New Britain Common Council Regular Meeting - February 13, 2025
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New Britain Common Council Regular Meeting - February 13, 2025
The New Britain Common Council held its regular meeting on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers, City Hall. The meeting began with public participation at 7:01 PM, followed by the regular session at 7:19 PM and adjournment at 7:48 PM. The council addressed public comments, approved the consent agenda (with one item removed for separate discussion), and adopted all eight resolutions, including amendments.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Frank Chase (24 Roxbury Road) criticized Mayor Stewart for failing to prioritize the Allen Street storm sewer project over the past 12 years, stating that over 50 properties continue to flood. He urged city officials to complete a cost-benefit analysis and fund the upgrades.
- Margaret Mesage Schmidt (6 Hampton Street) expressed frustration with repeated basement flooding and sewer backups, supporting city bonding if necessary to complete the project.
- John Kristofic (292 Lindwich Street) provided calculations estimating $1.5 million in tax savings over 10 years for the Shalers tax abatement, which he considered deserved. He also criticized the mayor's recent announcement, noting a disconnect between the mayor's household income ($191,000/year) and the city's median ($57,000/year).
Consent Calendar
- Items A, C, D, E, and F were approved unanimously on a roll call vote of 11-0.
- Item A: BBC Auto Repair LLC petition for a certificate of location approval at 66 St. Clair Avenue (referred to City Plan Commission and Zoning Committee).
- Item C: Emergency purchase order of $48,253.00 to Amano-McGann, Inc. for security gate system at Martha Hart Park.
- Item D: Sale of surplus vehicles and equipment.
- Item E: Finance Department monthly report of all checks cut by the city.
- Item F: Committee recommendation for tax modification agreement with Ellis Stanley Land LLC (later taken up as Resolution #1).
- Item B (Finance Department response on audit status) was removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion. Financial Director Jonathan Perugini confirmed the audit for fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, is on track for completion by March 31, 2025. The council approved item B unanimously.
Discussion & Resolutions
- Resolution #1 – Tax Modification Agreement with Ellis Stanley Land LLC (Alderman Connors): Provided a tax exemption for solar panels on land adjacent to a housing development. Alderman Connors offered a friendly amendment to add language: "for a 10-year period with an option to apply to the common council for an additional period of exemption." The amendment was adopted, and the resolution as amended was approved unanimously. Alderwoman Beloin-Savedra clarified that the land remains taxable at the full rate.
- Resolution #2 – Recognition of February as Black History Month (Alderman Hargraves): Passed unanimously. Alderman Gibson spoke on the importance of unity and criticized being excluded from a city black history tribute; Alderwoman Scott noted ongoing events and honored figures Fred Hampton and Malcolm X.
- Resolution #3 – Recognition of Lunar New Year (Alderwoman Scott): Passed unanimously.
- Resolution #4 – Conveyance from CT DOT of right-of-way parcels along Route 72 and Route 9 (Alderman Santiago): Referred to City Planning Commission and Planning, Zoning, and Housing Committee.
- Resolution #5 – $25,975.30 to Johnson Controls Inc. for fire alarm control panel upgrade at Water Treatment Plant (Alderman Simpson): Approved unanimously.
- Resolution #6 – $14,884.00 to Harper Haines Fluid Control for pressure reducing/sustaining valves for Leona Lane Pressure Regulating Facility (Alderman Malinowski): Approved unanimously.
- Resolution #7 – Budget amendment for FHWA Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Safety Action Grant (Alderwoman Sanchez): Established accounts for $300,000 grant (80% federal, 20% municipal). Alderwoman Beloin-Savedra detailed the Vision Zero task force work, noting 31% of accidents involve roadway departures and 38.7% are intersection crashes. Approved unanimously.
- Resolution #8 – Tax abatements, corrections, and refunds (Alderman McNamara): Total of $32,984 in property abatements, $14,181 in vehicle abatements, and $25,582 in excess payment refunds. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Agenda (A, C, D, E, F) approved 11-0.
- Item B (audit update) approved unanimously.
- Resolution #1 approved as amended (tax modification with Ellis Stanley Land LLC).
- Resolutions #2, #3, #5, #6, #7, #8 approved unanimously.
- Resolution #4 referred to committee.
- Meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the February 13th meeting of the New Britain Common Council. There being a sufficient number of aldermen present. I'm going to call public participation to order. Just a reminder for anybody listening and in the audience. You have three minutes to speak. Please state your name and address for the record. And we'll begin tonight with Mr. Frank Chase. Let me just note for the record it's 701. So Alderman Russell will not correct me. Frank Chase, 24 Roxbury Road. Back in the mid-90s, Director Kirilly determined with his engineers that the Allen Street basin needs storm sewer upgrades. Fast forward 28 years to August of 2023. Weston Simpson engineers declared the Allen Street project must be a high priority because the infrastructure is at crisis levels. Mayor Stewart knew for knew from day one about the storm sewer sanitary issues on Allen Street and in the surrounding neighborhoods. She failed to complete and fund the required infrastructure resiliency plan for the Allen Street basin. We've heard the commentary regarding the cost benefit analysis regarding the Allen Street project. Yes, it's a costly, difficult project. Director Moriarty and his engineers need to step up and complete the required CBA clearly detailing the Allen Street problem. Whether one home is flooding due to compromised infrastructure systems or 50 properties or 100 properties. Each case requires and deserves the needed effort and upgrades from our city officials. Get the job done. Over the years, the record clearly shows Stewart failed to prioritize the Allen Street problem using city resources for other higher profile projects. Meanwhile, our quality of life continues to suffer, our safety continues to be in harm's way, and our properties and structures are at risk. Mayor Stewart has waffled for twelve years regarding the Allen Street project. 50 plus properties continue to flood in the Allen Street neighborhoods on Stewart's watch because she has failed to prioritize and fund the Allen Street project. We have prioritized the Allen Street project for the benefit of all. Next speaker on the list is Peg Measure Schmidt. My name is Margaret Message Schmidt. I live at 6 Hampton Street here in New Britain. And I don't have Mr. Chase's deep knowledge of the details on this project. All I know is I want to get it done. Because I'm really tired of cleaning my basement and hearing my sump up run and having a flooded yard and having the big yellow sewer truck come and blow compressed air and water down the sewer pipes, which backs up into my toilet drain and sprays toilet water all over my bathroom. They come by about once a month. We have that little party. And uh I know that they're working at funding on the state level, but one thing I would really strongly agree is if it has to be bonded here in the city and city pitch in more money, please do it. Um I can't think of anything more important than actually having sewers and drains at work in a city that's prone to flooding. Thank you very much. Thank you, Margaret. Third speaker, I have an election John Postopic. Good evening. John Kristoffic, 292 Lindwich Street. Well, I'm happy to say that I was the only person on YouTube watching the Schaylor abatement. In last meeting, there was no estimated savings given for shalers abatement. Allow me to do the math. If it's a 12 million dollar cost, assessed value at 70%, that's $8.4 million at a 39.59 mil rate. The normal property tax would be $332,556. Reduced to 10% for the first year. That's $33,535.
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