City Council

City Council Meeting July 2, 2013 Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:30PM on July 2, 2013 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Present were Council Members: Philip Curran, Michael Haddad, Jack Knapp, Warren Levy, Gregg Seabury, Donald Taylor, Phil Colla, Shay Nagarsheth, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Andrew Wetmore, Peter Nero, Duane Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, Paul Rotello, Joseph Scozzafava and Mary Teicholz PRESENT: 18 ABSENT : 3 Council Members Halas and Stanley were at family events and Council Member Palma had a business commitment. Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; and Laszlo Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel were also present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER William Nicol led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Curran led everyone in a prayer. PUBLIC SPEAKING Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue, spoke on item # 2 Consulting Firm and item #11 Solid Waste Authority. Mayor Boughton read the announcements for the month. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held on June 4, 2013. Council Member Cavo moved to waive the reading of the minutes of the June 4, 2013 meeting 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. Council Member Seabury read the Consent Calendar. 3 - Receive the Communication and approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Danbury Fire Department and the Federal Correctional Institution as requested by Fire Chief Geoffrey Herald. 7 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution allowing the City of Danbury Police Department to apply for and accept funding from the US Department of Justice Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program. This funding, not to exceed $16,870 will be used to purchase equipment and supplies to assist in law enforcement and police services within the community. Funds are to be expended between 10-1-12 and 9-30-16 with no local match required. 8 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his designees, Paul D. Estefan, as Director of Emergency Management, or David Day, Superintendent of Public Utilities to execute and file applications, contracts and agreements on behalf of the City of Danbury for grant funds available through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant program. 9 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his designee, Paul D. Estefan, as Airport Administrator to apply for and accept additional grant funding to rehabilitate hazard beacons, control panels, signage and markings related to proper DXR (Danbury Airport) operations and execute such documents as may be required to accomplish the purposes thereof. 1 10 – Receive the Ad-hoc Committee Report and refer the proposed amendment to Section 2-56.8 of the Code of Ordinance-Alternates to the Conservation Commission to a Public Hearing. Council Member Knapp moved to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Council Member Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 1 - COMMUNICATION - Authorization for Lease Financing The clerk read the communication. Council Member Wetmore moved to recommend the adoption of the resolution engaging the necessary financing sources, including vendors, products and services as described, together with lease/purchase financing for up to $2.5M, further, to authorize waiver of bid for Pierce Aerial Ladder Truck. In all other cases vendors are to be qualified pursuant to the standard City requirement. Seconded by Council Member Nagarsheth. Council Member Saadi clarified that the Board of Awards would review the financials, rates, and individual items. Davis St. Hilaire explained that currently rates are running approximately 3-3.5% but believes that by bundling the items, the rate would be about 1.5%. Council Members Perkins and Rotello made inquiries regarding the technology replacement in regards to the software. Joe Martino, Finance Director for the BOE explained that some of the software has licensing in place, some would have no fees and some would be purchased. Council Member Chianese requested information regarding the copier purchase. Mr. Martino advised that this does not include BOE copiers as their lease would still be in place for another year and at this time the proposal was for city copiers. However, A&A would honor the current cost when the BOE lease ends. Council Member Taylor questioned the RFP. David St. Hilaire advised that the proposal was put out to bid and A&A won the bid. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Hiring of Consulting Firm The clerk read the communication. Council Member Taylor moved to retain BlumShapiro to work with the City and the BOE to develop a comprehensive reorganization strategy and implementation plan, seconded by Council Member Nagarsheth. Council Member Scozzafava questioned partnering with the BOE and asked if the BOE would have a veto on any recommendations. Mayor Boughton advised that the firm would take a look at the city departments, functions, employee tasks and budgets. Discussions have taken place with Dr. Pascarella and Dr. Glass. The same items would be reviewed on the school side. The intention is to move the City into a combined shared services model. BlumShapiro has experience working with other municipalities and long term savings are expected. Council Member Perkins stated that budgets are lean and requested information on the consulting firm’s baseline and implementation. Mayor Boughton advised that it would take time for the firm to look at procedures, union contracts, Code or Ordinances and Charter. Efforts would be taken to encourage the BOE to make the recommended changes. Council Member Rotello expressed that he felt that $400,000 seemed unrealistic and broke the amount down to $100,000 per week and questioned the return to the City. Mayor Boughton explained that the City would get an operation plan that would have a redesign for City government. BlumShapiro has experience performing this type of redesigns, would be objective and understands how government operates. Joint meeting would be held with the BOE and council members. Council Member Chianese asked for a time-table and effective rate. The work would start within the next 30 days. David St. Hilaire stated that funding would come from the unassigned funds account. Council Member Saadi expressed concerns about savings, declining services, the interview process, communication with council members and the merit of bringing an independent firm in to look at operation and procedures and in the end, the generation of a public document. 2 Council Member Levy commented that this would be a change of culture and inquired about the implementation plan. Mayor Boughton explained that there would be a public document for the council to review and the ultimate implementation would be up to the City and the BOE. Council Member Nero requested scheduled updates to the council as the plan progresses. Council Member Cavo spoke in favor of the proposal by thanking the Mayor and Director of Finance for their work on the proposal. The vote on the motion was as follows: Council Members Curran Haddad, Knapp, Levy, Seabury, Taylor, Colla, Nagarsheth, Cavo, Saadi, Visconti, Wetmore, Nero, Chianese, Rotello, Scozzafava and Teicholz voted in favor. Council member Perkins voted in opposition. Motion passed 17/1. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Memorandum of Understanding (FCI & Fire Department) The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Danbury Fire Department and the Federal Correctional Institution approved. 4 - COMMUNICATION - Donation - Police Department The clerk read the communication. Council Member Nagarsheth moved to receive the communication and accept the generous donation from The Ridgefield and Leir Foundations, Inc. and send a letter of thanks, seconded by Council Member Visconti. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Sewer Extension - 4 Cedar Crest Drive Council Member Curran requested referral to Engineering and Planning for reports. Mayor Boughton so ordered. 6 - COMMUNICATION - Conveyance - Road Widening Strips - Chambers Road and King Street Council Member Nagarsheth requested referral to Corporation Counsel, Engineering and Planning for reports. Mayor Boughton so ordered. 7 - RESOLUTION - 2013 JAG Byrne Funding - Police Department The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution allowing the City of Danbury Police Department to apply for and accept funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program adopted. 8 - RESOLUTION - FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant - Emergency Generators The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution authorizing Mayor Boughton or his designees to execute and file applications, contracts and agreements on behalf of the City of Danbury for grant fund available through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program approved. 9 - RESOLUTION - Airport Rehabilitation, Replacement and Installation The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution authorizing Mayor Boughton or his designee to apply for and accept additional grand funding to rehabilitate hazard beacons, control panels, signage and markings related to proper DXR (Danbury Airport) operations and execute such documents as may be required to accomplish the purposes thereof. 10 - AD HOC REPORT - Conservation Commission - Alternates Code of Ordinance, Section 2- 56.8 The report was received on the Consent Calendar and referred to a Public Hearing. 11 - AD HOC REPORT - Solid Waste Authority -- Code of Ordinance, Section2-56.18 The reading of the Ad Hoc report was waived with no objection. Council Member Wetmore moved to receive the communication, adopt the Resolution and refer the item to a public hearing, 3 seconded by Council Member Nagarsheth. Council Member Rotello commented that he had issues with some of the items in the proposed contract. The first was the sequential renewal terms and the long term, 80 years, of the contract, second, the fee of $1.00 per ton for the term of the contract and finally the language regarding eminent domain. Atty. Pinter explained that the eminent domain component was negotiated with Winters Brothers. Council Member Rotello stated that he would be interested in going into executive session on the matter. Council Member Saadi questioned whether the Agreement would be included in the public hearing. Atty. Pinter explained that the committee advised that the Agreement and Ordinance could both go to Public Hearing and that a motion could be made to divide the question. Council Member Teicholz, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, explained that the motion was to send the Ordinance to Public Hearing and the agreement would be attached to the Ordinance. Mayor Boughton stated that both items be referred to Public Hearing and be debated in the Committee of the Whole and then go back to the Council. Council Member Saadi recommended to send the Ordinance and Agreement to a Public Hearing in order to have more substantive discussion. The vote was taken as follows Council Members Curran, Haddad Knapp, Levy, Seabury, Taylor, Colla, Nagarsheth, Cavo, Saadi, Visconti, Wetmore, Nero, Perkins, Chianese, and Teicholz voted in favor. Council Members Rotello and Scozzafava voted in opposition. Motion carried 16/2. 12 -DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Statement of Condition, Police, Fire, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT. Elderly, Library Council Member Cavo moved to waive the reading of the reports as all members have copies and additional copies are on file in the Office of the Legislative Assistant, seconded by Council Member Taylor. Chief Herald was recognized for the department’s response to a recent church fire. Council Member Perkins requested Chief Baker submit a separate report indicating the number of distracted driver citations issued. Chief Baker indicated that a separate report could be included. Council Member Chianese requested information on the relocation of volunteer firehouses. Chief Herald responded that no real movement due to financial constraints. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Boughton introduced David Newland, Acting Building Official for the City of Danbury. 13-Council Member Cavo moved to add item #13- Resolution- School Based Health Care Grant Renewal, seconded by Council Member Saadi. Motion passed by unanimous vote. The clerk read the communication. Council Member Cavo moved to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the Mayor or Scott Leroy, Director of Health, as the Mayor’s representative, to apply for and accept grant funding and to take action necessary to effectuate all documents for the purposes hereof. seconded by Council Member Visconti. Council Member Perkins called upon James Maloney to speak about the item. Mr. Maloney explained that the City operated three school based health centers in the Danbury Public Schools from a state grant. The proposal is to subcontract the operation of the centers to the Connecticut Institute which operates an existing health based center at Henry Abbot Technical School as well as a federally qualified health center in the City of Danbury and would now be able to provide healthcare to families as opposed to just the students and do it for less than the City can do. The advantage would be cost savings to the City for fringe benefit costs and there is an enhanced reimbursement rate with for no- charge services. He further advised that the current city employees would be offered their current position providing they meet background checks. 4 Council Member Chianese asked for clarification for when the grant expires in three (3) years. Mr. Maloney explained that the Department of Public Health might offer an extension or put the matter out to bid. He also stated he believes that the Department of Health would oversee the program. Council Member Rotello asked for information on the staff. Mr. Maloney advised that currently there are 9 positions including nurses, social workers/ counselors, medical assistants and an APRN. There are currently two (2) vacancies. The CT Institute would pay the staff from funds received by the City of Danbury and transferred to the CT Institute. Council Member Teicholz inquired as to the cost of the sub-contracting to the City. Mr. Maloney advised that there would be no cost to the City other than writing quarterly checks to the CT Institute. All of the grant paperwork would be completed by the CT Institute. Council Member Saadi asked for clarification of the sub-contract. This is a standard contracting done between a municipality and a 501(3) c. The funds come to the City and the City would contain a level of control as far as oversight of the contract. Mr. Maloney agreed, 100% of the grant funds come to the City. Council Member Levy inquired as to the amount of any administrative fee. Mr. Maloney explained that there would be a $1.00 charge, allowing more funds to go into services. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Boughton thanked and recognized the twenty (20) employees who took advantage of the retirement incentive and thanked them for their years of service. Mayor Boughton extended all committees. There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made at 9:25pm by Council Member Seabury, seconded by Council Member Taylor to adjourn. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Respectfully submitted, Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary Attest: Mark D. Boughton, Mayor 5