LTD 1601 ELM STREET DALLAS, TX 75201 -449.12 2023-03-0057001 DOWLING, KRISTIN P. 164 HICKORY LANE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -14.61 2023-03-0065042 MASELLI, IRENE 7 MICHELLE LANE NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -16.26 2023-03-0074169 TOYOTA LEASE TRUST P.O. BOX 23590 NASHVILLE, TN 37202 -574.76  -5- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses – Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024 2023-03-0074171 TOYOTA LEASE TRUST P.O. BOX 23590 NASHVILLE, TN 37202 -57.52 2023-03-0074183 TOYOTA LEASE TRUST 3200 WEST RAY ROAD CHANDLER, AZ 85226 -651.58 2023-03-0074754 VASQUEZ, DAVID 396 QUINN STREET NAUGATUCK, CT 06770 -10.98 2023-03-0074765 VAULT TRUST 500 WOODWARD AVENUE NASHVILLE, TN 37202 -487.52 2023-03-0074766 VAULT TRUST P.O. BOX 23950 NASHVILLE, TN 37202 -543.46 2023-03-0074777 VAULT TRUST P.O. BOX 223950 NASHVILLE, TN 37202 -555.14 2023-03-0074780 VAULT TRUST P.O. BOX 23950 NASHVILLE, TN 07202 -345.44 2023-03-0074784 VAULT TRUST P.O. BOX 23950 NASHVILLE, TN 37202 -76.50 2023-03-0074785 VAULT TRUST P.O. BOX 23950 NASHVILLE, TN 37202 -251.08 2023-03-0074788 VAULT TRUST P.O. BOX 23950 NASHVILLE, TN 37202 -363.20 TOTAL -4,545.16 19. Public Comment – Agenda Items – None 20. Mayor and Burgess Comments/Sub-Committee Reports Burgess Gallo said at halftime the score for the football game was eight to seven. The Naugatuck quarterback broke his collarbone during the game. An international manufacturing company was introduced to the principal at the high school to enter into a discussion about internships. Burgess Bronko congratulated the Naugatuck High School Football Team for their win over Ansonia on Thanksgiving Day. Burgess Rosenblatt said she tutors at the American Job Center and asked about funds for the manufacturing program at the high school. Mayor Hess said we are in the process of working with NVCOG to get fifty percent funding for a new animal control facility. The plan would be to build a new animal control facility and perhaps bringing in the Town of Prospect. The Town of Cheshire is coming to look at our site this week. They want to be part of a regional facility. Naugatuck would run the facility. Deputy Mayor Vitale said the Naugatuck Historical Society will have a display and Santa from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. He wished everyone a Happy Holiday Season. Burgess Neth-Kunin said the Festival of Trees starts this Friday in the Bank of America Building. The Paul Harris Award is Thursday at 8 a.m. Burgess Neth said kudos to his nephew Dylan Rodrigues for an outstanding game against Ansonia. 21. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt to recess to Executive Session at 7:55 p.m. for discussion on the following: Real Estate (Jesse Camille’s Lease, Sale of HRD Building, Parcels A, B, C, Y & Z, Naugatuck Industrial Park Section III, Hershey Property, Personnel (Emergency Management Position) and Pending Litigation (BON vs. Sileo, Geraldine E.) inviting in Human Resources Director John Lawlor and Borough Labor Attorney Nicholas Grello. Mayor Hess reconvened the meeting at 8:54 p.m.  -6- Minutes – Board of Mayor and Burgesses Regular Meeting – December 3, 2024 22. The following motion emanated from Executive Session. 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 enter into a lease for the rental of Jesse Camille’s Restaurant as discussed in executive session. 23. VOTED: Unanimously on a motion by Deputy Mayor Vitale and seconded by Burgess Rosenblatt to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:55 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