New Britain Common Council Regular Meeting - September 11, 2024
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New Britain Common Council Regular Meeting - September 11, 2024
The New Britain Common Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 7:35 PM in Council Chambers, City Hall. The meeting began with public participation at 7:01 PM, followed by the regular session. The council addressed a range of infrastructure, recognition, and administrative items, including multiple resolutions related to flooding mitigation, sewer rehabilitation, after-school programs, and commemorative proclamations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Gaetano Di Petro (property owner at 194 Overlook Avenue) expressed frustration over 44 years of chronic flooding at his residence, citing property devaluation and lack of prior action. He acknowledged a recent claim hearing as the first time he felt heard and urged progress on the Overlook Avenue/McKinley Drive drainage project.
- Jason Gorzo (landlord at 1 Sealander Street) described repeated flooding since 2011, with three floods in 2023 and two in 2024, resulting in sewage backups into his rental property. He noted that unresolved claims and mandatory disclosure of flooding history trap him in a devalued property.
- Frank Chase (24 Roxbury Street) urged adoption of the Overlook/McKinley drainage project and on-call engineering for Allen Street. He criticized Public Works Director Moriarty for lack of updates on the Hampton Eaton sub-basin, requested CCTV inspection, and pressed for a $9.7 million state bond for Allen Street. He stated that 50+ properties are affected and that flooding is not an act of God but a result of city neglect.
- John Kristapic (292 Linwood Street) asked about the Clean Water Fund fee ($1,875 quarterly, totaling over $1 million/year), meter charges, catch basin cleaning frequency, water meter purchases, water loss (1 million gallons/day unaccounted), and noted damaged covers and a broken neon sign on Bank Street.
- Paul Canzero (former New Britain EMS employee) spoke in strong support of the proposed EMS contract extension, praising NBEMS as a premier service with response times under three minutes, and urged adoption.
Discussion Items
- Resolution #1 (Patriot Day & National Day of Service and Remembrance) – Recognizing September 11, 2024, as Patriot Day. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #2 (Hispanic Heritage Month) – Proclaiming September 15–October 15, 2024, as Hispanic Heritage Month. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #3 (Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma Awareness Month) – Designating September 2024 for awareness of blood cancers. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #4 (Naming/Renaming of City Buildings) – Establishing a procedure for naming city-owned facilities. Referred to the Planning, Zoning, and Housing Committee.
- Resolution #5 (Every Kid Counts After School Program at Lincoln Elementary) – Funded by a HUD grant ($19,400 for 2024-2025). Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #6 (American Savings Foundation Grant for After School Programs) – $150,000 for Slade and Pulaski Middle Schools. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #7 (Extension Agreement with New Britain EMS) – Two five-year terms (2024-2034) consolidating prior agreements. Referred to the Committee on Administration, Finance, and Public Law and Public Services.
- Resolution #8 (On-Call Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, etc. Repairs) – Public Bids 4181/4183, not to exceed $100,000 per project. Adopted unanimously after discussion of bid limits and competitive quotes.
- Resolution #9 (Equipment for Stanley Golf Course) – $21,748 for a Turfco topdresser and $63,900 for a Carlton brush/tree chipper. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #10 (Overlook Avenue/McKinley Drive Drainage Improvements Phase 2) – $2,147,633.75 awarded to Colossale Siteworks Corporation. The project will install a second 54-inch pipe, curbing, and sidewalk, with construction expected June–July 2025. A public meeting is scheduled for September 19, 2024. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #11 (Beeline Trail Phase 2 Inspection Services) – $348,527.77 to SLR International, fully federally funded. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #12 (C8-C9 Sewer Rehabilitation and I/I Removal) – $13,490,285 contract with VMS Construction. The project is part of the FLUSH program and will address infiltration and inflow in the southeastern portion of the city. Adopted unanimously after a friendly amendment to correct the location description.
