City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 6, 2015 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Student Amanda Muir led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Vinny 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, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, Christopher Arconti, Peter Nero, Benjamin Chianese, Paul Rotello, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Colleen Stanley, John Priola, Duane Perkins, and Marina Loyola PRESENT: 17, ABSENT: 4 Colleen Stanley and Marina Loyola were not present due to illness. John Priola and Duane Perkins were out on business. ALSO PRESENT: Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance; Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING • Ken Gucker, 89 Padanaram Road, thanked the Mayor and Council for allowing viewing of the 357 Main Street property. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of January. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meetings held December 2, 2014 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Seabury, to waive the reading and accept the minutes of the December 2, 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: 4. COMMUNICATION Appointment to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Cheryl Conley as an alternate member of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities with a term to expire March 1, 2018. 5. COMMUNICATION Appointment to the Richter Park Authority Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Donald LoRusso as a member of the Richter Park Authority with a term to expire February 1, 2018. 6. COMMUNICATION Appointments to the Planning Commission Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Robert Chiocchio and Leah Turner as members of the Planning Commission with terms to expire January 1, 2018. 7. COMMUNICATION Appointment to the Commission on Aging Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Angela Hylenski as an alternate member of the Commission on Aging with a term to expire June 1, 2018. 11. RESOLUTION Emergency Homeless Shelter Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his Designee Scott Leroy, Director of Health and Human Services to apply for and accept funding totaling $6,000.00 from the State of Connecticut Department of Housing for the homeless programs during the winter months beginning December 15, 2014 through March 15, 2015. No local match is required. 12. RESOLUTION Airport Rehabilitation Update Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his Designee Paul D. Estefan, Airport Administrator to apply for and accept additional funding from the Federal Aviation Commission and the State of Connecticut for upgrades and repairs to the Air Traffic Control Tower, Hazard and Rotating Beacons. The FAA share is $16,167.00, the State of Connecticut share is $1,348.00 and the City Share is $454.00. A motion was made by Councilman Knapp and seconded by Councilman Chianese, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION Appointment and Promotion - Police Department A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to approve the appointment and promotion of Police Officer Mark Wochek to Police Sergeant. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION Appointments to the Police Department A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to approve the appointment and promotion of Detective Police Officer Ethan Mable to Police Sergeant. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Seabury, to confirm the appointment of Mr. Paul Tibbits, U.S. Army Veteran, to Danbury Police Officer. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Curran, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Mr. Steven Hildebrand to Danbury Police Officer. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Seabury, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to accept the recommendation of Mayor Boughton to confirm the appointment of Mr. Michael Russotti to Danbury Police Officer. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, seconded by Councilman Fox, to receive the communication confirming the appointment of Mr. David Daniel to Danbury Police Officer. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION Appointment and Promotion - Fire Department A motion was made by Councilman Levy, seconded by Councilman Haddad, to confirm the appointment and promotion of Firefighter Johnathan DeJoseph to Fire Inspector/Deputy Fire Marshal. The motion carried unanimously. 4. *COMMUNICATION Appointment to the Commission on Persons with Disabilities *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Cheryl Conley as an alternate member of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities with a term to expire March 1, 2018. 5. *COMMUNICATION Appointment to the Richter Park Authority *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Donald LoRusso as a member of the Richter Park Authority with a term to expire February 1, 2018. 6. *COMMUNICATION Appointments to the Planning Commission *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Robert Chiocchio and Leah Turner as members of the Planning Commission with terms to expire January 1, 2018. 7. *COMMUNICATION Appointment to the Commission on Aging *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Angela Hylenski as an alternate member of the Commission on Aging with a term to expire June 1, 2018. 8. COMMUNICATION Certification of Funds - Ambulance Fund A motion was made by Councilman Haddad, seconded by Councilman Curran, to receive the communication and approve the request from the Director of Finance transferring funds to the Fire and Police Department from the Ambulance Fund totaling $120,000. The motion carried unanimously. 9. COMMUNICATION Donation to Danbury Food Collaborative - Praxair A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and accept the donation. The motion carried unanimously. 10. COMMUNICATION Renewal of Sewer and Water Extension - 15 Bates Place A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, to receive the communication and refer to the City Engineer and Planning for reports. No objections, so ordered. 11. *RESOLUTION Emergency Homeless Shelter *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his Designee Scott Leroy, Director of Health and Human Services to apply for and accept funding totaling $6,000.00 from the State of Connecticut Department of Housing for the homeless programs during the winter months beginning December 15, 2014 through March 15, 2015. No local match is required. 12. *RESOLUTION Airport Rehabilitation Update *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his Designee Paul D. Estefan, Airport Administrator to apply for and accept additional funding from the Federal Aviation Commission and the State of Connecticut for upgrades and repairs to the Air Traffic Control Tower, Hazard and Rotating Beacons. The FAA share is $16,167.00, the State of Connecticut share is $1,348.00 and the City Share is $454.00. 13. AD HOC REPORT Hatter’s Dale Condo Contract  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. Councilman Rotello thanked City Affordable Housing Administrator Mark Nolan for the presentation at the Ad Hoc Committee and the petitioner for their work toward a more affordable price. He noted the Ordinance may return regarding low income targets with input from the State. Councilman Saadi also thanked the petitioner for the flexibility in the proposal and suggested staff and the Council follow-up on vetting density bonus issues. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the report of the Ad Hoc Committee and adopt its recommendation approve the Affordable Housing Contract between the City of Danbury and Senuna Realty, LLC. The motion carried unanimously. 14. DEPARTMENT REPORTS-Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT. Elderly, Library, Conservation Commission, Board of Ethics A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and seconded by Councilman Knapp, to waive the reading of the Department Reports as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office for review. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Visconti thanked Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works for his work on Starrs Plain Road. Councilman Saadi thanked the Police, Fire, EMTs, Public Safety Employees, and First Responders for their work. Mayor Boughton thanked Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works and Nick Kaplanis, Director of Recreation and their teams for their work on the ice skating rink in Rogers Park. 15. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Councilman Nero seconded by Councilman Levy, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor extended all committees, noting a sunset list will come forward in February, and the meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor