CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 15, 2008
The Meriden City Council’s regular meeting of December 15, 2008 was convened at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Michael S. Rohde. Keith Gordon 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 and Trevor Thorpe.
EXCUSED: Anthony Tomassetti was excused.
ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC COMMENT: Dante’ Bartolomeo, Brian Daniels, Matthew Dominello, Keith Gordon, George McGoldrick, Hilda Santiago, Walter Shamock, John Thorp and Trevor Thorpe.
OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: City Manager Lawrence J. Kendzior and Corporation Counsel Michael P. Quinn.
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 December 1, 2008 and to adopt a Consent Calendar as previously prepared. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Item 1. Presented by Brian F. Kogut, by request.
Whereas, a Librarian II position will be vacant as of January 3, 2009 due to a retirement; and
Whereas, the current salary range for this position is $46,924.80 to $67,163.20; and
Whereas, the position is funded in the FY08-09 budget; and
Whereas, the Library Director recommends that this position be filled as essential to the operation of the Library; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that this vacancy be filled.
Referred to Finance.
Item 2. Withdrawn.
Item 3. Presented by George E. McGoldrick, by request.
Whereas, the City of Meriden has submitted an application to the FAA for the Airport Improvement Project (3-09-0012-08-2011) for funding of the engineering design for the reconstruction of the north apron at the Meriden-Markham Municipal Airport; and
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Whereas, the design and reconstruction of the north apron are a part of the overall approved Capital improvements, and have been encouraged by the Meriden Aviation Commission, State DOT and FAA; and
Whereas, the estimated cost of the project, once approved by the FAA, would qualify for reimbursement of the $66,790 budget as follows:
FAA Share (95%)
ConnDOT Share (3.75%)
City of Meriden Share (1.25%); now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute, file documents, accept payments, and do all things necessary in obtaining Federal and State funding for the subject project.
Adopted.
Item 4. Presented by Anthony D. Tomassetti, by request.
Whereas, the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security has informed the City that it is eligible to receive $4,522.00 in Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program funding for Federal Fiscal Year 2009 which began on October 1, 2008; and
Whereas, the funding will fund personnel and administrative expenses related to the Office of Emergency Management activities; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that City Manager Lawrence J. Kendzior, be and hereby is authorized to act on behalf of the City of Meriden in executing a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, for participation in the FY 2009 Emergency Management Performance Grant Program.
Dated at Meriden, Connecticut this ______ day of ______, 2008.
Adopted.
Item 7. Presented by Keith Gordon.
Whereas, the City maintains a program to repair and replace public sidewalks; and
Whereas, the sidewalks on the south side of Summer Street are in very poor condition and hazardous to persons using them; and
Whereas, those sidewalks are highly traveled; now, therefore,
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Be It Resolved, that The Department of Public Works inspects the sidewalks on the south side of Summer Street, estimate the cost of replacing the sidewalks and submit the replacement of those sidewalks as a project to be considered for inclusion in the 2009-10 CIP.
Referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item 7. Letter to Councilor Shamock from Arline J. Dunlop re: absence of a name on the former WWII Veterans Memorial Hospital Building and to name the building The World War II Veterans Memorial Building was referred to Public Works and Parks & Recreation.
Item 8. Claims submitted against the City by Ian Merritt through Atty. Michael J. Auger; Gabby Willette, 89 Heather Heights, Meriden, CT; Andrzey Alicki, 311 Old Mill Road, Middletown, CT; Tracy Cantito, 2 Dannys Way, Wlfd., CT were referred to Legal and Safety & Risk.
Item 15. Golf Course Commission Meeting Minutes of October 27, 2008 were filed with the City Clerk.
Item 16. Meriden Police Department Monthly Report for October 2008 was filed with the City Clerk.
Item 17. Public Utilities Commission Meeting Minutes of October 21, 2008 were filed with the City Clerk.
END OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Item A.
