CITY OF NORWALK
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
FINANCE/PUBLIC WORKS/ORDINANCE COMMITTEE
AUGUST 5, 2003
ATTENDANCE: Chris Perone, Chairman; Bruce Kimmel; Judith Rivas; Carvin
Hilliard, Jeannette Olmstead-Sawyer
STAFF: Richard P. Linnartz, Acting Director of Public Works
OTHERS: Betsy Bain, Laurel Lindstrom, Diane Cece, Robert Griffith
______________________________________________________________________________
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
1. ACCEPT THE MINUTES FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS
COMMITTEE HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 1, 2003
** MR. KIMMEL MOVED THAT MINUTES OF JULY 1, 2003 BE
ACCEPTED.
** MOTION CARRIED WITH FOUR IN FAVOR AND ONE ABSTENTION,
(MS. OLMSTEAD-SAWYER)
2. AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH LOCKWOOD, KESSLER
& BARTLETT, INC., IN ORDER TO EXTEND THEIR AGREE-
MENT THROUGH JUNE 30, 2004 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE DESIGN AND ENVIRON-
MENTAL PERMITTING OF NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE STORM
DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr. Linnartz said they needed to extend the contract for one year. He said there was no increase in funds just an increase in time. Mr. Kimmel asked why there was no more money. He said he had read two opposing stories in newspapers and in one story, the people were not pleased and in the other one, the people seemed satisfied. Mr. Linnartz presented three alternatives, including having the channel encroach 200 feet into wetlands; a scaled down version of the same with less intrusion; and minimizing the channel to maintain a sedimentation basin. It does not improve standing water elevation as much as it does for floods. Mr. Kimmel asked if Public Works had any differences from Conservation and if Conservation approved, would they think it was a serious problem that was not being dealt with. He asked how folks felt about this. Mr. Linnartz said they were not as pleased as they would be with alternative one. He said the people needed something to work toward and that alternative three allowed for it. Mr. Perone said the Common Council's position gave permission to excavate a certain amount of sedimentation. He said they were all scaled down versions of the original plan and that that would give them a continual pipeline.
** MR. PERONE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX
A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT
WITH LOCKWOOD, KESSLER & BARTLETT, INC., IN ORDER TO
EXTEND THEIR AGREEMENT THROUGH JUNE 30, 2004 TO
PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR THE
DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING OF NORTH TAYLOR
AVENUE STORM DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH NETTECH
SOLUTIONS TO CONTINUE THE PARKING BUREAU MANAGE-
MENT OPERATIONS ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS UNDER THE
SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THE CURRENTLY APPROVED
CONTRACT (THIS WAS RECOMMENDED BY THE PARKING
AUTHORITY AT THE JUNE 25, 2003 MEETING).
The contract with the company that collects parking tickets for the City expired. Current operations should be on a month-to-month basis.
** MR. PERONE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A.
KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT
WITH NETTECH SOLUTIONS TO CONTINUE THE PARKING
BUREAU MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS ON A MONTH TO MONTH
BASIS UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THE
CURRENTLY APPROVED CONTRACT (THIS WAS RECOMMENDED
BY THE PARKING AUTHORITY AT THE JUNE 25, 2003 MEETING).
** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN
AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE PARKING
AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE THE SERVICE AGREEMENT ON A
MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS UNDER THE SAME TERMS AND
CONDITIONS AS THE CURRENTLY APPROVED CONTRACT NOT TO
EXCEED THE APPROVED OPERATING BUDGET (THIS WAS
AUTHORIZED BY THE PARKING AUTHORITY AT THE JULY 22, 2003
MEETING).
This is the same contract as in no. 3. It is the agreement between the City and the parking authority to operate on a month-to-month basis.
** MR. PERONE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A.
KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT
WITH THE PARKING AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE THE SERVICE
AGREEMENT ON A MONTH-TO-MONTH BASIS UNDER THE SAME
TERMS AND CONDITIONS AS THE CURRENTLY APPROVED
CONTRACT NOT TO EXCEED THE APPROVED OPERATING
BUDGET (THIS WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE PARKING AUTHORITY
AT THE JULY 22, 2003 MEETING.
** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. RESCIND THE ACTION TAKEN AT THE COMMON COUNCIL
MEETING DATED SEPTEMBER 10, 2002 UNDER ITEM VII.A.8 WHICH
AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A LEASE AGREEMENT
WITH THE CONNECTICUT LIMOUSINE, LLC FOR SPACE AT THE
SOUTH NORWALK RAILROAD STATION, EASTBOUND SIDE FOR
THE PURPOSE OF OPERATING AN AIRPORT LIMOUSINE SERVICE.
A LICENSE AGREEMENT WAS EXECUTED BY THE PARKING
AUTHORITY TO GRANT PERMISSION FOR THE USE OF THE
RAILROAD STATION PARKING PROPERTY BY THE CONNECTICUT
LIMOUSINE, LLC FOR THE OPERATION OF THE AIRPORT
LIMOUSINE SERVICE.
