City Council

Approved by City Council & WPCA MINUTES April 8, 2024 Vol 27, Page 322 CITY COUNCIL & WPCA Vote: Unanimous REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom March 18, 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 Monday, March 18, 2024. Present at the City Hall Auditorium were Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Michael Magistrali, City Councilors Drake Waldron, Stephen Ivain, Molly Spino, Anne Ruwet, Paul Cavagnero, and Treasurer Dan Farley. Councilor David Oliver, City Engineer Paul Kundzins, and WPCA Administrator Ed Tousey participated via Zoom. Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comment On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ivain, 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 Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ivain, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Regular Meeting Minutes from March 4, 2024. Schedule a Public Hearing On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council, on the recommendation of the Ordinance Committee, voted unanimously to schedule a Public Hearing on April 15, 2024, on the following three topics: 1. Revisions to Chapter 33 Inland Wetlands Commission. 2. A new section of Chapter 114 Fees: “Citation Procedures and Fines for Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Violations”. 3. The revised Chapter 161 Property Maintenance. Councilor Ivain asked if there would be an opportunity to review the changes, Councilor Ruwet explained that at any point he can go online to the Ordinance Subcommittee site to view the meeting minutes and agendas for what they are working on. She went on to say that at the time of the Public Hearing, the Council can review the public feedback and make recommendations to approve or table the Ordinance. Mayor Carbone reiterated that all the Ordinance Subcommittees' work is posted online. Fair Housing On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Spino, the Council voted unanimously to adopt Fair Housing Resolution #143-247 and Fair Housing Policy Statement. Mayor Carbone said that on an annual basis, the City must adopt the Fair Housing Resolution and Policy Statement, this is a requisite for any funding the City can receive from the Department of Housing or any HUD grants. See addendum. Local Flood Protection Project Routine Maintenance – One-Year Extension On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to act on behalf of the City to award and execute a one-year extension of the contract agreement with Premier Landscaping LLC of Thomaston CT, in the amount of $70,000, for the Local Flood Protection Project, Routine Maintenance. The project is funded through the Landfill Post Closure Activities and Naugatuck River Levee accounts as further explained in the City Engineer’s memo dated March 1, 2024. WPCA Payment Authorization On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the City Council herein acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, voted unanimously to approve the following payment from Fund #490 Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement. DATE INVOICE CONTRACTOR AMOUNT DESCRIPTION 3/5/2024 0000234752 Wright Pierce $2,184.66 Brightwood Ave sewer design Engineering Building Department Report On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Spino, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for the month of February 2024. Lien Releases On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ivain, the Council voted unanimously to release the liens listed in the Corporation Counsel’s memo of March 18, 2024. MINUTES Vol 27, Page 323 CITY COUNCIL & WPCA REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom March 18, 2024 Tax Collector Refunds On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Tax Collector and authorize the tax refunds indicated on the list dated March 18, 2024. Business by Dept. Heads On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads. Treasurer Dan Farley told the Council that he had just received the last of the checks from the unclaimed property for the City. He said there were 117 claims filed that totaled $21,600. Atty. Magistrali said everything is running smoothly and there is nothing to report. Business by Mayor & Members On a motion by Councilor Spino, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and City Council members. Councilor Cavagnero said that the meeting is on track to be one of the shortest. Councilor Ruwet said that any Councilor can attend an Ordinance meeting. She also said that the meetings are noticed online, along with the minutes from the meetings. Councilor Spino asked if the Council could receive reports about Blight issues that have been cited and resolved. Atty. Magistrali told the Council that the Blight Committee meets every other Wednesday. He explained that several properties are currently in litigation. He listed some of the properties that are currently cited for blight issues, Highland Avenue and Prospect Street are currently in litigation. Torringford Street property has been cleaned up, Red Oak Hill is a frequent flyer, who has once already bought their house back from blight liens, and the Summer Street and Litchfield Street factory, which is City, State, and Federal involvement. Atty. Magistrali said that the blight process is started when someone makes a complaint. Mayor Carbone said to date the City has $300,000 in blight funds, collected from chronically blighted properties, and some properties that the City has acquired. She said there have been over 200 properties that have been cited and brought into compliance or for Corporation Counsel to pursue in court actions. Public Comment (in-person only) On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Ivain, 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 Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted by ATTEST: Heather Abraham, Asst. City Clerk CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK MINUTES Vol 27, Page 324 CITY COUNCIL & WPCA REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom March 18, 2024 Addendum: MINUTES Vol 27, Page 325 CITY COUNCIL & WPCA REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom March 18, 2024