City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING October 7, 2014 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Mr. Les Pinter led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Philip Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Michael Haddad, Sr., Jack Knapp, Warren Levy, Gregg Seabury, Colleen Stanley, 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, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Marina Loyola PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 Councilwoman Loyola is out on medical and is expected back in November. ALSO PRESENT: Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel. PUBLIC SPEAKING • David Fine, Corn Tassel Road, spoke on item #13. • Kevin Haddad, 13 Haddad Drive, requested item #21 Public Works Report include an update on certain school playgrounds. • Ken Gucker, 89 Padanaram Road, spoke on item #20. • Fire Chief Geoff Herald, 13 Foster Street, spoke regarding item #1. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of October. MINUTES A motion was made by Joseph Cavo and seconded by Gregg Seabury to waive the reading and accept the minutes of the September 3, 2014 meeting, 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: 2 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Cultural Commission 2 – Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Sandy Rynd Chaleski as a member of the Cultural Commission with a term to expire February 1, 2017. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Commission on Aging 3 – Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Riva Shoshana as an alternate member of the Commission on Aging with a term to expire October 1, 2017. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Re-Appropriations & Budget Transfers 5 – Receive the Communication and approve the re-appropriation of funds totaling $232,333.09 to the General Fund accounts and $102,473.25 to the Ambulance Fund accounts for the 2014-15 fiscal year as detailed by the Director of Finance. 6 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Permission - Disposal of Surplus Vehicles 6 – Receive the Communication and approve the Disposal of Surplus Vehicles listed, as set forth by section 2- 153 of the City Code of Ordinances. 7 - COMMUNICATION - Memorandum of Agreement 7 – Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the City of Danbury to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the use of Federal Fiscal Year 2014 State Homeland Security Grant Funding and Custodial Ownership of Regional Assets in DEMHS Region 5. 10 - RESOLUTION - LOCIP - 2014 Application 10 – Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution allowing the City of Danbury to make application to the State of Connecticut LOCIP program to fund the City Hall Boiler Replacement Phase 2 project totaling $157,900.00. 11 - RESOLUTION - Acquisition of Farm & Beckerle Street Easements 11 – Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution renewing the Acquisition of Farm Street and Beckerle Street Easements as specified. 13 - RESOLUTION - Still River Corridor Linear Park 13 - Receive the Communication (and Planning Report) and adopt the Resolution approving the lease agreement between the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation and the City of Danbury Still River Corridor File No. 034-124-010C for the term of 5 years commencing March 1, 2015 together with two (2) additional 5 year terms. 14 - REPORT - Sanitary Sewer and Water Time Extension Approval -1 Kennedy Avenue 14 – Receive the Report and approve the Request for Renewal of a time extension for Sanitary Sewer and Water at 1 Kennedy Avenue. 15 - REPORT - Sanitary Sewer time Extension - 55 Newtown Road 15 - Receive the Report and approve the Request for Renewal of a time extension for Sanitary Sewer and Water at 55 Newtown Rd. 16 - REPORT - Conveyance of Fire Hydrant - Danbury Hospital 16 – Receive the Report and approve the Conveyance of Fire Hydrant/Waterline Easement to the City of Danbury from Danbury Hospital subject to compliance with the specified terms of the City of Danbury Engineering Department and Corporation Counsel. 17 - REPORT - Sidewalk Easement - 5 Mt. View Terrace & 108 Newtown Rd. 17 - Receive the Report and approve the acceptance of Sidewalk Easements at 5 Mountainview Terrace & 108 Newtown Rd subject to compliance with the specified terms of the City of Danbury Engineering Department and Corporation Counsel. A motion was made by Jack Knapp and seconded by Duane Perkins to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, with the amendment by Councilman Cavo to include a Planning Report to Item 13. The motion carried unanimously. AGENDA ADDITION A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Arconti, to add Item 1A to the agenda - The appointment of the Assistant Fire Chief to the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 1 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Fire Chief A motion was made by Councilman Curran, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to receive the Communication and approve the promotion of Assistant Fire Chief Thomas J. Wiedel to the position of Fire Chief of the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 1A - COMMUNICATION - Fire Department Promotion A motion was made by Councilman Curran, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the Communication and approve the promotion Fire Training Officer Mark Omasta to the position of Assistant Fire Chief of the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Cultural Commission The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Sandy Rynd Chaleski as a member of the Cultural Commission with a term to expire February 1, 2017. 3 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Commission on Aging The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Riva Shoshana as an alternate member of the Commission on Aging with a term to expire October 1, 2017. 4 - COMMUNICATION - Request for use of City Land - Old Mallory Hat Factory Councilman Wetmore requested this item be sent to an Ad Hoc Committee with Corporation Counsel, a representative of the Mayor's Office, the Petitioner and a report from the Planning Commission. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the committee with the following Council Members Knapp as Chair, Fox, and Rotello. 5 - COMMUNICATION - Re-Appropriations & Budget Transfers The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and approve the re-appropriation of funds totaling $232,333.09 to the General Fund accounts and $102,473.25 to the Ambulance Fund accounts for the 2014-15 fiscal year as detailed by the Director of Finance. 6 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Permission - Disposal of Surplus Vehicles The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and approve the Disposal of Surplus Vehicles listed, as set forth by section 2-153 of the City Code of Ordinances. 7 - COMMUNICATION - Memorandum of Agreement The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the City of Danbury to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement regarding the use of Federal Fiscal Year 2014 State Homeland Security Grant Funding and Custodial Ownership of Regional Assets in DEMHS Region 5. 8 - COMMUNICATION - Conveyance of Road Widening Parcels and Drainage Easement Pondview Development, LLC - King Street Councilman Fox requested this item be sent to the City Engineer, Corporation Counsel, and the Planning Commission for reports. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the reports. 9 - RESOLUTION - FEMA - Assistance Ti Firefighters Grant This report was read and questions regarding types of equipment that can be purchased with the funding, and funding amounts and timing were answered.  A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing either Mayor Boughton or Fire Chief Wiedel to apply for and accept grant funding from FEMA. The motion carried unanimously. 10 - RESOLUTION - LOCIP - 2014 Application The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution allowing the City of Danbury to make application to the State of Connecticut LOCIP program to fund the City Hall Boiler Replacement Phase 2 project totaling $157,900.00. 11 - RESOLUTION - Acquisition of Farm & Beckerle Street Easements The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution renewing the Acquisition of Farm Street and Beckerle Street Easements as specified. 12 - RESOLUTION - Danbury-Brookfield Sewer Agreement Renewal Councilman Wetmore requested this item be sent to an Ad Hoc Committee with a representative of the Mayor's Office, Corporation Counsel, and the Superintendent of Public Utilities. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the committee with the following Council Members Wetmore as Chair, DiGilio, and Perkins. 13 - RESOLUTION - Still River Corridor Linear Park The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication (and Planning Report) and adopt the Resolution approving the lease agreement between the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation and the City of Danbury Still River Corridor File No. 034-124-010C for the term of 5 years commencing March 1, 2015 together with two (2) additional 5 year terms. 14 - REPORT - Sanitary Sewer and Water Time Extension Approval -1 Kennedy Avenue The Report was received and the actions authorized on the Consent Calendar. Receive the Report and approve the Request for Renewal of a time extension for Sanitary Sewer and Water at 1 Kennedy Avenue. 15 - REPORT - Sanitary Sewer time Extension - 55 Newtown Road The Report was received and the actions authorized on the Consent Calendar.  Receive the Report and approve the Request for Renewal of a time extension for Sanitary Sewer and Water at 55 Newtown Rd. 16 - REPORT - Conveyance of Fire Hydrant - Danbury Hospital The Report was received and the actions authorized on the Consent Calendar. Receive the Report and approve the Conveyance of Fire Hydrant/Waterline Easement to the City of Danbury from Danbury Hospital subject to compliance with the specified terms of the City of Danbury Engineering Department and Corporation Counsel. 17 - REPORT - Sidewalk Easement - 5 Mt. View Terrace & 108 Newtown Rd. The Report was received and the actions authorized on the Consent Calendar. Receive the Report and approve the acceptance of Sidewalk Easements at 5 Mountainview Terrace & 108 Newtown Rd subject to compliance with the specified terms of the City of Danbury Engineering Department and Corporation Counsel. 18 - AD HOC REPORT - Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Vets Councilman Seabury requested the item be referred the item to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 19 - AD HOC REPORT - HVCEO/SWRPA Councilman Seabury requested the item be referred the item to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 20 - AD HOC REPORT - Purchase of Property - 357 Main Street A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to waive the reading of the report as all members have copies and copies are on file in the legislative assistant's office for review. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Saadi followed up on Mr. Gucker's request that a walk-through be done. Mayor Boughton responded to Councilman Saadi's inquiry noting a public hearing is not required; however, due to the prominent nature of the property, there will be a public presentation regarding the park plans. A motion was made by Councilman DeGilio seconded by Councilman Rotello to accept the Ad Hoc report as presented and authorize the Mayor and Corporation Counsel to sign a contract for the purchase price of $125,000.00. The motion carried unanimously. 21- DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT. Elderly, Library  Councilman Rotello congratulated and thanked the Mayor for helping the State and non-profits resolve the War Memorial and the Y issues. Councilman Chianese noted a concern was brought to him regarding the lighting on four poles at Beaver Street Park. Mayor Boughton noted that area was cleaned up and that lighting will get fixed. Mayor Boughton thanked Police Chief Baker and the Deputy Chief for their work last year, noting major crime is down 15-16%. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to waive the reading of the reports as all members have copies and copies are on file in the legislative assistant's office for review, and accept the reports. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Councilman Rotello and seconded by Councilman Wetmore to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor extended all committees and the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor