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1990/05/15APPROVED EXECOTI%~ BOARD MEETING May 15, 1990 Mayor Peters called the meeting to order at 7:00 ~m. Present were Deputy Mayor Karen McQuade, Deputy Mayor Angelo Tiezzi, James D'Errico-Personnel Director, Dr. John P. McIntosh-Chairman Finance Board, Charles Gameros, A1 Gerdis, Elisa Hutcoe-Herald reporter, Gall Erickson, and Janice Serafino-Secretary. Approval of Minutes Mayor Peters pointed out the following corrections to be made in the minutes of May 8, 1990: - Page 1, under Audience of Citizens, paragraph one, line 2, delete "had anyone"; - Page 2, under Personnel/Purchasing Matters, item 1, line 2, "would longer", should be "would no longer"; paragraph 6, last line, "to his" should be "do the"; - Page 4, under Budget Transfers and/or Appropriations, item 1, line 2 "Fire Board" should be "General Fund". ' Mayor Peters moved to approve the minutes as corrected, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously. Audience of Citizens No one wished to speak. Personnel/Purchasing Matters Gail Erickson, Accountant for the Town, reported to the Executive Board on the Dale Carnegie course she is presently taking. The Executive Board, when agreeing to pay for the course, had requested that she report to them when she had reached the mid point. She explained briefly what the classes consisted of and said that she felt it was beneficial. Mayor Peters thanked her for ccming in. Gall left the meeting at 7: 07. SkmmerHelp Appointments: Engineering: Mayor Peters moved to appoint Daniel Waida to work in the Engineering Department, effective June 1st, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously. P~creational Services: Steve Kelly, Director, sukmitted two names for appointment to work at the pools, replacing two who were previously appointed but did not accept the positions. Mayor Peters moved to appoint Mark Britton and Sarah Bartlett, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously. Cafeteria Workers Pension: Mr. D'Errico brought the Executive Board up to date on the pension buy back for the school cafeteria workers. He said that they had agreed to go 10 years retroactive from the date of entry into the plan. He said that it involves 11 ~nployees and there will be a one t~me cost to the Town of $29,138. Erin Martin, Hartford Courant reporter joined the meeting at 7:20~m. Dr. McIntosh and Mr. Gam~ros left the meeting at this time. Bid Award for Underground Storage Tank Replacement: Mr. D'Errico presented copies of the listing of bidders for tank replacements at Griswold and Hubbard schools. He said that on both projects Capitol Burner add Boiler Company b~d sutm~tted the low bids for a total of $54,663 for both. Mr. D'Errico said that there was a current balance in that account of $50,230.03 due to the fact that money had to be taken from it for the r~oval of contaminated soil at the McGee school during the replacement of that tank. Mayor Peters suggested that they hold on the Hubbard bid, pending approval of a budget transfer in the amount of $4,433 add award the contract for the Griswold project now. Mayor Peters moved to award the contract for the replac~nent of the .erground storage tank at Griswold School to Capitol Burner and ller Cc~pany in the amount of $32,262, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously. The Mayor asked Mr. D'Errico to prepare a budget transfer form in the amount of $4,433 to make up tb~ shortfall so that the Board can award the contract for the Hubbard tank replacement. East Berlin Pool: Mr. D'Errico said that representatives frcm the Whitten Corporation, the ccm~any that did the repairs to Percival Pool, checked the leakage problem at the East Berlin Pool. He said they suggested caulking the gutter syste~, under the water line, as the water appeared to be leaking there. Mr. D'Errico said the Eastern National Ccmpany, who had done ~ork for the Town at Percival Pool, can do the job for approximately $1572. He said the only problem is there is no money budgeted. Mayor Peters asked if the money could be taken frcm the account budgeted for the filtration system for the wading pool in East Berlin. Mr. D'Errioo said that he did not feel taking this amount would present a problem when bidding for that project, Mayor Peters moved to take approximately $1572 frcm the 1990-91 budget for the filtration system at the East Berlin wading pool, and have the Eastern National Company do the repair work, with cc~pletion date prior to June 18, 1990, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously. Mayor Peters moved to enter Executive Session at 7:25 ~m to discuss a personnel matter dealing with a position appointment, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously. Mayor Peters moved to exit Executive Session at 7:40 ~n, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously. -2- The following motion was made as a result of the discussion held in Executive Session: Deputy Mayor Tiezzi, in reference to the filling of a position in the Public Grounds De~t, moved to use the current list of applicants that have already gone through testing, to fill that vacancy, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade. The vote was two in favor, with Mayor Peters abstaining as he has a relative on that list. Corporation Counsel Attorney E. Timothy Sullivan joined the meeting at 7:45 pm. The following items were discussed: Trash-Away Contract Extension: The Corporation Counsel gave the Mayor a newly typed copy of the extension to the Trash-Away contract. Mayor Peters said that they would take it up later in the meeting. Ordinance Amendment: Attorney Sullivan gave the Executive Board copies of the proposed amendment to the Ordinance No. 3-88, entitled "Public Safety Alarm System Registration Ordinance". The revisions to the Ordinance were to Section 6, putting the responsibility for maintaining the alarm syst~ in good working order on the owner and eliminating the requir~r~nt of having inspections performed every six n~nths by an alarm c~,~any; and to Section 10 (B), adding a penalty of $5.00 for each false alarm to the initial penalty of $20.00 for the third in any calendar year. Mayor Peters moved to accept the amendment and put it on the agenda of the next Special Town Meeting, seconded by Deputy Mayor Tiezzi, passed unanimously. Deputy Mayor Tiezzi asked who was sending out letters to residents regarding the building number ordinance. Attorney Sullivan said that they were being sent out by th~ Police Department, signed by the Chief, Fire Marshal and Post Master and delivered by the postal ~ployees. The Deputy Mayor asked if they were being sent to everyone or only those who were in violation of the Ordinance. Mayor Peters said that he would get a copy of the letter and find out to whc~ they were being sent. Zoning-Z.B.A. Court Case: Attorney Sullivan said that the case was going to be heard on Thursday. Mayor Peters referred to a letter sent to Attorney Sullivan by Lillian Klotz, m~mber of the Zoning Board of Appeals. He asked the Corporation Counsel if he understood what she was asking of him. Attorney Sullivan said that she made several mentions of alleged improprieties on the part of former Building Inspector ~nil Carlson, the late Chief of Police William Scalise and a recent matter which involved Mayor Peters, regarding the cc~unity sign installed by the Junior Women's Club, but he was not sure what she was asking of him. Mayor Peters said he took great offense at her allegations against not only himselfbut against Mmil Carlson and Bill Scalisewho he felt were -3- dedicated Town employees and strong upholders of laws and regulations. He said that Mrs. Klotz had been elected to vote her conscience and this is what she should be doing, not voting the way she thinks someone else wants her to vote. He said that the Mayor is an ex-officio (non-voting) member of all boards and c~,~,{ssions, except the Board of Education, aD~ he would continue to comply with his responsibilities as Mayor and appear before any board or c~ssion on an issue when he feels it is important to do so. He continued to say that the officials and employees of the Town have a responsibility to assist residents and organizations in Town with their projects add will continue to do so. Deputy Mayor Tiezzi said he was glad the subject bed been brought up and that he had said weeks ago that the situation with the sign installed by the Junior Women's Club had been mishandled from the beginning. He said that he has known Mrs. Klotz for a number of years and she is not one to make idle statements. Mayor Peters said that if Mrs. K1otz has proof to back her allegations, then she should produce it. The Mayor also disagreed with tb~ statement about the mishandling of the project. He said that the only thing that had been wrong was the mishandling of the sign application, for which Town Planner, William Voelker, has sent letters of apology to the Chairmen of the Z.B.A. and Zoning Cc~ssion. His letter explained that the pezmit was issued before P~xler Gaudio, Zoning Inspector, gave his approval for it to be issued, due to a misunderstanding within his Department. Mr. Voelker explained that steps have been taken to see that this type of incident is never repeated. The Mayor then asked Attorney Sullivan to meet with Mrs. Klotz and see what her concerns are. Old Business No action was taken on the first three items: Old Peck Library, C.C.A.R.C. Request (Tabled) and Delinquent Taxes (Tabled). Fires: Both Landfills: Mayor Peters said that he had toured the Manafort T_~_ndfill on Friday with the Fire Marshal and Roger Gaudio, Zoning Inspector. He said that they were impressed with the operation of this landfill and there were no visible signs of a fire. Mr. Manafort said that he would he willing to join in the ~ly-over picture taking with New Britain if the cost was not prohibitive. The Mayor said that when they visited the New Britain Landfill on D~ning Road that fire was actively burning. The New Britain Fire Department had tried to smother it on Friday, and when that was unsuccessful they opened it up and were continuously pouring water on it. This, too, was not successful and they were presently bringing in clay-type dirt in an~)ther attempt to smother the fire. He said that he was being called twice a day by New Britain's Assistant Fire Chief to keep him informed on the fire. -4- .Mayor Peters said that he felt the City of New Britain should send its · nsurance adjustors to our residents who live on Deming Road and Christian Lane as the sulphur smell is in their hc~es and furnishings. Mayor Peters briefed the Executive Board on the dumping situation on Massirio Drive behind the old Cc~¥uercial Insulation Building. He said that the Town has brush dumped there but others are dumping items, some of which are on the American Legion property. He said that he has sent a letter to the Police Depa~ ~Lent asking them to increase their patrol of this area and is looking into installing a fence to keep residents frcm dumping there. He said to do this the Town would have to obtain a right-of-way from the American Legion. Mr. Gerdis said that is why he had come to the meeting because the Legion would be using their field for activities soon. Deputy Mayor McQuade asked for a recess at 8:20 ~n. The meeting resumed at 8:25 New Business Special Town MeetingDiscussion Mayor Peters moved to schedule a Special Town Meeting for Thursday, May 31st, at 7:00 ~m in the Meeting Roc~ of the Town Hall and place the following it~zs on the Agenda, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously: 1. The sale of a parcel of land known as Lot 14-2, Block 84, Massirio Drive, to Horbal Bros., Inc. of Berlin in the amount of $1500. 