City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held March 4, 2024 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem DeLucia, Ald. Singh, Ald. Gould, Ald. Bettencourt, Ald. Hayes and Ald. Nash. City Manager John Salomone, 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”. Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia, read the opening prayer and Ald. Nash led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Upon a motion of Ald. Hayes, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to accept the following minutes of February 5, and February 20, 2024. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Hayes on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to accept the following communication. Upon a motion of Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia, seconded by Ald. Hayes on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to suspend the rules to incorporate emails received by the City Clerk into the minutes and read a letter from the Mayor of New Britain, CT and incorporate it into the minutes. Upon a motion of Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia, seconded by Ald. Hayes on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to accept the following communication. Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia read the following communication. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 The following were email communications received to the City Clerk’s email between the dates of February 29, 2024 and March 1, 2024. Sent to the Clerk on February 29, 2024 at 8:25 AM Dear Ms. Muscarella, As a Norwich resident, I strongly urge you to support the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on the upcoming school projects that are scheduled to come up for a vote at the Norwich City Council on Monday, March 4th. Our children deserve top-notch schools. A Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is an excellent tool to make sure our schools are built with skilled, local craftworkers who know how to build a quality project on time and on budget. With 5 schools planned to be built over 7 years costing more than $300 million, this Project Labor Agreement has strong local hiring language that will give more Norwich residents, like me, an opportunity to work in Norwich instead of driving to a jobsite in New Haven or Stamford. The Project Labor Agreement also gives more Norwich and New London County young, underemployed adults an opportunity to join an apprenticeship program that will help them develop life-changing skills to build a career in the construction industry. Your support for new Norwich schools to be built under a Project Labor Agreement will benefit our schoolchildren, our teachers, and our young, underemployed adults who want to build careers in the trades while using their hands to build our new, state-of-the-art schools. I strongly urge you to vote for Norwich’s future and vote YES for a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on Monday night! Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Michael Camillucci 6 Curtis Street Norwich, CT 06360 Sent to the City Clerk on February 29, 2024 at 3:21 PM Dear Ms. Muscarella, As a Norwich resident, I strongly urge you to support the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on the upcoming school projects that are scheduled to come up for a vote at the Norwich City Council on Monday, March 4th. Our children deserve top-notch schools. A Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is an excellent tool to make sure our schools are built with skilled, local craftworkers who know how to build a quality project on time and on budget. With 5 schools planned to be built over 7 years costing more than $300 million, this Project Labor Agreement has strong local hiring language that will give more Norwich residents, like me, an opportunity to work in Norwich instead of driving to a jobsite in New Haven or Stamford. The Project Labor Agreement also gives more Norwich and New London County young, underemployed adults an opportunity to join an apprenticeship program that will help them develop life-changing skills to build a 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 career in the construction industry. Your support for new Norwich schools to be built under a Project Labor Agreement will benefit our schoolchildren, our teachers, and our young, underemployed adults who want to build careers in the trades while using their hands to build our new, state-of-the-art schools. I strongly urge you to vote for Norwich’s future and vote YES for a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on Monday night! Thank you for your consideration. I have owned my home in Norwich since 1989 and over the years I have had out of state contractors doing public utility work in my home as well as underground work in front of my home. As a taxpayer, (never delinquent), I find this reprehensible. Sincerely, Thomas Bonanno 118 Central Ave Norwich, CT 06360 Sent to the City Clerk on February 29, 2024 at 4:48 PM Dear Ms. Muscarella, As a Norwich resident, I strongly urge you to support the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on the upcoming school projects that are scheduled to come up for a vote at the Norwich City Council on Monday, March 4th. Our children deserve top-notch schools. A Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is an excellent tool to make sure our schools are built with skilled, local craftworkers who know how to build a quality project on time and on budget. With 5 schools planned to be built over 7 years costing more than $300 million, this Project Labor Agreement has strong local hiring language that will give more Norwich residents, like me, an opportunity to work in Norwich instead of driving to a jobsite in New Haven or Stamford. The Project Labor Agreement also gives more Norwich and New London County young, underemployed adults an opportunity to join an apprenticeship program that will help them develop life-changing skills to build a career in the construction industry. Your support for new Norwich schools to be built under a Project Labor Agreement will benefit our schoolchildren, our teachers, and our young, underemployed adults who want to build careers in the trades while using their hands to build our new, state-of-the-art schools. I strongly urge you to vote for Norwich’s future and vote YES for a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on Monday night! Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Mike Brown 4 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 47 Ridgewood Dr Norwich, CT 06360 Sent to the City Clerk on March 1, 2024 1:14 PM To All Members of the Norwich City Council, My name is Dana Williams, I live at 67 Corning Road Unit 13. I am writing to ask you to vote yes for a Project Labor Agreement for Norwich Schools. I am a union member and a bartender and lead union steward at Foxwoods. PLA’s are a way to take taxpayer money and not only build a quality product on time and within budget constraints, but also make our money go further by offering apprenticeships and trainings to our residents, jobs for the construction workers in our area, and new opportunities for our veterans through the Building Trades Helmets to Hardhats program. Please vote Yes for a PLA for Norwich Schools. Thank you, Dana Williams Sent to the City Clerk on March 1, 2024 2:44 PM Dear Ms. Muscarella, As a Norwich resident, I strongly urge you to support the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on the upcoming school projects that are scheduled to come up for a vote at the Norwich City Council on Monday, March 4th. Our children deserve top-notch schools. A Project Labor Agreement (PLA) is an excellent tool to make sure our schools are built with skilled, local craftworkers who know how to build a quality project on time and on budget. With 5 schools planned to be built over 7 years costing more than $300 million, this Project Labor Agreement has strong local hiring language that will give more Norwich residents, like me, an opportunity to work in Norwich instead of driving to a jobsite in New Haven or Stamford. The Project Labor Agreement also gives more Norwich and New London County young, underemployed adults an opportunity to join an apprenticeship program that will help them develop life-changing skills to build a career in the construction industry. Your support for new Norwich schools to be built under a Project Labor Agreement will benefit our schoolchildren, our teachers, and our young, underemployed adults who want to build careers in the trades while using their hands to build our new, state-of-the-art schools. I strongly urge you to vote for Norwich’s future and vote YES for a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on Monday night! Thank you for your consideration. CT carpenter local 326 Sincerely, Robert Lemaire 399 Harland Rd Norwich, CT 06360 5 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 City Manager’s Report To: Mayor Nystrom and members of the City Council From: John Salomone, City Manager Subject: City Manager’s Report Date: March 4, 2024 Meetings attended were with State representatives and legislators, Southeastern Council of Governments Executive Committee Meeting (SCCOG), Norwich Public Utilities (NPU) City Coordination Meeting and CIF Stakeholders Meeting. The 2023 grand list was filed 2/29/24. There was an overall increase of 33.786% from the 2022 grand list. The Board of Assessment Appeals will be taking applications to appeal incorrect assessments from March 1st to March 20th. The Board of Assessment Appeals will be meeting in April to hear appeals and dates and times will be determined by the number of applications received. The budgets process is underway. Comptroller Josh Pothier has forwarded draft budget pages to each department for review. These draft numbers are subject to change as we receive more information such as State of Connecticut formula grant numbers and projections of other revenues and expenditures. Josh and I will be meeting with departments in person, if needed. My assistant, Jacquie Barbarossa has scheduled and advised the Departments of their hearings which will take place on April 2nd, 8th, 9th and 11th in Council Chambers. The schedule is also posted on the city website. The City has submitted a DECD Brownfields Round 19 grant application of $4M for the Capehart Mill Riverfront Park project. Norwich Youth, Family and Recreation has started a free rugby program. The Rose City Raptors rugby team has completed two of their 4 introductory clinics, and continues to recruit members. Please contact Recreation at 860-823-3791 for additional information. Welcome to Craig Kelman, the new Director of Community Development. Craig started on Monday, February 26th. He met with the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) and PY 50 applicants on February 29th, and will be meeting again on March 5th. Deliberations for CDBG funds will start on Tuesday, March 12th. Thank you to the Norwich Events Organization and volunteers, for the 10th annual St. Patrick’s Parade which was held downtown on March 3rd. The weather was perfect for the marchers and the thousands that viewed the parade. 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 on resolutions. Russell Hyde, 200 Mckinley Ave. Ext. spoke in favor of resolution # 4 on the “PLA”. Stated that this project of $345,000,000.00 is a God send. 6 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 Angel Rosado, 50 Sunnyside East Rd. spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Stated he is currently working out of state and he lives in Norwich and would like to be employed locally and give back to the community. Fred Ladd, 277 Old Canterbury Tpke., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Stated he has been a citizen in Norwich since 1989 and has been involved in Norwich through the years and is a Union member/supporter and believes in PLA’s . Jayden Beaudet, 81 Oxford Dr., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Stated this will be beneficial in keeping the jobs personal and residents involved. Ryan Machalick, 294 Central Ave., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA” Stated he is currently traveling to work to New Haven, this is an investment in the community. “Norwich needs to be a place to grow into not grow out of”. Matthew Quigley, 140 Hansen Rd., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA” Referenced that the PLA will insure 25% of those employed will be Norwich residents. He stated that a PLA is the right choice so please make the right decision. Michael Byers, 187 N Wawecus Hill Rd., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Stated he has grown up in Norwich and that he knows the importance of apprenticeships providing the proper training and employment through PLA’s. David Jarvis, Brooklyn, CT, spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Stated listen to the voices of the people. Sometimes you need to spend money to make money. The PLA will provide growth for the city “For the People by the People” we all win. Joshua Taylor, 134 Baltic St, spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Stated he has young children that will be attending these new schools and supports the people who will be working on the projects. Mitch Mileski Jr., 27 Bentley Ave., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Supports the local workers to help provide for their families by keeping the money here. Bryan Sanchi, 42 Cedar Lane, spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Supports Unions and stated PLA’s makes financial sense and makes sure our tax money is spent responsibly. Rich Griffith, 30 Trading Cove Circle, spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Stated the PLA offers quality work and brings local residents together. Sean Fisher, 286 Richardson Hill Rd., Griswold , CT, spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Supports the PLA in giving newcomers “Apprentices” opportunities for work. Nick Stolaronek, 5 White St., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Spoke as a resident. He stated he is currently working in Bristol and supports this so that maybe he can get to work close to home. Don Barnes (for Craig Morello), 359 Central Ave., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Spoke for his Union President stating the benefits and pleasures of being a Teamster. 7 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 Lawson Higgins, 59 Knollcrest Rd., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Spoke as a resident who has children in the local schools so he is 100% in favor of the PLA. Bob Barnes, 359 Central Ave., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Spoke as a Union member he stated you get a better product when you employ Unions. Joe Toner, 11 Old Mill Rd., Quaker Hill, CT, spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Spoke as a Union Representative we know that know $20,000,ooo.00 will be recycled back to Norwich residents through wages and benefits by having 25% of local workers and five years of training programs. Ed Pescatello, 20 Darrow St, New London, CT, spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. He has experience working on several schools most recently New London High School through PLA’s it is nice to have work close to home. Tyler Panteleakos, 4 Eagle St., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA” Stated that this is a great opportunity for himself and local union workers and the for the new students coming up. You can’t miss with this opportunity. Amanda Mileski, 27 Bentley Ave., spoke in favor of resolution # on the 4 on the “PLA”. Stated that the benefits of local workers having the opportunity of working at these schools. Peter Procko, 27 Cooper St., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Spoke gratitude for getting these projects moving forward and expressed his trust in the Unions for building these schools. Jody Barr, 21 Heritage Dr, Marlborough, CT, Union Representative spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Spoke in support to the PLA and the trades. Steve Sipperly, 224 Case St., spoke in favor of resolution #4 “PLA”. Spoke as a long time resident and former Union worker expressing the safety and quality of the work that a Union worker does. Deanna Rhodes, Director of Planning, spoke in favor of resolutions #1,2 & 3. Ned Remondi, 361 Palmer St., Ext., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Supports PLA’s because they work and that’s why they are popular. Lisa Beaudet, 187 Maple St., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Spoke as a long time resident and an employee for the Norwich School System with a son that is in the Union currently traveling an hour away for work currently. So, we need to have local people working here. Bill Finch, 70 Crown St., Bridgeport, Union Representative, spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Stated that local workers will build you the best building you can ask for on time and under budget. Russell Hyde, 200 McKinley Ave, Ext., spoke about an incredible story about fire alarms that were installed at UCONN about 10 years ago that were never wired. Union workers had to come and redo the entire job. 8 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 Tiffany Benson, 49 Jerome Rd, Montville, CT, spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA”. Spoke as a Union member in favor of working locally and supporting the local community. Steve Sipperly, 224 Case St, observed that one of the local motels is being worked on without Union workers and there are no safety practices being used. He also commented that the new Sewer Treatment facility is being Union built. Tom Howville, 107 Mckinley Ave., spoke in favor of resolution #4 on the “PLA” He is currently a Union worker that has been travelling four hours a day for the last five years for work and would love to be able to work here. There being no speakers Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment closed. Upon a motion of Ald. Hayes, seconded by Ald. Nash on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to accept the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia, and Ald. Gould. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich became the owner of the property located at 86 Chestnut Street by a Certificate of Foreclosure recorded September 20, 1999 at Volume 1458, Page 204 of the Norwich Land Records; and WHEREAS, the property is undeveloped and unimproved land consisting of .15 acres and is located in an CC zone. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that the Tax Collector of the City of Norwich be and hereby is authorized and directed to sell the property at 86 Chestnut Street, identified as Map 93, Block 3, Lot 50, being limited to receiving bids from the owners or agents of those properties immediately abutting 86 Chestnut Street, subject to the requirements established for such sales, the auction to take place in such manner and under such terms and at a time and place to be set by the Tax Collector, including the acceptance of bids by mail to the Tax Collector by a specified date. It shall be a specific requirement as a term of the auction that any successful bidder must agree to combine the property with that of the bidder’s existing abutting property, and do so within 90 days of the date of auction. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to accept the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia, and Ald. Gould. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich became the owner of the property located at 49 Sturtevant Street by a Quit Claim Deed recorded August 1, 2023 at Volume 3444, Page 46 of the Norwich Land Records; and WHEREAS, the property is undeveloped and unimproved land consisting of .64 acres and is located in an R-20 zone. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that the Tax Collector of the City of Norwich be and hereby is authorized and directed to sell the 9 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 property at 49 Sturtevant Street, identified as Map 67, Block 3, Lot 14, being limited to receiving bids from the owners or agents of those properties immediately abutting 49 Sturtevant Street, subject to the requirements established for such sales, the auction to take place in such manner and under such terms and at a time and place to be set by the Tax Collector, including the acceptance of bids by mail to the Tax Collector by a specified date. It shall be a specific requirement as a term of the auction that any successful bidder must agree to combine the property with that of the bidder’s existing abutting property, and do so within 90 days of the date of auction. Upon a motion of Ald. Singh, seconded by Ald. Hayes on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to accept the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia, and Ald. Gould. WHEREAS, the City of Norwich became the owner of three parcels of property on Laurel Circle identified as 30, 32 and 32A Laurel Circle by foreclosure by sale committee deed in an action brought by the City of Norwich against Cap Realty, LLC, said deed was recorded on September 6, 2019 at volume 3138 page 210; and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich became the owner of three parcels of property on Ridgewood Drive identified as 28, 28A and 28B Ridgewood Drive by foreclosure by sale committee deed in an action brought by the City of Norwich against Cap Realty, LLC, said deed was recorded on November 19, 2019 at volume 3151 page 161; and WHEREAS, 30 Laurel Circle consists of 3.09 acres more or less; 32 Laurel Circle consists of .99 acres more or less and 32A Laurel Circle consist of .06 acres more or less, the three lots more particularly described in a survey entitled “Resubdivision Plan #319 Laurel Park Lot Layout, Ridgewood Drive & Laurel Circle, Norwich, CT, Scale 1”=40’, Project No. CLA-93-012, dated Sept. 1993, Sheet 1 of 3, Revised to 12/8/93”, prepared by CLA Engineers, Inc., Norwich, CT; and WHEREAS, 28 Ridgewood Drive consists of 1.28 acres more or less; 28A Ridgewood Drive consists of ..08 acres more or less and 28B Ridgewood Drive consist of ..20 acres more or less, the three lots more particularly described in a survey entitled “Resubdivision Plan #319 Laurel Park Lot Layout, Ridgewood Drive & Laurel Circle, Norwich, CT, Scale 1”=40’, Project No. CLA-93-012, dated Sept. 1993, Sheet 1 of 3, Revised to 12/8/93”, prepared by CLA Engineers, Inc., Norwich, CT; and WHEREAS, the Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee of the Council of the City of Norwich at its meeting of December 19, 2023 considered a recommendation by the city planner, Deanna Rhodes, to combine the six properties to be maintained as an open-space area, which recommendation was adopted by the Committee. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that City Manager John Salomone be and hereby is authorized and directed to combine said lots by executing a quit claim deed from the City of Norwich to the City of Norwich, to be maintained as an open-space area. Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Hayes on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by Pres. Pro Tem DeLucia, Ald. Bettencourt, Ald. Hayes and Ald. Singh on the floor. 10 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 Upon a motion of Ald. Hayes seconded by Ald. Gould on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to amend/replace the resolution introduced as below to include three friendly amendments in the seventh “Whereas” paragraph first line change the word from “enter into” to “authorize”. In the tenth “Whereas” paragraph second line remove the word “that” between the words “of” and “Connecticut”. In “Section 2 a)” second sentence add the letter “s” to the word “due”. Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Hayes on a roll call vote it was voted to accept the following on a 4 to 3 vote with Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Gould and Ald. Nash voting in opposition. WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted January 21, 2020 established the Norwich School Building Committee 2020 which committee has been charged, pursuant to Chapter 173 of the Connecticut General Statutes, to undertake the Norwich School Building Project (hereinafter School Building Project) as defined in section 10-282 of the Connecticut General Statutes; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, on July 18, 2022, adopted an ordinance appropriating Three Hundred Eighty-Five Million ($385,000,000) Dollars for the City of Norwich School Construction Program hereinafter (School Building Project) to include the construction of four (4) new elementary schools on the grounds of the Moriarty Environmental Sciences Magnet School, the John B. Stanton School, the Uncas School and the former Greeneville School; the renovation “as new” of the existing Teacher’s Memorial Global Study Magnet Middle School or the construction of a new middle school on the site of the existing Teacher's Memorial Global Study Magnet Middle School; and the conversion and renovation of the Samuel Huntington School to accommodate the central office for the Norwich Public Schools (collectively, the School Building Projects, and each individually, a School Building Project), the appropriation subject to approval of the ordinance at a referendum; and WHEREAS, at the November 2022 state election, held November 8, 2022, the ordinance was approved; and WHEREAS, the Norwich School Building Committee 2020 has selected the Downes Construction Company of New Britain to act as construction manager on the School Building Projects; and WHEREAS, the Norwich School Building Committee 2020 has selected the Construction Solutions Group LLC to advise on and perform the project management services for the School Building Projects; and WHEREAS, the Norwich School Building Committee 2020 has considered and received presentations and materials favoring and opposing the use of a Project Labor Agreements with respect to the School Building Projects, a Project Labor Agreement being defined at Connecticut General Statute §31-56a as “a pre-hire agreement covering the terms and conditions for all persons who will perform work on a specific public works project”; and WHEREAS, Connecticut General Statute §31-56b reserves the decision whether to authorize a Project Labor Agreement to a “public entity” defined as the state and any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof; the City of Norwich, as a public entity, acting through its city council; and 11 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 WHEREAS, Connecticut General Statute §31-56b(c) establishes specific requirements for any Project Labor Agreement entered into by a public entity; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich has determined that it is in the City’s best interest that there be Project Labor Agreements for the School Building Project because it will assist in making a skilled workforce available for the School Building Projects, will help or prevent construction delays on the School Building Projects, promote quality construction for and safety on the School Building Projects, promote the advancement of minority and women owned businesses and produce a positive effect on apprenticeship and employment opportunities within the Norwich-New London community; and WHEREAS, to implement these interests, the Council of the City of Norwich authorizes Project Labor Agreements that in addition to containing the specific provisions of Connecticut General Statute §31-56b mandates, contain the following provisions: WHEREAS, a Project Labor Agreement relative to the School Building Project described herein will require the City of Norwich, the Downes Construction Company, the Construction Solutions Group, LLC, the Norwich-New London County Building and Construction Trades Council and the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters to be parties to the same; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich also finds that the following provisions and protections should be included in a Project Labor Agreement in addition to those required by Connecticut General Statute §31-56b(c). The Norwich-New London Building Trades Council shall commit to: SECTION 1 a) The Norwich-New London Building Trades Council will hold career fairs for five (5) consecutive years, starting in the Spring of 2024, wherein they will identify and actively recruit Norwich residents into apprenticeship The Connecticut State Building Trades Training Institute will assist with recruitment and referrals. b) The Norwich-New London Building Trades Council will make good-faith-efforts to achieve a hiring goal of 25% Norwich residents and 30% New London Council County residents on the School Building Projects, which understanding will be stipulated to in the Project Labor Agreements. c) At all career fairs that will be held in the Spring/Summer of 2024 to 2029, the Norwich-New London Building Trades Council will identify residents to enroll in their 40-hour apprenticeship readiness program. Those residents identified as participants will be enrolled in respective Building Trades apprenticeship program of their choice. d) The Norwich-New London Building Trades Council will work with the City of Norwich on any workforce development initiatives regarding the construction industry, including but not limited to, offering construction-related workshops, and working with school administrators and community groups. SECTION 2 12 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 a) All Union employees now in the employ of any Contractor performing services on the a School Building Project shall remain members in good standing of the appropriate union during the term of the Project Labor Agreement to the extent permitted by law. All other employees subsequently employed by the Contractor shall either elect to become members of Union, but if it they choose not to become Union members, they shall not be required to join a Union, but may pay the hourly agency fee and not be required to pay the monthly Union dues. The Union shall ensure that the Union security requirement in this provision shall be in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. b) Other provisions of a Project Labor Agreement notwithstanding, Contractors who designate key non-Union employees may satisfy described benefit obligations with respect to those employees by (i) providing those employees with coverage under their own bona fide private benefit plans, provided such plans satisfy the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service Code, (ii) by electing to pay into the applicable jointly held trustee funds as designated, or (iii) by including the full amount of such benefits in the employee’s wages. When the benefit payments are paid into private plans, the payment to be made on behalf of those employees must equal the total supplement amount set for the forth in the Wage and Benefit Section of any project labor agreement Project Labor Agreement entered into and must be consistent with the requirements of the Connecticut Prevailing Wage, and any shortfall to be included in the employee’s wages. c) An option for a private plan equivalent supplement shall not apply to the contributions required in the Joint Apprentice Training Committee (JATC) or similar apprentice funds if the Contractor does not have an apprentice training program approved by the Department of Labor. Upon appropriate request, any contractor providing coverage to key non-Union employees under private benefit plans will provide appropriate documentation of benefit payments made to individual employees during the term of their employment on the a School Building Project. d) Contractors who exercise the option to pay into their own private benefit plans rather than the applicable jointly trusteed funds shall be responsible for and guarantee employee benefits/supplement payments and shall indemnify and hold harmless the jointly trusteed funds designated against any and all benefit/supplement claims by its employees. WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds it to be in the best interest of the City of Norwich to enter into a Project Labor Agreement with respect to the School Building Project pursuant to the terms and conditions described herein. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that the City of Norwich be and hereby is authorized to require the construction manager for each School Building Project to enter into a Project Labor Agreement for such School Building Project with the Norwich-New London Building Trades Council that contains the terms set forth in Sections 1 and 2 above and in Connecticut General Statute §31-56b; that City Manager John Salomone be and hereby is authorized and directed, to assist in the implementation towards a provide any necessary assistance to the parties in forming the Project Labor Agreements; that City Manager John Salomone be and hereby is authorized and directed to determine whether the Project Labor Agreements that are presented to him contain the terms set forth in Section 1 and 2 above and in Connecticut General Statute §31-56b and to submit such Project Labor Agreements to the Council of 13 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH March 4, 2024 the City of Norwich for its information. Project Labor Agreement which includes and operates under the provisions included in this resolution, to bind the City of Norwich, the Downes Construction Company, the Construction Solutions Group LLC, and any additional appropriate entity with respect to the School Building Project, using such assistant assistance as he finds necessary and, upon reaching an Agreement satisfactory to him to submit the same to the Council of the City of Norwich for its review, consideration and possible action. Upon motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 9:47 pm. City Clerk 14