- Resolution #13 (Construction Inspection Services for C8-C9) – $600,000 to Comprehensive Environmental Inc. (CEI). Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #14 (Subway Utility Rental Rate 2025) – $3.13 per linear foot, effective January 1–December 31, 2025. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #15 (On-Call Engineering for Allen Street Drainage) – $80,000 to Cardinal Engineering. Director Moriarty clarified that the Allen Street project (upgrading a 24-inch to 66-inch pipe) is separate from the Hampton Eaton sub-basin, which is not a priority. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #16 (Cleaning and Lining of 36" Storm Pipe on High Street) – $64,740 to Green Mountain Pipeline Services LLC. Adopted unanimously.
- Resolution #17 (Purchase of Sand for Snow/Ice Control) – $15.60 per cubic yard for the 2024-2025 winter season. Adopted unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar (Items A–K, including claims settlements, police commission recommendations, and surplus equipment sale) – Approved unanimously.
- Recognition of September 11, 2024 – Council members shared personal reflections; a moment of silence was observed.
- Recognition of Youth Judo Athletes – Cameron Cordona, Christian Cochado, and Efren Quiles were honored for national and international achievements.
- Recognition of Retiring Chief Bruce Baxter – Mayor Stewart presented a plaque honoring 28 years of service to New Britain EMS. Multiple council members expressed gratitude for his leadership.
- Petitions – Two petitions were submitted: (1) by Alderwoman Scott to display Hanukkah and Kwanzaa decorations alongside the annual tree lighting; (2) by Alderwoman Barbosa to inspect and clear drainage on Judd Avenue, Market, Abbey, and Child Streets. Both were referred to the Mayor's office for appropriate departments.
- Unfinished Business – None discussed.
- Adjournment – The meeting adjourned at 8:39 PM.
Meeting Transcript
I want to welcome everybody to the September 11th meeting, regular meeting of the common council. It is now 7 01 and time for public comment. Uh when there's an opening. Thank you. Well, first of all, people, you know, thank you for the opportunity to get here in front of the council and and speak to you. Uh so my name is Gaetano Di Petro. I own a property one ninety-four Overlook Avenue in New Britain. And the reason why I'm here today is the ongoing flood flooding issue that I've been having at that residence for the past forty-four years. And what I have to say when they came to the claim hearing yes uh last week that most of you guys were there, it was the first time that I felt that I was being heard, uh having empathy. And to me, when it comes to these flooding situations, it's the human aspect that I really know. My mom is here, she's been dealing with this. My dad is not here with us anymore. Thank you, Macamero. When you told us that, you know, there is a project that maybe we're gonna get a you know an outcome tonight. Uh I know on the nineteenth there's gonna be talks about you know, going forward. I know you guys had bids. So for me it's more about seeing progress. Uh I know that we're all busy here. I'm a reasonable person, and all we want is to get a resolution, get the problem fixed. When I see other projects being done around New Britain when it comes to the public parks and millions of dollars updating, I want it to be where let's fix problems. I understand that those parks are important for the kids for our future, for families to, you know, be uh partaking those exercises there. But let's come up with a solution here because this is only one step. What about the devaluation of these properties? Because this is a problem that the town has known for decades, and nothing was ever done. And now we're in this position here. So to me it's like I appreciate you guys taking the time, taking those meetings. I just want to see progress being made. Uh you know, and Aaron, she has my number, my email. Um a reasonable person. I just want to come up with some solutions and whatever feedback I can get from you guys, I would really appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. De Petro. Hold your applause to the end. Our next speaker is Jason Gorzo. Good evening. My name is Jason Orzle, uh Yatsuk for Polish people in here. Uh I I'm I'm at one Sealander Street. I uh I live in Plainville, but that is a property I own. Um I've got two tenants there, so I'm also here to talk about flooding. This is uh an area where we flood chronically. Um I'm beginning to learn a lot about the city uh claim process because I've filed a number of claims. I've been filing claims, I guess, since 2011 and 18. We had three floods last year, um, and then this year we've had two floods. I'm still waiting to be uh to resolve a claim from last year. It's frustrating. Um I guess the point of my conversation is to just express a little bit of a human problem. Um, as a landlord, I have to offer uh my my tenants space, like often quite enjoyment and uh you know, a safe place. Um I do pay uh sewer bills and stuff like that, but then um I do experience, at least in the last two years, major major flooding, like the sewers come into my house. Um that's not a service that I I would expect.
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