City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING August 5, 2014 at 7:30 P.M PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER ROLL CALL: Present: 19 Absent: 2 Councilman Haddad & Councilwoman Loyola PUBLIC SPEAKING . Lynn Taborsak read a prepared statement on item 17. Lynn Waller of 83 Highland Avenue began her comments by noting that the Highland Avenue park has not been opening on schedule. Continuing, she expressed her desire for item #4, the Danbury Road Bond to be more specific in listing the roads and schools that would receive money. Regarding #5, she thanked Mr. St. Hilaire for adjustments that saved the City money. Finally she expressed her reservations about agenda item #6. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held July 1, 2014 and the Special Meeting held on July 24, 2014 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Perkins to waive the reading of 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 A motion was made by Councilman Knapp and seconded by Councilman Wetmore to approve the consent calendar that Councilman Seabury read into the record. The motion carried unanimously. The following items were approved: 2 – COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Commission on Aging 3 – COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Danbury Museum & Historical Society 8– COMMUNICATION - Additional Funding for Primaries 11 – RESOLUTION - Morris Street School Roof Replacement 13 – RESOLUTION - PHBG Contract – Health Department 14 – RESOLUTION - DPH Grant – Fiscal Year 14/15 Lead Prevention AGENDA 1 – COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Police Officers A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley and seconded by Councilman Seabury to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Anthony J. Mistretta to the position of Police Officer on the recommendation of Mayor Boughton. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Visconti and seconded by Councilman Wetmore to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Alexander M. Relyea to the position of Police Officer on the recommendation of Mayor Boughton. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley and seconded by Councilman Perkins to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Brittany J. Salafia to the position of Police Officer on the recommendation of Mayor Boughton. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Saadi and seconded by Councilman Cavo to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Collin Marino to the position of Police Officer on the recommendation of Mayor Boughton. The motion carried unanimously. 4 – COMMUNICATION - Danbury Road Bond 2020 Councilman Knapp moved that the item be referred to a public hearing, followed by a committee of the whole. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Pension Obligation Bonds Councilman Wetmore moved to receive the communication and refer the item to a public hearing and committee of the whole including the Director of Finance, Corporation Counsel, and a representative from the Mayor's Office. 6 – COMMUNICATION - HVCEO/SWRPA Transition to Western CT Council of Governments Councilman Wetmore moved to receive the communication and refer the item to an ad hoc committee including Corporation Counsel and a representative from the Mayor's Office. The committee shall consist of Councilmen Seabury, Haddad, and Nero. 7 – COMMUNICATION - Request for Use of City Property Councilman Scozzafava moved to receive the communication and refer to an ad hoc committee including the Director of Public Works, the Director of Parks, the Superintendent of Public Utilities, Corporation Counsel ,the petitione and a Planning Comm.Report. The ad hoc committee shall consist of Councilmen Wetmore, Knapp, and Rotello. 9 – COMMUNICATION - Modification to Ordinance, Section 8-33 Councilman DiGilio moved to receive the communication and refer the item to a public hearing, followed by a committee of the whole. 10 – RESOLUTION - Small Business Energy Advantage Program A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio and seconded by Councilman Knapp to adopt the resolution as presented and authorize the Mayor or his designee to enter into such arrangements and execute such documents as are necessary to implement the Small Business Energy Program. Councilman Rotello asked for clarity regarding the proposed payback schedule, and whether it accounts for the cost benefits of LEDs. Councilman Perkins asked for a status update on the Honeywell contracts. He followed up by reminding the Council that they are expecting to see a report on efficiency of those contracts in the near future. He finished by asking whether the contract was bid. Councilman Saadi pointed out that the proposal bore the City's seal and was assured that it does not appear in any of the official documentation. He then asked about the technical considerations of the contract. Councilman Cavo asked if the proposed lights will have any negative environmental impacts. Councilman Chianese asked if the proposed changes will be expanded to include additional government buildings. The motion carried unanimously. 12 – RESOLUTION - American Red Cross A motion was made by Councilman Fox and seconded by Councilman Seabury to receive the communication and adopt the resolution as presented, granting Mayor Boughton or his designee, Paul Estefan the authority to execute a letter of agreement between the City of Danbury and the American Red Cross Connecticut Chapter and take such other actions that may be required for the purposes thereof. Councilman Rotello noted that the term was for two years, and asked if the Council could increase it to a length of five years. Councilman Saadi asked for confirmation that this type of arrangement has existed in the City of Danbury for some time. The motion carried unanimously. 15 – RESOLUTION - State of Connecticut – DOT Grant – Police Department A motion was made by Cavo and seconded by Nero to receive the communication and adopt the resolution authorizing Mayor Boughton, the Chief of Police, or his designee to apply for and complete all necessary paperwork in order to effectuate the grant. Councilman Rotello asked if the motion will be retroactive to past dates and deadlines mentioned in the resolution. Councilman Perkins asked about the style and mobility of the units. Councilman Levy requested a more in depth explanation of how the units would be installed and operated. Councilman Rotello asked if license plate numbers are recorded by the devices, as opposed to the data being anonymous. Councilman Cavo thanked Chief Baker and members of the staff for the achievements of the contract. The motion carried unanimously. 16 - AD HOC REPORT - Housing Blight – Code of Ordinance – Section 10-91 to 10-98 Councilman Priola moved to receive the communication and refer the matter of housing blight to a public hearing. 17 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT. Elderly, Library A motion was made by Cavo and seconded by Fox to waive the reading of the departmental reports as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's office. The motion carried unanimously.. Councilman Visconti inquired to Chief Baker as to why the Police Department statistics seemed to run behind the current and previous month. . 18 -EXECUTIVE SESSION Councilman Cavo moved that the Council enter into Executive Session Mayor Boughton requested the presence of Mr. Ferguson, Ms. LaHood, Atty. Pinter, Atty. Yamin, and Mr. Shephard. Councilman Rotello seconded the motion. The Council returned from Executive Session at 9:15 PM. COMMUNICATION Ratification of Recent Tax Appeal Matters A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Knapp to approve the recommendation of the Corporation Counsel's Office, as per the discussion during Executive Session, and make the settlement suggested by Corporation Counsel in regards to Danbury Investments and Loans. The motion carried unanimously. Adjournment A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley and seconded by Councilman Levy to Adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. Rachel LaBruzzo