City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING November 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 Tax Collector Scott Ferguson 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, 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: Christina Chieffalo. PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 Christina Chieffalo is out on business. ALSO PRESENT: Bob Yamin, Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance; Alan Baker, Police Chief; and David Day, Public Utilities Superintendent. PUBLIC SPEAKING  Margaret Mitchell, 2 Park Place, thanked candidates and Mr. Haddad and Mr. Nero for their service.  Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue, discussed Item 11., expressed concern with the status of the Senior Housing on Main Street, and thanked those who have listened to her, notably Mr. Haddad and Mr. Nero. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of November. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held October 6, 2015 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading and accept the minutes of the October 6, 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: 3. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds, Danbury Housing Partnership Receive the Communication and approve the requested use of funds for the “Danbury Housing Partnership Budget” totaling $12,932.00 as certified by David W. St. Hilaire, Director of Finance. 8. RESOLUTION - 2016 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution allowing the City of Danbury Police Department to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation for the “FY 2016 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program." 9. RESOLUTION - 2015 Homeland Security Grant Program Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his designee Paul D. Estefan Director of Emergency Management to submit the proper documentation for funding from the “2015 State Homeland Security Grant Program” within Region 5 for training monies and equipment. 10. REPORTS - Conveyance of Parcel-95 Great Plain Road Receive the Reports from Corporation Counsel, The City Engineer and the Planning Commission and accept the parcel of land as approved by the Planning Commission for 95 Great Plain LLC, SUB # 76-21. The acceptance of this parcel is subject to the completion of all maps and documents satisfactory to the Office of Corporation Counsel and the City Engineer. 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 - Extension of Collective Bargaining Agreement City and Police Union, Hat City Local, CACP (Police Union) A motion was made by Councilman Curran, seconded by Councilman Haddad, to accept the communication and agree to the Extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Danbury and the Danbury Police Union, with the Agreement to extend from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2017. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Increased Seal Bid Threshold, Code of Ordinance, Sec 2-146 & 2-147 A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc consisting of Corporation Counsel, the Director of Finance, and Office of Project Excellence. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Arconti as Chair, Priola, and Chianese. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds, Danbury Housing Partnership *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and approve the requested use of funds for the “Danbury Housing Partnership Budget” totaling $12,932.00 as certified by David W. St. Hilaire, Director of Finance. 4. COMMUNICATION - Deferral of Assessment Increase, Maplewood Healthcare - 2 Riverview Dr. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc consisting of representatives from Planning and Corporation Counsel. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Fox as Chair, Cavo, and Visconti. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - Donation to Fire Department-U.S. Granite, Inc. A motion was made by Councilman Haddad, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to receive the communication and accept the generous donation of a granite countertop from U.S. Granite, Inc. to help with the renovations at Fire Station 23. The motion carried unanimously. 6. COMMUNICATION - Renewal of Sewer Extension-Great Plain Rd. and Great Meadow Rd. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to refer to the Planning Commission and City Engineer for a report. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. The motion carried unanimously. 7. COMMUNICATION - Renewal of Sewer Extension-14 Starr Rd.-PMB Realty A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, to refer to the Planning Commission and City Engineer for a report. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. The motion carried unanimously. 8. RESOLUTION - 2016 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution allowing the City of Danbury Police Department to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation for the “FY 2016 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program." 9. RESOLUTION - 2015 Homeland Security Grant Program *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his designee Paul D. Estefan Director of Emergency Management to submit the proper documentation for funding from the “2015 State Homeland Security Grant Program” within Region 5 for training monies and equipment. 10. REPORTS - Conveyance of Parcel-95 Great Plain Road *CONSENTED - Receive the Reports from Corporation Counsel, The City Engineer and the Planning Commission and accept the parcel of land as approved by the Planning Commission for 95 Great Plain LLC, SUB # 76-21. The acceptance of this parcel is subject to the completion of all maps and documents satisfactory to the Office of Corporation Counsel and the City Engineer. 11. REPORT - War Memorial/Conn. Institute of Communities (COW ) A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to waive the reading of the Minutes for this Ad Hoc Committee as all members have copies and copies are on file (in the Legislative Assistant's Office for review). Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Seabury, to table. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Boughton noted there will be a financial breakdown and the fence will be staked out. 12. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT. Elderly, 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. Councilman Rotello reported earlier today, the Federal Government declared 8 Counties in Connecticut disaster areas due to the drought, noting agricultural losses. In response, Day reported regarding the reservoir levels which are approximately 1% below normal. Councilman Saadi inquired regarding statistics in the 2015 reports with new IT and platforms which changes several numbers in the Police Report. Police Chief Baker commented on the increase in calls for service numbers due to the new computer platform and the new call service - police activity has not increased a great deal. The Part 1 Crimes in the Uniform Crime Report are a better indicator of activity. Grants reflected in enforcement levels were also noted. Councilman Nero thanked Police Chief Baker for the way his staff has responded to noise on Copt Hill and parking on Sheridan Street. Councilman Perkins inquired regarding a training program to assist discerning what constitutes a call for service. Chief Baker indicated that is just the way the new program works - assigning a number to calls. Note further discussion unavailable due to technical difficulties. 13. REPORT - Richter Park - Debt Refinancing Proposal A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio and seconded by Councilman Cavo to accept the committee report and authorize the Mayor and Corporation Counsel to execute all necessary documents for the refinancing for Richter Park. Motion carried unanimously. 14. COMMUNICATION - Communication-Capital Purchase: New Holiday Decorations for Downtown A motion was made by Mike Haddad and seconded by Fred Visconti to authorize the Director of Finance to use 65,000 from the contingency to fund holiday lights for downtown. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, the Mayor adjourned the meeting and extended all committees. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor