CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 5, 2006
The Meriden City Council’s regular meeting of September 5, 2006 was convened at 7:15 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, Trevor Thorpe and Stephen Zerio.
EXCUSED: Brian Kogut, Sandra Maier Schede and Anthony Tomassetti were excused.
ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC COMMENT: Matthew Dominello, Keith Gordon, Patricia Lynes, George McGoldrick, Michael Rohde, David Salafia, Hilda Santiago, Trevor Thorpe and Stephen Zerio.
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: City Manager Lawrence J. Kendzior and Associate City Attorney Debbie Moore.
Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Patricia Lynes, to invoke Rule 20 to bring forth a Consent Calendar and to approve the minutes of August 21, 2006 and to adopt a Consent Calendar as previously prepared. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 1. Presented by Michael S. Rohde.
Whereas, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has a $39,000 grant which represents 60% of a proposed $65,000 project to reduce sediment and enhance fish habitat in the Quinnipiac River Gorge; and
Whereas, the project more specifically is intended to eliminate bank and sediment transport resulting from pedestrian and unauthorized vehicle crossing of three unnamed Quinnipiac River tributaries by installing formal crossing structures and planting native vegetation to stabilize sites of active bank erosion at the existing crossings, and enhance physical habitat in the Quinnipiac River at the confluences of the tributaries; and
Whereas, the City of Meriden is constructing a linear trail along the Quinnipiac River Gorge which will address the work proposed by the DEP; and
Whereas, the DEP has offered to enter into an agreement with the City of Meriden to complete specific work as required by the grant; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that it is in the best interests of the City of Meriden to enter into contracts with the Department of Environmental Protection and that the City Manager is duly authorized to enter into and sign said contracts on behalf of the City of Meriden and that the City Manager is further authorized to provide such additional information and execute such other documents as may be required by the state or federal government in connection with said contracts and to execute any amendments, recisions, and revisions thereto.
Referred to Finance, Public Works and Parks & Recreation, Conservation Commission.
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Item 2. Presented by Hilda E. Santiago and George E. McGoldrick, by request.
Be It Resolved, that sidewalks be installed on Vine Street and South Vine Street.
Referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item 3. Letter to City Council from Madeline O’Leary requesting installation of sidewalks in the vicinity of 28 Ann Street and the remainder of Elm Street. Referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item 4. Letter from Anthony Messina requesting that the skateboard park be named in honor of Ricky Pelletier was Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item 5. Memorandum to City Council from Mayor Benigni recommending appointments to the Advisory Board on Aging. The following individuals were recommended:
Peter Burch, M.D. (U) Sr. Georgeann Vumbaco (D)
119 David Drive 215 Metacomet Drive
Rev. John Clark (D) John Thorp (D)
62 Colony Street 6 Marshall Road
Lillie Green (D) Bruce Fontanella (R)
181 Hicks Street, Apt. 4-F 498 High Hill Road
Richard Hackbarth (D) Ruth Kahn (U)
154 Gwen Road 98 Rolling Hills Drive
Geraldine Meoni (D) Donna Macri (U)
66 Metacomet Drive 164 Carter Avenue Extension
Celia M. Ramos (U) John Varley (D)
76 Butler Street, Apt. 1001 35 Payne Place
Accepted and Filed.
Item 6. Memorandum to City Council from Mayor Benigni recommending appointment to the Zoning Board of Appeals. The following individual was recommended:
Joseph Ferrigno Feest (R)
99 Spruce Street
(replaces Daly)
Exp. 2/1/07
Accepted and Filed.
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Item 7. Claim submitted against the City by Gerry Roccapriore, P.O. Box 450, Meriden, CT was referred to Legal and Safety & Risk.
Item 13. Public Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes of July 18, 2006 were filed with the City Clerk.
Item 14. Meriden Police Department Monthly Report of July 2006 was filed with City Clerk.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Item A.
Official Citation
Introduced by Mayor Mark D. Benigni
Be it hereby known to all that:
The City Council of Meriden, Connecticut
In grateful recognition of services devotedly and faithfully rendered to this City
Hereby offers its sincerest congratulations to:
The Members and Coaches
In recognition of
Being a member and coach of the Meriden Youth Travel League 14U Sandy Koufax
Division that were the 2005-2006 State Runners-Up and Silver City Grand Slam Champs.
The citizens of Meriden extend their very best wishes on this memorable occasion and express the hope for continued success.
