City Council

Hon. Mark D. Boughton, Mayor Common Council Members Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the Common Council Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2007. Present were Council Members: Louise P. McMahon, Shay Nagarsheth, James H. Johnson, Michael J. Calandrino, Fred Visconti, Duane E. Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, John J. Esposito, Thomas J. Saadi, Joseph M. Cavo, Pauline R. Basso, Paul T. Rotello, Jane Diggs, Mary Teicholz, Philip D. Curran, Robert T. Riley, Gregg W. Seabury and Colleen A. Stanley Absent were Council Members: Charles J. Trombetta, Mary G. Saracino, and Lynn Taborsak PRESENT: 18, ABSENT: 3 Also present were Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Laszlo L. Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel and Eric Gottschalk, Parliamentarian City Clerk Jean Natale was absent due to illness. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER: Councilwoman Pauline Basso led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Joe Cavo led everyone in the room in a prayer. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue, in favor of item #4 Public Participation was closed at 7:35 p.m. Mayor Boughton read the announcements for the month of November. MINUTES: A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Perkins that the Common Council approve the Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of October 2, 2007 as presented and to waive the reading of same as the Council have copies of the Minutes and are available in the City Clerk’s office. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR: Councilwoman Basso presented the following items for the Consent Calendar: 15 – COMMUNICATION - Request – Disposal of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment Receive the communication and approve the sale of City of Danbury surplus vehicles and equipment as stated therein. 16 – COMMUNICATION - Request for Transfer of Funds Receive the communication and approve the transfer of $20,000 to the Fire Department Special Services Fund. 17 – COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds – Appropriations of Fund Balance Receive the communication and approve the transfer of $687,500 from the Fund Balance to the Public Safety Property line item 9100.7000.368. -1- Page 1 of 5 19 – RESOLUTION - OPM Grant for Danbury Band Instruments at Danbury High Receive the communication and adopt the resolution to authorize the Danbury Band Aids to apply for, and accept OPM funding for the purchase of new band instruments. 20 – RESOLUTION - 2007/2008 Comprehensive DUI Program Receive the communication and approve the resolution to authorize the Police Department City of Danbury to share its contribution responsibility in the amount of 25% of the DUI Enforcement Program Grant. 21 – RESOLUTION - Assignment of Real Estate Liens Receive the communication and approve the resolution authorizing the Tax Collector of the City of Danbury to reassign the real estate liens to American Tax Funding LLC. 22 - RESOLUTION - Supplemental Application for Backus Avenue Bridge and Padanaram Road Bridge Receive the communication and approve the resolutions authorizing the City of Danbury to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut DOT Local Bridge Program for the various bridge repairs as listed therein. 24 – REPORT - Road Improvement Project – Wilkes Road Receive the report and take no action at this time. 25 – REPORT - Sheridan Commons LLC - Road Widening Parcel – Conveyance to the City Receive the report and take no action at this time. 26– AD HOC REPORT - Request for Sewer - 60 Shelter Rock Road Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee. 27 - AD HOC REPORT - Request for Sewer and Water – 33 Golden Hill Road Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth to accept the Consent Calendar with the exception of item 24. The motion carried unanimously. 1 – COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Personnel Director The clerk read the communication from the Mayor appointing Virginia Alsoco-Werner as Director of Personnel. Councilman Calandrino moved to accept the communication and approve the appointment. The motion was seconded by Councilman Chianese. The motion carried unanimously. 2 – COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Director of Welfare The clerk read the communication from the Mayor appointing Caitlin Radano as Director of Welfare. Councilman Seabury moved to accept the communication and approve the appointment. The motion was seconded by Councilman Chianese. The motion carried unanimously. -2- Page 2 of 5 3 – COMMUNICATION - Promotions – Danbury Fire Department The clerk read the communication from the Mayor promoting Firefighter Charles E. Payne to the position of Lieutenant in the Fire Department. Councilman Curran moved to confirm the appointment. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Basso. The motion carried unanimously. The clerk read the communication from the Mayor promoting Firefighter Joseph K. Halas to the position of Lieutenant in the Fire Department. Councilman Curran moved to confirm the appointment. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Basso. The motion carried unanimously. The clerk read the communication from the Mayor promoting Firefighter Jaime B. Schiller to the position of Lieutenant in the Fire Department. Councilman Johnson moved to confirm the appointment. The motion was seconded by Councilman Perkins. The motion carried unanimously. The clerk read the communication from the Mayor promoting Firefighter Daniel W. Gregory to the position of Lieutenant in the Fire Department. Councilman Johnson moved to confirm the appointment. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cavo. The motion carried unanimously. 4 – COMMUNICATION - Request to Join AFSAP The clerk read the communication from the Mayor requesting to join AFSAP. Councilman Cavo moved to join AFSAP with a cost not to exceed $125,000 and pending certification of funds. The motion seconded by Councilman Johnson. A discussion followed on the motion regarding area town involvement, cost, and decimal levels of aircraft. The motion carried unanimously. 5 – COMMUNICATION - Donation to Police and Fire Department The clerk read the communication of a donation of $911 from Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation to be divided between the Police and Fire Department. Councilman Nagarsheth moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman McMahon. The motion carried unanimously. 