City of Meriden, CT - February 19, 2008 City Council Minutes

The Meriden City Council’s regular meeting of February 19, 2008 was convened at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Mark Benigni. Mayor Benigni led the Council in the salute to the flag and Walter Shamock offered the invocation. The Clerk called the roll. Present: Brian Daniels, Brian Kogut, George McGoldrick, Michael Rohde, Hilda Santiago, Walter Shamock, John Thorp, and Trevor Thorpe.

ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC COMMENT: Brian Daniels, Brian Kogut, George McGoldrick, Michael Rohde, Hilda Santiago, Walter Shamock, John Thorp, and Trevor Thorpe.

John Thorp, made a motion, seconded by Michael Rohde, to invoke Rule 20 to bring forth a Consent Calendar and to approve the minutes of February 4, 2008 and to adopt a Consent Calendar as previously prepared. Motion carried unanimously.

Whereas, in order to be eligible to receive payment of $25,050 in grant funds for the purchase of three hybrid electric vehicles, the City must execute a Grant Agreement with the State of Connecticut; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, by the City Council that placeCityLawrence J. Kendzior, City Manager of the City of Meriden, be and hereby is authorized to execute on behalf of the City of Meriden an Agreement with the State of Connecticut for financial assistance for the purchase of alternative/clean fuel vehicles (State Agreement No. 10.15-04(07), State Project No. 170-2734); and

Be It Further Known, that placeCityLawrence J. Kendzior was appointed City Manager and that his term of office began on June 6, 2005 and will serve indefinitely. As City Manager, CityLawrence J. Kendzior serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the City of CityMeriden and is hereby authorized to enter into such agreements, contracts, and any documents or supplementals as required by the State of StateplaceConnecticut.

Whereas, the Connecticut Department of Transportation will again make $5 million available to municipalities in State Fiscal Year 2009 to continue State

Whereas, Meriden’s apportionment based on our 60+ population and square mileage relative to the state’s total square mileage, according to the funding formula applied to all cities and towns, is $54,636; and

Whereas, the Department of Human Services, Division of Senior Affairs, currently receives funding from this program and now provides dial-a-ride services to Meriden residents aged 60 and over as well as to persons with disabilities; and

Whereas, this funding pays for all of the salary, benefits and expenses for a fulltime, 35 hour per week CDL licensed mini-bus driver who was hired under this program in September, 2006; and

Whereas, this grant funding also covers the cost of vehicle maintenance, fuel and other program related expenses and has been a major source of new funding for the Division of Senior Affairs; and

Whereas, applications for grant renewal funding are due at the South Central CT Regional Council of Governments on April 3, 2008 for approval and submission to the CT Department of Transportation; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that Beth Vumbaco, R.N., M.S., Director of Health/Human Services shall be and hereby is authorized to pursue grant renewal funding on behalf of the City of placeCityMeriden, Department of Human Services, Division of Senior Affairs, in accordance with the aforesaid project. Beth Vumbaco, R.N., M.S., Director of Health/Human Services shall process and submit all of the documents required that are relative to this contract.

Whereas, because of poor grading on Thorpe Avenue from Ives Avenue to the Meriden-Wallingford line, large areas of standing water develop after even moderate rain (due to the mountain run-off) and in winter these areas freeze into ice inches thick that remain for days; and

Be It Resolved, that a feasibility study be done in the area to correct the drainage problems and/or narrow the road; and

Whereas, in the past year, there have been substantial changes to the Parks and Public Works Departments, including reallocation of staff and resources requiring changes to duties by some staff members; and

Whereas, the attached job description has been reviewed and pointed by a committee that consisted of the City Manager, the Director of Public Works, and Local #595; and

Whereas, this Committee pointed the upgraded position of Administrative Facilities Coordinator – Parks at a 31G; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved, that the position of Facilities Coordinator be upgraded to the Administrative Facilities Coordinator – Parks; and

Further Resolved, that the Facilities Coordinator be upgraded into this position and paid $53,518 retroactive to October 1, 2007; and

Further Resolved, the salary difference for nine (9) months of $1,092 will be paid from the salary line item for Parks.

