City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 14, 2021 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held June 14, 2021, at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present by a roll call vote: Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Bettencourt, Nash, Gould, 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 Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Wilson, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following revenue changes on the floor. Description Object(s) Page Amount Revenue Changes Remove Distressed Municipalities funding 43100/ 43500 48 (3,528,980) Add CRF funding remaining from December 2020 distribution 43100 48 350,000 Increase Conveyance Tax revenue estimate 41200 48 100,000 Increase Sale of City Assets revenue estimate 49200 48 50,000 Increase Building Permit revenue estimate 42201 48 50,000 Total Revenue Changes (2,978,980) Discussion ensued with Superintendent Stringfellow and Business Manager Sirpenski of Norwich Public Schools who stated their understanding that certain monies to be proposed to be cut of Norwich Public Schools may be offset by ECS funding which would be General Fund revenue and not Alliance District revenue. Upon their representation that if the resulting approximate $1.3 million increase, represented to be ECS revenue, was determined to be Alliance District revenue the Norwich Public Schools would not spend the $1,240,000 which was proposed to be cut from the $86,346,105 allotment which cut had been included in the proposed cut to expenditures in the proposed tentatively adopted 2021-22 budget in response to the $3.5 million loss of Distressed Municipalities revenue. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by President Pro Tem Bettencourt, it was voted to adopt the following new revenue change. Motion withdrawn by the sponsors. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Wilson, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following Revenue Changes resolution on the floor. Motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Gould, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to approve the Revenue Changes by a net reduction of $1,678,980 as presented below. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 14, 2021 Description Object(s) Page Amount Revenue Changes 43100/ Remove Distressed Municipalities funding 48 (3,528,980) 43500 Education cost sharing 43371 48 1,300,000 Add CRF funding remaining from December 2020 distribution 43100 48 350,000 Increase Conveyance Tax revenue estimate 41200 48 100,000 Increase Sale of City Assets revenue estimate 49200 48 50,000 Increase Building Permit revenue estimate 42201 48 50,000 Total Revenue Changes (1,678,980) Upon a Motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to put the following expenditure changes on the floor. Item Description Department (s) Page (s) Amount # Expenditure Changes Remove Records Clerk and share Revenue Collection Clerk 1 between Tax and City Clerk Finance/ City Clerk 55/ 65 (72,543) Planning & Neighborhood 2 Remove Assistant ZEO/ Blight Official Services 67 (65,047) 3 Remove Fire Services Director City Manager 53 (129,191) 4 Reduce NCDC funding Mayor/Council 51 (50,000) 5 Cut Marketing funding Mayor/Council 51 (25,000) 6 Cut Multicultural Development Program Mayor/Council 51 (25,000) 7 Delay fill of Assistant Assessor for six months Assessor 58 (47,695) 8 Leave 3 Police Officer postions vacant Police 73 (251,909) 9 Leave 1 Laborer position vacant Public Works 94 (74,409) 10 Reduce Otis Library funding Non-Departmental 115 (25,000) Remove capital item - Fix Dugout, announcers booth and 11 roofs- Dickenman & Depina, Hamilton and Skatepark roof Recreation 115 (11,500) 12 Remove Capital Item - Zero-turn mower Recreation 115 (15,000) 13 Remove NFD windows Norwich Fire 115 (22,500) Remove Capital Item - ADA water fountain at Recreation 14 building Recreation 115 (3,500) Reduce Capital Contingency to bring Capital Budget to 15 Charter minimum City Manager 115 (121,247) 16 Reduce Norwich Public Schools funding Norwich Public Schools 111 (1,240,000) Total Expenditure Cuts (2,179,541) On a roll call vote of 7-0 the above motion passes. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 14, 2021 Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following expenditure changes on the floor. President Pro Tem Bettencourt asked to divide the question taking 1-15 together and 16 separately. On a roll call vote of 7-0 expenditure change items #1-15 are approved. President Pro Tem Bettencourt appealed the ruling of the Mayor regarding a second motion. Motion of President Pro Tem Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to remove #16 the Norwich Public Schools expenditure reduction of $1,240,000 for a final list of expenditure changes presented below. Item Description Department (s) Page (s) Amount # Expenditure Changes Remove Records Clerk and share Revenue Collection Clerk 1 between Tax and City Clerk Finance/ City Clerk 55/ 65 (72,543) Planning & 2 Remove Assistant ZEO/ Blight Official Neighborhood Services 67 (65,047) 3 Remove Fire Services Director City Manager 53 (129,191) 4 Reduce NCDC funding Mayor/Council 51 (50,000) 5 Cut Marketing funding Mayor/Council 51 (25,000) 6 Cut Multicultural Development Program Mayor/Council 51 (25,000) 7 Delay fill of Assistant Assessor for six months Assessor 58 (47,695) 8 Leave 3 Police Officer postions vacant Police 73 (251,909) 9 Leave 1 Laborer position vacant Public Works 94 (74,409) 10 Reduce Otis Library funding Non-Departmental 115 (25,000) Remove capital item - Fix Dugout, announcers booth and 11 roofs- Dickenman & Depina, Hamilton and Skatepark roof Recreation 115 (11,500) 12 Remove Capital Item - Zero-turn mower Recreation 115 (15,000) 13 Remove NFD windows Norwich Fire 115 (22,500) Remove Capital Item - ADA water fountain at Recreation 14 building Recreation 115 (3,500) Reduce Capital Contingency to bring Capital Budget to 15 Charter minimum City Manager 115 (121,247) Total Expenditure Cuts (939,541) Upon a motion of Ald. Wilson, seconded by Ald. Myles, on a roll call vote it was voted unanimously to adopt the City of Norwich appropriation ordinance for Fiscal Year 2021-22. RESOLVED, that the appropriations ordinance of the City of Norwich; including the General Fund, Capital Budget, Town Consolidation District, and City Consolidation District; for Fiscal Year 2021-22 as submitted by the City Manager on April 5, 2021, as amended and tentatively adopted by 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 14, 2021 the Council of the City of Norwich on May 3, 2021, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 17, 2021, and as further amended on June 14, 2021 be, and the same hereby is, adopted. AN ORDINANCE RELATIVE TO THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CITY OF NORWICH AND THE CITY AND TOWN CONSOLIDATION DISTRICTS OF SAID CITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021-22. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, the following appropriations hereby are made to meet the expense of the City of Norwich and the City and Town Consolidation Districts of the City of Norwich for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2022 to wit: 2019‐20 2020‐21 Budget 2021‐22 Budget Adopted City Council 389,384 437,340 408,622 City Manager 380,781 396,796 424,267 Finance 1,722,343 1,691,804 1,804,792 Assessor 462,880 474,396 479,656 City Treasurer 275,341 278,050 296,705 Law 431,000 454,000 439,000 Human Resources 544,136 548,745 637,636 City Clerk 508,943 518,172 548,235 Planning & Neighborhood Services 1,056,325 1,042,594 1,189,146 Election 127,450 164,183 160,655 Police 17,031,379 17,294,300 18,365,141 Fire ‐ Central 2,120,770 2,190,032 2,272,887 Emergency Management 82,637 76,331 72,252 Fire ‐ East Great Plain 145,552 149,216 154,996 Fire ‐ Laurel Hill 78,360 78,445 81,221 Fire ‐ Occum 81,393 88,060 92,300 Fire ‐ Taftville 165,713 164,584 173,968 Fire ‐ Yantic 165,341 162,904 160,383 Public Works 10,687,164 10,857,197 11,144,301 Human Services 2,156,044 2,044,053 2,221,289 Education 81,789,000 84,240,102 86,346,105 Debt Service 4,383,985 4,097,319 3,907,535 Miscellaneous 5,143,032 5,409,119 5,633,250 City Consolidation District 8,011,975 7,782,705 8,157,074 Town Consolidation District 481,312 448,631 505,129 TOTALS 138,422,240 141,089,078 145,676,545 General Operations 41,234,300 41,876,961 44,103,547 Debt Service 4,383,985 4,097,319 3,907,535 Capital Improvements 2,521,668 2,643,360 2,657,155 Education 81,789,000 84,240,102 86,346,105 City Consolidation District 8,011,975 7,782,705 8,157,074 Town Consolidation District 481,312 448,631 505,129 TOTALS 138,422,240 141,089,078 145,676,545 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 14, 2021 Upon a motion of Ald. Myles, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was voted unanimously to adopt the City of Norwich tax levy ordinance for Fiscal Year 2021-22. RESOLVED, that the tax levy ordinance of the City of Norwich for the Fiscal Year 2021-22 as submitted by the City Manager on April 5, 2021, as amended and tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 3, 2021, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 17, 2021, and as further amended on June 14, 2021 be, and the same hereby is, adopted. AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE TAX LEVIES ON THE LIST OF OCTOBER 1, 2020 BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH: Section 1. On the City Assessment list of October 1, 2020 a tax of forty-one and ninety-eight hundredths (41.98) 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, 2020, a tax of thirty-seven hundredths (0.37) 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, 2020, a tax of six and sixty-six hundredths (6.66) 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, 2020, a tax of three and two hundredths (3.02) 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, 2021, and payable on said date in whole or in equal installments from that date, namely on July 1, 2021 and January 1, 2022, except that any tax of less than one hundred dollars shall be due and payable on July 1, 2021. If the first installment is not paid on or before August 1, 2021 or if the second installment is not paid on or before February 1, 2022, 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, 2021. If the payment is not paid on or before August 1, 2021 interest will be charged on the delinquent 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. 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 14, 2021 The following Resolution was withdrawn by the sponsors Mayor Nystrom and Ald. Gould. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich has received an analysis of the Fire/EMS Services provided in the City of Norwich prepared by the McGrath Consulting Group, Inc., with emphasis on the services provided by the City of Norwich Fire Department and the five (5) volunteer fire departments; and WHEREAS, the report makes recommendations with respect to an amalgamation of the six (6) fire departments with a goal of supporting and improving services provided by the departments; and WHEREAS, the report also recommends the establishment of a position of a fire commissioner which position may not be established this year for budgetary reasons and may in the future be subject to budgetary issues; and WHEREAS, the Council finds that the services provided by the fire departments in the City of Norwich are supported and improved by regular meetings among the chiefs of the fire departments. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that City Manager John Salomone be and hereby is requested to arrange monthly meetings to include himself, the chiefs of the six (6) fire departments or their designees, and such other persons as he believes would be helpful to such meetings to discuss issues of concern to the fire departments and the city for the purpose of supporting and improving the services provided by the six (6) fire departments with monthly reports to be sent to the Public Safety Committee of the Council. The following Resolution was withdrawn by the sponsors Mayor Nystrom and Ald. Gould. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22, as submitted by the City Manager on April 5, 2021, as amended and tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 3, 2021, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 17, 2021, be amended by the expenditure adjustments as listed herein. General Fund Expenditures Change Change Change in Description Page ORG OBJ in GF Mill in CCD Expenditures Rate Mill Rate Decrease Salaries for removal of Fire Services Director Position 53 10411300 51610 (105,000) Decrease Fringe for removal of Fire Services Director Position 53 10411300 52000 (24,191) Total Change (129,191) (0.06) (0.00) Upon motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Myles, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:10 pm. City Clerk 6