City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 15, 2012 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held October 15, 2012 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Aldermen Braddock, Hinchey, Bettencourt, Jaskiewicz and Mayor Nystrom. City Manager Bergren and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Aldermen Desaulniers and Noblick were absent. Mayor Nystrom presided. Ald. Hinchey read the opening prayer and Ald. Braddock led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Nystrom read the following Proclamation: PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, we must safeguard schools for our children, and, through our recognition of the serious issues that face them each day, offer our children a school environment that holds promise and security; and WHEREAS, many organizations, school districts, educators and parents have publicly expressed concern about the bullying of children; and WHEREAS, it is important that we acknowledge and heighten awareness about the serious issues and the negative effects of bullying, including the long term damage it can cause in our youth; and WHEREAS, providing a safe physical and emotional environment is a significant goal and a personal responsibility of each individual, it is time for us to continue to speak out AGAINST bullying for our children; and WHEREAS, the month of October 2012 shall now be known as the National Bullying Prevention Month; and WHEREAS, under the guidance and leadership of Bully Busters, the children of Norwich are more aware of anti-bullying techniques and all of our children are better for it within the Rose City and surrounding towns and cities. NOW THEREFORE, I, MAYOR PETER ALBERT NYSTROM AND NORWICH CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM, PETE DESAULNIERS, ON BEHALF OF THE NORWICH CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, do hereby proclaim October as National Bullying Prevention Month in the City of Norwich and ask schools, students, parents, recreation programs, religious institutions, and community organizations to engage in a variety of awareness and prevention activities designed to make our communities safer for all children and adolescents. Dated this First Day of October, 2012 Peter Albert Nystrom Pete Desaulniers Mayor President Pro Tem 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 15, 2012 Mayor Nystrom stated the Public Hearing Ordinance introduced by Mayor Nystrom and City Manager Bergren below is being withdrawn at this time per the memorandum that follows. 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. Mayor Nystrom asked the City Clerk to read the Memorandum: 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 15, 2012 Upon a motion of Ald. Jaskiewicz, seconded by Ald. Bettencourt, it was unanimously voted to accept a letter about fishing opportunities in Norwich by G. M. Martin. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Hinchey, it was unanimously voted to accept the report from Department of Public Works regarding acceptance of Right-of-way strip Preston Sub. #2-12 Corning Rd. City Manager Alan Bergren gave his report as followed: DATE: October 15, 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 20, 2012 at 9A.M. at the East Great Plains Volunteer Fire Department. 2. Finance The Finance Department did a review of Capital Improvement accounts of 5 years and more. Older projects were finished under budget enabling the City to reallocate those budgeted funds. This will enable Council to appropriate $94,000 to future Capital projects of their choice. 3. Public Works The work to rehabilitate the exterior stairways at City Hall is well underway. Effective today, the Union Street stairway and entrance will be closed until further notice. Every effort will be made to reopen this entrance as soon as possible; however, the required casting work is meticulous and time consuming. Pending winter weather may also impact the reopening schedule. Both the Union Square and Broadway entrances will be open during this phase of the project. The majority of the work in resurfacing Central Avenue has been completed. Line striping and other incidental work on Central Avenue will be completed over the next couple of weeks. The Public Works Department thanks the area residents and businesses for their patience and cooperation during construction. Paving operations are also wrapping up on East Cliff Street and North Cliff Street. The remaining streets to be resurfaced in this year's paving program are Grove Street, Lake Street, Pond Street, and Winchester Street, all of which will be completed prior to Thanksgiving, weather permitting. Additionally, in the next few weeks, DPW will resurface the northern parking area at the Rose City Senior Center. The Department of Public Works recently removed 5 overgrown trees from the downtown area. Over time, these trees had caused the sidewalks around them to lift, creating a hazard for the walking public. Some of these trees were also rubbing up against adjacent buildings, creating a nuisance for building occupants. Prior to winter DPW will replace the removed trees in nearby locations with species suitable for an urban environment. It is anticipated that this tree replacement program will become an annual occurrence; replacing 3-5 of the most troublesome downtown trees each year until all tree related safety issues have been addressed. 