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Torrington council approves series of development and operational measures including Brownfield actions and equipment purchases
Summary
Council approved a batch of motions covering property disposition referrals, Brownfield grant applications and reimbursements, a contract extension for landscape maintenance, WPCA equipment and a new wheelchair-accessible van. Several items were discussed at length; others were routine votes.
The Torrington City Council approved a package of measures Monday that included economic-development steps, Brownfield grant applications, operational contracts and equipment purchases.
Votes at a glance (items discussed and approved): - Referral to Planning & Zoning: Refer potential sale/disposition of city property at 355 Midget Avenue (former Board of Education administration building) for an 8-24 review by the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion passed. - Premier Landscaping LLC contract extension: Authorized the mayor to execute a one-year extension in the amount of $70,000 for routine maintenance on local flood-protection work; funding from landfill post-closure and Naugatuck River accounts. Motion passed. - New Colony Development Corporation pre-award reimbursement: Authorized the mayor to enter an agreement to reimburse pre-award expenses up to $30,000 from the Brownfield Capital Reserve Fund to support a Brownfield remediation grant application for the former Nidec (100 Franklin Drive) site. Motion passed. Economic development staff and legal counsel explained the need: Brownfield land-bank partners commonly front pre-award due-diligence and legal costs so the land bank can apply for state remediation funding. - DECD Brownfield grant applications: Authorized mayor to apply for Department of Economic and Community Development Brownfield Remediation & Limited Assessment Grants: $600,000 for Torrington Business Park (second-phase abatement/demolition) and $800,000 for the former Excelsior plant abatement/demolition. Both motions passed. - WPCA equipment purchase: Acting as the Water Pollution Control Authority, council approved purchase of a replacement screw shaft for a Huber septic unit from Huber Technology Inc. for $10,371.79 as a sole-source item; staff said the part is proprietary and essential to avoid process upsets. - Mobility vehicle purchase: Authorized purchase of a wheelchair-accessible van for $76,088 to replace an aging unit and extend fleet life. Motion passed. - Refunds and routine approvals: The council approved tax refunds and sewer-use refunds as recommended by the tax collector, and approved prior meeting minutes as amended (clarifying language about an insulin price-fixing action).
Why it matters: The Brownfield items and property referrals are part of longer-running redevelopment efforts; staff said the Brownfield land-bank path and state grants are necessary to handle complex environmental cleanup and liability issues that private developers and the city would not take on directly. The approved operational purchases address service continuity (WPCA equipment and transportation for client services).
Quote: "It's the due diligence that we're paying for," an economic development official said, describing the pre-award reimbursement to the Brownfield land bank.
Ending: Several items will require follow-up (agreements, grant applications and subsequent project approvals). City staff said they will coordinate next steps with New Colony Development Corporation, DEDC/DECD grant administrators and other partners.
