1994/06/28APPROVED
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING ~ '~! ,~ : June 28, 1994
Mayor Robert Peters called the meeting to order at/6f55pm, '~:~sant was
Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi. ' ~'
Budget Request and/or Apprqp~iation
Mayor Robert Peters moved the approval of a Youth Services Department
request to transfer $4,407 from account 101-1393-930-944 (Fund
Balance), higher grant monies than anticipated received from the State
of Connecticut; this portion of budget request will be forwarded to
tonight's Town Meeting, seconded by Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi,
passed unanimously.
Recess to Special Town Meeting at 6:57pm.
Reconvene Executive Board Meeting at 7:25pm-Conference Room in the
Office of the Mayor-Present were Deputy Mayors Thomas Veronesi and
Arthur Powers, James D'Errico, Director Personnel/Purchasing; Dr. John
McIntosh, Jay Akasie, The Herald; Carol Beauparlant, Cathy DeMarco, Jan
Lund, Kenneth Smith, The Hartford Co=rant; Joseph BaJorski, Art Volz,
Gary Clinton, Charles Karno, Peter Knaus and Robert Knaus.
Approval of Minutes
Mayor Robert Peters requested a change on page 3, paragraph 1, line 3
to read "will be the staff representative" instead of "will oversee".
Mayor Robert Peters moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of June
14, 1994 as corrected, seconded by Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi, passed
unanimously.
Audience of Citizens
Cathy DeMarco, Berlin Animal Comtrol Officer, came to voice her
concerns regarding the An~l Control Department such as the two weeks
off due to budget depletion, lack of supervisioa in the department,
$50-$60 a day as rate of pay not adequate, and personnel were not
officially notified except verbally by their Supervisor of the status
of the department's shutdown on June 17th.
Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers asked about the number of hours employees
worked?
Cathy DeMarco said in the summer and spring they may work 40 hours or
more which involved phone calls, paperwork and actual calls out. In
the winter months, especially last winter, calls are less.
Mayor Robert Peters said that Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi was faced
with an emergency situation and made his decision to close the Animal
Control Department due to lack of funds. The Mayor went on to
apologize for the Town not notifying the employees directly.
Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers said that the Executive Board would be
discussing, later on in the meeting, the Job descriptions and possible
benefits for the Animal Control Department personnel.
Mayor Robert Peters said that he had asked for the Study of the Animal
Control Department and that parts of this Study were made public prior
to the Executive Board receiving the completed Study.
Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers said the Executive Board will look fully
into the Animal Control Department's employees, benefits and determine
who is a full or part-time employee.
Cathy DeMarco said that she has documentation on the number of hours
and calls.
Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi said that these issues will be addressed
tonight.
Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers said it was the intention of the Executive
Board to resolve this matter.
Mayor Robert Peters instructed Personnel Director James D'Errico to
prepare pink (laid off) slips for those individuals in the Animal
Control Department.
Mayor Robert Peters asked if anyone else wished to speak under the
Audience of Citizens section of the Agenda. No one else wished to
speak.
Personnei/Purchasin~Matters-A. Discussion of Town Planner Position
James D'Errico has placed an advertisement for the Town Planner's
Position in the National Association of Planners (June 30 and July 15,
1994) issues as well as the local newspapers (The Herald and The
Hartford Courant). Closing for this position will be August 1, 1994.
There are a number of people scheduled to serve on the panel.
Mayor Robert Peters said that once William Voelker leaves he will be
called back on a per diem basis as needed, to do agendas and attend
Commission meetings.
Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers said someone should be put in temporary
charge of the Planning Department and suggested Morgan Seeyle.
Mayor Robert Peters moved to set the pay scale for the Town Planner as
outlined in the I994-1995 budget with the salary range of $50,470 to
$64,030 for advertising purposes, seconded by Deputy Mayor Arthur
Powers. Discussion-none. Motion having been made and seconded, passed
unanimously.
Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers moved to have Morgan Seelye serve as the
interim Town Planner as of July 1, 1994 until such time as a Town
Planner is hired by the Town, seconded by Mayor Robert Peters.
Discussion-none. Motion having been made and seconded, passed
unan/mously.
Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers asked Personnel Director James D'Errico when
a new Town Planner would be hired? James D'Errico said anywhere from
Labor Day to the middle part of September.
C. Retirement Incentive Proposa~
Mayor Robert Peters moved to table the Retirement Incentive Proposal
until the July 12, 1994 meeting and place this item on the Agenda as an
Executive Session due to Union Implications, seconded by Deputy Mayor
Thomas Veronesi, passed unanimously.
D. Firemen's Incentive Plan
Mayor Robert Peters said he had received a letter fromM ark Lewandowski
of the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department dated June 1, 1994
concerning a separate plan for social members of the fire department.
James D'Errico updated the Executive Board concerning the Firemen's
Incentive Plan. Discussions were held with the various fire
departments. A tentative plan was devised but there were some other
issued that needed looking into. At this point a determination should
be made to move forward with the existing plan, recommend its adoption
and submit the financial request to the Board of Finance and then to
Town Meeting. Mayor Robert Peters said that 5 names, of individuals
who serve the fire department but not necessarily as front line or on
the scene support personnel, were submitted by the East Berlin Fire
Department. These names were submitted to be considered for inclusion
in the Firemen's Incentive Plan and that to his knowledge there were no
other names forthcoming. James D'Errico said that while some of these
individuals (5) are not involved in the front line on the scene fire
fighting they provide services in various administrative, budget,
negotiation and insurance duties. Mayor Robert Peters said he would
like to address the plan itself and then the five individuals at a
later point. James D'Errico discussed the specific criteria such as
training, drills and actual fires (in points) used by the fire
departments to: a) determine if a fire fighter is active or inactive
in the fire service (being involved), b) to what extent the fire
fighter is involved and c) what mechanism is involved in the
determination. Mayor Robert Peters said he accepted the concept of the
plan and wanted to present this to the Finance Board effective July 1,
1994. The Incentive Plan would cost $13~,000 the first year and
approximately $31,250 maximum the following year. Mayor Robert Peters
moved to accept the Retirement Incentive Proposal and prepare a budget
request to be forwarded to the Board of Finance, seconded by Deputy
Mayor Thomas Veronesi. Discussion-Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers wished to
amend the motion to give consideration to the five names submitted by
the East Berlin Fire Department. Mayor Robert Peters moved to accept
the Retirement Incentive Plan as amended, seconded by Deputy Mayor
Thomas Veronesi, passed unanimously.
E. Request for Tuition Reimbursement: Arlene Okon
Mayor Robert Peters moved to approve the request in the amount of $176
for half of the cost for two courses: Economics and Progr~_..-~_ing Logics
taken by Arlene Okon, seconded by Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers.
Discussion-none. Motion having been made and seconded, passed
unanimously.
New Business: B. Rtverbend Business Park Agreement
Charles Karno, Economic Development Director, came before the Executive
Board with Peter and Robert Khans of the Riverbend Business Industrial
Park to seek a change in their Mortgage Agreement with the Town of
Berlin concerning a required Letter of Credit in connectionwith the
release of lot #8. Charles Karno said he would request that the
Executive Board move to release lot #8 without a letter of credit in
the amount of $147,000 as specified in the original mortgage
agreement. Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers said that he supports this
request based on the integrity of the company in the past but he would
not like to see the Town of Berlin in the real estate business as a
result of this. Mayor Robert Peters moved to accept the request and
release lot ~8 without a letter of credit, as presented by Charles
Karmo, Economic Development Director, seconded by Deputy Mayor Arthur
Powers. Discussion-none. Motion having been made and seconded, passed
unanimously.
Personnel/Purchasing Matters- F. Report on Animal Control Department
Mayor Robert Peters said that James D'Errico and Gary Clinton had
prepared a report of the Animal Control Department dated June 12,
1994. Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers said he would like more time to
review this report in detail. Mayor Robert Peters moved to table the
Report on Animal Control Department until the July 12, 1994 Executive
Board meeting, seconded by Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers, passed
unanimously. Mayor Robert Peters distributed copies of the report to
Arthur Volz and the staff of the Animal Control Department for their
input.
Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi moved to approve $50 per day as the rate
of pay for the Animal Control Officers until such time as a formal plan
is adopted, seconded by Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers. Discussion-Deputy
Mayor Arthur Powers said he would like it reflected that any increase
in pay will be retroactive to July i, 1994. Deputy Mayor Thomas
Veronesi said that he would like to set the $50 per day rate of pay
separately and that it was his intention that an increase, if any,
would be retroactive. First set the rate of pay, vote on it and then
once a formal plan and pay scale is adopted and voted on, then include
the retroactive salary statement at that time. Motion to read: Deputy
Mayor Thomas Veronesi moved to approve $50 per day as the rate of pay
for the Animal Control Officers until such time as a formal plan is
adopted for the Animal Control Department, seconded by Deputy Mayor
Arthur Powers, passed unanimously.
G. CemeteF~Maintenance Contract
Hayor Robert Peters said that he met with Steven Walo~ski of Hillside
Landscaping Company who has the current contract to render cemetery
care consisting of mowing, trf,~tng, raking and general cleanup of the
cemeteries within the Town of Berlin. The cemetery contract expires
June 30, 1994. This landscaping company is too busy to continue to
service the Towu but will have all cemeteries listed in the contract
prepared for the 4th of July holiday. ~ayor Robert Peters moved to go
out to bid for a three year cemetery maintenance contract, seconded by
Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers. Discussion-none. Motion having been made
and seconded, passed unanimously.
Corporation Counsel-A. Update on Timberlin Concession Litigation
(Executive Session) and B. Update on Athletic Track Litigation
(Executive Session)
Mayor Robert Peters moved to enter Executive Session at 8:30pm and
invite Personnel Director James D'Errico to remain in order to discuss
items A. and B. under Corporation Counsel Section of the Agenda,
seconded by Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Mayor Robert Peters moved to exit Executive Session at 8:45pm, seconded
by Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi, passed unanimously.
No formal action taken.
D. ReQuest for Waiver of Plannin~ Commission Fees
Motion was made by Arthur Powers to table a request for waiver of
Planning Commission Fees submitted by Anthony A. Dalfino pending
receipt of further information, which should be available at the July
12, 1994 Executive Board meeting, seconded by Mayor Robert Peters,
passed unanimously.
E. Request from Retired Dog Warden-Angelo Barcella
Mayor Robert Peters said he had requested a legal opinion from
Corporation Counsel concerning a request from Retlred Dog Warden Angelo
Barcella for a retirement pension. Mayor Robert Peters said the
opinion of Corporation Counsel Stephen J. Anderson stated "It was the
consensus of the Board to grant a retirement pension to Angelo
Barcella, retired Dog Warden, based on an average annual payment of
approximately $1,500 per year, such payment to commence at age 65.
Section 4.3 of the Charter requires that all action of the Executive
Board shall be by majority vote except as otherwise provided. These
minutes do not indicate that any vote was taken in connectionwith this
matter and, therefore, the Town is not presently obligated to pay the
requested pension." Mayor Robert Peters moved to write a letter to
Angelo Barcella, based on the opinion of Corporation Council, stating
that the Town of Berlin was not obligated to pay a pension to him as
retired Dog Warden, seconded by Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi.
Discussion-Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi said noted in the letter should
be the rationale that if this type of request were granted based on a
consensus vote that this would be precedent setting and not in keeping
with past practices of the Town. Motion having been made and seconded,,
passed unanimously.
Unfinished Business-Items A-C
The following items will remain tabled until the next Executive Board
Meeting: A. Discussion of Federal and State Grants, B. Smoking Policy:
Greenside Restaurant and C. Silver Lake Dredging Project.
New Business-A. Refuse Collection Contract Award
Mayor Robert Peters said that Trashaway was the low bidder on the
Refuse Collection Contract. Discussion took place concerning the
inclusion of gasoline prices, provided by Trashaway or the Town of
Berlin. Since it was unclear, Mayor Robert Peters moved to table the
decision on the Refuse Collection Contract Award until the Public Works
Director could answer all pertinent questions, seconded by Deputy Mayor
Arthur Powers, passed unanimously.
C. Award of Contract for Consultant: Economic Development Commission
Promotional Video
Mayor Robert Peters moved to award the contract for.the Economic
Development Commission Promotional Video to Waterhouse Production of
Hartford, CT. providing that the contract reflects the following change
in wording under Contingencies to read "The Town of Berlin will be
charged at cost" (for changes, on page 9 of proposal), seconded by
Deputy Mayor Thomas Veronesi, passed unanimously.
D. Letter from Barbara Edelson
Mayor Robert Peters moved to send a letter from Barbara Edelson dated
June 14, 1994 to Corporation Counsel Stephen J. Anderson for
clarification, seconded by Deputy Mayor Arthur Powers, passed
unanimously.
Board and Commission Matters
None.
Financial Matters
None,
Correspondence
None.
Adjournment '
~L~yor Robert Peters moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:06pm, seconded by
Deputy ~ayor Tho~s Veronesi, passed unan~ously.
Respectfully submitted,
· Sevin7, Recording~ecr~y