City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held October 7, 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. 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 3 and 16, 2013. Mayor Nystrom read the following Proclamation: PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, bullying is physical, verbal, sexual, or emotional harm or intimidation intentionally directed at a person or group of people; and WHEREAS, bullying occurs in neighborhoods, playgrounds, schools, and through technology, such as the Internet and cell phones; and WHEREAS, various researchers have concluded that bullying is the most common form of violence, affecting millions of American children and adolescents annually; and WHEREAS, targets of bullying are more likely to acquire physical, emotional, and learning problems and students who are repeatedly bullied often fear such activities as riding the bus, going to school, and attending community activities; and WHEREAS, , children who bully are at greater risk of engaging in more serious violent behaviors and children who witness bullying often feel less secure, more fearful, and intimated; and WHEREAS, that Norwich schools, students, parents, recreation programs, religious institutions, and community organizations be encouraged to engage in a variety of awareness and prevention activities designed to make our communities safer for all children and adolescents. 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 proclaims October as Norwich National Bullying Prevention Month and we offer our appreciation to the Bully Busters for their work in educating and protecting the children of Norwich. Dated this Seventh Day of October 2013 Peter Albert Nystrom Pete Desaulniers Mayor President Pro Tem 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 Mayor Nystrom called for the second reading and action on AN ORDINANCE INCREASING THE FUNDING FOR EMPLOYEE SALARIES AND FRINGE BENEFITS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DURING FISCAL YEAR 2013­2014 BY APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT WHEREAS, two existing positions at Norwich Department of Human Services, a caseworker position and an accounting clerk position, are funded for only part of fiscal year 2013‐2014 in anticipation the positions would be eliminated; and WHEREAS, funding both positions for the full fiscal year would require an increase to line item 01033‐ 80012 Salaries of $42,566, and an increase to line item 01033‐89999 Fringe Benefits of $20,618, a total of $63,184; and WHEREAS, there are funds in the Contingency Account, line item 01090‐80086 which can be appropriated for this purpose; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds that community needs require a staffing level at the Department of Human Services retaining both positions for the full fiscal year. NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the appropriation for salaries for employees for the Department of Human Services, adopted at line item 01033‐80012, be increased by $42,566 for fiscal year 2013‐2014, and that the appropriation for fringe benefits for employees of the Department of Human Services, line item 01033‐89999 be increased by $20,618 for fiscal year 2013‐2014. Funds for this increase during fiscal year 2013‐2014 in the sum of $63,184 shall be taken from the Contingency Account No. 01090‐80086. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded Ald. Bettencourt, it was unanimously voted to waive the reading of the full text and incorporate it into the minutes. Upon a motion of Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Braddock, to adopt the above ordinance introduced by City Manager Bergren. The above ordinance fails on a roll call vote of 3-4 with Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Jaskiewicz, Braddock and Noblick voting in opposition. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to accept the letter of resignation from Dr. Malcolm S. Edgar from the Norwich Historic District Commission with regrets and thanks for his services. City Manager Alan Bergren gave his report as followed: DATE: October 7, 2013 TO: Mayor Peter A. Nystrom & Council Members FROM: Alan H. Bergren, City Manager SUBJECT: City Manager’s Report 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 1. Upcoming Events • The next Mayor’s One City Forum is scheduled for Saturday, October 19th at 9AM at the Yantic Volunteer Fire Department. • The Freedom Bell and Courtyard dedication will take place on Saturday, October 19th at 10:00AM in front of the City Hall Building. 2. Public Works • Public Works is currently resurfacing several streets in the Jail Hill section of the City. Streets included are Church Street, School Street, Fountain Street, Old Division Street, School House Lane, and Court Street. Work is expected to be completed at the end of this week. Residents who normally utilize on- street parking in this area may continue to park on the top 2 levels of the Main Street Garage and/or the Intermodal Transportation Center located on Falls Avenue during construction. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes during construction. • Public Works is tentatively scheduled to resurface lower Broadway, Main Street (from Broadway to Market Street), Market Street, and Courthouse Square beginning this Sunday, October 13th and ending on Monday, October 14th. This schedule was chosen to minimize disruption to downtown businesses, traffic flow, and commerce during peak hours. October 14th is a holiday with bank, school, state, and municipal closures. Public Works is communicating with the downtown establishments that are open on Sunday and will make every effort to stage the resurfacing process in a manner that minimizes disruption. This schedule is tentative until weather conditions and final availability of equipment is known. PW will provide periodic updates on the City website as information becomes available. • The tower that will house the Norwich Freedom Bell is scheduled to be delivered and erected this Wednesday, October 9th. The Verdin Company will deliver and construct the tower with support from Public Works and Norwich Public Utilities. Work is expected to begin in the morning and last much of the day. Parking on the Broadway side of City Hall may be very limited during this process. Broadway may also be closed at various times to facilitate proper placement of the crane that will set the tower on its footings. 3. 23 Washington Street Jim Troeger, Chief Building Official has written specifications for the demolition of 23 Washington and delivered them, along with the Hazmat report from Eagle Environmental, to Purchasing Agent, William Block who prepared and released an RFP. Responses are due on October 15th, 2013 at 2:00PM. 4. TVCCA Meals on Wheels The TVCCA Meals on Wheels Program in Norwich has lost funding and the program has been cut from 4 days per week of meal deliveries weekly to 1. Until March, 2013 the program was funded entirely through the federal government. In July of 2012, the federal government announced a cut to the program of approximately $40,000 for that current fiscal year ending on September 30, 2012. This resulted in Norwich deliveries being cut from 5 days to 4. Then, in March, 2013, the first of the sequestration cuts went into effect which resulted in a 5% cut to the program. The State was able to find money to continue the level of service through September 30, 2013, but that funding has ended and the sequestration cut has taken effect. TVCCA is phasing in the cuts and Norwich deliveries will be reduced to one day per week beginning October 14, 2013. Unless a significant change happens in legislation at the federal level, sequestration cuts will continue to be implemented resulting in 5% cuts to funding for this program each fiscal year for the next 10 years. The total cost to fund deliveries to Norwich seniors would be $18,602 for 4 days of deliveries weekly and $23,253 for 5 days of deliveries weekly. 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 Current funding does not exist in our adopted budget to provide for this program. We are exploring sources to fund up to four days of deliveries of meals each week at least through June 30th, 2014. 5. Website Transparency Rating Upgraded to 6th in the State In the recent Yankee Institute for Public Policy project (transparency audit) to evaluate the availability and accessibility of certain documents on local government websites, Norwich’s site was ranked 8th out of 169 Connecticut municipalities. Successful efforts led by City Comptroller, Joshua Pothier to address deficiencies which had caused Norwich to lose points, have resulted in Norwich’s ranking being upgraded to 6th. 6. Great Places in America Program Downtown Norwich was recently selected as one of 10 Great Neighborhoods in the American Planning Association’s Great Places in America program for 2013 and recognized as a role model for good planning for communities around the country. According to the attached information, historic downtown Norwich was “singled out for three decades of planning that has led to the preservation, rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of its impressive 19th and early 20th century commercial and residential buildings; $70 million in redevelopment initiatives during the past decade alone; and the neighborhood’s ethnic and cultural diversity.” 7. The Reid & Hughes RFP resolution passed by the City Council included a requirement that NCDC report the RFP timeframe to the Council by the first meeting in October. The RFP was issued on Monday September 23, 2012 and has a Submission / Response Deadline of January 10th. Link to the RFP Project website: http://askncdc.com/ReidandHughes Review Schedule DATE AGENCY RFP Notice Distributed 9/23/2013 NCDC Open Response Time 9/23/2013 -1/10/2014 N/A Responses Submitted 1/10/2014 NCDC Review of references and ranking 1/17/2014 NCDC Interview schedule week of 1/27/2014 NCDC Selection of Preferred Developer (earliest) 2/2014 CITY COUNCIL Begin Development Agreement negotiations 2/2014 NCDC 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment. Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt Ave, asked about the time line for forming the committee on resolution # 4 and stated that the new Council might want to have some input. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to suspend the rules to allow Steve and Bonnie Dumont to speak. Steve and Bonnie Dumont, Franklin, spoke in reference to resolution # 3 stating they wished to deed this land to the City as open space. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St, opposed to resolution # 4 stating there should be steps to the process so voters have better choices. Stated a Charter Revision could have unexpected surprises. Keith Ripley, Meadow Lane, spoke against resolution # 4 stated this is the wrong time and wrong Council to take this step. Andy Depta, 105 Vergason, supports resolution #4 asking why now this Council who voted against a Charter revision wants this process now. He stated that several technical changes should be addressed. He asked for a referendum vote on the budget. Richard Caron, 7 Treadway Ave, spoke in favor of resolution #4 yet asked that the budget not go to referendum vote. 6 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 Brian Kobylarz, 16 Hobart Ave stated the Charter should grow with the City. He supports a Charter Revision Committee. Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment closed. Upon a motion of Ald. Hinchey, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Bettencourt. WHEREAS, in December of 1963 the Council of the City of Norwich adopted a resolution creating an advisory committee to be known as the Mohegan Park Advisory Committee and to consist of 5 Aldermen and 5 electors to explore the preparation of a master plan for the development of Mohegan Park and to report the same to the Council on or before the regular meeting to be held in March of 1964; and WHEREAS, in March of 1968 the Council of the City of Norwich abolished the Mohegan Park Advisory Committee and established a Mohegan Park Improvement and Development Advisory Committee which then consisted of 4 electors and 3 Aldermen; and WHEREAS, the membership and make-up of the Mohegan Park Improvement and Development Advisory Committee have been changed by resolution on a number of occasions, most recently by resolution adopted May 19, 2003 reducing the number of electors on the Committee from 8 to 6, all appointed by the City Council, 3 Aldermen and the Public Works Director to serve as an ex-officio member; and WHEREAS, aldermanic members serve only during their term of office; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds that communication between the Mohegan Park Improvement and Development Advisory Committee and the Council can be facilitated by one aldermanic member and three alderpersons are not necessary. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY NORWICH that, a resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 19, 2003 be further amended by reducing the number of Aldermen appointed to Mohegan Park Improvement and Development Advisory Committee from 3 to 1 such that the committee shall consist of 6 electors appointed by the Council, one Alderman and the Public Works Director shall serve as an ex-officio member; this resolution to become effective on December 3, 2013. Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Bettencourt and Noblick. BE IT RESOLVED, that the following be and hereby are appointed members of the Mohegan Park Improvement and Development Advisory Committee to serve until December 31, 2014 or until their successors are appointed Kerry R. Bilda Timothy Smith Brandon Hyde Kevin Crowley 7 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Jaskiewicz, it was unanimously voted to refer to Commission on the City Plan the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. WHEREAS, Bonnie Dumont and Steve Dumont have proposed gifting to the City of Norwich, subject to conditions to be agreed to, an undeveloped parcel of land consisting of approximately 30.64 acres located to the rear of Prentice Lane and shown as Tract One on a boundary survey recorded in volume 12 at page 638 of the records of maps and surveys at the office of the Norwich City Clerk, this parcel being a portion of the premises conveyed to Bonnie Dumont by a Certificate of Devise recorded November 19, 2009 at volume 2586, page 168 of the Norwich Land Records; and WHEREAS, this land abuts or is located near to other city owned land and to Mohegan Park; and WHEREAS, any conveyance to the city may require said parcel to be maintained as open space or made subject to a conservation easement; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds that the parcel is assessed on the list of October 1, 2012 as having a value of $29,000 and is listed as vacant land, that the taxes due are current, and that said parcel may be of value to the city of Norwich as open space or for such other uses as may be permitted. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that City Manager Alan H. Bergren, with the assistance of such city personnel as he may choose, be and hereby is authorized and requested to obtain additional information with respect to the parcel and the proposed transfer and to enter into discussions with the Dumont’s regarding the proposed transfer and any restrictions sought to be imposed on the property and to report to the Council on the same by the meeting of the Council scheduled for November 18, 2013. This report should include a draft of any proposed conservation easement and information on the terms of a transfer including any material restrictions which may be applicable to the parcel. A referral to the Commission on the City Plan should also be made in anticipation the parcel may be incorporated within Mohegan Park or maintained as open space. A copy of a portion of the survey is attached as Exhibit A. 8 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 9 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Jaskiewicz, to put the following resolution on the floor introduced by Mayor Nystrom. Upon motion of Ald. Noblick, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to postpone the following resolution until November 18, 2013. WHEREAS, Chapter 99 of the Connecticut General Statutes allows a municipality to establish a Charter Revision Commission by a resolution adopted by a 2/3 vote of the entire membership of the appointing authority, in Norwich, the City Council. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Norwich that a Charter Revision Commission consisting of 7 electors of the City of Norwich to be appointed by the Council of the City of Norwich within 30 days of the adoption of this resolution, be, and the same hereby is, created for the purpose of revising and proposing amendments to the existing charter of the City of Norwich, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Norwich that any revision or amendment by the Commission be presented in such a manner that the elector of the City of Norwich, in referendum, may vote separately on each amendment except where compatible groupings are possible, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Norwich that said Commission shall make its final report, including the proposed draft of any revisions or amendments to the Charter no later than____________. Upon a motion by Ald. Hinchey, second by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to go into Executive Session per CGS 1-200 for the purpose of discussing strategy and negotiation with respect to pending litigation, City Manager Alan H. Bergren, Planning Director and Neighborhood Services Peter Davis may be asked to participate during all or portions of this Executive Session at the request of the City Council. I further move the members of the City Council remain in executive session for the purpose of discussing Strategies or Negotiations with respect to Collective Bargaining, City Manager Alan H. Bergren, Director of Human Resources Brigid Marks, Comptroller Joshua Pothier and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll, were 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 8:45 PM to 9:05 PM, at which time Mayor Nystrom stated no votes were taken. Upon a motion by Ald. Noblick, seconded by Ald. Braddock it was unanimously voted to reconvene. Upon a motion of Ald. Jaskiewicz, 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 and International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), Local 892, covering the period between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2016, be, and the same hereby is, approved in accordance with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes, Section 4-474; and further, that the City Manager, Alan H. Bergren, be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to execute the same in the name of the City. 10 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH OCTOBER 7, 2013 Upon a motion by Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:08 pm. CITY CLERK 11