City of Meriden, CT - October 1, 2007 Minutes

The Meriden City Council’s regular meeting of October 1, 2007 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: Matthew Dominello, Keith Gordon, Patricia Lynes, George McGoldrick, Michael Rohde, David Salafia, Hilda Santiago, Sandra Maier Schede, Anthony Tomassetti and Stephen Zerio.

ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC COMMENT: Matthew Dominello, Keith Gordon, Patricia Lynes, George McGoldrick, Michael Rohde, David Salafia, Hilda Santiago, Sandra Maier Schede, Anthony Tomassetti and Stephen Zerio.

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: CityplaceLawrence J. Kendzior, City Manager and Michael Quinn, Corporation Counsel.

Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Keith Gordon, to invoke Rule 20 to bring forth a Consent Calendar and to approve the minutes of September 19, 2005 and to adopt a Consent Calendar as previously prepared. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 1. Petition with 73 signatures requesting installation of a addressStreetThree-Way Stop Sign at the intersection of addressStreetWindingbrook Lane and addressStreetBaldwin Avenue was referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.

Whereas, Cutlery Avenue is located near one of the entrance ways of Habershon Park and children enter the park via crossing Cutlery Avenue at Rice Street; and

Whereas, the safety of the children entering the park from this area is dangerous due to vehicle traffic traveling east and west on Cutlery Avenue; and

Whereas, the neighborhood has submitted a petition from the residences on Cutlery Avenue and Rice Street and Hanover School requesting the installation of two stop signs on Cutlery Avenue at the intersection of Rice Street; now, therefore,

Be It Resoled, that the City of Meriden Traffic Division shall install with the LTA permission two 30 inch stop signs on Cutlery Avenue at the intersection of Rice Street with painted stop lines and also install “Children in the Area” signs on Cutlery Avenue going in the east and west directions.

Whereas, the 2007/2008 Water Pollution Control Facility CIP was for two vehicles – a 2 ton dump truck and a 2-1/2 ton fork lift truck; and

Whereas, the estimated costs were listed at $55,000.00 and $30,000.00 respectively; and

Whereas, the Public Utilities Commission preferred the use of Retained Earnings for the purchase of the vehicles rather than bonding; and

Whereas, the Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously at their regularly scheduled meeting to fund the purchases from Retained Earnings; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that $85,000.00 be transferred from Retained Earnings and deposited into Water Pollution Control Facility Line Item Account #0502-3930-45-0-0000-501 for the purpose of purchasing a 2 ton dump truck and a 2-1/2 ton fork lift truck.

Whereas, the Meriden Water Division has updated Chapter 207 of the City Code to reflect language change and fee changes; and

Whereas, the new updates have been reviewed by the Legal Department and their comments addressed; and

Whereas, the new updates have been reviewed and approved by the Public Utilities Commission; now, therefore,

Whereas, the CityMeriden’s Daffodil Festival is placeCityMeriden’s largest city event; and

Whereas, the Daffodil Festival has allowed over 100 non profit agencies to raise over 1.2 million dollars since 1988 for their charitable causes in Meriden; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the City of placeCityMeriden reinstate the annual allocation of $20,000.

Item 12. Claims submitted against the City by Marta Schaefer Phillips, addressStreet92 Five Mile River Road, CityDarien, StateCT; Victor Murcia through Atty. Gerald L. Harmon were referred to Legal and Safety & Risk.

Item 13. Fire and Emergency Services Monthly Report for July 2007 was filed with City Clerk.

Item 14. Falcon Field/Washington Middle School Project Meeting Minutes of August 15, 2007 were filed with City Clerk.

Item 15. Golf Course Commission Meeting Minutes of September 7, 2007 were filed with City Clerk.

Item 16. Advisory Board on Aging Meeting Minutes of September 7, 2007 were filed with City Clerk.

Whereas, Marie O’Brien has retired as President of the Westsiders Neighborhood Association in August of this year, a position she has held since August 1995; and

Whereas, Marie helped form the Westsiders Neighborhood Association with the help of Diane Rogers, Harry and Annette Tennenberg, along with their community police officer, Charles Ballard; and

Whereas, Marie and the Westsiders Neighborhood Association, became involved in several “quality of life” issues for their neighborhood, such as street improvements, increased street lighting, crime reduction and prevention, thereby conducting crime and anti-drug expo’s, and cleanup days; and

Whereas, under Marie’s guidance as President, the group organized various events such as parties for Halloween and Christmas, summer picnics, bingos at the convalescent homes, and a neighborhood garden; and

Whereas, Marie has also given countless hours for such successful events as the Children’s Bike Rodeo, the Safety Fairs, National Night Out, and the Daffodil Festivals; and

Whereas, it is only fitting that Marie be honored for her devotion to our community and is certainly worthy of this public recognition; now, therefore,

I, Mark D. Benigni, Mayor of the City of Meriden, and members of the Meriden City Council do hereby proclaim Tuesday, October 2, 2007 as “Marie O’Brien Day” in the City of Meriden in thanks and appreciation for all the dedication Marie has shown to our city and to the Westsiders Neighborhood Association; and

Furthermore, do hereby encourage the citizens of placeCityMeriden to thank Marie for all the time and energy she had devoted in her role as President of the Westsiders Neighborhood Association.

Mayor Benigni asked Councilors McGoldrick and placeCitySantiago to join him in the ellipse. They presented Marie O’Brien with a framed copy of the citation. Others honoring Marie were State Majority Leader Christopher Donovan, Lt. Sal Nesci, Dave Swedock, Dave Parian and Vincent Shatas.

Item 6A. Your Economic Development, Housing & Zoning Committee to whom was a resolution concerning Fiderio & Sons be authorized to participate in CIDEwalk Program for additional sidewalk replacement at addressStreet687 Broad Street on 8/6/07, report they have attended to the matter and recommend adoption.

Committee: Stephen T. Zerio, Chairperson; Matthew C. Dominello, Sr.; Anthony D. Tomassetti; Hilda E. Santiago; David J. Salafia.

Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Hilda Santiago, to adopt. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 6B. Your Economic Development, Housing & Zoning Committee, to whom was referred a resolution concerning city accepting title to Lot #7-17 (open space); lot #7-29 (open space); Lot #7K (open space) on Collindale Drive in lieu of foreclosure & properties remain as open space on 6/18/07 report that they have attended to the matter and recommend the following:

Committee: Stepehn T. Zerio, Chairperson; Matthew C. Dominello, Sr.; Anthony D. Tomassetti; Hilda E. Santiago; David J. Salafia.

Be It Resolved, that the city accept the 3 parcels as open space as recommended by the Planning Commission.

Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Hilda Santiago, to adopt. Motion carried unanimously.

Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Sandra Maier Schede, to remove Item #11 of 9/17/07 off the table. Motion carried unanimously.

Item #11 of 9/17/07. Letter to City Council from Mayor Benigni recommending appointment of Fred Zierler to the Library Board for a term expiring 1/31/08 (replaces Prahler).

Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Patricia Lynes, to adopt. Motion carried unanimously.

There being no further business to be brought before the Council, Mayor Benigni declared the meeting to stand adjourned. The time was 7:25 p.m.