JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH FEBRUARY 18, 2014

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1 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Norwich was held February 18, 2014 at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Aldermen Desaulniers, Noblick, Eyberse, Bettencourt, Nash and Mayor Hinchey. City Manager Bergren and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Ald. Wilson was absent. Mayor Hinchey presided. Ald. Bettencourt read the opening prayer and Ald. Noblick led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Hinchey called for citizen comment. Barry Ellison, Director of Norwich Public Works, stated the original snow budget was $360,000 and now at $420,000 before today s storm. This is 20% over budget. There is no danger of running out of salt with six more weeks of winter. Mark Cook, 62 Gulliver Circle, spoke in support of the education budget stating that the project s the City is doing is not more important than the Norwich Public School budget. Stated it is our duty (the City) to provide funding for the best education of our children. Michael Kaiser, 17 Harland Rd, asked for funding for the education budget. He stated he has five children and has seen the services and opportunities decrease from his older children to his young children. He asked to make education a priority. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St, stated the GDP has been growing and the downtown emptied with the revaluation increase in The power to tax is the power to destroy. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave, please with the Mayors secretary, appreciated the web site being cleaned up also asked if there can be individual pictures of the Council members on the web site. Respected the previous speakers about the education budget but stated it shouldn t be the only thing examined. Asked how many vacant housing units are available. John Blackburn, 10 Alice St, talked about the education budget going up and how his salary hasn t been increased since He stated 5% is unacceptable. Mayor Hinchey declared citizen comment closed. Upon a motion of President Pro Tem Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to accept the letter of resignation of Martin C. Shapiro from the Police Station Committee with regrets and thanked him for his services. Upon a motion of Ald. Bettencourt, seconded by Ald. Noblick it was unanimously voted to accept the report from NCDC for the Comprehensive Plan Update. City Manager Alan Bergren gave his report as followed: 1

2 DATE: February 18, 2014 TO: Mayor Deberey Hinchey & Council Members FROM: Alan H. Bergren, City Manager SUBJECT: City Manager s Report 1. Proposed Technology Bond The most critical projects that the City would begin to be able to address with the proposed technology bond would be: City department-wide (Police, Fire, Public Works, City Hall, Human Services, Planning, Community Development, Senior Center, Recreation) centralization and tie-in of the telephone system, ISP and to be delivered over Norwich Public Utilities fiber-optic network. (approximately $360,000) Upgrade servers and a reduction in the number of multiple individual servers to a few. This will enable ease of future upgrading and servicing of systems and potentially reduce the need for additional IT staff to maintain and service the City systems. (approximately $250,000) The remaining amount of the bond (approximately $190,000) would be used towards a draft list of other technology upgrades which will be prioritized and dependent on cost. This could include security upgrades for the Police Department, cameras and tablets in cruisers and Building Department software updates. Having the technology bond in place would enable the City to begin work on some of these most critical needs right away and then seek other funding strategies; such as grants or future capital budgets for other projects over time. 2. Public Works Public Works crews, with assistance from the Police and NPU, will be removing snow from the downtown and other narrow City streets beginning tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. They will continue this effort through at least Friday, and perhaps beyond if conditions warrant. Tomorrow one crew will begin on Broad Street by NFA and the other at Courthouse Square. 3. Quarterly Departmental Reports Attached, for your perusal, are the second quarter reports for FY Please take the time to review said reports and advise me if you require additional information or would like any special presentations by our departments or agencies. 4. Volunteers Needed! There are currently alternate and regular member vacancies on the following Council appointed Boards/Committees/Commissions: Baseball Stadium Authority, Building Code Board of Appeals, Commission on the City Plan, Ethics Commission, Personnel & Pension Board, Volunteer Fire Fighter Relief Fund, Rehab Review Committee & the Senior Affairs Commission. For more information, minutes from past meetings, specific qualifications (if any) and to fill out an application, please visit the City s website, or call the Mayor s office at (860) In addition to any Board specific qualifications, volunteers must be current on taxes and resident electors of the City. 5. Citizen Charter Input 2

3 Citizens can go to the City s website at to submit suggestions or ask questions on charter revision. The organizational meeting of the Charter Revision Commission was held on January 22, The public hearing is scheduled for Thursday February 13, 2014 at 6:30PM in Room 335 at City Hall. 3

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19 Mayor Hinchey called for citizen comment. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St spoke in opposition to resolution # 7 stating fees paid to outside contractors for their expertise in a particular field is the definition of Professional Services. He stated the budget dictates the rules for hiring agencies. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave, talked about the appointments and setting term limits. She was concerned about NCDC and how much the city tends to point there way. Mayor Hinchey declared citizen comment closed. Upon a motion of Ald. Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Bettencourt, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Hinchey and President Pro Tem Desaulniers. BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be re-appointed as regular members of the Commission on the City Plan with a term to expire on February 29, 2016 or until a successor is appointed: Les B. King (R) P. Michael Lahan (D) Ralph Page (D) Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Hinchey and President Pro Tem Desaulniers. BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be re-appointed as regular members of the Norwich Baseball Stadium Authority with a term to expire on October 31, 2015 or until a successor is appointed: Gary Carignan (D) Thomas L. Cummings (D) Robert Demars (R) Michael E. Jewell Sr. (D) Sean Ryan (D) Gary Schnip (R) Peter Slocum (U) Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Hinchey and President Pro Tem Desaulniers. BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be re-appointed as regular members of the Recreation Advisory Board with a term to expire on March 14, 2015 or until a successor is appointed: John Iovino (D) Robert Spayne (D) Raymond Stewart (D) 19

20 Upon a motion of Ald. Eyberse, seconded by Ald. Noblick, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Hinchey and President Pro Tem Desaulniers. BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be re-appointed as regular members of the Senior Affairs Commission with a term to expire on September 1, 2015 or until a successor is appointed: Margaret M. Aldrich (R) Genevieve S. Bergendahl (D) Olive J. Buddington (D) P. Michael Lahan (D) Jacquelyn W. Randall (D) Upon a motion of Ald. Nash, seconded by President Pro Tem Desaulniers, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Hinchey and President Pro Tem Desaulniers. BE IT RESOLVED that the below named be re-appointed as regular members of the Southeastern CT Regional Resource Recover Authority with a term to expire on December 31, 2016 or until a successor is appointed: Barry Ellison Patrick McLaughlin (Alternate) Upon a motion of Ald. Noblick, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Hinchey. WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich, by resolution adopted October 21, 2013, provided, pursuant to Section of the Connecticut General Statutes, that voting precinct 5 be divided into two voting precincts to be known as precinct 5 and precinct 6, recognizing that the Registrar of Voters would identify one or more suitable polling places within precinct 5 and precinct 6 and seek the approval of the Council to utilize the same; and WHEREAS, the Registrars of Voters have identified St. Mark s Lutheran Church at 248 Broadway as a suitable polling place within precinct 5 and properties of AHEPA 110, Inc. located at 380 Hamilton Avenue as a suitable polling place in precinct 6 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the St. Mark s Lutheran Church at 248 Broadway be designated as the polling place for precinct 5 and the property of AHEPA 110, Inc. located at 380 Hamilton Avenue be designated as the polling place for precinct 6. Upon a motion of Ald. Noblick, seconded by Ald. Desaulniers, it was unanimously voted to adopt the following resolution introduced by Mayor Hinchey and President Pro Tem Desaulniers. 20

21 WHEREAS, Connecticut General Statute 8 23 requires municipalities to prepare or amend and adopt a plan of conservation and development for the municipality at least once every ten years, establishing parameters to be considered in preparing the plan and items to be included in the plan; and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich is to prepare a Comprehensive Plan Update as part of its review of the Plan of Conservation and Development; and WHEREAS, the Norwich Community Development Corporation through its present staffing, has the technical expertise to prepare a Comprehensive Plan Update and has offered to do so for the City of Norwich; and WHEREAS, said Comprehensive Plan Update would provide the following: Provide timeline and tasks Assist with creating Steering Committee Analysis of existing zoning ordinance and map Recommend amendments and/or deletions/corrections Facilitate meetings with Steering Committee and other stakeholders (City Council, City Commissions & Agencies, Public) Facilitate required public hearings on drafts Prepare materials/presentations for meetings Prepare final zoning ordinance document & map Facilitate adoption Coordinate printing & distribution; and WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Norwich finds that the Norwich Community Development Corporation, as the longtime development agency for the City of Norwich, designated such pursuant to Connecticut General Statute 8 188, is uniquely positioned to perform this service for the City of Norwich consistent with the development goals of the City of Norwich; and WHEREAS, the Norwich Community Development Corporation has proposed to perform a Comprehensive Plan Update for an estimated fee of $50,000; and WHEREAS, the City of Norwich has set aside funds for a Comprehensive Plan Update NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the sum of $ 50,000 be and hereby is appropriated for purposes of a Comprehensive Plan Update, $4,000 from account and $46,000 from account BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH that the Norwich Community Development Corporation be selected, subject to it remaining qualified, capable, and competent to perform the Comprehensive Plan Update, to provide a Comprehensive Plan Update for the City of Norwich and that City Manager Alan H. Bergren be and hereby is authorized and directed to enter into an agreement satisfactory to him retaining the Norwich Community Development Corporation, 21

22 subject to the terms and conditions described herein, to prepare a Comprehensive Plan Update for the City of Norwich at a cost not to exceed $50,000. Upon motion of Ald. Noblick, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to schedule a public hearing, second reading and action on March 3, 2014 for the following ordinance introduced by Mayor Hinchey. 22

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25 Upon a motion by Ald. Noblick, second by Ald. Eyberse, it was unanimously voted to go into Executive Session pursuant to Connecticut General Statute Section 1-200, for the purpose of discussing strategy and negotiation with respect to pending litigation. City Manager Alan H. Bergren shall be asked to participate during all or portions of this Executive Session at the request of the City Council. 25

26 The council was in Executive Session from 7:20 PM to 7:40 PM, at which time Mayor Hinchey, stated no votes were taken. Upon a motion by Ald. Noblick, seconded by Ald. Nash it was unanimously voted to reconvene. Upon motion to President Pro Tem Desaulniers, seconded by Ald. Nash, it was unanimously voted to adjourn at 7:41 pm. CITY CLERK 26