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Politics & Government

Proposal For New Police Station Moves Forward

Highlight of a busy Town Council meeting.

A wide variety of topics were discussed during the Town Council meeting on June 21.

The Town Council authorized bonding documents in the amount of $2 million for the acquisition and site development of 903 and 913 Farmington Avenue for a new police station. Economic Development Director Jim Mahoney said that since his last update to the council, he hasn’t found any more surprises regarding the environmental site assessment. He also explained that a structural analysis determined that the buildings on the site would have to be demolished. “That was a key finding,” he said, but none of his results have caused him to recommend terminating the purchase contract. “The next step is to go forward and authorize the bonds,” he said.

Architect Brian Humes from Jacunski Humes Architects presented a preliminary site layout for the new police department. The conceptual design includes a 30,000 square foot main building plus a storage building with access from Farmington Avenue. It also includes ‘green space’ in front of the building which could incorporate a memorial for police officers or bench seating and a lawn area. The proposal shows ample parking and multiple exits for traffic circulation and swift emergency response. Hume said the Farmington Avenue site is adequate to support the police station. “We don’t see any red flags,” he said.

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In regard to the upcoming Nutmeg State Games to be held locally during late July and early August, Councilor David Evans suggested that officials make every effort to promote Berlin businesses ahead of the event.

The Nutmeg State Games are a “multi-sport, Olympic style yearly event” for Connecticut residents age 6 to 18. The Games are expected to bring more than 6,000 athletes, 20,000 spectators and 1,500 volunteers to Berlin and the surrounding area over the course two-weeks.

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Berlin will be hosting baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer and field hockey at Sage Park and will also host baseball at Petit field on Percival Avenue and Garrity and Pulcini fields at Griswold School. Jai-Alia will also be played in Berlin at the Connecticut Amateur Jai-Alai on Four Rod Road.

Organizers for the Games requested that Berlin waive nearly $18,000 in fees for the use of the town parks. The council approved the waiver, acknowledging that Berlin will likely derive significant benefits from hosting the Games, but Councilor Evans sought assurance that Berlin businesses will receive as much publicity as possible and that organizers of the Games will work with town officials and local businesses to provide the greatest possible boost for the local economy.

Stephen Kelly, Director of Parks and Recreation Department, said he will make every effort to have all parties work together to help Berlin businesses. Councilor Kari Drost suggested the town distribute maps that would encourage visitors to dine in Berlin restaurants rather than “leaving Sage and turning on to the Berlin Turnpike and heading to Newington for dinner.”

The council also approved a new four-year contract for the police department. The current contract expires at the end of this month. The contract calls for a zero percent salary increase in the first year and then increases over the remaining three years of two percent, two percent, and three percent. Town Manager Denise McNair said the increase are “among the lower amounts” when compared to other towns. The majority of towns across the state have agreed to increases of two percent per year while Berlin’s increase averages to 1.75 percent per year according to McNair.

The contract also calls for the police department to join the medical coalition with other town employees and to receive payment via direct deposit. Both changes are expected to result in savings for the town.

Councilor Kari Drost proposed delaying the vote on the contract, because the council members only received the new contract earlier that day and did not have a chance to read it. “I have a problem approving a contract we haven’t read,” said Drost. All of the Democrats on the council however said they felt comfortable voting for the contract. “Most of the contract hasn’t changed, and we discussed the changes,” said Mayor Salina. Councilor Evans countered that the current contract “was in place before some of us were on the council”, suggesting that it has never been read by some members of the council. Town attorney Bob Weber argued that the Town Council doesn’t have the authority to change the contract anyway. “It’s either buy the deal the way it is, or it goes back to the arbitration board,” he said. The contract was approved by a vote of 4-1 with Councilor Evans voting against and Councilor Drost abstaining. (Councilor Morelli was absent.)

The council also approved the purchase of a voice recorder for the police department. The Verint Audiolog Digital Voice Recorder will be purchased from Business Electronics, Inc of Cheshire for $14,850. The device records 911 emergency calls and incoming calls to the police department.

Other expenditures approved include $88,300 for the purchase of books, DVDs, and magazines for the Berlin-Peck library, $38,000 for membership in the Library Connection, Inc. which allows libraries in central Connecticut to share information and services, and $12,665 for the refinishing of gym floors in town schools.

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