City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held May 20, 2013 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. Desaulniers read the opening prayer and Ald. Noblick led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to accept the letter of resignation from Sarah A. Kannas from the Personnel & Pension Board. A presentation from NCDC of quarterly activities from Bob Mills and Jason Vincent the Mayor also recognized Frank Blanchard: 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 6 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 City Manager Alan Bergren gave his report as followed: DATE: May 20, 2013 TO: Mayor Peter A. Nystrom & Council Members FROM: Alan H. Bergren, City Manager SUBJECT: City Manager’s Report 1. Upcoming Events • The fireworks committee is holding an event, which includes a silent auction, under the tent at the marina on Thursday, May 30th at 6 PM. Harbor Management Commission Chairman John- Paul Mereen will be honored with the Ron Aliano Service Award and all proceeds will benefit the fireworks. Admission is $10. • The Rotary will be holding a ceremony at 4 PM before the opening of the carnival Thursday, May 23rd, to dedicate the electric trolley that they are donating to the City. This dedication will culminate many years of planning and fundraising by the Rotary to provide this wonderful addition to the efforts underway to highlight the unique attractions our City has to offer both visitors and residents. • The Rotary Carnival opens on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the Howard T. Brown Park. Details are available on the City’s website event calendar. • A ceremony to honor Veterans will be held on Memorial Day at Memorial Park in Taftville at 10 AM. Following the ceremony, the Memorial Day parade will step off at 12PM at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and end at Chelsea Parade with a brief ceremony. • The next Mayor’s One City Forum is scheduled for Saturday, June 1st 9AM at the East Great Plains Volunteer Fire Department. • The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Riverfest is Saturday, June 1st at the Howard T. Brown Park. Event details can be found on the City’s website event calendar. 2. FY 2013-14 Budget Questions At the public hearing on Monday, May 13th, questions were raised on the budget that I would like to respond to below: 7 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 • Non-union Department Head Proposed Salary: To reiterate the information that I have given at a previous council meeting; Non-union department heads do not submit their own salary requests in the budget. The figure in the request line item is what they are currently earning. • City Manager’s Office Staff: The position was covered by a union contract for most of this current year and the individual paid union dues. We settled the contract and they were entitled to the same retroactive pay as all other union members. Going forward, the position will not be a union position and will be benchmarked to a similar position in Human Resources. • Funding within Proposed Budget for Ice-Rink: There is no funding for chlorine or any other apparatus in the current budget and no operating subsidy in the proposed budget for the Ice-Rink. • Board of Education Information Corrections: BOE membership: Keleigh Arian will be replaced with Robert Aldi as a member of the Board of Education on page 19 in the adopted budget book. Number of schools in the school system on page 13 of the proposed budget document: This will be updated with the correct number of parochial schools in the adopted budget book. The Wildwood Christian Academy hadn’t been included in previous years, but we will add them which will bring the total to three. Class Size and CMT scores: We received these statistics after the proposed budget was printed from the State of Connecticut’s Strategic School Profile; near the end of April. They will be updated in the adopted budget book. • $10,000 parking lease: This is an annual payment that the City makes until 2049 as part of the arrangement with the United Congregational Church dating back to 1999 when the City built a parking deck on Church’s property. • Police Department telephone budget: The increase reflects a phase-in of NPU charges for City departments’ use of the new fiber optic network. The fiber optic network will enable us to increase functionality and reliability of our systems. 3. Laurel Hill Fire Department I would like to commend Chief Aaron Westervelt and the members of his department for their assistance in addressing the emergency with the Yantic Fire Department when one of their engines went down. During the next few weeks, Laurel Hill is loaning Engine 61 to Yantic and Yantic has transferred a squad over to Laurel Hill. This temporary measure exemplifies the unique dedication we have within all of our Fire departments to work together to protect the life and property of our citizens. 4. Public Works Paving is underway on Hickory and Brook Streets. We expect this work to be completed within 1-2 weeks, weather permitting. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes if possible. 5. City Fire Department Since the beginning of May the NFD has responded to 115 calls to include 2 building fires, 1 explosion, 85 EMS, 2 HazMat and 5 service calls. They are averaging an emergency service request every 4 hours 24 hour/day and are beginning to recognize a positive impact from the additional staffing on the fire ground. The Chief is analyzing the HVAC systems for long term capital requests at the HQ station, and the Greeneville renovation is on-going. We are awaiting a decision from the State Building Inspector for relief from a requirement to finish the office space for the Greeneville neighborhood association. Once attained we will finish the project at the Greeneville firehouse. 8 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 6. Police The Norwich Police Department in partnership with the Prevention Council has begun a Medication Drop-Box Program. The Drop Box has been acquired and installed in the lobby at Police Headquarters. The lobby is always open, making the Drop Box access convenient to the general public. This is a no questions asked, confidential free service that will help protect our environment and our youth. We encourage the public to use it and dispose of unused, unwanted, or expired medications. 7. Public Safety Committee The Public Safety Committee is hosting a special meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21st at 7:00 PM at the Yantic Fire house to discuss proposed street numbering adjustments for 911-emergency response and uniform address identification for the Sunnyside neighborhood. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Noblick, to reintroduce from being tabled the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom and President Pro Tem Desaulniers. On a roll call vote the resolution was reintroduced with a 6-1 vote with Ald. Bettencourt voting in opposition. WHEREAS, The Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC) is a non-profit, 501(c)3 Connecticut Corporation formed under the non-stock corporation laws of the State of Connecticut; and WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Norwich by resolution adopted April 5, 1971 designated NCDC as the development agency of the City of Norwich for the purpose of exercising the powers granted by Chapter 132 of the Connecticut General Statutes; and WHEREAS, NCDC has been serving as the development agency of the City of Norwich since April 5, 1971; and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich and NCDC have enjoyed and mutually benefitted from the close relationship formed between them over the past thirty-six years; and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich has from time to time provided funding to NCDC to enable it to pursue its goals on the behalf of the City of Norwich; and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich wishes to continue the relationship with NCDC involving its core work of economic development services to provide the City with full time, professional assistance. WHEREAS, this assistance shall include but not be limited to attraction, retention and expansion of business development opportunities and also may include development/re-development of under-utilized property, marketing, technical assistance and partnerships with various enterprises; and WHEREAS, NCDC shall also continue to provide other associated work including the administration of the downtown bond, management of the business park and coordinating various projects previously assigned 9 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 and/or development activities, special projects and technical assistance as assigned through the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that said Council expresses its incontrovertible intent that the City of Norwich provide financial support to NCDC in the annual amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) per fiscal year for the next five years subject to the annual appropriation process, commencing on July 1, 2013 for the first fiscal year, said funding to be paid in two installments with fifty percent (50%) paid on July 1st, and fifty percent (50%) paid on January 1st. Also, up to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per fiscal year shall be paid in fiscal year 2013-14 and subsequent fiscal years not to exceed five years and subject to the annual appropriation process, to NCDC toward their activities relating to the administration of capital projects as assigned by the City, payable in twenty-five percent (25%) increments commencing the first year on the following dates: July 1st 2013, October 1st 2013, January 1st 2014 and April 1st 2014 and the subsequent years on the same schedule; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that it recommends that the City Manager include such funding in City budgets for this purpose during this period; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that this resolution may be amended from time to time by succeeding City Councils as deemed appropriate. On a roll call vote the above resolution passed with a 5-2 vote with Ald. Bettencourt and Jaskiewicz voting in opposition. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment. Dale Plummer, 161 Broadway, Norwich Heritage Trust, stated on resolution #3 he was disappointed to see this item on the agenda rejecting the proposal and would like to see another RFP be put forth and appoint a committee. He stated the importance of keeping this a historic building. Maria Jolicoeur, 161 Broadway, spoke in support of resolution # 3 stating that the City should promote the preservation and beauty of the architecture at the Reid & Hughes building. Asked that this building be rehabbed, utilized and not be torn down. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm St, stated on resolution #1 she would like to see quarterly reports on how the money is spent. Stated on resolution # 2 it would be helpful to have back history, ramifications, liability to the City, cost and such. Asked on resolution # 3 not to spend any more on this project. Asked that on resolution #5 the street number of Campbell should be 372. Kathleen Murphy, Boswell Ave, spoke on resolution#3 stating the building should be refurbished. Resolution #4 stated the CHFA homeownership program is a great program. Richard Caron, 307 Main St, supports resolution # 3 asked to put this building out for a RFP and put together a committee so the property can be developed. Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt Ave, spoke on resolution # 1 stating this is a help to businesses. Spoke on resolution # 3 stated it’s easy to tear down a building and harder to put one in its place, utilize the building or give it away for a $1.00. 10  JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 Gregory Grippo, 209 Boswell Ave, spoke in support of resolution # 3 asking to save the building stating he would volunteer (his labor) to save or patch the roof. Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment closed. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Bettencourt, to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Noblick it was unanimously voted to postpone the action until June 10, 2013. WHEREAS, The City of Norwich is eligible to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement funds for the 2013-14 fiscal year; and WHEREAS, these funds are extended through the Department of Housing and Urban Development under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Act 93-383), as amended in 1977; and WHEREAS, a request for proposals was published in January, 2013 for applications due in February 2013, 2 public meetings were held in March, 2013 by the Community Development Advisory Committee and a public hearing was held on May 6, 2013 by the Council of the City of Norwich regarding these funds; and WHEREAS, at the time of public deliberation by the Community Development Advisory Committee on March 27, 2013 the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development had not provided an allocation amount, which required the Community Development Advisory Committee to estimate the allocation for the CDBG entitlement to be $678,735. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE NORWICH CITY COUNCIL that the estimated allocation sum of $678,735 in CDBG entitlement grant funds shall be allocated as follows, and that the Community Development Supervisor is hereby directed to submit the Annual Action Plan for the City of Norwich to the Department of Housing and Urban Development no later than July 17, 2013. CDAC CDBG Requests CDBG Requests - PY 2013 Recommendations Anticipated PY 2013 CDBG Funds (8% reduction) $ 678,785.00 $ 678,785.00 1 CD Office - Administration $ 135,756.00 $ 135,756.00 2 OIC New London - Project Employment $ 15,000.00 $ - 3 Norwich Adult Education - ESOL Madonna Place $ 10,000.00 $ 6,000.00 4 Big Brothers - One to One Mentors $ 4,000.00 $ 4,000.00 5 Norwich Youth & Family Services - Juvenile Justice Alliance Case Manager $ 20,200.00 $ 20,200.00 6 NHS - Norwich Works $ 32,000.00 $ 26,000.00 7 NHS - Norwich Community Care Team - Rehousing & Shelter Diversion Program $ 30,000.00 $ 30,000.00 8 Safe Futures (formerly Women's Center) Domestic Violence Response Team $ 5,000.00 $ 5,000.00 9 Norwich Public Schools - BRIDGES Extended Learning Program $ 50,000.00 $ - 10 Our Piece of the Pie - Pathways to Success $ 50,000.00 $ 30,000.00 11 Norwich Housing Authority - JFK Roof Repair Phase II $ 90,000.00 $ - 12 Disabilities Network - ramps $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 13 Norwich Fire Dept - Permanent Storage Structure at Central Station $ 100,000.00 $ - 14 SCADD - Bathroom renovation 313 Main St. $ 68,100.00 $ - 15 CD Office - Property Rehabilitation Program $ 325,000.00 $ 300,000.00 16 CD Office - Economic Development Job Creation/Retention $ 105,000.00 $ 105,000.00 11 17 CD Office - Homeownership Downpayment Assistance $ 60,000.00 $ - 18 Fund Balance $ 1,829.00 Total Requests $ 1,115,056.00 $ 678,785.00 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 Upon a motion of Ald. Noblick, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich approved a development agreement pertaining to certain properties on Chestnut Street with an entity known as 88‐98 Chestnut Street, LLC, which agreement provided for the phased development of certain properties on Chestnut Street; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich approved subsequent amendments to such Agreement, including a First Amended City of Norwich/88‐98 Chestnut Street, LLC Developer Agreement and a subsequent First Amendment to the First Amended City of Norwich/ 88‐98 Chestnut Street, LLC Developer Agreement (collectively, the “Agreement”); and WHEREAS, a proposed Second Amendment to the Agreement was negotiated to effect the termination of the Agreement in a manner by which the Developer sought to accommodate the Developer’s third party obligations to certain adjoining property owners, but that document was not finalized, executed or delivered; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds that the Developer, 88‐98 Chestnut Street, LLC, has failed to satisfy in a timely and complete fashion obligations to develop the “Combined Phase”, Phase III or Phase IV, all as required in said Amended Agreement and there has been a cessation of all attempts by the Developer to discharge any of its obligations with respect to the project which constitute continuing, ongoing and actual defaults under Article 7 of the Amended Agreements referred to herein, more particularly under Section 7.1; and WHEREAS, Section 7.2 permits the City of Norwich to demand by written notice that the defaulting party cure the condition or event which has caused such default within 30 days. 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 issue a written notice to the Developer demanding that it cure its default under the Agreement within 30 days of receipt of said notice; AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that absent a cure of its default under the Agreement and to develop said phases of the project within thirty (30) days of the date of receipt of this notice shall entitle the City of Norwich to exercise its rights to impose all remedies as set forth in Article 7, including the right of termination; AND, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that all offers of the city to negotiate with the developer in contemplation of the execution and delivery of a Second Amendment to the Agreement by which the parties would terminate their mutual obligations under conditions of benefit to the Developer are otherwise hereby withdrawn. 12 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 Upon a motion of Ald. Noblick, seconded by Ald. Braddock, to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Noblick. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich is the owner of property located at 193‐201 Main Street known as the Reid & Hughes Building; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted February 22, 2011 appointed a Reid & Hughes Committee to analyze and make recommendations as to repair, restoration, modification and marketing of the Reid & Hughes Building and to report their recommendations to the Council; and WHEREAS, said Reid & Hughes Committee presented a report to the Council on January 17, 2012, its report including a document entitled “Assessment of Redevelopment Opportunities,” dated January 9, 2012; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted February 6, 2012 appointed a Reid & Hughes Planning and Development Committee to develop and issue a Request for Proposals seeking proposals from qualified developers to develop the Reid & Hughes Building, to evaluate all proposals received, and to submit all proposals together with the Committee’s recommendations to the Council; and WHEREAS, said Reid & Hughes Planning and Development Committee received one proposal from Becker & Becker Associates, Inc. which it duly reported to the Council; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted July 2, 2012 directed City Manager Alan H. Bergren to negotiate on behalf of the City of Norwich with Becker & Becker Associates, Inc. and or such entity as may be established by Becker & Becker Associates, Inc. for purposes of developing the Reid & Hughes Building to reach an Agreement with respect to the development of the Reid & Hughes Building and to deliver said Agreement to the Council of the City of Norwich for consideration of the same; and WHEREAS, after negotiation with Becker & Becker Associates, Inc., City Manager Alan H. Bergren has reported to the Council of the City of Norwich that he has not been able to negotiate an Agreement which he believes to be satisfactory with Becker & Becker Associates, Inc.; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich has received an engineering report dated April 18, 2013 presenting a cost analysis as to different approaches to Demolition and Façade Preservation of the properties identified as the Reid & Hughes Building; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, having considered the information available to it, finds that it would be in the best interest to the City of Norwich to consider committing a sum of money to the development of or demolition, with or without façade preservation but with subsequent reuse, of the Reid & Hughes Building property and to issue a new Request for Proposals with respect to the property identified as the Reid & Hughes Building. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the proposal of Becker & Becker Associates, Inc. presented to the City of Norwich through a Request for Proposal process as described herein be rejected with no developer selected; 13 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that City Manager Alan H. Bergren, be and hereby is, authorized and directed to notify Becker and Becker Associates, Inc. that its proposal has not been accepted and to thank it for its continuing interest in developing property in Norwich; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that City Manager Alan H. Bergren, be and hereby is, authorized and directed to prepare a Request for Proposals seeking proposals from qualified developers to develop the Reid & Hughes Building property to include developers proposing redevelopment without significant demolition of the existing structures, demolition of the existing structure and reuse of the property, with or without preservation and/or incorporation of the façade in the finished project; to indicate the City of Norwich will consider advancing a sum of money to the project, the sum and terms of any advance to be determined together with the conveyance of the property to the successful developer; and to require all proposals to include a project timeline, a requirement that the successful developer post a performance bond and satisfactory proof of the financial capacity to carry out the project as proposed; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that City Manager Alan H. Bergren present a draft of the Request for Proposals to the Council by June 17, 2013 for its review and approval; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that it reserves to itself all decisions to be made as to selecting any developer or any proposal, or none of the same, with respect to the development of the Reid & Hughes Building property. Motion to amend by Ald. Noblick, seconded by Desaulniers it was unanimously voted to amend the above resolution. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich is the owner of property located at 193‐201 Main Street known as the Reid & Hughes Building; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted February 22, 2011 appointed a Reid & Hughes Committee to analyze and make recommendations as to repair, restoration, modification and marketing of the Reid & Hughes Building and to report their recommendations to the Council; and WHEREAS, said Reid & Hughes Committee presented a report to the Council on January 17, 2012, its report including a document entitled “Assessment of Redevelopment Opportunities,” dated January 9, 2012; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted February 6, 2012 appointed a Reid & Hughes Planning and Development Committee to develop and issue a Request for Proposals seeking proposals from qualified developers to develop the Reid & Hughes Building, to evaluate all proposals received, and to submit all proposals together with the Committee’s recommendations to the Council; and WHEREAS, said Reid & Hughes Planning and Development Committee received one proposal from Becker & Becker Associates, Inc. which it duly reported to the Council; and 14 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted July 2, 2012 directed City Manager Alan H. Bergren to negotiate on behalf of the City of Norwich with Becker & Becker Associates, Inc. and or such entity as may be established by Becker & Becker Associates, Inc. for purposes of developing the Reid & Hughes Building to reach an Agreement with respect to the development of the Reid & Hughes Building and to deliver said Agreement to the Council of the City of Norwich for consideration of the same; and WHEREAS, after negotiation with Becker & Becker Associates, Inc., City Manager Alan H. Bergren has reported to the Council of the City of Norwich that he has not been able to negotiate an Agreement which he believes to be satisfactory with Becker & Becker Associates, Inc.; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich has received an engineering report dated April 18, 2013 presenting a cost analysis as to different approaches to Demolition and Façade Preservation of the properties identified as the Reid & Hughes Building; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, having considered the information available to it, finds that it would be in the best interest to the City of Norwich to consider committing a sum of money to the development of or demolition, with or without façade preservation but with subsequent reuse, of the Reid & Hughes Building property and to issue a new Request for Proposals with respect to the property identified as the Reid & Hughes Building. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the proposal of Becker & Becker Associates, Inc. presented to the City of Norwich through a Request for Proposal process as described herein be rejected with no developer selected; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that City Manager Alan H. Bergren, be and hereby is, authorized and directed to notify Becker and Becker Associates, Inc. that its proposal has not been accepted and to thank it for its continuing interest in developing property in Norwich; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that Norwich Community Development Corporation, be and hereby is, authorized and directed to prepare a Request for Proposals seeking proposals from qualified developers to develop the Reid & Hughes Building property to include developers proposing redevelopment without significant demolition of the existing structures, demolition of the existing structure and reuse of the property, with or without preservation and/or incorporation of the façade in the finished project; to indicate the City of Norwich will consider advancing a sum of money to the project, the sum and terms of any advance to be determined together with the conveyance of the property to the successful developer; and to require all proposals to include a project timeline, a requirement that the successful developer post a performance bond and satisfactory proof of the financial capacity to carry out the project as proposed; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that Norwich Community Development Corporation present a draft of the Request for Proposals to the Council by June 17, 2013 for its review and approval; 15 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that it reserves to itself all decisions to be made as to selecting any developer or any proposal, or none of the same, with respect to the development of the Reid & Hughes Building property. The above amended resolution passed on a 7-0 vote. Upon a motion of Ald. Noblick, seconded by Ald. Jaskiewicz, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom and Ald. Noblick. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich has a mixed residential housing stock that is both rental and owner occupied; and WHEREAS, The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has determined that owner occupied housing helps to improve stability in neighborhoods and the City wishes to increase opportunities for homeownership specifically for teachers, military personnel and law enforcement, and WHEREAS, the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority (“CHFA”) has developed programs to provide low interest, fixed rate home mortgage loans to local and state police officers, provided the municipality currently has a community policing program, and to teachers and military personnel who are CHFA-eligible home buyers to encourage them to live in the community in which they are employed, and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich currently has a community policing program in place and is eligible to participate in the police homeownership program as well as the military personnel and teachers program, and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich wishes to participate in the CHFA homeownership programs in order to promote homeownership in the community. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Council for the City of Norwich that City Manager, Alan H. Bergren, be and hereby is authorized and directed to notify CHFA of the decision of the Council of the City of Norwich to participate in the above referenced programs, to forward CHFA a certified copy of this resolution and to execute deliver and take such other actions as are necessary and appropriate to establish and implement these programs in the City of Norwich. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to schedule a Public Hearing on June 17th, 2013 on the following resolution introduced by City Manager Bergren. WHEREAS, the property owners listed below want to participate in a cost sharing program with the City of Norwich to construct concrete sidewalks along their property; and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich wants to improve sidewalks throughout the City, 16 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 20, 2013 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that: granite curbing and concrete sidewalks will be constructed at the following locations where the property owners will pay for an assessment for the cost of the sidewalks and the City of Norwich will pay for the cost of the curbing and miscellaneous items. Samuel J. & Pamela J. Campbell 372 Washington St 2,059.00 Elaine M. Dzialo 44 Convent Avenue $ 3,416.00 Ann D. Engelhardt 47 Convent Avenue $ 3,064.00 Patrick L. & Karen A. Burpee 70 Woodrow Avenue $ 3,780.00 Charlayne Williams 51 Division Street $ 5,068.00 Gregory W. Boyd & Jessica Heffernan 374 Washington St $ 3,360.00 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the cost of this project be funded from the existing capital budget line item for sidewalks, Construction Account #81000 and the Special Assessment Fund, Fund #40000, and that a public hearing be set for the City Council meeting on June 17, 2013. The estimated city’s cost for curbing and miscellaneous construction items are estimated to be $19,240.66. Upon motion to Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:15 pm. CITY CLERK 17