MINUTES
WATERTOWN TOWN COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2003, 8:00 P.M.
PRESENT: = &nb= sp; Elaine Adams
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Lee Archer, Chairman
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Raymond Hebert, Jr., Vice Chairman
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Robert Kane
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Jean King
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Raymond Primini
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Paul Rinaldi
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Paul Valenti
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Richard Wick
ABSENT: &= nbsp; &nbs= p; None
OTHERS PRESENT: &=
nbsp; Roy
Cavanaugh, Interim Public Works Director
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; Frank Nardelli, Assistant Town
Manager/Finance Director
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; Meredith Robson, Town Manager
1.&nb= sp; Call Meeting To Order
Mr. = Archer, Chairman, Called the Meeting to Order at 8:02 p.m.
2.&nb= sp; Roll Call
Ms. LaForme, Board Clerk, executed the Roll Call.
&= nbsp; Mr. Archer, Chairman, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 2
4.&nb=
sp; Public
Participation
&=
nbsp; Robert
LeBlanc, 78 Highland Avenue, Watertown, CT=
06795
&= nbsp; Mr. LeBlanc: Third in the last election, second in the last election; we did pretty good. I wasn’t planning on speaking tonight, but after saying the Pledge of Allegiance I see you’ve got a little dinky flag over here. Can’t we afford to buy a decent flag for our country and our Town. I will approach the Boa= rd of Education about it; I did once before and I’ll do it again, and I just wanted to say I was disappointed with that.
&=
nbsp; Al
Mickel, 173 DiNunzio Road, Oakville, CT&nb=
sp;
06779
&= nbsp; Mr. Mickel: I was reading the Minutes that were on line, thank you, and it looks to me that you might have missed the mark when you reconsidered the Motion on the A-24. There was a motion to reconsider, = then a motion to move the question, that passed, and then a motion to adjourn the meeting. You never voted on t= he main motion.
&= nbsp; Mr. Rinaldi: The Minutes are written that way.
&= nbsp; Mr. Archer: I definitely know= what happened, but . . . . . Lynn just mentioned she will listen to the tape aga= in and see if something was missed.
&= nbsp; Mr. Archer, Chairman, Closed Public Participation at 8:05 p.m.
5.&nb=
sp; Minutes
&= nbsp; A. Regular Meeting Minutes - September 2, 2003
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. = Kane, sec. Mr. Wick) to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes dated September 2, 20= 03 as presented.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Archer, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Ms. King, Mr. Primini, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Wick
= ; &n= bsp; Opposed: = None
= ; &n= bsp; Abstained: Mr. Valenti (due to absence)
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; MOTION CARRIED (8-0-1)
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 3
&= nbsp; B. = Public Hearing Minutes – September 2, 2003
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Mr. = Kane, sec. Mr. Hebert) to approve the Public Hearing Minutes dated September 2, 2= 003 as presented.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; In Favor: &= nbsp; Ms. Adams, Mr. Archer, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Ms. King, Mr. Primini, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Wick
= ; &n= bsp; Opposed: = None
= ; &n= bsp; Abstained: Mr. Valenti (due to absence)
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; MOTION CARRIED (8-0-1)
6.&nb=
sp; Sub-Committee
Reports
A. &nbs= p; Public Works Subcommittee
Ms. = Adams: We met last Tuesday and one of the= items we discussed a lot will show up on the Agenda tonight, the change in project designation for LOCIP funds, so we can discuss that later. We also discussed the Town Meeting= we had tonight. Awhile ago we talked= about doing a North Street study and that has been completed last week. Engineering/Public Works is in the process of evaluating that data. Steel Brook – about a year ago we approved money for the environmental study to be done on that.&nb= sp; The firm has been hired, Bay State Environmental and they have met w= ith Mr. Cavanaugh and others, but it will probably be about 6 - 8 months before= we hear anything back from them.
B. &nbs= p; Finance Subcommittee
= Mr. Kane: Obviously the Finan= ce Committee encourages everyone to vote tomorrow. We have worked diligently and bipartisanly on this and you’ll see that it is a 1.94% increase which= is a relatively small margin and it’s important that this budget pass th= is time, and I encourage everyone to go out and vote, and please tell your fri= ends and neighbors to vote as well.
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 4
C. &nbs= p; Ordinance Subcommittee
&nb= sp; Mr. Wick: We considered two n= ew ordinances that will be discussed later on this evening for scheduling for a Public Hearing. One is a new ordinance pertaining to a new municipal code, and the other is a change to = the ordinance regarding regulations for the use of parks and public land.
7.&nb= sp; Chairman’s Report
= ; A. Correspondence
= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Archer, Chairman, read aloud the following resignation letters:
= ; &n= bsp; 1. = Resignation Letter from Ronald Blanchard from the Police Commission, dated July 12 2002= .
= ; &n= bsp; = ; “Dear Ginny:
= ; &n= bsp; = ; I resign effective July 7, 2003 as Chairman and Member of the Board of Police Commissioners, Town of Watertown.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Yours truly,
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ronald M. Blanchard”
= ; &n= bsp; 2. = Resignation Letter from Domenic N. Calabrese as an Alternate Member of the Zoning Board= of Appeals, dated August 28, 2003.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; “Dear Chairman Reynolds:
= ; &n= bsp; = ; I am sending this letter to inform you of my decision to resign from my posit= ion as an Alternate Member of the Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals effective immediately. My numerous responsibilities have prevented me from devoting the time necessary to prop= erly discharge my responsibilities as an Alternate Member of the Z.B.A. It has been a pleasure to serve un= der your chairmanship with the other members of the Z.B.A. Watertown is fortunate to be serve= d by the dedicated members of the Z.B.A. Please extend my thanks and best wishes to the members of the Z.B.A.=
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Very truly yours,
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Domenic N. Calabrese”
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 5
= ; &n= bsp; 3. = Resignation Letter from Sharon Demers from the Police Commission, dated August 30, 2003= .
= ; &n= bsp; = ; “Dear Ms. Reilly:
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Please accept this letter of resignation. I would like to thank you all for giving me the opportunity to serve= the Town of Watertown. It has bee= n a pleasure working with you and representing the Democratic Town Committee on= the Police Commission, however at this time I must step down to attend to my elderly mother.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Sincerely,
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Sharon Demers”
= ; B. = Facts and Fallacies
= ; &n= bsp; None
= ; C. Other
= ; &= nbsp; None
= ; &n= bsp; Ms. King: I’d like to b= ring something up that may be referred to the Manager. It’s something of concern to= me over the years and people on the Council may have heard it before. The schedule for the Park and Rec = has come out again as it always does. I firmly believe since we are subsidizing our Park and Rec program that we sh= ould make people very aware of the fact that if they can’t afford to send their children to programs, there are scholarships and assistance available, and I have repeatedly asked for that to be in this printed brochure and it isn’t. I think it made = it once and then disappeared again. I’d like to make a suggestion that maybe the Parks and Recreat= ion Commission could look into this, but I noted when the Board of Ed put in Pay For Play, they did say that any child that was eligible for free lunch or who’s parents were on food stamps would automatically not have to pay= for Pay for Play. That might be a policy that we could have for our Park and Rec programs that would be fair. I don’t want peop= le to feel that they have to go through a grand inquisition, but I think we ought= to make people aware of this in a very public way.
= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Archer: I agree, and perh= aps you could have that conversation with . . . . on both of those points.
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 6
&nb= sp; Ms. Robson: Sure.
= ; &= nbsp; Ms. King: And it may be that = the Park and Rec Commission might want to look at that issue to, but this is of concern to me.
8.&nb=
sp; Action
Items
= ; A. Consider Appointments to Boards and Commissions
&n=
bsp; =
; The
terms of various Boards and Commissions have expired or are expiring. Appointments must be made to fill =
these
vacancies.
= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Archer, Chairman, read the following letter from the Connecticut Office of Tourism:
= ; &n= bsp; “Dear Mr. O’Connor:
= ; &n= bsp; In a recently concluded session of the Connecticut General Assembly significant changes were enacted regarding regional tourism districts. Public Act 3-6 eliminates the 11 regional tourism organizations and creates 5 new regional tourism organizations. Each regional tourism district is to be governed by a Board of Directors made up of appointees form the represented communities. The new legislation, which was eff= ective on passage, requires the new regions to begin their work immediately. The initial meeting of the Board o= f Directors must be held by October 15 2003. In order to begin, representative board members must be appointed. I’m writing to ask you to id= entify the individual appointed to the northwestern regional district covering your Town. I would appreciate your informing me in writing the individual’s full name, email address, address, phone and fax numbers no later than September 30, 2003. Appointments are for 3 years.
= ; &n= bsp; Edward Dobroskis
= ; &n= bsp; Executive Director
= ; &n= bsp; Connecticut Office of Tourism”
= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Archer: They are asking f= or a single appointee.
= ; &n= bsp; Ms. King: Who represented us before?
= ; &n= bsp; Mr. Archer: I guess logically= she would continue to do that, so there is no appointment to be made, right?
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 7
= ; &n= bsp; Ms. Robson: We have to appoin= t her.
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Ms. = Adams, sec. Mr. Primini) to appoint Lisa Carew to the Northwest Regional Tourist District, Term to Expire July, 2005.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION: (Ms. = King, sec. Mr. Rinaldi) to appoint Joseph Polletta, 262 Tucker Avenue Extension, Oakville, CT to the Conservation Commission/Inland Wetlands Agency, replaci= ng Mary Dzioba, Term to Expire January, 2004.
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; &n= bsp; MOTIN PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
=
; B. =
Consider
Setting Mill Rate for Fiscal Year 2003/2004
&n=
bsp; =
; If
the budget passed on September 16, 2003 the mill rate must be established to
levy the taxes on real estate motor vehicle, personal property and real est=
ate
tax bills for the elderly on the homeowners program. The bills for the second installme=
nt on
Real Estate due on January 1, 2004 will include an adjustment to reflect the
new mill rate for the first installment that was due on July 1, 2003.
R E S O L U T I O N
&n= bsp; WHEREAS, the mill rate must be established to levy the taxes on motor vehicle, perso= nal property and real estate.
&n= bsp; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that if the budget is approved by Referendum vote= on September 16, 2003 the mill rate for the fiscal year 2003/2004 shall be 25.= 91 due and payable on October 1 2003 for Personal Property taxes, Motor Vehicle taxes and Real Estate tax bills for elderly on the Homeowners Program and t= he second installment on Real Estate due on January 1, 2004 which will include= an adjustment to reflect the new mill rate of 25.91 for the first installment = that was due on July 1, 2003.
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 8
&n= bsp; Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15th day of September, 2003.
&n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; =
; &n=
bsp; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
&n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Lee Archer Chairman
&n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Watertown Town Council
= ; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Mr. Kane) to approve the following Resolution (as outlined abo= ve).
= ; &n= bsp; Discussion: Ms. A= dams: With the homeowners bills are we l= ooking to bill them out in October for the difference from July?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Nardelli: We haven’t billed out the elderly homeowners yet.&nbs= p; We have to set the mill rate before we can do that.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Ms. Adams: No, is it just the elderly we’re referring to, or the other property owners as well?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Nardelli: The 10/1/03, we= have not billed the elderly yet.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: No, but what about= all the homeowners?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Mr. Nardelli: We’re set= ting the mill rate to bill them out for the first time October 1, 2003, for the elderly. And then the second = part of this Motion you’ll see we want to make an adjustment for the Janua= ry 1, 2004 real estate installment, your second payment will reflect the adjustment for the new mill rate. Your first installment was based on the old mill rate, your second installment will include the new mill rate, plus an adjustment to make up t= he difference for the first payment you made.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: We’ll be sen= ding out the personal property . . . .
