CITY OF GROTON MAYOR AND COUNCIL DRAFT MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2010

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1 CITY OF GROTON MAYOR AND COUNCIL DRAFT TUESDAY, MUNICIPAL BUILDING COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:30 PM Mayor Popp called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. I. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Dennis Popp, Deputy Mayor Marian Galbraith, Councilors David Hale, Celeste Duffy, Keith Hedrick, William Jervis, Finance Director Michael Hillsberg and City Clerk Debra Patrick. Excused: Councilor Lisa M. Luck and Treasurer Janice Waller-Brett. II. III. IV. SALUTE TO THE FLAG Led by Mayor Popp. RECOGNITION, AWARDS AND MEMORIALS RECEIPT OF CITIZEN S PETITIONS/COMMENTS V. RESPOND TO CITIZEN S PETITIONS/COMMENTS VI. APPROVAL OF Councilor Hale moved Deputy Mayor Galbraith seconded a motion to approve the February 1, 2010 Mayor and Council minutes. Motion carried. Deputy Mayor Galbraith moved Councilor Hale seconded a motion to approve the February 8, 2010 Special Committee of the Whole minutes. Motion carried. VII. COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS Councilor Hale had no report. Councilor Jervis said he took a second tour of the PAF and is very impressed with the work they do there. He said he took the second tour to have additional questions answered and was very pleased that they made sure he had all the answers he needed. He said the facility is a real asset to the City. Councilor Hedrick said he too went on a tour of the PAF and he is very impressed with the work they do and said they take great pride in the facility. Mayor Popp said that we are 1 of only 8 communities left in Connecticut that the sewers are covered with our taxes. Councilor Hedrick wished his wife a happy anniversary. He said it is their 19 th wedding anniversary. He received congratulations from all. Councilor Duffy had no report.

2 Deputy Mayor Galbraith attended the City Cabaret concert February 7 th and is looking forward to the next one on March 7 th. She said she received a communication from a man regarding the Trails Pond behind the now demolished Electric Boat building on Poquonnock Road. She asked Mayor Popp if this area was part of the City or the Town. Mayor Popp said he believes it is in the Town. There was some discussion on where the water from that pond drains to. Mayor Popp said he attended the Pack 41 Blue and Gold Banquet. He distributed copies of invitations to the Councilors from Pfizer for tours of the Groton laboratories in July. He asked them to RSVP to his secretary. He distributed photos he took of the generators in Lebanon that CMEEC installed as part of the 50 MW in 5 years initiative. He said there will be 3 sites in Groton for them and the only site that the City will have any jurisdiction is at the Groton Utilities Operations Building complex on Poquonnock Road where CMEEC will lease the site. There was discussion regarding the size and possible noise levels of the generators and what could be done to camouflage them so they won t be visible from the street. Everyone was in agreement that they would be an eyesore. There was further discussion regarding what, if anything, the City can do to when negotiating the lease, how often the generators might run and what benefit there is to the City to have it on City property. City Clerk Patrick read a communication from Councilor Luck thanking the following Firefighters Alan Van Lew, Mark Wickerd, Scott Swift, Volunteer Tom Moriarty and Fire Police Louis Baton, Police Officer Katie Ellis and Corporal Fred Goncalves. They all responded when she called for assistance when her furnace malfunctioned the evening of February 4 th and the early morning hours of February 5 th. She also thanked Building Official Carl Smith who was called to the scene. VIII. COMMITTEE REFERRALS IX. NEW BUSINESS R RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY APPROVE AND RATIFY A GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE SAME ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF GROTON WHEREAS, the City of Groton agrees with the terms of the General Release Agreement THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby approve and ratify a General Release Agreement and authorize the Mayor to execute the same on behalf of the City of Groton. Councilor Hale moved Councilor Jervis seconded a motion to approve R Mayor Popp said Attorney Mike Rose was here to answer any questions the Councilors might have. There was some discussion that the questions should be asked during an executive session. Councilor Hale withdrew his motion and Councilor Jervis withdrew his second. 2

3 Councilor Duffy moved Deputy Mayor Galbraith seconded a motion to change the order of business to move R up on the agenda. Motion carried. R RESOLUTION THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE THE CITY OF GROTON TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MILONE AND MACBROOM, INCORPORATED 99 REALTY DRIVE, CHESIRE, CONNECTICUT FOR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUAL SERVICES TO INCLUDE A CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE COSTA PROPERTY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6, (SIX THOUSAND, SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS AND NO CENTS) TO BE PAID FROM CONTINGENCY FUNDS WHEREAS, Milone and MacBroom, Incorporated had previously provided the City of Groton with three (3) conceptual sketches for the property located on Thames Street known as the Costa Property; and WHEREAS, the Costa Property Committee has selected a conceptual design for the property that will provide for the most advantageous use of the property; and WHEREAS, Milone and MacBroom, Incorporated will refine and render the concept plans, including incorporating improvements to the retaining wall supporting Thames Street and provide order of magnitude cost estimates for the final concept plan; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council authorize and approve the City of Groton to enter into a contact with Milone and MacBroom, Incorporated, 99 Realty Drive, Chesire, Connecticut for landscape architectural services to include a conceptual design for the Costa Property in an amount not to exceed $6, (Six Thousand, Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars and No Cents) to be paid from Contingency Funds. Councilor Hale moved Councilor Duffy seconded a motion to approve R Councilor Duffy said that after more than 2 years of cleaning up the property, taking down the building that were no longer viable and careful deliberation on what the property should be used for the committee agreed to one of the conceptual sketches that would allow for passive recreation. City Planner Barbara Goodrich had a copy of the conceptual sketch to go over with the Councilors. There was discussion regarding the deterioration of the retaining walls and what, if any, impact this work would have on the Thames Street plans. There was discussion on the drainage, access and costs. Motion carried. 3

4 R RESOLUTION THAT THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AUTHORIZE AND APPROVE THE CITY OF GROTON TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR A POLICE DEPARTMENT SPACE NEEDS ASSESSMENT WITH THE LAWRENCE ASSOCIATES, 1075 TOLLAND TURNPIKE, MANCHESTER, CONNECTICUT FOR A TOTAL PRICE OF $12, (TWELVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS AND NO CENTS) TO BE PAID CONTINGENCY FUNDS WHEREAS, the City of Groton recognizes that the facilities of the City of Groton Police Department are dated and pose safety concerns for police officers, staff, prisoners and persons having business within Police Headquarters; and WHEREAS, the City Purchasing Agent obtained bids based on the specifications developed through the Request for Proposal process; and WHEREAS, the three (3) low bidders offered presentations and were interviewed by a panel consisting of the Mayor, Finance Director and Police Chief; and WHEREAS, the bid from The Lawrence Associates, 1075 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, Connecticut was the lowest; and WHEREAS, the City Purchasing Agent recommends this project; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council authorize and approve the City of Groton to enter into a contract for a Police Department space needs assessment with The Lawrence Associates, 1075 Tolland Turnpike, Manchester, Connecticut for a total price of $12, (Twelve Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars and No Cents) to be paid from Contingency Funds. Deputy Mayor Galbraith moved Councilor Hale seconded a motion to approve R Mayor Popp said the 3 lowest bidders were interviewed and this firm meets all the requirements and comes with excellent references and experience. Motion carried. X. POSSIBLE EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilor Duffy moved Deputy Mayor Galbraith seconded a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues to include Attorney Mike Rose. Motion carried. Executive Session commenced at 8:10 p.m. Deputy Mayor Galbraith moved Councilor Duffy seconded a motion to exit Executive Session. Motion carried. Executive Session ended at 8:26 p.m. 4

5 R RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HEREBY APPROVE AND RATIFY A GENERAL RELEASE AGREEMENT AND AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE THE SAME ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF GROTON WHEREAS, the City of Groton agrees with the terms of the General Release Agreement THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby approve and ratify a General Release Agreement and authorize the Mayor to execute the same on behalf of the City of Groton. Councilor Hale moved Councilor Jervis seconded a motion to approve R Motion carried. Deputy Mayor Galbraith moved Councilor Duffy seconded a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss real estate. Motion carried. Executive Session commenced at 8: 33 p.m. Councilor Hale moved Councilor Duffy seconded a motion to exit Executive Session. Motion carried. Executive Session ended at 8:42 p.m. XI. XII. COMMENTS FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNMENT Councilor Hale moved Councilor Hedrick seconded a motion to adjourn. Motion carried. Mayor Popp adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: Debra Patrick City Clerk 5