City Council

AGENDA – MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH December 4, 2017 7:30 PM PRAYER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ADOPTION OF MINUTES: November 6 and 20, 2017 PUBLIC HEARING 1. AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE MOTOR VEHICLE MILL RATE IN ORDINANCE#1748 CONCERNING THE TAX LEVIES ON THE LIST OF OCTOBER 1, 2016 SECOND READING AND ACTION ON THE ORDINANCE LISTED ABOVE CITY MANAGER’S REPORT CITIZENS COMMENT ON RESOLUTIONS NEW BUSINESS-RESOLUTIONS 1. Relative to an appointment of a regular member to the 347 Central Ave Committee of Sale. 2. Relative to a reappointment of regular members to the Board of Review Dangerous Buildings Committee. 3. Relative to an appointment of a resident member to the Volunteer Firefighter Relief Fund Committee. 4. Relative to reappointments of regular members to the Norwich Baseball Stadium Authority. 5. Relative to a reappointment of a regular member to the Community Development Advisory Committee 6. Relative to extending the agreement with the Women’s Institute for 193-201 Main Street. City Clerk  PUBLIC HEARING #1 AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE MOTOR VEHICLE MILL RATE IN ORDINANCE #1748 CONCERNING THE TAX LEVIES ON THE LIST OF OCTOBER 1, 2016 WHEREAS, Section 699(c) of June Special Session, Public Act No. 17-2 enables the Council of the City of Norwich to revise the motor vehicle mill rate on the assessment year commencing October 1, 2016 in accordance with the increase in the motor vehicle mill rate cap in Section 699(a) of June Special Session, Public Act No. 17-2; and WHEREAS, the increase in the motor vehicle mill rate cap necessitates a supplemental rate bill for the increase in the motor vehicle tax levy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH THAT ORDINANCE #1748 BE AND HEREBY IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. On the City Assessment list of 2016 a tax of forty and fifty-two hundredths (40.52) mills on the dollar is hereby granted to be levied upon the ratable Real Estate and Personal Property within the City of Norwich of the inhabitants of said City and all others liable to pay taxes therein. Section 2. On the City Assessment list of 2016 a tax of thirty-nine (39.00) mills on the dollar is hereby granted to be levied upon the ratable Motor Vehicles within the City of Norwich of the inhabitants of said City and all others liable to pay taxes therein at the maximum mill rate established and allowed by the Connecticut General Statutes applicable on Motor Vehicles for the City Assessment list of 2016 or at the applicable mill rates established in Sections 1, 3, and 4 of this tax levy ordinance, whichever is the lesser. Section 3. On the City Assessment list of 2016, a tax of fifteen hundredths (0.15) mills on the dollar, is hereby granted to be levied for fire services upon the ratable Real Estate and Personal Property within the Town Consolidation District of the inhabitants of said District and of all others liable to pay taxes therein. Section 4. On the City Assessment list of 2016, a tax of eight and twenty-two hundredths (8.22) mills on the dollar, is hereby granted to be levied for fire services upon the ratable Real Estate and Personal Property within the City Consolidation District of the inhabitants of said District and of all others liable to pay taxes therein. Section 5. Real Estate and Personal Property taxes shall become due on July 1, 2017, and payable on said date in whole or in equal installments from that date, namely on July 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018 except that any tax of less than one hundred dollars shall be due and payable on July 1, 2017. If the first installment is not paid on or before August 1, 2017 or if the second installment is not paid on or before February 1, 2018, interest will be charged on any such delinquent payment at the rate of one and one-half (1½%) per cent per month from the due date or $2.00 whichever is greater, as provided for in the general statutes. Any person may pay the total amount of such tax for which he is liable at the time when the first installment shall be payable. Section 6. The first installment of Motor Vehicle taxes consisting of 32 mills shall become due and payable in whole on October 1, 2017. If the payment is not paid on or before November 1, 2017 interest will be charged on the delinquent payment at the rate of one and one-half (1½%) per cent per month from due date or $2.00 whichever is greater, as provided for in the general statutes. Section 7. The second installment of Motor Vehicle taxes consisting of 7 mills shall become due and payable on January 1, 2018. If the payment is not paid on or before February 1, 2018 interest will be charged on the delinquent payment at the rate of one and one-half (1½%) per cent per month from due date or $2.00 whichever is greater, as provided for in the general statutes. City Manager John Salomone  RESOLUTION #1 BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be appointed as a regular member to the 347 Central Ave Committee of Sale with a term to expire on November 20, 2019 or until a successor is appointed: James M. Quarto (D) President Pro Tem Peter Nystrom Alderwoman Stacy Gould Alderman H. Tucker Braddock  RESOLUTION #2 BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be re-appointed as regular members to the Board of Review Dangerous Buildings Committee with a term to expire on June 1, 2019 or until a successor is appointed: James Heist (R) Sofee Noblick (R) James M. Quarto (D) Gary Schnip (R) H. Tucker Braddock (D) President Pro Tem Peter Nystrom Alderwoman Stacy Gould Alderman H. Tucker Braddock  RESOLUTION #3 BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be appointed as a resident member to the Volunteer Firefighter Relief Fund Committee with a term to expire on March 1, 2019 or until a successor is appointed: Ronald Stolz (D) President Pro Tem Peter Nystrom Alderwoman Stacy Gould Alderman H. Tucker Braddock  RESOLUTION #4 BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be reappointed as regular members to the Norwich Baseball Stadium Authority with a term to expire on October 31, 2019 or until a successor is appointed: Michael E. Jewell Sr. (D) Gary Schnip (R) Robert Demars (R) President Pro Tem Peter Nystrom Alderwoman Stacy Gould Alderman H. Tucker Braddock  RESOLUTION #5 BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be reappointed as a regular member to the Community Development Advisory Committee with a term to expire on December 31, 2019 or until a successor is appointed: Sofee Noblick (R) President Pro Tem Peter Nystrom Alderwoman Stacy Gould Alderman H. Tucker Braddock  RESOLUTION #6 WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted on August 21, 2017 authorized City Manager John Salomone to enter a Development Agreement with the Women’s Institute Realty of Connecticut, Inc. (Women’s Institute) or its nominee or assignee pertaining to the development of the property located at 193-201 Main Street known as the Reid & Hughes Building (Building); and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich and the Women’s Institute entered into a Development Agreement dated August 24, 2017 requiring the Women’s Institute to complete its Stabilization Assessment and Due Diligence periods for evaluation of the property within 90 days and to obtain all necessary financing and funding for the stabilization of the Building within 90 days; and WHEREAS, the Women’s Institute has completed its Stabilization Assessment and Due Diligence evaluations, has filed an application with the Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Norwich for a variance in use which it received effective October 12, 2017, and has obtained financing and funding commitments to a total of $500,000 for the stabilization phase of the project, $50,000 as a forgivable loan and $450,000 from the Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC) in the form of a loan with full recourse to the Women’s Institute; and WHEREAS, the Women’s Institute by e-mail dated November 22, 2017 sent to City Manager John Salomone requested a 30 day extension of the Development Agreement to permit it to continue to explore the possibility of a greater portion of the financing being non-recourse and/or securing non-recourse, or grant commitments from other sources as well as an opportunity to meet with the Council of the City of Norwich within the 30 day extension; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds it to be in the best interest of the City of Norwich to grant the requested 30 days extension and to provide the Women’s Institute an opportunity to meet with the Council of the City of Norwich at its meeting of December 18, 2017. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that, the requested extension is approved and that City Manager John Salomone be and hereby is authorized and directed to notify the Women’s Institute that its request for a 30 day extension of the 90 day financing and funding obligation to permit it to negotiate with LISC and/or explore other financing and funding has been approved and to invite the Women’s Institute to attend the December 18th meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich to report on its progress and to present with such other information and requests as it may deem appropriate. Mayor Deberey Hinchey