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Nardelli: The personal property, the elderly, real estate and motor vehicles on October 1st the bills would go out. We wa= nt to do that tonight because if the budget passes tomorrow, we won’t need a Special Meeting to do the mill rate, we’ll get the bills out right aw= ay.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Archer: So this is moot i= f it does not pass?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; &n= bsp; Mr. Nardelli: Correct.
= ; &n= bsp; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 9
9. =
Discussion
Items
A. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on Acceptance of a Job Description for MEO II/Ma= son
= Ms. Robson: At the last meeti= ng you voted on the title. This is t= he actual job description for the MEO II/Mason position that we discussed. Roy Cavanaugh is still here in cas= e you have any additional questions.
= ; MOTION: (Ms. = Adams, sec. Mr. Hebert) to approve the MEO II/Mason job description as presented.<= /p>
= ; Discussion: Ms. King: The issues that are raised in this memo from Roy are about the existing position and keeping it, and our voting doesn’t make any difference on that? He says he wants the flexibility of having the current one kept available.&nbs= p; Do we have to act to make that happen?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Robson: No. You just need to make sure that you’re comfortable with the job description itself, and you’ve already voted to the title. There’s no change in terms of personnel.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. King: No, but his memo im= plies that maybe they were going to, he was worried that the #1 position would go away.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Robson: No, this would be= to just approve this title as well. It doesn’t change the MEO I.
= ; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
B. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on Change in Project Designation for LOCIP Funds=
= Ms. Adams: That was scheduled= to use LOCIP money for was the part of Echo Lake Road from Adams Road all the = way up to the stop light here. This was voted on and approved on last year. Subsequently what has happened ove= r last Winter is two other roads in Town have really taken a beating to the point = of if we don’t do something, we’re going to need to spend bukoo bu= cks to get it done. One of them is Davis Street in Oakville form Main Street just past the VFW, about where Ma= ple Road is, that road this Winter got all chewed up, and it’s in really = bad shape and is a high traffic area. The second one is parts of Cherry Avenue, from certain parts there, again if we don’t do something we’re going to lose the road totally. The Subcommittee fel= t that Echo Lake Road from Adams to Buckingham Street really isn’t in bad sh= ape, so take the money and use it towards these other two sections of road that = are in rally bad shape. We’= re robbing Peter to pay Paul, basically.
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 10
= Ms. King: The part of Bucking= ham Street that we’re talking is the part that’s all messed, even though you say it’s not in bad shape, it’s the part where they = dug it up and patched it. I think it’s in pretty awful shape myself, but these others are in much worse shape so this part of Echo lake Road will make it through the Winter with t= he plows, etc.?
&nb= sp; Mr. Cavanaugh: There are part= s of Echo Lake Road, a good portion of it is repaved or there was a trench repair done as part of the water main installation project which was the reason the whole thing wasn’t done in the first place. Due to a repaving job the (inaudib= le) is about 9 inches asphalt went back and given the fact that the rest of it, in= my opinion, should survive the Winter better than Davis Street and Cherry Stre= et will so the shift in priorities we thought, let me back up a second, one of= the reasons we need to have Council action on the shift of the priorities actua= lly LOCIP is a reimbursement program. It’s not they give you money and then you expend it. We have to go expend the money and= then they reimburse it. To documen= t the paper trail we have to make it very explicit to the D.O.T. that this is what the Council wants to spend the money on via legislative action to facilitate the reimbursement process, so the Subcommittee felt this money could be bet= ter spent on Davis and Cherry Streets at this time.
= ; MOTION: (Ms. = Adams, sec. Mr. Kane) to change the project designation for LOCIP funds from Echo = Lake Road from Adams to Buckingham Street, and instead shift it to Davis Street between Main Street and a point to be designated north of Maple Avenue (we’re not exactly sure if it’s going to be 10, 15 past; weR= 17;d like a little leeway on that) and the balance to be used to repave a portio= n of Cheery Avenue from Lockwood Drive to the south.
= ; Discussion: None<= /p>
= ; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
C. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on Request from the Board of Education for Authorization to Establish a Separate Fund for Pay-To-Participate in Sports=
= Mr. Archer, Chairman, read aloud a memo from Dr. John Ramos, Superintendent of Schools, regarding establishing a bank account for Pay-To-Participate:
= “As you know the Board of Education’s 2003/2004 budget has a provision for charging a fee to athletes in order for them to participate in a sport. On the advice of the auditors, a separate account should be established for this purpose, therefore we will = need the Town Council’s permission to established a separate checking acco= unt for these funds. Please put t= his request on the next Town Council Agenda.”
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 11
= Mr. Archer: Does it really ne= ed to be a separate checking account?
= Mr. Nardelli: Well what they = really mean is a separate fund, but it has to be designated in a separate fund bec= ause the monies they’re taking in for Pay-For Play is not going into the General Fund. It will be a se= parate fund and they’re going to pay the corresponding expenses out of that separate fund and in order to establish a separate fund the Council has to authorize that.
= Ms. Adams: If there is any ba= lance left over, instead of having to return it to the General Fund, can they put= it back into the program?
&nb= sp; Mr. Nardelli: If you so desig= nate that cause basically the Council can designate the funds to be used at the = end of the program to wherever the Council wants to basically do with it.
= Ms. Adams: I thought there we= re funds on the Board that some of them had to come back to the General Fund, = but others they were allowed to keep.
&nb= sp; Mr. Nardelli: Yes, that was t= he Community Service Fund that has to come back. Again that was a Resolution adopte= d by the Town Council saying that if there is anything in the Community Service = Fund left over, it comes back to the General Fund.
&nb= sp; Ms. Adams: But don’t th= ey have a few others that they keep the money on and use it the next year?
= Mr. Nardelli: They have certa= in grants and what not that yes, they maintain, that does not come back to the general fund.
= Ms. Adams: I thought there wa= s a couple outstanding still.
= Mr. Hebert: Most of them were gotten rid of.
= Ms. King: So you’re say= ing we could say how we want this fund to be.&nbs= p; In other words the one thing that I don’t know is the Board of= Ed is treating this money separately so they’re not putting it into their regular budget to support regular educational expenses. They’re putting it to pay for athletic expenses that would ordinarily have been paid for by their budget. We should have that in writing as part of our understanding which is that money is going to come i= nto the Board of Ed which they are going to use to pay athletic expenses for te= am sports, or something like that?
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 12
= Mr. Nardelli: That’s th= e best of my knowledge also. I was n= ot involved in setting up this fund. I do know that to establish a new fund the Council has to authorize that, and if you want some criteria spelled out as= to how those fund are to be dispersed and at the end of the program if there a= re funds left over, where they go, then yes, you can do that, the Council could ask for that in writing.
= Ms. Adams: Do we need more information on exactly what they feel they need?
= Mr. Archer: I think Jean has = a good point, it would be nice to see in writing how they intend to handle the mon= ies in/monies out, where are they going to, but I don’t think we need tha= t to approve setting up the fund, but it’s a good idea to have it.
= Ms. King: We did this with the Community Service Fund, we went through a lot of agony over that. I believe it took us a year to get= that wording. It seemed like a long time. I think it is important= . I’m not concerned that the m= oney come back to the General Fund, I would just as soon the money continue to support athletics, but it would be nice to have that in writing.
= Mr. Nardelli: I think one of = the problems they have is the checks have been coming into this particular fund= and they don’t have a fund to deposit them into. If you wanted to okay establishing= this fund and have the Board of Ed come back with criteria as to what it is to be expended on at the next Town Council meeting, you could certainly do that.<= /p>
= Mr. Rinaldi: If sports are su= ch a burden in this Town that we have to have pay for play, why would we have mo= ney left over in this account?
&nb= sp; Mr. Kane: No one said there w= ould be, they’re just talking about it if there were, hypothetically.
= Mr. Archer: Maybe someone wou= ld donate some equipment (inaudible).
= Ms. Adams: Exactly. Back in 91, I think it might have = been the Watertown Foundation donated a chunk of money to defer the cost of pay = to play, and the parents who paid for their athletes ended up getting a little money back.
=
M=
OTION: (Mr.
Hebert, sec. Mr. Kane) to approve
setting up a Board of Education Fund for Pay-For-Play with the understanding
that at the next Council meeting we’ll get a complete breakdown of wh=
at
the plans are for that fund, as far as expenses and end of year surplus.
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Discussion: Mr. Kane: I was going to move to=
Table
this item seeing that is a necessity for more information as a number of
members have asked.
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 13
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION: (Mr. =
Kane,
sec. Ms. Adams) to Table this item seeing that there is a necessity for more
information.
&= nbsp; &nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Discussion: None<= o:p>
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; In
Favor: &=
nbsp; Ms.
Adams, Mr. Archer, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Primini
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Opposed: =
Ms.
King, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Valenti, Mr. Wick
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; Abstained: None
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION
CARRIED (5-4-0)
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; MOTION
WAS NEVER VOTED ON (TABLED)
D. &nbs= p; Consider Setting Continued Public Hearing Date, Time, and Place for Proposed Code of Ethic Ordinance
= ; MOTION: (Mr. = Wick, sec. Ms. Adams) to amend Item 9D to include two other ordinances, in additi= on to the one listed – the new code pertaining to the Municipal Code Corporation work, and the second ordinance is a change to the regulations of the use of parks, public land, and recreation areas.
= Discussion: None<= /p>
= MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
= ; MOTION: (Mr. = Wick, sec. Mr. Kane) to recommend scheduling a Public Hearing for the municipal c= ode ordinance be held on October 6, 2003 at 7:00 p.m. in the John Trumbull Prim= ary School Media Center, and that the Public Hearing for the purposed changes to the ordinance concerning rules and regulations for the use of parks and pub= lic land be scheduled for the same time and place, and that the Continued Public Hearing for the proposed code of ethics ordinance be scheduled for 7:15 on = the same date and place.
= ; Discussion: Ms. King: We didn’t have enough time to even begin to address the ethics ordinance for people who we= re there the last time. I don= 217;t think it’s appropriate to have it at the same time cause 7:15, I think you should set a different time for that, a longer time period.
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 14
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Wick: Well this will give= us 45 minutes, which is 50% more than we had theoretically last time, and if we don’t have enough time to hear all the additional input from the publ= ic then we’ll continue it over again.&n= bsp; We probably have a good bit of additional homework to do, if you wil= l, as a result of the thoughts that were presented 2 weeks ago, and we want to take the time to consider all of those points carefully.
= ; MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY
E. &nbs= p; Discussion and Possible Action on Resolution Appointing Labor Counsel
R E S O L U T I O N
= BE IT RESOLVED that he Town Council appoints Joseph B. Summa of the firm Summa & Ryan, P.C. as Labor Counsel for the Town of Watertown.
= Dated at Watertown, Connecticut this 15th day of September, 2003.
=
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
&nb=
sp; =
&=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp;
= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Lee Archer, Chairman
= &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = &nb= sp; = Watertown Town Council
= ; MOTION: (Mr. Hebert, sec. Mr. Kane) to approve the following Resolution (as outlined above). (Tape #1, Side A ended – may have missed some.)
= ; Discussion: Ms. Adams: I believe any kind= of resolution like this would have to include a dollar amount per hour we woul= d be paying, and I believe Randy charges $135.00 an hour, as does Clavin and Soffacker, and the second point is as part of the agreement with Reiner &am= p; Reiner, we have a conflict of interest section of this that says during the term of this retainer agreement and for 2 years thereafter the firm shall n= ot represent a client, if the representation of that client will be directly adverse to Watertown. Further during the same period the firm agrees not to appear before any of Watertown’s boards and commissions or any other departments or agenci= es on behalf of any client other than Watertown, and I think that should also = be a part of this.
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 15
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Archer: So do you want to= Amend the Motion to have that added to the Resolution, or Table it until we have another resolution to approve?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: Are they willing t= o work for $135.00 an hour?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. King: I would question wh= ich is, I don’t believe you do have to put the rate in the ordinance.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Adams: In a resolution?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. King: Resolution.
= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; Mr. Hebert: It has to be appr= oved by the Town Attorney correct, the Town Attorney . . . . .
= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; Ms. King: No. I just didn’t believe that w= e had to put an amount in the resolution period.= That’s my question.
= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; Ms. Adams: When we hired Rand= y we did.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Archer: Having more infor= mation is not a bad thing. I think t= he reason it was in the resolution with Randy is because we had in hand a prop= osal from him to do work as the Town Attorney which is what we were referring to. I mean it’s not a b= ad idea to know what exactly we’re paying, I mean it makes sense, but I don’t know whether or not it actually has to be part of the Resolutio= n.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. King: Doesn’t Mered= ith have a proposal from Mr. Summa with rates?
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Robson: Yes, it’s $= 195.00 a hour but there is also a discount provision. Once the entire bill is submitted = he would take 10% off the total, so not just his work but any work of his associates or staff would also be reduced by 10% of the entire bill.
= ; &n= bsp; &= nbsp; Mr. Archer: Maybe for the public’s benefit, if you could explain the purpose of having a separa= te labor attorney?
Watertown Town Council
Regular Meeting
September 15, 2003
Page 16
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Ms. Robson: The separate labor attorney would give us greater expertise in the area of personnel and labor law, certain areas I fully believe need and require a particular expertise versus general experience and expertise, and labor law, I believe is one of those, and we have a number of issues of different sorts, labor negotiation= s, personnel issues, grievances, those sorts of things, policy questions, that= I believe it’s critical that we have a labor attorney with particular e= xpertise in that field assist us, and frankly I believe save us money in the long ru= n.
= ; &n= bsp; = ; Mr. Kane: I agree with lookin= g for more information.
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; MOTION (Mr.
Kane, sec. Ms. Adams) to Table this so we can get additional information.
=
; &n=
bsp; =
; In
favor: &=
nbsp; Ms.
Adams, Mr. Archer, Mr. Hebert, Mr. Kane, Mr. Primini, Mr. Wick =
; &n=
bsp; =
; Opposed: =
Ms.
King, Mr. Rinaldi, Mr. Valenti =
; &n=
bsp; =
; Abstained: None =
; &n=
bsp; =
; MOTION
CARRIED (6-3-0) =
; MOTION
WAS NEVER VOTED ON (TABLED) =
; Ms.
Robson: What additional
information do you need, so I know what to get? =
Ms.
Adams: The conflict of
interest, if they are willing to agree to that as our Town Attorney and any=
body
else representing at this time has (inaudible). =
Mr.
Kane: I remember somethin=
g, it
goes back to our first meeting in 01 regarding the hiring of the Town Attor=
ney
and the rate, if we can go back to that maybe there is something in the
Minutes, I’m sure the contract or the motion will show it, but I thou=
ght
there was something to that effect. =
Mr.
Archer: When Randy origin=
ally
submitted a proposal to us, and I would imagine Joe Summa did too, a propos=
al
of some type, I think everyone pretty much wants to see that. Watertown Town Council Regular Meeting September 15, 2003 Page 17 =
Ms.
Robson: Okay. =
Mr.
Valenti: Aren’t we at present in the middle of several contract
negotiations? =
Ms.
