1983/01/10 MINUTES
EXECUTIVE BOARD
January 10, 1983
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Mayor Thomas W. Ward, Jr.
Deputy Mayor William F. McKeon was present. Also present: Horace VanDorn,
Allen Smith and Livio Dottor, Berlin's representatives to The Mattabassett
District. At 8:30 P.M. Morgan Seelye, Director of Public Works,
Donald Prue, Highway Superintendent; Richard Russell, Superintendent of
Public Buildings. At 9:15 P.M. Police Chief William Scalise, Capt.
Gerald Charamut; Mrs. Mildred Caccavale, Foster Rackliffe, Richard
Benson, Angelo Barcella and Samuel Valenti, members of the Police
Commission; Edward Haber, Chief Mechanic
The Mayor said he invited Messrs. VanDorn, Smith and Dottor to what
will be an annual meeting to discuss where we are going with the
Mattabassett and what increases we will be looking at. Mr. VanDorn said
they have not had their budget meeting as yet. The figures in the
Water Control proposed budget are guesstimates. He will advise us
of the exact figures when known. The Mayor asked the timetable on
the plant. Mr. VanDorn said bids will go out in a month and a half
with two years to completion. The price started at $22,000,000; now
it's up to $30,000,000. They hope to come in for somewhere around
$26,000,000. Mr. McKeon said this should be a good time to go out.
Mr. VanDorn explained they will be getting a new accounting system
with this suitable for data processing by computer. We are talking
somewhere 1985-86 for the plant to be operational. There will be a
shutdown of the incinerator for three to four months. They are making
arrangements to carry the sludge to another landfill. The Mayor asked
when the plant becomes operational, what happens to the bills; are we
putting in equipment that will require more electronic manpower.
Mr. VanDorn said it will be mostly retention of present equipment; they
will be rebuilding a lot of the building.
Mayor Ward asked if they are planning to continue with the incinerator.
Mr. VanDorn said we would be out of our minds if we let anyone talk
them out of it. The Mayor asked if there are plans to use the steam
for heat. Mr. VanDorn said no, they burn oil. The amount of equipment
necessary to reclaim the steam would be more than what the oil costs.
Mr. Smith said we are looking at more flow coming into the plant which
would reduce the cost to the town with the new Aetna.
The Mayor asked what happens to the operation of the plant assuming
the garbage remains the same. Mr. VanDorn said Cahn Engineers told
them they will need 17 additional employees. The Mayor asked if this
plant is going to be more technical. Mr. VanDorn said less. There
will be less use of chemicals mostly because the industrial waste
is out as every industry has put in their own treatment plant.
Mr. McKeon asked how long the plant will last? Mr. VanDorn said the
present plant was designed to the year 2010; we are not increasing the
capacity of the plant. Mayor Ward asked if the water quality will
improve. Mr. VanDorn said yes, definitely.
Executive Board Minutes
January 10, 1983
-2-
Mr. VanDorn said they have not chosen someone to replace Atty. Gaffney;
they will meet next Monday and narrow it down to three people. Mr. Smith
said if anyone is interested he should submit a resume by Monday.
Mr. VanDorn said it might not be a job too many lawyers are interested in.
Mr. VanDorn reported they are not too far apart on the Arri~oni property;
they will have the test holes drilled; it will be just a temporary
holding area for the ash.
It was noted Cah~ Engineers are the prime engineers on the plant
project with Metcalf & Eddy on the treatment end. Mr. VanDorn reported
there are on-site inspections all the time; they are pretty severe.
Cahn may hire the inspectors but Metcalf & Eddy will have the last say.
Messrs. VanDorn, Smith and Dottor left the meeting at 8:30 P.M.
Messrs. Seelye, Prue and Russell appeared to discuss the Capital
Equipment requested in their 1983-84 budget proposal.
Mayor Ward said Mr. Seelye has mentioned the possibility of purchasing
one piece of equipment which will do the job of a payloader and a
backhoe both of which were requested for replacement in the proposed
budget. The payloader was in the five year capital equipment replace-
ment plan and the backhoe is due in the 1983-84 budget. Mr. Seelye
said we felt we could combine them into one machine that will do both
jobJ. The City of Bristol has a large one and Plainville has the
same one they are proposing. It is a versatile piece of machinery.
for $1t0,000 versus $150,000 for two separate pieces. W.I. Clark of
Wallingford is the Dynahoe distributor. They could get about $5,000
for the backhoe and less than $1,000 for the payloader in trade-in.
The other payloader which is a '72 may last another five years with
this new piece of equipment. Mr. Seelye said the best thing to do
is get two separate machines but this is a compromise. Priority order:
#1 replace dump truck which is a '71 or '72, over 85,000 miles
#2 Dynahoe Perhaps we should look into Rusty Jones instead of Ziebart.
#3 replace '69 pickup truck
#4 new 1-2 ton roller to do small patches and could go out with the
patch crew.
#5 replace curb machine which is 13 years old; they have replaced parts
.along the way.
#6 new pickup bumper winch & hoist for truck 40, very versatile, Reese
hitch on it, power winch.
#7 Car, Highway Superintendent; present vehicle is not fuel efficient;
!
we would be happy with a used car. The old green nurses car is in
the worse mechanical shape.
#8&9 brush cutter and chain saw. Last year they got one good brush
cutter instead of one of each. They need a 2' or 3' blade on the saw.
They do a lot of trimming of trees where it doesn't interfer with
power lines during storm emergencies.
#10 replace two snow plows; they do not have any spares. There are about
four or five manufacturers so we can get a good idea of cost.
#11 new 3-5 ton floor jack. The one they have is ten years old. Now
they drag the plows around from one side to the other. It would pay
for itself in one year in wasted time.
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January 10, 1983
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#12 new pickup body liner for Truck 40 which will protect the truck
from salt damage. The truck is a 1980.
#13 replace highway base station. It's a 1957-58 and there are no
parts available for repairs.
#14 four drawer file cabinet for Mr. Prue
Mr. Russell appeared to discuss his capital equipment requests.
Mayor Ward said the work requested for Timberlin Pro Shop will have
to be addressed this spring to have it ready for the start of the
season. He is requesting replacement of one of three heating and
cooling units with a heat pump. Mr. Russell presented an estimate
to replace in part or total the McGee School roof and total replacement
of the Willard School roof. Total replacement of both is estimated
at $450,000. McGee School is fourteen years old and Willard School
is twenty-eight years old. Mr. Russell said you can't always blame
the materials; it is a combination of workmanship.
The Police Commission, Chief Scalise, Capt. Charamut and Edward Haber
appeared to discuss the proposal from Motorola Communications for
a ten bay, two operator position console. It is a warning system and
a printer. The radio sets off a particular signal and it logs the time
of the call and the time the officer responds. The Chief said we haven't
had any reason to believe our time signals are not accurate; we have
had excellent response time. This would definitely verify the response
time.
Mr. Haber said presently we are leasing telephone lines for the sirens
and the equipment is antiquated. With this the dispatcher will set off
the individual sirens in the station and it will eliminate telephone lines
The system can also unlock any system that you want to tie into it;
the gas pumps, etc. Capt. Charamut said we could get a third frequency
that will allow the firemen to talk when they arrive at the firehouse
which would eliminate the telephone lines. They understand SNETCO
is getting out of the business.
Capt. Charamut said the system is capable of replacing the Sonitrol
Security System with a radio alarm device. Mr. Russell said he would
have to determine what he now pays Sonitrol and what we are paying
for the telephone lines. He asked if there would be any temperature
or humidity requirement with this system. Capt. Charamut said the
equipment will be going in the radio room He said they need the
equipment on pages one and two of the proposal desperately. They
have a service contract on the equipment now which carries over to
any new equipment~
Mayor Ward asked what a figure may be on a bid basis. Capt. Charamut
said these prices are list;based on our present ekperience it would be
about 75% of this figure. There are only two other companies that
handle this type of system--General Electric and RCA. Most of the
equipment we have now is Motorola; the Rafs System is General Electric
and some changes would have to be made to make this acceptable to the
system. The Mayor asked if he feels he could get the package for $100,000
Capt. Charamut said he feels if we are talking a package they will talk
a better price.
Executive Board Minutes
January 10, 1983
-4-
The life expectancy is eight to ten years; the console is new, they
have just come out with it. We could possibly get more with maintenance.
When asked about the cameras downstairs, Capt. Charamut said they last
about five years before they burn out. The cameras in the hall and at
the back door are on all the time; the cell cameras are not left on
unless they have a prisoner.
Capt. Charamut suggested this system be considered public safety
equipment for the Town, not to be tied to one particular department's
budget. It is a communication package that will serve the Police,
ambulance, firemen, highway, public works and building departments.
The Mayor said if he can get it in the budget, he doesn't care where
it goes. He said he is well aware of the communications problems
they are experiencing.
The Commission reviewed its capital requests for the 1983-84 budget,
in priority order:
#1 Walkie Talkies (7)
#2 Cruisers - 3 new, 2 rebuilt. They plan to dispose of #21, #26 and
the truck.
#3 Gas masks - supernumeraries do not have any to use now.
#4 Color photo lab
#5 IBM typewriter in lieu of the IBM display system
#6 Accident Investigation Camera
#7 Fingerprint Camera
#8 Centerline Street Markings - this is a contract at $200 per mile.
Chief Scalise said a comparable town to Berlin has a budget of $939,000
with 35 policemen and we have been giving better service. We have had
close to 15,000 calls and we cannot handle them with less than a full
complement. The Mayor said the most difficult thing is the public
attitude relating to service. If they feel there is fat in government,
they will vote against it.
There being no further business with the Police Commission, they
left the meeting.
The Mayor presented a resolution for approval and subsequent call to
Town Meeting on the application to the Department of Human Resources
for funding of the proposed Senior Center at the former Percival School.
This resolution has been reviewed by Corporation Counsel and has been
found to be in order. On motion by Mr. Ward, seconded by Mr. McKeon,
it was voted to approve and place on the call for Town Meeting the
resolution as presented by Mrs. Geary authorizing the Mayor to execute
and file application in an amount not to exceed $400,000 with the
Commissioner of Human Resources in order to underCake a program of
Neighborhood Facilities-Senior Center. MOTION CARRIED.
On motion by Mr. McKeon, seconded by Mr. Ward, it was voted to call a
Town Meeting to appropriate a sum not to exceed $22,000.00 from Account
#2002 Police Personnel and Dispatchers to Account #2003 Overtime.
MOTION CARRIED.
Executive Board Minutes
January 10, 1983
It was agreed to call a Town Meeting for Monday, January 17, 1983
for the following purpose:
1. to appropriate $5,000.00 from the Capital ~nd Non-recurring
Fund to Percival Senior Center Fund
2. to authorize the Mayor to file an application in an amount
not to exceed $400,000 with the Commissioner of Human Resources
3. to authorize the Executive Board to accept on behalf of the
Town a certain piece of land situated on the west and east
side of Wethersfield Road from the Budney family.
4. to transfer $22,000.00 from Account #2002 Personnel and
Dispatchers to Account #2003 Overtime.
Mayor Ward presented Budget Change Form from Ronald E. Lindgren,
Chairman-Fire Board, in the amount of $10,000.00 from account #1817
Physicals to new account. This is to replace immediately 20 Scott
Air Pacs that are unable to be converted and must be replaced.
On motion by Mr. Ward, seconded by Mr. McKeon, it was voted to approve
the Budget Change Form from Mr. Lindgren in the amount of $10,000.00
to cover the cost of 20 Scott Air Pacs. MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Ward read a letter from Atty. Harry N. Jackaway dated January 4,
1983, requesting appointment of James D'Errico, Gary Clinton, Sam
Valenti and himself as the negotiating team regarding the Police
Contract. On motion by Mr. McKeon, seconded by Mr. Ward, it was voted
to appoint Mr. D'Errico, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Valenti and Atty. Jackaway
as the negotiating team regarding the Police Contract. MOTION CARRIED.
There being no further business to come before the Executive Board,
the meeting was adjourned at 11:05 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
/~udith Liddg~n, secretary