The Parking Authority executed an agreement with Connecticut Limo to operate service there. The contract is being rescinded. The transit district is looking for a grant to redesign the entire area.
** MR. PERONE MOVED TO RESCIND THE ACTION TAKEN AT THE COMMON COUNCIL MEETING
DATED SEPTEMBER 10, 2002 UNDER ITEM VII.A.8 WHICH AUTHORIZED THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE
A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE CONNECTICUT LIMOUSINE, LLC FOR SPACE AT THE SOUTH
NORWALK RAILROAD STATION, EASTBOUND SIDE FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPERATING AN AIRPORT
LIMOUSINE SERVICE. A LICENSE AGREEMENT WAS EXECUTED BY THE PARKING AUTHORITY
TO GRANT PERMISSION FOR THE USE OF THE RAILROAD STATION PARKING PROPERTY BY
THE CONNECTICUT LIMOUSINE, LLC FOR THE OPERATION OF THE AIRPORT LIMOUSINE SERVICE.
** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT WITH DR. YURI GOROKHOVICH, SUNY, PURCHASE
COLLEGE, DIVISION OF NATURAL SCIENCES, TO PROVIDE STORM
DRAIN MAPPING SERVICES USING GPS TECHNOLOGY IN
CONNECTION WITH THE EXISTING GIS SYSTEM, FOR A SUM NOT
TO EXCEED $9,019. ACCOUNT NO. 01 40 30 5258.
Interns will be hired to do this work as a task for a GIS. They will have some very inexpensive labor to work on this. They will be working from drawings.
** AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP, TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT WITH DR. YURI GOROKHOVICH, SUNY, PURCHASE
COLLEGE, DIVISION OF NATURAL SCIENCES, TO PROVIDE STORM
DRAIN MAPPING SERVICES USING GPS TECHNOLOGY IN
CONNECTION WITH THE EXISTING GIS SYSTEM, FOR A SUM NOT
TO EXCEED $9,019. ACCOUNT NO. 01 40 30 5258.
** MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
7. DISCUSSION - OLMSTEAD PLACE DRAINAGE AND TRAFFIC
An engineer is currently putting together the information requested by Ms. Cece. A traffic analyst will come up with a plan to do a "do not block" type of arrangement. There will be signage that addresses that. These are routine traffic markings. It may be shown to the Traffic Authority FYI. There is no new date for the project. Ms. Cece noted that the state had not ruled out the "no turn on red," but there is one on the other side. The state worked with them when they did the design. If that plan goes through, they will still need a red light south bound. They want the green turn arrow prior to green light going north. Drainage stuff will be ready this week. They need to hear from Mr. Perone and Mr. Poruban about the outcome of the appeal to the Common Council. Mr. Perone spoke to Mr. Spahr and they have decided that there is not a case to go forward. Mr. Perone does not understand the purpose of going through DPW. Mr Ciccarella has told him that they could not go through DPW and then to the Council. He spoke to Mr Spahr, who said he talked to Ms. Cece about it. He said if the corporation counsel believes this is not how it operates, his hands are tied. Ms. Cece said she did not see it that way at all. She felt it could go to the Common Council because any claim over $5,000 goes to the Common Council. Mr. Spahr does not believe there is a chain of command. Mr. Perone said Mr. Ciccarella was emphatic that going before the Common Council was not the way to go. He believes Mr. Poruban spoke to Mr. Miklave about this. Ms. Cece said she wanted to keep one step ahead of the process. Mr. Perone noted that there was no chain of command and that if it went to the Council to be approved to be paid, something not getting paid should also go before the Council. Mr. Kimmel said claims that go through the Finance and Claims Committee over $5,000 have to be approved by the Public Works Committee and the Council. He said there were strict rules about what claims could go to the Claims Committee. He recalls approving settlements that came from the legal department that were less than $5,000, but that it may not apply in this case. Ms. Cece said there were sewage claims from 1998. She also said there are waivers that have to be signed when entering into an agreement. She said those two payments were approved through Peter and maybe someone prior to him. She will keep working on it and will go back to legal and to the Common Council. They are looking at what the Council rules are not what Mr. Ciccarella thinks. She wants a written response.
8. DISCUSSION - SINGING WOODS PLACE
Mr. Linnartz said before Peter left, he researched the history of this. In 1999 the Public Works Committee had a discussion and the approval was to overlay the driveway for seven or eight hundred dollars. He said he did not know what "overlay" means. Cracks have come back up through the new asphalt and repair is expensive. He said Peter had gotten two quotes, one for$10,500 and one for $16,200. He would like to do this through the paving program rather than through a new contract. He said there was another paving contractor who was doing work for the City. He said he would like to have another month to get that cost from them compared to smaller contractors. In 1999, they talked about overlaying it. There is a legal document saying that all future maintenance would be the responsibility of the property owner. It would not be a big problem to mobilize it. Mr. Perone said the pavement program should be checked against the cost. Mr. Linnartz said it should be made an action item next month so it can be done this season.
** MS. RIVAS MOVED TO PUT ITEM 8, SINGING WOODS PLACE, ON
THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING AS AN ACTION
ITEM.
Mr. Linnartz said they would do it before the winter and he is recommending it to the Council. The recommendation of the committee is to do it and lobby the Council to get them to approve it.
9. DISCUSSION - SIDEWALKS
Mr. Linnartz said an inventory had been done of all footpaths. The footpaths were done in the late 1950's to give kids a place to walk and to reduce bussing. He did not have a standing item in the operating or capital budget to do major work. He understands the problems of using these sidewalks but that is what they have and they do not meet today's standards. Mr. Kimmel said the sidewalks could not be eliminated and that regulation sidewalks would have to be put in. He also said sidewalks were not required on both sides of the street. Mr. Perone commented that when a road is replaced, the sidewalk is reduced. He asked how this would impact the cost. Mr. Linnartz said he could not quote a price off the top of his head. He said some of the footpaths were higher than the street. Ms. Bain said neighbors along Wilson were concerned about the temporary sidewalk. She said the condition of most sidewalks are terrible. They are more of a liability than a safety aid. It is not clear who is responsible for clearing it. When road repaving is done, it is done curb to curb and people are being pushed further and further into the roadway. She further stated that there were no plans to address sidewalks in Norwalk. Mr. Linnartz said they could bring VHP's report and put them on the agenda for the next meeting. He said they did have a report on footpaths that they could present to the Committee. Mr. Perone said it would be best to have a rolling plan. He said they would not be able to do all sidewalks in a year. He said in the next meeting, he would like to have the report and discuss some of the sidewalks that are in serious need. Mr. Kimmel said footpaths work nicely in some areas, but that it depended on a lot of things including foot traffic. He also said there might be areas where footpaths are a liability and that sidewalks would be required. He said they would be encroaching on a lot of property and that it may not be worth it. Ms. Bain said sometimes it was safer if a footpath was moved. She also said the curb issue is sometimes a problem. Mr. Perone said it was an engineering feat. He was not saying they should take out footpaths and put in sidewalks. He believes they need to go through them and find which ones are working and which ones need immediate attention. He said it would be part of an overall plan to focus on sidewalks as well. Mr. Griffith said there is also a problem where sidewalks are used for drug dealing activities and homeowners could not do anything about it because it was public property. He inquired as to what would happen if the City deeded sidewalk areas to homeowners and let the homeowners decide whether or not they wanted a sidewalk. He said they could then tell people to get lost. Ms. Bain said they could not do that. She raised the issue of power lines. Mr. Hilliard concurred. Mr. Perone also said he did not think the City could do that. Mr. Griffith said if homeowners have to be responsible for taking care of the sidewalk, they should be able to tell someone they cannot hang out near their house. Mr. Perone said they were limited in what they were allowed to do with the sidewalks.
10. DISCUSSION - OAKWOOD AVENUE
Mr. Linnartz said toward the end of 2002, the Committee was about to hold a hearing on the abandonment of a portion of Oakwood Avenue. He said a property owner had asked the City to abandon the property to him. He said it was not something the City could use. He said Planning and Zoning inquired if there were a possibility of the City doing anything with the property. He wants the property to be put back on the tax rolls. Mr. Linnartz believes the property owner wants to build there. The property is about 2000 square feet. Mr. Linnartz would like to start the process of abandonment now. Mr. Perone said he did not have a real concern and the City is not interested in developing the land. Mr. Linnartz said if he had not acquired the other land, it would make no sense to go ahead with the abandonment. Mr. Kimmel said he would like to see the City get its act together on the house issue. He would like to see the agreement between the state and the property owner before they moved ahead and to do due diligence so they would get something in writing. He thinks they should try to work with him.
11. DISCUSSION - RECYCLING OPERATION
Mr. Linnartz said as a follow up to this matter, he had spoken to the management person. In Winnepark Village, the blue bins were left for a week. He said if the City went by Aiken and there was no garbage, they called it in. Blue bins are being collected and some condos get stiffed. It does not sound like they are trying to save time by paving. They need to keep on top of these guys. There have been no other complaints from condos. Waste Management's contract will be up in June. Mr. Griffith said he was trying to do a little improvement in his neighborhood. He tried to get some sidewalk work done on Woodward. He said he expected the new administration to do something about Woodward Avenue. He said five percent of the population lives in the neighborhood. He said it was approved on the budget and that proposals were sent out. Mt. Linnartz said money was approved in this year's capital budget. Mr. Perone said, as they heard comments from folks, they take it all in and try to act on it. Ms. Olmstead-Sawyer said action was not as immediate in the SoNo area. Mr. Hilliard concurred.
12. ACTION ON ANY ITEM DISCUSSED HEREIN
There was no action taken.
** MR. KIMMEL MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Maddox
Telesco Secretarial Services
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