Robson: Yes. 10. &n=
bsp; Public
Participation &=
nbsp; Al
Mickel. 173 DiNunzio Road, Oakville, CT&nb=
sp;
06779 &=
nbsp; Mr.
Mickel: You mentioned
ordinances again, and you mentioned two new ones. Is there a chance I can read those=
? We can I get a copy of those? &=
nbsp; Mr.
Wick: Yes, they are avail=
able
at the Town Manager’s Office.
I forgot to point out when I made the announcement about the code
ordinance that it’s a major step toward the goal that you have been
looking for which is to put it on the web. &=
nbsp; Robert
LeBlanc, 78 Highland Avenue, Watertown, CT=
06795 &=
nbsp; Mr.
LeBlanc: Can we get the s=
alt
and sand pile covered out at the dump on Beard Road? I’ve been fighti=
ng
that for about 3.5 years. We =
have
the equipment, we have the aluminum roof gutters or rafters and they’=
ve
been sitting in the corner and they’re getting to be hidden now by the
brush and the trees growing over it, and I’ve been fighting for 3.5 y=
ears
and everybody tells me well this Fall we will do it. Fall is around the corner and I ju=
st
wondered if we could get our salt/sand pile covered up at no cost to the To=
wn,
just by erecting this edifice, whatever it is. &=
nbsp; Mr.
Cavanaugh: Yes, we antici=
pate
starting the relocation of the salt pile across from where the former trans=
fer
station was. The objective of
relocating the salt pile would be to put the new salt pile location on virg=
in
ground if you will, so it wouldn’t be subject to settlement like it
currently is in this location, which is due to the fact that the salt pile =
is
on the former landfill, it’s on unconsolidated garbage and it continu=
es
to settle. The problem we had=
in
the past about putting the cover over it, I believe it cost $14,000 of putt=
ing
a cover on a structure that settles is that it would tear and break up the =
new
cover. So we are looking to
construct a new pile and we’re also going to make it impervious to
salt. We’re looking to =
cover
it, I don’t anticipate finishing it this year, but we are going to ge=
t it
started. We have to do a test
bit. Currently the Public Wor=
ks
Department is scheduled to commence operations in October. Toward that end we do have 99 new
concrete blocks which have been purchased already and we’re awaiting
delivery for installation on the new storage bin. I don’t anticipate we’=
ll
finish it, but we’ll make a good start, and hopefully we’ll add=
ress
Mr. LeBlanc’s concerns. Watertown Town Council Regular Meeting September 15, 2003 Page 18 &=
nbsp; Mr.
Archer: What is the appro=
ximate
cost to erect that? I imagine=
there
are man hours involved. &=
nbsp; Mr.
Cavanaugh: I’m work=
ing on
memory, I think about $8,000 in concrete for the foundation. The blocks themselves were about
$3,500. Of course the actual
framework is already in storage on site, we have to inspect the cover to ma=
ke
sure it’s still suitable for use after all this time in storage to pu=
t it
up. One of the challenges we
anticipate in actually erecting the cover over the salt pile is that it will
probably require some sort of hoisting device where the construction, the
framework or trusses that are going up over it, which we haven’t even
begun to consider. The D.O.T.
constructed almost an identical pile from the one we’re anticipating =
and
it took them almost a full year of solid construction to do it, so thatR=
17;s
the challenge that we’re looking at. Mr. Archer, Chairman=
, Closed
Public Participation at 8:44 p.m. 12.&n=
bsp; Adjournment =
; MOTION: (Mr.
Hebert, sec. Ms. Adams) to Adjourn the Regular Meeting at 8:45 p.m. <=
/span>Discussion: None<=
/p>
<=
/span>MOTION
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY <=
/span>Regular
Meeting Adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully
submitted, Lee
Archer, Chairman Watertown
Town Council Approved: _______________________________ Lynn M. LaF=
orme,
Clerk