Council passes transfer

An automated speed camera ordinance was tabled.
By PETER H. MILLIKEN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Council has passed a resolution in support of transferring a $1 million state grant from the Robins Theater restoration project to improvements at the city-owned W.D. Packard Music Hall.
The resolution approved Wednesday is consistent with a legislative initiative by state Rep. Randy Law of Warren, R-64th.
The resolution notes that Robins is not operating and would need substantial additional money to resume operations and that Packard is functioning and needs capital improvements, but it was amended to delete language calling the Robins project "no longer viable."
A consultant concluded that it would cost $3.7 million just to do minimal renovation and restoration and make the privately owned Robins theater "safe, warm and dry," and that reopening it for performances would cost $12.3 million. Robins is an ornate 1923-vintage downtown film and vaudeville theater that closed in 1974.
Also passed was an ordinance that would reduce the treatment rate from 3 cents a gallon to 7/10 of a cent per gallon for leachate that has been pretreated by the U.S. EPA to remove all hydrogen sulfide before it enters the city sewer system.
The ordinance would substantially reduce the cost of the U.S. EPA's ongoing cleanup of the Warren Hills landfill, where 40 million to 60 million gallons of leachate is to be pre-treated on site before being discharged to the city's sanitary sewer system.
Leachate is water contaminated by a landfill's contents. Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, corrosive and toxic gas with a rotten egg odor that emanates from putrefying matter.
Traffic cameras
Council tabled an ordinance that would have provided for use of automated cameras to impose civil penalties upon speeding violators. Councilman Robert L. Dean Jr., D-at large, said he called for the measure to be tabled because of a lack of support for it.
Council also viewed a screen presentation by Heather M. McMahon, urban designs and grants coordinator, concerning the city's Web site at www.warren.org, which was recently upgraded by city employees. It features printable permit applications and income tax forms, regularly updated news items, public events and meetings calendar listings, a fact sheet, photos, and information on tourist attractions and all city departments, services and officials.
Illegal dumping
Mayor Michael O'Brien announced that surveillance cameras will soon be installed to catch people illegally dumping trash in the Deemer Park and Thomas Road areas, which have a history of illegal dumping activity.
He also said that the Halloween Parade will form at 1 p.m. Sunday in Perkins Park and that the resurfacing of West Market Street should be completed by the end of next week.
The mayor also announced that East Market Street at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday until late Sunday evening for installation of a pedestrian bridge over the street connecting two hospital buildings.