Spirit of Meriden Award
“Thomas McGuire Day”
December 16, 2008
Whereas, each month a Meriden resident is selected that displays community spirit worthy of recognition; and
Whereas, Thomas McGuire, is the recipient of the “Spirit of Meriden” Award for December 15, 2008; and
Whereas, on the day of September 14, 2008, Thomas McGuire demonstrated an act of true selflessness and bravery; and
Whereas, upon hearing screams for help from across the street Tom saw his neighbors sitting on a second-floor roof with smoke coming out of the windows and without thought for h is own safety, Tom grabbed a 20’ ladder from his truck that was parked in his driveway and raised it to the second-floor roofline; and
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Whereas, Tom was then able to help his neighbors escape to safety from the second-floor roof and from the heavy smoke; and
Whereas, neighbors told fire fighters that if not for Tom’s heroics, one of the four people at home when the fire broke out may not have escaped; and
Whereas, Fire Chief James Trainor reported that Tom’s quick actions and strength helped calm a family who felt as if there was no other solution and thereby most likely prevented them from smoke inhalation; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that I, Michael S. Rohde, Mayor of the City of Meriden and the Meriden City Council commend and thank Tom for disregarding a personal danger above and beyond what is normally expected of citizens and do hereby proclaim Tuesday, December 16th, 2008 as “Thomas McGuire Day” in the City of Meriden, to honor Tom as recipient of the Spirit of Meriden Award for December 2008; and
Furthermore, we call upon all citizens, friends and family to publicly thank Thomas McGuire for his exceptional deed and bravery on September 14, 2008.
Dated and Presented, this 15th day of December 2008.
Keith Gordon, made a motion, seconded by Matthew Dominello, to adopt. Mayor Rohde invited Deputy Mayor Dominello and Thomas McGuire to join him in the ellipse where they presented Mr. McGuire with a framed copy of the resolution.
Item 5. Presented by Trevor Thorpe.
Whereas, Congressman Christopher Murphy has requested that the agreement with the City of Meriden to maintain a Congressional District Office at the Senior Center be extended for a further term of two years; and
Whereas, the City has extended this courtesy to previous U.S. Representatives from this Congressional district; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, that Congressman Murphy shall be allowed the use of the office at the Senior Center presently used as the local Congressional district office, and the City Manager is authorized to execute any documents regarding that use on the same terms and conditions as the current agreement for an additional term of two years commencing January 2, 2009.
Keith Gordon, made a motion, seconded by Trevor Thorpe, to adopt. Gordon stated this was removed from the agenda because Matthew Dominello and Hilda Santiago asked to abstain. Motion carried unanimously. Matthew Dominello and Hilda Santiago abstained.
Item 9A. Your Public Works and Parks & Recreation Committee, to whom was referred a resolution on 12/1/08 concerning Federal Transit Enhancement Grant to purchase and install a
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new bus shelter at Research Parkway and Murdock Avenue report that they have attended to the matter and recommend adoption.
Committee: David J. Salafia, Chairperson; Brian F. Kogut, Vice-Chairman; Walter Shamock; John J. Thorp; Dante’ Bartolomeo.
David Salafia, made a motion, seconded by Brian Kogut, to adopt. Salafia explained that the bus shelter was destroyed by an unknown vehicle in August of 2001. The City applied for a Federal Transit Grant which we received and deferred to Councilor Kogut for the details of the fiscal impact of this. Kogut stated this is actually an 80/20 cost share so the total cost is $18, 350, the city’s share being $3,760. Rohde asked when the work would be completed. Salafia stated we’d have to hear from the Public Works Department. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 9B. Your Public Works and Parks & Recreation Committee, to whom was referred a letter to Mayor Rohde from Winton R. Filipek on 11/7/08 concerning the possible naming of a tennis court after his late father, Winton R. Filipek, Sr. report that they have attended to the matter and recommend referral to the Public Lands and Renaming Committee.
Committee: David J. Salafia, Chairperson; Brian F. Kogut, Vice-Chairman; Walter Shamock; John J. Thorp; Dante’ Bartolomeo.
David Salafia, made a motion, seconded by Brian Kogut, to adopt and refer to the Public Lands and Renaming Committee. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 10A. Your Finance Committee, to whom was referred a resolution concerning Federal Transit Enhancement Grant to purchase and install a new bus shelter on Research Parkway on 12/1/08, report that they have attended to the matter and recommend adoption.
Committee: Brian F. Kogut, Chairman; Keith Gordon, Vice-Chairman; George E. McGoldrick; Walter A. Shamock; John J. Thorp.
Brian Kogut, made a motion, seconded by Keith Gordon, to adopt. Kogut stated this is the same item we just approved. This is the Finance Committee’s report also recommending it. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 10B. Your Finance Committee, to whom was referred a resolution concerning City Manager Kendzior be authorized to sign any and all documents for grant from the CT Dept of Transportation in an amount not to exceed $114,059 under the 2008 CT Clean Fuel Program on 12/1/08, report that they have attended to the matter and recommend adoption.
Committee: Brian F. Kogut, Chairman; Keith Gordon, Vice-Chairman; George E. McGoldrick; Walter A. Shamock; John J. Thorp.
Brian Kogut, made a motion, seconded by Keith Gordon, to adopt. Kogut stated this is a grant application and it does not bind the City. If we are in fact awarded the grant it will come back to
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us and then we can decide at that point in time if we want to move forward with it. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 10C. Your Finance Committee, to whom was referred a resolution concerning an appropriation not to exceed $3,500 from Contingency Fund for rail guide contractor to furnish and install a new metal beam guide rail, remove damaged guide rail and install a bottom guide rail to increase structural stability at entrance/exit to Giuffrida Drive on 12/1/08 report that they have attended to the matter and recommend adoption.
Committee: Brian F. Kogut, Chairman; Keith Gordon, Vice-Chairman; George E. McGoldrick; Walter A. Shamock; John J. Thorp.
Brian Kogut, made a motion, seconded by Keith Gordon, to adopt. Kogut stated this is the guide rail outside of Giuffrida Park. It has been hit several times and has been severely damaged so this will actually replace the one that is there. The cost is $3,500 and the source of funding is the Contingency Fund. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 10D. Your Finance Committee, to whom was referred a resolution concerning City Council will match funds up to $1500 to assist Jack Barry Little League officials in the coordination and implementation of a 2009 season fund raising event on 11/17/08, report that they have attended to the matter and recommend adoption.
Committee: Brian F. Kogut, Chairman; Keith Gordon, Vice-Chairman; George E. McGoldrick; Walter A. Shamock; John J. Thorp.
Brian Kogut, made a motion, seconded by Keith Gordon, to adopt. Kogut stated as we know Jack Barry Little League has had a significant problem with flooding over the past couple of months. Their concession stand was damaged. The estimated cost is around $3000. Councilor Bartolomeo has actually been working with them and they put forward a proposal to do a fund raiser and this would actually match them dollar for dollar up to $1500.
Bartolomeo stated the fields have sustained a lot of damage from flooding and drainage issues and the City is working diligently to try and resolve those issues. The urgency behind this is that this spring is their 60th anniversary. The loss of equipment and food is estimated to be $3000. On January 24th there is going to be a 60th anniversary combination flood disaster recovery fund raiser. Our hope is that this resolution would mean if they raise $1500 and the city puts in $1500 they are at their $3000 which is the loss incurred by the concession stand. We’re not stopping there as we are still working on the fields but this is geared toward the concession stand losses.
Shamock stated he is in favor of the $1500 with the City matching funds. At the Finance Committee meeting he had questioned if there was any money forthcoming from the insurance that the Little League field had and doesn’t know if any research was done on that.
Kendzior stated a claim was made by the league which is still being investigated by our insurance company.
Rohde stated he is also in favor of this resolution. It is a good example of the City partnering with non-profit organizations. Jack Barry League does a great program for inner city kids primarily and they have had some real difficult times this year with the flooding and all the
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damage there. It is our chance to partner with them and they are doing their part and we’re going to do ours. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 10E. Your Finance Committee, to whom was referred a resolution concerning agreement from Covanta Projects of Wallingford for “Municipal Solid Waste Disposal” on 10/6/08, report that they have attend to the matter and recommend the following:
Committee: Brian F. Kogut, Chairman; Keith Gordon, Vice-Chairman; George E. McGoldrick; Walter A. Shamock; John J. Thorp.
Be It Ordered: To approve a Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Agreement with Covanta, substantially in the form of the Agreement dated December 2, 2008; and
Be It Further Ordered, that the City Manager be authorized to execute any and all documents attendant thereto.
Brian Kogut, made a motion, seconded by Keith Gordon, to adopt. Kogut stated about 20 years ago the City entered into an agreement with CRRA for disposal of our solid municipal waste. That agreement is currently scheduled to expire in 2010. Now while our contract is actually with CRRA there was a joint agreement between CRRA and Covanta which is actually the operator of the plant. What those agreements stated was at the end of the 20 year period there would be an option for CRRA to purchase that plant at fair market value or it would revert back to Covanta for the sum of $1. In light of the fact that this agreement is terminating the city went out and got proposals from both CRRA and Covanta. The agreement that we are actually recommending and is before you this evening is the
Covanta proposal. We certainly felt that was a better proposal between the two. In terms of highlights, the tip fee under the Covanta will start out at $65 per ton. The CRRA proposal will range anywhere from $63.99 to $100.77. The reason there is such a big range is they don’t actually know what the price of the plant will be because the mechanism in the agreement states that CRRA will get an appraisal, Covanta will get an appraisal and they will get a third appraisal and they’ll be averaged out. We have no way to quantify exactly what that cost would be. Best estimates are that CRRA would start somewhere around $67.45 which in fact is higher than the Covanta proposal. The Covanta proposal is a 10 year agreement with two five year extensions and those extensions are at the option of the city. If in fact we found a better deal someplace we would not need to extend those. The CRRA proposal is a straight 20 years.
There are a lot of other things in the agreement. There is a document that the City Manager did comparing both proposals and is really quite extensive at over 80 pages. In terms of the towns participating Cheshire has already recommended this as has Hamden. The town of Wallingford is voting on it tomorrow night, we’re voting on it tonight, and North Haven is also voting on it tonight. Based on what is contained in these agreements, clearly from the City’s perspective the Covanta proposal is the better one. Again, there are agreements between Covanta and CRRA so it is possible that CRRA might exercise their option and purchase the plant. They wouldn’t have any customers for it so I don’t know why they would necessarily do that but that is something that is out of our hands at the present time. Kogut thanked the staff for their hard work on this, both the staff in the City of Meriden and the staff from the other
towns. There was a tremendous amount of analysis that had to be done, a tremendous amount of negotiation. The towns had been meeting as a group for several months, negotiating for several months and doing everything
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possible to make these agreements as best they could be for both towns. I will also say under the Covanta proposal the tonnage that we actually have to promise them is much lower than under the CRRA proposal. The Covanta proposal also has a provision whereby the participating towns have what is commonly referred to “most favored nation” status. They can’t actually go out and give someone a better price than us. We will always be paying the lowest amount.
Dominello asked if CRRA might purchase Covanta. Kogut stated when the burn plant was built 20 years ago there was an agreement set in place whereby at the end of the 20 year term it would either revert to Covanta for the sum of one dollar or CRRA would have the option to purchase it at the fair market value. Dominello asked if they were going to purchase it and Kogut stated there is a possibility. Dominello asked if that did happen would our contract with Covanta because we are going to be with them, if it would effect our price. Kogut stated there are stipulations in here where actually it would null and void this and this would come back for negotiating and the city would have to look at various options. Kogut stated as you look at the two proposals it is in the five community’s best
interest to go with the Covanta offer. CRRA is a quasi public corporation that in fact is supposed to have the citizens and the community’s best interest. It is not in our best interest for them to go forward and purchase that plant. He hopes they would not do that. The five towns have gotten together and sent a letter to CRRA to that effect.
McGoldrick stated since this is a regional effort. All five towns have gotten together and have decided individually that this Covanta proposal better serves the needs of all five towns. He feels that is an important aspect of this and it made the negotiating more difficult and staff definitely deserves credit for working that through.
John Thorp stated during public comment one of the citizens brought up a question concerning any safeguards we have in place in case Covanta was to fail or no longer able to receive our trash during the course of our agreement. Thorp wanted the City Manager to discuss briefly some of the safeguards that we have in the contract with Covanta.
Kendzior stated the contract gives the City the right to terminate if Covanta is unable to fill its obligations, particularly the obligation to accept our trash. There are notices that are required, there is a period for them to cure their default but if they are not able to do that within the time in the agreement we would be able to terminate the agreement and make other arrangements.
Rohde stated this has been a protracted issue for sometime. The City Manager and the staff put in a tremendous amount of time into this because as has been said this is a regional effort which means you have to get five towns to agree on something. As we know regionalization is not something that has been a strong suit of New England. This sets a good example that shows that we can in fact work across our boundaries to do something that is mutually advantageous. Congratulations to the committee who vetted this and to the City Manager and staff for negotiating this agreement. Motion carried unanimously.
Item 11. No report from Economic Development, Housing & Zoning.
Item 12. No report from Public Safety.
Item 13. No report from Human Services.
Item 14. No report from Committee of the Whole.
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There being nothing further to be brought before the Council, Mayor Rohde entertained a motion to adjourn. A motion was made by Keith Gordon, seconded by Walter Shamock, and carried unanimously, to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Lori N. Canney
Clerk of the City Council
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