City Council

City Council Meeting September 10, 2013 Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the City Council Meeting to order at 7:33PM on September 10, 2013 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND PRAYER Present were Council Members: Philip Curran, Michael Haddad, Jack Knapp, Warren Levy, Colleen Stanley, Donald Taylor, Phil Colla, Shay Nagarsheth, Michael Halas, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, Andrew Wetmore, Peter Nero, Duane Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, Paul Rotello and Joseph Scozzafava. Absent: Gregg Seabury (out of state) and Mary Teicholz (funeral) Present: 19 Absent: 2 Also present were Lisa Morelli, Recording Secretary, Laszlo Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel and David St. Hilaire, Finance Director. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION Joseph Walkovich, 208 Southern Boulevard spoke about Item #1, Regional Hospice and Homecare Board of Directors and their CEO Cynthia Roy. Mr. Walkovich thanked the Mayor for making available the water and sewer use charges waiver program. Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue commented on Item #1, Regional Hospice and Homecare and said the cost is not the entire city bearing the brunt of the cost, it is the water and sewer user. She asked about Item #4, the Danbury Housing Partnership Breakfast and said $5,300 seems a little expensive. Mrs. Waller also commented on the Polling Change and asked to keep in mind the handicapped people. Daniel Turk, 15 Ohehyatah Place, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Esther Scott, 20 Brushy Hill Road spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Robert Creter, 28 Crescent Drive, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Julie Kushner, 75 Old Ridgebury Road, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Sean Council, 53 Belmont Circle, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Sam Hyman, 93 Park Avenue #601, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Joseph DaSilva, 17 Mountainville Avenue, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Dev Patel, 105 Linron Drive, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Ken Gucker, 89 Padanaram Road, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Gladys Cooper, 71 Beaver Brook Road, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Al Almeida, 137 Great Plain Road, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Maggie Curran, 25 Belmont Circle, spoke about Item #3 and is in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Glenda Armstrong, Franklin Street Extension, spoke about Item #3 and is not in favor of moving the polling place to the Moose Lodge. Mayor Boughton listed some upcoming events in the city. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Perkins that the Council approve the minutes of the August 6, 2013 meeting as presented and to waive the reading of the same as the Council have copies and copies are available in the Office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Knapp presented the following items for the Consent Calendar: 7. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton to sign the “First Supplemental Agreement to the Original Agreement dated August 26, 2011 between the City of Danbury and the State of Connecticut for the “Design, Construction, Inspection and Maintenance of Safety Improvements at the Intersection of Lake Avenue and Shannon Ridge Road and Ridge Road utilizing Federal Funds under the Hazard Elimination component of the Surface Transportation Program”. 8. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his designee, Paul Estefan, Director of Civil Preparedness to make inquiry into the Emergency Management Performance Grant for fiscal year October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012 that is offered for the purpose of increasing operational capability through funding personnel and administrative expenditures of the local office of Civil Preparedness. The State of Connecticut is requesting that this change be made to reflect the Federal Fiscal Year of 2012. 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 Housing for the emergency shelter. Through a previous Resolution, the contract for shelter services was extended through June 30, 2014. Funding is now in place which allows the City to allocate $117,756 for shelter services from July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 for a contract total of $208,626. There is no local match required. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Wetmore to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. AGENDA 1. COMMUNICATION- Regional Hospice and Homecare of Western Connecticut A motion was made by Councilman Taylor to waive the water and sewer use charges for one year for the Regional Hospice and Homecare of Western Connecticut following the approval of their application for such benefit and seconded by Councilman Chianese. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Provisional Fire Marshal A motion was made by Councilman Knapp to approve the appointment of Deputy Marilyn Gillotti as provisional Fire Marshal and seconded by Councilman Cavo. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION- Polling Place Change Councilwoman Stanley made a motion to take this item to a Committee of the Whole. Mr. Cavo will serve as the Chair. 4. COMMUNICATION- Budget for the Danbury Housing Partnership Annual Breakfast A motion was made by Councilman Nagarsheth to receive the communication and approve the budget for the Danbury Housing Partnership Annual Breakfast and seconded by Councilman Chianese. After some discussion Councilman Saadi clarified that money is needed to fund the event in order to raise additional funds for the homeless project. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION- Request for Renewal of Sewer Extension- 21 Hospital Avenue Councilman Wetmore asked that this item be referred to City Engineering and Planning Commission for reports. 6. RESOLUTION- Crosby Street Bridge A motion was made by Councilman Haddad to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to authorize Mark D. Boughton to sign the local bridge program supplemental  application on behalf of the City of Danbury for the Crosby Street over Padanaram Brook Bridge #04125 and seconded by Councilman Wetmore, The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Cavo and Councilman Rotella asked Antonio Iadarola if he could give a start time to the project and how traffic would be affected. 7. RESOLUTION- Agreement for Safety Improvements At Intersection of Lake Ave,Shannon Rdg and Ridge Rd- Consented 8. RESOLUTION – Emergency Mangement Performance Grant - Consented 9. RESOLUTION - DOH Shelter Funding - Consented 10. DEPARTMENT REPORTS- Police, Fire, Health-Housing and Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly, Library: A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Taylor to waive the reading of the Department Reports as the Council have copies and copies are available in the Office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Taylor thanked Antonio Iadarola for the paving that has been done. Councilman Perkins thanked Chief Baker and surrounding officials for doing great work. 12. ADD ON –COMMUNICATION - Promotion of Police Officer A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilwoman Stanley to add Item #12, Promotion of Police Officer The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Colla and seconded by Councilman Visconti to accept the communication and approve the promotion of Police Officer Thomas Schretzenmayer to the position of Police Sergeant. The motion carried unanimously. 11. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Settlement of City of Danbury and Aiello A motion was made by Councilman Saadi and seconded by Councilman Visconti to enter into Executive Session at 8:30 pm. The motion passed unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Levy to close executive session and return to its regular meeting at 8:45 pm. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Saadi to approve the settlement as recommended by Corporation Counsel with regards to land use litigation settlement City of Danbury vs. Aiello. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Boughton extended all committees. A motion was made by Councilman Rotella and seconded by Councilman Wetmore that the City Council meeting be adjourned at 8:46 pm. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully Submitted, Lisa Morelli Recording Secretary