City Council

Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:30pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011. Present were Council Members: Robert Arconti, Philip Curran, Nancy Deep-Damici, Colleen Stanley, Philip Colla, Michael Halas, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Charles Trombetta, Jack Knapp, Peter Nero, Duane Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, Paul T. Rotello, Mary Teicholz, Joseph Scozzafava PRESENT: 17 ABSENT : 4 Council Member Riley was not feeling well, Council Member Seabury was out of town at a family event, Council Member Taylor was at a family event and Council Member Nagarsheth was attending a work event. Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant,h and Laszlo Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel were also present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER: Wayne Shepperd, Chief of Staff, led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer. PUBLIC SPEAKING Cindy Garnett, 14 E. Gate Road, spoke on item #1. Sondra Cherney, 6 Ridgecrest Rd. spoke on item #1. Lorraine Amaral, 3 Coach Hill Rd. spoke on item #1. Robin Guzy, 14 Cornell Rd. spoke on item #19. Peter Philip, 20 Country Ridge Rd. spoke on item #1. Al Robinson, 182 Osborne St., spoke on item #1. Public speaking closed at 8:02pm. Mayor Boughton read the announcements. Mayor Boughton also thanked Antonio Iadarola, P.E., Director of Public Works; Duke Hart, Public Services Superintendent; Chief Baker, Chief Herald, Deputy Chief Shanahan; Paul Estefan, Emergency Management; Wayne Shepperd, Chief of Staff; P.J. Prunty, Community Services Coordinator; Elisa Munoz, Secretary to the Mayor and Joan Soderstrom, receptionist in the Office of the Mayor for their fine work during the recent storm. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held August 2, 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 Colla. Motion passed by unanimous vote. CONSENT CALENDAR Council Member Knapp read the Consent Calendar. 3 – Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Annemarie Walker to the Commission on Aging with the term to expire October 1, 2014. 4 – Receive the Communication and graciously accept the donation to the Fire Department from ATMI of two Scott Air Packs Self Contained Breathing Apparatus with two spare bottles. The approximate value is $2,000.00. 7 – Receive the Memorandum and approve the Danbury Train Station Lease Proposed Budget as submitted by the Director of Finance. 1 10 – Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury to submit an application to the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management to fund a project through the Local Capitol Improvement Program. The project request of $15,000.00 is for on-going repairs and restoration to the Exterior of the City’s “Old Jail” Building. No City match is required. 11 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services to extend the current WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program contract with the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health for another year. 12 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury, Department of Health and Human Services, to accept funding from the State of Connecticut, Department of Public Health. This allocation in the amount of $94,096.74 will be used to promote programs within the Health and Human Services Department and will expire June 30, 2012. No local match is required. 13 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution to allow the City of Danbury, Department of Health and Human Services, to accept funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the United Way. The funding request for $4,000.00 will be used for the City’s homeless shelter operations, and will continue through December 31, 2011. No local match is required. 16 – Receive the reports from the City Engineer and Planning Commission relating to the requested Extension of time for Sewer Extension at 9 Zinn Road and approve the Time Extension subject to the applicant meeting all requirements of the Engineering and Public Utilities Departments as well as submission and approval of all plans and documents by the Corporation Counsel’s Office. 17 - Receive the reports from the City Engineer and Planning Commission relating to the requested Extension of time for Sewer Extension at 60 Shelter Rock Road and approve the Time Extension subject to the applicant meeting all requirements of the Engineering and Public Utilities Departments as well as submission and approval of all plans and documents by the Corporation Counsel’s Office. 18 - Receive the reports from Corporation Counsel, Planning Commission, Director of Public Works, Assistant Director of Finance and approve the Easement for Main Elmwood, LLC-70 Main Street subject to the completion of any and all documentation deemed necessary by the Office of the Corporation Counsel and any related approvals and permits required by other City Departments. 19 – Receive the report and recommendation of the Committee of the Whole, August 22, 2011 and approve renaming Cornell Road to South Cornell Road as proposed. Council Member Teicholz moved to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Council Member Perkins. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 1 – COMMUNICATION - Save Our Sports Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the Communication. Council Member Cavo moved to transfer $58,000 from the City fund balance to the contribution/grant item, Save Our Sports, account #7000.5855.06 to provide a matching grant to restore freshman sports, seconded by Council Member Stanley. Discussion followed regarding members of the public raising funds to support school programs, concerns about transferring the funds to the freshman sports program and the source of the $58,000. It was clarified that the $58,000 2 resulted from leftover funds from budget line items. Dan Garrick, Asst. Director of Finance, explained that the funds would be transferred to Save our Sports by way of a newly created line item and that Save Our Sports would fund the freshmen sports thru the Board of Education. Mr. Garrick certified that the funds were available. Council members Stanley and Cavo thanked the Save Our Sports organization for their efforts. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 2 – COMMUNICATION - Promotions in the Police Department Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Arconti moved to receive the communication and recommended promotion of Sergeant Carroccio to Lieutenant, seconded by Council Member Colla. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Teicholz moved to receive the communication and recommended Detective Sergeant Williams promotion to Lieutenant, seconded by Council Member Arconti. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Trombetta moved to receive the communication and confirm Officer Labonia for promotion to Detective, seconded by Council Member Perkins. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Commission on Aging The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment of Annmarie Walker approved. 4 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Recreation Department Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Knapp moved to receive the communication and accept the donation through a grant provided by Stew Leonard’s to the Red Cross and deposit the funds into account 1000.4654, seconded by Council Member Trombetta. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 6 – COMMUNICATION - Danbury Railroad Museum – Lease and License Renewal Council Member Curran requested referral to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Director of Public Works and Director of the Railroad Museum. Mayor Boughton so ordered and appointed Council Members Nagarsheth, Halas and Visconti to the committee. 7 - COMMUNICATION - Danbury Train Station Lease Proposed Budget The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the Lease Proposed Budget approved as submitted. 8 - COMMUNICATION - General Fund Re-appropriations Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Colla moved to receive the communication and re-appropriate $232,608.96 to the general funds accounts as listed, seconded by Council Member Chianese. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 9 – COMMUNICATION - Request for Sewer Extension – 67 Newtown Road Council Member Stanley requested referral to Engineering and Planning for reports. Mayor Boughton so ordered. 3 10 – RESOLUTION - LOCIP Application The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 11 – RESOLUTION - WIC Grant Additional Funding Request The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 12 – RESOLUTION - Per Capita Grant 2011/2012 Application The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 13 – RESOLUTION - The United Way Funding - Shelter The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted. 14 – REPORT - Sewer Extension – Juniper Ridge Drive Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Deep-Damici moved to receive the report and take no action, seconded by Council Member Cavo. 15– REPORT - Sewer Extension – East Gate, Wynwood and Eastwood Roads Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant, read the communication. Council Member Cavo moved to receive the report and take no action, seconded by Council Member Teicholz. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 16– REPORTS - Extension of Time for Sewer Extension – 9 Zinn Road The reports were received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved subject to conditions. 17– REPORTS - Extension of Time for Sewer Extension – 60 Shelter Rock Road The reports were received on the Consent Calendar and the request approved subject to conditions. 18– REPORTS - Overhang Easement – 70 Main Street The reports were recived on the Consent Calendar and the Easement for Main Elmwood, LLC- 70 Main Street approved subject to conditions. 19– REPORT - Name Change - Cornell Road The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the recommendation of the Committee of the Whole approved. 20 – AD HOC REPORT - Restrict Private Businesses from Sewage Processing Council Member Knapp moved to receive the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Committee and to task the Planning and Zoning Department to create regulations to restrict the construction of the operation of sewage treatment facilities or those operated specifically by the City of Danbury or their lawfully designated agent or agents thereof, and the Corporation Counsel draft ordinance language that addresses private use of public utilities for profit making enterprises, seconded by Council Member Visconti. Discussion followed. Dennis Elpern, Director of Planning and Zoning advised that the matter is still under review by Planning and Zoning. Council Member Saadi clarified that the intent of the motion was to prevent the use of the public utilities from the use of a profit making enterprise causing a burden on other users and taxpayers and the private business underselling the city’s facility and sending the sewage to the City owned sewage treatment plant. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 4 21 – AD HOC REPORT & ORDINANCE - Downtown Municipal Sewer and Water Fee Council Member Halas requested referral to a Public Hearing and a Committee of the Whole. Mayor Boughton so ordered. 22 – 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 additional copies are on file in the Office of the Legislative Assistant, seconded by Council Member Perkins. Upon the request Council Member Curran, Atty. Pinter advised that the matter of Bell’s Land and Kennedy Avenue is under legal process. Department Reports were accepted by unanimous vote. Mayor Boughton extended all committees. There being no further business to come before the Council a motion was made at 9:00pm by Council Member Rotello, seconded by Council Member Perkins. Motion passed by unanimous vote to adjourn. Respectfully submitted, Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest: Mark D. Boughton, Mayor 5