City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 21, 2020 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held December 21, 2020 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Ald. Bettencourt, Ald. Nash, Gould (via phone), Wilson, Myles and DeLucia. City Manager Salomone (via phone) and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom presided. President Ald. Myles read the opening prayer and Ald. Nash 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. There were not speakers. There were no emails. 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: December 21, 2020 Meetings attended via conference call or video were Governor Lamont updates, State representatives and legislators, Southeastern Council of Governments, (SCCOG), South East Area Transit (SEAT) Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) Board of Director Meeting, NPU‐City Coordination Meeting, CIRMA Investment and Board of Directors meetings, NCDC Board meeting, Restaurant Reopening Committee, Region 4, Department of Health COVID‐19 updates, Snow Storm Preparation, and City Departments. I have been informed from the McGrath Consulting Group, Inc., that the analysis of the City’s fire services is in draft form and it will be completed by year end as scheduled. There will be a presentation to the Council in January. The City will receive an allocation of Federal Coronavirus Aid in the amount of $545,972 which is in on tonight’s agenda for expenditures incurred before December 30, 2020. Winter storm Gail was an all hands on deck winter storm for our Public Works Department. In preparation for the winter weather conditions, combined with the current COVID pandemic, the Director had reached out to NPU for a plan to utilize NPU employees, both CDL plow truck drivers, and laborers, to supplement the PW workforce if it became shorthanded from the virus. Consideration was given to utilizing an NPU driver for plowing, but that plan was not implemented. Streets and parking lots open with our own forces. Snow removal operations went as smoothly as could be expected. There was approximately 14 hours of overtime for most Public Works employees over the course of three days. Nearly 500 tons of salt was utilized, for an approximate storm cost of $50,000. Having the plan with NPU in place provides a degree of assurance as we move deeper into the winter months. My office has received notification of the approved contributions for the 2020 Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act. Norwich approved contributions totaled $179,992.91 with Norwich Public Utilities 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 21, 2020 contributing $147,939.38 of that. Thank you to them and the other supporters who contributed this year. The full list is on the State of Connecticut website. Norwich Youth and Family Services held a drive‐by Santa event on December 11, 2020 with approximately 150 participants. It was a creative way to allow children and their families to maintain a holiday season tradition. The Norwich Police also participated by spreading holiday cheer and children had the opportunity to drop off a letter to Santa. Norwich Recreation is holding a snowman contest. Entries will be accepted until December 27th and they will be starting a new submission date with each snow storm. They also held a wreath and house decorating contest. Happy Holidays to all, please stay safe. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment. There were no speakers. There were no emails. Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment closed. Upon a motion of Ald. Myles, seconded by Ald. Wilson, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem Bettencourt and Ald. Gould. RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that the Council of the City of Norwich may enter into with and deliver to the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security any and all documents which it deems to be necessary or appropriate; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that John Salomone as City Manager of the City of Norwich, is authorized and directed to execute and deliver any and all documents on behalf of the Council of the City of Norwich and to do and perform all acts and things which he deems to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the terms of such documents, including, but not limited to, executing and delivering all agreements and documents contemplated by such documents. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem Bettencourt. WHEREAS, a bill titled AN ACT AUTHORIZING SPORTS WAGERING, INTERNET GAMING, INTERNET LOTTERY AND INTERNET KENO is to be introduced to the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened during the 2021 Legislative Session, said bill sponsored by Senator Osten and several members of the State Legislative Delegation from Southeastern Connecticut; and WHEREAS, said bill as presently drafted, will become effective on July 1, 2021 and would produce an almost immediate positive effect on the economy of Southeastern Connecticut; 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 21, 2020 NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that it go on record as being in support of AN ACT AUTHORIZING SPORTS WAGERING, INTERNET GAMING, INTERNET LOTTERY AND INTERNET KENO as introduced in the Senate and House of Representative in General Assembly convened; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that City Manager John Salomone be authorized and directed to send a copy of this resolution to Senator Osten and Representatives Ryan, Riley and Dubinski on behalf of the Council of the City of Norwich. Upon a motion of Ald. Myles, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem Bettencourt. WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, at a meeting held on June 15, 2020, adopted a resolution proposed