City Council

Honorable Mark D. Boughton, Mayor City Council Members Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:30pm on Tuesday, December 7, 2010. The Immaculate High School State Champion Girls Soccer Team was welcomed by Mayor Boughton. Present were Council members: Robert Arconti, Philip Curran, Nancy Deep-Damici, Robert Riley, Gregg Seabury, Colleen Stanley, Philip Colla, Don Taylor, Michael Halas, Shay Nagarsheth, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Charles Trombetta, Peter Nero, Benjamin Chianese, Paul T. Rotello, Mary Teicholz, Sal Tumino PRESENT: 19 ABSENT: 2 Council member Knapp was out of town and Council member Perkins was working. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER: Laszlo Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council member Arconti led everyone in a prayer. PUBLIC SPEAKING Lynn Waller- 83 Highland Avenue spoke on items 7, 8 and 15. Public speaking closed at 7:45pm. Mayor Boughton read the announcements for the month. Mayor Boughton recognized the Immaculate High School Girls Soccer Team for winning the State Championship. A Proclamation was read honoring each member of the team. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held November 4, 2010 Council member 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 Council member Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote. CONSENT CALENDAR Council member Gregg Seabury read the following items for the Consent Calendar: 2 – Receive the communication and approve the appointment of Council Members Philip Curran, Colleen Stanley and Paul Rotello to the Government Entities Review Committee. Additionally, confirm the reappointment of citizens Alan T. Boyce and Mark S. Chory to the committee. 3 – Receive the communication and approve the re-appointment of Gina Marcus and Noel Roy to serve as members of the Charles Ives Authority. Also confirm the appointment of Paul James Reis as an alternate member of the Authority. All terms will expire March 1, 2013. 1 6 – Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the Corporation Counsels’ office to take the necessary action to acquire the Storm Drainage Easement on Pleasant Drive. 8 – Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton to execute the grant agreement on behalf of the City of Danbury for the Back O’ Beyond/Farrington Property: State DEP Watershed Land Acquisition Program Grant. 10 - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury to accept a deed of conveyance from Interstate Building Center, LLC for Sewer Pump Station – West Side Sewer Interceptor. 11 – Accept the report of the City Engineer and deny the Storm Drainage and Roadway Improvements – Hayestown Heights – Project # 09-12. 12 – Accept the report and approve the Airport Lease – Westconn Aviation, LLC as previously recommended by the Committee of the Whole at their meeting held on November 8, 2010. 13 – Accept the report and approve the Road Improvements – Long Ridge Road as previously recommended by the Committee of the Whole at their meeting held on November 8, 2010. 14 – Accept the report and adopt the amendments to the Code of Ordinances Section 14-8 as recommended by the Committee of the Whole at their meeting held on November 8, 2010. Council member Teicholz moved to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Council member Chianese. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 1 - COMMUNICATION - Smarter Cities Challenge Grant Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council member Nagarsheth moved to authorize Mayor Boughton or his designee to apply for the Smarter Cities Challenge Grant, seconded by Council member Taylor. Mayor Boughton explained that no software purchase would be required, the data would be analyzed and recommendations made by the IBM professionals. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Appointments to the Governmental Entities Review Committee The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointments confirmed. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Appointments to the Charles Ives Authority The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the re-appointments confirmed. 4 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department - Boehringer-Ingelheim Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council member Colla moved to receive the communication and accept the generous donation from Boehringer- Ingelheim in the amount of $3,500 and place the funds in the new line item determined by the Finance Director and send a letter of thanks, seconded by Council member Visconti. Chief Herald explained that the Peer Fitness is a national, joint effort to improve the physical fitness of firefighters. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 2 5 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Recreation Department - Danbury Health Systems Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council member Stanley moved to receive the communication and accept the donation of a defibrillator from Danbury Health System, Emergency Medical Services valued at $2,500 and send the appropriate letter of thanks, seconded by Council member Chianese. Nick Kaplanis, Director of Recreation explained that lifeguards at Candlewood Town Park have received training for defibrillator use and coaches at Hatters Park would be able to utilize the equipment by following step-by-step directions with the unit. 6 - RESOLUTION - Pleasant Drive - Storm Drainage Easement The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 7 - RESOLUTION - Refunding of General Obligation Bonds Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council member Cavo moved to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the Director of Finance, David St. Hilaire, to reissue bonds in the interest of saving the City of Danbury money seconded by Council member Nagarsheth. Council member Rotello requested council members be advised via email when an opportunity exists. David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance, explained that a process needs to be in place in order to take advantage of opportunities which may arise to achieve interest cost savings. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 8 - RESOLUTION - State DEP Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Back O'Beyond/Farrington Property The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 9 - RESOLUTION - Praxair Foundation Grant - Library Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council member Taylor moved to receive the communication and authorize the Mayor or the Library Director to apply for and accept the funding in the amount of $68,050 and to execute all contracts and agreements as necessary and send a letter of thanks and to adopt the Resolution, seconded by Council member Nagarsheth. Mark Hasskarl, Library Director, explained that Praxair has a grant program called Library Links and he is not aware of any other competition for the grant. Approximately one-third of the library computers are replaced each year and by moving some of the computers, staff will be better able to monitor the public’s usage. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 10 - RESOLUTION - West Side Sewer Interceptor - Interstate Business Center, LLC The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 11 - REPORT - Storm Drainage and Roadway Improvements - Hayestown Heights The report was received on the Consent Calendar. The Report of the City Engineer was accepted and the Storm Drainage and Roadway Improvements-Hayestown Heights- Project #09-12 denied. 12 - REPORT - Airport Lease - Westconn Aviation, LLC The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the lease approved. 3 13 - REPORT - Road Improvements - Long Ridge Road The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the road improvements approved. 14 - REPORT & ORDINANCE - Pension Contributions - Code of Ordinance - Section 14-8 The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the amendments to the Code of Ordinances Section 14-8 adopted. 15- AD HOC REPORT - Tax Abatement For Surviving Spouses of Police Officers and Firefighters Council member Teicholz moved to recommit the item back to the committee, seconded by Council member Saadi. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 16 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, Library, Elderly Services Council member 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 Council member Nagarsheth. There was no discussion. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 17 - EXECUTIVE SESSION - Tax Appeal Settlements Council member Cavo moved to go into Executive Session at 8:16pm for the purpose of discussing Tax Appeal Settlements, seconded by Council member Nagarsheth. Chief Corporation Counsel Yamin, Deputy Corporation Counsel Pinter, Wayne Shepperd, Chief of Staff and David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance were invited into the executive session. Executive session ended at 8:35pm. Council member Cavo moved return to regular session and to receive the report from executive session and adopt the recommendation of Corporation Counsel , seconded by council member Stanley. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Council member Cavo moved to add item #18- Fire Marshall Change of Fees, Code of Ordinances 18-33 and 18-34 to the agenda, seconded by Council member Teicholz. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Council member Cavo requested referral to a Public Hearing. Mayor Boughton so ordered. Mayor Boughton advised that a Special Meeting would be held on December 13, 2010 and urged council members to review the contract for Union Savings. Mayor Boughton sunseted the following Ad Hocs: Lease- Hatters Park Banquet Hall, Candlewood Lake Shoreline Management, Renovations & Lease- Union Savings Bank, Water Usage, Investment Policy, Request for Ad Hoc- Senior Tax, Parade Ordinance, Stricter Traffic Controls, Accept- Kenmere et al (Roads), Cap on Real Property-Seniors, Sale of City Park/Open Space, Preservation of Open Space and Land Exchange-Tarrywile. Council member Visconti was appointed to the Purchase Land-White and Locust Committee. Council member Deep-Damici was appointed to the Fire Department Committee. Mayor Boughton extended all committees and extended his greetings for the holidays. 4 There being no further business to come before the City Council, a motion was made at 8:45 pm by council member Saadi and seconded by council member Taylor to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted: Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest: Mark D. Boughton, Mayor 5