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 15, 2012 4. Police Chief Fusaro has informed me that a new officer, Matthew Seidel, was sworn in today. He is a lateral transfer with four years of experience with the City of Groton Police Department and comes highly recommended. He will be starting his in-service training effective immediately. Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Jaskiewicz, introduced by City Manager Bergren it was unanimously voted to postpone the following resolution until the next Council meeting November 5, 2012 meeting. WHEREAS, Maximilian Kolbe, LLC has filed a subdivision application, assigned application No. 2‐12, with the Town of Preston to subdivide certain property located on the easterly side of Corning Road and the westerly side of Brickyard Road to create one new building lot; and WHEREAS, this site is within 500 feet of the Preston boundary with the City of Norwich as a result of which the Preston Planning and Zoning Commission referred the subdivision application to the City of Norwich which had no comments on the same; and WHEREAS, a portion of the property to be subdivided is located within the City of Norwich but the Norwich property will not be subdivided as a result of the application; and WHEREAS, the property in Norwich consists of approximately 1.03 acres and the property in Preston approximately 6.07 acres; and WHEREAS, the dwelling house contemplated by the subdivision application will be located in the Town of Preston but will obtain access to Corning Road by virtue of a driveway installed through a portion of the property located in Norwich; and WHEREAS, the Preston Planning and Zoning Commission has approved the subdivision application, the approval contingent, however, on the dedication of certain land located on Corning Road in Norwich by Maximilian Kolbe, LLC to the City of Norwich for road widening purposes, and transfer of that land to Norwich, or its incorporation within the newly subdivided lot should Norwich reject said dedication and transfer; the property to be dedicated and conveyed more particularly described in Exhibit A attached hereto; and WHEREAS, Maximilian Kolbe, LLC proposes to transfer said land to the City of Norwich by Warranty Deed subject to the City of Norwich accepting the same; and WHEREAS, this proposed transfer will require a review by the Commission on the City Plan. 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 to accept a deed of conveyance on behalf of the City of Norwich from Maximilian Kolbe, LLC in form satisfactory to the Corporation Counsel, together with a real estate conveyance tax return, to execute any documents necessary to effectuate the conveyance of land to 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 15, 2012 the City of Norwich and to cause said deed and any other necessary documents to filed with the city clerk for recording. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment. Keith Ripley, Meadow Lane, spoke in support of Resolution # 3 stating that it’s important to appropriate items which strengthen the Fire Department. Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment closed. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Jaskiewicz, 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 - Police, for wages covering the period of August 2, 2012 through June 30, 2013, 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. Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by City Manager Bergren. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich receives various State and Federal Youth Employment Grants that are beneficial to the City’s youth, and, WHEREAS, these grants support positions within the City of Norwich which administer the programs as outlined within each grant, and, WHEREAS, the grants do not provide for required fringe benefits such as Pension, Life and Medical payments for said employees, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Manager, Alan H. Bergren, be and hereby is authorized to charge the City Contingency Account #01090-80086 $8,800 for coverage of required fringe benefits described above to support these grant funded positions. Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Bettencourt, Braddock, and Noblick. 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 15, 2012 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 $54,000of their original non-lapsing budgets available for reallocation: Account Budget Revised Number Account Description Reason for change Budget Decrease Budget 10209-88208 City Roof Replacements Complete $50,000.00 ($6,175.76) $43,824.24 Fire departments radio, hose, turnout Equipment funded in 10210-88422 gear, and inventory subsequent capital budgets 159,130.00 (21,152.80) 137,977.20 10211-88603 Yantic Lane Drainage Improvements Complete 46,372.95 (15,942.03) 30,430.92 Equipment funded in 10211-88425 Occum VFD equipment subsequent capital budgets 28,025.00 (10,729.41) 17,295.59 $283,527.95 ($54,000.00) $229,527.95 ; and 1. WHEREAS, the Occum Fire Department station generator and electrical panel needs to be replaced. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the unexpended funds of $54,000 from the projects enumerated in (1.) be and hereby are reallocated to Occum Fire Department station generator and electrical panel replacement project. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Jaskiewicz, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by City Manager Bergren. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich owns property at 631 West Main Street and 196-200 Yantic Street both of which it may be required to be demolished in whole or in part; and WHEREAS, the City has obtained bids for environmental testing and a report with respect to both properties with Mystic Air being the low bidder for both, $1,540 for 631 West Main Street and $2,875 for 196-200 Yantic Street. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Norwich, that the sum of $4,415 be and hereby is appropriated from the Demolition Account, Account #15232-88110 for this purpose. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Jaskiewicz, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by City Manager Bergren. WHEREAS, the Norwich Community Development Corporation (hereinafter referred to as “NCDC”) on behalf of the City of Norwich contracted with GM2 Associates, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “GM2”), as a consulting engineer, for the performance of engineering services in connection with the construction of the Intermodal Transportation Center; and WHEREAS, the contract between GM2 and NCDC contemplated the project would be completed within 700 calendar days for a maximum price of $1,000,000; and 6 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 15, 2012 WHEREAS, the contract performance has extended beyond the contemplated 700 calendar days, requiring a total of 921 days to be completed within the terms of the contract between GM2 and NCDC, which has necessarily increased the requirements for the services of GM2; and WHEREAS, the NCDC has negotiated a lump sum fee of $94,000 to be paid to GM2 for the balance of its work which will be a final payment in full for all of the time expended, services provided, and costs incurred by GM2 through the closeout of this project. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the sum of $94,000 be and hereby is appropriated for payment to GM2 for the balance of its work on the Intermodal Transportation Center as described herein, said sum to be taken from the Capital Improvement Account 10213‐89C01. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that NCDC is authorized to enter into a contract amendment with GM2 to reflect the increase in the contract amount as aforesaid, said sum, paid pursuant to this contract amendment, to cover all services, costs and time expended by GM2 through the closeout of the project, and to pay over said sum. Upon a motion of Ald. Hinchey, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Noblick. WHEREAS, the City has become the owner of property located at 47, 49, 51, and 53 Washington Street through a foreclosure; and WHEREAS, the residential structure located on said property appears to be in poor condition, has been in a state of continuous disrepair, has been boarded up, and may not be capable of being rehabilitated, reconstructed or reused; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich wishes to determine whether there is interest on the part of third parties to acquire said property for other use to include the demolition of the existing structure, or for the rehabilitation and restoration of the existing structure under a homestead program or otherwise; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of the Norwich finds it to be in the best interest of the City of Norwich to issue a Request for Proposals to determine what interest, if any, may exist in acquiring the property at 47, 49, 51 and 53 Washington Street, to include the demolition or the restoration of the residential structure. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that a Committee of Sale be and hereby is appointed to consist of: Ald. Sofee Noblick Gary Schnip 7 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 15, 2012 Richard A. Caron, Sr. Andrew Zeeman James Quarto Joseph Ruffo To prepare and solicit Requests for Proposals from interested parties seeing to acquire the property, such proposals to either provide for the demolition of the existing structure on said property or for the restoration and redevelopment of said existing structure as part of a reuse of said property; to review and consider all duly made proposals according to such criteria as the Committee shall develop; and to select and recommend a proposed developer, or, if the Committee chooses, more than one proposed developer to the Council of the City of Norwich for its consideration by report to be submitted not later than the first meeting of the Norwich City Council in the month of February 2013. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that should no satisfactory response be received to the Request for Proposals, the Committee shall report the same to the Council and make such recommendation to the Council as to the disposition or retention of the property as it deems appropriate. Upon motion to Ald. Jaskiewicz, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:00 pm. CITY CLERK 8