City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 22, 2011 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held February 22, 2011 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Aldermen Desaulniers, Braddock, Hinchey, Popovich, Nash and Mayor Nystrom. Absent: Alderwoman Caron. City Manager Bergren and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom presided. Ald. Hinchey read the opening prayer and Ald. Braddock led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bob Farwell and the children from the Library story time program presented the Council with a large Valentine and a string of Valentines in honor of Love Your Library Week. The Connecticut Tigers presented a framed team shirt with other memorabilia to be hung on the first floor of City Hall. City Manager Bergren gave his report as follows: DATE: February 22, 2011 TO: Mayor Peter A. Nystrom & Council Members FROM: Alan H. Bergren, City Manager SUBJECT: City Manager’s Report 1. Dog Pound Question To answer the question raised at the Mayor’s meeting on Saturday 2/12/11, I spoke with Public Works Director, Barry Ellison. They will be doing the gutters in the Spring as well as some additional interior painting. To save money we are completing some of these tasks in house. AT &T moved the phone line to the new facility in the last few weeks as they needed a new street address before they would do the switch. Overall it’s a beautiful facility that will serve the community well, as many of you have seen first hand during the open house. These remaining few items are part of our “punch list”, to use construction terms, and are being handled. 2. Governor’s Budget The Governor announced his budget message this past week. As a result, budget meetings will intensify and continue in preparation for the Manager’s budget which is due to the Council in six weeks. This week the Mayor, myself and the Deputy Comptroller will be attending a meeting in Hartford with Ben Barnes, Secretary of O.P.M., the architect of Malloy’s plan. 3. Mayor’s Meeting with Westerly YMCA Representative Mayor Nystrom met with a representative from the Westerly YMCA and they have expressed interest in operating Y programs for Norwich residents. Updates will follow as they are available. 4. Upcoming Events/Meetings The Mayor held a meeting with Council members and Team Norwich this past Saturday, February 19 to discuss the City’s overall economic development plan and process. Many ideas were brought to light that will be useful as the plan is finalized and ultimately incorporated in the Plan of Conservation and Development. The following is a list of upcoming Mayor’s public meetings, public hearings and Team Norwich meetings: 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 22, 2011 ♦ 3/5/11 9:00 A.M. Team Norwich – Location TBD ♦ 3/12/11 9:00 A.M. Mayor’s Public Meeting – Laurel Hill Volunteer Fire Department ♦ 3/28/11 7:30 P.M. Downtown Revitalization Bond Public Hearing – Council Chambers 5. Sherman Street Bridge Public Works has received responses to their Request for Proposals for engineering for the Sherman Street Bridge and has shortlisted five firms. These firms will be interviewed in early March. 6. Office Signage for City Hall The building maintenance division of Public Works is in the process of installing brackets for the new office signs for City Hall and these should be installed within the next few weeks. This was a request presented at one of the Mayor’s meetings to make the City Hall more user friendly to customers. 7. Docent Program We are working with UCFS and the Senior Center to recruit docents to man the information booth on the ground floor of City Hall and Karen Neely has been working with Alderman Braddock and myself to facilitate a training program for these volunteers. We are looking forward to rolling out this program early this Spring. 8. YMCA Vandalism Investigation Chief Fusaro has reported to me that Police Department has committed significant resources to investigating the damage done to the YMCA building. The Officers and Detectives assigned have been working diligently on this crime to identify the person or persons responsible for the extensive damage to the interior of the property. He is confident that it will be solved. 9. January Storm Reimbursement The City submitted a request to FEMA through the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security for funds in the amount of $143,000.00 of which we would qualify for 75% ($107,500.00) of that number to cover our expenses during the heavy snow storm and clean-up from January 11-13th. As of this date we have not had a response. 10. Governor’s Address to the Eastern CT Chamber of Commerce Mayor Nystrom, Robert Mills Executive Director of NCDC and myself attended the breakfast meeting in Mystic of the Eastern CT Chamber of Commerce. At this meeting the guest speaker was Governor Dannel P. Malloy. The Governor spoke of his shared sacrifices budget and also trying to protect municipalities from the undue burden of shifting the State’s budget crisis to municipalities and the property tax. The centerpiece of this was the State filling the fourteen percent gap in ECS funding for municipalities that was previously filled by federal stimulus funds that will run out on June 30th. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment on resolutions. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., opposes resolutions 1, 2 and 4 and thinks 3 should be amended. The information on these is inadequate. He feels resolution 4 isn’t a Council matter and resolution 2 is too vague. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 22, 2011 Andy Depta, 105 Vergason Ave., is against resolution 4 as he feels we have enough committees now. We don’t need another committee to study another building. Please vote this down and take a present committee and give them the action. Keith Ripley, Meadow Lane, feels resolution 1 is an action item. It is part of moving forward and he thinks the City is moving forward. He stated the council should look into whether we are moving properly or not. This committee will have only one function and he recommends passing this resolution. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave., agrees we have too many committees but need to do something with the Reid and Hughes building. She tried to research it but couldn’t find much information. We need to lead by example. The City is not in the property management business. We don’t do a good job at it. The Council should look for a report sooner than September 2011. Marvin Serruto, 100 Starr St., believes what the City of Norwich needs is to focus on making stuff. Look at the community wide economic development plan. We need industries that produce products. Why aren’t we doing this now? He feels it is a shame to lose the Reid & Hughes building as it is a piece of history. There being no further speakers, Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment period closed. Ald. Popovich made a motion, seconded by Ald. Nash, to amend the following resolution introduced by Ald. Braddock, by changing the word the to an: WHEREAS, the purpose of the Norwich Community Development Corporation, Inc. is to further the economic development of the Norwich community through growth and development of the Norwich Industrial Park, revitalization of the downtown Norwich area and preservation of the historical Norwich Harbor and waterfront by recognizing existing industry and commerce, furthering their expansion and encouraging and assisting in attracting new development for the community and the Norwich area; and WHEREAS, preparation of a plan for community wide revitalization was started in January, 2010, facilitated by Bob Mills, Executive Director of the Norwich Community Development Corporation, developing, among other things, the downtown revitalization programs which became the Team Norwich Plan; and WHEREAS, this approach was intended to create a workable document for community wide development that would integrate with our Plan of Conservation and Development; and WHEREAS, a goal of this Council is to complete in timely fashion the Norwich Community Wide Economic Development Plan and this Council requests the Norwich Community Development Corporation as the economic development arm of the City, to assist the Council by completing its work on this task by April 18, 2011. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Norwich that: The Norwich Community Development Corporation be and hereby is requested as the economic development arm of the City of Norwich to complete its preparation of this document to be presented to 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 22, 2011 the Council of the City of Norwich for consideration and possible ratification/adoption at its second meeting in April, 2011. The motion failed 3 to 3 with Ald. Hinchey, Desaulniers and Mayor Nystrom voting in opposition. Ald. Braddock made a motion, seconded by Ald. Nash, to adopt the above resolution as is. The motion failed 4-2 with Ald. Nash, Desaulniers, Hinchey and Mayor Nystrom voting in opposition. Upon motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by President Pro Tem Desaulniers and Ald. Braddock: WHEREAS: The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding could be facing a reduction between 7% and 25% or up-to $1 billion dollars at the federal level; and WHEREAS: any reduction in CDBG funding would severely slow down or eliminate thousands of local and state projects and programs that are directly contributing to the local and regional recovery; and WHEREAS: without level funding of CDBG funds, the City of Norwich would be unable to sufficiently support Norwich’s community and neighborhood revitalization projects and public service programs; and WHEREAS: the loss of CDBG funds will also mean stagnation in employment opportunities, leading to a ripple effect on tax revenues, foreclosures, and create associated social problems; and WHEREAS: CDBG funds work to stabilize the community by providing decent affordable housing, creating a safe as well as suitable living environment within all neighborhoods, and fostering economic opportunities for low-to-moderate income residents; and WHEREAS: CDBG funds are crucial in enabling the City of Norwich to deliver essential services that help to improve the quality of life for countless residents by reducing the housing cost burden, assisting seniors and the disabled, and aiding low-to-moderate income families attain suitable housing. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Norwich Council strongly urges the Obama Administration in the FY2012 budget to freeze CDBG formula funding at the FY2010 level of $3.9 billion. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Manager write a letter expressing the concerns enumerated above in this Resolution and send that letter to President Barack Obama; Jack Lew, Director of the Office of Management and Budget; Valerie Jarrett, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement; Governor Dannel Malloy, Senator Joseph Lieberman, Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Joseph Courtney. Ald. Braddock, being the sponsor, withdrew the following resolution: BE IT RESOLVED that the individuals below named be re-appointed as regular members of the Norwich Ice Arena Authority with terms to expire on April 1, 2013 or until successors are appointed. Luis DePina (Ex-Officio) R Douglas t. Barlow 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 22, 2011 D Cheryl T. Ritacco R Michael A. Goldblatt U J. Michael Schermerhorn ACP Richard J. Wolak Vacant Vacant Upon motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Braddock: WHEREAS, the Reid and Hughes located on 193‐201 Main Street is presently owned by our City of Norwich; and WHEREAS, the Reid and Hughes building has been vacant for many years; and WHEREAS, the Reid and Hughes building has structural problems and after further analysis these problems will be better identified and isolated and a workable formula for action with respect to the property can be established; and WHEREAS, Jim Quarto, Richard Caron Andrew Zeeman, James Troeger, Gary Schnip, Sofee Noblick, Tucker Braddock, Attorney Samuel Browning, and Leland Loose have volunteered to serve as a committee for this purpose. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that the above named individuals be and hereby are appointed as the Reid and Hughes Committee and analyze, and make recommendations as to the repair, restoration, modification and marketing of the Reid and Hughes building and to report their recommendations to the Council on or before the first Council meeting of September 2011. Mayor Nystrom, being the sponsor, withdrew the following ordinance: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF NORWICH ZONING ORDINANCE BY DELETING THEREFROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 6.1.1. RESTRICTING THE LOCATION OF A PACKAGE STORE OR DRUG STORE SELLING BEER AND/OR LIQUOR OR A GROCERY STORE SELLING BEER WITHIN THE CITY OF NORWICH WHEREAS, Section 6.1.1. of the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Norwich does not permit a package store or a drug store to sell beer and/or liquor or a grocery store to sell beer within a building, any part of which building or premises is situated on any part of a lot within a 1500 foot radius in any direction from any other lot upon which is located a building or premises used for a similar purpose; and WHEREAS, such a restriction is not required by the Liquor Control Commission or the Department of Consumer Protection of the State of Connecticut, rather exists as a matter of local ordinance; and WHEREAS, this 1500 foot restriction is an excessive restriction on such uses in Norwich. 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 22, 2011 NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that Section 6.1.1. of the Norwich zoning Ordinance be deleted in its entirety as follows: 6.1.1. A package store selling beer and/or liquor, a drugstore selling beer and/or liquor or a grocery store selling beer shall not be permitted, if any part of said building or premises is situated on any part of a lot within a 1,500‐feet radius in any direction of any lot upon which is located a building or premises used for the purposes of a package store selling beer and/or liquor, a drugstore selling beer and/or liquor, or a grocery store selling beer. PURPOSE: To eliminate the 1500 foot restriction between properties used to sell beer and/or liquor within the City of Norwich. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment. Keith Ripley, Meadow Lane, commended the Council for their actions taken on resolutions 1 & 4. He doesn’t care how we get there just get to the end. Resolution 4 is a big move in a short period of time. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave., thanked Barry Ellison and the Public Works department on the good job they did this winter. In order to bring businesses here we have to believe in ourselves first she stated. We need to be upbeat and enthusiastic. We need spark and vitality. She was glad to hear that the docent program is coming along. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., finished speaking on the resolutions that he didn’t have time for in the first citizen comment period. Carmen Cardona, 7 James St., stated that she put in petitions for James St. to become a city accepted street and she hasn’t heard anything on it. She stated there are four houses on the street and feels it should be maintained by the public works department. Edward Olenkiewicz, 5 James St., stated what he pays in taxes and bills and that the garbage won’t be picked up because the street is not plowed. Liz Moses, 8 James St., asked what they were paying taxes for? How can she make a living if she can’t get out when it snows. It’s a safety issue. Joe Molcan, Hansen Rd., spoke on using common sense and that blocking the view to the marina was not using common sense. Marvin Serruto, 100 Starr St., entertained us with the telling of his history and telling a joke. Upon motion of Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:47 PM. CITY CLERK 6