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Record of Proceedings

June 3, 2025 Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee: Easements, Downtown District Budget, and Automated Traffic Enforcement Ordinance

Common Council — Tuesday, June 3, 2025
BodyNew Britain, Connecticut
SessionCommon Council
DateTuesday, June 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:39:17

Original source
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1:43

Good evening, everybody.

1:44

I call to order the June third, twenty twenty-five public hearing and regular meeting of the Committee on Planning, Zoning, and Housing.

1:50

The time is now six thirty-one PM.

1:53

Mr.

1:53

Clerk, you please call the roll.

2:09

Alderman Simpson.

2:10

Present.

2:11

Alderwoman Scott.

2:13

Alderwoman Barbosa.

2:16

Alderwoman McAdam.

2:18

Alderman McNamara.

2:20

Here.

2:21

Alderwoman Beloin Savager.

2:23

Here.

2:23

Alderman Malinowski.

2:25

Alderman Russell.

2:27

Alderman Hartgraves.

2:30

Alderwoman Sanchez is a voting member for Alderwoman Barbosa and Alderman Prabone as a voting member for Alderman Melinowski.

2:40

Thank you, Mr.

2:40

Clerk.

2:41

Can we please read into the record the notice of the public hearing?

2:44

Alderwoman Beloince of Aja.

2:46

I make a motion that we waive the reading.

2:49

All right.

2:56

All opposed, nay.

2:57

Motion carries.

2:58

The weeding the reading is waived.

3:00

All right.

3:01

So having been properly noticed, we will begin the public hearing.

3:04

Please remember to state your name and address for the record and limit your speaking time to three minutes.

3:09

The items for this public hearing are item number three six eight three eight, authorization for a permanent access road easement for Connecticut Light and Power Company doing business as Eversource Energy at ten eighty-five Corbin Avenue for a one-time payment of seven thousand dollars.

3:36

Are there any speakers for this item?

3:39

Any speakers going a third time?

3:42

Any speakers?

3:43

Any callers?

3:56

So first item on our agenda is item number three six eight three eight, authorization for a permanent access road easement for Connecticut Light and Power Company doing business as EverSource Energy at ten eighty-five Corbin Avenue for a one-time payment of seven thousand dollars.

4:09

May I have a motion?

4:12

Alderman McNamara.

4:14

Make a motion except refer to the full council with a neutral.

5:03

Thank you.

5:04

And is there any discussion on this item?

5:07

All right.

5:07

Seeing no further discussion, the motion to refer with a neutral recommendation.

5:11

All in favor, please say aye.

5:12

Aye.

5:13

All opposed, nay.

5:14

The ayes have it.

5:16

Motion carries.

5:17

So next item on our agenda is item number 36839, authorization for electric distribution easement for Connecticut Light and Power Company doing business as Ever Source Energy at 150 Deming Road.

5:28

May I have a motion?

5:31

I'll move Mr.

5:32

Chairman if I could.

5:33

Aldman McNamara.

5:36

What are you moving for?

5:38

Let me figure that out.

5:40

Refer to the full council with a neutral.

5:42

Thank you.

5:42

And uh is that a second from Alderman Russell?

5:45

Thank you.

5:46

So we have a motion refer back to the council with a neutral recommendation made by Alderman McNamara, seconded by Aldman Russell.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Transportation Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Economic Development███████████14%
Public Safety███████8%
Public Participation██████7%
Procedural█████6%
Zoning Regulations███4%
Public Engagement██3%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Racial Equity█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing Regular Meeting – June 3, 2025

The Committee on Planning, Zoning and Housing met on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 6:31 PM in Council Chambers, New Britain City Hall. The meeting included a public hearing, votes on two easements and the Downtown District budget, and an extended presentation and discussion on a proposed ordinance to allow automated traffic enforcement safety devices (ATESDs). The meeting adjourned at 8:08 PM.

Public Hearing

  • Item 36838: Authorization for a permanent access road easement for Eversource Energy at 1085 Corbin Avenue for a one-time payment of $7,000. No public speakers.
  • Item 36839: Authorization for an electric distribution easement for Eversource Energy at 150 Deming Road. No public speakers.
  • Item 36849: New Britain Downtown District (NBDD) budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026. No public speakers.

Discussion Items

Easements (Items 36838 & 36839)

  • Alderman McNamara moved to refer both items to the full council with a neutral recommendation. Seconded. Approved unanimously.
  • For Item 36839, City Plan Commission staff noted the proposed easement is small and necessary for utility access, compatible with the Plan of Conservation and Development.

Downtown District Budget (Item 36849)

  • Director Ms. Bosco presented the NBDD budget. Key points:
    • The budget requires council approval of the mill rate (2.75 mills, a third consecutive decrease).
    • Salary line item: one full-time executive director at ~$85,000 (contract negotiated biannually) and two part-time hourly staff ($24/hr and $20/hr). No benefits are offered.
    • The district’s role includes economic vitality, design/placemaking, marketing, and grant programs (e.g., facade improvements). Recent grants: 130 West Main Street historic building upgrades, security cameras near FastTrack, 27 Main Street apartment upgrades, and Hole-in-the-Wall signage/paint removal.
    • The district’s performance improved from 65% to 79% in a Connecticut Main Street Center assessment over 2.5 years.
  • Alderman Russell expressed support, thanking Ms. Bosco for her work.
  • Alderman Beloin-Savard clarified that the council’s authority is to approve the tax levy, not the budget itself (already approved by the district’s board and property owners). If the levy is not approved, the tax collector cannot collect, potentially endangering the district.
  • After discussion, the committee voted to refer the item to the full council with a neutral recommendation. Approved unanimously.

Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Devices (ATESD) – Item 36814 (Tabled Item)

  • The committee removed this item from the table. Staff (Mark Moriarty and Carl Gonzales) gave a detailed presentation on the proposed ordinance (Chapter 15 amendment) to allow speed and red-light cameras.
  • Key points from presentation:
    • State law (PA 23-116) allows municipalities to implement ATESDs. The ordinance mirrors state statute.
    • Process: ordinance approval → safety action plan (Vision Zero) → vendor selection → council approval of plan with public hearing → OSTA submission.
    • Fines: $50 first offense, $75 subsequent; no points on license; 30-day warning period minimum.
    • Cameras are rear-facing, capture license plates only; data deleted after 30 days; cannot be used for LPR.
    • Citations reviewed by city employee (likely police) before mailing to vehicle owner.
    • Equity protections: No more than 2 cameras per census tract (1 for tracts under ¼ sq mi). OSTA reviews plans to prevent targeting disadvantaged areas.
    • Safety data: 20 serious injuries/fatalities per year on city streets; crashes up since 2017. School zone analysis identified ~7 data-justified locations (though no locations have been selected).
    • Community survey (508 respondents) ranked automated enforcement highly (below police enforcement, above sidewalks).
    • The city must include racial profiling data and poverty rate in its OSTA application.
  • Council discussion: Several aldermen asked about equity, census tract limitations, enforcement in non-camera areas, and the ability to set thresholds (e.g., right turns on red). Alderman Sanchez noted the low survey response relative to population but acknowledged it was a good turnout.
  • The committee voted to refer the item to the full council with a neutral recommendation. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 36838 (Corbin Ave easement): Approved neutral recommendation; referred to full council.
  • Item 36839 (Deming Rd easement): Approved neutral recommendation; referred to full council.
  • Item 36849 (NBDD budget): Approved neutral recommendation; referred to full council.
  • Item 36814 (ATESD ordinance): Removed from table, discussed, and approved neutral recommendation; referred to full council.
  • No action taken on other tabled items (36328, 36391-2, 36392-2, 36598).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everybody. I call to order the June third, twenty twenty-five public hearing and regular meeting of the Committee on Planning, Zoning, and Housing. The time is now six thirty-one PM. Mr. Clerk, you please call the roll. Alderman Simpson. Present. Alderwoman Scott. Alderwoman Barbosa. Alderwoman McAdam. Alderman McNamara. Here. Alderwoman Beloin Savager. Here. Alderman Malinowski. Alderman Russell. Alderman Hartgraves. Alderwoman Sanchez is a voting member for Alderwoman Barbosa and Alderman Prabone as a voting member for Alderman Melinowski. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Can we please read into the record the notice of the public hearing? Alderwoman Beloince of Aja. I make a motion that we waive the reading. All right. All opposed, nay. Motion carries. The weeding the reading is waived. All right. So having been properly noticed, we will 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 this public hearing are item number three six eight three eight, authorization for a permanent access road easement for Connecticut Light and Power Company doing business as Eversource Energy at ten eighty-five Corbin Avenue for a one-time payment of seven thousand dollars. Are there any speakers for this item? Any speakers going a third time? Any speakers? Any callers? So first item on our agenda is item number three six eight three eight, authorization for a permanent access road easement for Connecticut Light and Power Company doing business as EverSource Energy at ten eighty-five Corbin Avenue for a one-time payment of seven thousand dollars. May I have a motion? Alderman McNamara. Make a motion except refer to the full council with a neutral. Thank you. And is there any discussion on this item? All right. Seeing no further discussion, the motion to refer with a neutral recommendation. All in favor, please say aye. Aye. All opposed, nay. The ayes have it. Motion carries. So next item on our agenda is item number 36839, authorization for electric distribution easement for Connecticut Light and Power Company doing business as Ever Source Energy at 150 Deming Road. May I have a motion?

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