1995/06/06APPROVED
t~I~CL~V~ BOARD MEETING
June 6, 1995 ::,.; : i [
Mayor Robert Peters calZed the meeting to order at ,6"~35 p..m~ .... ' .
in, nediately following the Special Town Meeting. P~esent werS-.i~ty
Mayors Thcmas Veronesi and Arthur Powers, James D'Errico-Director of
Personnel/Purchasing, Richard Russell-Superintendent of Public Building
Maintenance, Dr. John McIntosh-Finance Board Chairman, David Martin-
resident, Sandra James-Hartford Courant reporter, Kelley Beaucar-
Herald reporter, and Janice Serafino-secretary.
Approval of Minutes
Deputy Mayor Powers moved to approve the minutes of May 23, 1995 as
written, seconded by Mayor Peters, passed unanimously.
Mayor Peters moved to accept the minutes of June 1, 1995 as written,
seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Audience of Citizens
Mayor Peters asked that this be taken up at a later time, as the
meeting started earlier than usual.
Personnel/PurchasinqMatters
Probationary 5~ployee Evaluations
Mayor Peters moved to accept the final probationary evaluation report
for Mark Letizio, Highway Depa~-h~-~nt, and accept him as a permanent
employee, seconded by Deputy Mayor Powers, passed unanimously.
Deputy Mayor Veronesi moved to accept them id-term evaluation for Brian
Miller, Town Planner, seconded by DeputyMayor Powers. The Mayor stated
that Mr. Miller came to work with many projects pending, is doing an
excellent job and has taken on many responsibilities. The report was
unanimously accepted as presented.
Employee Termination Form
Mayor Peters moved to accept the employee termination form for Matthew
Odishoo, from his position as Civilian Police Dispatcher, approving
termination pay in the amount of $1725.40, seconded by Deputy Mayor
Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Window Replacement: Art League Building
Mayor Peters moved to award the bid for replacement of windows at the
Art League building to Action Windows of Newington, low bidder, in the
amount of $5340.00, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed
unanimously.
Letter of Resignation: Assistant Senior Center Director
Mayor Peters moved to accept with sincere regret the resignation of
Patricia Amenta as Assistant Senior Center Director, effective 7-5-95,
and extend best wishes in her, seconded by Deputy Mayor Powers, passed
unanimously.
The Mayor said that before filling this position the Town will be
looking to see if this should be a full time position and if it
requires Middle Management status.
Appointment of Lifeguard Training, Instructor
Mayor Peters moved to hire Jeffrey Busa as Lifeguard Training
Instructor, seconded by Deputy Mayor Powers, passed unanimously.
Appointment of civilian Police Dispatcher (Executive Session)
Animal Control Personnel Matter (~xecutive Session)
Both items to be taken up later in the meeting.
Corporation Counsel
To be held until Attorney Anderson arrives.
Econcmic Development Matters
Letter frcm Central Connecticut Tourism District
In a letter, Charles Karno, Berlin's Economic Develo~nt Director and
representative to the CCTD, notified the Mayor that the District has
been forced to abandon plans for the New England Transportation
Festival. They requested that the $5,000 donation Berlin had approved
for the Festival be redirected into the production of an attractions
brochure and an historical assets brochure for which the CCTD has been
approved for matching grants. After discussing the request, it was
noted this is not the use for which the donation had been approved,
therefore, the $5000 will have to be returned to the General Fund. To
pursue a donation for the brochures, the CCTD would have to sul~it
another budget request to the Executive Board.
Mayor Peters then moved to turn the $5000 allocated for CCTD's New
England Transportation Festival back to the General Fund and to so
notify the Finance Department and Mr. Karno, seconded by DeputyMayor
Powers, passed unanimously.
New Business
Park and Recreation Cc~mmission Items
1. Request to name the road at Sage Park "Joseph Suranna Drive": Mayor
Peters said he had met with Mrs. Suranna to see what her feelings were
on this suggestion. He said she was very pleased with the idea but
thought "Suranna Drive" sounded better, as it was not so long. In
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keeping with the family's wishes, Mayor Peters moved to approve naming
the road into Sage Park "Suranna Drive" and to have the Executive Board
work with the Park and Recreation Cc~ssion on dedication ceremonies,
seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
2. Mayor Peters moved to hire Stephanie Marturano as Playground
Supervisor at Murray Heights playground, seconded by Deputy Mayor
Veronesi, passed unanimously.
3. Mayor Peters moved to waive the $75.00 rental fee for the Berlin
Congregational Church to use the Sage Park pavilion on June llth,
seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi. The motion passed two in favor,
with Deputy Mayor Powers abstaining, as he is a member of the Church.
Donation to Berlin Medical Aid Fund
Mayor Peters moved to accept a $1500 donation to the Berlin Medical Aid
Fund frc~ a donor who does not wish to be named, seconded by Deputy
Mayor Powers, passed unanimously.
Request of Superintendent of Public Buildings
Mayor Peters said he had met with Dick Russell and he has suggested
that the authority to do roofs comes under his depa~-~,~nt not the
Public Building Cc~ssion. Mr. Russell further explained that he
believes he can save the Town substantial money if these projects do
not have to go through the Building Cc~mission. All Executive Board
members agreed that Mr. Russell made a good point and requested that
Corporation Counsel provide an opinion on this matter.
Attorney Stephen Anderson, Corporation Counsel, entered the meeting at
7:00 p.m.. At this same time Richard Feegel, Chief Assessor, and
Robert Welss, Chairman of the Board of Assessors entered the meeting.
Board of Assessors/Revaluation Contract
Mr. Weiss informed the Executive Board that the Board of Assessors had
selected a company to perform the revaluation and that he and Mr.
Feegel were in attendance to explain the award and to have contracts
executed tonight by the Mayor and himself. He said that they had
received five bids for the real estate side and three for the personal
property side and after several interviews and visits to other
c~¥~;-~-unities presently doing revaluations, had settled on the low
bidder, the Cole-Layer-Trumble, Company of Manchester at a cost of
$341,000. Ample money has been set aside over the past several years
to cover the cost of this project.
Deputy Mayor Veronesi moved to authorize the Mayor to enter into an
agreement with the Cole-Layer-Trumble, Ccmpany for the purpose of
revaluation, seconded by Deputy Mayor Powers, passed unanimously. Both
Mayor Peters and Robert Weiss then signed the contracts.
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M~ssrs. Feegel and Weiss left the meeting at 7:10 p.m.. Attorney
Joseph Fasi, the Town's Bonding Counsel, and Gary Clinton, Finance
Director, entered the meeting at this time.
Corporation Counsel
Mayor Peters moved to enter Executive Session at 7:10 p.m. to meet with
Attorney Fasi and to also receive an update on the Timberlin Concession
Litigations, seconded by Deputy Mayor Powers, passed unanimously.
Corporation Counsel, Attorney Fasi, and Mr. Clinton were asked to
remain.
Attorney Fasi left the meeting at 7:50 p.m.
Mayor Peters moved to exit Executive Session at 8:05 p.m., seconded by
Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously. No action taken. At this
time James D'Errico, Dr. McIntosh, David Martin, Mark Russak, the two
reporters and secretary re-enteredthe meeting.
Audience of citizens
Dr. McIntosh said he had read the newspaper article about the State's
Heart and Hypertension law and the fact that three of Berlin's Police
officers had recently been hospitalized for heart conditions. He said
he saw one of these officers riding a motorcycle the day before and
questioned if this was part of his "treatment"? The Finance Board
chairman said scmething has to be done with this law. The Board agreed,
stating that the bill to change this law died in cc~ttee during this
legislative session.
New Business Continued
Charter Revision Report/Discussion
Mayor Peters said the report from the Cc~ssion had been presented to
the Town Clerk on Friday and forwarded to him on Monday. The Board
members then took time to read the report. The Mayor stated that the
Cc~ssion had voted to recommend retaining the Charter which was
passed by the voters in the 1994 election with sc~e minor revisions.
He said the Executive Board is required to hold a public hearing on the
draft and suggested June 14th at 7:00 p.m.. Deputy Mayor Powers asked
Corporation Counsel to explain what the Executive Board can and cannot
now do. Attorney Anderson stated that the Board can recfmm~nd adopting
the draft of the Cc~ssion as is, make no recommendations or rec~'~ll~nd
certain changes. He said they cannot make any changes to the draft,
only recommendations or suggestions, the Charter Revision Cc~ssion
can either accept or reject the Board's recc~ne~dations and suhnit a
final draft back to the Executive Board.
Mayor Peters asked Corporation Counsel what should be done if the
Executive Board does not want this to go to a referendum? He said they
would have to state, "We do not agree with the proposed changes; please
send another report to the Executive Board." The Board can then accept
or reject the final draft.
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Mayor Peters moved to schedule a public hearing on the Charter Revision
draft for June 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Rocm,
seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unanimously.
