Common Council - Regular Meeting

Okay, I'd like to call Pastor Ken Stler from Christian Life Family Church for the invocation. Thank you, sir. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for your goodness and mercy. I thank you for these men and women that have given themselves to the business and direction of our city and our community. Lord, I pray that you give them wisdom, give them unity to accomplish, to move our forward, our city forward. That your blessing and guidance and discernment and understanding in all that they deal with. Lord, just let your hand be upon each one of them. That our city would be blessed, that our city would be at peace and that you just give them strength and courage, Lord, to make all the choices, decisions, and the wisdom to guide us. We pray that our city would be blessed. I thank you for each one, Lord. Bless them, refresh them, Father, in your presence. We give you thanks in Jesus name. Amen.

Thank you, Mr. Stler. Recording in progress. I'd like to call tonight's common council meeting on January 6 to order. It is 702. Davis here. Lampy Berg here. Barts Blanky here. Smith here. Arnett here. Wetszel here. Moldenhower here. Okay. Thank you. Would you please stand for the pledge of

allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands one indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. First on the agenda, minutes from the council meeting on December 16th,

Mr. Mayor, Mr. Blankie, I'll move for approval. A motion by Blankie, second by Barts. Okay. Any questions on it. Okay. All those in favor say I. I.

Opposed? Thank you. Next, we have comments and suggestions from citizens present. Anybody wishing to speak for the council with up to three minutes, please state your name and address. Seeing none, I'll move on next to the public hearing. Public hearing for transit adult fair increases. I'll now open a public hearing. May wishes to speak, please come in front of the audience. Being none, I'll then close a public hearing 704 and move on to reports. We have tourism minutes from December 11th, RDA minutes from December 17th, and site plan review minutes from December 22nd.

Mr. B. Mr. Mayor, I just wanted to make a little bit of a comment on on the redevelopment authority minutes from uh December 17th. We we had uh some good presentations from uh individuals that are going to uh actually assist our city in the areas of financing. Uh we have an opportunity zone within Watertown that they're going to help uh make people aware of as far as the advantages of investing in that opportunity zone. Uh there's also uh this t this topic of uh tax credits and other types of grants that might be available that they're going to make available uh through us uh through our contacts with these individuals that came to our our meeting that night. Um it was a very very good uh presentations on the part of both of these individuals and they uh they welcome the opportunity to be of help and to uh help individuals and our RDA board as a whole. uh uh going forward which uh I I thought was uh quite meaningful. Uh but the last comment that I'd like to make is we are losing um a person that oversees our our town uh square, Benson Square. Uh that individual did a nice job for us, but because of our funding changing, she um is going to be working elsewhere and it's going to have the effect of transferring duties to um largely to our um our park and wreck board and our director Christine Butteris. [clears throat] She uh is going to need help from tourism board, park and wreck uh commission uh the the main street program, chamber of commerce and individuals uh that can come forward to help uh address uh some of the issues of

programming uh maintenance and and the continued um viability of that uh town square as an important asset for our town. So I'm I'm just it's going to be a transition and it's going to actually require a lot of us individually where we can to help. So that this uh change in um in the coordination of programming and overseeing of that through that individual we had um Stephanie Jules who did a nice job but uh we now have to do it in a in a different way. And I'm I'm just making our our council aware, which they are, that uh this year will be a transition year for us to hopefully address that in a way that continues to make the Benson Square an asset like it has been. Uh there's a lot of money invested into that uh area of town and we have every reason to want to uh make it successful, but it'll have to be done in a different way with our boards that we have in town doing more than they have been doing in that regard. That's all I'm just Anybody else? Okay, move on to communication recommendations. Moretown Fire Department monthly report for October, November of 2025 starts on page 12 in your packet, Mr. Lampy, you Thank you, Mayor. Uh, hi, Chief.

Hi. Uh, page 17 in the packet. Uh, I just wanted to look at some of the the overtime um differences between 2024 and 2025. It looks to the to the naked eye that 2025 has more consistent daily staffing overtime as opposed to 2024. Is there some intent behind that?

