City Council

Honorable Mark D. Boughton, Mayor Common Council Members Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the Common Council Meeting to order at 7:30PM on Tuesday, March 3, 2009. Present were Council members: Louise P. McMahon, Shay Nagarsheth, Michael Halas, Charles Trombetta, Michael Calandrino, Duane E. Perkins, 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, Robert Riley, Warren M. Levy, Gregg Seabury PRESENT: 20 ABSENT: 1 Councilwoman Stanley was absent due to a family emergency. 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: Firefighter Adam Horosky led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council President Cavo asked that retired firefighter Fred Tomanio, former Councilman Thomas Evans and the father of Councilman Trombetta, all of whom passed away recently, be remembered in the evening’s prayer. Council Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer. Announcements for the month of March were read. Mayor Boughton congratulated Leo Null for his recent selection of Connecticut Building Official of the Year. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Chris Halfar- 8 Settlers Hill Road spoke on #20 Lynn Taborsak- 110 Hayestown Rd. spoke on #20 Public speaking closed at 7:40PM. MINUTES - Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the minutes of February 3, 2009 and the Special Meeting held on February 17, 2009 as members have copies and copies are also available in the City Clerk’s Office, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Seabury presented the following item for the Consent Calendar: 3. Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Gary Falkenthal to serve as a member of the Danbury Library Board of Directors with a term to expire January 1, 2012. 4. Receive the communication and accept the donations to The Department of Elderly Services, totaling $75.00 place into line item 5002.6000 donations and send the appropriate letters of thanks. 1 Page 1 of 6 5. Receive the communication and accept the donations from Mr. David M. Garelik, $100.00 to be deposited into account # 50000.4659.93 and Mrs. Pat Larsen, $10.00 to be deposited into account #6000.2010 to the Danbury Fire Department and send the appropriate letters of thanks. 7. Receive the communication and accept the donation from Dr. and Mrs. Richmond Hubbard in the amount of $100.00 to the Danbury Library, deposit into the LIBRARYFUND.4651 donations and send the appropriate letter of thanks. 10. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Corporation Counsel, to renew the Council’s previous approval of the acquisition of property for the Hawthorn Terrace Water System. 11. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution regarding the State of Connecticut Real Estate Tax Abatement for the Beaver Street Apartments Cooperative, Inc. 12. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton to enter into or amend contractual instruments with the Department of Social Services of the State of Connecticut for a child day care program. 13. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Scott LeRoy to apply for and accept funding from FEMA, through the United Way, for the purpose of acquiring homeless shelter supplies. 14. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Scott LeRoy to apply for and accept grant funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, through the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health for a Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. 15. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Paul Estefan to execute and file application, contract and agreements, including a Memorandum of Agreement, with the Connecticut Department of Emergency and Homeland Security to participate in the FY-2007 Spending Plan for equipment. 16. Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee of the whole. 17. Receive the report and take no action. Councilman Seabury moved to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Councilman Curran. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 1 - COMMUNICATION - Collective Bargaining Agreements A. DMEA Councilman Nagarsheth moved to receive the communication and approve the request for funding, seconded by Councilwoman McMahon. Discussion followed regarding staffing levels. David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance provided cost savings information. Councilmen Levy and Perkins thanked the bargaining units for their collective efforts and understanding of the economic conditions faced by the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote. B. Police Councilman Arconti and Councilwoman Teicholz recused themselves from discussion. 2 Page 2 of 6  Councilman Nagarsheth moved to receive the communication and approve the request for funding, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Discussion followed regarding staffing levels. Councilmen Riley thanked all concerned for their fiscal responsibility. Motion passed by unanimous vote. C. Fire Councilmen Visconti, Curran and Cavo recused themselves from the discussion. Councilwoman Teicholz and Councilman Arconti returned to the dais. Councilman Nagarsheth moved to receive the communication and approve the request for funding, seconded by Councilwoman McMahon. Discussion followed regarding staffing levels. Motion passed by unanimous vote. D. Teamsters/Public Works Councilman Riley recused himself from the discussion. Councilmen Visconti, Curran and Cavo returned to the dais. Councilman Knapp moved to receive the communication and approve the request for funding, seconded by Councilman Chianese. Motion passed by unanimous vote. E. Teamsters/Public Utilities Councilman Knapp moved to receive the communication and approve the request for funding, seconded by Councilman Chianese. Motion passed by unanimous vote. F. Teamsters/Public Buildings Councilman Knapp moved to receive the communication and approve the request for funding, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Boughton thanked the bargaining members for working together during these very difficult financial times. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Promotion Police Department City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Arconti moved to approve the appointment of Officer James Marino to the position of Detective for the Danbury Police Department, seconded by Councilman Cavo. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Library Board The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment of Gary Falkenthal to the Library Board of Director confirmed. 