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, July 7, 2010. Present were Council Members: Robert Arconti, Philip Curran, Nancy Deep-Damici, Robert Riley, Gregg Seabury, Colleen A. Stanley, Philip Colla, Shay Nagarsheth, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Charles Trombetta, Jack Knapp, Peter Nero, Benjamin Chianese, Paul T. Rotello, Mary Teicholz PRESENT: 17 ABSENT: 4 Council Members Taylor and Halas were absent due to family business, Council Member Perkins was working and Council Member Tumino was attending a family affair. 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: Chief Baker led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer. PUBLIC SPEAKING Irving Fox- 58 Wedgewood Dr., Board of Education Chairman, spoke on item #1. Lynn Waller- 83 Highland Avenue spoke on item #s 1 and 3. Mike Cunningham- 101 W. Redding Road, Chairman of the Ives Trail Task Force, spoke on item #7. Ken Gucker- 89 Padanaram Road spoke on item #s 2 and 3. Jean Caldora- 2B Karen Road spoke on item #s 1 and 16. Bill Boehm- 68 Barclay Commons spoke on item #1. Peter Green- 84 W. Wooster Street spoke on item #s 2 and 3. Mark Nolan- Southern Boulevard spoke on item #s 7 and 15. Mayor Boughton recognized Mr. Nolan and Housing Authority Director Carolyn Sistrunk for their leadership. Mayor Boughton read the announcements for the month. Due to the extreme heat, cooling centers have been opened at Veterans Hall and Hatters Park. Mayor Boughton also congratulated Recreation Director, Nick Kaplanis for developing the Summer Movie Nights program at the Town Park. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held June 1, 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 Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Councilman Cavo moved to reconsider item #2 from the June 21, 2010 Special Meeting, Old Ridgebury Road Lease, seconded by Councilman Saadi. As there was no objection, discussion followed. Council Member Saadi requested further discussion of the item since substantive discussions are ongoing and the final lease has not been crafted and a revote taken by the ad hoc committee. 1 Councilman Cavo moved to table item #2 from the Special Meeting of June 21, 2010 to the August meeting, seconded by Councilman Seabury. Councilman Saadi called a point of order regarding tabling the motion. Atty. Pinter clarified that the item would be on the agenda for consideration at the next meeting. Council Members Arconti, Curran, Deep-Damici, Riley, Seabury, Stanley, Colla, Nagarsheth, Cavo, Trombetta, Knapp and Teicholz, voted in favor. Council Members Saadi, Visconti, Nero, Chianese and Rotello voted in the negative. Motion passed 12/5 CONSENT CALENDAR Council Member Seabury read the following items for the Consent Calendar: 4 – Receive the communication and approve the request from the Purchasing Agent to sell a 1993 E-350 ambulance in accordance with Section 2-153 of the Code of Ordinances. 5 – Receive the communication and approve the transfer of $26,000.00 for the August 10, 2010 primaries as requested by the Registrars of Voters. 7 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution allowing the City of Danbury to accept the donation of easements from the Land Trust of Danbury for the Ives Trail Greenway. 9 - Receive the communication from Housatonic Habitat for Humanity regarding subdivision access easement and refer it to Corporation Council, City Engineering and the Planning Department for reports. 10 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury, Department of Health, Housing and Welfare, to accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health totaling $93,522.08 to be used to promote programs within the Health and Human Services Department. 11 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury to apply for and accept funding from the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board for a Youth Employment Program. Funding will not exceed $32,000.00. 12 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Police Department to accept funding from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. 13 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. This funding will allow the City to continue its emergency planning and response activities. The funding will not exceed $62,582.00. 15 – Receive the communication and accept the Annual Progress Report on the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. Councilman Knapp moved to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Councilman Saadi. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 1 - COMMUNICATION - Board of Education Legislative Assistant Natale read the communication. Councilwoman Stanley requested referral to an Ad Hoc with a representative from the Office of the Mayor, Director of Finance and 2 Corporation Counsel. Council Members Stanley, Arconti and Visconti were appointed to the committee. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Lease/License Agreement - BRT Councilman Nagarsheth requested referral to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance, a representative from the Office of the Mayor, Director of Planning and a report from Planning. Council Members Teicholz, Taylor and Rotello were appointed to the committee. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Surplus City Property: 6 Boughton Street/116 Main Street / 120 Main Street Councilman Trombetta requested referral to an Ad Hoc with a representative from the Office of the Mayor, Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance, Director of Public Works, Director of Planning, Purchasing Agent and a report from Planning. Council Members Knapp, Curran and Nero were appointed to the Committee. 4- COMMUNICATION - Request for Permission - Disposal of Surplus Ambulance The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and request approved. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Request Additional Funding - August Primaries The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved. 6 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Deferral of Assessment Increase DRS Technologies, Inc Councilman Seabury requested referral to an Ad Hoc with a representative from the Office of the Mayor, Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance, the Director of Planning and a report from Planning. Council Members Nagarsheth, Deep-Damici and Chianese were appointed to the committee. Councilman Visconti did not participate in discussion. 7 - COMMUNICATION - Donation of Easements - Ives Trail Greenway The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 8 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Scenic Roadway Improvement - 168 Long Ridge Road Councilwoman Teicholz requested referral to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Director of Planning and a report from Planning. Council Members Riley, Colla and Perkins were appointed to the committee. 9 - COMMUNICATION - Habitat for Humanity - Access Easement - Bayberry Lane The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and was referred to Corporation Council, City Engineer and Planning for reports. 10 - RESOLUTION - Per Capita Grant 2010/2011 Allocation The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 11 - RESOLUTION - 2010 Youth Employment Grant The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 12 - RESOLUTION - CHRP Justice Assistance Grant - Police Department The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 3 13 - RESOLUTION - Public Health Emergency Response Grant The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 14 - REPORT - Statement of Condition and Property - Fire Department Councilman Seabury moved to waive the reading of the report, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. As there was no objection the reading was waived. Councilwoman Teicholz moved to receive the report, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Discussion followed. Chief Herald advised that the space for the communication equipment has been created and migration will take place when labor issues are resolved. Consultants need to be hired to review the facility and develop a plan for future needs. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 15 - REPORT - Annual Report on 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the Annual Report accepted. 16 - AD HOC REPORT - Honeywell Contract Councilman Seabury moved to waive the reading of the report as all members have a copy, seconded by Councilman Riley. As there was no objection the reading was waived. Councilman Knapp moved to adopt the report, seconded by Councilman Riley. Discussion followed. Antonio Iadarola, P. E. gave an overview of the project and the waiver of bid. Honeywell has a long history with the City of Danbury and has baselines on the equipment. Due to the buying power of Honeywell, substantial savings have been produced for the project. Boiler replacements have been scheduled for Danbury High School, 3 boilers and domestic hot water, King Street Intermediate School, Broadview Middle School, Mill Ridge Intermediate School, King Street Primary School and Stadley Rough School. Public Works staff have performed their due diligence and determined that if the project were put out to bid, consultants would have to be hired and the project would not be completed in time for the next heating season. Honeywell is able to provide the required service based on their experience with the City at the best price. Councilman Visconti moved the question, seconded by Councilman Saadi. Motion passed by unanimous vote. A vote was then taken on the main motion to approve the Report. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 17 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly Services, Dream Homes, Library Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the Department Reports as all members have copies and additional copies are available in the Office of the Legislative Assistant, seconded by Councilman Trombetta. Mayor Boughton thanked the department heads for doing more with less due to the financial restraints placed up the departments. Upon the request of Council Member Chianese, it was reported that the air conditioning at the library has been brought to full operation. Council Member Nagarsheth requested information of the City’s water supply. David Day, P. E., 4 Supt. of Public Utilities, advised that the water supply remains that acceptable levels. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Boughton extended all committees. There being no further business to come before the Common Council a motion was made at 9:00P.M. by Councilman Rotello and seconded by Councilman Arconti to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted: Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest: Mark D. Boughton, Mayor 5