Discussion of Yankee Peddlar Day
Mayor Peters stated that even before attending the Chamber of
Cc~nerce's Yankee Peddlar Day event this year, he questioned why the
Town was waiving vending license fees for all vendors, including out of
Town businesses. The Mayor said there was a total of 85 vendors, with
52 being out of Town for-profit businesses. He said the Town lost
$16,000 in revenue by waiving the vending fees for businesses who, in
many cases, are in ccmpetition with our own businesses. The Mayor said
he believed the Town should continue to waive the fees for non-profit
organizations and local businesses that participate, but should not
waive the fees of out for Town, for-profit, businesses. A~ditionally,
the Mayor said the cost for police services was $1300, bringing the
total of lost revenues and costs to the Town to over $17,000. The
members of the Executive Board were in agreement that in the future the
Town should consider not waiving the vending fees as discussed due to
the lost revenues.
Addition to Agenda
Mayor Peters moved to add a letter from Chester Haber, Fire Board
Chairman, to the agenda, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed
unanimously.
In his letter, Mr. Haber requested that the Board waive the bid
procedure for the purchase of generators for three fire depa~-h~nts in
the next budget. He explained that the Fire Board weuld like to
purchase Kohler generators, as this is the make of the one in the East
Berlin firehouse, and feels it would be better from a maintenance stand
point if all generators were the same make. Following a brief
discussion, it was decided to ask Mr. Haber to come to the next meeting
to explain his request and answer any questions of the Executive Board.
Unfinished Business
Proposed Purchase of Property for 9 Hold Addition to Timberlin G.C.
Mayor Peters reported that he and Deputy Mayor Powers have reached an
agreement on a price of $115,000 for the purchase of approximately five
acres of land from Mr. and Mrs. David Roche. He said that although a
good deal of this land is wetlands, it should be useable for the golf
course expansion. Deputy Mayor Powers said that he believes this is a
fair price, that these lands were of no value to the owners but are to
the Town, and will allow for a Par 36 course. He said he hoped this
~uld move as quickly as possible.
Mayor Peters said that this will have to go to both the Inland Wetlands
and Planning Cc~ssions for approvals in addition to the Board of
Finance and Town Meeting.
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Mayor Peters then moved to approve a budget request in the amount of
$115,000 for the purchase of approximately five acres of land from Mr.
and Mrs. David Roche for a nine hole expansion to the Timberlin Golf
Course, seconded by Deputy Mayor Powers. In the discussion, Deputy
Mayor Veronesi said he has a clear indication of support for this
project from everyone that has spoken to him. The motion passed
unanimously.
Pro_posed Expansion to Timberlin Concession Building
To be taken up next week.
Berlin Land Trust: LaDd Use Proposal (Tabled)
To remain on the Table.
Board and Con~ssion Matters
Historic District Cc~ssion Alternate Vacancy: No action.
Inland Wetlands Cc~ssion Vacancy: kb action taken.
Financial Matters
Budget Transfers and/or App~ions
Public Building Maintenance Department: After discussing the request
of Richard Russell, Superintendent of Public Buildings, to have an
additional $1500 appropriated to the over-time account, Mayor Peters
moved to approve a reduced amount of $1000, seconded by Deputy Mayor
Powers, passed unanimously.
Corporation Counsel: Mmyor Peters moved to approve a request of
Attorney Dmderson to allocate an additional $5500 to the Special
Counsel/Expert Witness account due to unanticipated expenses related
tot he tax appeal of Corbin Russwin and the Griswold School oil tank
failure, seconded by Deputy Mayor Powers, passed unanimously.
Tax Refunds
Mayor Peters moved to approve a tax refund in the amount of $125.00 for
Stella and Albert Covini, correction due to state audit, seconded by
Deputy Mayor Powers, passed unanimously.
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Personnel/Purchasing Matters Continued
~_~tmen~t__of Civilian Police Dispatcher (Executive Session) · mal Control Personnel ~tter (Executive S~'ss"i0n)
Mayor Peters moved to enter Executive Session at 8:50 p.m. to take up
the two above stated matters, seconded by Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed
unanimously. The Personnel Director was asked to remain.
Mayor Peters moved to exit Executive Session at 9:10 p.m., seconded by
Deputy Mayor Powers, passed unanimously. The following action was
taken:
Civilian Police Dispatchers: Mayor Peters moved to appoint Thc~as
Marotta of New Britain and Ta~my Wright of Newington as Civilian Police
Dispatchers, with Mr. Marotta to have assume his duties first,
seconded by Deputy M~yor Powers, passed unanimously.
Animal Control Department: No action taken.
Adjournment
Mayor Peters moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:13 p.m., seconded by
Deputy Mayor Veronesi, passed unani~Dusly.
/~ect~lly~ S~tt~, .
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