City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 7, 2011 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held March 7, 2011 at 7:35 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Aldermen Desaulniers, Braddock, Caron, Hinchey, Popovich and Mayor Nystrom. Absent: Alderman Nash. Also in attendance was City Manager Bergren and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll. Mayor Nystrom presided. Ald. Caron read the opening prayer and Ald. led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Upon motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Desaulniers, it was unanimously voted to adopt the minutes from February 7, 22 & special meeting February 15, 2011. Beryl Fishbone gave a presentation and certificate to the Council concerning the Great Backyard Bird Count. City Manager Bergren gave his report as follows: DATE: March 7, 2011 TO: Mayor Peter A. Nystrom & Council Members FROM: Alan H. Bergren, City Manager SUBJECT: City Manager’s Report 1. Capital Transfers – Resolution #2 With regard to this resolution, we have reviewed our capital expenditure account and the status of on- going projects. We do this periodically to verify project completions, savings and transfers where necessary. We have identified $199,346.23 in completed projects with savings and/or a few projects that will not be pursued further in the near future. Therefore this allows us to transfer funds to other needed capital projects and expenditures. In this request, we will be replacing the Senior Center bus. This vehicle, to be purchased under a current State bid, is three years beyond its life expectancy and mechanically is beginning to give us problems. Instead of waiting until the next budget to program for its replacement, we will use some of the savings to replace the vehicle now. We did research the possibility of a natural gas fueled option however our research indicated that it would not prove feasible with what was available for replacement. We continue to look for alternative fuel vehicles when they fit into our plan for savings and green technology*. For the safety of transporting our seniors we need to withdraw the current vehicle from service and with the opportunity for a State bid, can replace the vehicle now. In addition to provide a seamless continuity for the update of the POCD, we have identified $45,000 from the savings to be transferred toward the completion of that process. These funds would have to be allocated in next year’s budget however now with the savings identified we can move forward on this goal in a more timely manner. In addition, savings are being used to transfer funding to self contained breathing apparatus for our firefighters. This critical personal protective equipment is essential to outfit and protect our firefighters in the line of duty. A steady effort will continue to be made in each subsequent fiscal year to upgrade protective clothing and protective gear for our fire fighters. In addition we will also use some of the savings to replace protective body armor that is used on a daily basis by our Police officers. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 7, 2011 With respect to the Chestnut Street and Byron Brook capital projects that are on hold, I have attached my memo to Peter Davis, Planning & Neighborhood Services Director following our conversation that explains why these funds are not needed for the foreseeable future. 2. Technology Update Last week I had a meeting with our Utilities Department, our Finance Department and our Management Information Systems Division regarding the fiber optics system installed by Utilities. Our discussion centered on our plan for updating and integrating all computer systems, phones, servers, etc. The school department has also been in communication with Utilities regarding the same for their systems. We are developing a comprehensive plan to deal with these upgrades. In addition, we are already using the fiber to connect some City buildings (Greeneville Fire Station, City Fire Station, Senior Center, City Hall, Police Station and the dog pound) and will continue to work over the next few months on laying out the blueprint for this infrastructure. * Please see attached memo from Public Works Director, Barry Ellison 3. Upcoming Events/Meetings ♦ The Mayor’s next meeting with the public will be held on Saturday, March 12 from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M. at the Laurel Hill Volunteer Fire Station. For a listing of all scheduled meetings, please call the Mayor’s office at 823-3742. A number of City Council members join the Mayor at these public outreach meetings. ♦ Governor Malloy will be holding a town hall meeting this Wednesday, March 9th here in the City Hall building from 7:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. The event will be televised live on Comcast’s Channel 97. Seating will be available in Council Chambers and Room 335 with capacity for approximately 400 people. Parking is available in the Broadway parking garage directly across from City Hall on both the upper and lower floors and along the streets. There is additional parking available in the City lot on Chestnut Street and the City lot located half way up Broadway on the right hand side. ♦ The next Team Norwich meeting will be held on Saturday, March 19th from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at the City Fire Station. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment on resolutions. Janice Stewart, 4 Surrey Lane, Bev Goulet, director of Human Services, Mike Wolak, director of the Senior Center and Keith Ripley, Meadow Lane, all spoke in favor of resolution three concerning replacing the Senior Center bus and asked for the Councils full support. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., opposes resolutions two & three as he feels they are premature. We need a plan B and we need to scrimp and save. Andy Depta, 105 Vergason Ave., is in support of resolutions two & three. He understands the allocation of funds but asked about them being in the budget. Marvin Serruto, 100 Starr St., is totally in favor of resolution two. On resolution three he asked if we have looked at where our competition is. He supports downtown. There being no further speakers, Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment period closed. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 7, 2011 Ald. Desaulniers made a motion, seconded by Ald. Popovich, to amend the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom: BE IT RESOLVED that Alan Remondi be appointed to the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners for a term to expire on February 28, 2013 or until a successor is appointed. Upon motion of Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Popovich, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom as amended: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that Alan Remondi be and hereby is re-appointed to the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners/Sewer Authority of the City of Norwich for a term to expire on February 28, 2016 or until a successor is appointed, subject to the terms of Chapter 12 of the Charter of the City of Norwich. Upon motion of Ald. Caron, seconded by Ald. Popovich, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by City Manager Bergren: 1. WHEREAS, the following projects from the City of Norwich’s Capital Improvement Fund have been completed, will be completed, or are no longer needed; leaving $199,346.23 of their original non-lapsing budgets available for reallocation: Account Budget Revised Number Account Description Reason for change Budget Decrease Budget 10208-88102 CHESTNUT STREETSCAPE Project on hold 100,000.00 (88,904.00) 11,096.00 OCCUM ROAD 10208-88602 WIDENING/PARK IMPRO Project on hold 100,000.00 (55,000.00) 45,000.00 BROWN PARK SEAWALL & 10206-24531 PIER REHA Complete 34,256.00 (762.85) 33,493.15 10207-88201 PW GARAGE EXHAUST SYSTEM Complete 50,000.00 (5,938.00) 44,062.00 ENERGY CONSERVATION 10207-88203 PROJECTS Complete 73,438.00 (172.33) 73,265.67 10208-88210 ROSE GARDEN FENCE Complete 90,000.00 (14,700.00) 75,300.00 10210-88321 POLICE VEHICLES Complete 140,000.00 (72.00) 139,928.00 10210-88424 LAUREL HILL VFD PAGERS Complete 15,000.00 (170.00) 14,830.00 YANTIC LANE DRAINAGE 10211-88603 IMPRVMNTS Complete 80,000.00 (33,627.05) 46,372.95 682,694.00 (199,346.23) 483,347.77 ; and 2. WHEREAS, the following projects from the City of Norwich’s Capital Improvement Fund need funding of $199,346.23: Account Budget Revised Number Account Description Reason for change Budget Increase Budget Actual costs higher than 10207-88202 PW AUTOMATIC GAS PUMPS budget 193,581.00 18,286.37 211,867.37 10211-88336 SENIOR CENTER BUS Replace senior bus - 55,000.00 55,000.00 10211-88421 POLICE EQUIPMENT Replace 20 sets of body armor 65,200.00 9,500.00 74,700.00 PLAN OF CONSERVATION & Increase funding for 10-year 10211-80015 DEVELOPMENT plan update 60,000.00 45,000.00 105,000.00 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 7, 2011 Radio build-out on lower W. Thames St, SCBA Upgrades and/or replacements, and PPE 10211-88422 NORWICH FIRE EQUIPMENT rack at Greeneville Station 136,781.00 16,000.00 152,781.00 SCBA Upgrades and/or 10211-88423 EGP FIRE EQUIPMENT replacements 44,750.00 10,800.00 55,550.00 SCBA Upgrades and/or 10211-88424 LAUREL HILL FIRE EQUIPMENT replacements 25,400.00 10,800.00 36,200.00 SCBA Upgrades and/or 10211-88425 OCCUM FIRE EQUIPMENT replacements 17,225.00 10,800.00 28,025.00 SCBA Upgrades and/or 10211-88426 TAFTVILLE FIRE EQUIPMENT replacements 41,000.00 10,800.00 51,800.00 SCBA Upgrades and/or 10211-88427 YANTIC FIRE EQUIPMENT replacements 27,710.00 10,800.00 38,510.00 Remaining funds available for 10211-88000 CAPITAL CONTINGENCY allocation 300,000.00 1,559.86 301,559.86 911,647.00 199,346.23 1,110,993.23 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the unexpended funds of $199,346.23 from the projects enumerated in (1.) be and hereby are reallocated to the projects enumerated in (2.). Upon motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Hinchey, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom: WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich anticipates that at its first meeting in April scheduled for April 4, 2011 at 7:30 p.m., it will take up, consider and act upon the issue of adoption of the Downtown Norwich Revitalization Plan pursuant to the “Downtown Norwich Revitalization Programs: Project Plan” prepared pursuant to the General Statutes, including Chapters 130, 132 and 588l, if the same as adopted by the Norwich Community Development Corporation, acting as the development agency of the City of Norwich; and WHEREAS, the Plan is presently on file open to public inspection at the offices of the Norwich Community Development Corporation, the Norwich City Clerk and on their respective websites at www.askncdc.com and www.norwichct.org; and WHEREAS, the Norwich Community Development Corporation has scheduled public hearings with respect to the Downtown Norwich Revitalization Plan; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds it would be in the public interest to schedule a further public hearing to be held by the Council of the City of Norwich before it considers and acts on the adoption of the Downtown Norwich Revitalization Plan NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that a public hearing on the “Downtown Norwich Revitalization Programs: Project Plan” (the “Development Plan”) be scheduled for Monday, March 28, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at the Norwich City Council chambers at 100 Broadway, Norwich, Connecticut; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that notice of such public hearing be given by publication twice in a newspaper having daily local circulation; the first notice to be published on or before March 12, 2011 and 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 7, 2011 the second on or before March 19, 2011; and that notice of such public hearing also be posted in the office of the Norwich City Clerk and posted on the City of Norwich website. Upon motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Caron, it was unanimously voted to waive the reading and set a public hearing date of March 21, 2011 for the following ordinance introduced by City Manager Bergren: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 7­94(f) OF THE NORWICH CODE OF ORDINANCES TO DESIGNATE THE ASSESSOR AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF NORWICH NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that Section 7‐94(f) of the Norwich Code of Ordinances be amended by designating the assessor rather than the city manager as administrator of the Enterprise Zone Program in the City of Norwich as follows: Sec. 7‐94 (f) The city manager city assessor is designated as the administrator of the Enterprise Zone Program in the City of Norwich. Purpose ‐ To substitute the city assessor for the city manager as administrator of the Enterprise Zone Program. Upon motion of Ald. Popovich, seconded by Ald. Hinchey, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:20 PM. CITY CLERK 5