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, October 6, 2009. Present were Council members: Louise McMahon, Shay Nagarsheth, Michael Halas, Charles Trombetta, 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, Warren Levy, Robert Riley, Gregg Seabury, Colleen A. Stanley PRESENT: 20 ABSENT: 1 Councilman Calandrino was ill. Jean Natale, City Clerk; Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel and Laszlo L. Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel were also present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER: Councilman Cavo led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: There was no public participation. Councilwoman Teicholz announced that a bone marrow drive would be conducted on October 29, 2009 at fire headquarters on New Street. Councilman Perkins expressed his desire to revitalize the cycling race that was held in Danbury in previous years. MINUTES – Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the minutes of the Common Council meeting held on September 1, 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: 3. Receive the communication and accept a donation of $195.00 from the Rotary Club of Danbury for use in purchasing a Child ID Web Link software system and send the appropriate letter of thanks. 4. Receive the communication and accept a donation from Don Taylor of Taylor Farms of organic fertilizer, estimated value of $209.00, to be used at Candlewood Town Park and send appropriate letter of thanks. 5. Receive the communication and accept the donations totaling $250.00 to the Department of Elderly Services, transfer into line item 5002.6000 and send the appropriate letters of thanks. 6. Receive the communication and approve the re-appropriation of funds in the amount of $4,883.98 to the Animal Control account 60000.5715. 11. Receive the communication and authorize the Corporation Counsel’s Office to take the steps necessary to acquire storm drainage easements from Tax Assessor’s Lot No. I15066 and Tax Assessor’s Lot No. I15057. 1 Page 1 of 4 12. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Scott LeRoy to apply for and accept funding from the Savings Bank of Danbury Foundation to educate students about asthma through the American Lung Association Breath Express 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 the Union Savings Bank Foundation to expand youth violence prevention activities. 16. Receive the communication and approve the renewal of the previous approval of Sewer line Extension for 60 Shelter Rock Associates, LLC., subject to compliance with the City Engineering Department conditions and submission of plans and documents satisfactory to Corporation Counsel’s Office. 17. Receive the communication and approve the request for Sewer and Water Extensions for Victorian Associates LLC. 120-130 Osborne Street, subject to compliance with the City Engineering Department conditions and submission of plans and documents satisfactory to Corporation Counsel’s Office. 18. Receive the communication and approve the request for Sewer and Water Extensions for Interstate Business Center LLC, Prindle Lane, subject to compliance with the City Engineering Department conditions and submission of plans and documents satisfactory to Corporation Counsel’s office. 19. Receive the report and approve the recommendations of the committee. Councilwoman Teicholz moved to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Councilman Curran. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 1 - COMMUNICATION - Directional Sign on City Property Councilwoman McMahon moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with the Director of Planning, Director of Public Works, Corporation Counsel and a report from Planning. Council members Arconti, Stanley and Visconti were appointed to the committee. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Nagarsheth moved to receive the communication and accept the donation, seconded by Councilwoman McMahon. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Police Department The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted. 4 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Parks and Recreation Department The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Donations to the Department of Elderly Services The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donations accepted. 6 - COMMUNICATION - Animal Control Fund Re-Appropriation The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the re-appropriation of funds approved. 7 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Funds - Election Day Ballots City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to receive the communication and transfer $4,000 into the Registrars of Voters line item #1060.5324, seconded by Councilman Riley. Discussion followed regarding the cost increase for the ballots. Due to the length of the ballot this year, there is an escalation in the price. The Town Clerk estimates the number of ballots required and orders 2 Page 2 of 4 an additional number to ensure that there is sufficient quantity. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 8 - COMMUNICATION - Request to Accept Scholarship Funds - Health Department City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Riley moved to grant permission to the Director of Health to accept scholarship funding from the Connecticut Association of School-Based Health Centers, seconded by Councilman Seabury. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 9 - COMMUNICATION - Request to Dispose of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilwoman Stanley moved to receive the communication and authorize the request for permission to sell the surplus vehicles and equipment, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Discussion followed regarding notification of the sale to the public. The auction would be advertised in the newspaper and on the City website. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 10 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Renewal Water Line Extensions - Middle River Road Councilman Trombetta moved to receive the communication and refer to the City Engineer and Planning for reports. 11 - RESOLUTION - Storm Drain Easements - 33 and 53 Lincoln Avenue The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 12 - RESOLUTION - Savings Bank of Danbury Foundation Grant - Health Department The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 13 - RESOLUTION - Union Savings Bank Foundation Grant - Health Department The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 14 - RESOLUTION - Refunding of General Obligation Bonds City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Knapp moved to adopt the Resolution allowing the Director of Finance to move forward with the refunding, seconded by Councilman Perkins. David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance, gave a brief overview of how the program would work. It would be in the best interest of the City to call a portion of the bonds and refund them at the current, lower rates. Taking advantage of the opportunity to refund the bonds would result in significant interest cost savings to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 15 - RESOLUTIONS - Renewal of Resolutions for Airport Projects City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to receive the communication and reapprove the Resolutions 15-1, 15-2 and Runway 26 improvements, seconded by Councilman Seabury. Upon request, Paul Estafan, Airport Administrator, explained that the reapproval of the Resolutions was for the sole purpose of receiving reimbursement from the State of Connecticut. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 16 - REPORT - Sewer Time Extension - 60 Shelter Rock Road The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the extension approved. 17 - REPORT - Sewer and Water Extensions - 120-130 Osborne Street The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved subject to conditions. 18 - REPORT - Sewer and Water Extensions - Prindle Lane The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved subject to conditions. 19 - AD HOC REPORT - 5 Lakeside Road The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the recommendations of the committee approved. 3 Page 3 of 4 20 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly Services, Library 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 Seabury. Upon request by Councilman Riley, Deputy Police Chief explained the increase the number of moving violations was attributed to the increase in patrol staff. Councilman Rotello praised the Police Department for the speed and sensitivity shown by staff at a recent incident that he witnessed. Councilman Perkins offered comment on the great job in completing the new classroom at fire headquarters. He also expressed his thanks to Dr. Bedukian for his contribution. Council Levy called upon the City Engineer to provide information for assessment projects. Farid Khouri, City Engineer, explained that Johnson Drive was petitioned for sewers in 2007. Unless the Health Department determines that a significant health risk exists, the proposed project would progress on the list as other projects are completed. The projects are designed in-house, with the larger plans taking several months to develop. Mayor Boughton offered comment that Councilman Trombetta and Councilman Halas have also spoken with some of the Johnson Drive residents and are aware of their desire to move forward on the project. The Director of Health would be conducting an investigation to determine if any mitigating circumstances exist to advance the project on the list. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Boughton extended all committees and wished the Council members the best of luck in the upcoming election. As there was no further business to come before the Common Council, a motion was made at 8:20 PM by Councilman Cavo to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Councilwoman Stanley. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted, Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor 4 Page 4 of 4