City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 4, 2017 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held December 4, 2017 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Mayor Hinchey, Aldermen Nystrom, Philbrick, Braddock, Gould and Nash. City Manager Salomone and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Ald. Martin was absent. Mayor Hinchey presided. Ald. Gould read the opening prayer and Ald. Braddock led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Hinchey mentioned that the Norwich Connecticut Senior Wildcats have been selected to participate in a regional championship football tournament in Virginia. She stated more information will follow from Ald. Nash. Upon a motion of Ald. Braddock, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the minutes of November 6 and 20, 2017. Mayor Hinchey called for a Public Hearing on AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE MOTOR VEHICLE MILL RATE IN ORDINANCE #1748 CONCERNING THE TAX LEVIES ON THE LIST OF OCTOBER 1, 2016 Speaking in favor: No one spoke Speaking in opposition: No one spoke There being no speakers Mayor Hinchey declared the public hearing closed. Mayor Hinchey called for the second reading and action on AN ORDINANCE REVISING THE MOTOR VEHICLE MILL RATE IN ORDINANCE #1748 CONCERNING THE TAX LEVIES ON THE LIST OF OCTOBER 1, 2016 Upon a motion of Ald. Philbrick, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to waive the reading of the full text and incorporate it into the minutes this being its second reading. Ald. Gould motioned, seconded by Ald. Philbrick, to adopt the following ordinance introduced by City Manager Salomone. 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: 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 4, 2017 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. The above ordinance passed on a roll call vote of 6-0. City Manager’s Report: To: Mayor Hinchey and members of the City Council From: John Salomone, City Manager Subject: City Manager’s Report Date: December 4, 2017 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 4, 2017 The Mayor and I continue our weekly meetings. Conference calls continued with members of the Women’s Institute, Corporation Counsel and staff on November 20th and 21st regarding the proposed financing of the stabilization phase of the Reid & Hughes. u. A 30 day extension and meeting was requested along with a meeting with the Council on December 18th which is Resolution #6 on this evening’s agenda. Staff and I met with Anne Stockton from the United Way regarding the Working Cities Challenge. The Working Cities Challenge is a grant competition that is designed to improve the lives of low-income people in small and mid-size cities in Connecticut. The City was awarded a $15,000 planning grant several months ago to participate in this challenge. My monthly staff meeting was held on November 21st. Josh Pothier announced that a new third-party administrator for workers compensation through an RFP process in November should save the City, Norwich Public Utilities, and Norwich Public Schools approximately $50,000 per year while maintaining the same level of service. Bob Farwell said the O’tis a Festival which was held on Saturday November 18th was a huge success for the library with over 2,000 attendees which was double from the previous year. Deanna Rhodes, City Planner stated that the DECD was awarded a $200,000 assessment grant to the City for the South Mill at Ponemah Mills which is located at 555-599 Norwich Avenue. This will allow for potential remediation at the site for future commercial development. I attended the annual CCM Legislative Committee Meeting on November 28th and the annual conference on the 29th along with staff. There were several interesting and informative sessions. I was approved as a Board Member of CCM effective January 2018. Light up City Hall was held on “First Friday” December 1st. Hundreds of people attended the event in addition to the other events that were held that evening. I would like to thank the committee, volunteers, sponsors and performers for their participation at the event. It would not be possible without them. I have the Treasurers Report from Michael Gualtieri, for quarter ended September 30, 2017 for your review. Mayor Hinchey called for citizen comment on resolutions. Dale Plumber, 25 Broadway #204, urged the council to vote positive on resolution #6. Susan Masse, 1 Sachem Terrace, thanked the Council members who are leaving. She spoke on resolution #6 and urged the Council members to extend the agreement with the Women’s Institute. Marvin Serruto, 100 Starr St, spoke in favor of resolution #6 and asked the Council to vote positive. He also thanked the council for their service. Shiela Hayes, 382 Laurel Hill Ave, spoke on resolution #6 and asked why they (The Women’s Institute) are asking for an extension and if this resolution is voted down does that exclude them from procuring grants. Irene Schienberg, 12 Jones Court, spoke in favor of resolution #6 giving them a 30 day extension. 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 4, 2017 Mayor Hinchey declared citizen comment on resolutions was closed. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by President Pro Tem Nystrom, Ald. Gould and Braddock. 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) Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by President Pro Tem Nystrom, Ald. Gould and Braddock. 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) Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by President Pro Tem Nystrom, Ald. Gould and Braddock. 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) Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by President Pro Tem Nystrom, Ald. Gould and Braddock. 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) Upon a motion of Ald. Philbrick, seconded by President Pro Tem Nystrom, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by President Pro Tem Nystrom, Ald. Gould and Braddock. 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) 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 4, 2017 Upon a motion of Ald. Philbrick, seconded by Ald. Braddock, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Hinchey. 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. Ald. Gould asked for a point of personal privilege for her and Ald. Philbrick to thank Mayor Hinchey for her service. Upon motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 8:06 pm. CITY CLERK 5