This is a very responsible position in the Parks, Recreation and Public Buildings Department providing administrative and clerical support for the Department Head.

Duties include coordinating and prioritizing the daily work flow, assisting with the preparation of annual budgets and coordinating daily financial matters, assisting with the scheduling and preparation of special events including handling finances, public coordination and handling confidential matters of a Personnel nature for the department. Assisting with the procurement of specialty vendors. Responsible for preparing press releases for all events. Routinely assists with handling and responding to public concerns, requests to the City Council and the City Manager requests.

This position works directly under the Director of Parks, Recreation and placePlaceNamePublic PlaceTypeBuildings and coordinates with the Recreation Supervisor and Park Superintendent. May also coordinate with other Public Works and Public Utilities Department Heads and Supervisors.

Oversees the swim tag program and fishing permits for PlaceNameplaceGuiffreda PlaceTypePark; maintains the Rec-Trac Computer system; analyzing reports and general maintenance of the system.

Assists the Director in coordinating the flow of work and set office priorities. Distributes work duties and assignments to Department personnel as specified by the Director of Parks, Recreation and placePlaceNamePublic PlaceTypeBuildings.

Communicates and maintains effective working relationships with City Government, Citizens and employees regarding programming and park priorities.

Maintains flow of paperwork for Tree Warden. Works with utility companies; tree removal contractors for determination of emergency situations; may dispatch crews as needed. Records and maintains all records for removals, denials and emergencies. Works with City Survey Department to determine ownership of trees; works with Planning Division on removals for new construction. Compiles all information for hearing officers on citation hearings and Tree Application Review Board. Fills in for Tree Warden in his absence.

Prepares materials for meetings and legal requirements; including drafting resolutions, and reports for City Council.

Oversees Director’s calendar and daily, as well as event calendars, for programs scheduling and day to day projects in process

Responsible for the scheduling of all PlaceTypeplaceCity PlaceTypePark usage, including but not limited to fields, tennis courts, and parks. Works with all City leagues, organizations and schools to schedule games on City fields. Maintains event calendar; works with tournament officials coordinating tournaments; assuring proper coverage and logistics of events. Keeps records of costs; sends out invoices and monitors payment of costs incurred.

Coordinates event needs with Park Superintendent and staff; assuring all needs are met; which includes procurement of required equipment with outside vendors.

Works independently on projects of research as delegated by the Director; seeking new and updated equipment and sources to lower costs and provide the City with innovative equipment throughout the Park system; prepares and presents results to selected groups of individuals as needed.

Oversees calls for Parks and Public Works citizen’s complaint center, makes decisions as to directions and action of complaint. Supervises other office clerical staff.

The work requires thorough knowledge, skill and ability in all aspects of administrative and general office procedures and management skills

Associates Degree in Recreation or related field and three (3) years progressively responsible administrative experience or Bachelor’s degree and one (1) year administrative experience.

Item 5. Letter to Mayor Benigni from Craig Hooker of Fatherhood Initiative Project requesting a donation of $1000 for their program was referred to Finance.

Item 8. Claims submitted against the City by Michelle Bender, 55 Nutmeg Drive, #16, Meriden, CT; Marquita L. Nelson, 581 Crown Street, Meriden, CT through Atty. Lee Gold; Shannon & Bryon Turner, 704 Paddock Avenue, Meriden, CT; Paul Serra, 27 Hampden Circle, Simsbury, CT; Olegario Traverso, 55 Country Club Road, Meriden, CT; Fred Camp, 526B Howe Avenue, Shelton, CT; Joseph Fornaciari, 870 North Colony Street, Meriden, CT was referred to Legal and Safety & Risk.

