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, July 7, 2009. Present were Council members: 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, Gregg Seabury and Colleen A. Stanley Absent were Council Members: Louise McMahon and Warren Levy both out of town on family business. PRESENT: 19 ABSENT: 2 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: Steven Strosser led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: There were no members of the public wishing to speak. Mayor Boughton offered condolences to the DiNardo and Yamin families for their recent losses. MINUTES – Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the minutes of the Common Council Meeting held June 2, 2009 and the Special Meeting of June 22, 2009 as Council members have copies and copies are also available in the City Clerk’s Office, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Councilman Seabury presented the following items for the Consent Calendar: 1. Receive the communication and accept the donation to the Fire Department, for $50.00 from Mr. And Mrs. Andrew Smith, and send the appropriate letter of thanks. 4. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Scott LeRoy to apply for and accept funding from the United Way for the City of Danbury’s Homeless Shelter in the amount of $1,073.00. 5. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Scott LeRoy to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health, not to exceed $62,582.00, for public health emergency preparedness. 6. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Scott LeRoy to apply for and accept funding from the State of 1 Page 1 of 4  Connecticut Department of Public Health, not to exceed $12,012.00, for a Preventative Health Block Grant. 7. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Scott LeRoy to apply for and accept additional funding in the amount of $56,092.00 from the State of Connecticut, Department of Social Services for dental services at the City’s School-Based Health Center. 8. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Police Chief Alan Baker, to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, not to exceed $75,000.00 to purchase equipment and supplies to enhance police services within the community. 9. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Mark Hasskarl to apply for and accept funding from the Connecticut State Library, in the amount of $588.00, for a Language Outreach Project. 11. Receive the communication and approve the request for water extension at 10-14 Gregory Street, subject to compliance with the standard City Engineering Dept. conditions and submissions of plans and documents satisfactory to Corporation Counsel’s office. 12. Receive the communication and approve the request for, the transfer of widening strip to the City for 113 West King St., subject to compliance with the standard City Engineering Department conditions as well as submissions of plans and documents satisfactory to Corporation Counsel’s office. 13. Receive the communication and approve the request for, an 18 month time extension for the sewer and water line extensions at 62 Chestnut Street, subject to compliance with the standard City Engineering Department conditions as well as submissions of plans and documents satisfactory to Corporation Counsel’s office. 14. Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee. Councilwoman Teicholz moved to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 1 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Ad Hoc - Long Ridge Councilman Knapp moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with the Planning Department and Corporation Counsel. The committee shall consist of Councilman Knapp, Councilman Nagarsheth and Councilman Visconti. 3 - RESOLUTION - Charter Revision City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to submit the proposed amendments to the voters on the November 3, 2009 ballot, seconded by Councilman Riley. Upon inquiry from Councilman Saadi, Atty. Pinter advised that there is no state statute requiring publication of the proposed changes to the Charter at the polls. Mayor Boughton indicated that efforts would be made to provide information to the public regarding the Charter revisions. . Motion passed by unanimous vote. 2 Page 2 of 4 4 - RESOLUTION - United Way Funding - Shelter The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 5 - RESOLUTION - Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 6 - RESOLUTION - Preventative Health Block Grant The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 7 - RESOLUTION - SBHC Dental Care Funding The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 8 - RESOLUTION - CT Local JAG Grant - Police The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 9 - RESOLUTION - CT State Library Language Outreach Grant The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 10 - REPORT - Statement of Condition and Property - Danbury Fire Department Councilman Saadi moved to waive the reading of the report as all members have copies, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Councilman Curran moved to receive the report. Councilman Saadi called a point of order regarding discussion of the item. Atty. Pinter advised that a motion to accept the report was required in order to open discussion. Councilman Seabury seconded the motion. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Discussion followed with Chief Herald providing highlights of the 10 year plan for the department. The three most pressing issues are housing for some of the volunteer companies, fire apparatus replacements and a long term plan for the fire headquarters at 19 New Street. At the present time, a new fire engine costs approximately $465,000 and a new ladder truck would cost approximately $1M. The mobile radio system, consolidation of volunteer engine companies and over crowding at the New Street station were also discussed. 11 - REPORT - Request for Water Extension - 10-14 Gregory Street The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved subject to conditions and submissions. 12 - REPORT - Transfer of Widening Strip - 113 West King Street The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved subject to conditions and submissions. 3 Page 3 of 4 13 - REPORT - Request for Sewer and Water - 62 Chestnut Street The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved subject to conditions and submissions. 14 - AD HOC REPORT - Revised Agreement Between the City and Bethel Consolidated The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the recommendations approved. 15 - AD HOC REPORT - Proposed Revisions to 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness Councilwoman Teicholz read the report. Councilwoman Stanley moved to receive the report and accept the recommendations of the committee, seconded by Councilman Cavo. Chairman Teicholz and Scott Leroy, Director of Health, provided information pertaining to the nature of the revisions and demographics for homelessness and in particular among veterans and Western Connecticut State University students. Mr. Leroy invited members of the Council to attend the Housing Partnership meetings. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 16- DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly Services, Library, Economic Development Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the Department Reports as all members have copies and additional copies are available in the City Clerk’s Office, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Discussion followed regarding the HVAC systems at the library and the new police station. Wayne Shepperd, Chief of Staff, offered estimated statistics for the Film Festival, noting that there was an increase in attendance. Farid Khouri, City Engineer, advised that the plans for the Park Avenue School Roof Project have been approved by the State to go out to bid and it is estimated that the work will commence in August. Councilman Arconti recognized Brendan Sniffin for his work on a beautification project at an intersection in Germantown. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Boughton extended all committees. As there was no further business to come before the Common Council a motion was made at 8:30 P.M. by Councilman Cavo for the meeting to be adjourned, seconded by Councilman Seabury. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted, Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor 4 Page 4 of 4