City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JULY 15, 2019 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held July 15, 2019, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Nash Gould, Philbrick, DeLucia, Browning and Burnham. City Manager Salomone and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom presided. President Pro Tem Nash read the opening prayer and Ald. Burnham led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Please be advised that meetings of the Norwich City Council can be viewed in their entirety on the City of Norwich website “norwichct.org”. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment. Marvin Serruto, 100 Starr St, thanked the council for the fireworks celebration and reminded everyone of Samuel Huntington’s birthday. He asked as a goal to keep taxes as low as possible in the coming year. Rachel Franco, 25 Lafayette St, Business Manager, talked about the new assessment increases that are hurting small businesses. Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment closed. City Manager Report: To: Mayor Nystrom and members of the City Council From: John Salomone, City Manager Subject: City Manager’s Report Date: July 15, 2019 The Mayor and I met with the new Superintendent of Schools, Kristen Stringfellow. Comptroller, Josh Pothier and I will be meeting with her next week to discuss the City’s budgeting process. We welcome her and wish her the best in her new position. Human Resources Director, Brigid Marks, Assistant Human Resource Director, Pat Osten and I met with representatives from the Fire Department Negotiation Committee. My office has been notified by the CT State Library Office that the City Clerk’s Office has received a $7,500 Historic Documents Preservation Grant. This will allow the continued preservation of land records from 1954 and earlier. The City’s new Deputy Chief, Corey Poore was sworn in at a ceremony held on July 10th. Corey has been with the City’s police department since 1993. He has received numerous commendations, including the department’s highest award, the Medal of Valor. Congratulations and we wish him continued success in his new role as Deputy Chief. Lee-Ann Gomes, Director of Norwich Human Services is the co-chair for this year’s United Way campaign. She and my assistant, Jacquie Barbarossa will be meeting to increase the City’s participation in the organization. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JULY 15, 2019 Mohegan Park beach attendance has been strong. The highest attendance rates so far has been over the 4th of July holiday with over 400 patrons. Swim lessons have also begun at Spaulding Pond with approximately 50 children, from 3-12 years old enrolled. The Norwich Recreation Day Camp also busses children to the park on Friday afternoons as part of the summer program. The Norwich Events Organization fireworks display held on July 3rd was a huge success and was viewed by thousands of people downtown. Thank you to the Norwich Events Organization, sponsors and volunteers for their efforts... Global Cities 2nd annual Peruvian Festival will be held on Sunday, July 28th from 12 to 6 pm downtown on Franklin Street. Rock the Docks and Rockin’ the Greens Summer concerts have begun. I invite you to attend one of the many free concerts on the Norwich Harbor or Norwichtown Green. Thank you to the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce, City Departments, sponsors and volunteers that make the concerts possible. Attached are the City Department Reports for quarter ending June 30, 2019. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment on resolutions. Heather Romanski, 297 Scotland Rd, Shane Roberts, 16 Church St, Linda Fouche, 65 Williams St, Swarnjit Singh, 56 Briar Hill Rd, Derell Wilson, 30 Second St, Janet Koch, 35 ½ South B St, Kevin Saythany, 16 Surrey Ln, Sherry Ostrout, 251 Harland Rd, Janice Sawicki, 39 Andrea Ln all spoke in favor of Resolution #1. Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment on resolutions closed. Upon a motion of Ald. DeLucia, seconded by Ald. Burnham, it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by Ald. DeLucia, Browning and Burnham on the floor. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to take a five minute recess from 7:55 pm returning at 8:00 pm. BE IT RESOLVED, that Kevin Saythany be and hereby is appointed to the Norwich Board of Education, effective July 16, 2019, to fill the vacancy on the Board of Education created by the resignation of James Maloney, to serve as a member of the Board of Education for the remainder of the term. On a vote of 7-0 the above resolution passes. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Gould on the floor. Upon a motion President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to amend the following resolution in paragraph #3 by adding “sum of $53,700.00” and in paragraph #4 by adding “price of $53,700.00 to Webster G. Wadja”. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JULY 15, 2019 WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by a resolution adopted June 10, 2019, authorized City Manager John Salomone to enter into an individual Real Estate Listing Agreement with Allyn and Associates Realtors offering to sell the property at 13 South A Street at a price recommended by Allyn and Associates Realtors; and WHEREAS, the Council further resolved that upon receipt of a Purchase and Sales Agreement containing an offer to purchase at a price recommended by Allyn and Associates Realtors and containing such terms and conditions as were satisfactory to the City Manager, he was to notify the Council of the proposed Purchase and Sales Agreement for its consideration and possible approval; and WHEREAS, Allyn and Associates Realtors has received a number of offers to purchase the property, the highest offer being the sum of $53,700.00, which it recommends, the property to be conveyed in as is condition. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that City Manager John Salomone be and hereby is authorized and directed to enter into a Purchase and Sales Agreement on behalf of the City of Norwich to sell said property at a price of $53,700.00 to Webster G. Wadja pursuant to the terms of said Purchase and Sales Agreement and, upon timely tender of the purchase price subject to standard adjustments, to execute and deliver a deed of conveyance to Webster G. Wadja or its designee for the property known as 13 South A Street, and to execute, deliver, and receive such other documents as are necessary to complete the transfer of title in keeping with the terms and conditions of the Purchase and Sales Agreement. The above resolution passes on a vote of 7-0 as amended. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to put adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Gould. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich has acquired the property located at 21 Whitaker Avenue, Map 118, Block 3, Lot 72 through foreclosure of tax liens; and WHEREAS, said property is improved by a structure; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich has determined it to be in the best interest of the City of Norwich to attempt to dispose of this property by a negotiated sale using the services of Allyn & Associates Realtors, listing the property at a price recommended to it by Allyn & Associates Realtors. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that City Manager John Salomone be and hereby is authorized and directed on behalf of the City of Norwich to enter into an individual real estate listing agreement satisfactory to him with Allyn & Associates Realtors offering to sell the property at 21 Whitaker Avenue at a proposed sale price recommended by Allyn & Associates Realtors; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that, upon receipt of a Purchase and Sales Agreement from a prospective purchaser containing the proposed sales price recommended by Allyn & Associates Realtors and containing such terms and 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JULY 15, 2019 conditions as are satisfactory to City Manager John Salomone, then, City Manager John Salomone shall be and hereby is authorized and directed to notify the Council of the City of Norwich of the proposed Purchase and Sales Agreement, which the Council may then approve by a resolution authorizing City Manager John Salomone to enter into a Purchase and Sales Agreement as presented for the subject property on behalf of the City of Norwich and, upon timely tender of the purchase price subject to standard adjustments, to execute and deliver a deed of conveyance for said property and to execute, receive and deliver such other documents as are necessary to complete the transfer of title in keeping with the terms and conditions of the Purchase and Sales Agreement. 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), 1-200(8) and 1- 200(9) for the purpose of discussing strategy and negotiations with respect to pending claims and litigation. City Manager John Salomone and Corporation Counsel Michael E. Driscoll shall be asked to attend during all or portions of this Executive Session at the request of the City Council. The council was in Executive Session from 8:17 pm to 9:09 pm, at which time Mayor Nystrom, stated no votes were taken. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to return to regular session. Upon motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Nash, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:10 P.M. City Clerk 4