Item 15. Falcon Field Committee Funding Solicitation Subcommittee Report of January 28, 2008 was filed with City Clerk.

Item 17. placePlaceTypeSchool PlaceTypeBuilding Committee Meeting Minutes of January 3, 2008 was filed with City Clerk.

WHEREAS, Ron’s community spirit has been exhibited throughout the years, initially for establishing and building the second highest ropes course in the State of Connecticut at the Meriden YMCA Mountain Mist Outdoor Center, and for serving the children of Meriden, especially the physically and mentally challenged; and

WHEREAS, in addition to Ron’s dedication to the Meriden YMCA Outdoor Center and downtown facility, Ron lead the charge to rehab the YMCA Crown Street Childcare Center; and

WHEREAS, Ron spent countless hours renovating the first level, building new walls, painting, installing floors and cleaning the Childcare Center so that our children will have a clean and safe facility to learn and grow; and

WHEREAS, Ron is a perfect example of a motivated individual with community pride and spirit, he lives life to the fullest and is an inspiration to others and should be publicly recognized for the outstanding services that he devotes himself to, on behalf of Meriden children and our community;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mark D. Benigni, Mayor of the City of Meriden, do hereby proclaim February 20, 2008 as “Ron Ceruti Day” in the City of Meriden to honor Ron as the recipient of the Spirit of Meriden Award for February 2008; and

FURTHERMORE, I do hereby encourage all our citizens to publicly thank Ron for all the time and energy that he has given and continues to give to our citizens.

Brian Daniels, made a motion, seconded by Brian Kogut, to adopt. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Benigni asked Ron Ceruti, Majority Leader Rohde, Councilor Brian Daniels and members of the YMCA Board of Directors to come forward and join him in the ellipse. Mr. Ceruti was presented a framed copy of the resolution.

George McGoldrick, made a motion, seconded by Hilda Santiago, to remove Item #6 off the Consent Calendar. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 6. Letter to City Council from Mayor Benigni recommending reappointments of Mark Dupuis to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term expiring 2/1/11 and Lawrence Nawrocki to the Golf Commission for a term expiring 1/31/11.

George McGoldrick, made a motion, seconded by Hilda Santiago, to take Item #7 off the Consent Calendar. Motion carried unanimously.

Item 7. Letter to City Council from Mayor Benigni recommending appointments to the Advisory Board on Aging of Donna Jones (replacing Thorp) for a term expiring 9/5/11 and Elizabeth Wieloch (replacing Meoni) for a term expiring 9/5/10.

Item 9. Your Finance Committee, to whom was referred a resolution concerning an amendment to GPIB #63 – “C.I.D.E.W.A.L.K. Program - $150,000 and addressStreetStudy/Survey Baldwin Avenue area - $42,600 - $192,600” on 2/4/08, report that they have attended to the matter and recommend adoption.

Committee: Brian F. Kogut, Chairperson; Keith Gordon, Vice-Chairperson; George E. McGoldrick; Michael S. Rohde; Walter A. Shamock.

Brian Kogut, made a motion, seconded by George McGoldrick, to adopt the committee report with an amendment. Kogut explained that the actual numbers of $42,600 should read $46,200 making the total $196,200. These two projects, the C.I.D.E.W.A.L.K. program and the study/survey of addressStreetBaldwin Avenue are both items that have been previously approved by the City Council. This is the bond resolution that allocates the funding. Motion carried to adopt the amended resolution.

Brian Kogut, made a motion, seconded by Hilda Santiago, to remove Item #11 of 2/4/08 from the table. Motion carried unanimously.

Item #11 of 2/4/08: Memorandum to City Council from Mayor Benigni recommending appointment of Mary Zysk (replacing Fontanella) to the Advisory Board on Aging for a term expiring 9/5/08.

There being no further business to be brought before the Council, Mayor Benigni declared the meeting to stand adjourned. The time was 7:30 p.m.