City Council

CITY COUNCIL March 04, 2014 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:34 pm in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Matt O'Donnell, Boy Scout of Troop 52, led all in the pledge of allegiance. Councilman DiGilio led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Michael Haddad, Sr., Jack Knapp, Warren Levy, Gregg Seabury, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, John Priola, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, Christopher Arconti, Peter Nero, Duane Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, Paul Rotello, Marina Loyola, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Colleen Stanley. PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 Councilwoman Stanley was out of town on business. ALSO PRESENT: Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant; Robert Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance. PUBLIC SPEAKING • Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Ave, spoke on items # 3, #15 • Ken Gunker, Padanaram Road, spoke in favor of Item #15, and he also spoke regarding #16. • Mayor Boughton asked Mr. Ron Agard from the Supportive Services for Veteran Families Program to speak about the serves offered. Mr. Agard did so, stating that the goal of the organization is to eliminate homelessness for veterans. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of March. MINUTES A motion was made by Joseph Cavo and seconded by Duane Perkins to waive the reading and accept the minutes of the February 4, 2014 meeting and the special meeting, February 24, 2014, as all members have copies and additional copies are available in the office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Seabury read the Consent Calendar as follows:  5 - Receive the Communication and approve the use of funds as Certified by David St. Hilaire Director of Finance, for Emergency Medical Dispatch and Powerphone certification training. These funds totaling $15,000.00 are available in the City of Danbury Ambulance Fund 005.2011-5300.2045 10 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury to accept funding from the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. This funding not to exceed $23,900 will allow the City to connect to the Connecticut Education Network. No local match is required. 11 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Fire Department to apply for and accept funding from the Firefighters Support Foundation. The funding for this grant will not exceed $5,000.00 and will assist the Fire Department in their equipment needs. No local match is required. 12 - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Police Department to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation. This funding shall be used to aid the Police Department in enforcing laws regarding texting while driving. The projected cost for this program will not exceed $16,000.00. Through this grant, the State will provide 75% of funding while the City will be responsible for the remaining 25%. These funds are currently available in the Police Department 2013/14 budget. 13 - Receive the Communication and authorize the Planning Department to conduct a survey to be sent to the property owners on Fairfield Avenue pertaining to re- numbering. 14 - Receive the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee and approve the transfer of funds from the Historic Documents Reserve Fund to the Town Clerks Office Equipment and Outside Services accounts totaling $19,040.00. These funds are to be used to store historical materials and updates to land records. A motion was made by Jack Knapp and seconded by Warren Levy to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION--Promotions - Fire Department A motion was made by Philip Curran and seconded by Joseph Cavo to approve the appointment of Gary Bruce to the position of Deputy Fire Marshal. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Michael Haddad, Sr. and seconded by Benjamin Chianese to accept the communication and approve the promotion of Robert Shay Hanson to Fire Lieutenant. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION--Promotions - Police Department A motion was made by Joseph Cavo and seconded by Duane Perkins to receive the communication and confirm the promotion of Justin Williams to the office of Detective for the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously.  A motion was made by Joseph Cavo and seconded by Andrew Wetmore to accept the communication and confirm the appointment of Kevin Zaloski to the rank of Police Detective. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION--Change of Ordinance - Ordinance 2-535 to 2-547 - Commission on Aging Councilman Wetmore requested this item be referred to an Ad hoc Committee with Corporation Counsel and the Director of Elderly Services Hearing no objection Mayor Boughton ordered the committee to with the following Council Members, Cavo, Curran, and Saadi. 4. COMMUNICATION--Danbury Innovation Center License Agreement Councilman Levy requested that this item be sent to an Ad hoc Committee with Corporation Counsel and a representative from SCORE. Hearing no objections Mayor Boughton ordered the committee with the following Council Members, Levy, Fox and Visconti. 5. COMMUNICATION--Certification of Funds - Ambulance Fund The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and approve the use of funds as Certified by David St. Hilaire Director of Finance, for Emergency Medical Dispatch and Powerphone certification training. These funds totaling $15,000.00 are available in the City of Danbury Ambulance Fund 005.2011-5300.2045 6. COMMUNICATION--Additional Funds - Public Works - Maintenance A motion was made by Vinny DiGilio and seconded by Andrew Wetmore to receive the communication and approve the transfer of funds to the vehicle and repair and maintenance account as requested by the Director of Finance. The motion carried unanimously. A brief discussion regarding the balance of the Contingency Fund took place. 