City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 8, 2020 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held June 8, 2020, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present by a roll call vote: Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Bettencourt, Gould, Nash, Wilson, Myles and DeLucia. City Manager Salomone and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom presided. Please be advised that meetings of the Norwich City Council can be viewed in their entirety on the City of Norwich website “norwichct.org”. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Wilson, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom on the floor. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Wilson, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to amend the following resolution to add “and as further amended herein on June 8, 2020”. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Delucia, on a roll call vote it was further voted to amend the City of Norwich budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21 to add “Amendment 1 – Transfer from NPU a. Page 48 – Reduce General Fund revenue line item 49195 by $900,000 b. Page 123– Increase CCD revenue line item 49195 by $900,000 Amendment 2 – Norwich Public Schools Funding a. Page 110 – Increase Norwich Public Schools Funding by $1,240,102 to a total of $84,240,102 Amendment 3 – Leave vacant for a portion of the year or delay hiring of the following positions: FTE portion of Full Year Salary Fringe Total Position Page-Department the year Salary Savings Savings Savings Accountant 55-Finance 0.1667 67,066 11,178 3,685 14,863 67-Planning & Administrative Specialist 0.5000 51,114 25,557 10,447 36,004 Neighborhood Services Revenue Collection Clerk 55-Finance 0.5000 46,306 23,153 10,264 33,417 Police Officer 73-Police 1.0000 59,991 59,991 17,870 77,861 Receptionist Senior Center 100-Senior Center 0.5000 36,174 18,087 9,878 27,965 Assessment Technician 58-Assessment 0.5000 46,306 23,153 10,264 33,417 103-Youth & Family YFS Caseworker 0.1667 63,834 10,639 3,644 14,283 Services 106-Adult & Family Director of Human Services 0.1667 98,795 16,466 4,088 20,554 Services Laborer 93-Public Works 1.0000 48,120 48,120 20,667 68,787 4.5000 877,293 236,344 90,807 327,151 The above amendment passes on a roll call vote of 4-3 with Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Nash and Gould voting in opposition. Relative to the adoption of the budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21. RESOLVED, that the budget of the City of Norwich; including the General Fund, Capital Budget, Town Consolidation District, City Consolidation District, and Department of Public Utilities; for the Fiscal Year 2019-20 as submitted by the City Manager on April 6, 2020, as 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 8, 2020 amended and tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 4, 2020, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on June 1, 2020, and as further amended herein on June 8, 2020 be, and the same hereby is, adopted. Amendment 1 – Transfer from NPU c. Page 48 – Reduce General Fund revenue line item 49195 by $900,000 d. Page 123– Increase CCD revenue line item 49195 by $900,000 Amendment 2 – Norwich Public Schools Funding b. Page 110 – Increase Norwich Public Schools Funding by $1,240,102 to a total of $84,240,102 Amendment 3 – Leave vacant for a portion of the year or delay hiring of the following positions: FTE portion of Full Year Salary Fringe Total Position Page-Department the year Salary Savings Savings Savings Accountant 55-Finance 0.1667 67,066 11,178 3,685 14,863 67-Planning & Administrative Specialist 0.5000 51,114 25,557 10,447 36,004 Neighborhood Services Revenue Collection Clerk 55-Finance 0.5000 46,306 23,153 10,264 33,417 Police Officer 73-Police 1.0000 59,991 59,991 17,870 77,861 Receptionist Senior Center 100-Senior Center 0.5000 36,174 18,087 9,878 27,965 Assessment Technician 58-Assessment 0.5000 46,306 23,153 10,264 33,417 103-Youth & Family YFS Caseworker 0.1667 63,834 10,639 3,644 14,283 Services 106-Adult & Family Director of Human Services 0.1667 98,795 16,466 4,088 20,554 Services Laborer 93-Public Works 1.0000 48,120 48,120 20,667 68,787 4.5000 877,293 236,344 90,807 327,151 The above Resolution passes on a 4-3 vote with Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Nash and Gould voting in opposition. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Wilson, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom on the floor. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Wilson, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to amend the following resolution and add “as further amended herein on June 8, 2020”. Relative to the adoption of the appropriations ordinance for Fiscal Year 2020-21. RESOLVED, that the appropriations ordinance of the City of Norwich; including the General Fund, Capital Budget, Town Consolidation District, and City Consolidation District; for the Fiscal Year 2019-20 as submitted by the City Manager on April 6, 2020, as amended and tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 4, 2020, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on June 1, 2020, and as further amended in Resolution #1 on June 8, 2020 be, and the same hereby is, adopted. The above Resolution passes on a 4-3 vote with Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Nash and Gould voting in opposition. Upon a motion of Ald. Wilson, seconded by Ald. Myles, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom on the floor. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 8, 2020 Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Wilson, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to amend the following resolution to add “and as further amended herein on June 8, 2020”. Relative to the adoption of the tax levy ordinance for Fiscal Year 2020-21. RESOLVED, that the tax levy ordinance of the City of Norwich for the Fiscal Year 2019-20 as submitted by the City Manager on April 6, 2020, as amended and tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 4, 2020, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on June 1, 2020, and as further amended in Resolution #1 on June 8, 2020 be, and the same hereby is, adopted. AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE TAX LEVIES ON THE LIST OF OCTOBER 1, 2019 BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH: Section 1. On the City Assessment list of October 1, 2019 a tax of forty-two and six hundredths (42.06) mills on the dollar is hereby established to be levied upon the ratable Real Estate, Personal Property, and Motor Vehicles 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 October 1, 2019, a tax of thirty-two hundredths (0.32) mills on the dollar, is hereby established to be levied for fire services upon the ratable Real Estate, Personal Property, and Motor Vehicles within the Town Consolidation District of the inhabitants of said District and of all others liable to pay taxes therein. Section 3. On the City Assessment list of October 1, 2019, a tax of six and forty-one hundredths (6.41) mills on the dollar, is hereby established 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 4. On the City Assessment list of October 1, 2019, a tax of two and ninety-four hundredths (2.94) mills on the dollar, is hereby established to be levied for fire services upon the ratable Motor Vehicles within the City Consolidation District of the inhabitants of said District and of all others liable to pay taxes therein. Section 5. Except as provided in Section 6, all taxes on Real Estate and Personal Property listed in Sections 1 through 4 shall become due on July 1, 2020, and payable on said date in whole or in equal installments from that date, namely on July 1, 2020 and January 1, 2021, except that any tax of less than one hundred dollars shall be due and payable on July 1, 2020. If the first installment is not paid on or before August 1, 2020 or if the second installment is not paid on or before February 1, 2021, 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. Taxes on Motor Vehicles shall become due and payable in full on July 1, 2020. If the payment is not paid on or before August 1, 2020 interest will be charged on the delinquent 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 8, 2020 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 Resolution passes on a 4-3 vote with Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Nash and Gould voting in opposition. Mayor Nystrom read the following proclamation: PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, 361 years ago, Norwich was founded by settlers from Saybrook on land purchased from Uncas, Sachem of the Mohegan Native American nation; and WHEREAS, the households comprising the original settlers included women and children and servants representing more than the 35 men traditionally regarded as founders of Norwich; and WHEREAS, the Society of Founders was established on October 10, 1901 as a historical organization to promote the history of Norwich from its founding; and WHEREAS, the Society of Founders saved the former Leffingwell house from demolition, they restored it, and maintain it as a museum of the history of our community, dating to the period of the early settlement; and WHEREAS, the Leffingwell House Museum was first built as a two-room dwelling about 1675 by Stephen Backus, expanded as an inn after 1701 by Thomas Leffingwell, and transformed into the elegant home of Christopher Leffingwell, in the mid-1700s; and WHEREAS, Leffingwell House Museum is a valuable asset to the City of Norwich, and its citizens appreciate the hard work the Society of Founders of Norwich have done in maintaining this significant colonial building. NOW THEREFORE, I, MAYOR PETER ALBERT NYSTROM AND NORWICH CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM, MARK BETTENCOURT, ON BEHALF OF THE NORWICH CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, do hereby declare June 6, 2020 as Founders Day at the Leffingwell House Museum and thank the Society of Founders for all of their hard work and dedication on behalf of the City of Norwich. Dated this Sixth Day of June, 2020 Peter Albert Nystrom Mark Bettencourt Mayor President Pro Tem Upon motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:00 pm. Betsy M. Barrett City Clerk 4