1991/12/03APPROVED
RECEIVED FiLIii9
91OECII 3, 1991
Mayor Peters calI~d ~ .~g to order at 7:00 p.m.. Present were
Deputy Mayor Ear ,~A~i~a~'~John McIntosh-Finance Board Chairman,
Charles Karno-Di~ector of ~~ Develo~nent,. James D'Errico-Director
of Personnel/Purchasing and Janice Serafino-Secretary.
Mayor Peters asked that they move to New Business and allow the
Econcmic DeveloEmnent Director to present the proposed package for the
E.I.S. Brake Parts construction project.
The first item presented was a resolution dealing with a cc~bined
effort between the State of Connecticut, Town of Berlin and EIS whereby
the Mayor, on behalf of the Town, would make application to the State
Depa~t'~nt of Econc~Ric Develo~nent, pursuant to Chapter 5881, CT
General Statutes, for $600,000 in order to undertake "EIS Brake Parts
Business DeveloExnent Project" and to execute an Assistance Agreement.
Under this resolution, the Town would administer these funds, at no
expense. The Mayor explained that the $600,000 is ccmposed of a loan
to EIS in the amount of $150,000 and a grant in the a~Dunt of $450,000.
Deputy MayorThc~as Veronesi, Frank Stavola, Sam Lc~aglio and Dana
Tofig-Hartford Courant rep?rter joined the meeting at 7:05 p.m..
After a brief discussion of the resolution, Deputy Mayor McQuademade a
motion to move the resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for,
receive and administer State funds in the amount of $600,000 for the
EIS construction project to a Special Town Meeting on December 19th,
seconded by Mayor Peters, passed unanimously.
Dr. McIntosh asked if there was any liability to the Town if EIS went
defunct, to which Charlie Karno replied that there was none. Deputy
Mayor Veronesi asked if there was any time 1/mit on approvals. Mr.
Karno said that EIS was anxious to finalize the project, which will
consolidate several of their depaz-hwents. He said if this is not done
in the iamediate future they wouldprobably look elsewhere. A
discussion of the proposed changes in the intersection of Worthington
Ridge and Rt. 5 & 15 ensued, which was noted to be crucial to this
project.
Attorney Sullivan entered the meeting at 7:25 p.m..
Next, Mr. Karno presented the proposed tax abatement agreement between
the Town and EIS. The proposed abatements are ~.0% in the first year,
40%-second, 30%-third, 20%-fourth, and 10% ln'~%J~{.~.~h~, year, with the
total value of the abatement being $75,000 over ~rk~ y~¢od,
with $475,000 in increased revenue for the Towg..,~ ~~-,'.~..'c
Development Director stated that the costs EIS ~iY~ '~y' ~6~ ~ Town for
this project are $50,000 for the permit fee an~ $69~L~67 ~ig ,.~a~r/sew~r
user charges, plus taxes. Mr. Karno said that h~ ~e~t ~h~Ow~ a good
project for the Town, with benefits of added
business on the Turnpike and especially in re~'i~iR~J6B~?ouh~ added
that EIS has given its cc~mitment to r~ain in the State for at least
ten years.
Mayor Peters cu~,~nded Mr. Karno for the work he has done on this
project over the past tw~ years. The Mayor said that he felt EIS has
agreed to expand in Berlin due to Charlie's efforts. He said that when
the c~-~any was considering moving out of state, it was Mr. Karno who
kept them talking, gaining their trust. The Mayor said that the
management of EIS has cc~e to regard Charlie as a friend, which is very
important to the success of such a project.
Mayor Peters said that he was hoping that the Executive Board would
unanimously give their support to the project, forwarding it to the
Board of Finance for their approval at their December 10th meeting and
then to a Special Town Meeting on December 19th. The Mayor then moved
that the Executive Board support the proposed tax abatement plan with
EIS, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously.
The Mayor made a second motion to approve a budget request in the
amount of $275,000 to ccmply with the infrastructure agreement with
EIS, seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously.
Messrs. Karno, Stavola and Lomaglio left the meeting at 7:50 p.m..
Mayor Petersmotioned to move to Old Business, seconded by DeputyMayor
McQuade, passed unanimously.
Old Business
Employee Termination Pay Form (Tabled)
Mayor Peters moved to r~ove this item fr~m the table, seconded by
Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously.
The Mayor stated that this was tabled last weekbecause he had a
question on the Budgetary Reemployment Date listed on the form. He
said that the Finance Director explained that this was the date that
someone could be hired to fill the position, as Mr. Baldyga's vacation
pay extends to that date. Mayor Peters then moved to approve employee
termination pay for Henry Baldyga in the amount of $5457.35, seconded
by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously.
Bid Award for Overhead Doors SKFD (Tabled)
Mayor Peters moved to remove this itam frcmthe table, seconded by
DeputyMayor McQuade, passed unanimously.
Mayor Peters said that he hadmoved to table this item to see if one of
the unemployed members of the Fire Department was interested in pricing
the project. However, he said that Dick Russell, Superintendent of
Public Buildings, told him that this was too big a ]ob for an
individual to take on. The Mayor then moved to award, the bid for the
replac~_nt of the overhead doors at the South Kensington Fire
Depa~hL~nt to Wood & Wood, Inc., low bidder, in the amount of $4975.00,
seconded by Deputy Mayor McQuade, passed unanimously.
.Budget Request frc~ Tax Collector (Tabled)
To remain on table.
Corporation Counsel
Attorney Sullivan gave Mayor Peters the agreement for the purchase of
the land behind the SKFD from Meriden for his signature.
The Corporation Counsel then presented the Mayor the total amount of
the court expenses for the foreclosure of National Autcmatics. He said
that these are expenses that the Townwould have to paywhether or not
they decided to act on the option to purchase the property. After
reviewing the figures, Mayor Peters moved to approve the payment of the
court costs for the foreclosure proceedings of National Automatics in
the an~unt of $9984.81, and to forward a budget request in that amount
to the Board of Finance for its approval, seconded by Deputy Mayor
McQuade, passed unanimously.
Attorney Sullivan gave his ruling regarding the Supernumeraries
salaries to the Mayor. He ruled that as the Executive Board did not
address the hourly rate during the budget process, the Police
C~-~-~ssion could determine the appropriate rate to pay th~, not to
exceed $11.03 per hour, based on the balance in that budget.
Deputy Mayor McQuade left the meeting at 8:20 p.m. as she was not
feeling well. Attorney Sullivan also left at this time.
New Business
Six Year Plans
Fire Depa~;.,~-nt:
At 8:20 p.m. Fire Chiefs Ronald Lindgren, Edward Haber, David Jorsey
and Vincent Lewandowski, and members Jim Simons and Bruce Trevethan
joined the Executive Board to discuss the Department's six Year Plan.
The members of the Fire Departments left at 8:50 p.m..
Library: Eugene Devlin and Cathy Nelson, Librarians, and David
Borthwick, Fred Riggs and Thcmas Menditto of the Library Board joined
the Executive Board to discuss the Six Year Plan for the Library.
They left the meeting at 9:10 p.m..
Police: Chief Gerald Charamut, Angelo Barcella-Police Cu,uission
Chairman and CuLu~ssionerThcmas Heavrenmetwith the Board to discuss
the Police Department's Six Year Plan.
After discussing the Plan, Mayor Peters asked about the fact that the
Captain had been assigned a car. He said that he saw no reason for a
thirty seven man depa~-h¥~nt to have its two top administrators assigned
vehicles. When he asked the question as to who authorized this, the
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Chief said that the past chairman of the Ccumission had. The Mayor
said that only the Mayor's Office can authorize assigr.~'~nt of vehicles
for a twenty four hour period and asked the Cu,,~,{ssion Chairman to
address this. There was also a discussion of the Detective testing
situation. Before leaving at 10:00 p.m., the Chief and Cc~a~issioners
were given copies of Attorney Sullivan's ruling regarding Supernumerary
salaries.
Approval of Minutes
Mayor Peters m~ved to table approval of the minutes of the previous
meeting as they were not available for review until this evening, due
to the time off for the Thanksgiving holiday, seconded by Deputy Mayor
Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Recapitulation of Minutes
None.