7. COMMUNICATION--Community Sewerage System Agreement Jensen’s Lakeview Community Councilman Knapp requested that this item be referred to an Ad hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, City Engineer, and referred to Planning and Environmental Impact Commission for reports. Hearing no objection Mayor Boughton ordered the committee with the following Council Members Haddad, Palma, and Chianese. 8. COMMUNICATION--Expansion of City Sewer Service Area-Great Plain Road and Great Meadow Road Councilman Arconti requested that this item be referred to Planning Commission, the City Engineer and Environmental Impact for reports. Hearing no objections Mayor Boughton ordered the reports. 9. COMMUNICATION--Sidewalk Easements - 42-46 Beaver Brook Road Councilman Loyola requested that this item be referred to the City Engineer and Planning for reports. Hearing no objections Mayor Boughton ordered the reports. 10. RESOLUTION--State of Connecticut- OPM Funding - IT The Communication was received and the resolution was adopted on the Consent Calendar. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury to accept funding from the State of Connecticut Office of  Policy and Management. This funding not to exceed $23,900 will allow the City to connect to the Connecticut Education Network. No local match is required. 11. RESOLUTION--Firefighters Support Foundation Grant The Communication was received and the resolution was adopted on the Consent Calendar. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Fire Department to apply for and accept funding from the Firefighters Support Foundation. The funding for this grant will not exceed $5,000.00 and will assist the Fire Department in their equipment needs. No local match is required. 12. RESOLUTION--State of Connecticut DOT Grant – Police Department The Communication was received and the resolution was adopted on the Consent Calendar. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Police Department to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation. This funding shall be used to aid the Police Department in enforcing laws regarding texting while driving. The projected cost for this program will not exceed $16,000.00. Through this grant, the State will provide 75% of funding while the City will be responsible for the remaining 25%. These funds are currently available in the Police Department 2013/14 budget. 13. REPORT--Fairfield Avenue Renumbering The report was received and the actions authorized on the Consent Calendar. Receive the Communication and authorize the Planning Department to conduct a survey to be sent to the property owners on Fairfield Avenue pertaining to re-numbering. 14. AD HOC REPORT--Certification of Funds - Historic Documents The report was received and the actions approved on the Consent Calendar. Receive the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee and approve the transfer of funds from the Historic Documents Reserve Fund to the Town Clerks Office Equipment and Outside Services accounts totaling $19,040.00. These funds are to be used to store historical materials and updates to land records. 15. AD HOC REPORT--Lease of Property - 84 Hospital Avenue A motion was made by Jack Knapp and seconded by Thomas Saadi to recommit this Item to the original Ad Hoc Committee for the purpose of review of the Lease/License agreement. The motion carried unanimously. 16. AD HOC REPORT--Past Due Payments - Whalers A motion was made by Joseph Cavo and seconded by Paul Rotello to waive the reading of the minutes of the Ad hoc Committee as all members have copies and additional copies are available at the office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously.  A motion was made by Gregg Seabury and seconded by Andrew Wetmore to adopt the recommendation of the Ad hoc committee. The motion carried unanimously. 17. DEPARTMENT REPORTS--Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT. Elderly, Library A motion was made by Joseph Cavo and seconded by Duane Perkins to waive the reading of department reports as all members have copies and additional copies are on file in the Office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. President Cavo thanked Mr. Iadarola and the Public Works team for their efforts during this tough winter. 18. COMMUNICATION--Ratification of Recent Tax Appeal Settlement A motion was made by Joseph Cavo and seconded by Thomas Saadi to move the meeting into Executive Session for the purposes of discussion a Legal Settlement. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting went into Executive Session at 8:19pm. A motion was made by Joseph Cavo and seconded by Thomas Saadi to end Executive Session. The motion carried unanimously. Executive Session ended at 8:35pm. A motion was made by Joseph Cavo and seconded by Irving Fox to receive the communication and authorize Corporation Counsel to settle the tax appeals as described and with the dollar amounts discussed in Executive Session. The motion carried unanimously. As there was no further business before the Council a motion was made by Gregg Seabury and seconded by Joseph Cavo to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously.The Mayor extended all committees and the meeting adjourned at 8:35pm. Respectfully submitted, Shani Burke Specht Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor