City Council

CITY COUNCIL December 03, 2013 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:33 pm in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Donald Taylor led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Jack Knapp, Warren Levy, Gregg Seabury , Colleen Stanley, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, John Priola, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti , Vinny DiGilio, Elmer Palma, Christopher Arconti, Peter Nero, Duane Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, Paul Rotello, Marina Loyola and Joseph Scozzafava . COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Haddad PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 Councilman Haddad was attending to personal business. ALSO PRESENT: Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant; Robert Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance. PUBLIC SPEAKING • Don Taylor, former Councilman, congratulated all the new and returning council members. He thanked the Mayor and all the Departments heads for supporting his time on the City Council. • Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Ave, spoke on Items #5, #6, #7 and #22. ANNOUNCEMENTS The Mayor read Announcements for the Month of December including events taking place in the City. Mayor Boughton and the City Council honored the Immaculate High School Girls Cross Country team which won the Class S State Championship. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held November 7, 2013 A motion was made by Council Member Joe Cavo and seconded by Council Member Duane Perkins to waive the reading and approve the minutes of the previous meeting as all members have copies and  additional copies are on file in the Office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR Council Member Seabury read the Consent Calendar as follows: 3 - Receive the Communication and approve the re-appointments of Gina Marcus , Anthony C. Vournazos and Sherri Hill as Members of the Charles Ives Authority for the Performing Arts with a term to expire March 2016. 4 - Receive the Communication and approve the appointments of Philip Curran, Colleen Stanley and Paul Rotello and the reappointments of Alan T. Boyce and Mark S. Chory to serve on the Government Entities Review Committee. 6 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton to sign any documents necessary for the placement of a Preservation Restriction upon the Mountainville Ave property to satisfy the requirements of the State Historic Preservation Office Grant application. 8 - Receive the Communication and refer the request to the Planning Department for review and a report pertaining to the numbering of homes located on Fairfield Avenue. 10 - Receive the Communication and approve the request of the Danbury Housing Partnership to donate $1,000.00 to Walsh Catering to support Project Homeless Connect on Dec. 13, 2013. 11 - Receive the Communication and approve the request of the Danbury Housing Partnership to appropriate $320.00 towards additional expenses for the Danbury Housing Partnership Breakfast and Project Homeless Connect. 12 - Receive the Communication and approve the re-appropriation of $234,319.33 to the General Fund account for the current fiscal year that were appropriated or encumbered for operational purchases, equipment or services not yet received as listed by David W. St. Hilaire, Director of Finance. 13 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing The Office of Corporation Counsel to acquire Storm Drain Easements - Farm Street and Beckerle Street as listed by City Engineer, Farid Khouri, P.E. 17 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the City of Danbury Fire Department to apply for and accept funding from the US Department of Homeland Security through FEMA to assist the Fire Department in purchasing equipment. FEMA's share of this Grant if awarded will not exceed $640,000.00 and the required City match will not exceed $160,000.00. 19 - Receive the reports of the City Engineer and Planning Commission and approve the request for Sewer Extension - 6 Somers Street subject to the standard 8 conditions, which are on file in the office of the Legislative Assistant. 20 - Receive the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee and refer the Draft Ordinance, Section 2-56.2, regarding the creation of the Still River Alliance Commission to a Public Hearing.  22 - Receive the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee and approve the transfer of title of the property (Parcel 9) from the Redevelopment Agency to the City of Danbury. A motion was made by Council Member Jack Knapp and seconded by Council Member Duane Perkins to approve the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION-Promotions - Fire Department A motion was made by Council Member Cavo and seconded by Council Member Colleen Stanley to receive the communication and confirm the promotion of Fire Fighter, Nicholas Cabral, to the position of Fire Lieutenant. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION-Appointment-Library Director A motion was made by Council Member Andrew Wetmore and seconded by Council Member Colleen Stanley to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Lambert Shell to serve in the position of Library Director for the City of Danbury. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION-Appointments to the Charles Ives Authority The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 4. COMMUNICATION-Appointments to the Governmental Entities and Review The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 5. COMMUNICATION-Request for Ad Hoc - Past Due Payments Council Member Stanley requested that this item be referred to an Ad hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance, Chief of Police Department, Chief of the Fire Department, a representative from the Whalers and a representative from the Mayor's office and Council Members.Stanley, Cavo, Saadi 6. COMMUNICATION-Preservation Restriction - Charles Ives Birthplace The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 7. COMMUNICATION-Chow House at Farrington Woods Council Member Knapp requested that this item be referred to an Ad hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, Director of Public Buildings, Director of Parks , Michael Ahern, petitioner and Council Members Knapp, Haddad, Rotello. 8. COMMUNICATION-Fairfield Avenue - Numbering of Homes The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 9. COMMUNICATION-Donation to the Parking Authority - Bruce Bennett Nissan  A motion was made by Council Member Philip Curran and seconded by Council Member Paul Rotello to receive the communication and accept the gift of an electric charging station and send appropriate letter of thanks. A short discussion regarding the installation, maintenance, costs and fees occurred. Ms. Pacific, Director of Parking Authority, stated that the cost would be minimal, they are not anticipating a large demand at this time, and they would not charge a fee until more experience is gained. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Boughton asked for an informal report regarding the usage of the charging unit in four to five months. 10. COMMUNICATION-Certification of Funds - Danbury Housing Partnership The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 11. COMMUNICATION-Additional Expenses - Danbury Housing Partnership Breakfast The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 12. COMMUNICATION-General Fund Re-appropriations The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 13. COMMUNICATION-Storm Drainage Easements--Farm and Beckerle Streets The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 14. COMMUNICATION-Request for Sewer and Water Extension--Sawmill Road and Turner Road Council Member Wetmore requested that this item be referred to City Engineer and Planning for Reports. 15. Conveyance of Land--Road Widening, 39 Hospital Avenue. Council Member Wetmore requested that this item be referred to the City Engineer and Planning for reports. 16. RESOLUTION-Library Grant from Woman’s Club of Danbury/New Fairfield A motion was made by Council Member Joseph Scozzafava and seconded by Council Member Paul Rotello to receive the communication and accept the resolution for this generous donation and send a letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. 17. RESOLUTION-2013 FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant The Resolution was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 18. REPORT-Request for Lease of City Land for Parking Lot 84 Hospital Avenue Council President Cavo requested this item be referred back to the Ad hoc Committee. 19. REPORTS-Request for Sewer Extension - 6 Somers Street The report was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 20. AD HOC REPORT-Still River Alliance The report was received and approved on the Consent Calendar. 21. AD HOC REPORT--Kennedy Place A motion was made by Council Member Warren Levy and seconded by Council Member Thomas Saadi to table this item as the committee needs time to develop more information. The motion carried unanimously. 22. AD HOC REPORT-Redevelopment Parcel - 9-32 Patriot Drive (Skateboard Park) The report was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 23. DEPARTMENT REPORTS A motion was made by Council Member Joseph Cavo to waive the reading of Department Reports as all members have copies and additional copies are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office. Council Member Saadi wanted to congratulate the Police Department as the statistics from the Uniform Crime Report are an improvement. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Council Member Thomas Saadi and seconded by Council Member Irving Fox to Adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business before the City Council, the meeting adjourned at 8:17 pm. Respectfully submitted, Shani Burke Specht, Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor