City Council

Approved by City Council & WPCA February 5, 2024 MINUTES Vol 27, Page 308 Vote: Unanimous CITY COUNCIL & WPCA REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom January 16, 2024 A REGULAR MEETING of the City Council and Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) of the City of Torrington was held at the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Present at the City Hall Auditorium were Mayor Elinor Carbone, City Councilors Molly Spino, and Anne Ruwet, Director of Public Works Ray Drew, Fire Chief Eric Borden, Facilities Manager Jamie Sykora, Superintendent of Public Works Tim Cote, and Treasurer Dan Farley. Councilors Drake Waldron, Paul Cavagnero, and Corporation Counsel Attorney Michael Magistrali participated via Zoom. Councilors David Oliver and Stephen Ivain were absent. Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comment On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public, in accordance with Section 4(e) of the City Council & WPCA Meeting Rules of Procedure. No one from the public wished to speak. Approve Minutes On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted to accept the Regular Meeting Minutes from January 2, 2024. Councilor Cavagnero abstained. Zoning Board of Appeals Appointment On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to appoint Frank Baba (R) as an alternate Zoning Board of Appeals member to fill the remainder of a term set to expire on December 1, 2028. Coe Memorial Park Committee Appointment On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to appoint Linda Kowalczuk as a regular member of the Coe Memorial Park Committee to fill the remainder of a term set to expire on December 31, 2024. Contract Amendment – UPSEU Local 424 – Unit 78 (City Supervisory Employees) On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to execute and amend the union contract United Public Service Employees Union (UPSEU), Local 424 – Unit 78, dated July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, as further explained in the Director of Human Resources memo dated January 9, 2024. Mayor Carbone told the Council that she had spoken with Joel Sekorski, the Director of the Services for the Elderly, and he is very excited to have an Assistant Director to provide some relief in managing the day-to-day operations along with all the grants. Councilor Cavagnero asked for an explanation for the changes in the contract, Mayor Carbone explained that the Union is always reluctant to lose union positions, but by removing the Deputy Comptroller, and adding the Assistant Director of the Services for the Elderly, it evened out. Councilor Cavagnero asked if the Union had approved these changes, Mayor Carbone said they did, and added that this allows for a succession plan for the Finance Department, and the Senior Center. Add Section B: On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to add Section B to the Agenda, Interest Arbitration Award – Torrington Firefighter’s Association Local 1567. Interest Arbitration Award City of Torrington and Torrington Firefighter’s Association Local 1567 On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to acknowledge and authorize the acceptance of Interest Arbitration Award Case #2022-MBA-176 and to authorize the Mayor to sign the amended union contract, “Agreement between Local 1567 I.A.F.F. – A.F.L. – C.I.O. and the City of Torrington 2021 – 2024”, as further explained in the Director of Human Resources memo dated January 11, 2024. Mayor Carbone added that she had Union representation present and would be signing the agreement when the meeting was over. Resolution #143-246 –Connecticut’s Volkswagon (VW) EVSE ZEV Infrastructure Program (ZIP) Grant On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution #143-246 and authorize the Mayor to sign a Personal Services Agreement for a $40,680.25 Grant for the installation of three (3) dual port EV Charging Stations to be located at City Hall Ave., Franklin St., and Riverview Parking lots, as further explained in the Public Works Directors memo dated January 2, 2024. See addendum. Concrete Floor Polishing at Public Works Garage On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to act on behalf of the City to award, execute, and administer a contract agreement MINUTES Vol 27, Page 309 CITY COUNCIL & WPCA REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom January 16, 2024 for the Polishing of the Concrete Floors at the Public Works Garage to American Poly of Berlin, CT in the amount of $14,160, as further explained in the Facilities Managers memo dated January 9, 2024. Land Use Commissioner Training On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Commissioner training report for the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals for the 2023 calendar year, as further described in the City Planners memo dated January 4, 2024. Councilor Ruwet asked if this was a new Statute, and Mayor Carbone said yes. Councilor Ruwet said that it would be nice if the Commissioners who are volunteers, were able to get compensated for the training that they had to do, Mayor Carbone agreed, however there hasn’t been any funding from the State for this, so it would have to be something that the City would have to come up with. Building Department Report On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for the month of December 2023. Lien Releases On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to release the liens listed in the Corporation Counsel’s memo dated January 16, 2024. Tax Collector Refunds On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the tax refunds indicated on the list dated January 16, 2023. Sewer Usage Refunds On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the sewer usage refunds indicated on the list dated January 16, 2024. Business by Dept. Heads On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads. Treasurer Dan Farley provided the Council with an update on the Cannabis Tax the legislature passed a law that required Cannabis retailers to set aside 3% which the City of Torrington needs to collect from them. Those funds need to be used in a certain way, for instance, to improve streetscapes, neighborhood developments, employment programs, mental health, and addiction services, among other things. If the payment isn’t received promptly, the City can impose a 25% penalty, and so far, they have received $7,400 in late fees. Mr. Farley said since March when the Cannabis Tax started, the City has taken in $114,000, he estimates that in 12 months, they will bring in $150,000 available to the City for the projects designated by the State. Mr. Farley added that the process for bonding has begun for any City projects. Councilor Ruwet asked if the statutes for using the Cannabis Tax included Public Safety, and Mr. Farley told her that it did not. Mayor Carbone added that during the budget process, this is General Fund revenue, and should do our best efforts to budget expenses that qualify, with the statute. She said that they budgeted for the PAL Program, and Torrington Youth Services Bureau, as those programs qualify under the statutes. Mayor Carbone told the Council that any surplus that would be transferred into Capital would have a plan approved by the Council. Mr. Farley detailed the changes in the Finance Department, with the new Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller, Budget Manager, and Payroll Clerk. Public Works Director Ray Drew told the Council that the construction for the three dual-port EV charging stations will begin in the spring, and with this grant, it could potentially be a zero-cost investment for the City. Business by Mayor & Members On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and City Council members. Councilor Ruwet said that there will be an Ordinance Meeting on February 5, 2024, she said right now the committee is looking to see what ordinances and be cleaned up and/or removed. Mayor Carbone told the Council that recently she had toured the Railroad Square Grant Project with Mr. Drew, Mr. Kundzins, and Richard Lopez in the Economic Development Office, and the DECD, to go over the project, and be able to explain to the State the vision that Torrington has for downtown. This goes along with everything that the City has done over the last five years, with Franklin Square and other projects. MINUTES Vol 27, Page 310 CITY COUNCIL & WPCA REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom January 16, 2024 Public Comment (in-person only) On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public to comment on agenda items only. No one from the public wished to speak. Adjournment On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted by ATTEST: Heather Abraham, Asst. City Clerk CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK Addendum: