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Common Council
Actions
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COMMON COUNCIL ACTION
February 24, 2004
8:00PM 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 Knopp opened the meeting at 8:15p.m. and led the assembly in reciting the pledge of Allegiance.
I. ROLL CALL 12Present:Williams,Bondi & Hempstead absent
II. ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES
A. Special Meeting of January 20, 2004 Accepted as corrected
B. Regular Meeting of February 10, 2004 Accepted as corrected
III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 3 Speakers
IV. MAYOR
A. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
Resignations: Carmen Falcone & Steve Papadakos from Fair Housing Commission
Appointments: John Schaberg, Building Bd of Appeals Approved
Rev. Jeffrey Ingraham & Raul Dupervil, Fair Housing Advisory Commission; Approved
Re-appointments: Ronald Kellogg, Building Bd. of Appeals Approved
Frederika Bikakis & Beatriz Ruiz, Water Pollution Control Authority
Approved
B. REMARKS
Thank you to the Morning Side Fire Dept. of Md. for their quick response to the fire that consumed the bus that the students, parents and chaperones were riding on their way back from the Baseball Camp in Fla. The bus company will cover all loses to the students and will set up an account at a local sports store to enable the students to buy new equipment(gloves, cleats etc.) I would like to have a letter ready at the next council meeting to the Morning Side Fire Dept. for all to sign. Mr. McQuaid stated he would like a letter to Gerald Anastasia and the chaperones also.
V. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
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A. CONSENT CALENDAR
The following items are on consent: VII.B.1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6; C.1, 2, 3, 4, 6; D.1a, 1b, 2, 3; E.2; VII.B.7 consent to table to next meeting, E.1 consent to refer back to committee
B. OTHER COUNCIL
VI. REPORTS: DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
VII. COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEES
A. PERSONNEL COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE SESSION
1. Approve the Collective Bargaining Agreement on successor Contract between the City of Norwalk and the Norwalk Nurses Local 1303-163 of Council #4,AFL-CIO. Approved
B. RECREATION, PARKS & CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL COMMITTEE
1. Authorize the Mayor, Alex A. Knopp, to execute an agreement with the YMCA of Norwalk for use of the Marvin School grounds and Taylor Farm for their annual Norwalk Summer Camp 2004; from June 22nd through August 27, 2004 Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Estimated attendance 150. Authorized
2. Authorize the Mayor, Alex A. Knopp, to enter into an agreement with Yankee United Soccer for the use of Brien McMahon High School, Saturday, March 20th for a Yankee Invitational Soccer Tournament from 7:00 a.m. -6p.m. Authorized
3a. Approve the use of Ryan Park by the United Haitian American Society for their annual Haitian American Day celebration to be held on July 24, 2004 from 9:00 - 10:00 p.m. Estimated attendance 500 plus. Approved
3b. Approve the use of the Showmobile by the United Haitian American Society for their annual celebration to be held July 24, 2004 at Ryan Park. Approved
4. Approve the use of Norwalk High School and Brien McMahon High School multi purpose fields by the Norwalk Junior Soccer Association for a Premier Tournament Jamboree, June 19th and 20th from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Estimated attendance 500 plus Approved
5. Approve the use of the Showmobile by the Creative Differences Car Club on July 31, 2004 for their annual Car Show. Approved
6. Authorize the Mayor, Alex A. Knopp to enter into an agreement with the Norwalk Karting Association to utilize Calf Pasture Beach Parking area for their Spring and Fall 2004 racing season. Approved
Spring Schedule Fall Schedule
March 27 October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
April 3, 10, 17, 24 November 6, 13, 20
May 1, 8, 15 (No Sunday makeups May 8,15)
7. Approve the naming of the Ludlow Park softball field after Mr. Bill Kozma, a Commissioner of Babe Ruth Softball for many years. Consent to table to next meeting