2. An Amendment otOrdinance No. 3-88 entitled "Public Safety Alarm System P~gistration Ordinance". 3. Any budget requests passed by the Board of Finance that evening that need Town Meeting approval. Finance Budget Transfers and/or Reques .ts Mayor Peters moved to approve a budget request in the amount of $1500 submit~ by James Horbal, Assistant Town Engineer, to grade, seed and mulch all excess materials placed to the north of Madison Drive frcm the Willard School project, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously. A~dition to A~enda: Mayor Peters moved to add a letter of re~,_est frem Matt Odishoo, ~mergency Management Director, to carry over funds in the Siren account into the next fiscal year, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unaninuusly. Mayor Peters said that $2500 had been budgeted to that account but a study was being conducted to see if the sirens are needed for use in calling out firemen as they all have beepers. The possibility of -5- converting them for civil Preparedness Warnings. He said that the Town does not have any warning device for a Town-wide or national ~nergency. Mayor Peters moved to forward the request to the Finance Board, asking that they look favorably upon it, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously. Deputy Mayor McQuade moved to approve a tax refund in the amount of $13.88 to James Mattingly, seconded by Deputy Mayor Tiezzi, passed Deputy Mayor McQuade moved to add some of the correspondence items to the agenda for discussion, seconded by Mayor Peters, passed unanimously. Deputy Mayor Mc~3__~_d_e asked for an explanation of a letter from Barbara Bak on a cc~puter course she is taking. Mayor Peters said that he had asked for the explanation when a uurchase order was taken out for IBM training. He said that it would be advantageous for the Town to have its own c~-~uter person on board and Ms. Bak was taking courses that will give a Town ~t~loyee the knowledge to do the ccmputer trouble shooting. On another item, Mayor Peters said that he would like to go on record stating that he will not support a proposed addition to McCcc school. He said that Berlin ranks 7th highest per capita for bonding in the State and it is time to make scme changes. He said that if the proposed addition is needed by 1992 then the Board of Education should begin making plans to place the eighth grade in the high school at that time. Deputy Mayor Tiezzi said it appears that when the Board of Education cc~es out with a decision supporting a project they expect automatic approval. He said that the results of recent referendums on the budgets proves that all the sales prc~otions against the budgets have fallen on deaf ears, the tax payers are finally saying it is time to tighten f_he belt. The Deputy Mayor said that there were other things the Town has to consider, namely a Cu,,t~unity Center. Mayor Peters said he wanted to go on record as being opposed to any addition to McCcc school and to urge the Board of Education to study and consider strongly moving the eighth graders to the high school in 1992, this was seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade and unanimously approved by the Executive Board. Deputy Mayor Tiezzi asked the Mayor if he had received any reports on the incident at Guiseppe's Restaurant involving Hunter's Ambulance that had been discussed at the last meeting. Mayor Peters said that Cheryl Costa, ~4S Coordinator for New Britain General Hospital, and also on Berlin's EF~ Management Ccm~ittee, reported that her investigation s~ that Hunter's had dc~e nothing wrong aD~ all the equigment they are required to carry was on the The Mayor said that he and Jim D' Errico had met with A1 Rubino, the nurse who ha__~_ administered the CPR, to discuss the newspaper article and get the answers to their questions directly from him. In talking with him they learned that when he referred to life support systems he was referring to a heart monitor machine. The Mayor said that the Town has never b~d that mchine on an ambulance and did not know if we would have after July 1st when we have Paramedic coverage. Mayor Peters said that he hoped that the newspaper would print another article on the situation explaining Mr. Rubino's original statements and correcting some of the misconceptions that occurred, and thanking him for the actions he took at the time. Extensio~ to Contraot PWB4-1 with Trash-Away Mayor Peters said that there was a 5% increase over the present contract and he felt this was reasonable and probably the best deal the Town could hope for. The Mayor then moved to waive the bidding, for the betterment of the Town, and award a o~e year contract extension to Trash-Away, Inc. for refuse pickup, effective July 1, 1990 to June 30, 1991, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unan/mously. Mayor Peters moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:55 ~m, seconded by Deputy Mayor Tiezzi, passed ~ly. ~)ectfully Sukm%itt~, yanlce Serafin~, Executi~ Secretary -7-