4 - COMMUNICATION - Donations to the Department of Elderly Services The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donations accepted. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Donations to the Fire Department The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donations accepted. 6 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Health, Housing and Welfare - Homeless Shelter City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Curran moved to accept the donation, seconded by Councilman Riley. Discussion followed regarding the donation. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 3 Page 3 of 6 7 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Danbury Library The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted. 8 - COMMUNICATION - Change of Ordinances, Section 8-33 and 8-34 Councilman Riley moved to refer item to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Office of the Fire Marshall and the Fire Chief. The committee will consist of Councilman Curran, Councilman Riley and Councilman Visconti. 9 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Sewer and Water, 12 Clapboard Ridge Councilwoman Teicholz moved to refer to the Planning Department and the City Engineer for reports. 10 - RESOLUTION - Acquisition of Property, Hawthorn Terrace Water System The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 11 - RESOLUTION - Beaver Street Apartment Cooperative Inc - State of Connecticut Real Estate Tax Abatement The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 12 - RESOLUTION - Before & After School Program The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 13 - RESOLUTION - United Way/FEMA Grant Shelter The communication and Resolution was received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 14 - RESOLUTION - Lead Prevention Grant The communication and Resolution was received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 15 - RESOLUTION - Region 5 Resolution The communication and Resolution was received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 16 - REPORT & ORDINANCE - Governmental Entities The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the recommendations of the Committee of the Whole approved. 17 - AD HOC REPORT - Sewer Extension - Short, Lombardi and Concord Streets The report was received on the Consent Calendar and no action taken. 18 - AD HOC REPORT - Property Tax Abatement Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the report. Councilman Levy objected. Councilman Cavo withdrew his motion and Councilwoman McMahon read the report. Councilman Cavo moved to receive the report and adopt the recommendation, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. General discussion followed regarding procedural and statutory process. Bill Montgomery, President of the Danbury Land Trust gave a brief overview of the land trust and provided general information regarding acquisitions by land trusts. There have 4 Page 4 of 6 been five (5) cases in the last 15 years concerning tax issues, but no cases at the present time. Councilman Cavo moved to clarify his motion stating that the Council will adopt the report as presented with the intent of enacting the State legislation that enables the Land Trust to apply for the tax abatement through the Tax Assessor’s Office. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 19 - AD HOC REPORT - Appointment of Economic Development Director Councilman Cavo, without objection, moved to waive the reading of the report, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Councilman Cavo moved to receive the report and take no action, seconded by Councilman Rotello. Under discussion, Councilman Saadi stated, for the record, that he did not support the appointment and structuring as presented at the Ad Hoc. 20 - AD HOC REPORT - Grant Agency Review Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of minutes as all members have copies and copies are also on file in the City Clerk’s Office, seconded by Councilman Riley. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Councilman Seabury moved to accept the recommendations of the committee to adopt United Way as an agent of the City to manage the funding to the grand agencies, seconded by Councilman Knapp. General discussion and comment followed regarding the grant allocation process, volunteer selection, administrative fee, follow-up survey to grant agencies, designation of core agencies and reports to Council listing allocations prior to the budget vote. William Johnson, President of the United Way gave a brief overview of the volunteer review board selection process and the measurements, which will be utilized to determine funding requests. The United Way will also scrutinize the manner in which the allocated funds to the nonprofits are utilized. Mayor Boughton offered comments stating that the one-year pilot program will afford a measure of accountability to ensure that the funds allocated are spent on programs that are a priority for the City and will remove any politics from funding decisions. Councilman Riley moved the question, seconded by Councilman Curran. McMahon, Nagarsheth, Halas, Trombetta, Calandrino, Esposito, Cavo, Teicholz, Diggs, Knapp, Arconti, Curran, Levy, Riley and Seabury voted in favor. Perkins, Visconti, Chianese, Saadi and Rotello voted in the negative. Motion passed 15/5. Vote was then taken on the main motion to adopt United Way as an agent of the City to manage the funding to the grant agencies. McMahon, Nagarsheth, Halas, Trombetta, Calandrino, Visconti, Chianese, Esposito, Saadi, Cavo, Diggs, Teicholz, Arconti, Curran, Knapp, Levy, Riley, and Seabury voted in favor. Rotello and Perkins voted in the negative. Motion passed 18/2. 21 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Dream Homes, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly Services, Library, Economic Development Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the Department Reports, seconded by 5 Page 5 of 6 Duane Perkins. Discussion and comments followed regarding the state of the City’s finances, the Fire Chief’s report and road conditions, particularly potholes. Mayor Boughton appointed Councilman Knapp to replace Councilwoman McMahon on the Union Savings Bank Lease. All committees were extended. As there was no further business to come before the Common Council, Councilwoman Teicholz made a motion to adjourn at 9:20PM, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted, Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest: Mark D. Boughton, Mayor 6 Page 6 of 6