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, January 3, 2008. Present were Council Members: Louise P. McMahon, Shay Nagarsheth, James H. Johnson, Charles Trombetta, Michael J. Calandrino, Fred Visconti, Benjamin Chianese, John J. Esposito, Thomas J. Saadi, Joseph M. Cavo, Paul T. Rotello, Jane Diggs, Mary Teicholz, Robert F. Arconti, Philip Curran, Jack Knapp, Warren M. Levy Robert T. Riley, Gregg Seabury and Colleen A. Stanley Absent were Council Members: Duane E. Perkins (out of Town on Business) PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 Also present were Jean Natale, City Clerk; Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel and Laszlo L. Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER: Councilwoman Colleen Stanley led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Philip Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Emanuela Lima, 32 Farview Avenue, asked for further study on item #19 Gerard O’Callaghan, 136 Pembroke Road spoke in favor of item #19 Jean Hislop, 10 Moran Avenue, spoke in opposition of item #19 Gary Falkenthal, 10 Terre Haute Drive, spoke in favor of item #19 Jay Weiner, 150 Brushy Hill Road, spoke in opposition of item #19 Belinda Gardner, 24 Rowan Street, spoke in favor of item #19 Joseph McGarigal, 20 Purcell Drive, spoke in favor of item #19 Patricia Bowen, 36 Valerie Lane, spoke in opposition of item #19 Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue, spoke in favor of items #9 and #19 Elise Marcianco, 179 Long Ridge Road, spoke in favor of item #19 Mario DiLorenzo, 22 Spruce Mountain Trail, spoke in favor of item #19 Mary Collins, 2 Frontier Lane, spoke in opposition of item #19 Public Participation was closed at 8:05 p.m. Mayor Boughton read the announcements for the month of January. MINUTES: -1- Page 1 of 6  A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Trombetta that the Common Council approve the Minutes of the Common Council Meeting of December 4, 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: Councilman Seabury presented the following items for the Consent Calendar: 4. COMMUNICATION—Transfer of Funds – Fire Department: Receive the communication and approve the request for $20,000.00 to be transferred into the Special Services Account #2010.5052 due to ongoing events. 7. COMMUNICATION— Historic Document Reserve Account: Receive the communication and approve the appropriation from Historic Document Reserve Account 2.2129 to the Town Clerk’s Office Equipment line item 1160.5701, as requested. 10. COMMUNICATION— Sidewalk Easement – Danbury Hospital: Receive the communication and accept the proposed Sidewalk Easement. 16. RESOLUTION — Before and After School Program: Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury’s Board of Education to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services for the Before and After School Program. 17. RESOLUTION — FEMA Fire Prevention Grant: Receive the communication an adopt the Resolution authorizing the Mayor of the city of Danbury, or the Fire Chief, as his designee, to apply for and accept said grant and to execute such additional documents as may be required to effectuate the purposes thereof. 18. RESOLUTION — Reconstruction of Backus Avenue Bridge over Miry Brook: Receive the communication and authorize Corporation Counsel to acquire necessary easements for the reconstruction of the Backus Avenue Bridge over Miry Brook. 20. REPORT — Water Main Extension – 119 Westville Avenue Extension: Receive the communication and approve the proposed water main extension at 119 Westville Avenue (Beckett Street), pending a positive Planning Commission recommendation and subject to the standard eight steps/conditions. 21. REPORT — Sewer and Water Main Extension – 88 South Street: Receive the communication and approve the proposed sanitary sewer and water main extensions at 88 South Street, pending a positive Planning Commission recommendation and subject to the standard eight steps/conditions, with a ninth step requiring the acquisition of State of Connecticut Department of Transportation approval for work within South Street. 22. AD HOC REPORT – Audit Committee: Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee. 23. AD HOC REPORT – Request for Sewer – East Pembroke and Rose Lane: Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee. 24. AD HOC REPORT – Request for Sewer – 8 East Hayestown Road: Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee. -2- Page 2 of 6 25. AD HOC REPORT – Request for Sewer – 10 East Hayestown Road: Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee. 26. AD HOC REPORT – Request for Sewer – 12 East Hayestown Road: Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee. Councilwoman Teicholz moved to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. Councilman Nagarsheth seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointments to the Police Department: City Clerk Natale read the communication from the Mayor appointing Amity LaFantano to the Police Department. Councilman Trombetta moved to accept the communication and confirm the appointment. Councilman Johnson seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. City Clerk Natale read the communication from the Mayor appointing Garrett Bell to the Police Department. Councilman Esposito moved to accept the communication and confirm the appointment. Councilman Chianese seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION — Donation to the Department of Elderly Service: City Clerk Natale read the communication of a donation of a defibrillator to the Department of Elderly Services. Councilman Cavo moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion was seconded by Councilman Levy. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION—Donation to the Danbury Library: City Clerk Natale read the communication of a donation to the Library from Jean Cooke. Councilman Nagarsheth moved to accept the donation and send a letter of thanks. Councilwoman McMahon seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION—Transfer of Funds – Fire Department: The communication was received on the consent calendar and approved. 5. COMMUNICATION—Ambulance and Advanced Life Support Agreement: City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Curran asked that this be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee, the Mayor, the Fire Chief, the Corporation Counsel Director of Finance and a Representative from DHCA. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Philip Curran, Jack Knapp and Fred Visconti to the Committee. 6. COMMUNICATION— Additional Funding Appropriations Request – Primaries and Referendum: City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilwoman Diggs moved to accept the communication and transfer the funds. Councilman Rotello seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously 7. COMMUNICATION— Historic Document Reserve Account: The communication was received on the consent calendar and approved. 8. COMMUNICATION— Grandview Drive Addresses: City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Riley asked that this be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee, the Corporation Counsel and Director of Planning. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Robert Riley, James Johnson and Warren Levy to the Committee. -3- Page 3 of 6 9. COMMUNICATION— Request for Ad Hoc: City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilwoman Stanley asked that this be referred to the existing Ad Hoc Committee, the Corporation Counsel and Director of Finance. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Charles Trombetta, Jack Knapp and Duane Perkins to the Committee. 10. COMMUNICATION— Sidewalk Easement – Danbury Hospital: The communication was received on the consent calendar and approved. 11. COMMUNICATION— Transfer of Property – Eagle Road Center, LLC: City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilwoman McMahon asked that this be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee along with the Director of Public Works Department and the Corporation Counsel and a 30-day report from Planning. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Gregg Seabury, Robert Arconti and Benjamin Chianese to the Committee. 12. COMMUNICATION— License Easement – New Hope Baptist Church: City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilwoman Teicholz asked that this be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee along with the Director of Planning and the Corporation Counsel. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Gregg Seabury, Robert Arconti and Benjamin Chianese to the Committee. 13. COMMUNICATION— Encroachment Easement – 37 Rocky Glen Road: City Clerk Natale read the communication Councilman Johnson asked that this be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee along with the Director of Public Works Department, the Corporation Counsel and a 30 day report from Planning. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Gregg Seabury, Robert Arconti and Benjamin Chianese to the Committee. 14. COMMUNICATION— Draining and Grading Easement – Grandview Drive: City Clerk Natale read the communication Councilman Arconti asked that this be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee along with the Director of Public Works Department and the Corporation Counsel. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Mary Teicholz, Colleen Stanley and John Esposito to the Committee. 15. COMMUNICATION— Request for Sewer and Water Modification of Lines – Danbury Fair Mall: City Clerk Natale read the request. Councilman Knapp asked that this be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee along with the Director of Public Works Department, the Corporation Counsel and a 30-day report from Planning. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Mary Teicholz, Colleen Stanley and John Esposito to the Committee. 16. RESOLUTION — Before and After School Program: The communication was received on the consent calendar and Resolution approved. -4- Page 4 of 6 17. RESOLUTION — FEMA Fire Prevention Grant: The communication was received on the consent calendar and Resolution approved. 18. RESOLUTION — Reconstruction of Backus Avenue Bridge over Miry Brook: The communication was received on the consent calendar and Resolution approved. 19. REPORT — ICE Access: Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the report from the committee as a all members have copies and copies are on file in the City Clerks Office. Councilman Seabury seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Cavo moved to receive the Communications and adopt the Resolution as presented. Councilman Seabury seconded the motion. Councilman Rotello asked that this be referred to an Ad Hoc Committee. The Mayor so ordered and appointed the Council as a Committee of the whole. 20. REPORT — Water Main Extension – 119 Westville Avenue Extension: The Report was received on the consent calendar and approved. 21. REPORT — Sewer and Water Main Extension – 88 South Street: The Report was received on the consent calendar and approved. 22. AD HOC REPORT – Audit Committee: The Report was received on the consent calendar and approved. 23. AD HOC REPORT – Request for Sewer – East Pembroke and Rose Lane: The Report was received on the consent calendar and approved. 24. AD HOC REPORT – Request for Sewer – 8 East Hayestown Road: The Report was received on the consent calendar and approved. 25. AD HOC REPORT – Request for Sewer – 10 East Hayestown Road: The Report was received on the consent calendar and approved. 26. AD HOC REPORT – Request for Sewer – 12 East Hayestown Road: The Report was received on the consent calendar and approved. 27. DEPARTMENT REPORTS—Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit, Unit, Elderly Services, Library: Councilman Cavo moved to accept the communication and the Department Reports as presented as all members have copies and they are available in the City Clerk’s office. Councilman Nagarsheth seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. A discussion followed with some departments. Mayor Boughton extended all committees except item #8 from July 2006; Item #11 from March 2007 and Item #27 from April 2007. -5- Page 5 of 6 They Mayor also changed the following committees: Item 18 from August 2006 replaced Saracino with Curran (new Committee Curran, Seabury Rotello);Item #14 from December 2006 replaced Saracino with Nagarsheth (new Committee Nagarsheth, Johnson, Perkins); Item #6 from January 2007 replace Cutsumpas with Teicholz (new Committee Nagarsheth, Teicholz, Visconti); Item #30 from February 2007 replaced Saracino with Stanley (new Committee Stanley, Teicholz, Perkins); Item #9 from September 2007 replaced Basso with Teicholz (new Committee Teicholz, Stanley, Perkins); Item #10 from September 2007 replaced Basso with Teicholz (new Committee Teicholz, Stanley, Perkins); Item #1 from October 2007 replaced Basso with Knapp (new Committee Knapp, Curran, Visconti) and Item 7 from January 2006 replace Basso with Stanley (new Committee Teicholz, Stanley, Perkins) A motion was made by Councilman Rotello and seconded by Councilman Seabury that the Common Council Meeting be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously at 8:29 pm. Respectfully submitted, Dot Stasny Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor -6- Page 6 of 6