CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 4, 2008
The Meriden City Council’s regular meeting of August 4, 2008 was convened at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Michael S. Rohde. Mayor Rohde led the Council in the salute to the flag and Matthew Dominello offered the invocation. The Clerk called the roll. Present: Dante Bartolomeo, Brian Daniels, Matthew Dominello, Keith Gordon, Brian Kogut, George McGoldrick, David Salafia, Hilda Santiago, Walter Shamock, John Thorp, Trevor Thorpe and Anthony Tomassetti.
ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC COMMENT: Dante Bartolomeo, Brian Daniels, Matthew Dominello, Keith Gordon, Brian Kogut, George McGoldrick, David Salafia, Hilda Santiago, Walter Shamock, John Thorp, Trevor Thorpe and Anthony Tomassetti.
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Lawrence J. Kendzior, City Manager and Michael Quinn, Corporation Counsel.
Keith Gordon, made a motion, seconded by Matthew Dominello, to invoke Rule 20 to bring forth a Consent Calendar and to approve the minutes of July 21, 2008 and to adopt a Consent Calendar as previously prepared. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 2. Presented by Brian F. Kogut and George McGoldrick.
Whereas, there is an opening in Parks, Recreation and Public Buildings for a maintenance worker; and
Whereas, a maintainer from the Highway Division of Public Works has requested a transfer into this position; and
Whereas, this leaves a maintainer’s position vacant in the Highway Division; and
Whereas, one less maintainer would adversely impact operations of the Highway Division; and
Whereas, scheduled projects may fall behind without replacing the maintainer; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that the replacement of this maintainer not be subject to the 90 day freeze period thereby permitting immediate filling of this position.
Referred to Finance.
Item 3. Presented by Hilda E. Santiago, by request.
WHEREAS, the Council approved a resolution at its January 16, 2007 meeting to adopt grant funds for a contract to provide a supplemental food program for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program in an amount not to exceed $2 million for the period 10/1/07 through 9/1/2010; and,
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WHEREAS, the State Department of Public Health has identified the availability of additional funds in the aggregate amount of $339,147 ($113,147 for each of the three years of the contract); and,
WHEREAS, the receipt of additional grant funds has no financial impact on the City’s General Fund; and,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Meriden shall enter into a contract with the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health for a supplemental food program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) for a three year period beginning October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2010; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Director of Health and Human Services, Beth Vumbaco, R.N., M.S., shall be and hereby is authorized to execute said contract on behalf of the City of Meriden in accordance with the aforesaid project. The Director of Health and Human Services, Beth Vumbaco, R.N., M.S., shall process and submit all of the documents required relative to this contract.
Adopted.
Item 4. Presented by Hilda E. Santiago, by request.
WHEREAS, the State of Connecticut, Department of Education, announced the availability of funds to enter into a contract for the continuation of funding for the City of Meriden, Department of Human Services, School Readiness and Child Day Care Grant Program for the period effective July, 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009; and,
WHEREAS, the available funding for fiscal year 2008/2009 is in an amount not to exceed $2,750,000; and,
WHEREAS, the School Readiness and Child Day Care Grant Program will continue to provide coordinated delivery of affordable, quality services to 3 and 4 year old Meriden residents; and,
WHEREAS, upon renewal of this grant the City will contribute in-kind services in the form of office space, administrative and fiscal management; and,
WHEREAS, the receipt of this grant’s financial impact on the City’s General fund will be the benefit package for the facilitator;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Beth Vumbaco, R.N., M.S., Director of Health/Human Services is hereby authorized to execute a contract on behalf of the City of Meriden, Department of Human Services, School Readiness and Child Day Care Grant Program in accordance with the aforesaid project. Beth
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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.
Adopted.
Item 5. Presented by Walter A. Shamock.
Whereas, the City of Meriden who is the legal property owner of the East Main Street Cemetery; and
Whereas, the said cemetery is at present involved in a clean-up with a number of volunteers such as Shamock Construction, The Meriden Boys Club, Meriden Boy Scouts and many other individual volunteers and civic groups; and
Whereas, it has become evident that the original boundary lines are unknown; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that a survey be done of the property to mark out the original boundary lines so as not to encroach on abutting property owners of the East Main Street Cemetery.
Referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item 6. Presented by George E. McGoldrick, by request.
WHEREAS, the Meriden City Council approved a resolution on April 1, 2002 allowing the City’s Manufacturing Assistance Program to reimburse businesses up to $15,000 for various expenses related to relocation to Meriden; and
WHEREAS, companies receiving this reimbursement are limited to having 100 or less employees and must have total annual revenue of two million dollars or more; and
WHEREAS, this program encourages such businesses to locate to the City; and
WHEREAS, ACCEL International Holdings, L.L.C. of Waterbury, Connecticut, a manufacturer of high performance conductors, has decided to move to 508 North Colony Street and meets the program’s qualifications; and
WHEREAS, the Meriden Manufacturing Agency recommends approval of reimbursement of up to $15,000 for moving expenses for this company.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Meriden City Council hereby approves a MMAP reimbursement of up to $15,000 to ACCEL International Holdings, L.L.C. for eligible expenses related to the company’s relocation to Meriden.
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Referred to Economic Development, Housing & Zoning.
Item 7. Presented by George E. McGoldrick, by request.
WHEREAS, ACCEL MERIDEN, L.L.C. (APPLICANT) has applied to the Meriden Manufacturing Agency (MMAA) for a loan for moving expenses under the Meriden Manufacturing Assistance Program; and
WHEREAS, this loan of $500,000 will be used by APPLICANT for acquisition the real property located at 508 North Colony Street (PROPERTY) which will be leased by ACCEL International Holdings, L.L.C.; and
WHEREAS, the acquisition of this property will allow ACCEL International Holdings, L.L.C. to relocate its manufacturing operation from Waterbury to Meriden thereby retaining and creating jobs and thus contributing to the economic welfare of the City; and
WHEREAS, the PROPERTY will be principally used for manufacturing and other economic base business purposes or business support services; and
WHEREAS, the project is in accordance with the plan of development for Meriden; and
WHEREAS, ACCEL International Holdings, L.L.C. has agreed to the goal of filling at least 50 percent of any newly created positions with residents of the City of Meriden; and
WHEREAS, APPLICANT agrees to obtain all necessary local approvals for the project; and
WHEREAS, the Meriden Manufacturing Agency has approved this application, and recommends adoption; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED: that the Meriden City Council hereby approves the MMAP loan of $500,000 to APPLICANT and hereby authorizes the City Manager to execute any and all documents related to this transaction.
Referred to Economic Development, Housing & Zoning.
Item 8. Presented by George E. McGoldrick, by request.
Whereas, Connecticut General Statute Chapter 124, §8-1c allows for a municipality to establish by ordinance a Land Use Fee Schedule; and
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Whereas, a Land Use Fee Schedule would consolidate and simplify access to application fee information, and eliminate future need to update fees in zoning; and
Whereas, City Planning staff has identified ways to more equitably determine certain fees by the scale of a project; and
Whereas, City Planning staff and the Planning Commission have identified increases to certain fees that have generally not been unpdated for several decades, to recoup inflationary and/or other increased costs of processing applications; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that the following LAND USE FEE SCHEDULE be proposed for adoption.
Site Plan & Special District Application Fees Fee
Active Adult Cluster Development Base Fee $200 + $30 (state)
Additional Calculated Fee $20 per lot/unit
Planned Residential Development $300 filing fee + $1,000 publication
Base Initial Fees (including pub.fee) fee + $30 (state)
Additional Calculated Fee $40 per unit
C.A. (Site Plan) Base Fee $300
Additional Calculated Fee Residential (4 units or more) $40 per unit
Non-Residential
New Building and/or veh. Area >40,000 sq. ft. surface area $0 per each portion of 10,000 sq. ft. surface
Area increment over 40,000 sq. ft.
Bakery/Fast food drive-thru facility $300
Planned Executive Office Development $150 plus Site Plan calculated fee
Regional Development $150 plus Site Plan calculated fee
Planned Development District $150 plus Site Plan calculated fee
Erosion and Sediment Control Plan $50
Earth Removal/Fill $200 plus $200 per each 1,000 CY increment over 1,000 CY
Extension of Approval for above noted applications $30
Proposed: Large/Complex applications – In accordance with state law, the Commission may hire experts to be paid for the applicant
Referred to Economic Development, Housing & Zoning.
Item 9. Presented by George E. McGoldrick, by request.
Whereas, the City is preparing to establish by ordinance a Lane Use Fee Schedule for applications according to Connecticut General Statute Chapter 124, §8-1c; and
Whereas, a Land Use Fee Schedule will render specific numeric fees noted in zoning obsolete; now, therefore,
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Be It Resolved, that the following ZONING TEXT AMENDMENTS TO ELIMINATE SPECIFIC FEE AMOUNTS AND REFER TO THE LAND USE FEE SCHEDULE are proposed and petitioned.
For identified sections in Chapter 213, delete text as shown with strikeout and replace with new text as shown in bold.
Section 26K. (PRD DISTRICT)
(1) An Application for…The applicant shall file all required documents and submit a filing fee of ten dollars ($10,00) per dwelling unit as indicated in the Land Use Fee Schedule.
(5) The applicant shall file all required documents and a filing fee of three dollars ($3.00) per dwelling unit. [Deleted]
Section 26.1 L. (PEOD DISTRICT)
The applicant shall file all required documents and submit a filing fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) as indicated in the Land Use Fee Schedule.
Section 26.2E. (2) (g) (RDD DISTRICT)
The applicant shall file all required documents and submit a filing fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) as indicated in the Land Use Fee Schedule…
Section 55 C.(1) (Site Plan Approval)
Application…Each application shall require a fee of $150 as indicated in the Land Use Fee Schedule.
Referred to Economic Development, Housing & Zoning for Public Hearing.
Item 10. Letter to Mayor from John Gopoian, Health & Safety Chairperson of Sleeping Giant District of the Connecticut Yankee Council requesting Meriden’s participation in the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America in the spring of 2010 was referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item 11. Claims submitted against the City by Christine Boganski, 34 Kensington Avenue, Meriden, CT; Christine Ritchie, 54 Broadview Terrace, Meriden, CT were submitted to Legal and Safety & Risk.
Item 18. Golf Course Commission Meeting Minutes of June 23, 2008 were filed with the City Clerk.
Item 19. School Building Committee Meeting Minutes of March 6, 2008 were filed with the City Clerk.
Item 20. Falcon Field/Washington Middle School Project Meeting Minutes of June 18, 2008 were filed with the City Clerk.
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Item 21. Falcon Field/Washington Middle School Project Meeting Minutes of January 16, 2008 were filed with the City Clerk.
Item 22. Conservation Commission Meeting Minutes of July 2, 2008 were filed with the City Clerk.
Item 23. Meriden Police Department Monthly Report of June 2008 was filed with the City Clerk.
Item MNO24. Presented by Keith Gordon, by request.
Be It Resolved, that Oak Street be added to the paving list.
Referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item MNO25. Presented by Anthony D. Tomassetti, by request.
Be It Resolved, that lumens be increased on Pole #4285 and Pole #6045 in the area of 8 Dayton Place.
Adopted.
Item MNO26. Letter to Minority Leader Shamock from Chairman of Conservation Commission Mordarski requesting the city host a house hold chemical pick up day in the spring or fall of 2009 were referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item MNO27. Presented by Anthony D. Tomassetti, Matthew C. Dominello, Sr., Keith Gordon, Trevor Thorpe, John J. Thorp.
Whereas, the Fire Department is anticipating an impending vacancy of a fire fighter thru retirement; and
Whereas, the Department would like to fill the anticipated vacancy as soon as possible; and
Whereas, the filling of this anticipated vacancy before the vacancy actually occurs will effect a saving in overtime; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that the vacant fire fighter position be filled.
Referred to Finance.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
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Item A.
Official Citation
Introduced by Mayor Michael S. Rohde
Deputy Mayor Matthew C. Dominello, Sr.
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:
Rebekka Chenard
Ashleigh D’addio
Emily Heath
In recognition of
Your receiving the Marine Corps League Silver City Detachment #45
John R. Shoneck Scholarship Fund Award for 2008.
The citizens of Meriden extend their very best
Wishes on this memorable occasion and express
The hope for continued success.
Given this 4th day of August 2008
At the City Hall of Meriden, Connecticut
By Michael S. Rohde, Mayor
Mayor Rohde asked Rebekka, Ashleigh, Emily and their families to join him and Deputy Mayor Dominello in the ellipse. He also asked members of the Marine Corps League and Jim Shoneck to come forward to present the scholarships to the award winners. The recipients also received copies of the proclamation honoring them.
Item 1. Presented by Michael S. Rohde, by request.
WHEREAS, in order to close out and receive payment of $47,548 in grant funds for open space acquisition, the City must execute a Grant Agreement with the State of Connecticut; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council that Lawrence J. Kendzior, City Manager of the City of Meriden, be and hereby is authorized to execute on behalf of the City of Meriden an Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Agreement and a Conservation and Public Recreation Easement and Agreement with the State of Connecticut for financial assistance to acquire permanent interest in land known as the “Travers Property”, OSWA-317, located at 739 Hanover Road Rear, Meriden, CT and to manage said land as open space land pursuant to Section 7-131d of the Connecticut General Statutes, and
BE IT RESOLVED, that the CITY OF MERIDEN hereby adopts as its policy to support the nondiscrimination agreements and warranties required under Connecticut General Statutes 4a-60(a)(1) and 4a-60a(a)(1) as amended in the
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State of Connecticut Public Act 07-245 and sections 9(a)(1) and 10(a)(1) of Public Act 07-142.
BE IT FURTHER KNOWN that Lawrence J. Kendzior was appointed City Manager and that his term of office began on June 6, 2005 and will serve indefinitely. As City Manager, Lawrence J. Kendzior serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the City of Meriden and is duly authorized to enter into such agreements, contracts, and execute all documents necessary to said grant with the State of Connecticut.
Keith Gordon, made a motion, seconded by Matthew Dominello, to adopt. Motion carried unanimously.
There being nothing further to be brought before the Council, Mayor Rohde declared the meeting to stand adjourned. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Lori N. Canney
Clerk of the City Council
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