City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 The organizational meeting of the Council elected November 5, 2019 was held December 3, 2019, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Donna Ralston sang the National Anthem, the Boy Scouts of America Troop 4 and Pack 4 Norwich led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance a n d opening prayer was led by Rabbi Julius Rabinowitz. Please be advised that meetings of the Norwich City Council can be viewed in their entirety on the City of Norwich website “norwichct.org”. The meeting was called to order by City Clerk Betsy Barrett. City Clerk Barrett administered the oath of office to Councilpersons Joseph A. DeLucia, Ella C. Myles, Derell Q. Wilson, Stacy Gould, Bill Nash and Mark M. Bettencourt for terms of December 3, 2019 to December 7, 2021. City Clerk Barrett administered the oath of office to the Board of Education members Swarnjit Singh Bhatia, Carline Charmelus, Christine Distasio, Yvette Jacaruso, Mark Kulos, Heather Romanski, Kevin Saythany and Patricia Staley, (Aaron (Al) Daniels was sworn in at the City Clerk’s office earlier this day). City Clerk Barrett administered the oath of office to the Treasurer Michael Gualtieri. Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom: RESOLVED, that Mark M. Bettencourt be, and hereby is, appointed Council President Pro Tempore of the Council of the City of Norwich for a term to expire December 7 , 2021. City Clerk Barrett administered the oath of office to the Council President Pro Tempore Bettencourt. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Wilson, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom: RESOLVED, that Betsy M. Barrett be, and hereby is, appointed Town and City Clerk of Norwich for a term to expire December 7, 2021. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom: RESOLVED, that Michael E. Driscoll, Esq., be, and hereby is, appointed Corporation Counsel for the City of Norwich for a term to expire December 7, 2021. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom on the floor. Motion to amend of Ald. DeLucia, seconded by president Pro Tem Bettencourt, it was unanimously voted to amend the date on the cover to “2019-2021”. JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 Motion to further amend of Ald. DeLucia, seconded by Ald. Wilson, it was unanimously voted to further amend to add in section XXII “ (c ) Budget and Finance Committee and (d) Appointment & Reappointments Committee. NORWICH CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE 2019-2021 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT I Whenever the Council shall meet for the transaction of business, the Mayor, or in his or her (the Mayors) absence, the Council President Pro Tempore, shall take the chair at the hour appointed for the meeting and immediately call the members to order; and on the appearance of a quorum, shall cause the journal of the preceding meeting to be read, unless by unanimous consent of the Aldermen or Alderwomen present, the reading shall be dispensed with. The presiding officer shall, after waiting no longer than twenty minutes beyond the scheduled time of the meeting, adjourn said meeting if there is an absence of a quorum. II The presiding officer shall preserve order and decorum and shall decide questions of order, without debate, subject to an appeal to the Council. The presiding officer shall rise to put a question, but may state it sitting. The question first moved and seconded shall be first put, and in all cases the sense of the members shall be taken upon the largest number or sum and the longest time proposed. III No member shall, in any way, interrupt the business of the Council while the journal or other papers are in reading, nor when any member is speaking in debate, nor while the presiding officer is putting a question. IV When a member is about to speak in debate or deliver any matter to the Council, he or she may rise when recognized and respectfully address himself or herself to the presiding officer. V No member shall speak more than twice upon the same question nor longer than five minutes at one time without leave of the Council, unless to explain. 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT VI When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received but to adjourn, to lay on the table for the previous question, to postpone to the next meeting, to commit or to amend which several motions shall have precedence in order in which they stand arranged. No motion to postpone indefinitely, or to the next meeting or to commit, being once decided shall be again allowed at the same sitting. Once decided, a motion to postpone indefinitely or to a date certain may not be brought before the Council unless requested by a majority four (4) of the members of said Council. VII A motion to adjourn shall always be in order and that motion, as well as the motion to lay on the table, shall be decided without debate. VIII On that motion to move the question, no debate shall be allowed; all incidental questions or orders arising after the motion is made, and while it is pending, shall be decided without debate. The previous question shall be in this form: "Shall the main question now be moved?" It shall be admitted only when demanded by a majority of the members present and its effect shall be to put an end to all debate and bring the Council to a direct vote upon the pending amendments, if any, and then upon the main question. IX When a question comprehends two or more distinct propositions, any member may have them divided. X When a motion has been made and seconded, it shall be stated by the presiding officer before any debate be had thereon, but every motion shall be reduced to writing if the Mayor or any member desires it. 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT XI When a motion has been stated by the presiding officer or read by the Clerk, it shall be deemed to be in the possession of the Council, but may be withdrawn by the sponsor at any time before decision without leave of the Council, except that zoning matters may be so resubmitted only within 60 days of withdrawal and no more than once within the year. When a motion has been decided, either in the affirmative or the negative, any member of the prevailing side may move the reconsideration thereof and such motion shall take precedence of all other motions, except a motion to adjourn. XII On procedural motions when the question is put by the presiding officer, the members shall signify their assent or dissent by answering aloud "yes" or "no"; the presiding officer shall determine, if he or she can, from the sound whether the yeses or no’s are in the majority and declare the vote accordingly; but if he or she doubts or a doubt may be expressed by any member, the question shall be determined by the members rising and being counted. XIII Every member present when a question is put shall vote, unless the Council for special reason shall excuse him or her from voting. Upon completion of every roll call vote, the Mayor shall announce the names of those Aldermen or Alderwomen who voted in the affirmative and the names of those who voted in the negative or those who abstained. XIV When the presiding officer is putting a question or addressing the Council, no member shall walk out of or across the Council Chamber, nor in either of such cases or in case a member is speaking, shall entertain private discourse with any person; nor while a member is speaking pass between him or her and the chair. 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT XV If any member is speaking or otherwise transgresses the rules of the Council, the presiding officer or any member may call him or her to order; and if speaking, the member so called to order shall take his or her seat unless permitted to explain. The Council, if appealed to, shall decide the case without debate. If no such appeal be taken, the decision of the chair shall be final. XVI Special committees of the Council shall be appointed by majority vote of the Council. XVII All matters referred to a committee at a regular or special meeting, shall be reported upon no later than at the next regular meeting unless in the vote, resolution or order making the reference, a different time is designated; but the time may, for sufficient cause, be extended by the Council. XVIII All final reports by any committee shall be submitted in writing. XIX The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order, as amended, shall govern the Council in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Charter and Ordinances of the City of Norwich and the Rules of Procedure of the Council. RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH. CONNECTICUT XX At each meeting of the City Council held on the first Monday of each month, in an order set by the Mayor, the following items shall be taken up: Adoption of minutes of previous meetings Proclamations and Special Observances Public hearings Second reading and action on ordinances previously presented Petitions and communications 6 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 Reports of committees City Manager's report Unfinished business Citizen comment on agenda items New business (consent agenda) Upon the adoption of a resolution establishing additional regular meeting dates, the following item may be added to the order of business for such additional regular meetings as a first order of business: Citizen comment on non-agenda items of concern to the City and within the direct purview of the City Council (second meeting). The time of commencement of such additional regular meetings and the duration, individually and in the aggregate, of comments under this item, may be established in such resolution. The Mayor may rule out of order any speaker whose comments are not directed to non-agenda items of concern to the City and within the direct purview of the City Council, or which are otherwise inappropriate. RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT X XI Except as hereinafter provided, no matter requiring action by the Council shall be considered unless the document initiating the matter has been filed with the City Clerk on or before 4:30 PM on the Monday preceding the day of the regular meeting at which the matter is to be introduced; provided, however, that this rule shall not apply to the introduction and consideration of emergency ordinances. The City Clerk shall on the Tuesday preceding such regular meeting, prepare an agenda for such meeting and shall transmit such agenda together with copies of the documents filed with him or her under this rule to the Council, City Manager and Corporation Counsel. Any person or group of persons, other than the Aldermen or Alderwomen, the City Manager and the Corporation Counsel, who files a document with the City Clerk as herein provided may explain such document at the council meeting at which the document is to be presented provided such person or group of persons, at the time of filling of such document, file with the City Clerk a notice stating the name or names of the person or persons who will appear at such meeting to explain such document. Not more than two 7 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 persons may appear at such meeting to explain such document. Not more than two persons may appear for the affirmative and not more than two persons may appear in opposition. Such document and notice must be filed with the City Clerk in accordance with the first paragraph of this rule or the matter will not be heard until the next succeeding Council meeting. In addition to citizen comment on non-agenda items of concern to the City and within the direct purview of the City Council, as provided for in Section XX, any person who wishes to address the City Council on a resolution or ordinance which appears on the council agenda for the specific meeting may do so, but any other requests to address the Council, other than in accordance with the preceding paragraph, shall be referred to the appropriate Council committee. No person shall speak longer than three minutes except for those making a presentation at the invitation of the Council. XXII There shall be the following standing committees consisting of three (3) Aldermen or Alderwomen, each to be appointed by the Mayor: (a) Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee (b) Public Safety Committee (c) Budget and Finance Committee (d) Appointment & Reappointments Committee RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT XXIII All resolutions and ordinances submitted to the Council for action shall be in writing and shall contain therein the name of the Council member sponsoring same or the name of the City Manager, if sponsored by him or her, and appropriate substantiating information. In zoning matters, a map shall be provided. XXIV The Council may amend any of the foregoing Rules of Procedure by a majority four (4) votes of the Council. For the purpose of facilitating business at Council meetings, such as the introduction, consideration and action on matters, changing the order of business and giving permission to members of the public to be heard, the foregoing Rules of Procedure may be suspended by the affirmative vote of at least four (4) members of the Council, except that the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Council present and voting shall be required for the introduction of a resolution or ordinance. 8 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 XXV A motion or resolution to reconsider prior action taken by the council, including votes on all motions, resolutions, and ordinances may be made on the same day on which the action is taken or at and before the adjournment of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich. This section shall have prospective and retroactive effect as to the time in which a motion or resolution for reconsideration may be made but shall otherwise not amend the Rules of Procedure with respect to a motion or resolution for reconsideration. Adopted December 7, 1999 Amended January 18, 2000, December 4, 2001 & December 2, 2003, adopted December 8, 2005 Amended & adopted December 17, 2007 Amended and adopted December 6, 2011 Amended and adopted December 3. 2013 Adopted December 1, 2015 Amended and adopted January 3, 2017 Adopted December 5, 2017 Amended and adopted December 3, 2019 (PUBLISHED BY THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE) Motion passes 7-0. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to amend the date on the following resolution to “December 7, 2021”. Upon a motion of Ald. Wilson, seconded by Ald. Gould, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following appointments. The Mayor hereby appoints the following Council members to the Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee for a term to expire December 7, 2021. 1. Alderman Joseph A. DeLucia (D) 2. Alderwoman Stacy Gould (R) 3. Alderman Derell Q. Wilson (D) Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Bettencourt, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following appointments. 9 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 3, 2019 The Mayor hereby appoints the following Council members to the Public Safety Committee for a term to expire December 7, 2021. 1. President Pro Tem Mark M. Bettencourt (D) 2. Alderman Joseph A. DeLucia (D) 3. Alderman Bill Nash (R) Upon a motion of Ald. DeLucia, seconded by Ald. Myles, it was unanimously voted to suspend the rules to add the Budget and Finance Committee. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following appointments. The Mayor hereby appoints the following Council members to the Budget and Finance Committee for a term to expire December 7, 2021. 1. President Pro Tem Mark M. Bettencourt (D) 2. Alderman Joseph A. DeLucia (D) 3. Alderwoman Stacy Gould (R) Upon a motion of Ald. DeLucia, seconded by Ald. Myles, it was unanimously voted to suspend the rules to add the Appointment & Reappointments Committee. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Myles, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following appointments. The Mayor hereby appoints the following Council members to the Appointment & Reappointments Committee for a term to expire December 7, 2021. 1. President Pro Tem Mark M. Bettencourt (D) 2. Alderwoman Stacy Gould (R) 3. Alderwoman Ella C. Myles (D) Mayor Nystrom thanked numerous people and stated he looks forward to working with the new Council. There being no further business, City Clerk Barrett invited the public to a reception in honor of the Mayor and City Council members, Board of Education members and Treasurer. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 7:57 P.M. City Clerk 10