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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MINUTES JUL
Y 7, 2003
The Committee of the Whole was called to order by Deputy Mayor Walter Shamock at 8:15 p.m. The Clerk called the roll. Present: Robert Clermont, Matthew Dominello, Joseph Ferrigno Feest, Brian Kogut, Patricia Lynes, George McGoldrick, Michael Rohde, Walter Shamock, Anthony Tomassetti and Stephen Zerio.
ABSENT: Joseph Galotti and Keith Gordon were excused.
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Roger L. Kemp, City Manager, Lawrence J. Kendzior, Corporation Counsel and Mark Benigni, Mayor.
The Clerk read the Notice:
MEETING NOTICE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MONDAY, JULY 7, 2003
7:30 P.M.
There will be a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, July 7, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers to discuss the following:
Item #5 of 6/2/03: Res. re: Creation of a Charter Revision Commission.
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Lori N. Canney
Clerk of the City Council
Deputy Mayor Shamock asked the Clerk to read the resolution.
Item 5. Presented by Anthony D. Tomassetti and Walter Shamock.
Whereas, the voters of the City of Meriden should have a role in deciding whether or not funding for costly public improvements should be approved; and
Whereas, that goal can best be accomplished by requiring that funding for projects which will cost $1,000,000 or more be approved by public referendum; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, pursuant to the provisions of Section 7-188 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as amended, action to amend and revise the Charter of the City of Meriden be initiated in the manner and from hereinafter set forth; and
Be It Further Resolved, that the City Council shall appoint a Charter Revision Commission, by resolution adopted within thirty (30) days after adoption of this resolution, said Commission consisting of not less than five (5) nor more than fifteen (15) electors, no more than one-third of whom may hold any other public office, and not more than a bare majority of whom shall be members of the same political party; and
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MINUTES
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Be It Further Resolved, that the Charter Revision Commission to be appointed will be charged with drafting a revision of the existing Charter, to include the deletion of, amendment of, or revision of the existing sections thereof, or the addition of new sections thereto relating to the following matters: (1)consideration of amending Section C3-1 of the Charter to provide that the City Council may not approve the appropriation of funds in excess of $1,000,000 for any municipal improvement unless said improvement has been approved at public referendum; it being understood that dividing a project into phases, sections, or parts, payable over any period of time for which the aggregate cost would total more than one millions dollars would violate such limitations and to provide that such referendum shall be held within
thirty days of the date on which the City Council approves the holding of such referendum, and that the vote required for approval at such public referendum shall be a majority of those voting; (2)consideration of amending Section C3-3 of the Charter to provide that the City Council may not approve any public improvement requiring an appropriation in excess of $1,000,000 until the appropriation for said improvement has been approved at a public referendum in accordance with the procedure set forth in the Charter; (3)consideration of amending Section C4-2 of the Charter to provide that the Mayor may not veto the approval of any public improvement, and the appropriation therefore, in an amount of $1,000,000 or more, when the same has been approved at public referendum in accordance with the Charter; (4)consideration of amending Section C7-1 of the Charter to provide that the Public Utilities Commission may not approve any public improvement costing $1,000,000 or more, nor expend any
funds in connection therewith, until the same has been approved at public referendum; (5)consideration of amending Section C8-1 of the Charter to provide no supplies, materials, equipment, goods, or other commodities, nor any services may be purchased, nor any contract awarded, for any public improvement costing $1,000,000 or more until said improvement is approved at public referendum in accordance with the Charter; (6)consideration of amending Section C8-11 of the City Charter to provide that no purchase may be made, nor claim paid or payment made for any public improvement costing $1,000,000 or more until said public improvement has been approved at public referendum in accordance with the Charter; (7)consideration of amending Section 8-13 of the City Charter to provide that the City may not incur any indebtedness by issuing bonds or notes for the costs of any public improvement costing $1,000,000 or more until said public improvement has been approved at public referendum in
accordance with the Charter; (8)consideration of amending such other sections of the Charter as necessary to provide that no expenditure is made nor debt incurred in connection with any public improvement costing more then $1,000,000 until said improvement has been approved at public referendum in accordance with the Charter; (9)consideration of such other miscellaneous matters relating to the Charter as the City Council, the Mayor, or the City Manager shall refer to said Charter Revision Commission; and
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Be It Further Resolved, that said Charter Revision Commission, when appointed, shall hold a public hearing or hearings in accordance with the provision of pertinent statutes,
and shall submit its final report on its doings to this City Council on or before June 1, 2004; and
Be It Further Resolved, that a special appropriation of amount of One Thousand ($1,000.00) Dollars be authorized to the Charter Revision Commission for the purpose of defraying necessary expenses, including, but not limited to, secretarial services, supplies and publication expenses utilized during the course of its deliberations.
Deputy Mayor Shamock asked if there were any members of the public present who wished to speak in regards to the above. The following persons spoke: Arline Dunlop, Rev. Edward Leroy White, Joseph Marinan, Colleen Cyr, David Parian, Andrew Piatek, Bruce Childs, Michael Gaynor, Mary Ellen Mordarski, Art Furlong, Donald Logodicio, John Cardini, Bijan Bahramian, Walter Micowski, Francis Rotella.
Deputy Mayor Shamock then recognized Councilor Tomassetti, the maker of the resolution for the purpose of a motion.
Anthony Tomassetti, made a motion, seconded by Robert Clermont, to adopt the resolution to create a Charter Revision Commission.
Deputy Mayor Shamock asked for a roll call vote. Councilors Dominello, Feest, Kogut, Lynes, McGoldrick, Rohde and Zerio voted Nay. Councilors Clermont, Shamock and Tomassetti voted Aye. The motion was defeated 7:3.
There being no further business to be brought before the Committee of the Whole, Joseph Feest, made a motion, seconded by Patricia Lynes, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Lori N. Canney
Clerk of the City Council
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