City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING November 6, 2014 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Fire Chief Wiedel led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman and Former Fire Chief 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, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, Christopher Arconti, Peter Nero, Duane Perkins, Benjamin Chianese, Paul Rotello, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: John Priola, Thomas Saadi, and Marina Loyola PRESENT: 18, ABSENT: 3 Councilman Priola has a work obligation; Councilman Saadi is at a family event; and Councilwoman Loyola is out on medical. ALSO PRESENT: Alan Baker, Police Chief; Dan Garrick, Assistant Finance Director; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance; Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works; Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; and Thomas J. Wiedel, Fire Chief. PUBLIC SPEAKING • Paul Valeri, 10 Hayestown Road, Unit 2, Non-Profit Development Corporation of Danbury President, noted in relation to item #4, their Board voted to donate $3,000 to the Emergency Shelter for a dedicated computer for home management information services. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of November. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held October 7, 2014 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading and accept the minutes of the October 7, 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 Lake Kenosia Commission 2. Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Mark Saumell as a member of the Lake Kenosia Commission with a term to expire May 1, 2017. 3. COMMUNICATION - Re-appointments to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities 3. Receive the Communication and approve the re-appointment of Rose Marie Boucilier, Joanne Laporta, William Lewis and John Neumuller as members of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities with terms to expire March 1, 2017. 5. COMMUNICATION - Certification - General Fund Capital Projects Re-Appropriations 5. Receive the Communication and approve the re-appropriation of funds totaling $265,884.28 to the General Fund accounts for the 2014-15 fiscal year for on-going General Fund Capitol Projects as detailed by David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance. 7. RESOLUTION - 2015 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program 7. 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 for the "FY 2015 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program". The program cost of $50,000.00 requires the State to be responsible for 75% or $37,500.00 and the City will be responsible for 25% or $12,500.00. These funds are available in the Police Department FY 14/15 budget. 8. RESOLUTION - LOCIP 2014 Applications 8. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolutions that will allow the City of Danbury to apply for funding through the State of Connecticut Local Capital Improvement Program to fund various projects. The City will make application for the following projects: Old Library HVAC - $85,000.00 and Tarrywile Carriage House Renovations - $25,000.00. 9. RESOLUTION - Change of the Scope for the VA Grant Per Diem Program 9. Receive the Communication from Scott LeRoy, Director of Health and Human Services and adopt the Resolution approving the request for the Change of Scope of the original 2008 "VA Homeless Grant Per Diem" program administered for our Emergency Homeless Shelter. 10. REPORTS - Conveyance of Road Widening Parcels and Drainage Easements (Pondview Development - King Street) 10. Receive the report from Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer and the Planning Commission, and approve the acceptance of Road Widening Parcels and Drainage Easements - King Street subject to the completion of all necessary documentation in a form acceptable to the Office of the Corporation Counsel. 12. AD HOC REPORT - Lease of Workshop - Farrington Farms 12. Receive the report of the Ad Hoc Committee and adopt their recommendation to take no action on the Lease of a Workshop at Farrington Farms. A motion was made by Councilman Knapp and was seconded, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION - Promotion Fire Department A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Knapp, to receive the Communication and approve the promotion of Firefighter Shawn McGee to the position of Fire Lieutenant of the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Lake Kenosia Commission The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Mark Saumell as a member of the Lake Kenosia Commission with a term to expire May 1, 2017. 3. COMMUNICATION - Re-appointments to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and approve the re-appointment of Rose Marie Boucilier, Joanne Laporta, William Lewis and John Neumuller as members of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities with terms to expire March 1, 2017. 4. COMMUNICATION - Donation to City’s Emergency Shelter A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley and seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the Communication and accept the very charitable donation of a computer laptop and software and printer by the Non-Profit Development Corporation of Danbury for the value of approximately $3,000 and send a letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - Certification - General Fund Capital Projects Re-Appropriations The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved.  Receive the Communication and approve the re-appropriation of funds totaling $265,884.28 to the General Fund accounts for the 2014-15 fiscal year for on-going General Fund Capitol Projects as detailed by David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance. 6. COMMUNICATION - Request to Purchase Land - Rose Street Councilman Wetmore requested this item be sent to an Ad Hoc Committee with Corporation Counsel, the petitioner, and a report from the Planning Department. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the committee with the following Council Members Knapp as Chair, Fox, and Rotello. 7. RESOLUTION - 2015 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. 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 for the "FY 2015 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program". The program cost of $50,000.00 requires the State to be responsible for 75% or $37,500.00 and the City will be responsible for 25% or $12,500.00. These funds are available in the Police Department FY 14/15 budget. 8. RESOLUTION - LOCIP 2014 Applications The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolutions that will allow the City of Danbury to apply for funding through the State of Connecticut Local Capital Improvement Program to fund various projects. The City will make application for the following projects: Old Library HVAC - $85,000.00 and Tarrywile Carriage House Renovations - $25,000.00. 9. RESOLUTION - Change of the Scope for the VA Grant Per Diem Program The Communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved. Receive the Communication from Scott LeRoy, Director of Health and Human Services and adopt the Resolution approving the request for the Change of Scope of the original 2008 "VA Homeless Grant Per Diem" program administered for our Emergency Homeless Shelter. 10. REPORTS - Conveyance of Road Widening Parcels and Drainage Easements (Pondview Development - King Street) The Report was received and the actions authorized on the Consent Calendar. Receive the report from Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer and the Planning Commission, and approve the acceptance of Road Widening Parcels and Drainage Easements - King Street subject to the completion of all necessary documentation in a form acceptable to the Office of the Corporation Counsel. 11. AD HOC REPORT - Lease of Café - Innovation Center A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, 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. Mayor Boughton noted if successful, the applicant may be asked to consider bidding on the snack bar at the train station. A motion was made by Councilman Arconti seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to accept the Ad Hoc report to accept the licensing agreement for the Café - Library Innovation Center to Ray Mackie's Café and Caterers according to the lease agreement as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 12. AD HOC REPORT - Lease of Workshop - Farrington Farms The Report was received and the actions authorized on the Consent Calendar. Receive the report of the Ad Hoc Committee and adopt their recommendation to take no action on the Lease of a Workshop at Farrington Farms. 13. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT. Elderly, Library A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and seconded by Councilman Perkins, 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. The motion carried unanimously. Councilwoman Stanley inquired regarding collecting the debt from the Whalers. Mr. St. Hilaire responded that several payments have been received; Mayor Boughton noted they are now up to date. Councilman Rotello inquired regarding salt purchase. Mr. Iadarola noted there is a stockpile of 75% of needed salt to carry through winter, along with several more purchases to be made. Councilman Chianese inquired regarding the September Police calls for service. Mr. Baker noted the new computer system counts differently that the old system, so those types of numbers will remain. Mayor Boughton reported that Chief Shanahan is retiring after 27 years of service and the position is in the process of posting. 14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Ratification of Recent Tax Appeal Settlement A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to move into Executive Session. Motion carried unanimously. The City Council entered Executive Session, then reconvened as noted below.  A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to re-enter regular session. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and seconded by Councilman Seabury, to receive the communication from Corporation Counsel and approve the authorization for them to settle the terms with Ethan Allen as discussed during Executive Session. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Councilman Scozzafava and seconded by Councilman Nero, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor extended all committees and the meeting adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor