November 14, 2006
NORWALK, CONNECTICUT 8:00 P.M. EST COUNCIL CHAMBERS
ALL COMMON COUNCIL ACTIONS TAKEN AT THIS MEETING TO APPROVE EXPENDITURES AND CONTRACTS OR TO ACCEPT BIDS AND OTHER PROPOSALS REQUIRING THE EXPENDITURE OF CITY FUNDS ARE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

Mayor Moccia called meeting to order at 8:05pm and led the assembly in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Ms. Young called the Roll. At Roll Call there were ten (10) members present and five (5) absent:

PRESENT: Michael Coffey Carvin Hilliard
Joanne Romano Fred Bondi
Herbert Grant Nicholas Kydes
Richard McQuaid Douglas Hempstead
Rev. Phyllis Bolden Kelly Straniti

ABSENT: Matthew Miklave
Kevin Poruban
Douglas Sutton
Gwen Briggs
William Krummel


II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Regular meeting – October 24, 2006

** MR. KYDES MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

There were no members of the public who wished to speak this evening.
IV. MAYOR

A. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

Mayor Moccia announced the following resignation:
Resignations: James Murray III – Oak Hills Authority

Mayor Moccia extended this thanks to Mr. Murray for his years of service on the Oak Hills Authority.

Appointments: Robert Virgulak – Oak Hills Authority
Tony Lopez – Zoning Board of Appeals

** MS. STRANITI MOVED TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF ROBERT VIRGULAK TO THE OAK HILLS AUTHORITY
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

** MR. KYDES MOVED TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF TONY LOPEZ TO THE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Reappointment: Hubert Smith – South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA)

** MR. COFFEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE REAPPOINTMENT OF HUBERT SMITH TO SWRPA
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

B. REMARKS
Mayor Moccia commented that elected officials should exercise the responsibility they
were elected for if they are in the building. He said that there should not only be ten people here.

V. COUNCIL PRESIDENT

A. GENERAL COUNCIL BUSINESS

Election of Council Officers:

Mr. Coffey announced the election of officers.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT

** MR. HILLIARD MOVED TO ELECT MR. COFFEY AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Mr. Bondi said that he seconded that motion and that Mr. Coffey had done a wonderful job as the Council president. Mr. Grant said that he supported the nomination.

Mr. Hempstead said that Mr. Coffey deserves to be re-appointed at Council president. Mr. Kydes said that Mr. Coffey has been a voice of reason and looks at things for the betterment of Norwalk

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Mr. Coffey said that he was very touched by the re-appointment and thanked the Councilmembers. He said that he feels that this Council and the administration are doing great things together. He said that this touches the bottom of his heart that this is a bipartisan effort.

Mr. Coffey announced that Mr. Hilliard will remain as Majority Leader. He said that he wished him continued success.

Mr. Hempstead announced that Mr. McQuaid will be the Minority Leader. Mr. McQuaid said that he looked forward to working with Mr. Coffey and Mr. Hilliard. Mr. Coffey said that he had a phenomenal year working with Mr. Hempstead and looks forward to working with Mr. McQuaid.

B. CONSENT CALENDAR:

** MR. COFFEY MOVED THE FOLLOWING CONSENT CALENDAR

VI. REPORTS: DEPARTMENTS, BOARD AND COMMISSIONS

VII. COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEES

A. FINANCE COMMITTEE

1. Accept and Approve the Report of the Claims Committee Dated November 9, 2006.

3. Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order to Dell Computer for the purchase of 16 Dell PCs for the main library per Dell quote 322099806, dated 10/4/06, NASPO/WSCA contract A63307, for an amount not to exceed $15,308.80, account 09070600-5777-C0375 (06/07 Capital approved; no special appropriation required).

4. Resolution appropriating $38,000 for final close out expenses on the South Norwalk Library addition and renovation project from Capital Fund Balance (Project Account No. 09076210-5777-C0153).

5. Resolution increasing the authorization to borrow funds from $4,300,000 to not exceeding $4,500,000 from the proceeds of revenue bonds of the State of Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority to finance the expansion of and capital improvements to the Nathaniel Ely day care center.

7. RESOLUTION, appropriating $80,181.50 for the emergency repair of the Fort Point Interceptor Sewer from WPCA Fund Balance. (Project Account No. 22-4062-5298).

B. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

1. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB, Inc.), to provide Pavement Engineering Inspection, Evaluation and Software Services, for a sum not to exceed $150,000. Account No. 0904 4021 5777 C0283

2. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with the State of Connecticut, Department of Public Safety, Office of Statewide Emergency Telecommunications (a.k.a. DPS) to provide certain mapping software products to enable the City of Norwalk Department of Public Works to Geo Code the citywide Centerline program. The State of Connecticut entered into an enterprise license agreement with Tele Atlas North America, Inc. for use by municipalities to facilitate the delivery of the E 9-1-1 service to users of wireless telephones by providing latitude and longitude information. There is no cost to the City of Norwalk to participate in this program.

B. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

3. Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a purchase order to Interstate Ford Truck Sales for the purchase of a sewer vacuum truck for a sum not to exceed $236,641. Account No. 0907 4031 5777 C0313
4. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., to provide professional engineering services to evaluate the City of Norwalk’s existing closed loop system for replacement with a centralized traffic control signal system for a sum not to exceed $8,500.
Account No. 0903 4021 5777 C0234 (this is part of the city’s match to the overall traffic upgrade project)

5a. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Agreement with Deering Construction, Inc., for State of Connecticut DOT Project No. 102-299, Norwalk River Valley Multipurpose Trail, Federal Aid Project No. TEA-PEDS (156) for a sum not to exceed $938,043.50

5b. Authorize the Director of Public Works to issue Orders on Contract to Deering Construction, Inc., for State of Connecticut DOT Project No. 102-299, Norwalk River Valley Multipurpose Trail, Federal Aid Project No. TEA-PEDS (156) for a sum not to exceed $93,804.

Account No. 0904 4021 5777 C0234 ($275,876)
0900 6030 5777 C0132 ($157,571.51)
0901 6030 5777 C0132 ($40,000)
State of Connecticut DOT Grant ($558,400)

6. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Amendment to the Agreement with A. DiCesare Associates, P.C., to provide professional engineering and environmental testing services in connection with the Reed Putnam Redevelopment Project, for a sum not to exceed $40,000.
Account No. Redevelopment Agency

7. Authorize Final Payment to Fuss & O’Neill, Inc., for Project no. TRF 2005-1, Proposed Traffic Signal US RTE 7 at Foxboro Dr., for an amount not to exceed $8,000. Account No. 09 04 4120 5777 C0284

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

A. BOARD OF ESTIMATE AND TAXATION

** MR. HILLIARD MOVED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION

1. RESOLVED, that a sum not to exceed $41,839 be and the same is hereby transferred from Contingency to the Registrar of Voters Departments to pay for the Democratic Party Primary. (Account No. Refer to backup for account numbers).

Mr. Hempstead commented that the political parties should pay for their own primaries.

** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE (1) ABSTENTION (MR. HEMPSTEAD)

** MR. HILLIARD MOVED TO ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING ITEM

2. For informational purposes only: Monthly Tax Collector’s Report Dated October 30, 2006.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

** MR. HILLIARD MOVED TO SEND THE FOLLOWING ITEMS 6A & 6B BACK TO COMMITTEE

6a. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an agreement with Brooks Laboratories, Inc. to provide environmental consulting services for the Old Police Station, for a total not to exceed $8,145.00. (Account 09064021-5777-C0368)

6b. Authorize the Office of Building Management to issue change orders on contract for a total not to exceed $2,000.00.

** MOTION PASSED WITH FOUR (4) VOTES IN OPPOSITION (MR. MCQUAID; MR. KYDES; MR. HEMPSTEAD; MS. STRANITI)

VIII. RESOLUTIONS FROM COMMON COUNCIL

** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
Submitted by, Councilman D. Hempstead

Whereas: Candidates have the right to place signs at polling stations on Election Day.
Whereas: Most of these polling stations are located at public schools.
Whereas: The placement of these signs are on public property.
Whereas: The leaving of these signs after Election Day constitutes littering and creates a public eye sore, and is irresponsible.

Therefore the Council requests that the Ordinance Committee look into establishing regulations that prohibit the abandonment of these signs and levy fines as appropriate.

That all election/candidate signs be removed from polling locations by 6:00am of the morning following Election Day.

That all election/candidate signs be removed from public ways and places 72 hours after Election Day.

Mr. Bondi suggested not holding school or teachers conferences at the polling locations. He said that it is a hindrance to the people going there to vote. He said that he received numerous complaints from people trying to vote. Mr. McQuaid explained that the teacher conferences are not the same as teacher workshops. Mayor Moccia said that the Council has no leverage with the Board of Education under the Ordinance Committee.

IX. MOTIONS POSTPONED TO A SPECIFIC DATE

There were none.

X. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES

** MR. HEMPSTEAD MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD AN ITEM TO THE AGENDA
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

XI ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Moccia wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

** MR. KYDES MOVED TO ADJOURN
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

ATTEST:__________________________________
Darlene Young, Assistant City Clerk