6 – COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department The clerk read the communication of a donation from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for an emergency access gate. Councilwoman McMahon moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion was seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. A brief discussion followed regarding the gate. The motion carried unanimously. 7 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Police Department – SWAT Team The clerk read the communication of a donation from the Federal Correctional Institute (FCI) of 6 Smith and Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols. Councilwoman Stanley moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion was seconded by Councilman Chianese. The motion carried unanimously. 8 – COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Police Department – Explorers Program The clerk read the communication of a donation to the Explorers Program by Bernard and Maryann Mitchell Holland. Councilwoman Teicholz moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cavo. The motion carried unanimously. 9 - COMMUNICATION - Donations to the Health, Housing & Welfare Department The clerk read the communication of donations to the Homeless Shelter from John Allen, Danbury Square Box; Connecticut Light and Power Co, Giving Program; Contracting Advisors Group Ltd; Albert J. Salame and J. Roger and Zita Schmiedel. Councilman Seabury moved to accept the donation and -3- Page 3 of 5 send a letter of thanks. The motion was seconded by Councilman Perkins. The motion carried unanimously. 10 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Public Works Department The clerk read the communication of a donation from WCI Communities towards the Jenny Drive emergency gate. Councilwoman Stanley moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion was seconded by Councilman Chianese. The motion carried unanimously. 11 – COMMUNICATION - Donation to Library The clerk read the communication of a donation from Jean Smith in memory of Elizabeth Sloane. Councilman Curran moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion was seconded by Councilman Perkins. The motion carried unanimously. 12 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Parks and Recreation Department – Rogers Park Baseball Field The clerk read the communication of a donation from the Danbury Westerners and Danbury Youth Baseball toward improvement needs at Rogers Park Baseball Field. Councilman Riley moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion was seconded by Councilman Perkins. The motion carried unanimously. 13 – COMMUNICATION - Donations to the Department of Elderly Services The clerk read the communication of donations to the department of Elderly Services from The Gardens, Maplewood, New Milford Rehab as well as donations in memory of Vincent Rao from Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Haberman and Mr. Robert Couillard. Councilman Cavo moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion seconded by Councilman Seabury. The motion carried unanimously. 14 – COMMUNICATION - Additional Sewer Fund Reappropriations The clerk read the communication. Councilman Saadi moved to reappropriate the funds. The motion was seconded by Councilman Cavo. A brief discussion followed. The motion carried unanimously. 15 – COMMUNICATION - Request – Disposal of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment The communication was received on the consent calendar and approved. 16 – COMMUNICATION - Request for Transfer of Funds The communication was received on the consent calendar and transfer of funds approved. 17 – COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds – Appropriations of Fund Balance The communication was received on the consent calendar and transfer of funds approved. 18 – COMMUNICATION - Request for Sewer and Water Approval Extension – 12 Clapboard Ridge Road The clerk read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to grant the request for extension of sewer and water. The motion was seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. The motion carried unanimously. 19 – RESOLUTION - OPM Grant for Danbury Band Instruments at Danbury High The communication was received on the consent calendar and Resolution approved. 20 – RESOLUTION - 2007/2008 Comprehensive DUI Program The communication was received on the consent calendar and Resolution approved. -4- Page 4 of 5 21 – RESOLUTION - Assignment of Real Estate Liens The communication was received on the consent calendar and Resolution approved. 22 - RESOLUTION - Supplemental Application for Backus Avenue Bridge and Padanaram Road Bridge The communication was received on the consent calendar and Resolution approved. 23 - RESOLUTION - Mobile Field Hospital The clerk read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution. The motion was seconded by Perkins. A brief discussion followed regarding storage, staffing and funding. The motion carried unanimously. 24 – REPORT - Road Improvement Project – Wilkes Road The item was removed from the consent calendar. Councilman Cavo moved to refer the item to an Ad Hoc Committee, the Director of Public Works and Corporation Counsel. The Mayor so ordered and appointed Council Members Trombetta, Johnson and Visconti. 25 – REPORT - Sheridan Commons LLC - Road Widening Parcel – Conveyance to the City The Report was received on the consent calendar and no action taken. 26– AD HOC REPORT - Request for Sewer - 60 Shelter Rock Road The Report was received on the consent calendar 27 - AD HOC REPORT - Request for Sewer and Water – 33 Golden Hill Road The Report was received on the consent calendar 28. DEPARTMENT REPORTS—Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit, Unit, Library: A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth to receive the communication and accept the Department Reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Boughton extended all committees and, as a result of the election, will reassign some committees next month. The Mayor announced the organizational meeting for the new Council will be December 3rd and December 4th will be the next regular meeting of the Council. The Mayor thanked all those who served and will not be returning as well as all candidates who ran for office. A motion was made by Councilman Rotello and seconded by Councilman Johnson that the Common Council Meeting be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously at 8:42 pm. Respectfully submitted, Dorathea Stasny Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor -5- Page 5 of 5