City of Meriden, CT - March 4, 2002 Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

The Meriden City Council’s regular meeting of March 4, 2002 was convened at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Mark Benigni. Mayor Benigni asked Girl Scouts Allyson Johnson, Theresa Cashman, Priscilla Galvan, Yaricely Zenquist, Christine Davenport, Elizabeth Mahoney, Amonie Robinson, Jenna Twarog, Amberlynn Morrissey and Cassidy Cooley to lead the Council in the salute to the flag. Matthew Dominello offered the invocation. The Clerk called the roll. Present: Robert Clermont, Matthew Dominello, Joseph Ferrigno Feest, Joseph Galotti, Keith Gordon, Brian Kogut, Patricia Lynes, Michael Rohde, Walter Shamock, Anthony Tomassetti and Stephen Zerio.

EXCUSED: George McGoldrick.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Roger L. Kemp, City Manager and Lawrence J. Kendzior, Corporation Counsel.

Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Patricia Lynes, to invoke Rule 20 to bring forth a Consent Calendar and to approve minutes of February 19, 2002 and to adopt the Consent Calendar and minutes as previously prepared. Motion carried unanimously.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Item 1. Petition for zone change for Meriden Business Park from M-3 Zoning to C-3 was referred to Economic Development, Housing & Zoning for Public Hearing and Planning.

Item 4. Presented by Patricia D. Lynes, by request.

Whereas, the Meriden Animal Hospital has requested City assistance in paying to immunize their staff against rabies; and

Whereas, the total cost for this would be $1,090; and

Whereas, Dr. St. Clair has agreed to pay one-half of this amount.

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, that one-half of this amount, $545, be used to match this amount; and

Be It Further Resolved, that this money be taken from the City’s Contingency Budget.

Referred to Finance.

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Item 5. Presented by Michael S. Rohde.

Whereas, the City of Meriden is very proud of our special events and parades; and

Whereas, the events draw thousands of people of all ages; and

Whereas, a product normally sold by street vendors known as Silly String is sprayed on parade participants and spectators; and

Whereas, the Silly String product has stained uniforms, structures and landscape;

Be It Resolved, that the product named or similar to Silly String be banned from sale and possession in the city limits of Meriden; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the City Code be changed to reflect this new ordinance.

Referred to Public Safety.

Item 6. Withdrawn.

Item 7. Bid Waiver from Board of Education for repairs to the sole elevator in the central office building at 22 Liberty Street for Lonsdale Elevator - $38,743 was filed.

Item 8. Bid Waiver from Chief Dunn in the amount of $250,000 for a 2001 Emergency One Custom fire pumper to replace Engine 1’s pumper was filed.

Item 9. Letter to City Council from Marjorie Primavera re: Charitable donation of 222 South Colony Street to the City of Meriden was referred to Economic Development, Housing & Zoning and Planning.

Item 10. Letter to Mayor Benigni from Janet Cerbie re: Noise Ordinance problems (dumpsters being picked up between 3:30 – 4:30 a.m. on East Main Street) was referred to Public Safety.

Item 11. Claims submitted against the City by Carol O’Brien, 337 Paddock Avenue, Meriden; Phyllis McLaughlin, 44 Arlington Street, Meriden; Jason Yanelli, 56 Tulip Drive, Meriden was referred to Legal and Safety & Risk.

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Item 18. Golf Course Commission Minutes of January 28, 2002 was filed.

Item 19. Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes of February 6, 2002 were filed.

Item 20. Municipal Pension Board Minutes of February 12, 2002 were filed.

Item 21. Human Rights Advisory Board Minutes of November 28, 2001 were filed.

Item MNO22. Presented by Matthew Dominello and Keith Gordon.

Whereas, it is in the best interest of the City of Meriden Fire Department to provide it’s firefighters with the necessary equipment to fight fires and mitigate hazardous material incidents; and

Whereas, firefighters must wear self contained breathing apparatus to safely perform their duties effectively in hazardous atmospheres and such apparatus must be refilled safely and in a timely manner after each use; and

Whereas, the current SCBA refilling equipment is near the end of it’s useful life and does not meet safety current standards; and

Whereas, FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency Fire Act, a matching grant program providing funding for fire department programs and equipment is available with applications due no later than April, 2002; and

Whereas, the cost of such SCBA refilling equipment would be $45,000 with the FEMA share of 70% and the City of Meriden share of 30%; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the City of Meriden fund the City share of 30% - $13,500, should FEMA award the City of Meriden with a grant award to provide such equipment to allow firefighters to perform their duties in a safe and effective manner.

Referred to Finance.

Item MNO23. Presented by Mark Benigni and Robert Clermont, by request.

Whereas, the State of Connecticut, through the Department of Environmental Protection, has established under P.A. 98-157 a new grant program, Open Space and Land Acquisition, to assist municipalities to acquire open space land; and

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Whereas, distressed communities may receive grants of 65% of the fair market value for property acquisition; and

Whereas, the City’s Conservation Commission has identified a local parcel to preserve valuable open space; and

Whereas, a requirement of the State grant is the submission of an appraisal;

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the City Manager prepare a grant application for the property parcel identified on the attached list; and

Be It Further Resolved, that $1,500.00 is hereby authorized to have an appraisal done for said property; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the City Manager, Roger L. Kemp, is authorized to submit said application to the State DEP for participation in the Open Space and Land Acquisition Grant Program; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the City Manager, Roger L. Kemp, is authorized to execute a contract and any other materials with the Department of Environmental Protection for a grant under said program, if such is offered; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the City Council will appropriate the required local cash match for the proposed acquisition, when and if, the State approves grant fund assistance.

1. 379 Oregon Road “Esposito Property” 54.4 acres

Referred to Planning, Finance.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

Mayor Benigni asked Majority Leader Zerio, Deputy Mayor Shamock and Minority Leader Feest to join him in the ellipse. He asked the Girl Scouts to come forward to accept a framed proclamation honoring their 90th birthday and City of Meriden pins. The Council gave the Girl Scouts a standing ovation.

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Item 2. Presented by Brian F. Kogut.

Whereas, the City’s proposed municipal budget for FY2002/03 has been prepared and is being forwarded to the Mayor and City Council for their consideration; and

Whereas, this budget recommends proposed expenditures for the City and the Board of Education as follows in millions of dollars:

Board of Ed: Current - $67.1 City: Current - $74.5

Proposed - $70.9 Proposed - $77.6

Increase - $ 3.8 Increase - $ 3.1; and

Whereas, the proposed $6.9 million total budget increase represents a $3.8 million increase for the Board of Education and a $3.1 million increase for the City; and

Whereas, the impact of the proposed budget on the City’s property tax mill rate is as follows:

City-Wide: Current Rate - 40.4

Proposed Rate - 36.6

Inner District: Current Rate - 2.1

(Refuse collection) Proposed Rate - 1.8

Whereas, the proposed mill rate includes .5 mills for the City’s Capital Non-Recurring Fund; and

Whereas, a proposed budget review and adoption schedule is attached, which would require the City Council to consider the adoption of this budget on Monday, May 6th, and the setting of the City’s tax rate on Thursday, May 16th,

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the City’s proposed municipal budget for FY2002/03 be forwarded to the Finance Committee for its consideration; and

Be It Further Resolved, that the Finance Committee’s budget recommendations be forwarded to the City Council no later than Friday, April 26th, in order to consider the adoption of the budget by Monday, May 6th.

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Comparison of Budgets

FY2001/02 & FY 2002/03

(thousands of dollars)

Departments FY2001/02 FY2002/03

Mayor/Council 253 249

City Manager 376 400

Development & Enforcement 639 667

Fire/Dispatch 6,437 6,812

Human Services 2,701 2,770

Parks & Recreation 1,464 1,531

Public Works 5,145 5,689

Education 67,053 70,922

Boards & Commissions

Aviation Commission 53 56

Board of Tax Relief 2 2

Inland-Wetlands Commission 2 2

Parking Commission 117 133

School Building Committee 2 2

Civil Preparedness 14 13

Debt Service 14,784 14, 797

Employee Benefits 22,243 23,601

Finance General Administration 2,961 3,119

Insurance 1,347 2,132

South Meriden Volunteer Fire 51 63

Grand Totals $141,541 $148,557

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Dollar Increase $ 7,016

% Overall Increase 4.96%

% Board of Education Increase 5.77%

% Municipal Increase 4.23%

Budget Review/Adoption Schedule

Meriden City Council

(All Meetings to be Held in Council Chambers)

Finance Committee Meetings

Wednesday, March 27th - 6:00 p.m.

Police (William Abbatematteo)

Fire, Dispatch (William Dunn)

Thursday, April 4th - 6:00 p.m.

Board of Education (Beth Ruocc)

Thursday, April 11th - 6:00 p.m.

Public Works (Mark Zebora)

Wednesday, April 17th - 6:00 p.m.

Public Hearing on Proposed Budget

Thursday, May 2nd - 6:00 p.m.

Revenues (Ed Murphy)

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City Council Meetings

Monday, May 6th - 8:00 p.m.

Special Meeting on Adoption of Budget (After Regular City Council Meeting)

Thursday, May 16th - 7:00 p.m.

Special Meeting to Set Tax Rate

Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Brian Kogut, to waive the reading and adopt. Kogut made a friendly amendment to change the date of the Finance Committee from March 27th, 2002 to March 26th, 2002 that is listed on the Budget Review Schedule. Hearing no objection it was so ordered. Vote on base motion carried unanimously.

Item 3. Presented by Keith Gordon.

Whereas, the Board of Education endorsed a plan 3 years ago to train all Juniors in CPR before they graduate to the 12th grade; and

Whereas, the Board of Education has covered the cost of the program through their budget along with donations of time and material from Hunters Ambulance, MidState Medical Center and the Meriden Fire Department and its Union in the past; and

Whereas, it has been past practice to give each student a CPR bio-hazard face mask key chain after they are certified so they can keep the mask in their possession in case of a cardiac emergency;

Therefore, Be It Resolved, in an effort of joint cooperation between the City of Meriden and the Board of Education with the CPR initiative program the City of Meriden will purchase the CPR bio-hazard face mask key chain for a cost of $2,600.00 with funding coming from the Contingency Fund.

Keith Gordon, made a motion, seconded by Joseph Galotti, to adopt. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 12A. Your Finance Committee, to whom was referred the resolution concerning City Manager be directed to place Public Safety Communications Tower in the C.I.P. for 2002 on 1/22/02, report that they have attended to the matter and recommend adoption.

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Committee: Brian F. Kogut, Chairman, Keith Gordon, Vice-Chairman, Stephen T. Zerio, Walter A. Shamock and Joseph R. Galotti, Jr.