City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 18, 2017 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held December 18, 2017, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Ald. Nash, Gould, Philbrick, DeLucia, Burnham and Browning. City Manager Salomone and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom arrived at 8:15 pm. President Pro Tem Nash presided. Ald. DeLucia read the opening prayer and Ald. Philbrick led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. President Pro Tem Nash called for citizen comment. Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt Ave, congratulated the new council members. He talked about the City debt service and how these funds should be included in the regular budget. Patrick McMahan, CEO of CT Main Street Center, spoke in support of the Women’s Center regarding Reid and Hughes. He talked about how the historical buildings are a treasure and asset to downtown Norwich. Rebecca Melucci, 303 Mohegan Park Rd, talked about the additional car tax bill and stated it is very difficult for people on a fixed income to change their budgets and asked the city to look into a new budget to absorb the additional fees. Marvin Serruto, 100 Starr St, requested if an ordinance or resolution is amended at a meeting that this Council doesn’t vote on it until public comment can be made. Maria Jolicoeur, 161 Broadway, spoke in favor of the preservation and use of the Reid and Hughes building. Gregg Grippo, 209 Boswell Ave, talked about blighted property near his house and the negative effects it has to the neighborhood. President Pro Tem Nash declared citizen comment closed. There was an oral report from the Women’s Institute regarding 201 Main St. – Reid and Hughes building. Mayor Nystrom arrived at this point and took charge of the meeting. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to accept the report from the Commission on the City Plan. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 18, 2017 Upon a motion of Ald. Philbrick, seconded by Ald. Burnham, it was unanimously voted to accept the letter of resignation from Richard Benoit, thanking him for his service. City Managers Report: To: Mayor Nystrom and members of the City Council From: John Salomone, City Manager Subject: City Manager’s Report Date: December 18, 2017 Welcome to the second official meeting of the new City Council. I hope you all enjoyed the last meeting. I would like to thank my assistant, Jacquie Barbarossa, City Clerk, Betsy Barrett and Bonnie Cuprak for organizing the meeting. Thank you to all the family members, friends, former mayors & local dignitaries who attended. Special thanks to Rabbi Rabinowitz for the opening prayer, City Assessor Donna Ralston, for singing the national anthem, Norwich Police Color Guard, Police and Fire Chiefs, Norwich Firefighter Chris Paige, 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 18, 2017 bagpiper and member of the New London Firefighter Pipes & Drums for your participation in this memorable evening. Thank you to LeFrancois Floral & Gifts for the beautiful flower arrangements and Norwich Technical School for the delicious treats for the reception. Also thank you to John Johnson and the building maintenance staff for their assistance for set up and clean up for this event. Pension negotiations were held December 6th and December 13th. A HSA (Health Savings Account) presentation was held for the Public Works Union on December 14th. The Recreation Department announced their on-line program registration on December 11th. Residents can now register for current programs from the City’s website. The City will be converting to the new and improved website on the evening of December 18th. There was a small setback due to some minor page design issues that have since been corrected. Please check out the new site along with the new boat launch web camera made possible by the Harbor Management Commission. Effective January 2nd 2018 taxpayers will be able to pay their tax bills at any People’s Bank Branch for the months of January and July as long as their bill is current. The Tax Office will also be using the “lockbox” system from Peoples Bank to process payments more quickly. Both of these services will save processing time to allow the City quicker investment of funds, customer convenience and more efficient service with no additional fees to the city. People’s Bank is our Treasury Management Banking Partner which assists the City’s with its financial goals. Congratulations to Alan Bush from the Clerk’s Office and Joe Cooper from Public Works. Alan is retiring at the end of the year with 12 years of service and Joe is retiring with 10 years of service with the City. We wish them both well. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted August 21, 2017, directed City Manager John Salomone to offer the properties at 80 and 68 Broadway (map 102, block 2, lots 38 and 39, respectively) to parties interested in acquiring and developing these properties through a Request for Proposal process, any interested parties being required to accept all of the conditions and obligations imposed with respect to the properties pursuant to the deeds and other instruments recorded in the city land records; and WHEREAS, the Council directed the Request for Proposal to require any proposals to be submitted not later than October 20, 2017; and WHEREAS, the city received two timely proposals which were presented to the Council of the City of Norwich for its review; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich extends its thanks to both parties for their interest and efforts in responding to the Request for Proposals; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds it to be in the best interest of the City of Norwich to accept the proposal of the LeWitt Group of 3 Rockwell Terrace to acquire both properties for a total 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 18, 2017 price of $131,300 subject to the city and the LeWitt Group reaching a satisfactory agreement concerning the development and transfer of the properties; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that, it tentatively accepts the proposal of the LeWitt Group with respect to 68 and 80 Broadway subject to reaching a satisfactory agreement with it with respect to the development and transfer of the properties; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that, City Manager John Salomone be and hereby is authorized and directed to negotiate an agreement with the LeWitt Group containing such terms and conditions as he believes to be appropriate with respect to the development, use, and the conveyance of said properties and to present the same to the Council of the City of Norwich in a timely fashion for its review and approval. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment on resolutions. There being no speakers Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment closed. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Burnham, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by President Pro Tem Nash and Ald. Gould. WHEREAS, an agreement between the City of Norwich and the Norwich Golf Course Authority entered into at the time of the acquisition of the golf course by the City provided that the Norwich Golf Course Authority might not expend more than $100,000 in any one year without the approval of the Council of the City of Norwich; and WHEREAS, the Norwich Golf Course Authority has annually advised the Council of the City of Norwich of its expected revenues and expenses for the upcoming calendar year; and WHEREAS, the Norwich Golf Course Authority will need to expend more than $100,000 during the calendar year 2018 to meet operating and capital improvement expenses; and WHEREAS, the Norwich Golf Course Authority 2018 budget anticipates receiving revenue of $1,041,360.00 from operations during 2018 and expending $1,037,622.28. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the Norwich Golf Course Authority be and hereby is authorized to expend up to $1,041,360.00 from revenues and other available funds during calendar year 2018 to cover its expenses. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. RESOLVED, that the council members listed below, be, and hereby are, appointed to the Harbor Management Commission for a term to expire December 3, 2019. Joanne Philbrick (R) Joseph A. DeLucia (D) 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 18, 2017 Upon a motion of Ald. Philbrick, seconded by Ald. Burnham, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. RESOLVED, that the council member listed below, be, and hereby is, appointed to the Dangerous Buildings Board of Review for a term to expire December 3, 2019. Stacy Gould (R) Upon a motion of Ald. Burnham, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. RESOLVED, that the council members listed below, be, and hereby are, appointed to the School Building Committee (Kelly Middle School) for a term to expire December 3, 2019. Stacy Gould (R) Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. RESOLVED, that the council members listed below, be, and hereby are, appointed to the Public Parking Commission for a term to expire December 3, 2019. Samuel Browning IV (D) Bill Nash (R) Joanne Philbrick (R) Upon a motion of Ald. Delucia, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. RESOLVED, that the council members listed below, be, and hereby are, appointed to the Recreation Advisory Board for a term to expire December 3, 2019. Stephanie Burnham (D) Bill Nash (R) Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. DeLucia, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. RESOLVED, that the council member listed below, be, and hereby is, appointed to the Sachem Fund Board for a term to expire December 3, 2019. Joanne Philbrick (R) Upon a motion of Ald. Delucia, seconded by Ald. Burnham, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. RESOLVED, that the council member listed below, be, and hereby is, appointed to the Mohegan Park Improvement and Development Advisory Committee for a term to expire December 3, 2019. 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 18, 2017 Samuel Browning IV (D) Upon a motion of Ald. Philbrick, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. RESOLVED, that the council members listed below, be, and hereby are, appointed to the Monument Committee for a term to expire December 3, 2019. Bill Nash (R) Stacy Gould (R) Joseph A. DeLucia (D) Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Burnham, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom. RESOLVED, that the council members listed below, be, and hereby are, appointed to the Plan of Conservation & Development for a term to expire December 3, 2019. Peter Albert Nystrom (R) Stephanie Burnham (D) Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Philbrick, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by City Manager Salomone. WHEREAS, the City Manager John L. Salomone has appointed with Councils approval as a regular member to the Harbor Management Commission for a term to expire on 12/7/19 or until a successor is appointed; H. Tucker Braddock Jr. (D) Michael Gualtieri (R) Gerald Martin (R) NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Norwich hereby acknowledges the appointments of the above named to the Harbor Management Commission. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Burnham, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Gould. BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be re-appointed as regular member of the Historic District Commission with a term to expire on December 31, 2022 or until a successor is appointed: Charles Scott Learned (R) BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be appointed as an alternate member of the Historic District Commission with a term to expire on December 31, 2018 or until a successor is appointed: Robert Allen ( R) 6 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 18, 2017 Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was voted to put the following resolution introduced by Ald. Gould on the floor. RESOLVED, that the re-appointment of Aimee L. Wickless by the Corporation Counsel as an Assistant Corporation Counsel of the City of Norwich be and the same is hereby approved. Motion passes on a vote of 6-1 with Ald. Browning voting in opposition. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by President Pro Tem Nash. WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich has appointed Michael E. Driscoll of the firm of Brown Jacobson PC as Corporation Counsel for the City of Norwich; and WHEREAS, the Council has approved the appointment of Attorney Aimee L. Wickless of Brown Jacobson PC as an Assistant Corporation Counsel; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich has considered the needs of the City for legal advice, the nature and complexity of litigation and administrative matters currently underway or likely to occur in the future, the need for representation in the multiple areas of legal, financial and administrative matters, and the cost and quality of legal services now being provided, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the following attorneys from Brown Jacobson PC may assist Attorney Driscoll and Attorney Wickless in carrying out their duties: Michael D. Colonese Jeffrey R. Godley Jeffrey F. Buebendorf John C. Wirzbicki John F. Duggan Cassie N. Jameson David S. Williams Ashley E. Palma AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Corporation Counsel may utilize the services of other attorneys to perform specialized matters or to assist the Corporation Counsel and the City of Norwich including, but not limited to; 1) Attorneys selected by insurance carriers providing coverage to the City of Norwich or divisions thereof, including those of the firm of Cella, McKeon and Williams and others selected by the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency; 2) Attorneys of the Rossi Law Firm of Providence, Rhode Island; 3) Attorneys Lloyd Langhammer and Donna Skaats, and other counsel as necessary for tax conflicts; 4) Attorneys Eileen Duggan, Kristi D. Kelly, Daniel King, and other attorneys selected as Special Labor Counsel; 5) Attorneys Saranne Murray, Anne Littlefield, Anthony R. Shannon and other attorneys of the Shipman and Goodwin firm selected for Board of Education matters; 6) Attorneys Michael Andreana, John Stafstrom, Jr. and other attorneys of the Pullman and Comley firm as bond and financial counsel; and 7) Such other attorneys as may be retained on behalf of the City of Norwich should the Corporation Counsel have a conflict or require specialized legal assistance. 7 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 18, 2017 President Pro Tem Nash motioned, seconded by Ald. Gould, to put the following resolution introduced by President Pro Tem Nash on the floor. Ald. Browning asked to divide the question take #2 as individual items. Upon a motion of Ald. Philbrick, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following section; 10218 88223 East Great Plain Fire Station fire escape 19,000 improvements per Fire Marshal Office recommendations Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was voted to adopt the following section on a vote of 4-3 with Ald. DeLucia, Burnham and Browning voting in opposition, the proposed line item was not amended; 10218 88226 Estimated cost of Taftville Fire Station addition 107,000 in excess of $250,000 State of Connecticut DECD grant for the project Upon a motion of Ald. Philbrick, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following section; 10218 88247 Cost of lighting upgrades at PW Garage facility 6,000 on Asylum Street. This project has a payback of fewer than 3 years. Relative to the reallocation funding in the Capital Improvement Fund. 1. WHEREAS, the following projects from the City of Norwich’s Capital Improvement Fund have been completed or will be completed at $132,000 the amounts of their non-lapsing budgets: ORG OBJ Description Amount 10213 88110 DEMOLITION 7,571.14 10214 88232 RECREATION FIELD IMPROVEMENTS 193.11 10215 88423 EGP EQUIPMENT 3,469.07 10215 88432 RECREATION EQUIPMENT 3,004.00 10216 88223 EGPVFD BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS 15,017.00 10216 88321 POLICE VEHICLES 553.15 10216 88426 TAFTVILLE EQUIPMENT 4,419.36 10217 88000 CAPITAL CONTINGENCY 46,331.76 10217 88226 TVFD BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS 37,862.00 10217 88425 OCCUM EQUIPMENT 552.93 10218 88223 EGPVFD BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS 4,725.00 10218 88233 YOUTH & FAMILY BUILDING 2,301.48 10218 88247 PW BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS 6,000.00 Total 132,000 ; and 8 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 18, 2017 2. WHEREAS, the following projects from the City of Norwich’s Capital Improvement Fund need funding of $132,000: ORG OBJ Description Amount 10218 88223 East Great Plain Fire Station fire escape 19,000 improvements per Fire Marshal Office recommendations 10218 88226 Estimated cost of Taftville Fire Station addition 107,000 in excess of $250,000 State of Connecticut DECD grant for the project 10218 88247 Cost of lighting upgrades at PW Garage facility 6,000 on Asylum Street. This project has a payback of fewer than 3 years. Total 132,000 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the unexpended funds of $132,000 from the projects enumerated in (1) be and hereby are appropriated to the projects enumerated in (2). The above resolution in its division passed in its original form with no amendments. Upon a motion by Ald. Gould, second by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to go into Executive Session pursuant to Connecticut General Statute Section 1-200(6), for the purpose of discussing the acquisition or disposition of real estate when publicity regarding the proposed acquisition or disposition would cause a likelihood of an increased price to acquire and a diminished price to dispose of the property, to review feasibility evaluations and reports made for the City of Norwich regarding such property and to review information given the city in confidence not required to be disclosed by law. City Manager Salomone, Comptroller Joshua Pothier, Planner Deanna Rhodes and Michael Driscoll, shall be asked to participate during all or portions of this Executive Session at the request of the City Council. I hereby further move, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes 1-200 (6), that the members of the Norwich City Council continue in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy and negotiations with respect to collective bargaining. The following shell be asked to participate during all or portions of this executive session at the request of the Brigid Marks, Director of Human Resources; Joshua Pothier, Comptroller; Michael Driscoll, Corporation Counsel; and Tim Ryor, Senior Vice President and Consulting Actuary with Hooker and Holcombe, Actuarial Consultants and Financial Advisors. The council was in Executive Session from 9:15 PM to 9:59 PM, at which time Mayor Nystrom stated no votes were taken. President Pro Tem Nash left the meeting at 9:58 pm. Ald. Burnham motioned, seconded by Ald. Gould to return to regular session. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Browning, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 10:00 P.M. , City Clerk 9