Given this 5th day of September 2006 at the City Hall of Meriden, Connecticut
By Mark D. Benigni, Mayor
Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Matthew Dominello, to adopt. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Benigni asked the coaches and members to come forward to receive a framed proclamation. The following individuals were honored: Mark Virgulto, Jonathan Annelli, Austin Lawrence, Joseph Quilty, Dan Mroczka, Lorenzo Llanos, Michael Barillaro, William Haggett, Zack Sokolis, Carlos Costas, Kevin Torres, Mitchell Cardillo, Spencer Mauro, Hector Ortiz, Donny Crook, Jason Phillips and Ryan Laude. The following coaches were honored: John Scarmana and Jerry Moss.
Item B.
Official Citation
Introduced by Mayor Mark D. Benigni
Be It Hereby known to all that:
The City Council of Meriden, Connecticut
In grateful recognition of services
Devotedly and faithfully rendered to this City
Hereby offers its sincerest congratulations to:
The Members and Coaches
In recognition of being a member and coach of the Meriden Youth Travel League 16U
Mickey Mantle Division that won the 2006 State Championship.
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The Citizens of Meriden extend their very best wishes on this memorable occasion and express
The hope for continued success.
Given this 5th day of September 2006
At the City Hall of Meriden, Connecticut
By Mark D. Benigni, Mayor
Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Matthew Dominello, to adopt. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Benigni asked the coaches and members to come forward to receive a framed proclamation. The following individuals were honored: Andrew Oeschger, Anthony Gagnon, Bob Sorensen, Brandon Gearing, Brad Lorusso, Daniel Kokoszka, Daniel Pascale, Daniel Tino, Dominic Calistro, Garrett DaCunto, Jim Wielgosz, Joe Petitte, Justin Proctor, Justin Quilty, Kevin Zimmer, Nick D’Amato, Ray Thayer and Stan Landa. The following coaches were honored: Doug Wedge (Manager), Len Petitte and Alan “Smith” Oeschger.
Item C. Presentation to Council of Neighborhoods for their participation in the police sponsored National Night Out Event and for their continued support of our Neighborhood Initiative. Mayor Benigni invited Councilors Lynes, Santiago, and McGoldrick, Sgt. Sal Nesci and Police Chief Jeffry Cossette and all the leaders of the neighborhood associations to join him in the ellipse. President of the Neighborhood Associations Dave Swedock accepted a framed copy of the proclamation.
Item 8. No report from Finance.
Item 9. No report from Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item 10. No report from Economic Development, Housing & Zoning.
Item 11. No report from Human Services.
Item 12. No report from Public Safety.
Stephen Zerio made a motion, seconded by Patricia Lynes, to take Item MNO15 off the Consent Calendar. Motion carried unanimously.
Item MNO15. Presented by Stephen T. Zerio.
Whereas, Lawrence J. Kendzior was appointed City Manager effective June 9, 2006; and
Whereas, the City Council has completed his annual performance evaluation in accordance with the City Manager Employment Agreement; and
Whereas, that performance evaluation averaged “very good” over ten performance areas; now, therefore,
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Be It Resolved, that pursuant to Section 4 of the Employment Agreement, the salary of the City Manager, Lawrence J. Kendzior, is hereby increased by three percent to a total of $128,750 per year, effective July 1, 2006.
Stephen Zerio, made a motion, seconded by Patricia Lynes, to adopt. Zerio explained that he felt it was important for the public to know how the City Council does the performance appraisal for the City Manager. He stated Mr. Kendzior had served for one complete year as City Manager for the City of Meriden. As in the past we put the City Manager through a fairly strenuous review. We don’t just get together and decide what we think. There is a rigorous process. The City Manager is measured on ten performance areas and several key objectives. We conduct this process in the summer. The performance areas that we focus on are budget and fiscal matters, supervision of personnel, planning and organization, problem solving, initiative, communication, advocacy, interface
with elected officials, community representation and quality services and taxpayer satisfaction. We also had for the first time this year several key objectives that we wanted to have the City Manager express focus on including matters regarding flood control, city department review and restructure, revaluation, blight reduction and also matters regarding Hanover Pond recovery. The reviews were compiled from each individual councilor into an aggregate report to the Council which considered this personnel matter in Executive Session as we should. After much discussion the Council agreed that the City Manager receive a grade of “very good” in his first year. Councilor Mike Rohde, the Majority Whip and Zerio met with the City Manager and reviewed this report card which Zerio believed was received satisfactorily and because of that the Council agreed to provide a 3% performance raise retroactive to July 1st which was about when his contract
was enacted. This would bring the manager’s salary to $128,750. A 3% performance raise we felt was a fair merit raise for his work in his first year and was on a comparable level to raises that were given to other city staff and bargaining units. Zerio asked that the Council support this resolution. We will be meeting again to set new key objectives for this coming year for the City Manager to be considered next July. Motion carried unanimously.
City Manager Report: City Manager Kendzior stated at the last meeting the Majority Leader had asked for a report on the softball complex on Thorpe Avenue. One of the questions was what work remains to be done up there. He briefly went over the items. There is some minor work on the building that contains the championship field press box and restrooms. There is some additional drainage work basically on that stadium field and also two of the t-ball fields. There are areas on those two t-ball fields that need to be re-graded and seeded. We still have to install an emergency egress and ingress entrance in the area of the Baptist home. There is a final course of asphalt to put down on the entrance road in the parking area. The parking area has to be striped and we have to
install signage and an appropriate plaque for Chief Dunn whose name this field has been dedicated. If we have normal weather this fall and cooperation from some of the private contractors that are involved the facility should be 100% complete by November 30th. In terms of cost and so forth the Council had originally over four different bond series appropriated $2,841,172. Of that amount $2,746,869 has been spent. There are encumbrances presently of $37,605 and a balance of $56,697.21. The encumbered amounts and the balance are in the area of $90,000. The work that remains, the cost estimates add up to about $77,000. There is some work that needs to be done on the bio-filter, that is in the lower portion near Thorpe Avenue but they are still waiting to hear from the DEP on that. The project should come to completion within the budget. While these other things remain to be done, the complex has been open for this entire
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season. The Meriden Girls Softball League played there from April 1st through October 31st and the Girls Softball League hosted tournaments on May 20th and 21st and from July 14th through the 16th. Kendzior stated with those tournaments there were teams from out of state that came to Meriden and stayed and patronized our local hotels and restaurants and so forth. Platt and Maloney High School softball games were played there. The Connecticut and this is the first time they’ve been here in a long time, the Connecticut High School Senior All Star Game was played there on June 14th. It was an excellent game. Two regional travel teams, the Connecticut Tigers used the facility from June 8th to July 28th for their games and practices and the Connecticut Pink Panthers held a tournament there July 21st through July 23rd. Kendzior feels we can expect more usage of that kind in the future. For people who haven’t been up to the complex, it is a very beautiful site. It was well done
and he feels it will get a lot of usage. He feels that the investment the council made too many years ago was well merited and will be well used.
Zerio thanked the City Manager for that report. He agrees that it has been a long time since the Council voted on the vision to create these fields but thinks as you heard from the City Manager’s Report in it’s inaugural year it had tremendous success, not only for it’s primary target audience, the Meriden Girls’ Softball League but also with high school players, both from Meriden and from with out and from tournament players across the state. Zerio is also happy to hear although we were constantly accused otherwise over the past several years that this project is coming in under budget which is critical, especially as costs can change over a course of 4-5 years. Zerio talked to a number of parents both in and out of the city who use this facility and are just so praising of the
fields. Zerio stated he knows he supported this in the past, not only for the girls of Meriden but also for the economic development opportunities that could present the city just as the City Manager mentioned regarding several tournaments that really quietly came to Meriden. There was no marketing of this if you will but because of the great word of mouth from some of the leagues that have come to Meriden Zerio has been approached and he hopes to bring some members of the public before the City Manager and Parks and Rec Department which will receive the softball fields for further opportunities working within the schedules of our Meriden teams but to bring other tournaments to the city. Not the least of which and he doesn’t know if this will happen but a possible opportunity for a college showcase that could occur here in Meriden where girls from all over the state and outside the state will come to sort of showcase their talents in front of college coaches. All of these
people would have to come to the city, stay in our hotels, spend money at our restaurants, visit our retailers and to him that is a boost, making Meriden a destination for a premier softball complex. He is really happy that it’s first year went through very well and is looking forward to bigger and better things from our Meriden Softball Complex and the girls that play on those fields go on to bigger and better things as great softball players and team players.
Rohde stated it is great to hear that the complex has come in under budget but frankly we need to acknowledge the fact that a major reason we’ve come in under budget is that this was an in house project done primarily by city staff. Most of the work was done through the Public Works and Park and Recreation Department using their personnel. We did have some bumps in the road, however significant savings were achieved by doing it through our own staff so they need to be credited. Rohde was also out there during one of the tournaments and the comments he heard from out of state teams were spectacular. They thought this was one of the finest facilities they ever played in and gave a lot of credit to the City of Meriden for doing that. Rohde credits the
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city and their employees for making this come to fruition and it is something we can all be proud of. If you haven’t been there, take a trip out there. It is really something spectacular.
There being nothing further to be brought before the Council, Mayor Benigni declared the meeting to stand adjourned. The meeting adjourned at 7:46 p.m.
Lori N. Canney
Clerk of the City Council
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