City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING May 5, 2015 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Sean Hatch led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council Member DiGilio led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Michael Haddad, Sr., 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, Ben Chianese, Paul Rotello, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Marina Loyola. PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 Marina Loyola is ill. 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  Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue, Danbury, discussed Item 3. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of May. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held April 7, 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: 6. RESOLUTION- NRWIB - Youth Employment Funding Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury to apply for and accept funding from the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board. This funding request not to exceed $87,000.00, for the Danbury Youth Services, will be utilized to fund a youth employment program from 7-1-2015 through 8-21-2015. 7. RESOLUTION- Application to Community Investment Account Fund Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services to accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Housing for the Danbury Emergency Shelter. This will extend the current contract through June 30, 2016 for a total amount not to exceed approximately $120,000.00. No local match is required. 8. RESOLUTION- Grant Application for the United Way of Western Connecticut Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services to receive, review and process the proper paperwork and contracts as required by the Department of Homeland Security for funding totaling $1,200.00 for the Danbury Emergency Shelter. This funding will be dispersed through the United Way and is for the period March 1, 2014 through October 31, 2015. No local match is required. 9. REPORTS & RESOLUTION - Gas Easement - Elan Kennedy Flats - Kennedy Avenue Receive the Reports of the City Engineer, Corporation Counsel and the Planning Commission and approve the Gas Company Easement over City land located within Elan Kennedy Flats Development, Kennedy Avenue Parcel A1. This easement is subject to the completion of all necessary documentation in content and form acceptable to the Corporation Counsels Office. 11. REPORT & ORDINANCE-Governmental Entities, Code of Ordinance, Section 2-176 Receive the Report as presented at the April 20, 2015 Public Hearing and Adopt the Ordinance for Government Entities, Code of Ordinance Section 2-176. 13. REPORT & ORDINANCE-Renew Liquor Permit on Premise Consumption, Code of Ordinance, Section 11-8 Receive the Report as presented at the April 20, 2015 Public Hearing and Adopt the Ordinance for a Liquor Permit Renewal on Premises, Code of Ordinance Section 11-8. 14. REPORT & ORDINANCE - Board of Appeals - Additional Members, Code of Ordinance Section 18-33 Receive the Report as presented at the April 20, 2015 Public Hearing and Adopt the Ordinance for Board of Assessment Appeals, Additional Members, Code of Ordinance Section 18-33. A motion was made by Councilman Knapp and seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION - Promotion - Police Department A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Sergeant Michael R. Sturdevant, to the position of Police Lieutenant. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Collection Bargaining Agreement Extensions -City and Teamsters Local 677 A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilwoman Chieffalo, to receive the communication and authorize the funding as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - War Memorial and Connecticut Institute for Communities Agreement A motion was made by Councilman Knapp to refer to an Ad Hoc Committee with Corporation Counsel, the Director of Finance, the Director of Parks, the Chairman of the War Memorial Board, a representative of the Connecticut Institute for Communities, and refer to the Planning Commission and to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Knapp as Chair, DiGilio, and Visconti. 4. COMMUNICATION - Lease of Bear Mountain Reservation Cottage A motion was made by Councilman Priola, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to receive the communication with the correction that it is a License Agreement, and approve the License Agreement as submitted by Corporation Counsel's Office. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Boughton noted this item will be discussed further with the Conservation Commission. 5. COMMUNICATION - 2015 Neighborhood Assistance Act Councilman Cavo requested that Items 5. and 10. be taken together, no objections, so ordered. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Seabury, to receive the April 20, 2015 Committee of the Whole report, reauthorize the Resolution including the revised applicant list subject to a Public Hearing to be held by July 1, 2015. The motion carried unanimously. 6. RESOLUTION- NRWIB - Youth Employment Funding *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury to apply for and accept funding from the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board. This funding request not to exceed $87,000.00, for the Danbury Youth Services, will be utilized to fund a youth employment program from 7-1-2015 through 8-21-2015. 7. RESOLUTION- Application to Community Investment Account Fund *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services to accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Housing for the Danbury Emergency Shelter. This will extend the current contract through June 30, 2016 for a total amount not to exceed approximately $120,000.00. No local match is required. 8. RESOLUTION- Grant Application for the United Way of Western Connecticut *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services to receive, review and process the proper paperwork and contracts as required by the Department of Homeland Security for funding totaling $1,200.00 for the Danbury Emergency Shelter. This funding will be dispersed through the United Way and is for the period March 1, 2014 through October 31, 2015. No local match is required. 9. REPORTS & RESOLUTION - Gas Easement - Elan Kennedy Flats - Kennedy Avenue *CONSENTED - Receive the Reports of the City Engineer, Corporation Counsel and the Planning Commission and approve the Gas Company Easement over City land located within Elan Kennedy Flats Development, Kennedy Avenue Parcel A1. This easement is subject to the completion of all necessary documentation in content and form acceptable to the Corporation Counsels Office. 