City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 21, 2011 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held March 21, 2011 at 7:35 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Aldermen Desaulniers, Nash, Braddock, Hinchey, Popovich 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. A report was given on the Annual Children First Norwich/School Readiness Council. Mayor Nystrom called for a public hearing on AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 7-94(f) OF THE NORWICH CODE OF ORDINANCES TO DESIGNATE THE ASSESSOR AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF NORWICH Speaking in favor: Donna Ralston, Norwich Assessor, explained that she is already the administrator of this program and the ordinance is just cleanup. Speaking in opposition: David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., Ernie Cohen, 136 Hunters Rd., and Sheila Hayes, 8 Pin Oak Terrace. There being no further speakers, Mayor Nystrom declared the public hearing closed. Upon motion of Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to waive the reading and adopt the following ordinance introduced by City Manager Bergren: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 7-94(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. On a roll call vote the above ordinance passed 6-0. Mayor Nystrom announced that John Mylly was the first person to adopt a puppy from the new dog pound and received two $50.00 certificates to Agway. City Manager Bergren gave his report as follows: 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 21, 2011 DATE: March 21, 2011 TO: Mayor Peter A. Nystrom & Council Members FROM: Alan H. Bergren, City Manager SUBJECT: City Manager’s Report 1. Request for Information on Infrastructure & Downtown Maintenance The Mayor and I co-signed a letter which requested information from various departments on downtown infrastructure and maintenance. Attached is a copy of the original request and reports received to date from departments listed below: Parking Commission Report Public Works Report Human Services Report Building Inspection Division Report 2. Police Report on Downtown Crime & Safety Attached is a report submitted by Police Chief Louis Fusaro at the request of the Council regarding downtown crime and safety. 3. Upcoming Events/Meetings ♦ The Mayor’s next meeting with the public will be held on Saturday, April 9th from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M. at the Taftville 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. ♦ The next Team Norwich meeting will be held on Saturday, April 2nd from 9 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at the City Fire Station. ♦ There will be a budget workshop with the Board of Education this Saturday, March 26th at 9 A.M. at the City Fire Station. ♦ A public hearing on the Downtown Revitalization will be held on Monday, March 28th in the City Hall building, Council Chambers at 7 P.M. 4. Docent Program Alderman H. Tucker Braddock Jr., Jan Stewart of the Senior Center and myself were soliciting volunteers for the docent program to staff the information booth at City Hall. We were recently at the Senior Center to introduce the program and had several individuals sign up to participate. Interested parties should call the City Manager’s office at (860) 823-3750. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment on resolutions. Dennis Baptiste, 36 Pratte Ave., Bob Murphy, Vice Chair of Vet Council and Marvin Serruto, 100 Starr St., all are Veterans and are neither for or against resolution one. They just don’t want the Council to make a decision thinking that anybody spoke to them about this. None of the Vets or their groups were asked anything about it. Nobody approached the Vet Council about their feelings on this and they feel they should have been involved. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 21, 2011 Bill Champagne, President of the Norwich Historical Society, supports resolutions 3 & 4. He stated that the State likes Norwich and would like to help. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., opposes all 4 resolutions. He thinks resolution 1 is a slap in the face of the taxpayers. NCDC told Thayers Marina how to make do with less money. There is no activity downtown and he thinks we can save lots of money through tourism. Ernie Cohen, 136 Hunters Rd., spoke on resolution 2 about energy fuel. There is a fuel that every house in Norwich has, electricity. He is in favor of this resolution if it includes electric vehicles. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave., is trying to maintain a positive attitude. She feels a resolution shouldn’t have been introduced without talking to the people involved. Show courtesy and respect to the people involved. She would like to see something done instead of another study as we have boxes of studies. Jim Quarto, Elmwood Ave., feels enough money has been spent on the Reid and Hughes building. They will explore the historical restorations of the building and also consider the demolition of the building. He would love to see all forms of alternative energy for downtown Norwich. Andy Depta, 105 Vergason Ave., has no problem with resolution 1 but you should confer with the Vets. He would like the Council to vote no on resolution 3 as he feels it is premature. Adhoc has not even come in with their recommendations and he would like to know if resolution 4 is in conflict with the NCDC plan. There being no further speakers, Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment period closed. Upon motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Desaulniers, it was unanimously voted to table the following resolution introduced by Ald. Desaulniers, Hinchey and Braddock: WHEREAS, the City has consistently respected and honored the service and sacrifices made by our nation’s military personnel, both past and present; and WHEREAS, the City has dedicated the area where Broadway and Washington Street merge to Veterans and military personnel, both past and present, said area being known as Monument Park; and WHEREAS, Monument Park currently makes no formal recognition of the Veterans who have and/or are serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and WHEREAS, construction of a war monument honoring Veterans and current military personnel who have served or are currently serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan requires expanding Monument Park; and WHEREAS, the construction of a war monument will be funded will be funded entirely through private donations, fundraising, and the Veteran Organizations; and NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council that the connector road between Broadway and Washington Street, across from Williams Street, shall be discontinued and removed by the Department of Public Works for the purposes of expanding Monument Park. 