City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 The regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held November 4, 2024 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem DeLucia, Ald. Singh, Ald. Gould, Ald. Hayes and Ald. Nash. Ald. Bettencourt was absent. City Manager John 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”. Ald. Gould, read the opening prayer and Ald. Singh led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Nystrom asked for a moment of silence in memory of Norwich World War II veteran, John Fells, who recently passed away at the age of 102 years old. Mayor Nystrom read and presented the following proclamation. PR O C L A MA TI ON WHEREAS, Service to country is one thing; service to family, friends and faith quite another, when all converge – embodied in one man – you have the privilege of labeling someone a hero; and WHEREAS, Colonel Albert R. Couture (USAF-retired) was born in Norwich on January 3, 1925, to Albert E. and Alma (LaBrie) Couture and is a graduate of NFA in 1942, where he was the catcher on a celebrated baseball team; and WHEREAS, Colonel Albert R. Couture joined the Army Air Force and entered Officer Training School, he was commissioned a second Lieutenant and at 19, flew as a navigator on the first of his 28, B-24 missions with the 456th Bomb Group, in Cerignola, Italy; and WHEREAS, Colonel Albert R. Couture in 1946 was discharged, and in 1949 he was recalled into the Air Force, where his military career spanned 32 years, he held positions ranging from flight instructor, to aircraft commander, to logistics command; and WHEREAS, Colonel Albert R. Couture was asked by the Army Historical Foundation to review the Emmy-winning, “Masters of the Air” television series that recounted World War II aviation exploits, and he laid the first brick at the National Army Museum, and he signed the entry stone at the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.; and WHEREAS, Colonel Albert R. Couture married Margaret (Peg) McAvoy in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Norwich, and their marriage lasted 75 years and produced Eileen, Richard, Ann, Diane, Kevin, Margaret and Michael, 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; and WHEREAS, Colonel Albert R. Couture is a Native Son of Norwich, and we take great pride in his service to his country, his strong faith, and his love for family and friends. NOW THEREFORE, I, MAYOR PETER ALBERT NYSTROM AND NORWICH CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM, JOSEPH A. DELUCIA, ON BEHALF OF THE NORWICH CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, do hereby pay tribute to Colonel Albert R. Couture and thank him for his honorable life of giving. Dated this Fourth, Day of November, 2024 Peter Albert Nystrom Joseph A. DeLucia Mayor President Pro Tem 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 Upon a motion of Ald. Singh, seconded by Ald. Gould, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to accept the minutes of October 7, 2024 and October 21, 2024. Upon a motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Hayes, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to accept the following petition and communication. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 Upon a motion of Ald. Hayes, seconded by Ald. Singh, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to accept the following petition and communication. 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 CITY MANAGER’S REPORT Mayor Nystrom and members of the City Council From: John Salomone, City Manager Subject: City Manager’s Report Date: November 4, 2024 Meetings attended were Southeastern Council of Governments Meeting (SCCOG) Yantic Flood Mitigation Committee, Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) Legislative Committee and Board of Directors meeting, NCDC Executive Board of Directors meeting, NPU-City Coordination meeting and Jubilee Park Coordination meeting. I also had the pleasure of attending the Uncas Leap Park Dedication along with federal, state and local dignitaries and Council of Elders and representatives from the Mohegan, Mashantucket, Narragansett and Eastern Pequot tribes. The City acquired the former Artform property in 2010, had several studies to create the Master Plan which finally came to fruition with $2,960,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding. Construction will continue on the overlook and stairway connecting Sachem Street to Yantic Street. Special thanks to the Mohegan Tribe, Norwich Historical Society, numerous City Council members and department heads that kept this project on track. Public Works has dismantled the Parklets around the city and they have been stored away for the winter season. Fall leaf pickup will begin pickup on November 18th. Leaves must be placed in paper yard waste bags. City residents can also bring leaves free of charge to the Transfer Station. Annual road paving will be completed for the season with the upper portion of Browning Road to begin this week. The Norwich Fire Department has issued a High fire Danger/Red Flad Warning until further notice in alignment with the St of CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). All open burning in Norwich if prohibited and previously issued open permits are invalid based on current conditions. Thank you for your cooperation during this critical time. Early voting as of Sunday, November 3rd for the City is 5,635 ballots. The City Clerk’s Office absentee voters as of Monday morning is at 917 ballots with 775 returned. Absentee voters have until 8 pm Tuesday, November 5th to get their ballot to the City Clerk’s Office. Thank you to the Registrars, City Clerks’s Office and all the volunteers that helped during this new voting procedure. The City Clerk’s Office will close to the public at 3:30 to complete administrative tasks until further notice. Please plan accordingly for recordings and appointments. Please contact City Clerk, Roseanne Muscarella directly at 860-823-3734 with any questions. Thank you to my assistant, Jacquie Barbarossa and the Mayor’s Secretary, Bonnie Cuprak for hosting a tour for a class of students from Norwich Public Schools, Kelly Steam Magnet Middle School on Friday, October 25th. The City's Halloween Strut was well attended for the third year in a row, staff would like to thank all volunteers, sponsors, and fellow city employees for their efforts to make the event a great success. Mayor Nystrom called for citizen comment on new business resolutions. 4  JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 There being no speakers, Mayor Nystrom declared citizen comment closed. 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. Hayes, seconded by Ald. Singh, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by City Manager Salomone. Relative to the approval of the Local 892, International Association of Firefighters collective bargaining unit agreement and the related General Fund budget changes to fiscal year 2024-25. RESOLVED, that the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Norwich and Local 892, International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), covering the period between July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2028, be, and the same hereby is, approved in accordance with the provisions of Connecticut General Statutes, Section 4-474; and further, that the City Manager, John L. Salomone, be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to execute the same in the name of the City. RESOLVED, that the following 2024-25 General Fund budget transfers be made related to the settlement of the IAFF collective bargaining unit agreement: Org Obj Account Name Amount 10420200 51610 Salaries $26,303 10420200 52000 Fringe Benefits 381 10500000 58600 Contingency ($26,684) Upon a motion of Ald. Hayes, seconded by Ald. Gould, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by City Manager Salomone. Relative to amendment of existing American Rescue Plan Act allocations. RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that the American Rescue Plan Act allocations adopted previously, be amended as follows: ARPA Exp. Brief Details of Current Change No. Dept/ Reallocation Project # Code Description requested change balance + / (-) Entity available Reprogramming 2.37-Economic of funds to cover Impact Armstrong Public $26,403.82 to 1 ARP09 restroom project $26,403.82 ($26,403.82) Assistance Tennis Courts Works ARP19 at Armstrong Other tennis courts Reprogramming 2.37-Economic of funds to cover Impact Jenkins Park Public $29,722.65 to 2 ARP10 restroom project $29,722.65 ($29,722.65) Assistance Improvements Works ARP19 at Armstrong Other tennis courts 5  JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 Reprogramming 2.37-Economic of partial funds to Impact Greenville Public cover restroom $10,625.74 to 3 ARP11 $14,125.74 ($10,625.74) Assistance Playground Works project at ARP19 Other Armstrong tennis courts Transfer funds to Human cover additional 2.37-Economic Neighborhood $66,752.22 Services / work for the ARP19 Impact Revitalization $248,907.71 $66,752.21 from other Public restrooms project 4 Assistance programs ARP projects Works at Armstrong Other Tennis Courts ARP36 & 37 are combined 5 5.18-Water projects. Drainage Public $8,500 from ARP36 and Sewer Transfer funds $255,062 $8,500 replacements Works ARP49 Other from ARP49 to cover additional dollars needed ARP36&37 are combined 5.18-Water Ox Hill Brook projects. 6 Public $8,500 from ARP37 and Sewer Watershed Transfer funds $77,904.24 $8,500 Works ARP49 Other Improvements from ARP49 to cover additional dollars needed Details of Current ARPA Exp. Brief No. Project # Dept/Entity requested balance Change + / (-) Reallocation Code Description changes available Transfer funds to Lower ARP36&37 to 2.35-Aid to Broadway $17,000 to 7 Public cover over ARP49 Tourism Travel Complete $78,319.40 ($17,000) ARP36 & Works additional dollars or Hospitality Streets ARP37 needed for Improvement project Total Dollar Amount $0 BALANCE OF FUNDS AVAILABLE $0 Upon a motion of Ald. Hayes, seconded by Ald. Nash, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Ald. Gould, Ald. Hayes and Ald. Bettencourt. BE IT RESOLVED that the following be reappointed a regular member to the Board of Assessment Appeals for a term to expire on June 1, 2026 or until a successor is appointed; Democles Angelopoulos (D) 6 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 Upon a motion of Ald. Singh, seconded by Ald. Hayes, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to put the following resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Gould and Ald. Bettencourt on the floor. Upon a motion of Ald. Singh, seconded by Ald. Gould, to make a friendly amendment to insert the word “to”, in the second paragraph between the word “party” and “such”. To read “party to such”. Upon a motion of Ald. Singh, seconded by Ald. Hayes, on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adopt the following corrected resolution introduced by Mayor Nystrom, Ald. Gould and Ald. Bettencourt. WHEREAS, Connecticut General Statute §7-277a empowers municipalities to enter into an agreement with other municipalities, tribal nations, and/or Special Police Forces with respect to police assistance and reimbursement; and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich has been a party to such municipal assistance agreements and requests for aid for many years; and WHEREAS, Connecticut General Statute §7-277a provides at section (a)(1) “(A)ny municipality, upon the approval of the chief executive officer and, where required by charter or ordinance, the governing body of such municipality may enter into an agreement with any other municipality or municipalities, with respect to requesting and supplying police assistance and reimbursing or receiving reimbursement for the same.”; and WHEREAS, the Law Enforcement Council (LEC) has proposed a new Mutual Police Assistance Compact to provide for mutual police assistance arising from general and emergency law enforcement needs and other matters; and WHEREAS, said contract is drafted to be signed by the chief executive officer of the City of Norwich and by the chief of police of the City of Norwich; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds it to be in the best interest of the City of Norwich to be a party to the said Mutual Police Assistance Compact, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that it approve of the proposal the City of Norwich enter into said Mutual Police Assistance Compact and hereby agrees to enter into and authorizes the same; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH, that City Manager John Salomone and Chief of Police Patrick Daley be and hereby are authorized to execute and enter into said Mutual Police Assistance Compact if substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. 7 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 8 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 9 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 10 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 11 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH November 4, 2024 Upon motion of Ald. Gould, seconded by Ald. Nash on a roll call vote it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 7:51 pm. City Clerk 12