10. REPORT-2015 Neighborhood Assistance Act See Item 5. above. 11. REPORT & ORDINANCE-Governmental Entities, Code of Ordinance, Section 2-176 *CONSENTED - Receive the Report as presented at the April 20, 2015 Public Hearing and Adopt the Ordinance for Government Entities, Code of Ordinance Section 2-176. 12. REPORT & ORDINANCE-Off Leash Dog Park - Miry Brook Road, Code of Ordinance, Section 12-3 A motion was made by Councilman Nero, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to amend the motion below as follows: move 3. to item 4; move item 2. to item 3. and create a new item 2. to read, '2.a. Dog breeds where the homeowners are required to obtain a rider to their insurance or where homeowners cannot get insurance, those dogs will not be allowed in public parks except for the off-leash dog park.' Also, add 2.b., 'Those dogs (as noted above) are not allowed in public playgrounds.' The motion failed 1-19, Councilmembers Curran, Haddad, Knapp, Levy, Seabury, Chieffalo, Wetmore, Fox, Priola, DiGilio, Cavo, Saadi, Visconti, Palma, Arconti, Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, and Scozzafava dissenting. Councilman Cavo stated the above amendment would need to be vetted in Committee. He suggested that issue could be brought back in a letter to Council to be reviewed later. Councilman Saadi suggested a Vicious Dog Ordinance could be looked at in an Ad Hoc Committee meeting in future. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the report of the Dog Park Ordinance and adopt the changes as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 13. REPORT & ORDINANCE - Renew Liquor Permit on Premise Consumption, Code of Ordinance, Section 11-8 *CONSENTED - Receive the Report as presented at the April 20, 2015 Public Hearing and Adopt the Ordinance for a Liquor Permit Renewal on Premises, Code of Ordinance Section 11-8. 14. REPORT & ORDINANCE - Board of Appeals - Additional Members, Code of Ordinance Section 18-33 *CONSENTED - Receive the Report as presented at the April 20, 2015 Public Hearing and Adopt the Ordinance for Board of Assessment Appeals, Additional Members, Code of Ordinance Section 18-33. 15. REPORT & ORDINANCE - Tax Deferral Amendment, Code of Ordinance, Section 18-25 A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilman Fox, to receive the report and adopt the Ordinance amending Code of Ordinance Section 18-25 as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 16. REPORT - ORDINANCE & RESOLUTION-DHS 2020 Bond A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to waive the reading of the report. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Seabury, seconded by Councilman Fox, to receive the communication and adopt the Ordinance entitled an Ordinance appropriating $53.5 million for the planning, design, acquisition, and construction of additions, renovations, roof replacements, and improvements at Danbury High School; and authorizing the issuance of $53.5 million bonds of the City to meet said appropriations and pending the issuance thereof, the making of temporary borrowings for such purpose; together with the adoption of a Resolution providing for a special City meeting of Electors and Voters on June 9, 2015. Motion carried unanimously. 17. REPORT - ORDINANCE & RESOLUTION - An Ordinance Making Appropriations for the Fiscal Year, 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, seconded by Councilman Knapp, to receive the communication and adopt the Ordinance making appropriations for the Fiscal Year 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. Also to waive the reading of the Ad Hoc Committee reports regarding the budget. The motion carried 14-6, Councilmembers Saadi, Visconti, Nero, Perkins, Chianese, and Rotello dissenting. Several Councilmembers discussed their positions on the budget. A. General Government 1 Budget Report A motion was made by Councilman Seabury, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to adopt the Mayor's Budget Figure of $9,885,396 to cover the General Government Section. The motion carried 14-6, Councilmembers Saadi, Visconti, Nero, Perkins, Chianese, and Rotello dissenting. B. General Government II Budget Report A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilman Fox, to receive the General Government II Budget Report and adopt the Committee's recommendations as presented. The motion carried 17-3, Councilmembers Nero, Perkins, and Rotello dissenting. C. Education Budget Report A motion was made by Councilman Levy, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to adopt the Committee's total proposed Education Budget $124,208,575 for the Year 2015/16 budget. The motion carried 19-1, Councilmember Nero dissenting. D. Public Works Budget Report A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to accept the report of the Committee and approve the Mayor's budget for Public Works Budget as submitted. The motion carried 19- 1, Councilmember Nero dissenting. E. Health & Housing, Public Safety, Welfare & Social Services Budget Report A motion was made by Councilman Curran, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the report and adopt the Ordinance agreed to by the Ad Hoc Committee pertaining to Health & Housing, Public Safety, Welfare & Social Services. The motion carried 16-4, Councilmembers Saadi, Visconti, Nero, and Chianese dissenting. 18. REPORT & 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 Fox, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to accept the report and adopt the 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. The motion carried unanimously. 19. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT. Elderly 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. Mayor Boughton thanked Mr. St. Hilaire and Mr. Garrick and the staff for their work on the Budget. Councilman Saadi thanked Mr. Iadarola's Team for the quick work in filling potholes. Councilman Visconti thanked Chief Baker and his Team as well as Corporation Council in cleaning up Tarrywile area. Councilman Cavo thanked the Finance Team, Mr. Garrick, Department Heads, and Legislative Assistant Natale for the excellent work on the Budget. He also thanked Mr. Iadarola for Clean City of Danbury Day, and Mayor Boughton thanked the Councilmembers for volunteering for the event. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Councilwoman Chieffalo, seconded by Councilman Fox, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor extended all committees, and the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor