City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 7, 2015 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Eileen Alberts led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL - COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Jack Knapp, Warren Levy, Gregg Seabury, Christina Chieffalo, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, John Priola, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, Christopher Arconti, Peter Nero, Duane Perkins, Paul Rotello, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Michael Haddad, Sr., Marina Loyola, and Ben Chianese. PRESENT: 18, ABSENT: 3 Michael Haddad; Marina Loyola is ill; Ben Chianese may arrive late. Note for the record, Councilman Chianese arrived at 7:35 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Robert Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING  Joe Walkovich, 208 Southern Boulevard, Danbury, Democratic Town Committee Chair, recommended Joan Bielizna for Town Clerk, Item 9. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of April. BUDGET ADDRESS Mayor Boughton provided the City of Danbury proposed 2015-2016 Budget to the City Council and residents. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held March 3, 2015 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading and accept the minutes of the March 3, 2015 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: 11. RESOLUTION - Additions and Alterations with Safety Improvement - DHS Complex Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the City of Danbury Board of Education to file a grant application with related documents to the State Department of Administrative Services for reimbursement funding for additions and alterations with safety improvements at Danbury High School Complex Project 12. RESOLUTION - LOCIP 2015 Applications Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the City of Danbury to apply for and accept funding through the State of Connecticut Office of Policy Management Local Capital Improvement Program for the amount of $150,000 for repairs and rehabilitation of local bridges within the City 13. RESOLUTION - WCCOG’s Regional GIS Program Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the City of Danbury to participate in the Western Connecticut Council of Governments Regional GIS Program 17. REPORTS - Sidewalk and Sight Line Easement - 31-33 Newtown Road Receive the reports of the Corporation Counsel, City Engineer, and Planning Commission and approve the sidewalk and sight line easements at 31-33 Newtown Road subject to the completion of all necessary documentations in a form acceptable to Corporation Counsel’s Office A motion was made by Councilman Knapp and seconded by Councilman Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. ORDINANCE & RESOLUTION - An Ordinance Making Appropriations for the Fiscal Beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2016 and a Resolution Levying the Property Tax for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2016 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo to refer to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Public Hearing. 2. ORDINANCE - An Ordinance Appropriating $3,000,000 for Public Improvements in The 2015-2016 Capital Budget and Authorizing the Issuance of $3,000,000 Bonds of the City to Meet Said Appropriations And Pending The Issuance Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose A motion was made by Councilman Knapp to refer to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Public Hearing. 3. RESOLUTION - Downtown Special Services District - Tax Levy A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to table to the May meeting. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment - Deputy Police Chief A motion was made by Councilman Curran, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and approve the promotion of Lt. Sean McColgan to the position of Deputy Chief of the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - Promotions - Police Department - Sergeant A motion was made by Councilman Priola, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Officer Steven Castrovinci, an accomplished member of the Police Department, to the position of Police Sergeant. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to receive the communication and approve the confirmation, appointment, and promotion of Police Officer Matthew Georgoulis to the position of Police Sergeant. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Seabury, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to confirm the appointment and promotion of Police Officer Matthew Casazza to the position of Police Sergeant. The motion carried unanimously. 6. COMMUNICATION - Promotion - Police Department - Detective A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, seconded by Councilman Palma, to confirming the appointment and promotion of Police Officer Thomas Collins to the position of Police Detective. The motion carried unanimously. 7. COMMUNICATION - Appointments to the Police Department A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to confirm the appointments of Andrew Whitlock, Jonathan Grande, and John Giafone to the position of Danbury Police Officers. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Fox, to confirm the appointments of Christopher Dennis, Christopher Davis, and Kendra Valentin to the position of Danbury Police Officers. The motion carried unanimously. 8. COMMUNICATION - Appointment - Drillmaster A motion was made by Councilman Levy, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to confirm the appointment and promotion of Steven Rogers to the position of Drillmaster. The motion carried unanimously. 9. COMMUNICATION - Appointment - Town Clerk A motion was made by Councilman Scozzafava, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to confirm the appointment of Joan Bielizna to the position of Town Clerk. The motion carried unanimously. Joan Bielizna was sworn in as Town Clerk. 10. COMMUNICATION - Utility Easement - Elan Kennedy Flats, LLC A motion was made by Councilman Fox, to receive the communication, and refer this item to the City Engineer, Corporation Counsel, and Planning for reports. Hearing no objection, Mayor Boughton ordered the referral. 11. RESOLUTION - Additions and Alterations with Safety Improvement - DHS Complex *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the City of Danbury Board of Education to file a grant application with related documents to the State Department of Administrative Services for reimbursement funding for additions and alterations with safety improvements at Danbury High School Complex Project 12. RESOLUTION - LOCIP 2015 Applications *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the City of Danbury to apply for and accept funding through the State of Connecticut Office of Policy Management Local Capital Improvement Program for the amount of $150,000 for repairs and rehabilitation of local bridges within the City 13. RESOLUTION - WCCOG’s Regional GIS Program *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the City of Danbury to participate in the Western Connecticut Council of Governments Regional GIS Program 14. RESOLUTION - 2015 Neighborhood Assistance Act A motion was made by Councilman Arconti to refer for a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections Mayor Boughton ordered the Public Hearing. 15. RESOLUTION - FAA Airport Grant - Snow Removal Vehicles and Runway End Identifier Lamps A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Paul Estefan, Airport Administrator, as his designee, to apply for and receive grant funding from the Federal Aviation Administration and the State of Connecticut Airport Authority toward the purchase of Snow Removal Vehicles and Runway End Identifier Lamps. The motion carried unanimously. 16. REPORT - Dog Park - Miry Brook Road A motion was made by Councilwoman Chieffalo to refer for a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections Mayor Boughton ordered the Public Hearing. 17. REPORTS - Sidewalk and Sight Line Easement - 31-33 Newtown Road *CONSENTED - Receive the reports of the Corporation Counsel, City Engineer, and Planning Commission and approve the sidewalk and sight line easements at 31-33 Newtown Road subject to the completion of all necessary documentations in a form acceptable to Corporation Counsel's Office 18. AD HOC REPORT - DHS 2020 Bond A motion was made by Councilman Fox to receive the report and refer to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Public Hearing the same night as the budget. 19. AD HOC REPORT & ORDINANCE - Renew Liquor Permit on Premise Consumption Section 11-8 A motion was made by Councilman Curran to receive the report and refer to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Public Hearing. 20. AD HOC REPORT & ORDINANCE - Tax Deferral Amendment, Section 18-25 A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore to receive the report and refer to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Public Hearing. 21. AD HOC REPORT & ORDINANCE - Board of Appeals - Additional Members, Section 18-33 A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore to receive the report and refer to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Public Hearing. 22. ORDINANCE - Government Entities, Section 2-176 A motion was made by Councilman Priola to receive the report and refer to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Public Hearing. 23. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Permit, Unit, Elderly Services, Library A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Perkins, 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. Motion carried unanimously. In response to Councilman Seabury's inquiry, Police Chief Baker will get back to him with what types of motorized vehicles require licenses. Councilman Scozzafava inquired regarding the filling of potholes; Director of Public Works Iadarola responded. Councilman Cavo thanked Neighborhood Coordinator Stillman for his work on signage. Mayor Boughton noted Budget Committees shall be as follows: General Government 1 - Seabury/Chair, Cavo, Wetmore, Saadi, Perkins General Government 2 - Wetmore/Chair, Arconti, Cavo, Palma, and Nero Public Works - Knapp/Chair, Curran, Fox, DiGilio, and Chianese Health, Housing, and Public Safety - Curran/Chair, Knapp, Chiefallo, Priola, and Rotello Education - Warren Levy/Chair, Haddad, Scozzafava, Seabury, and Visconti Mayor Boughton directed the following Committees be sunsetted: Old Ridgebury Road, Amendment to Ordinances Conveyance, Recreational Facilities, Sale of Land for Rockwood Lane, Aviation Lease, Purchase of Land for Rockwood Lane, Use of Public Grounds, Solar Energy, DRX Holdings, Wallingford Road Deed Restrictions, Board of Education Collective Bargaining Contract, Change of Ordinance for Commission on Aging, Use of City Land 2-4 Germantown Road, Cell Tower, Pension Obligation Bonds, and Purchase of Land Rose Street. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman DeGilio, to enter Executive Session for the purposes of discussing tax appeal settlements. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Boughton stated the Council has returned from Executive Session. 24. COMMUNICATION - Ratification of Recent Tax Appeal Settlement A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Knapp, to receive the communication from Corporation Counsel's Office regarding the two parcels as discussed in Executive Session, and recommend that they proceed with the final settlement as discussed with the Council in Executive Session. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Councilman Seabury seconded by Councilman Levy, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor extended all committees, and the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor