City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 1, 2015 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Chief Wiedl led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman 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, Nancy Cammisa, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None. PRESENT: 21, ABSENT: 0 ALSO PRESENT: Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance; TJ Wiedl, Fire Chief, Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works; Shawn Stillman, Neighborhood Coordinator; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING - None ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of September. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held August 4, 2015 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading and accept the minutes of the August 4, 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: 7. RESOLUTION - DPH Grant – Lead Poisoning Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services to apply for and accept grant funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health for a Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. This funding not-to-exceed $28,068 covering the time period of 7/1/2015 through 6/30/2016. No local match is required. 8. RESOLUTION - Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services to apply for and accept two years of grant funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health for Public Health Emergency Preparedness funding not-to- exceed $121,716 covering the time period of 7/1/2015 through 6/30/2017. No local match is required. 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 - Promotions – Fire Department A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilman Seabury, to receive the Communication and confirm the appointment of Fire Lieutenant Tyler Bergemann to the position of Fire Inspector/Deputy Fire Marshal. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the Communication and confirm the appointment of Fire Lieutenant Eric Handau to the position of Fire Inspector/Deputy Fire Marshal. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Neighborhood Preservation Zone- Code of Ordinance 12-14.1 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo to receive the Communication and refer to an Ad Hoc consisting of Corporation Counsel, the Police Chief, a representative from the Mayor's Office, and a representative from the Unit. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Arconti as Chair, Cavo, and Visconti. 3. COMMUNICATION - Richter Park Authority- Debt Refinancing Proposal A motion was made by Councilman Curran to receive the Communication and refer to an Ad Hoc consisting of Corporation Counsel, the Director of Finance, and a representative from the Richter Authority. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Curran Chair, DiGilio, and Chianese. 4. COMMUNICATION - Praxair, Inc – Deferral of Assessment Increase - 10 Riverview Drive A motion was made by Councilwoman Chieffalo to receive the Communication and refer to an Ad Hoc consisting of Corporation Counsel, the Director of Planning, the Director of Finance, the Director of Economic Development, and a representative from Praxair, with a report from Planning. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Cavo as Chair, Seabury, Knapp, Saadi, and Visconti. 5. COMMUNICATION - Conveyance of Sanitary Sewer Easement – 109 North Street A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore to refer the item to Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer, and Planning for reports. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 6. COMMUNICATION - Drainage Easement – 85-93 Elm Street – Trinity Christian Tabernacle A motion was made by Councilman Arconti to receive the Communication and refer the item to Corporation Counsel, the City Engineer, and Planning Department for reports. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 7. RESOLUTION - DPH Grant – Lead Poisoning *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services to apply for and accept grant funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health for a Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. This funding not-to-exceed $28,068 covering the time period of 7/1/2015 through 6/30/2016. No local match is required. 8. RESOLUTION - Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution that will allow the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services to apply for and accept two years of grant funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health for Public Health Emergency Preparedness funding not-to-exceed $121,716 covering the time period of 7/1/2015 through 6/30/2017. No local match is required. 9. AD HOC REPORT - LOCIP Application – Tarrywile Park Councilman Rotello commented on the reduced price of oil in relation to the payback period and the potential for the possibility of future conversion incentives. He indicated the Tarrywile Chair indicated no urgency for the conversion, but that the Camp Building is not in good condition and an Engineer has not studied it yet. If day camp is ever re-established, that building could become more important and the roof should be stabilized. Councilman Knapp commented on the condition of the Camp Building and the Tarrywile Park Authority's wishes and opinions. Councilman Cavo commented that the repair cost of the Camp Building is not known, could exceed the amount suggested in the amendment below, and should be looked at separately. Public Works Director Antonio Iadarola commented on, and suggested the Council move ahead with the boiler project in response to Councilman Nero's questions. He noted staff will look at the roof issue if directed. Mayor Boughton suggested that be on staff's list of things to do. Mr. Iadarola responded to Councilman Perkins' inquiries regarding building efficiencies and relative ages of, and maintenance of, the boilers. Councilman Perkins noted the original intent of the funds for the roof, the need to protect aging buildings, and if new boilers are needed, a new grant should be sought. Councilman Saadi commented on wants vs. needs, received clarification regarding the application, timing issues, gas line specs, and backup boilers. Mayor Boughton responded to Councilman Nero's inquiries regarding whether the agency applied for LOCIP funding for the roof. It was noted Councilman DiGilio had to leave due to a family emergency. A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, seconded by Councilman Perkins, that the motion below be amended to sequester $20,000 to repair the roof (remove the tarps and stabilize the building) and forward the additional $70,000 which would be taken partially from the Red Building (the Environmental Building) and the balance would be an additional $30,000 which would have gone toward renovation of the Camp Building, and put that towards the conversion of at least two of the three oldest boilers at Tarrywile. The motion failed 6-14, Councilmembers Curran, Haddad, Knapp, Levy, Seabury, Chieffalo, Wetmore, Fox, Priola, Cavo, Palma, Arconti, Cammisa and Scozzafava dissenting; DiGilio not present. A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the Ad Hoc report and authorize the expenditure of $90,000 of LOCIP funds for the use of the conversion of oil to gas at Tarrywile Park. The motion passed 14-6, Saadi, Visconti, Nero, Perkins, Chianese, Rotello dissenting; DiGilio not present. 10. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT. Elderly, Statement of Condition –Fire Dept A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Seabury, 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. Councilman Visconti discussed deliveries to the building in the Long Ridge Area that is supposed to be used for children's' books storage. Staff will investigate and report back. Councilman Rotello inquired regarding a small fire at Hearthstone. Chief Wiedl stated the cause is not know at this time. Mayor Boughton commented on crime statistics noting more accurate numbers will be available via NextGen. Councilman Palma inquired regarding Indian Head Road condition. Public Works Director Iadarola responded and while he stated that staff will investigate, Mayor Boughton noted it is on the list, but arterial and connector roads were first in line and that there were six phases of paving. Councilman Levy inquired regarding the annual Fire Equipment Report. Fire Chief Wiedl expanded on the report. Councilman Fox commented on notice of violations for unretrieved A & P carts, whether there was a cost to the City and getting disposal costs back. Neighborhood Coordinator Shawn Stillman responded to Council questions on the issue. Councilman Priola requested an update on the Millridge Field; Mayor Boughton responded and discussed the recent smooth opening of Danbury schools. Adjournment There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Councilman Rotello, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor extended all committees, and the meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor