City Council

Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:30pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2011. Present were Council Members: Robert Arconti, Philip Curran, Nancy Deep-Damici, Gregg Seabury, Colleen Stanley, Philip Colla, Shay Nagarsheth, Michael Halas, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Charles Trombetta, Jack Knapp, Peter Nero, Duane Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, Paul T. Rotello, Mary Teicholz PRESENT: 18 ABSENT: 3 Council Members Scozzafava and Taylor were ill and Council Member Riley was attending to family business. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER: Chief Alan Baker led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Nagarsheth led everyone in the room in a prayer. PUBLIC SPEAKING Laurie Weinstein - 44 Concord Road, Historic Properties Commission member, spoke on item #5. Andrew Wetmore - 117 Great Plain Road spoke on item #5. Andrea Gartner - 17 Hayestown Road, CityCenter Director, spoke on item 13 and 15. Public speaking closed at 7:46pm. Mayor Boughton read the announcements for the month. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held May 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 William J. Totten (U) as a member of the Richter Park Authority with a term to expire June 1, 2014. 2 - Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Greg Cascio (U) as a member of the Conservation Commission with a term to expire June 1, 2014. 3 - Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Natalie Farrar (U) as a member of the Commission on Aging with a term to expire on June 1, 2014. 4 - Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of William J. Lewis as an alternate member of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities with a term to expire June 1, 2014. 6 – Receive the Communication and accept the generous donation from the Connecticut Bass Federation Nation for a Commemorative Bench to be located at the Candlewood Town Park and send the appropriate letter of thanks. 8 – Receive the Communication and approve the appropriation of $75,000.00 to the Ambulance Fund account # 50000.5338. The increased services/responses have also increased 1 revenues which will offset the additional expenditures create a surplus for the Ambulance fund this fiscal year. 10 - Receive the Communication and approve the request of the Tax Collector for the listing of names and amounts of uncollectible taxes from the 2001 Motor Vehicle List and transfer $284,149.07 to the Suspense List. 12 - Receive the Communication and approve the request of the City Purchasing Agent for the disposal of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment. 15 - Receive the Communication and approve the request of the Danbury Housing Partnership to donate $1500.00 to the City Centers Farmers Market to support and promote proper nutrition and health for local residents in Danbury. 18 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the Board of Education through the Superintendent of Schools to file a grant application with related documents to the State of Connecticut Commissioner of Education and to accept a grant for State reimbursement funding for the Danbury High School window replacement project as well as re-establish a school building committee as required. 19 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Public Works Department to accept funding from the State Department of Environmental Protection through the Lawn Equipment Exchange Fund grant program. The award amount, $20,865.00 will be used to purchase new equipment for the DPW. The City is responsible for 20% of the award, or $4,173.00 with the other 80% to be reimbursed by the State. 21 - Receive the Communication and approve the Conveyance of Land and Sidewalk Easements for MDB Realty, LLC – 100 Federal Road – Lot # K 10072 along with the required documents and plans suggested by the Corporation Council, Planning Commission and City Engineer. 22 - Receive the Communication and take no action on the Water Extension – Fairlawn Avenue – Project # 10-19. 23 - Receive the Communication and take no action on the Sanitary Sewer Extension Shannon Ridge Rd., Myrtle Avenue, and Edgewood Street – Project # 10-19. 1 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Richter Park Authority The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment approved. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Conservation Commission The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment approved. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Commission on Aging The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment approved. 4 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment approved. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Survey - Historic Properties Commission Council Member Teicholz requested referral to an ad hoc with a representative from the Office of the Mayor and the Director of Finance. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Deep-Damici, Teicholz and Chianese to the committee. 2 6 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Parks and Recreation Department The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted. 7 - COMMUNICATION - Budget Transfers Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Cavo moved to receive the communication and approve the transfers as presented, seconded by Council Member Seabury. Upon the request of Council Member Chianese, David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance gave a brief summary the transfers. Typically, when funds are transferred between divisions, Council approval is required and line item transfers require approval by the Mayor. This year it was decided to list all of the transfer together on one document and ask for approval by the Council. By doing the transfers in this manner, more transparency is provided. Motion approved by unanimous vote. 8 - COMMUNICATION - Appropriation to the Ambulance Fund The communication was received on the Consent Calendar the appropriation of $75,000 to the Ambulance Fund account 50000.5338 approved. 9 - COMMUNICATION - Parking Authority - Request for Financing Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Knapp requested referral to an ad hoc with a representative from the Parking Authority, a representative from the Office of the Mayor, Corporation Counsel and the Director of Finance. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Curran, Colla and Chianese to the committee. 10 - COMMUNICATION - Annual Suspense List The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved. 11 - COMMUNICATION - Amendment of Ordinance - Section 18-24 Refusal to Accept Unwrapped Coins Council Member Colla requested referral to a Public Hearing and Committee of the Whole. Mayor Boughton so ordered. 12 - COMMUNICATION - Request Permission - Disposal of Surplus Vehicles & Equipment The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved. 13 - COMMUNICATION - Deferral of Assessment Increase - Paul Mitchell Beauty School Council Member Nagarsheth requested referral to an ad hoc with Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance, Director of Planning and Tax Assessor. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Stanley, Trombetta and Visconti to the committee. 14 - COMMUNICATION - Deferral of Assessment Increase - 64 Bells Lane Council Member Seabury requested referral to an ad hoc with Corporation Counsel Director of Finance, Director of Planning and Tax Assessor. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Trombetta, Stanley and Visconti to the committee. 15 - COMMUNICATION - Transfer of Funds from Danbury Housing Partnership to CityCenter Farmers Market The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved. 16 - COMMUNICATION - Acceptance of City Road - Spruce Mountain Trail Council Member Curran requested referral Corporation Counsel, the Director of Public Works, Engineering and Planning for reports. Mayor Boughton so ordered. 17 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Water and Sewer - 66, 67, 68 Reynolds Road Council Member Stanley requested referral to Engineering and Planning for reports. 3 18 - RESOLUTION - Danbury High School Window Replacement The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 19 - RESOLUTION - DEP Grant - Public Works The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 20 - RESOLUTION - Agreement for Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Lake Avenue, Shannon Ridge Road and Ridge Road Council Member Cavo moved to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Boughton to enter into the agreement with the State of Connecticut for Project 34- 388 and adopt the Resolution, seconded by Council Member Seabury. Council Member Rotello expressed concerns regarding traffic back-up and the proximity of other traffic lights. Antonio Iadarola, P.E., Director of Public Works explained that the technology and phasing of traffic lights is very sophisticated and that the city and DOT engineers have looked closely at the details of the project. The intersection will be closely monitored for synchronization issues. 21 - REPORT - Sidewalk Easements and Conveyance of Parcel X- MBD - 100 Federal Road The communication and required documents were received on the Consent Calendar and the conveyance accepted. 22 - REPORT - Water Extension Survey - Fairlawn Avenue The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and no action taken. 23 - REPORT - Sewer Extension Survey - Shannon Ridge, Myrtle Avenue, Fairlawn Avenue and Edgewood Street The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and no action taken. 24 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, 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 Nagarsheth. Council Member Saadi requested an update on the chiller issue at the Police Department. Antonio Iadarola, P.E., Director of Public Works advised that the chiller at the Police Department is a very complicated and sophisticated system. The manufacturer and consultants have conducted reviews. A high level meeting is scheduled to decide the next step. Performance of the chiller is constantly evaluated by city personnel and the situation is expected to be remedied by the end of fall. Council Member Arconti expressed his appreciation for the drainage work performed on Starr Road and Federal Road. Motion passed by unanimous vote. EXECUTIVE SESSION 25 - EXECUTIVE SESSION - Recent Tax Appeal Settlements The City Council entered into Executive Session at 8:26pm for the purpose of discussing Tax Appeal Settlements, David St. Hilaire, Atty. Laszlo Pinter, Wayne Shepperd, P.J. Prunty and Colleen LaHood were invited into the Executive Session. 4 At 8:46pm Council Member Cavo moved to return to regular session, seconded by Council Member Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Council Member Cavo moved to authorize Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance and Tax Assessor to proceed with the settlements as suggested in Executive Session, seconded by Council Member Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Council Member Cavo moved to add item #26- Water and Sewer Request- 5 Sugar Hollow Road, seconded by Council Member Rotello. Council Member Halas requested reports from Engineering and Planning. Mayor Boughton so ordered. Council Member Chianese recused himself. Mayor Boughton extended all committees There being no further business to come before the City Council, a motion was made at 8:49pm by Council Member Seabury and seconded by council member Nagarsheth to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted: Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest: Mark D. Boughton, Mayor 5