City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 4, 2010 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held October 4, 2010, at 7:35 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Aldermen Desaulniers, Nash, Caron, Braddock, Hinchey, Popovich and Mayor Nystrom. City Manager Bergren and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom presided. Ald. Braddock read the opening prayer and Ald. Nash led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Upon motion of Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the minutes of September 7 & 20, 2010. City Manager Bergren gave his report as follows: DATE: October 4, 2010 TO: Mayor Peter A. Nystrom & Council Members FROM: Alan H. Bergren, City Manager SUBJECT: City Manager’s Report 1. Police Department Annual Awards Ceremony The NPD 2nd Annual Awards Ceremony was held in the Council Chambers at City Hall on Wednesday September 22nd. Thirty Police Officers, two 911 Emergency Dispatchers, and one civilian received awards for various acts of exceptional and meritorious service in law enforcement. The ceremony was well attended by the family and friends of the honorees and was a great moral booster for the Police Department recipients. 2. Railroad Crossing Re-Construction Last Wednesday and Thursday (Sept. 29th & 30th) the Public Works Department joined with New England Central Railroad to reconstruct the railroad crossing on New London Turnpike. This collaborative effort between agencies facilitated the completion of this challenging project in less than 48 hours. The new railroad crossing is a vast improvement over previous conditions, resulting in a safer and smoother roadway. The Public Works Department wishes to thank both the general public and the nearby businesses for their patience during construction. Special thanks is given to both Gorin's Furniture and Benny's Home and Auto Store, as these businesses were impacted most due to their proximity to the railroad crossing. 3. Smart Streetlighting Program Due to concerns from residents’ and members of this Council regarding the level of illumination people are accustomed to on various City streets, we have suspended this program and are re-lighting streetlights that were called to our attention when they were turned off. Council members have indicated that we look into alternatives to achieve our energy conservation and cost saving goals. Although technology is still catching up from a cost perspective with alternative lighting such as LED’s, we will explore alternative fixtures and more efficient lights to realize our budgeted estimated savings. With the cooperation of Norwich Public Utilities we are seeking grants and other sources of funding to pay for new technology. I will apprise the Council further of our progress as we move forward. 4. New Emergency Operations Center A training session was held last Tuesday, September 28th for Public Safety personnel and operating agencies in the new Emergency Operations Center located at Norwich Public Utilities. Most of the new equipment purchased with grant funding has been ordered and we are awaiting the arrival of a few final radio transmitters and we expect the center to be fully equipped and operational by the end of October. 5. Registrar of Voters The Registrar of Voters have moved into their new office on the first floor of the City Hall Building which is very accessible for the public coming in using the Broadway entrance. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 4, 2010 6. Southeastern CT Council of Governments Executive Director Butler reported to me that the Executive Committee has approved our submission for FY2011 funding in the amount of $250,000 for the Canterbury Turnpike pavement rehab project Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment on resolutions. Keith Ripley, Meadow Lane, spoke on resolution 1 from a standpoint of the council making available the information they may have as to certain items. What is the purpose of this particular study and the requirements for it, what are the covenants that go with the property, and what are the intentions of the city at this point in time on handling this property. Beryl Fishbone, 19 Bliss Place, invited all to the Nations largest day of service, make a difference day. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., opposes resolution 1, 5 and suggests amending resolution 2. resolution 1 is shocking. If the board of ed doesn’t have this survey for every school they should be accused of negligence. He feels resolution 2 is incomplete as many open with the city council believes. Resolution 5, subtitle, when you have a hard job the toughest part is finding someone to do it. There being no further speakers, Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment period closed. Upon motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Hinchey, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by City Manager Bergren: WHEREAS, the property located at 165 Golden Street, the Greeneville Elementary School has been vacated and the city is in the process of securing the same; and WHEREAS, the cost of performing a hazardous material survey of the structure is estimated at $7,500. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that a sum not to exceed $7,500 be and hereby is appropriated from demolition account # 15232-88110 to pay for a hazardous material survey of the aforementioned structure on 165 Golden St. Upon motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Caron, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Braddock: WHEREAS, on June 7, 2010, the Council of the City of Norwich adopted a resolution establishing an account to accept donations to be used to purchase a memorial stone and plaque in memory of Ron D. Aliano; and WHEREAS, the Norwich Harbor Management Commission, by its letter of September 11, 2010 advises the Council a suitable memorial has been prepared and requests the memorial be placed in the Howard T. Brown Park facing the marina in recognition of Ron’s life long dream of the marina development; and WHEREAS, funds collected through the donation will cover any costs to the City for installing the memorial; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that said memorial may be installed in Howard T. Brown Park in a suitable location under the direction of Barry Ellison, Director of Public Works. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 4, 2010 Upon motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Braddock: WHEREAS, because of severe flooding caused by a large storm passing through the region on March 29, 2010, the Council of the City of Norwich appropriated the sum of $10,000 to be put into a flood relief account fund, Account #S3312-75000 to provide necessary emergency transition funds to flood victims; and WHEREAS, as stated in a resolution adopted April 19, 2010, money not used for that purpose within a 6 month period shall be returned to the City undesignated fund; and WHEREAS, the total of unexpended funds amounts to $6,804.22; and WHEREAS, this amount was not used because of the fine work of our Human Service Department helping people find other solutions. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the sum of $6,804.22 be returned to the City’s undesignated balance from Account #S3312-75000. Upon motion of Ald. Popovich, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to refer to the Commission on the City Plan and continue until November 2, 2010 council meeting, the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom and City Manager Bergren: WHEREAS, on February 21, 2006 the Commission on the City Plan of the City of Norwich approved Subdivision Application No. 404 to permit Mystic Shoreline Investment, LLC to develop a subdivision to be known as Farm View Estates off Plain Hill Road in Norwich, Connecticut, said application providing, among other things, that a street would be constructed to provide access to the lots in the subdivision; and WHEREAS, a street proposed to be known as Farm View Drive was constructed pursuant to said subdivision approval; and WHEREAS, the Director of Public Works of the City of Norwich has inspected Farm View Drive and considers it to have been constructed in accordance with the standards of the City of Norwich for public streets, as more particularly set forth in his report; and WHEREAS, Mystic Shoreline Investment, LLC proposes to convey said street to the City of Norwich as a public street by means of a Warranty Deed substantially similar to the Warranty Deed attached hereto as Exhibit A; and WHEREAS, said subdivision approval requires Mystic Shoreline Investment, LLC to grant a conservation easement in favor of the City of Norwich as described in the application; and WHEREAS, the Norwich Inland Wetlands and Water Course Commission issued a permit to Mystic Shoreline Investment, LLC on January 5, 2006 which permit requires the filing of a Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions re: Storm Drainage System Maintenance; and 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 4, 2010 WHEREAS, Mystic Shoreline Investment, LLC proposes to grant the City of Norwich a Conservation Easement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B; and WHEREAS, Mystic Shoreline Investment, LLC proposes to file on the land records a Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions re: Storm Drainage System Maintenance Farm View Estate Subdivision, 422 Plain Hill Road, Norwich, Connecticut, which Declaration shall be substantially in the form of the document attached hereto as Exhibit C; and WHEREAS, Mystic Shoreline Investment, LLC proposes to dedicate said street to public use, said street be known as Farm View Drive. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that City Manager Alan H. Bergren be and hereby is authorized and directed, subject to the approval of the Corporation Counsel, to receive and record a Warranty Deed from Mystic Shoreline Investment, LLC conveying to the City of Norwich the fee title to the street constructed in connection with the Farm View Estates subdivision to be accepted by the City of Norwich as a public street to be known as Farm View Drive and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that City Manager Alan H. Bergren be and hereby is directed, subject to the approval of the Corporation Counsel, to receive a Declaration and Grant of Conservation Easement in favor of the City of Norwich from Mystic Shoreline Investment, LLC in connection with the Farm View Estates Subdivision, together with such other documents as may be necessary to release or subordinate the interest of other parties to the interest conveyed to the City of Norwich and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that City Manager Alan H. Bergren be and hereby is directed, subject to the approval of the Corporation Counsel, to cause such documents to be recorded on the land records of the City of Norwich and to execute, deliver, receive and/or record such other documents on behalf of the City of Norwich as may be necessary to effectuate said transfers and the acceptance of said Farm View Drive as a public street. Ald. Desaulniers made a motion, seconded by Ald. Hinchey, to amend the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom: WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, believes that encouraging foreign investment in the City of Norwich may be advantageous to the city; and WHEREAS, the Council believes the Federal EB-5 and EB-6 visa programs for Immigrant Investors may offer encouragements to foreign investors interested in investing in qualified investments; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich requests a review of federal and state programs for which a distressed municipality may be eligible, including but not limited to, Hub Zones, Enterprise Zones, and the EB-5 and EB-6 visa programs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH THAT: 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 4, 2010 Corporation Council Michael Driscoll, Comptroller Joseph Ruffo, and Assistant Comptroller Joshua Pother, are requested to research and provide information on investment strategies and the state of the economic health of the City to the Council of the City of Norwich at its November 1, 2010 meeting. The City Council shall receive a report on the use of federal and state financial programs and the economic health of the city of Norwich at the first meeting in November every year after 2010. Upon motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, as amended: WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, believes that encouraging foreign investment in the City of Norwich may be advantageous to the city; and WHEREAS, the Council believes the Federal EB-5 and EB-6 visa programs for Immigrant Investors may offer encouragements to foreign investors interested in investing in qualified investments; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich requests it be provided a review of federal and state programs for which a distressed municipality may be eligible, including but not limited to, Hub Zones, Enterprise Zones, and the EB-5 and EB-6 visa programs, as well as a report on the extent to which they are utilized in Norwich. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH THAT: City Manager Alan H. Bergren, be requested to obtain such information on available programs and their utilization and to arrange to make a report on the same to the council at its first meeting in March 2011. Upon motion of Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Hinchey, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:00 PM. CITY CLERK 5