by the City of Norwich Office of Community Development, as guided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, making a substantial Amendment to the City of Norwich’s Annual Action Plan and budget for FY 2019‐2020 to incorporate $506,569 of CDBG‐CV Cares Act funds; and WHEREAS, by such resolution the Council adopted and approved a request to fund the CD Office Small Business Assistance in the sum of $219,569; and WHEREAS, the Council finds that subcontracting with the Norwich Community Development Corporation to administer the program to the extent of the sum of $219,569 as described will assist in the providing of small business assistance in a timely fashion under all circumstances currently existing in Norwich and that this subcontracting may be made pursuant to guidance provided by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that the resolution described herein and adopted June 15, 2020 be and hereby is amended to approve subcontracting the sum of $219,569 directed to the CD Office Small Business Assistance by the resolution of June 15, 2020 with the Norwich Community Development Corporation to administer the program for the purposes for which the sum was initially appropriated by the resolution adopted June 15, 2020 with the requirement that the Norwich Community Development Corporation follow the requirements and the guidance of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development with respect to the use of such funds and the understanding it will make due effort to expedite the process of making the funds available as appropriate. Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Wilson, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem Bettencourt and Ald. Gould. WHEREAS, on April 20, 2020, the Council of the City of Norwich elected to participate in the “Low Interest Rate Program” with regard to principal of any taxes on real property, personal property, motor vehicles, supplemental motor vehicle, or municipal water, sewer and electric charges or assessments or part thereof due and payable from March 10 through and including July 1, 2020 pursuant to Section 6(b) of Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive Order 7S, as clarified by Section 1(b) of Executive Order 7W, and WHEREAS, on December 16, 2020 Governor Ned Lamont issued Executive Order 9R which requires each municipality to participate in at least one of the two programs known as the “Deferment Program”, and the “Low Interest Rate Program” for the types of bills described in the paragraph above 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 21, 2020 which are due and payable on January 1, 2021 and shall notify the Office of Policy and Management on or before December 30, 2020 if a different election is made. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that it hereby affirms its election that the City of Norwich is to participate in the Low Interest Rate Program pursuant to Executive order 9R, as it may be further amended and clarified by the State of Connecticut, and that City Manager John Salomone be and hereby is authorized and directed to provide timely notice of the same to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management and to direct, supervise, and carry out as necessary all requirements in the implementation of the Program. Upon a motion of Ald. Myles, seconded by President Pro Tem Bettencourt, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem Bettencourt and Ald. Gould 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 a paragraph #6 as follows “BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that if legislation currently pending at the federal level is implemented, City Manager John Salomone is hereby authorized and directed to exercise his discretion should said legislation change the time frames or reimbursement on amounts listed in this resolution.” WHEREAS, the City of Norwich will receive an allocation of Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) administered by the Office of Policy & Management (OPM) of State of Connecticut through its Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Municipal Program of $545,972 for necessary expenditures incurred on or after March 1, 2020, through December 30, 2020 due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID–19 which were not budgeted as of March 27, 2020 when the CARES Act was enacted and were not reimbursed by any other funding source and; WHEREAS, Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) and Uncas Health District (UHD) have incurred substantial unbudgeted and unreimbursed COVID-19-related expenditures between March 1, 2020, through December 30, 2020. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that the CRF funds be first applied to unreimbursed costs of the City of Norwich. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that NPU and UHD be allowed to request reimbursement from the City of Norwich by submitting summarized and detailed documentation satisfactory to the City Manager and Comptroller of their eligible, necessary, unbudgeted and unreimbursed COVID-19-related expenditures between March 1, 2020, through December 30, 2020 on or before January 31, 2021. For the UHD, the amount of their reimbursement request shall be limited to the City of Norwich’s portion of costs using the current annual population estimates from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that, should the reimbursement requests submitted by NPU and UHD exceed the CRF funds remaining after first applying them to unreimbursed costs of the City of Norwich, the reimbursement amounts shall be reduced proportionately to NPU and UHD. 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 21, 2020 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that if legislation currently pending at the federal level is implemented, City Manager John Salomone is hereby authorized and directed to exercise his discretion should said legislation change the time frames or reimbursement on amounts listed in this resolution. On a roll call vote of 7-0 the above amended resolution passes. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Myles, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to waive the full reading and to set a public hearing date on January 4, 2021 at 7:30 pm for second reading an action for introduced by Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem Bettencourt and Ald. Gould. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE #1789 ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 PERTAINING TO AN EXEMPTION FOR THE NORWICH ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESAN CORPORATION FROM THE PAYMENT OF TAXES ON CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED AT 25 OTIS STREET FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE WHEREAS, that certain property located at 25 Otis Street, Norwich, Connecticut was purchased by The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation on May 1, 2019 to be used for educational and charitable purposes; and, WHEREAS, said property since May 1, 2019 has been used for educational and charitable purposes by The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation; and, WHEREAS, said property was not considered to be tax exempt on the Grand List of October 1, 2018 and October 1, 2019; and, WHEREAS, Connecticut General Statute Section 12-81(b) provides that any municipality may, by ordinance, provide that the property tax exemption authorized by any of subdivisions (7-16), inclusive, of section 12-81 shall be effective as of the date of acquisition of the property to which the exemption applies and shall, in such ordinance, provide procedure for reimbursement of the tax-exempt organization for any tax paid by it for a period subsequent to said date; and, WHEREAS, Connecticut General Statute Section 12-81(7) provides that real property, owned by a corporation organized exclusively for educational purposes and used for educational purposes, shall be exempt from taxation; and, WHEREAS, the Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation subsequently filed an M-3 application with the Norwich Assessor for the real property located at 25 Otis Street to be eligible for the exemption based on its’ use; and, WHEREAS, the Assessor has approved the exempt status based on its current use; and, WHEREAS, taxes on the October 1, 2018 Grand List, which covers the period of October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019 were $4,818.20; and, WHEREAS, The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation has paid the real estate taxes on the October 1, 2018 Grand List for the property located at 25 Otis Street in the total amount of $4,818.20; and, 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH DECEMBER 21, 2020 WHEREAS, The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation, owned the property located at 25 Otis Street for a period of 212 days on the October 1, 2018 grand list; and, WHEREAS, The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation would be entitled to a reimbursement in the amount of $2,018.84. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that such property at 25 Otis Street be and hereby is exempted from the payment of any real estate taxes, interest or penalty due on the Grand List of October 1, 2018 from the date of purchase, May 1, 2019, and the Grand List of October 1, 2019, as approved by the City Assessor, or until said premises are no longer used by The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation for educational and charitable purposes and the City of Norwich shall reimburse The Norwich Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation for any City of Norwich real estate taxes paid by it on the Grand List of October 1, 2018 for the period subsequent to May 1, 2019; which reimbursement shall be in the sum of $2,018.84 for real estate taxes paid to the City of Norwich. Upon a motion by President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Myles, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to go into Executive Session pursuant to Connecticut General Statute Section 1- 200(6) for the purpose of discussing strategies and negotiations with respect to collective bargaining. The following shall be asked to participate during all or portions of the Executive Session at the request of the City Council: City Manager John Salomone, Finance Director Joshua Pothier, and Michael E. Driscoll. I hereby further move, pursuant to Connecticut General Statute Section 1-200(6) that the members of the Norwich City Council continue in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the acquisition or disposition of real estate or interests in real estate, when publicity regarding the site, and the acquisition or disposition of interest in the same would adversely impact the price of the same; and to review preliminary drafts of proposals in the development and use of the property, the Council having determined that the public interest in withholding such documents clearly outweigh the public interest in disclosure at this time, and to review commercial or financial information given in confidence not required by statute. City Manager John Salomone, Finance Director Joshua Pothier, Jason Vincent President of the Norwich Community Development Corporation and Corporation Counsel Michael E. Driscoll, shall 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 8:18 pm to 9:10 pm, at which time Mayor Nystrom, stated no votes were taken. Upon a motion of Ald. Myles, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to return to regular session. Upon motion of Ald. Nash seconded by President Pro Tem Bettencourt, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:12 P.M. City Clerk 6