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, March 1, 2011. Present were Council Members: Robert Arconti, Nancy Deep-Damici, Robert Riley, Gregg Seabury, Philip Colla, Shay Nagarsheth, Don Taylor, Michael Halas, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Charles Trombetta, Jack Knapp, Peter Nero, Duane Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, Paul T. Rotello, and Mary Teicholz PRESENT: 18 ABSENT: 3 Council Members Curran and Tumino were sick and Council Member Stanley was out of town. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER: Andrew Wetmore led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Teicholz led everyone in the room in a prayer. PUBLIC SPEAKING: Lynn Taborsak, 110 Hayestown Road, spoke on items 2 and 13. Mike Cunningham, 101 W. Redding Road and Chairman of the Ives Trail Task Force, spoke on items 5 and 13. Jessica Grainger, 39 Olive Street, spoke on item 10. Ronald Hutchins, 37 Olive Street, spoke on item 10 Ken Gucker, 89 Padanaram Road, spoke on items 2 and 13. Frank Anders, 9 Terra Glen, spoke on items 2, 5, and 13. Public speaking closed at 7:55pm. Mayor Boughton read the announcements for the month. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held February 3, 2011 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: 1 - Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Mike Esposito as an Alternate Member of the Environmental Impact Commission. 6 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury to participate in the enhanced regional municipal “Dial-A-Ride” matching grant program through the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation for the 2011/2012 fiscal year. 8 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Conservation Commission to accept funding from Northeast Utilities through its “Fall 2010 Environmental Community Grant Program”. Funding not to exceed $120.00 will be used to purchase materials to build new birdhouses for the meadows of Bear Mountain Reservation. 1 9 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury, Department of Health and Human Services to accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services. This funding, used for the City’s Shelter, will be for the period from 10/1/10 to 9/30/12 totaling $214,409. No local match is required. 11 – Receive the Report and approve the Ordinance in accordance with 2-184 of the Danbury Code of Ordinances for the establishment of the Danbury Parks and Recreation Commission and the Aviation Commission to be renewed through June 30, 2016 and that the Youth Commission be renewed through June 30, 2013. 14 – Accept the Report of the Ad-Hoc Committee formed for the purpose of reviewing the Audit for the fiscal year 2009-2010. Council Member Knapp moved to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Council Member Chianese. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 1 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Environmental Impact Commission - Alternate The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment approved. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Parade and Public Assemblies Ordinance Council Member Teicholz requested referral to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, the Director of Finance, and the Chief of Police. Mayor Boughton appointed Council Members Arconti, Halas and Visconti to the committee. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Police Services Recovery Fees Council Member Nagarsheth requested referral to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Police Chief and Director of Finance. Mayor Boughton appointed Council Members Knapp, Seabury and Chianese to the committee. 4 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Sewer - 21 Hospital Avenue Council Member Taylor requested referral to Engineering and Planning for reports. 5 - RESOLUTION - Norwalk River Valley Trail Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Knapp moved to receive and adopt the Resolution acknowledging the town of Wilton, representing the Norwalk River Valley Trail Commission, has received a grant in the amount of $180,000, seconded by Council Member Nagarsheth. Mike Cunningham explained that the land surrounding Super 7 is slowing being developed. A grant has been awarded by the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a study, which would take one year, for the Norwalk River Valley Trail to develop a bike route and other recreational opportunities. After the in-kind contributions are tallied, the remaining amount of approximately $15,000 could be divided among the five participating municipalities. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 6 - RESOLUTION - Dial A Ride Transit Service The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 7 - RESOLUTION - Women's Club Grant - Library Council Member Halas moved to receive the communication, adopt the Resolution and authorize Mayor Boughton or Mark Hasskarl, Library Director, to apply for and accept from the Woman’s Club of Danbury/New Fairfield funds for the purchase of discount museum and park passes, seconded by Council Member Nagarsheth. Upon the request of Council Member Rotella, Director Hasskarl explained that an individual is required to leave a check in the amount of $25.00 as a refundable deposit. Cash is not accepted as a deposit. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 2 8 - RESOLUTION - Northeast Utilities Grant - Conservation Commission The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 9 - RESOLUTION - DSS - Shelter Grant The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 10 - REPORT - Sanitary Sewer Extension - Olive and Tilden Road Area Council Member Cavo requested a Public Hearing. Mayor Boughton so ordered. 11 - REPORT & ORDINANCE - Governmental Entities The report was received on the Consent Calendar and Ordinance approved. 12 - REPORT - State Armory - Certification of Public Hearing Council Member Seabury moved to recommend the sale of the Armory property on West Street, in accordance with the Sales Agreement as presented, and as described in the posted notice to the Connecticut Institute for Communities as authorized by Special Legislation of the State of Connecticut, seconded by Council Member Teicholz. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 13 - REPORT - Ives Trail - Certification of Public Hearing Council Member Colla requested referral to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Council, Director of Planning, a representative from the Ives Trail Task Force and an environmental consultant. Mayor Boughton appointed Council Members Cavo, Knapp and Perkins to the committee. 14 - AD HOC REPORT - Audit Committee The report was received and accepted on the Consent Calendar. 15 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Library, Elderly Services Council Member Cavo moved to waive the reading of the Department Reports as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Office of the Legislative Assistant, seconded by Council Member Perkins. Upon the request of Council Member Perkins, Deputy Fire Chief Wiedl addressed snow removal around fire hydrants. In a group effort with the Department of Public Works and engine companies assisted by community volunteers, volunteer fire fighters and a private company, the fire hydrants were cleared. He expressed his appreciation for all of the involved in the effort. Council Member Saadi noted the recent appointment of former Police Explorer Katie Koeppel to the position of resident state trooper for the town of New Fairfield and requested that a monthly activity report for the Police Explorers be submitted to the Council. Council Member Saadi also inquired about the Immanuel Lutheran School Project. Antonio Iadarola, P.E., Director of Public work advised that design plans are 90% complete and there are some areas of concern. Further investigation of those areas and a cost and value analysis is currently being conducted. Mayor Boughton thanked the Public Works Department for their efforts in cleaning the school roofs. Unlike some other municipalities, Danbury schools were not closed due to snow accumulations on roofs. Council Member Riley commented on the superb job the Public Works Department has done this winter. 3 Council Member Visconti thanked the Public Works Department for their response to an icing issue in his ward and the great job done this winter. 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 8:31pm by Council Member Taylor and seconded by Council Member Seabury to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted: Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest: Mark D. Boughton, Mayor 4