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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 -2- 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. -3- 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. -4- 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. -5- 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. -6- 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~, . -7-