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Health Welfare and Public
Safety Committee Actions
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CITY OF NORWALK
HEALTH, WELFARE AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 24, 2008
ATTENDANCE: Michael Geake, Chairman, Laurel Lindstrom, Stephen
Serasis, Nicholas Kydes (via telephone conference call)
STAFF: Tim Callahan, Health Department Director
OTHERS: Assistant Fire Chief Reilly, Michelle DeLuca, Deputy
Director of Emergency Management,
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Geake called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 26, 2007 AND DECEMBER 27, 2007
THE MINUTES OF JULY 26, 2007.
Mr. Geake pointed out that the minutes from July 26, 2007 indicated that the June 28, 2007 meeting did not have a quorum and the minutes from that meeting were not approved. After a brief discussion, it was decided that the minutes from the June 28, 2007 meeting would be included on the agenda for the next meeting.
** MS. LINDSTROM MOVED THE MINUTES OF JULY 26 2007 AS SUBMITTED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 27, 2007
** MS. LINDSTROM MOVED THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 27, 2007.
The following correction was noted:
Page 7, paragraph 8, line 1: Please change the following from: “Rev. Bolden then asked why these races were not shown on television.” TO: “Rev. Bolden then asked why these races were not shown on television outside of the OTB location.”
** THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 27, 2007 AS CORRECTED PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY GARDEN GRANT
Mr. Callahan said that the State of Connecticut had issued a call for projects to improve the environment. Norwalk had proposed to establish community gardens at Fodor Farm. The grant funding will be used to bring water to the site. Mr. Cross is an organic farmer. He also knows the group connected with Mr. Neumann’s organic restaurant in Westport. There is also an organic farm in Wilton that is very interested in this project. The Wilton group is also interested in utilizing the farmhouse as a learning site. Another possibility is that there is a historic carriage house on the grounds of the University of Bridgeport that could be disassembled and brought to Fodor Farm. The Parks Department will be handling the permits.
One of the requirements of the State is focused on engaging the residents of South Norwalk, particularly the residents of South Norwalk with children that are between 8-18 years old. Mr. Serasis mentioned that there was an established relationship with some of the after school programs.
Mr. Kydes said that it was a great concept. He then asked if there would be any funding that the City would be required to supply. Mr. Callahan said that budget for landscaping has already been done.
Mr. Geake asked about deer. Mr. Callahan said that other communities have designed garden that have a wild life border. Mr. Geake asked about vandalism. Mr. Serasis said that there would be a caretaker on the property.
** MR. KYDES MOVED TO APPROVE THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE MAYOR, RICHARD A. MOCCIA
TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL APPLICATIONS, AGREEMENTS DOCUMENTS, INSTRUMENTS, OR AMENDMENTS
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS AND IMPLEMENT THE FODOR
FARM COMMUNITY GARDEN PROJECT FROM THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH FOR THE PERIOD FEBRUARY 1, 2008 THROUGH AT LEAST JUNE 30, 2009 FOR A
MINIMUM AMOUNT OF $94,911.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
WIC PROGRAM GRANT
Mr. Callahan said that Norwalk has been involved in WIC for about twenty-five years. The State is now consolidating the program. The cost of the program is absorbed by the State. The program provides vouchers for women of childbearing age with children up to age 5. Mr. Callahan said that they strongly encourage the parents to insure that their children are immunized. Mr. Serasis said that he had been at NEON and knew that WIC met there every Wednesday
** MS. LINDSTROM MOVED TO APPROVE THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE MAYOR, RICHARD A.
MOCCIA, TO EXECUTE ANY AN ALL APPLICATIONS, AGREEMENTS, DOCUMENTS, INSTRUMENTS,
OR AMENDMENTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS AND IMPLEMENT
THE WOMEN INFANTS AND CHILDREN’S PROGRAM WITH THE CITY OF STAMFORD FOR THE PERIOD
OCTOBER 1, 2007 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 FOR THE AMOUNT OF $202,500.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
CONTRACT WITH MARION BODY WORKS
Assistant Chief Reilly explained that the Rescue Truck is about 15 years old and that it takes about a year to build a new one. Assistant Chief Reilly then reviewed the costs and the prepayment agreement to the Commission. He indicated that there is also a one percent discount for prepayment on the trucks, which brings the price down to $419,050. There also is a performance bond in the contract. Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Foley did not have a problem with a prepayment for this issue. The current Rescue Truck, which is from 1994, will become a reserve truck. The current reserve rescue truck, which was assembled from two old fire trucks, will be permanently retired.
** MR. SERASIS MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH MARION BODY WORKS, 211 WEST RAMSDELL, MARION WI 54950, FOR A FIRE DEPARTMENT RESCUE TRUCK FOR A PRICE NOT TO EXCEED $431,650.00 (LESS $10,000.00 FOR PREPAYMENT DISCOUNT). CAPITAL ACCOUNT NO. 090731105777CO383. REMAINING $1650.00 TO COME FROM VARIOUS BUDGET ACCOUNTS.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
UPDATE ON PLANNED FORUM
Ms. DeLuca said that she had been working with the Bethel AME Church for an Emergency Preparedness forum to be held on February 12th at 6:00 p.m. Invitations and announcements will go out to various groups in the next few days.
OTB SIMULCAST DISCUSSION
Mr. Geake said that the public hearing had been held. Mr. Serasis said that he had conducted an unofficial survey and that the overwhelming majority of more than 80% were against the measure.
Ms. Lindstrom said that it was noteworthy that not only did no one show up to support the simulcast but also there was no one there to speak against the proposal. She said this leads her to leave the situation as it is.
Mr. Kydes said that the factor that caused him to vote in favor of the simulcast was that no one showed up at the hearing. If anyone from the public had shown up to speak against it, he could have been persuaded to vote against it. Since no one did show at the hearing, he felt he should vote to proceed. He said that they only want to have real time capability at the OTB.
Mr. Geake said that his concern was that OTB was a legal activity, sanctioned by the State and that the City and both the State and City benefits from it financially. Mr. Geake said that he would have a problem denying it on moral ground. He would prefer to have a legal justification to reject the request. Mr. Geake said that he was not belittling Mr. Serasis’s impromptu survey, but it concerned him that there was no legal justification.
Ms. Lindstrom said that she had looked at the pros and cons of the issue. She said that she had been told it would not be increasing the attendance. She said by having it in Norwalk, those who were interested might end up traveling to the nearest location. She said that she could go either way on the issue.
Mr. Geake said that he sensed a tie vote. In light of that, he would like to have the Council weigh in on the issue. Mr. Serasis said that he needed to be true to his district and the people who elected him.
Mr. Kydes said that while he had no vested interest in this issue, but did not want to impose his ethics on others who may have some enjoyment in betting on the OTB. Mr. Kydes said that he could not see any legal reason for opposing it. With the lack of attendance at the hearing, Mr. Kydes said that the OTB organization had a right to offer more services to their customers. Therefore, he had no recourse but to vote yes.
** MR. KYDES MOVED TO APPROVE THE REQUEST FOR SIMLUCAST BY THE OTB.
** THE MOTION PASSED WITH TWO IN FAVOR (GEAKE, KYDES) AND ONE AGAIINST (SERASIS)
AND ONE ABSTENTION (LINDSTROM).
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Geake said that gang violence was increasing and that a number of groups were forming to deal with this issue. He asked if the committee should be doing something about this issue.
Mr. Serasis said that he was part of the Urban Coalition of Youth program and that there were programs underway. A number of clergy are backing these initiatives and the meetings are usually held at the Norwalk Police Station. Mr. Serasis said that the Urban Coalition seems to be the largest group and it would be important to have the Norwalk Youth Service Program staff present to give a detailed explanation.
Mr. Kydes said that every time he reads the paper, he noticed that the activities all seem to have a Bridgeport connection. He said that it appears that the Bridgeport gangs are coming to Norwalk to recruit members. Mr. Kydes asked if it would be possible to have a meeting with Bridgeport about this.
Mr. Serasis said that the feedback he has gotten from Bridgeport services is that there had been a decrease in the gang activity in their area. Mr. Kydes said that he was immensely concerned about the Norwalk youth being influenced by Bridgeport gangs. Mr. Callahan said that many of the Bridgeport names were once Norwalk residents. Mr. Serasis said that some of the feedback has been that the “hot spots” in the areas around Barnum Avenue have decreased.
Ms. Lindstrom said that having Chief Rilling at the next meeting would be helpful.
A discussion then centered who should be invited to the next meeting to update
the Committee. Mr. Serasis said that Detective Perez had put together a DVD
about gangs.
The discussion then moved to what should be included on the next agenda.
ADJOURNMENT
** MS. LINDSTROM MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon L. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Services
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