City Council

Honorable Mark D. Boughton, Mayor City Council Members Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:30 PM on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. Present were Council members: Robert Arconti, Philip Curran, Nancy Deep-Damici, Gregg Seabury, Colleen A. Stanley, Donald Taylor, Philip Colla, Shay Nagarsheth, Michael Halas, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Charles Trombetta, Jack Knapp, Peter Nero, Duane E. Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, Paul T. Rotello, Mary Teicholz, Sal Tumino PRESENT: 20 ABSENT: 1 Councilman Riley was out of town on family business. Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel and Laszlo L. Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel were also present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER: Atty. Bob Yamin led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer. PUBLIC SPEAKING Mike Cunningham of 101 W. Redding Road spoke on item #23. Mayor Boughton read the announcements for the month of June. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held May 4, 2010 Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the minutes as all members have copies and additional copies are on file in the Office of the Legislative Assistant, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Councilman Perkins requested that the record show that he was absent because he was working. Motion passed by unanimous vote. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Seabury read the following items for the Consent Calendar: 1 – Receive the communication and approve the appointment of Louise McMahon as an alternate member of the Fair Rent Commission. 2 – Receive the communication and approve the appointment of the firm of McGladrey & Pullen as the City’s Independent Auditors. 4 – Receive the communication and approve a 1 year lease extension of the Candlewood Lake Concession Stand to Debbi Negri, the former lessee. 6 – Receive the Memorandum and approve the appropriation of $160,552.00 to the Ambulance Fund budget. These monies will be acquired from the surplus in the Ambulance Fund from this fiscal year. 12 – Receive the Memorandum and approve the recommendation of the office of the Tax Collector transferring $260,495.63 to the Suspense List for uncollected year 2000 Motor Vehicle Taxes. 1 13 – Receive the communication and adopt the revised City Resolution for the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant as presented by the City Director of Civil Preparedness. 14 – Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to receive a $2,500.00 grant from the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security to purchase a computer for the Department of Civil Preparedness. 15 – Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury Police Department to apply for and accept funding from the United States Department of Justice Assistance. This funding is not to exceed $24,786.00 16 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury Police Department to accept funding from Keep America Beautiful, Inc. through its “Graffiti Hurts” program. This funding will be in the amount of $2,500.00 17 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury to apply for and accept funding from the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board for a State Youth Employment Program offered through the State of Connecticut Department of Labor. If awarded the funding will not exceed $94,286 and will allow the City of Danbury to employ up to 60 student participants from July1, 2010-September 30, 2010. 19 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury, in conjunction with the Danbury Youth Services, to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Education. This funding will not exceed $70,000.00 and will be used to support Youth and Family Counseling, Crisis Intervention, and Substance Abuse Prevention. Matching funds will be required and appropriated through the 2010/11 Danbury Youth Services budget. 20 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury Health and Human Services Department to enter into an agreement with the State Department of Agriculture to receive funds in the amount of $1,062.00 these funds will be used to supply supplemental staffing to the WIC program. 21 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury to apply for and accept funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Community Development Block Grant Program. Funding for the time period Aug. 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011 will total $678,244.00 24 – Receive the reports from the City of Danbury Planning Commission and the City Engineer. Approve the request for Water Extension at 53 Lake Ave Extension subject to compliance with the standard City Engineering Department conditions and submission of plans and documents satisfactory to Corporation Counsels Office. 25 – Receive the Ad-Hoc Committees Report on 7 New Street Easement/Rights to Drain and take no action. Councilman Knapp move to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Councilman Taylor. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 2 1 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Alternate to the Fair Rent Commission The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment of Louise McMahon confirmed. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Independent Auditors The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment of McGladrey and Pullen confirmed. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Honeywell Energy Performance and Capital Improvement Project For Danbury Public Schools Councilwoman Deep-Damici requested an Ad Hoc with the Director of Public Works, Finance Director, the Superintendent of Public Buildings and Corporation Counsel. Mayor Boughton appointed council members Stanley, Teicholz and Visconti to the committee. 4 - COMMUNICATION - Amendment to Lease for Candlewood Lake Concession The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the one-year lease extension approved. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Road Acceptance and Drainage Easement - Bayberry Lane Councilwoman Teicholz requested referral to Planning, Corporation Counsel and City Engineer for reports. 6 - COMMUNICATION - Appropriation to the Ambulance Fund The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appropriation approved. 7 - COMMUNICATION - Traffic Control Easement - Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals The Legislative Assistant,Jean Natale read the communication. Councilman Nagarsheth moved to receive the communication authorizing Corporation Counsel to take the actions warranted to acquire the easement for the installation of traffic control devices and asked for a planning commission report. Seconded by Councilman Seabury. Councilman Rotello advised that he has followed this for a long time and requested that Zoning review the survey and provide the information to the residents regarding the proposed name change to Bramble Road. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 8 - COMMUNICATION - Drainage Easement - 12 Dixon Road Councilman Knapp requested referral to the City Engineer, Planning Director and Corporation Counsel for reports. 9 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Water Extension - 6-8 Margerie Street Councilman Knapp requested referral to the City Engineer, Planning Director and Corporation Counsel for reports. 10 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Sewer & Water Extension - 44 Old Ridgebury Road 3 Councilman Knapp requested referral to the City Engineer, Planning Director and Corporation Counsel for reports. 11 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Sewer Extension - 8 Rose Street Councilman Knapp requested referral to the City Engineer, Planning Director and Corporation Counsel for reports. 12 - COMMUNICATION - Annual Suspension List The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the recommendation approved. 13 - RESOLUTION - FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant - Revised The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 14 - RESOLUTION - Grant from State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 15 - RESOLUTION - Bryne JAG Program - Police Department The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 16 - RESOLUTION - Keep America Beautiful Grant The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 17 - RESOLUTION - 2010 State Youth Employment Grant - NRWIB The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 18 - RESOLUTION - FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant - Fire Department Councilman Curran moved to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury to accept the funds from FEMA through the 2010 Assistance Grant Program, seconded by Councilman Chianese. Upon the request of Councilman Saadi, David St. Hilaire explained that some of the funds would come from a line item in the Capital Budget. All of the funds would be used for air-packs. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 19 - RESOLUTION - Danbury Youth Services The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 20 - RESOLUTION - WIC Grant - Farmers Market Program The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 21 - RESOLUTION - Community Development Block Grant Program - Program Year 36 The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 4 22 - RESOLUTION - Stadley Rough School Roof Replacement The Legislative Assistant Jean Natale read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to receive and adopt the Resolution that would allow the City of Danbury to accept grant funding and to 1. Establish a School Building Committee, 2. That the City authorizes the preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications, and 3. That the Council authorizes the Danbury Board of Education to direct the Superintendent of School to file a grant application with related documents to the State of CT Commissioner of Education and to accept a grant for State reimbursement funding for the Stadley Rough Elementary School roof replacement, seconded by Councilman Seabury. Discussion followed regarding the cost of the project. Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works explained that due to the size of the roof, the work must be performed in sections. There are also pockets of moisture and an asbestos membrane, which increased the replacement cost. The asbestos issues drove the cost significantly higher. The project would go out to bid, most likely, at the beginning of 2011 and the work would not be performed until the students are out of school. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 23 - RESOLUTION - Open Space Bond Acquisitions - Ives Trail Greenway The Legislative Assistant Jean Natale read the communication Councilman Taylor moved to receive the communication and adopt the resolution, seconded by Councilman Cavo. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 24 - REPORT - Water Extension - 53 Lake Avenue The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved subject to conditions. 25 - AD HOC REPORT - 7 New Street - Easement/Rights to Drain The report to take no action was received on the Consent Calendar. 26 - AD HOC REPORT - Lease - Old Ridgebury Road Councilman Seabury read the report. Councilman Tumino requested referral to a Public Hearing and a planning report. Mayor Boughton so ordered. 27 - 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 on file in the Office of the Legislative Assistant, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote Mayor Boughton thanked the Public Works Department, Fire Department and Police Departments for their participation in the Memorial Day Parade. Councilman Visconti extended his appreciation to Ted Cutsumpas of the Mayor’s Office, Antonio Iadarola and Sean Stillman for the rapid conclusion of a recent issue. Chief Herald provided information regarding recent donations by Dr. Bedoukian and four other residents. Dr. Bedoukian’s donation would be used to establish a technical training program. Mayor Boughton thanked Dr. Bedoukian for his generous donation. Chief Baker advised that ICE training continues. 5 EXECUTIVE SESSION 28 - EXECUTIVE SESSION - Pending Dispute or Litigation - Trustees of Teamsters Mayor Boughton invited David St. Hilaire, Atty. Laszlo Pinter, Atty. Ray Yamin, Atty. Bob Yamin, Wayne Shepperd, Atty. Peter Buzaid, Atty. Diane Rosemark and Ginny Alosco- Werner into the executive session at 8:15 PM. The Council came out of executive session at 9:15 PM. Councilman Cavo moved to accept the settlement recommendations from Corporation Counsel for Local 677 v. City of Danbury, and the stipulation concerning the Danbury Mall LLC tax appeal together with certification as required by the Department of Finance, seconded by Councilman Rotello. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Boughton extended all committees. There being no further business to come before the City Council a motion was made at 9:16P.M. by Councilman Seabury for the meeting to be adjourned, seconded by Councilman Tumino. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted: Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest: Mark D. Boughton, Mayor . 6