Audience of Citizens
No one present.
Personnel/PurchasinqMatters
S~'~,~r Help Pay Schedule: After a discussion of rates and increases
for previous years, Mayor Peters moved to increase the rates for all
s~,,~r help positions by twenty five cents per hour over last year's
rates, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Bidding Procedures: Mayor Peters said that the Executive Board had
revised the bidding procedures for the Town in October. However, when
they increased the amount of a purchase to $4000 before having to go
out to bid, it was in violation of the Charter. The Mayor asked that
that the printed procedures be revised back to the $2000 limit in items
#1 & 2 to c~ly with the Charter and hopefully the Charter Revision
Ccramissionwill address this matter.
New Business Continued
Schedule Special Town Meeting and A~enda
Mayor Peters moved to schedule a Special Town Meet~ng for Tuesday,
December 10, 1991 at 7:00 p.m. in the Meeting Rocmof the Town Hall,
seconded by DeputyMayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Mayor Peters moved to place the authorization for the Mayor to apply
for and accept or reject a LoCIP Grant from the State of Connecticut in
the amount of $116,481.00 for infrastructure projects on the agenda,
seconded by DeputyMayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Board and Co~nissionMatters
None.
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Finance
Budget Transfers and./or Appropriations
Mayor Peters moved to approve a request from Jack Ross, Water Control
Administrative Assistant, to transfer funds in the amount of $7000
within the Water Fund Budget, frc~ account 643-186-000-0000
(Administration) to account 643-190-000-0000 (Fringe Benefits), as
funds were deposited in the wrong account, seconded by Deputy Mayor
Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Mayor Peters moved to approve another request from Jack Ross, to
transfer funds in the amount of $7000 within the Sewer Fund Budget,
frc~ account 644-186-000-0000 (Administration) to account
644-190-000-0000 (Fringe Benefits), as funds were deposited in the
wrong account, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Mayor Peters moved to approve a budget request from Jean Conway,
Director of Public Health Nursing, in the amount of $250,000 to account
101-2753-121-249 (Medical Services) due to an increased number of hours
logged for Hcme Health Aide Service, with all services reimbursed to
the Town including a fee for billing and administration, seconded by
Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Tax Refunds
Mayor Peters moved to approve a tax refund for Robert Raymond in the
amount of $21.21, auto disposed of, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi,
passed unanimously.
Miscellaneous Matters
Mayor Peters asked that these be held until the next meeting.
Additions to Agenda
Mayor Peters moved to ad~ a discussion of the TIP account to the
agenda, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
The Mayor said that he had given the incorrect balance of this account
at the previous meeting, as the costs of two projects had not been
deducted. The correct balance is $7515.00. He then moved to approve a
request from the Recreational Services Department in the amount of $300
for expenses related to the Air Force Band concert to be held at McGee
School in the Spring, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed
unanimously.
Mayor Peters moved to add a letter from the Police Chief to the agenda,
seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Mayor Peters moved to accept a donation in the amount of $50 and a
court settlement in the amount of $25, made to the Police Depa~h,~nt
and authorize these funds to be used in the Department's Drug Education
Program, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
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Mayor Peters moved to add a Recreation Depaz~t~nt ite~ to the agenda,
seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Mayor Peters moved to approve a request of the United Methodist Church
of East Berlin to conduct a carol sing in Clark's Grove on December
22nd from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi. A
brief discussion was held on the need for this request and the possible
unconstitutionality of it. The motion was passed unanimously.
Mayor Peters moved to add the scheduling of another Special Town
Meeting to the agenda, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed
unanimo~ly.
Mayor Peters moved to schedule a Special Town Meeting for Thursday,
December 19, 1991 at 7:00 p.m. in the Meeting Roc~ of the Town Hall and
to place on the agenda any and all items related to the proposed EIS
project and all budget items approved by the Board of Finance at their
December 10th meeting, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed
unanimously.
Adjpuzi=,~nt
Mayor Peters moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:45 p.m., seconded by
Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
~1~o, Execut~ Secretary
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