C. FINANCE COMMITTEE
1. Accept and approve the Report of the Claims Committee Dated February 12, 2004. Accepted
2. For Informational Purposes Only: Narrative on Tax Collections dated February 12, 2004
3. For Information Purposes Only: Monthly Tax Collector's Report Dated January 31, 2004.
4. Authorize the Mayor, Alex A. Knopp, to execute an agreement with MRM Consulting, Inc. to provide risk management consulting services to the City
commencing February 1, 2004 and ending June 30, 2008, to be billed at an hourly rate of $175/hr through June 30, 2005; at $185/hr from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2007; and at $195/hr for FY 2007-08. Annual amount of contract not to exceed $72,000, or the amount budgeted for such services, whichever is less. Authorized
5. Authorize the Special Capital Appropriation for the New Brookside School Project. Account #09045010-5777-C0171-Supplemental Appropriation: $465,283. Authorized
6. Authorize the termination of elevator compliance portion of the Capital Budget
appropriations for the Health, Safety and Code Update Project. Account # 09035010-5777- 0260 -Reduction: $350,000. Authorized
D. PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE
1a. Authorize the Mayor, Alex A. Knopp, to execute any and all documents necessary to apply for and accept grant funds from the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation under the 2004 DUI Vehicle Enforcement Grant. Authorized
1b. Authorize the mayor, Alex A. Knopp, to execute any and all agreements and instruments necessary to implement the 2004 DUI Vehicle Enforcement Grant funding. Authorized
2. Rescind the Common Council action of October 14, 2003 meeting, Item VII.E.4., which authorized the following:
"Authorize the Mayor, Alex A. Knopp, to execute an agreement with Lee Cogswell Assoc. to administer examinations for Detectives on the Norwalk Police Department." Rescinded
3. Authorize the Mayor, Alex A. Knopp, to execute an agreement with the IACP to administer examinations for the rank of Detective on the Norwalk Police Department. Authorized
E. LAND USE AND BUILDING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
1. Approve the following updated list of historic sites and buildings under the jurisdiction of the Norwalk Historical Commission (updated information in bold):
§ Mill Hill Historic Park (including Town House, School House, Governor Fitch Law Office, the Barn and Old Jail
§ on Smith Street, Roger-Ritch-Merritt House and Mill Hill Cemetery)
§ Lockwood Mathews Mansion, (including Gate Lodge, Carriage House, Gardener’s Cottage and Laundry/Summer Kitchen)
§ Norwalk Museum Leasehold and Collection
§ Pine Island Cemetery
§ Brookside Cemetery
§ Kellogg Cemetery
Ward House on Cannon Street has been deleted from the original list.”
Refer back to committee
2. Authorize the disposition of Area “B”, as identified on attached Brien McMahon High School site plan, at market value. Authorized
VIII. RESOLUTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS
WHEREAS, State policies regarding both government policy and taxation directly impact on the ability of local governments to provide the services they are mandated to provide; and
WHEREAS, “unfunded mandates” from the State cost Norwalk millions of taxpayer dollars each year; and
WHEREAS, the proposal to extend what was supposed to be a one-year increase in the local conveyance tax amounts to “a sales tax on homes that impacts low-and middle-income consumers hardest … because they allow distressed cities and towns [like Norwalk], where homeowners are already paying some of the highest property taxes in the state, to collect at an even higher rate”, and this tax unfairly targets a small subset of homeowners to pay an unfair share of the tax burden; and
WHEREAS, recent published proposals from the State “Blue Ribbon Commission” essentially call for various tax increases, rather than cost savings, to address the burden of local property taxes; and
WHEREAS, the Council would prefer to see efforts made to cut unnecessary costs rather than to find new ways to increase other taxes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE NORWALK COMMON COUNCIL, that the Council calls on our State Legislative Delegation to oppose the extension of the local conveyance tax increase; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council urges our State Legislative Delegation to submit legislation to achieve the following policy objectives that could produce significant savings for Norwalk’s taxpayers:
1. Adjustment of the State formula for reimbursement of education costs to reflect personal income of communities rather than the 'paper wealth' found in property revaluations.
2. Authorization of communities to place a reasonable cap on tax payments by residential taxpayers to prevent overwhelming tax bills that can force residents to leave the community.
3. Authorization of communities to receive a portion of the sales tax collected in their communities (Norwalk makes major contributions to the State's economy and tax collections with its large retail complexes but the State receives all of the sales tax revenue from these complexes).
Submitted by:
Councilman Douglas Hempstead
Councilman Richard McQuaid This Resolution was substituted by the following Resolution
WHEREAS, Connecticut municipalities are increasingly forced to rely on property taxes to generate revenues; and
WHEREAS, the property tax system is not based on income, or ability to pay, and thus inflicts financial hardship on many property owners particularly those of modest and fixed incomes; and
WHEREAS, Connecticut municipalities including Norwalk are always looking for opportunities to diversify sources of revenue in order to lessen their dependence on property taxes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK CALLS ON ITS STATE LEGISLATURES TO SUPPORT AN EXTENSION OF A .36 LOCAL SHARE OF THE REAL ESTATE CONVEYANCE TAX FOR CONNECTICUT'S LARGER CITIES.
Respectfully submitted by:
The Democratic Members of Norwalk's Common Council
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IX. MOTIONS POSTPONED TO A SPECIFIC DATE NONE
X. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES NONE
XI. ADJOURNMENT 9:25 p.m.
APPOINTMENTS
BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS M Nwlk Code §26-8
SCHABERG, JOHN (D) Succeed R. Lametta
25 Garner St Term expires 02/01/08
Norwalk, CT 06854
FAIR HOUSING ADVISORY COMMISSION M/C Nwlk Code §59-A
INGRAHAM, REV. JEFFREY(U) Fill unexpired term C. Falcone
6 Leatherwood Rd Term expires 09/01/06
Norwalk, CT 06851
DUPERVIL, RAUL (U) Fill unexpired term S. Papadakos
54 Maple Street Term expires 09/01/04
Norwalk, CT 06850
ALL APPROVED
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REAPPOINTMENTS
BUILDING BOARD OF APPEALS M Nwlk Code §26-8
KELLOGG, RONALD (R) Term expires 02/01/08
160 Gregory Blvd
Norwalk, CT 06855
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY M/C Nwlk Code § 91-2
HAJIAN, FREDERIKA BIKAKIS (D) Term expires 04/01/07
10 Raymond Lane
Norwalk, CT 06855
RUIZ, BEATRIZ Term expires 04/01/07
25 Chestnut Street
Norwalk, CT 06854
ALL REAPPOINTED
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