The next Common Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 28 at 7:30PM. Members of Common Council, Mayor Radest, and city staff will be participating electronically in the meeting. For this and all future electronic meetings, members of the public will be able to comment by video or audio conference. Access codes and instructions for public comment on the Zoom platform will be posted on the city website prior to the meeting.
Every Common Council meeting is broadcast live on HTTV Verizon channel 30 and Comcast channel 36 and 34. The meeting will also be broadcast live on the City of Summit YouTube Channel.
At the July 28 meeting, Megan Avallone, Director of the Westfield Regional Health Department, will make a presentation and answer questions about trends in COVID-19 cases locally, contact tracing, and best practices for testing and quarantining. Members of the public with questions for Ms. Avallone may call in or participate on the Zoom platform.
The Finance Committee will introduce two resolutions. The first resolution transfers remaining funds that were allocated for projects over the past 10 years that were financed and completed under cost or not undertaken. As a result, $885,000 of bonded but unspent funds from capital projects will be returned to the capital surplus and can be used in future budgets to offset spending. The second resolution will amend the budget to accept a Clean Communities Grant in the amount of $39,752.48 and to authorize its use to fund weekend trash pickup in the downtown, as well as additional litter abatement initiatives in Summit.
In addition, there are two Finance resolutions in the consent agenda that are worth highlighting. The first resolution amends the 2020 operating budget to accept as revenue and budget as an expenditure $854,588.79 from the Union County Cares Act – Coronavirus Relief Funds Grant to reimburse some city expenses resulting from the health emergency. The second resolution will partially refund sidewalk café lease fees for those restaurants with liquor licenses that have already paid the lease fees for 2020. In an effort to assist restaurants who are struggling as a result of the health emergency, Common Council has based its 2020 sidewalk café fees for restaurants with liquor licenses on a per table fee structure, rather than the higher-appraised rental value of the space.
The Law and Labor Committee will introduce a single resolution to authorize the transfer of a distribution liquor license to Cambridge Wine Cellar, LLC.
The Administrative Procedure Committee will also introduce a single resolution to confirm a mayoral appointment of a new member to the Technology Advisory Committee.
Council will consider three resolutions from the Community Programs and Parking Services Committee. First, council will vote on a resolution to award a bid for the resurfacing of the pools at the Summit Family Aquatic Center. This is long-planned work that must be done to maintain the pool and it will be completed after closure of the facility in September. The second resolution will approve the award of a bid for the Broad Street Garage repair project. The low bid is $61,000 below the engineer’s estimated cost, which is attributable in part to the ability to complete the work during weekdays while the garage is not fully in use. Funds for this project are available in the Parking Utility Capital Improvement Fund, so no borrowing of funds is necessary. The final resolution will allow the YMCA to erect a tent and use a portion of the Library/YMCA parking lot for outdoor exercise from August 1 to October 15 from 5AM to 7PM daily.
Finally, council will hear three resolutions from the Capital Projects and Community Services Committee. The first resolution authorizes a change order for the Wallace Road Improvement Project, which increased $1,870.88 based upon the actual quantities of materials used. Savings were found in other aspects of the project and this is an increase of 0.49% of the total cost of the project. Second, council will vote on a resolution to award the bid for the 2020 (fall) citywide tree planting. This project will plant 170 trees within the city right of way as part of a plan to plant 1000 trees over a four year period starting in 2020. $11,000 of this project will be funded by past Greening Union County grants and another $13,000 will be reimbursed by the 2020 Greening Union County grant. Third, a resolution will be considered to amend the professional services agreement with the city’s redevelopment attorney, Maraziti Falcon, LLP, to align with a reduction in the 2020 operating budget. This resolution will amend the agreement to reduce the final contract amount $20,000 for a final contract amount not to exceed $30,000.
To view the complete Common Council agenda, go to https://www.cityofsummit.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/479?fileID=24016
Next Common Council Meeting: Tuesday, September 1, 2020.