UPDATE:
Last night’s common council meeting was another contest of the political will, the political willing and the political process. In the end the process won. For openers, during the public speaking portion, a lone woman wanted to speak. Dawn Calle had a notebook of complaints but due to the process of public meetings, was advised by the Mayor that she would have to speak to the agenda items in order to speak. Apparently she had called the Mayor previously about some of the items, so he had a general idea of what the issues were, and was in the process of researching how her calls to various departments had been handled, if they were in fact documented. As of last night, the Myaor indicated he was reviewing the records. Crime, who does it and what is being done about it was the main gist. Council members Steve Serasis and Mike Geake approached Dawn about her concerns. The rest of the council members couldn’t be bothered. Dawn reports that Geake invited her to the health and safety committee meeting.
Then the busines at hand turned to appointments, Sutton again abstained, and various remarks. Council President Fred Bondi attempted a resolution to formulate the Public Power Ad Hoc Committee. I say, attempted because the resolution became a train wreck of meandering speech. It was, in a word, painful. Robert Koch’s article on the subject made it seem coherent. I would say that was a generous interpretation, but I think he had the luxury of recording it to review the interaction where I just typed contemporaneously. So what did I come up with?
Bondi reads the motion to form the committee and says it should end when the consultant is hired. Lindstrom makes an amendment to stike the part out of the committee ending.
There’s discussion about what part she’s striking out, and then she reflects on what she wants to do. There’s mass confusion, and they have to basically restate the motion and amendment.This should have been a drinking game, it was only a matter of time before someone mentioned Earthday. Okay I’m thoroughly confused at what Lindstorm is trying to do, and the thought of a nice cold beer is really taking my ability to follow this council meeting. See what happens when I take a meeting off?
Krummel jumps in and attempts to clarify things. Conroy jumps in to try and clarify what anyone else has said. Why are they even talking about this on the floor of the council? Geake says Conroy is silly, or rather what he said was silly. He says the formation of the committee shouldn’t only be about hiring a consultant, it is not a result of the formation of a committee it is a tactic. Bondi adds that the history of the committee was precisely to hire a committee, and this was just a technical reality since the 2005-07 common council failed to execute it correctly, or that it expired. It was unclear which was which.
Finally, Hempstead makes a motion to table. He points out that there’s no resolution int he paacket and they shouldn’t vote on resoltuions without being bale to read them. It goes 8-5, in favor of tabling.
The end.
Everything else was on consent and they adjourned. I observed then that there was an impromptu discussion on the floor about what transpired. I adjourned to drink that beer.
The usual suspects minus Carvin and Phylis were on hand tonight.
Attending: Krummel, Serasis, Brown, Sutton, Lindstrom, Geake, Moccia, Bondi, Straniti, Conroy, Moccia, Bonnefant, Kydes, Hempstead, McQuaid
The agenda is here, and I will update the usual stuff later tonight.
I. ROLL CALL
II. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES
Regular meeting – April 8, 2008
III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
IV. MAYOR
A. RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS
Resignations:
Appointments: Matthew Brovender – Board of Health
Julius Hayward – Parking Authority
Reappointments:
B. REMARKS
V. COUNCIL PRESIDENT
A. GENERAL COUNCIL BUSINESS
1. Formation of the Public Power Ad-hoc Committee.
B. CONSENT CALENDAR
VI. AGENCIES, BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
VII. COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEES
A. FINANCE COMMITTEE
1. Accept and approve the Report of the claims Committee dated: April 10, 2008.
2. For informational purposes only: Monthly Tax Collector’s Report dated: March 31, 2008.
3. For informational purposes only: Narrative on Tax Collections dated, April 10, 2008
COMMON COUNCIL AGENDA PAGE 2 APRIL 22, 2008
VII. COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEES (continued)
A. FINANCE COMMITTEE (continued)
4. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to amend the contract with DB&R Consulting, LLC to extend their contract to include the July 1,2008 to December 31, 2008 period for an amount not to exceed $36,000 for that period. The firm provides risk management consulting services. Account #169010-5258.
5. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to submit an application to the State of Connecticut for grant funds provided under the State of Connecticut’s Local Capital Improvements Fund for 2008 Entitlement ($646,549).
6. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an Amendment to Sempra Energy Solutions’, LLC existing agreement to enroll six (6) new City electrical accounts to Sempra’s electric generation services agreement. Various accounts.
B. RECREATION, PARKS & CULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
1a. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia to enter into an agreement wit the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter for their Annual Memory Walk-Walkathon to be held at Calf Pasture beach on Sunday, October 5, 2008 from 7:00am -2:00pm. Estimated attendance 300.
1b. Approve the use of the show mobile for the Alzheimer’s Association, CT Chapter Annual Memory Walk-Walkathon to be held at Calf Pasture beach on Sunday, October 5, 2008.
2. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia to enter into an agreement with the National Marine Manufacturers Association for their use of Calf Pasture Beach, Shady Beach, and Taylor Farm for parking during the Annual Norwalk In-Water Boat Show to be held September 18-21, 2008. Estimated attendance 50,000+
3. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia to enter into an agreement with the Juvenile Diabetes Search Foundation for the use of Cranbury Park for a fundraiser walk to be held on Sunday, September 28, 2008 from 7:00am – 2:00pm. Estimated attendance 1,200.
4. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia to enter into an agreement with Celebrate the Past LLC for the use of Taylor Farm and Shady Beach for the re-enactment of the Burning of Norwalk to be held on July 10, 11, 12, 2009. July 10, 2009 set-up to begin at 12noon with the event to take place July 11, 2009 from 10:00am – 5:00pm and July 12, 2009 from 10:00am-4:00pm. Teardown no later than 6:00pm on July 12, 2009. Estimated attendance 450.
5. Approve the use of the Show Mobile for the March of Dimes “March for Babies” to be held on Sunday, April 27, 2008 from 6:00am -4:00pm at Calf Pasture Beach.
6. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia to enter into an agreement with the Rowayton School PTA for the use of the Rowayton School Grounds for their annual Carnival to be held Friday, May 2, 2008 from 6:00pm – 10:00pm and Saturday, May 3, 2008 from 11:00am -6:00pm. Set-up will begin on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 with tear down by Monday, May 5, 2008. Estimated attendance 300.
COMMON COUNCIL AGENDA PAGE 3 APRIL 22, 2008
VII. COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEES (continued)
C. LAND USE & BUILDING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (continued)
1a. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute a contract with Diamond & Mac Contractors, Inc. for the installation of new ceiling system and new carpeting on the second floor of the Belden Main Library for a total not to exceed $129,000.00, subject to availability of funds through Special Capital Appropriation approval. Acct. #09086210-5777-C0427/C0428.
1b. Authorize the Library Director to issue change orders on Contract for a total not to exceed $10,381.90.
2. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an amendment to Silver/ Petrucelli and Associates, Inc. architectural/engineering design services contract for the Roton Middle School Project, in order to increase the current hazardous material monitoring allowance by $26,772.82 for additional monitoring services associated with the abatement phase for the project. Acct #0904-5010-5777-B0312.
3. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute an amendment to Gilbane Building Company’s program management contract for a total not to exceed $24,464.00 for work associated with providing a plan update to the Facilities Audit & Analysis, Priority Needs Assessment for the Norwalk Public School Projects dated March 2004. Account #09045050-5777-B0291.
4. Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to AAA Chimney Corporation of Palisades Park, NJ for providing chimney repairs services at Roton Middle School for a total not to exceed $31,480.00. Acct. #09045010-5777-C0312
5a. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia, to execute a contract with Honeywell International for the Health Department Building HVAC system improvement project for a total not to exceed $171,885.00). (Acct. # to be determined)
5b. Authorize the Director of Health to issue change orders on contract for a total not to exceed $18,115.00.
VIII. RESOLUTIONS FROM COMMON COUNCIL
WHEREAS, according to statistics released in 2007 by the U.S. Census Bureau, year-round, full-time working women in 2006 earned only 77% of the earnings of year-round, full-time working men, indicating little change or progress in pay equity; and
WHEREAS, over a working lifetime, this wage disparity costs the average American women and her family $700,000 to $2million in lost wages, impacting Social Security benefits and pensions; and
WHEREAS, although women’s earnings have been slowly catching up to men’s over time, t he National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) tells us that this reduction in the wage gap is in part due to a fall in men’s earnings rather than an increase in women’s earnings; and
COMMON COUNCIL AGENDA PAGE 4 APRIL 22, 2008
VIII. RESOLUTIONS FROM COMMON COUNCIL (continued)
WHEREAS, despite the fact that women make up almost half of the Connecticut workforce, women in the state on average still earn only 71.5% of men’s earnings; and
WHEREAS, a vast majority of households depend on ages of a working mother and working families are often just one paycheck away from hardship; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that Tuesday, April 22, 2008, be proclaimed Pay Equity Day; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that Norwalk urges its citizens to recognize the full value of value of women’s skills and significant contributions to the labor force.
IX. MOTIONS POSTPONED TO A SPECIFIC DATE
X. SUSPENSION OF THE RULES
XI. ADJOURNMENT
APPOINTMENTS
PARKING AUTHORITY M/C NWLK CODE 73A
Julius Hayward (D) (Succeed S. Bentkover)
67Ledgebrook Dr. Term expires – 3/31/13
Norwalk, CT 06854
BOARD OF HEALTH M/C NWLK CODE 57-4
Matthew Brovender (U) (Succeed R. Jimenez)
41Wolfpit Ave. Term expires- 12/01/10
Norwalk, CT 06851
