The Wethersfield Town Council held a special meeting on November 13, 2006, immediately following a Special Joint meeting, at 7:40 p.m. in the Board of Education Conference Room, Lower Level, Stillman Building 127 Hartford Avenue, Wethersfield, CT.
Present: Councilors Adil, Cascio, Drake, Forrest, Kirsche, Kotkin, Walsh, Deputy Mayor Fortunato and Chairperson Morin.
Also present: Bonnie Therrien, Town Manager, and Dolores G. Sassano, Town Clerk.
Chairperson Morin called the meeting to order and asked Town Manager Therrien to provide an overview of awarding the Preserve America consulting contract. The Town Manager explained that the grant will assist the Town in completing a master plan for historic Wethersfield. She said that after the Steering Committee and staff reviewed and rated six responses, they interviewed the top three, and John Milner Associates received the highest score from the Committee who unanimously voted to select them to complete the master plan. The Town Manager stated that the grant budget includes $60,000 to hire a planning firm and that staff has successfully negotiated the fee to meet the budget. She said that the National Park Service has approved the selection and now it has to come to Council for approval.
Councilor Drake asked about the other bids. The Town Manager stated that there were inquiries from twenty firms, but Milner Associates seemed to be the best in providing a more complete overall plan on historic preservation. She said they also have heritage tourism experience without being strictly tourism; that they include traffic and parking expertise.
Councilor Adil asked about the cost to the Town and the Town Manager stated that with the in-kind services of staff, the cost would be close to $100,000 with $50,000 from the grant and the Town's $10,000 match.
Councilor Drake sought to confirm that the amount was up to $60,000.
Councilor Walsh, as a member of the Steering Committee, agreed and stated that the process went very smoothly with RaeAnn Palmer, Assistant to the Town Manager, putting everything in order and getting approval from the Historic Trust.
Councilor Adil thanked everyone involved.
Councilor Adil moved, "TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO PREPARE A MASTER PLAN FOR HISTORIC WETHERSFIELD TO JOHN MILNER ASSOCIATES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $60,000," seconded by Councilor Cascio. All Councilors present, including the Chairperson voted AYE. The motion passed 9-0-0.
Chairperson Morin stated that the next order of business is the budget transfer of $6,000 for a pay classification study and he asked the Town Manager to comment on it.
Town Manager Bonnie Therrien explained that as part of the last set of union negotiations with 818, where they upped their medical co-pay, it was agreed to have a Pay Classification Study for members and to divide the cost in half with the union. She said that the last time a study was done in Wethersfield was in 1987. The Town Manager asked that the seven non-union Administrators also be included in this study since they supervise the members of 818 and anything that occurs from this study could also affect them. She said the interview panel selected the Mercer Group from the two groups submitting proposals, and the total cost is $16,650 with 818 agreeing to pay for half of it; with the Town paying the other half. The Town Manager said that since she only budgeted $3,000 for it, the Council would have to approve a transfer of $6,000.
Councilor Drake noticed on page 11 under purpose, scope and expectations they speak of competitive with comparable public and private sector employers in the relevant labor market and he wondered if they could compare the whole compensation package. The Town Manager agreed.
Councilor Forrest moved "TO TRANSFER $6,000 FROM ACCOUNT #T1190900-5250 (CONTINGENCY) TO ACCOUNT # T1024-5225 (PERSONNEL-SUPPORT SERVICES)", seconded by Councilor Kotkin. All Councilors present, including the Chairperson, voted AYE. The motion passed 9-0-0.
At 7:55 p.m., Councilor Adil moved "TO ADJOURN THE MEETING" seconded by Councilor Kirsche. All Councilors present, including the Chairperson voted AYE. The motion passed 9-0-0.
Dolores G. Sassano
Town Clerk
Approved by vote of Council 12/4/2006