City Council

Approved by the City Council & WPCA MINUTES September 3, 2024 Vol 27, Page 405 CITY COUNCIL & WPCA Vote: Unanimous REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom August 19, 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, August 19, 2024. Present at City Hall were Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Michael Magistrali, City Councilors Stephen Ivain, Anne Ruwet, and Paul Cavagnero. Also present in person were Facilities Manager Jamie Sykora, Treasurer Dan Farley, and Human Resources Director Denise Kurpiewski. Councilor Drake Waldron and WPCA Administrator Ed Tousey joined via Zoom. Councilors David Oliver and Molly Spino were absent. Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comment: On a motion by Councilor Ivain, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. No one from the public wished to speak. Approve Minutes On a motion by Councilor Ivain, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Regular Meeting Minutes from August 5, 2024. Resolution #143-251 –Right of Way Easement – the City of Torrington and Torrington Water Company On a motion by Councilor Ivain, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adopt Resolution #143-251 and authorize the Mayor to sign a Right of Way Easement from the City of Torrington to the Torrington Water Company, on Major Besse Drive for the new high school. Councilor Ivain asked if there was no easement before or if they were changing it, Atty. Magistrali said that the map he was working from showed an easement, he wasn’t sure if it existed. He said the high school had water, so there was a way to get water to them. *See addendum* USS Solar On a motion by Councilor Ivain, seconded by Councilor Ruwet, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to act on behalf of the City to sign an Agreement for Payment in Lieu of Taxes between the City of Torrington and USS Torrington Solar LLC. Amending the Police Union Contract On a motion by Councilor Ivain, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the Mayor to execute and amend the police union contract, “Agreement between City of Torrington, Connecticut and Torrington Police Union, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 52,” dated July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026, as further explained in the Director of Human Resources memo dated August 15, 2024. Councilor Ivain asked what was being amended, Mrs. Kurpiewski explained that they were reassigning the language to let the Officers make their own decision on a physician to review their file, instead of bringing it to the Board of Safety for approval. Mayor Carbone added that prior practice for selecting a physician to review a file was always the responsibility of Human Resources. If the Board of Safety were to choose the physician, it would prolong the decision process. This also protects the medical information of employees. Extending the Fire Fighters DROP Plan to the Deputy Fire Chief On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Ivain, the Council voted unanimously to authorize the City to extend to Deputy Fire Chief David Tripp, Jr. the Fire Fighters Deferred Retirement Option Plan (Drop Plan), as defined in the “Agreement between Local 1567, I.A.F.F. – A.F.L. – C.I.O. and the City of Torrington dated July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027”, as further explained in the Director of Human Resources memo dated August 15, 2024. Councilor Ivain asked why this was being presented again, Mayor Carbone explained that this was a benefit offered to that union. In the contract, it doesn’t mention the Chief or Deputy Chief. Deputy Chief Tripp is not a current member of the union; however, he is entitled to all the benefits of that union. She said this wouldn’t be offered to someone new coming into the position who wasn’t a part of the bargaining unit. Councilor Cavagnero asked if the Board of Public Safety weighed in on this, Mayor Carbone said all contracts belong to the Council. Senior Center Roof Top Unit (RTU) Replacement On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Ivain, the Council voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the Facilities Manager to utilize the CT State DAS Bid list to approve the installation of a replacement RTU for the Senior Center Thrift shop to AirTemp Mechanical of Berlin, CT in the amount of $15,586.00. Funding for this will be from the Facilities Capital Reserve, as further explained in the Facilities Managers memo dated August 15, 2024. Councilor Cavagnero asked why they were replacing the unit, Mr. Sykora said the unit was 22 years old, and not worth repairing as it was past its life. Councilor Ivain asked if the current unit was heating and air conditioning, Mr. Sykora said it was, and only the heat was broken. The new unit will be more efficient too. MINUTES Vol 27, Page 406 CITY COUNCIL & WPCA REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom August 19, 2024 WPCA Payment Authorization On a motion by Councilor Ivain, 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 8/19/2024 238058 Wright-Pierce $18,450.27 onsite work on Brightwood Ave sewer Eng replacement project Building Department Report On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to accept the Building Department Report for the month of July 2024. Lien Releases On a motion by Councilor Waldron, seconded by Councilor Cavagnero, the Council voted unanimously to release the liens listed in the Corporation Counsel’s memo dated August 19, 2024. Tax Collector Refunds On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, 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 August 19, 2024. Sewer Usage Refunds On a motion by Councilor Cavagnero, 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 August 19, 2024. Business by Dept. Heads On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads. Treasurer Dan Farley told the Council about the State’s Short-Term Investment Fund (STIF), which provides municipalities with a rate higher than other banks. This rate is set daily. He said that 97% of municipalities in the State participate in this program. Councilor Ivain asked the approximate amount that would be invested, Mr. Farley said $40 million, and he said that the City would earn three times the interest than it would in other banks. Councilor Cavagnero asked if the City would have oversight in how the funds were invested, Mr. Farley said how the funds are invested is transparent. Mayor Carbone told the Board that when the budget was adopted in June, the Board of Education was assumed to be insured through the City’s Internal Service Fund. When the BOE broke away, the City must find a way to fill the hole created in revenue. This is an excellent way to help fill that gap. Business by Mayor & Members On a motion by Councilor Ruwet, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and City Council members. Councilor Cavagnero wants an update on the Board of Education’s employee insurance plans. Councilor Ruwet shares the same concern for the status of BOE’s insurance to cover its employees. Councilor Ivain asked about releasing a narrative from the City side of why the BOE wanted to separate from the City’s insurance. Mayor Carbone said an executive summary of the MOU would be a statement of facts. Councilor Ivain said the library parking lot was coming along nicely. Mayor Carbone said they would like to use State funds to do more projects like this. Mayor Carbone told the Council that she received an email about Aquarion Water Company’s (AWC) intent to sell its business and assets. She said the Regional Water Authority (RWA) is interested in submitting a bid to own, and operate the AWC, and convert it to a not-for-profit quasi-public utility. If RWA is the successful bidder in acquiring AWC then the City could lose $1.3 million annually in property taxes. She said this is in response to Senate Bill 501. There are Public Hearings held on Thursday, August 22 at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 27 at 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The AWC has significant assets in Torrington, according to a prior Board member of the Torrington Water Company. Councilor Cavagnero asked why Aquarion was selling, Atty. Magistrali said that Eversource owns Aquarion. Mayor Carbone added that it is a public utility. Public Comment (in-person only) On a motion by Councilor Ivain, seconded by Councilor Waldron, 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. MINUTES Vol 27, Page 407 CITY COUNCIL & WPCA REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom August 19, 2024 Adjournment On a motion by Councilor Ivain, seconded by Councilor Waldron, the Council voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted by ATTEST: Heather Abraham, Asst. City Clerk CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK Addendum: