City of Meriden, CT - July 21, 2003 Minutes

CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

The Meriden City Council’s regular meeting of July 21, 2003 was convened at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Mark Benigni. Mayor Benigni led the Council in the salute to the flag and Matthew Dominello offered the invocation. The Clerk called the roll. Present: Robert Clermont, Matthew Dominello, Brian Kogut, George McGoldrick, Walter Shamock, Anthony Tomassetti and Stephen Zerio.

ABSENT: Joseph Ferringo Feest, Joseph Galotti, Patricia Lynes and Michael Rohde were excused. Keith Gordon was on sick leave.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Roger L. Kemp, City Manager.

Matthew Dominello, made a motion, seconded by Stephen Zerio, to invoke Rule 20 to bring forth a Consent Calendar and to approve the minutes of July 7, 2003 and to adopt the Consent Calendar and minutes as previously prepared. Motion carried unanimously.

CONSENT CALENDAR

Item 1. Presented by Stephen T. Zerio, by request.

Whereas, the MIS Department has two openings which are funded in this fiscal year’s municipal budget; and

Whereas, the openings include Public Safety Systems Support Specialist and Geographic Information System (GIS) Specialist; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to fill these two positions (Public Safety Systems Specialist and Geographic Information Systems Specialist); and

Be It Further Resolved, that the above positions are filled effective September 1, 2003.

Referred to Finance.

Item 2. Presented by Stephen T. Zerio, by request.

Whereas, the City of Meriden and Supervisors, Local #3430, employees entered into negotiations for a successor contract to the current one that expires on June 30, 2003; and

Whereas, the parties have reached a tentative agreement through June 30, 2006, which benefits the City in a number of ways; and

Whereas, the wage adjustments are at market level; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the Personnel Director be authorized to formally enter into this agreement with Supervisors Local #3430; and

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Be It Further Resolved, that $51,639 be transferred from the Contingency Fund to the appropriate salary line items to cover the salary costs.

Referred to Finance.

Item 3. Presented by Patricia D. Lynes and Matthew C.Dominello, Sr.

Whereas, the Max E. Muravnick Senior Center provides Mini-Bus Transportation for Meriden residents age 60 and over; and

Whereas, the program provides rides to the Senior Center, Casa Boricua, for medical appointments, grocery shopping and convalescent home; and

Whereas, many people who no longer drive rely on this program to meet their transportation needs; and

Whereas, in the last fiscal year the program provided 16,555 one way rides covering 25,826 miles within the City of Meriden; and

Whereas, the program has one vacancy for a fulltime Mini-Bus Driver due to the promotion of Jennifer DeMerchant to Clerk II in the Meals-on-Wheels Program; and

Whereas, this position is funded in the 2003-2004 budget for the Department of Human Services, Division of Senior Affairs; and

Whereas, filling this vacant position is important to maintain the level of services provided by the Mini-Bus Program; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to fill this position.

Referred to Human Services and Finance.

Item 4. Presented by Michael S. Rohde.

Whereas, the City of Meriden has a deteriorated street and roadway system; and

Whereas, in 1995 we embarked upon a pavement management system that tests and rates our streets and roadways; and

Whereas, the City of Meriden through these test to overlay, mill or totally reconstruct; and

Whereas, the City code requires concrete curbs; and

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Whereas, some of the streets have concrete curbs and to replace would hinder the pace of our street renovation program and due to its expense; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the City Council allow the use of temporary asphalt curbs to be replaced at a future date for this program when funds are available.

Referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation for a Public Hearing.

Item 6. Presented by Patricia D. Lynes.

Whereas, the Department of Human Services, Division of Health, has provided Health and Welfare Services to Non-Public Schools sine 1969; and

Whereas, by Connecticut State Statute 10-217a, Health and Welfare Services to Non-Public Schools must be provided on parity with those services provided by the Board of Education to public schools; and

Whereas, one full-time speech/language pathologist has resigned; and

Whereas, this position is included in the city’s budget for the current year; and

Whereas, the speech/language pathologist position being filled will be less than the $58,373 allocated in the 2003-2004 fiscal year; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to fill the position.

Referred to Human Services and Finance.

Item 7. Presented by Patricia D. Lynes and Matthew C. Dominello, Sr.

Whereas, the Max E. Muravnick Senior Center is one of the best attended Elderly Nutrition Program meal sites in South Central Connecticut serving approximately 90 hot meals each day; and

Whereas, because of this program, older persons who might otherwise be isolated and lonely now gather in a community setting for nutritious daily meals; and

Whereas, people who receive these meals have higher daily intakes of key nutrients than similar non-participants; and

Whereas, participants have more social contacts per month than similar non-participants; and

Whereas, the Elderly Nutrition Program improves the quality of life for participants; and

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Whereas, the program has one vacancy for a part-time Nutrition Site Worker due to the retirement of Sofia Torres in April, 2003; and

Whereas, this vacant position is funded in the 2003-2004 budget for the Department of Human Services, Division of Senior Affairs; and

Whereas, filling this vacant position is important for the proper daily operations of the Elderly Nutrition Program; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to fill this position.

Referred to Human Services and Finance.

Item 8. Presented by Mark Benigni.

Be It Resolved, that the following people are appointed to the Conservation Commission:

Mary Ellen Mordarski U Alternate

Item 9. Withdrawn.

Item 10. Presented by Brian F. Kogut, by request.

Whereas, the City of Meriden has adopted the FY2003-2004 budget for the Golf Course; and

Whereas, the capital equipment funding was not included; and

Whereas, the City Council has approved sufficient revenues to operate the golf course; now, therefore,

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Be It Resolved, that the City of Meriden approve $48,751 for capital equipment in the Golf Fund.

Referred to Finance.

Item 11. Presented by Brian F. Kogut, by request.

RESOLUTION AMENDING A RESOLUTION MAKING APPROPRIATIONS AGGREGATING $10,611,726 FOR VARIOUS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS AND EQUIPMENT AND AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $10,611,726 BONDS OF THE CITY TO MEET SAID APPROPRIATIONS AND PENDING THE ISSUE THEREOF THE MAKING OF TEMPORARY BORROWINGS FOR SUCH PURPOSE.

Section 1. Section 1(a) of the resolution entitled “Resolution Making Appropriations Aggregating $10,611,726 for Various Public Improvements and Equipment And Authorizing The Issuance of $10,611,726 Bonds Of the City To Meet Said Appropriations And Pending The Issue Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose” adopted by the Common Council on December 16, 2002 (the “GPIB #56 Resolution”) is hereby amended by adding the following new appropriation:

“Ceppa Field Lighting Removal and Replacement (0401-7356-885)-$250,000”

thus increasing the total appropriation therein from $5,833,726 to $6,083,726.

Section 2. Section 2(a) of the GPIB #56 Resolution is amended by increasing the amount of bonds of the City therein authorized to be issued from $5,833,726 to $6,083,726.

Section 3. Section 7 of the GPIB #56 Resolution shall be applicable to the appropriation added by this amendment, as of the date of adoption of such amendment.

Referred to Finance for Public Hearing.

Item 12. Letter to Deputy Mayor Shamock from Thomas Izzo, 6 Collins Parkway re: Drainage problem in front of his home was referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.

Item 13. Letter to City Manager Kemp from Ann Gianetti – President of Meriden Symphony Orchestra requesting $7,500 was referred to Finance.

Item 14. Letter to City Manager Kemp from City Engineer Blanchet re: Request for funding to design and construct a sanitary sewer main extension to service 1076 Hanover Avenue and other properties fronting this sewer main was referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.

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Item 16. Claims submitted against the City by Mr. & Mrs. Charles Cunniff, 57 Cardinal Drive, Meriden; Sonia Carrero through Atty. Alcazar; James Kubeck, 1043 Hanover Avenue, #4, Meriden; Roger Malone, Sr., 115 Sylvan Avenue, Meriden were referred to Legal and Safety & Risk.

Item 23. Minutes of Meriden Municipal Pension Board of July 8, 2003 were filed with City Clerk.

Item 24. Minutes of Meriden Municipal Pension Board of June 24, 2003 were filed with City Clerk.

Item 25. Minutes of Meriden Aviation Commission Meeting of June 10, 2003 were filed with City Clerk.

Item 26. Minutes of Public Utilities Commission Meeting of May 20, 2003 were filed with City Clerk.

Item MNO27. Presented by Matthew C. Dominello, Sr. and Anthony D. Tomassetti.

Whereas, the MMEA, Local #595 contract allows employees who have additional duties added to their positions to request upgrades; and

Whereas, the Police Records Clerk job description was re-drafted and said description was approved by the Chief of Police; and

Whereas, the new title is Police Records/Fleet Clerk for the Meriden Police Department; and

Whereas, a labor management committee pointed this job at a level D with an increase over the current Police Records Clerk Position of $1,227.20 for 2003-2004; and

Whereas, funding will be obtained from Police Overtime Account, #0001-2605-191-0000 and transferred to MMEA Salary Line item #0001-2605-196-0000; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the job description for Police Records/Fleet Clerk be approved and added to the 2003-2004 Police Department Budget and the current Police Records Clerk be placed in it by May 6, 2003.

Referred to Public Safety and Finance.

END OF CONSENT CALENDAR

Item 5. Presented by Robert Clermont.

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Whereas, effective July 15, 2003, the City of Meriden implemented a pilot program whereby our residents would be charged a fee of bulky waste items and the like at the Meriden Landfill; and

Whereas, since the program was implemented, a large number of our residents have spoke in opposition of the fee structure; and

Whereas, since the program was implemented, the City of Meriden has experienced bulky waste items being disposed of in public areas other than the Meriden Landfill; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the fee structure be suspended until staff, with the assistance of the City Council, can determine whether or not such a fee structure for the use of the landfill meets the expectations of our residents.

Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Brian Kogut, refer to Finance and Public Works and Parks & Recreation. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 15. July 15, 2003

Honorable Members of the City Council

Re: Runge Drive – Street Acceptance

Dear Honorable Members of the City Council:

The Planning Commission at their regular meeting of July 9, 2003 voted to table action on the above-mentioned item. Staff is in the process of reviewing this request. This item will be considered at their next meeting of August 13, 2003.

If you have any questions, please contact this office.

Lata Krishnarao, AICP

Assistant City Planner

Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Brian Kogut, to file. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 17. Your Committee of the Whole, to whom was referred a resolution concerning the creation of a Charter Revision on 6/2/03, report that they have attended to the matter and recommend denial.

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Committee: Robert Clermont, Matthew C. Dominello, Sr., Joseph Ferringo Feest, Joseph Galotti, Keith Gordon, Brian Kogut, Patricia D. Lynes, George McGoldrick, Michael S. Rohde, Walter Shamock, Anthony D. Tomassetti, Stephen T. Zerio.

Walter Shamock, made a motion, seconded by Anthony Tomassetti, to deny. Walter Shamock, made a motion, seconded by Anthony Tomassetti, to withdraw the motion. Walter Shamock, made a motion, seconded by Stephen Zerio, to adopt. Motion carried. Councilors Shamock, Tomassetti and Clermont voted Nay.

Item 18. No report from Finance.

Item 19. No report from Public Works and Parks & Recreation.

Item 20. No report from Economic Development, Housing & Zoning.

Item 21. No report from Public Safety.

Item 22. No report from Human Services.

There being nothing further to be brought before the Council, Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Matthew Dominello, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

Clerk of the City Council