City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 1, 2012 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held October 1, 2012 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Aldermen Desaulniers, Noblick, Braddock, Hinchey, Bettencourt, Jaskiewicz and Mayor Nystrom. City Manager Bergren and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom presided. Ald. Bettencourt read the opening prayer and Ald. Braddock led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Upon motion of Ald. Jaskiewicz, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the minutes of September 4th & 18th, 2012, & Special Meeting September 6, 2012. Mayor Nystrom called for a Public Hearing on AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $250,000 FOR THE REVALUATION OF THE CITY’S REAL PROPERTY GRAND LIST AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUE OF $250,000 BONDS OF THE CITY TO MEET SAID APPROPRIATION AND PENDING THE ISSUANCE THEREOF THE MAKING OF TEMPORARY BORROWINGS FOR SUCH PURPOSE. Mayor Nystrom asked two department heads to speak to open the hearing in order to discuss this issue, giving greater information to members of the public who wish to speak. Mayor Nystrom declared the Public Hearing open. Joe Ruffo City Comptroller, 81 Sherwood Lane, stated the 2012-13 budget didn’t include this item because the City asked for an extension from the State. The reason for the extension request was there was not enough arm length Real Estate transactions to make a viable assessment. The governor didn’t sign the request. He stated that the city has used this option in the past to make a bond ordinance which gives funds in place to sign contract. Donna Ralston, Mystic, stated Norwich is required to do a revaluation and the Governor vetoed the bill in June having to immediately write the RFP. Three bids came in the lowest bid chosen was Vision Government Solutions. Speaking in favor: None Speaking in opposition: David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., spoke in opposition of this ordinance he felt that several past projects prove assessments are too high for the taxes owed. He would like to see a level playing field. Andy Depta, 105 Vergason Ave., stated he didn’t fully understand what the Comptroller stated. He thought that money yearly was put in a revaluation fund to pay the cost. Questioned why the staff didn’t prepare for this revaluation. There being no further speakers Mayor Nystrom declared the public hearing closed. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 1, 2012 Upon a motion Ald. Bettencourt, seconded Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to waive the reading of the full text and incorporate it into the minutes. Mayor Nystrom called for the second reading on AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $250,000 FOR THE REVALUATION OF THE CITY’S REAL PROPERTY GRAND LIST AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUE OF $250,000 BONDS OF THE CITY TO MEET SAID APPROPRIATION AND PENDING THE ISSUANCE THEREOF THE MAKING OF TEMPORARY BORROWINGS FOR SUCH PURPOSE. Upon a motion Ald. Jaskiewicz, seconded by Ald. Braddock, to adopt the following ordinance introduced by Mayor Nystrom. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 1, 2012 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 1, 2012 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 1, 2012 The above ordinance passed on a roll call vote of 7-0. Presentation by the Norwich Redevelopment Agency, Area-wide Brownfield’s Plan. Letter from CT DEEP regarding opening date of fishing season. 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 1, 2012 6 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 1, 2012 City Manager Alan Bergren gave his report as followed: DATE: October 1, 2012 TO: Mayor Peter A. Nystrom & Council Members FROM: Alan H. Bergren, City Manager SUBJECT: City Manager’s Report 1. Upcoming Events/Meetings • The next Mayor’s One City Forum is scheduled for Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 9A.M. at the East Great Plains Volunteer Fire Department. 2. Finance 7 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 1, 2012 We are pleased to inform you, as of January 1, 2013, all City of Norwich pension payments will be handled directly through the City. All pension requests, changes and operations will continue to be handled by Pat Osten, Retirement Plan Administrator of the Human Resources Department. We believe this change from Wilmington Trust (M&T Bank) to the City of Norwich should result in: • A meaningful savings to the Pension Plan, • Timely resolution of any changes by individual pensioners, • A single location to resolve pension issues, City of Norwich, Human Resources Department Also, beginning on January 15, 2013, all pensioners will be paid once a month (once every 30 days) and all payments will be made as direct deposit only with advices being mailed several days earlier. These changes are the same as the US Treasury recently put in place with Social Security payments. We will hold several informational meetings in City Hall during October and November to review and discuss these changes. The informational meetings will take place as follows: Date Time Location Tuesday, October 16th 6:00 P.M. City Hall Room 108 Saturday, October 20th 10:00 A.M. City Fire House Wednesday, October 24th 10:00 A.M. City Hall Room 335 Tuesday, November 20th 6:00 P.M. City Hall Room 335 3. Public Works The Department of Public Works is tentatively scheduled to resurface Central Avenue beginning on Tuesday, October 9th. Work is expected to take approximately 2 weeks, depending on weather. Every possible accommodation will be made to minimize disruption to area businesses while completing the work in a timely manner. Motorists using Central Avenue strictly as a thru way are advised to seek alternate routes during construction. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment. none Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment closed. Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by City Manager Bergren. RESOLVED, that the proposed Agreement between the City of Norwich, Connecticut and UPSEU/COPS - Dispatchers, for wages covering the period of August 2, 2011 through June 30, 2012, be, and the same hereby is, approved in accordance with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes, Section 7-474, and be it further resolved, that the City Manager, Alan H. Bergren, be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to execute the same in the name of the City. 8 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 1, 2012 Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Hinchey, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom and President Pro Tem Desaulniers. BE IT RESOLVED that John A. John be appointed to the Personnel and Pension Board as a regular member for a term to expire on March 01, 2013 or until a successor is appointed. Upon motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted, to set a public hearing on October 15, 2012 , for the second reading and action for the following ordinance introduced by Mayor Nystrom and City Manager Bergren: AN ORDINANCE RELATIVE TO PENSION PLAN ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE CITY TREASURER WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 1597 adopted by the Council on August 4, 2008 provided that, effective upon adoption of the ordinance, the Assistant City Manager, City Clerk, Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller, Human Resources Director, Assistant Human Resources Director, Retirement Plan Administrator, Human Resources Assistant, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Deputy Police Chief, Human Services Director, and Public Works Director should all be subject to the same pension plan changes applicable to the eight collective bargaining units covered in a resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on July 7, 2008; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds it appropriate that the City Treasurer be subject to the same pension plan changes as described in Ordinance No. 1597. NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF CITY OF NORWICH that: Effective upon the adoption of this ordinance and retroactive to the week ending August 10, 2008, the Treasurer of the City of Norwich shall be subject to the same pension plan changes applicable to the eight collective bargaining units covered in the resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on July 7, 2008 as referenced as to certain non‐union department personnel in Ordinance No. 1597 adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on August 4, 2008. Upon motion by Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:20 pm. CITY CLERK 9