Um okay. So there was a lot of things that happened in 2025. Um we stabilized our staffing. We were actually um staffed or fully staffedish. Um but with that we were not staffed with qualified people. So we had new people that we hired and so we had to send people the paramedic and so we had to do hire back to um have qualified people to be on the ambulance per se um because we didn't have somebody to fill the the spot that they needed to to be a driver of the engine because they weren't driver operator or they weren't a paramedic yet. Um another thing is is we had five or six people out on longterm FMLA. We had a couple babies which is exciting. We had a couple injuries and other things happen last year. Um, and then we did also increase our staffing to seven as a minimum for the safety of our of our crews and citizens.

Great. Thank you. Y, Mr. Barts, go ahead. Yeah, Chief. Thanks again for pulling this information together on a monthly basis for us. When I [clears throat] look at these reports every month, I always one thing that always uh piques my interest is the response time heat map. And in the on the October report, it's in uh it's for the month of October on page 14, but in the November report, you uh converted that into year-to- date, which is which is super. So, I have a couple questions on that, [clears throat] and I'm just going to ask them both at the same time because you'll understand.

Could you explain the heat map and what we are seeing in some reasons and then uh do does the extended response correlate to simultaneous calls, travel distance, staffing level levels or or all of the above?

Absolutely. Um I wish I could pull up the live map and show you all the the bells and whistles that I get to play with um with our new reporting system. Um essentially what I'm doing is taking a snapshot um at year-to date of that area of the response time that you have. Um and what you have is the blue is the response time that is less than 5 minutes and 20 seconds. The green hue is between five and six minutes. Um the yellow or orange depending on your your color choice is between six and seven minutes. And then red is over seven minutes. Um, and and with this with all of them filtered and layered on top of each other, it's hard to see what the red is. And I have the ability to turn those filters on and off. Um, I also have the ability to turn on and off emergency response um versus non-emergency response. So, when we do non-emergency response, that might be for the lift assist that we see those calls going up for. um service calls for like animal rescues for our little ducklings um and those types of things which are not true emergencies um where we're super concerned about the response time. Um since the year ended and I knew I was coming here tonight, I just kind of looked I've been working on the annual report and I just turned all of those non-emergency calls off and all of our um everything and I just looked at what our above um 6 minutes and 59 second response time was and there was still 4 minutes 422 calls that were over seven minutes for our response times in that that area um for the year. And so what those were and where those were located, I can't show you right now. Um but that was on the northeast corner up by the hospital area, Fountain Street, 121, Hospital Drive area, and then on the west side um near like Farm and Fleet and that type of area. Um and so that's kind of where the outer edges of

our community are, obviously. have some longer um response times towards the central and northern part of the community as well um is where I kind of saw the that heat map develop. Um so we have the ability to really make an informed decision and dial in and out and to see like where the calls are and to see if it's because of emergency calls or non-emergency calls and that type of thing. Um some of the reasons that these longer response times may be happening um is because of the simultaneous calls that we've had. We've had more of those. We've been tracking that as well. Uh we've seen that we've been in the 30% um realm, 25 to 30%. I don't have December yet. I tried to take vacation. [laughter] Um and then so what happens with a simultaneous call is we don't staff a second ambulance. People have to go off of the engine, grab their gear, go on the ambulance to go on that call. So that obviously takes longer to go on the call um and get out the door and to get there. Um they may be on an emergency where it was a critical call. So, the engine and the ambulance is on scene and they have to come back to the station to get the ambulance to go on the other ambulance call. Um or just the travel distance that we just discussed. Um so, these are all things that we've been looking at and one thing that I've we've been discussing and we've known for um most of this year, I just couldn't make the change mid year was how do we determine the first out versus the second out and how often is that really happening? Um, and uh, Mr. Arnett had had been asking that and I've wanted to give him that data, but I wasn't able to. So, for 2026, we reumbered our ambulances. Um, so our primary ambulance when it goes on a call will always be 4151. And when it's a secondary call or the second ambulance, it will always be 4152. So, if it's staffed with the

engine company, I'll then be able to break those calls down. Now, um the way it was before, it would be like if one call was primary and that that ambulance went down for service, we would pull like 4153 and it could be a first out ambulance or it could be a second out ambulance, you wouldn't know. Now, we're able to distinguish and know if it's a primary call for service or a secondary call for service. Um, so we'll be able to break that data out even more for you guys, um, to see even more and we'll be able to track that going into 2026 um, when I start seeking staffing for an ambulance and that type of thing. Does that answer your question? Okay. Thanks. Yes, sir.

Oh, sorry. I don't want to upset him. I don't want to get upset him either. I'm not in charge. [laughter] Go back a few years, Mr. can go ahead. So, my comments are probably going to sound familiar. Okay. Um, but I want to start off by saying I'm impressed with the turnout time. I think that speaks to the dedication of the crew and the training and the leadership. Uh, it's showing a consistent downward trend and it is down to 2 minutes and 3 seconds, which is a market improvement. I mean, we're talking about a 30 second improvement roughly on the turnout time. And as I noted months ago, how quickly fighters can double in time.

Obviously, your training for that and the crew understands that. And uh kudos to them. They're doing a fantastic job on that. Also, the all response zone time went down. So, about a 36 second decrease from the prior month. And overall uh it's down to 831 from a high water mark of 942. So that's also encouraging to see. Of course, I should have done the sorry sandwich, positive, negative, positive, but uh the last one of course is the city response time unfortunately does still show a slight upward trend

and I understand that there are other factors involved in that. But again, it it shows that the crew and you and everyone involved are doing everything they can and that you're sensitive to this topic. And I do appreciate that. Thank you. Thank you.

Yeah, we are definitely very sensitive. The crews are aware of it. They get these reports. Um and we've been sharing the information during our pass downs as well. Um we've also been giving them the tools with the optic project. Uh we were able to incorporate some technology and apparatus to be able to have more accurate times as well. So hopefully um you guys have the best information possible to go forward. Thank you. Anybody else? Thank you, Chief. Move on. New business. Then convene the close session per statute 19.85 to confer with legal counsel with the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy be adopted by the body with respect to litigation which it is or is likely to become involved. Clean up empowers.

I'll make that motion to go into session. Motion by Davis. Second by BS. Thank you. Okay. Megan Davis. Hi Lampy. Hi Berg. Hi BS. Hi Lankkey. Hi Smith. Hi Arnett. Hi Wetzel. Hi Moldenhower. Hi. Motion carried. Thank you. Close session at 7:18. [clears throat]

Smith. I would make a motion that we disallow this claim. Okay. Motion by Smith. Second by Arnette. Thank you. Any further discussion on it? Smith. I. Arnett. Hi WZel Moldenhower. Hi Davis. Hi Lampy Berg. Hi Parks. Hi Blanky. I motion carried.

Okay. Thank you. Next. Uh D. Convene a close session for 198.85 to confer legal counsel for the governmental body who is rendering oral or written advice concerning strategy be adopted by the body with respect to litigation in which it is or is likely to become involved. Name of M. Reed. Okay. Motion by Wetzel to move in a close session. Second by Wanky.

Recording in progress. Okay. Okay. Next. F. Review and take action. Claim for damages of MRE. Mr. Smith. Mr. Mayor, I would make a motion that we deny the claim. Motion by Smith for denial. Okay. Second by Davis. Thank you. Okay. Any further questions, discussion on that?

Smith. Um, I Arnett, hi. Wetzel Moldenhower. Hi, Davis. Hi, Lampy. Hi, Berg. Hi, Barts. Hi, Blanky. Hi. Motion carries.

Thank you. Next, under miscellaneous business, the payroll summary from November 26 through December 9th and paid invoices report for November of 2025. Questions on that? Okay, move on to resolution. Christine is gone.

technology. Okay. Okay. Resolutions. Exhibit 9816 resolution to accept the dedication of park land for rap heights phase three and save water talent sponsored by myself and planning commission. Mr. Blanky move for exhibit 9816. Okay. Motion by blank second by Arette. Okay. questions. I know the builders are here too.

Yeah. I'm just u asking to clarify again the number of uh residential lots. Was it 56 or do you recall the the size of the subdivision? 54 53

as Mr. Bolinki had mentioned at the pling commission meeting with the at bites and new lose homes. We're looking at like over 100 homes probably in that area. They're without a park right now. Mr. Blank, if I may, yeah, this was one of the concerns of the residents in the Heb Heights subdivision that the only park near them is Grimwald Park on Highway A, Milford Street, and there's no pedestrian access to this. So, this would give them a neighborhood park for the kids in a much safer walking distance. This is a much better option than to take a fee that is to get the land and actually have the park.

It depends upon your perspective, but Well, I mean, under what you just told me, it sounds to me like it would be. Yes. For for that neighborhood, I think that this is definitely a positive development. Anyone's got a question. Mr. Warner is here. Okay. Okay. One one more second, Mr. B.

Yeah. So, the the parkland's being dedicated, but then all the the playground equipment that goes with that parkland u is that since they're donating the the land, is is the the park equipment uh playground, will that be a donation or other means of of revenue that are going to provide that to the park? You

there Christine? I don't believe so. I believe this just land only right now. There's typically more grant money to be able to get uh equipment in there. Just running it now. Yes, Mr.

Well, I'll take a shot at answering Alderberg's question, which is in this particular case, it's the land only. So, the city will be responsible for putting any facilities on there. That could come through as mentioned grant money that could come through city budget or that could come through the park and improvement fund which is built up from cases where a donation in lie of land was given. So it's it's on us through those multiple mechanisms.

Mr. In terms of reference, um I believe it's the December 22nd uh packet, pages 9 and 10 that has the pictures of where that parcel actually is and where the park is came with a positive recommendation from our park and rec director. Obviously,

I think it's just one more comment related to that. I the the West Haven had all the the the houses built and there was a piece of land that sat there for way over 10 years and at some point in time, you know, I I I represented East Haven, but I worked with Jim Rmaline at the time and we received grants from I think the the Cork Foundation and we uh and the the Arer person Arnette is right that Parkland and improvement fund is an option for revenues to uh to help assist with that type of a situation. But I I know it took years for West Haven to actually have some semblance of a of a playground there. And I would hope it doesn't sit for years for this vacant land to to be sitting without improvements that they can use other than the land itself. So I and I think we do have resources and options and I would I would hope that it it we act in a timely way to make that playground and that park uh active and and useful.

Okay. Well, we had multiple playgrounds that were on the uh agenda many times during the budget and that was taken out. So if you want that, make sure it's in there. Then we have money in the budget for the park. I need nobody to vote that out anymore. So, I got no problem filling the parks and stuff, but then please don't vote no anymore.

Okay. Mayor, Mayor Sp, on that particular point you're making, we did allocate parkland improvement funds to address that need. Yes, we also cut a lot of money out of the budget, which is fine. And I'm just saying that if you if we don't have the money for it, it's okay. But if somebody asks to make sure that more playground equipment's in there, then we can't take money out of the budget for it. So we can't have it both ways.

We can't take money out of the budget and then say later on we got to put stuff in there. That's it. Any more questions on it? Okay. Are you there yet? Can Yes, I'm here. Just making sure the sound's okay.

Yep. Okay, Christine says, "We'll be developing the space at a later date to work on to work on our other playground needs since like Washington Park would be one I can think of since there's a lot of parks that are way behind and having new playground equipment. Once the ones we've been having for a while have new equipment, then we'll fund this one." Okay. Nothing else can take. Uh you roll. Okay. Blanky. Hi. Smith. Hi. Arnett. Hi. Wetzel. Moldenhower. Hi.

Davis. Hi. Lampy. Berg. Hi. Arts. Hi. Motion carried. Okay. Thank you. Okay. That'll leave us last two comments and suggestions from citizens present. May wishing to address the council. We can state your name and address and come at the front of the room. Okay. All right. Seeing none, I'll then look for a motion to adjurnn. I will move. Okay. Thanks, Myra. Motion by Molenhower. Second. Okay. Second byette. Okay. All in favor say I. I. I.

Thank you. 42 recording stopped.