City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 4, 2019 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held February 4, 2019, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Nash, Gould, Philbrick, DeLucia, Burnham and Browning. City Manager Salomone and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom presided. Ald. Gould, read the opening prayer and Ald. Browning led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the minutes of January 7 and 22, 2019. Mayor Nystrom read the following proclamation: PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, Patricia Dixe has worked for the City of Norwich, on and off, beginning in April of 1987, working at Rose City Senior Center as an employment specialist serving Norwich seniors; and WHEREAS, Patricia Dixe was promoted to the position of Program Coordinator of the Norwich Works program assisting adults with education, job training opportunities and employment; and WHEREAS, Patricia Dixe took a leadership role in developing Project COOL (Careers of Our Life) assisting many youth develop pathways to careers, engage in mentorship programs and work in fields which they held an interest; and WHEREAS, Patricia Dixe simultaneously coordinated the Summer Youth Employment Program, which provided work based learning opportunities for youth ages 14-21 for the purpose of developing and practicing positive work habits and gaining exposure to the world of work for hundreds of students throughout her career; and WHEREAS, Patricia Dixe assisted the Human Resource department developing a mentorship program to connect diverse youth with City Department Heads to expose them to careers in municipal government and to expose the department heads to working with youth from different cultures; and WHEREAS, Patricia Dixe worked extensively with Norwich high schools on ensuring that youth graduated from high school and went on to college, helping them to apply for financial aid, complete applications and choose degrees. NOW THEREFORE, I, MAYOR PETER ALBERT NYSTROM AND NORWICH CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM, BILL NASH, ON BEHALF OF THE NORWICH CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, do hereby thank Patricia Dixe for all of her hard work and dedication on behalf of the City of Norwich. Dated this Fourth Day of February, 2019 Peter Albert Nystrom Bill Nash Mayor President Pro Tem 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 4, 2019 Please be advised that meetings of the Norwich City Council can be viewed in their entirety on the City of Norwich website “norwichct.org”. An oral report by Ronald Nossek from the audit firm of Blum Shapiro PC. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to accept the letter from the chairman regarding Jason Arndt being removed from the Commission on the City Plan. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to accept the letter of resignation from Daniel J Daniska from the Commission on the City Plan and thanking him for his service. City Manager Report: To: Mayor Nystrom and members of the City Council From: John Salomone, City Manager Subject: City Manager’s Report Date: February 4, 2019 Tracy Montoya’s swearing in ceremony was held on Thursday, January 31st. Tracy is a 27 year veteran of the department and the City’s 22nd Fire Chief. Congratulations to Chief Montoya. We wish him continued success with his career with the City of Norwich. The Human Resources Department Reasonable Suspicion Training was held January 28-31st with a total of 69 employees attending the course. City Hall Union (ASCME) negotiations were held on January 31st. I have executed the quitclaim deed for City owned property located at 347 Central Avenue. The developer completed the renovations ahead of schedule and the property will be back on the City’s tax rolls. I have called for an Informational Meeting/Workshop of the City Council to be held on Saturday, February 9th at 9 am at Foundry 66 on Franklin Street. The purpose is to review and update the short and long term priorities from the Goal Setting and Strategic Planning Session that was held in January and March of 2018. The City participated in the collection of nonperishable food for the staff and families that were not being paid at the United States Coast Guard due to the government shutdown. Thank you to those that contributed to those in their time of need. Uncas Health District has offered a smoking cessation class to city employees and is coordinating through my office. My assistant, Jacquie Barbarossa and Facilities & Grounds Manager, John Johnson have been meeting with actor and producer, Greg Nutcher for filming locations for a Hallmark Christmas movie called Holiday for Heroes. Filming has begun in local towns and scenes will be filmed around Norwich and at City Hall this week. During the month of January 2019, the City collected $20.5 million in tax revenue. There were 395 payments totaling $2.009 million received via People’s Bank lock box service and 376 payments made via their in branch payment service for a total of $562 thousand. People’s Bank total lock box and in branch payments totaled 1,771 payments for $2.6 million. Additionally $6.857 million was collected via wire in tax payments and approximately $3 million in escrow payments were paid by banks via check and processed by the tax office. In total, $12.4 million or 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 4, 2019 60.0% of total revenue was collected via People’s Bank services, electronically and Bank check escrow payments with the remaining 40.0% or $8.1 million via the tax office window. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment on resolutions. Rodney Bowie, 65 Roosevelt Ave, spoke against resolution #2. Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment on resolutions closed. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom and Ald. Gould. Relative to appointing a certified public accounting firm to perform the regular general audit for fiscal year 2018-2019 WHEREAS, the Finance Department selected the proposal by the certified public accounting firm of Blum, Shapiro & Company, P.C. with request for proposals number 18-08 to perform the audits for the fiscal years ending June 30th 2018 through 2022; and WHEREAS, Connecticut General Statutes §§7-391 through 397 require each municipality to file financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and audited by an independent public accountant in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by December 31st; unless an extension is granted by the Connecticut Office of Policy & Management; and WHEREAS, the independent auditor must be appointed by the “appointing authority” on or before May 31st; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich is the appointing authority for the City of Norwich. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that the accounting firm of Blum, Shapiro & Company, P.C. be and hereby is, appointed to perform the regular general audit for the City of Norwich for fiscal year 2018-2019. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash it was voted to put the following resolution introduced by Ald. Gould and Browning on the floor. Ald. Browning motioned, seconded by Ald. Delucia, to amend the following resolution to postpone until the February 19, 2019 meeting. Motion to amend withdrawn by Ald. Browning and Ald. Delucia. WHEREAS, the current shutdown of the Federal Government has impacted certain Federal Employees (“affected employees”), including those that are taxpayers of the City of Norwich; and WHEREAS, HB 5765, defines “affected employee" as a federal employee who, during the shutdown, is (A) a resident of this state, and (B) required to work as a federal employee without pay or furloughed as a federal employee without pay; and 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 4, 2019 WHEREAS, on January 22, 2019, the State of Connecticut passed HB 5765 permitting municipalities to defer of real estate, motor vehicle and personal property taxes for affected employees of the Federal Government impacted by the shutdown. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that pursuant to HB 5765, it hereby establishes a deferment program to defer the due date of taxes on real property, personal property or motor vehicles, owed by affected employees as defined by HB 5765; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that it directs the Tax Collector to administer the deferment program, so that the City of Norwich will not to be charge or collect interest on any tax, or part thereof that is payable by an affected employee and which became due during the period when such individual was an affected employee; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that those affected employees seeking to participate in the City of Norwich’s deferment program shall prove their eligibility by providing the Tax Collector with proof of Federal Employment and sign an affidavit stating that they are (a) a resident of this state, (b) the department of the federal government they are employed by, (c) that they are required to work as a federal employee without pay or furloughed as a federal employee without pay, and (d) they will no longer be an affected employee when the branch of the Federal Government they are employed by is funded and its employees required to work without pay are again compensated for their work and when furloughed employees are called back to work; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that each tax deferred under a program established pursuant to this resolution shall be due and payable without interest or penalty not later than sixty days after the date on which an individual is no longer an affected employee. Thereafter, any portion of the tax or installment or portion thereof which remains unpaid and all interest and penalties otherwise provided by law shall apply retroactively to the original due date for the tax, rate, charge or assessment or installment or portion thereof. All provisions of the general statutes relating to continuing, recording, and releasing property tax liens and the precedence and enforcement of taxes remain applicable to any deferred tax or installment or portion thereof; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that nothing in this section shall affect interest or penalties on, or lien rights or collection of, any tax, rate, charge or assessment due before December 22, 2018, or after the date on which an individual is no longer an affected employee. On a vote of 7-0 motion passes. Upon a motion by Ald. Gould, second by President Pro Tem Nash,, it was unanimously voted to go into Executive Session per CGS 1-200(6) for the purpose of discussing strategies or negotiations with respect to Collective Bargaining, City Manager John L Salomone, 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. I further move the member of the City Council shall thereafter continue in executive Session for the purpose of reviewing commercial and financial information provided to it in confidence, not required by statute, and to review preliminary drafts of proposals for the development and use of 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 4, 2019 property in connection with the Ponemah Mills project, the Council having determined that the public interest in withholding such preliminary drafts at this point clearly outweighs the public interest in disclosure, including avoiding the unintended disclosure of commercial and financial information given in confidence and not required to be publically disclosed pursuant to provisions in Connecticut General Statute 1-210(b)(5)(B). City Manager John L. Salomone, Comptroller Joshua Pothier, Director of Planning Deanna Rhodes, Assessor Donna Ralston, and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll, Attorney Glenn Carberry, Attorney Lou Kaufmann and Mr. Ryan Toth may be 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 8:13 PM to 9:35 PM, at which time Mayor Nystrom stated no votes were taken. Upon a motion by President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould it was unanimously voted to reconvene. Upon a motion of Ald. Philbrick, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by City Manager Salomone. RESOLVED, that the proposed Pension Agreement and the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Norwich and United Public Service Employees Union (UPSEU/911 DISPATCHERS), covering the period between July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2022, 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, John L. Salomone, be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to execute the same in the name of the City. RESOLVED, that the following 2018-19 budget transfers be made related to the settlement of the UPSEU/911 DISPATCHERS collective bargaining unit agreement: Org Obj Account Name Amount 01021 80012 Salaries 27,062 01021 80014 Overtime 2,822 01021 80016 Uniforms 450 01021 89999 Fringe Benefits 2,555 01090 80086 Contingency (32,889) Upon motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:37 P.M. City Clerk 5