City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 12, 2023 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held June 12, 2023 at 7:30 PM in Council Chamber. Present: Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem DeLucia, Ald. Neuendorf, Gould, Singh, Burto and Nash. City Manager Salomone and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom presided. Ald. Burto read the opening prayer and Ald. Singh 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”. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem DeLucia, seconded by Ald. Burto, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to suspend the rules. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem DeLucia, seconded by Ald. Burto, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to introduce three new business resolutions to this agenda. Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to adjust revenue estimate for PILOT. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustment listed herein. General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Revenue Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted 10040000 43600 Payments in Lieu of Taxes 2,982,351 3,154,055 171,704 Change in General Fund Mill Rate (0.09) Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to increase funding for Norwich Public Schools. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustment listed herein. General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Expenditure Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted Dept 4700 Norwich Public Schools 88,973,852 89,445,556 471,704 Change in General Fund Mill Rate 0.26 Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to increase funding for Norwich Public Schools and appropriate additional ARPA funds to defray a portion of the tax impact of the increase in funding for Norwich Public Schools. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustments listed herein. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 12, 2023 General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Expenditure Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted Dept 4700 Norwich Public Schools 88,973,852 91,730,325 2,756,473 Change in General Fund Mill Rate 1.53 General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Revenue Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted 10042000 43100 Federal grants 0 781,000 781,000 Change in General Fund Mill Rate (0.43) Mayor Nystrom called for citizens comment on resolutions. Aaron Daniels, 89 Union St., expressed the need to treat this budget like you would treat your personal budget. Make adjustments where needed so you are not going backwards. Robert Aldi, 231 Scotland Rd., apologized for his previous comments. He expressed the need for the budget to match the changing needs of education. Kristen Stringfellow, Superintendent of Schools, reminded the Council of the costs of Special Education and High School amd they are not negotiable and they need more money in their budget. Educational needs have changed and the budget needs to help accommodate those needs. Bob Sirpenski, BOE Business Administrator, pointed out that all of the figures are not in from the State and there are some increases and some cuts. Greg Perry, 33 Mulberry St., believes if you fund education you invest in people. Mark Kulos, 327 Broadway, made an analogy of making meatloaf and how you need all of the ingredients to make meatloaf so is the case with education you need all of the ingredients to make it right. Greg Ballassi, 2 Dupont Ln., compared infrastructure to the education. He feels we need both. Mark Cook, 62 Gulliver Cir., pointed out that people who are on the higher end of the pay scale look at the education system when deciding where to live. Beth Hanlon, 9 Caulkins Rd., spoke with concern that post pandemic educational needs have increased with respect to social and emotional needs. Janis Sawicki, 39 Andrea Ln., nobody wants to pay more taxes. It is education versus incarceration. Acharee Sampson, 69 Twelfth St., spoke in support of education. Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt Ave., wants the budget to be put down. If we continue to pay high taxes the kids of today won’t be able to afford taxes to live in Norwich as adults. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 12, 2023 Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave., previous speaker used certain terms inflation is real, trauma and stress etc. She related to these terms but pointed out the way to work through things is strength. The rise in taxes has to stop. Pietro “Rocky” Carmadella, 79 Lambert Dr., stressed that the responsibility of the Council is to the taxpayer, the taxes are too high. John Blackburn, 15 Alice St., agrees with previous speakers lower the taxes, learn how to do more with less. Peter Camp, 15 Stewart St., wants the schools to be fully funded. There being no further speakers Mayor Nystrom declared the public hearing closed. The Assistant City Clerk read the following resolution that was introduced under suspension in its entirety into the record. Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to adjust revenue estimate for PILOT. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustment listed herein. General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Revenue Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted 10040000 43600 Payments in Lieu of Taxes 2,982,351 3,154,055 171,704 Change in General Fund Mill Rate (0.09) Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Burto, on a roll call vote it was voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Gould, Neuendorf and Nash under suspension and put it on the floor. Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to adjust revenue estimate for PILOT. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustment listed herein. General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Revenue Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted 10040000 43600 Payments in Lieu of Taxes 2,982,351 3,154,055 171,704 Change in General Fund Mill Rate (0.09) Motion passed on a roll call vote of 7-0. 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 12, 2023 The Assistant City Clerk read the following resolution that was introduced under suspension in its entirety into the record. Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to increase funding for Norwich Public Schools. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustment listed herein. General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Expenditure Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted Dept Norwich Public Schools 88,973,852 89,445,556 471,704 4700 Change in General Fund Mill Rate 0.26 Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Neuendorf, on a roll call vote it was voted the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Gould, Neuendorf and Nash under suspension and put it on the floor. Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Gould, on a roll call vote to amend the above resolution to round out the expenditure adjustment of $471,704 to and even $500,000. Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to increase funding for Norwich Public Schools. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustment listed herein. General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Expenditure Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted Dept Norwich Public Schools 88,973,852 89,473,852 500,000 4700 Change in General Fund Mill Rate 0.28 The amendment passed on a roll call vote of 4 to 3 with Ald. Burto, Singh and Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia voting in opposition. Upon a motion of Ald. Singh, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote to further amend the above resolution to add an additional $500,000 contribution from ARPA funds to make a total of $1,000,000. Motion failed on a roll call vote of 5 to 2 with Ald. Burto, Gould, Neuendorf and Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia, Mayor Nystrom voting in opposition. Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to increase funding for Norwich Public Schools. 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 12, 2023 RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustment listed herein. General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Expenditure Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted Dept Norwich Public Schools 88,973,852 89,473,852 500,000 4700 Change in General Fund Mill Rate 0.28 Motion passed on a roll call vote of 4 to 3 with Ald. Burto, Singh and Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia voting in opposition. The Assistant City Clerk read the following resolution that was introduced under suspension in its entirety into the record. Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to increase funding for Norwich Public Schools and appropriate additional ARPA funds to defray a portion of the tax impact of the increase in funding for Norwich Public Schools. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustments listed herein. General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Expenditure Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted Dept Norwich Public Schools 88,973,852 91,730,325 2,756,473 4700 Change in General Fund Mill Rate 1.53 General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Revenue Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted 10042000 43100 Federal grants 0 781,000 781,000 Change in General Fund Mill Rate (0.43) Upon a motion of Pres Pro Tem DeLucia, seconded by Ald. Burto, on a roll call vote it was voted the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Gould, Neuendorf and Nash under suspension and put it on the floor. Relative to an amendment of the 2023-24 budget to increase funding for Norwich Public Schools and appropriate additional ARPA funds to defray a portion of the tax impact of the increase in funding for Norwich Public Schools. RESOLVED, that the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023, be amended by the adjustments listed herein. 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 12, 2023 General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Expenditure Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted Dept Norwich Public Schools 88,973,852 91,730,325 2,756,473 4700 Change in General Fund Mill Rate 1.53 General Fund 2023-24 2023-24 Revenue Tentatively Revised Adjustment Adopted 10042000 43100 Federal grants 0 781,000 781,000 Change in General Fund Mill Rate (0.43) Motion failed on a roll call vote of 4 to 3 with Ald. Nash, Ald. Gould, Ald. Neuendorf and Mayor Nystrom voting in opposition. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was voted to put the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom and Ald. Gould on the floor. Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, and seconded by Ald. Gould, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to amend the resolution to incorporate the “and as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on June 12, 2023” after “May 15, 2023”. Relative to the adoption of the budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24. 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 Fiscal Year 2023-24 as submitted by the City Manager on April 3, 2023, as amended and tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023 and as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on June 12, 2023 be, and the same hereby is, adopted. Amendment passes on a roll call vote of 6-1 with Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia voting in opposition. Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Neuendorf, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom and Ald. Gould on the floor. Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, and seconded by Ald. Gould, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to amend the resolution to incorporate the “and as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on June 12, 2023” after “May 15, 2023”. Relative to the adoption of the appropriations ordinance for Fiscal Year 2023-24. 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 2023-24 as submitted by the City Manager on April 3, 2023, as tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023 and as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on June 12, 2023 be, and the same hereby is, adopted. 6 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 12, 2023 AN ORDINANCE RELATIVE TO THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE CITY OF NORWICH AND THE CITY AND TOWN CONSOLIDATION DISTRICTS OF SAID CITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-24. 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, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024 to wit: 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Budget Budget Adopted City Council 408,622 438,638 480,797 City Manager 424,267 440,278 462,771 Finance 1,804,792 1,948,002 2,052,253 Assessor 479,656 540,821 576,628 City Treasurer 296,705 308,709 383,442 Law 439,000 439,000 439,000 Human Resources 637,636 660,687 736,822 City Clerk 548,235 533,103 562,994 Planning & Neighborhood Services 1,189,146 1,262,181 1,412,841 Election 160,655 169,122 195,229 Police 18,365,141 18,375,503 19,216,092 Fire - Central 2,306,027 2,361,185 2,533,284 Emergency Management 72,840 75,661 76,574 Fire - East Great Plain 154,996 165,433 173,840 Fire - Laurel Hill 83,221 86,732 92,377 Fire - Occum 92,300 100,168 111,538 Fire - Taftville 173,968 176,038 177,780 Fire - Yantic 160,383 171,874 189,873 Public Works 11,155,301 12,262,739 12,905,195 Human Services 2,221,289 1,951,288 2,049,380 Education 86,346,105 86,803,758 89,473,852 Debt Service 3,907,535 3,558,554 4,296,599 Miscellaneous 5,586,522 5,797,256 6,116,514 City Consolidation District 8,231,074 8,117,604 8,482,180 Town Consolidation District 505,129 487,256 527,195 TOTALS 145,750,545 147,231,590 153,725,050 General Operations 44,103,547 45,524,131 48,172,689 Debt Service 3,907,535 3,558,554 4,296,599 Capital Improvements 2,657,155 2,740,287 2,772,535 Education 86,346,105 86,803,758 89,473,852 City Consolidation District 8,231,074 8,117,604 8,482,180 Town Consolidation District 505,129 487,256 527,195 TOTALS 145,750,545 147,231,590 153,725,050 7 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 12, 2023 Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Neuendorf, on a roll call vote of 6-1 with Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia voting in opposition, the above Ordinance was adopted. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was voted to put the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom and Ald. Gould on the floor. Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, and seconded by Ald. Gould, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to amend the resolution to incorporate the “and as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on June 12, 2023” after “May 15, 2023” and that changes the Section 1. Mill rate to “(41.85)” Relative to the adoption of the tax levy ordinance for Fiscal Year 2023-24. RESOLVED, that the tax levy ordinance of the City of Norwich for Fiscal Year 2023-24 as submitted by the City Manager on April 3, 2023, as amended and tentatively adopted by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 1, 2023, as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on May 15, 2023 and as further amended by the Council of the City of Norwich on June 12, 2023 be, and the same hereby is, adopted.. AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING THE TAX LEVIES ON THE LIST OF OCTOBER 1, 2022 BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH: Section 1. On the City Assessment list of October 1, 2022 a tax of forty-one and eighty-five hundredths (41.85) mills on the dollar is hereby established to be levied upon the ratable Real Estate and Personal Property 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, 2022, 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 and Personal Property 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, 2022, a tax of six and seventy-nine hundredths (6.79) 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, 2022, a tax of thirty-two and forty-six hundredths (32.46) mills on the dollar is hereby established to be levied upon the ratable Motor Vehicles within the City of Norwich of the inhabitants of said City and 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, 2023, and payable on said date in whole or in equal installments from that date, namely on July 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024, except that any tax of less than one hundred dollars shall be due and payable on July 1, 2023. If the first installment is not paid on or before August 1, 2023 or if the second installment is not paid on or before February 1, 2024, 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 8 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH JUNE 12, 2023 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, 2023. If the payment is not paid on or before August 1, 2023 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. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote of 7-0, the above Ordinance was adopted. Upon motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote of 7-0 it was unanimously voted to adjourn 9:06pm. Assistant City Clerk 9