New Britain Common Council Committee Meeting – Flood Relief and Hazard Mitigation – November 6, 2024
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New Britain Common Council Committee Meeting on Flood Relief and Hazard Mitigation - November 6, 2024
The Committee on Administration, Finance and Law and Public Services held a public hearing and regular meeting on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 6:30 PM in Council Chambers. Nine members were present. The meeting addressed two main items: a proposed Neighborhood Flood Relief Initiative for owner-occupied properties and the CRCOG Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Andrew (Brighton Street resident) testified that the proposed $7,500 grant amount is insufficient to cover cleanup and repair costs, citing his own experience with a sewer backup where cleaning alone cost $10,000 and basement replacement cost $15,000. He urged the committee to be more realistic about funding levels.
Discussion Items
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Item 36619 – Neighborhood Flood Relief Initiative: Alderman McNamara presented the proposal, modeled after a Hartford program, aimed at providing up to $7,500 in grants for preventative measures (e.g., sump pumps, French drains) to reduce flood damage. Director Mark Moriarty discussed the city’s rapid response program (ServiceMaster) for emergency cleanups. Corporation Counsel Mary Pikorsky clarified that the rapid response is for immediate health hazards, while the proposed initiative would cover longer-term preventative items. Alderwoman Savedra raised questions about overlap with the claims process and the funding source. Finance Director Jonathan Perugini stated that the proposed $500,000 pilot funding from PILOT money has already been absorbed to cover a state motor vehicle reimbursement shortfall. Alderman Santiago moved to amend the resolution to remove several items (e.g., basement cleanouts, new boilers, mold remediation) that could be handled through the claims process, focusing only on preventative measures. The amendment was approved. Further discussion included concerns about administration, staffing, and fairness to homeowners who already pay for safety valve insurance. Alderman Barbosa moved to table the item to allow time for Hartford program managers to provide more details. The motion to table passed.
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Item 36623 – CRCOG Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2024-2029: Alderman McNamara noted the plan identifies flooding as the city’s top hazard, highlighting Allen Street and Overlook areas. Alderwoman Savedra emphasized that adopting the plan positions the city to obtain state and federal grants. Director Moriarty confirmed a meeting with Allen Street residents is scheduled. The committee voted unanimously to recommend the plan to the full council.
Key Outcomes
- Item 36619: The proposed resolution was tabled to the next committee meeting after approval of an amendment to limit eligible activities to preventative measures. Funding source remains undetermined, likely from the unassigned fund balance.
- Item 36623: Recommended to the full council with a favorable vote (ayes all, no nays).
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. I call to order the November 6, 2024 public hearing and regular meeting of the Committee on Administration, Finance, and Law and Public Services. The time is now 6 30 p.m. Mr. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Alderman Connors? Here. Alderman Barbosa. Alderman McInamara. Here. Alderman Santiago. Alderman Simpson. Present. Alderman Gibson. Here. Alderman Pabone. Alderman Smendley. Alderwoman Savedra. For the record, Alderman Russell sitting in Alderman Sendley Alderman. Thank you. Nine members are present. We have a quorum. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Also, just a uh point of order. Um Alderwoman Scott is present as well tonight. Um thank you. Mr. Clerk, will you please read into the record the notice of public hearing? Make a motion to waive the reading of the legal notice. I have a motion to wave made by Alderman Santiago, seconded by Alderman Simpson. All in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. Reading is waived. Having been noticed properly, we'll begin the public hearing. Please remember to state your name and address for the record and limit your speaking time to three minutes. The items for public hearing are uh 36619, the neighborhood flood relief initiative for owner-occupied properties, and 36623, the natural hazard mitigation plan update for 2024. Are there any speakers on these items? Please approach and give your name and address and limit your time to three minutes, please. Right next to the mic. Sorry. I've been here many times with Frank Chase. Uh so I just wanted to come and kind of talk about some of the expenses so you guys could use that as reference for some of the numbers that I'm seeing on the these resolutions. When I had my flooding uh where the sewer backed up into my house in Brighton Street, I had Atlantic Restoration come out and visit my site. And they said because it was a Cat 3, which means there's sewer water in my basement, that the cleaning fee was $10,000 by itself. I don't know if this other program existed then, but I assume they're gonna charge you guys even more because you're the city and government and you guys always pay more. Um so that was just cleaning up the sewer water out of my basement. The the second part of that was to replace my finished basement is gonna cost me $15,000. That's not $7,500.
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