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 21, 2011 Upon motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Desaulniers, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Desaulniers, Nash and Popovich: WHEREAS, the City of Norwich is developing an energy plan which, among other things, will seek to implement programs and processes to utilize sustainable energy sources and alternative fuels; and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich, as a part of this plan, has developed a purchasing policy with regard to alternative fuel vehicles, which provides that certain departments of the City, when considering purchase or lease of light and heavy duty on road vehicles, shall determine if a suitable alternative fuel vehicle is available; and further provides that the purchasing department shall review exemption requests to the policy and assist offices, agencies and departments with vehicle purchases and leases. A copy of this purchasing policy is attached to this resolution as Exhibit A. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that it go on record as supporting this purchasing policy implemented by the City and encourages the use by the City of alternative fuel vehicles when available and appropriate to the anticipated uses of the vehicle. Ald. Braddock made a motion, seconded by Ald. Hinchey, to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Desaulniers, Braddock and Hinchey: WHEREAS, a new ad hoc committee has been established called the Reid & Hughes Committee whose intent is to analyze the building and determine if the building is worth saving and to determine what can be done with the building for economic growth in the downtown; and WHEREAS, the Reid & Hughes building has to go through a remediation study for contaminates such as lead and asbestos whether the City retains ownership, sells it or demolishes the building; and WHEREAS, the Reid & Hughes Committee would like to apply for a grant called the Connecticut Historic Preservation Technical Assistance Grant (HPTAG), a matching grant of $20,000.00; and WHEREAS, the H.P.T.A.G. grant will be used to assess and help determine the remediation and use of the Reid & Hughes building for the future. 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 on behalf of the City of Norwich to apply for the $20,000.00 Historic Preservation Technical Assistance Grant through the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. The above resolution passed on a vote of 5-1 with Mayor Nystrom voted in opposition. Upon motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Hinchey, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Desaulniers, Braddock and Hinchey: WHEREAS, the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation has a non‐matching $50,000 Vibrant Communities Initiative Grant; and 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MARCH 21, 2011 WHEREAS, this Vibrant Communities Initiative Grant will be used to identify all historical property in the downtown and to develop a strategy plan to enhance the significance of these properties for economic growth and a tourism destination. 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 on behalf of the City of Norwich to apply for the $50,000.00 Vibrant Communities Initiative Grant. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., believes you need to become familiar with risk management and it has to be part of every decision. Purchasing power has increased 5 times and the middle class of people are being squeezed out of existence. The regulators are in control. Andy Depta, 105 Vergason Ave., stated the Council allowed debate during the public hearing which was never done before. He was concerned as to how many have thoroughly read the grants. Adhoc is not authorized to apply or spend money from grants. Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt Ave., spoke on the tax exempt status of Ahepa. He was told that not everyone is as fortunate as he is. They can get benefits from Section 8 housing but landlords don’t get it. Someplace the taxpayers have to get a break. Ernie Cohen, 136 Hunters Rd., stated that there are changes rapidly happening in the state such as replacing old trains. Bond money will be available but will we get any? Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave., asked for more donations for the next dog adopted from the pound and she will match it. She thanked Barry Ellison for his quick response to her call. She has made a commitment to the City of Norwich and would like to see it succeed. There being no further speakers, Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment period closed. Upon motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Popovich, it was unanimously voted that the members of the Norwich City Council go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the performance and evaluation of City Manager Alan H. Bergren, provided that City Manager Alan H. Bergren does not require that discussion be held at an open meeting, City Manager Alan H. Bergren, Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll and Ms. Randi Frank of Randi Frank Consulting, LLC shall be asked to participate during all or portions of this Executive Session at the request of the City Council. The Council was in Executive Session from 9:55 PM until 10:49 PM at which time Mayor Nystrom stated that no votes were taken. Upon motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Popovich, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 10:50 PM. CITY CLERK 5