City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 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 Bob Yamin led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Christina Chieffalo, Philip Curran, Mike Esposito, Jack Knapp, Warren Levy, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, John Priola, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, Christopher Arconti, John Esposito, Duane Perkins, Ben Chianese, Paul Rotello, Nancy Cammisa, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Gregg Seabury. PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 Gregg Seabury is visiting his grandchild in Alaska. ALSO PRESENT: Bob Yamin, Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING  Brigid Guertin, Danbury Museum and Historical Society Executive Director, thanked the Council for supporting Item 6. Hat City Monument.  Ken Gucker, Padanaram Road, Danbury, thanked the City for paving Padanaram Road and asked that drainage be looked into. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of December. MINUTES-Minutes of the Council Meeting held November 5,2015 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading and accept the minutes of the November 5, 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 DiGilio read the Consent Calendar as follows: 2. COMMUNICATION-Appointments to the Environmental Impact Commission Receive the Communication and confirm the appointments of Robert A. Azud and Robert G. Oravetz to serve as members of the Environmental Impact Commission with a term expire December 1, 2017. 3. COMMUNICATION-Appointment to the Still River Alliance Receive the Communication and confirm the appointment of Joseph G. Zipparo to the Still River Alliance with a term to expire November 1, 2018. 4. COMMUNICATION-Appointments to Governmental Entities Review Receive the Communication and confirm the appointments of Councilmembers Philip Curran, Christina Chieffalo, and Paul Rotello and the reappointments of Alan T. Boyce and Mark S. Choury to serve on the Governmental Entities Review Committee in accordance with Section 2-176 of the Code of Ordinances. 10. REPORTS- Sanitary Sewer Extension-14 Starr Road Receive the Report from the City Engineer, Corporation Counsel, and the Planning Commission and approve the request for a time extension related to the Sanitary Sewer Extension at 14 Starr Road. 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 of Director of Planning A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Sharon Calitro to the position of Director of Planning. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION-Appointments to the Environmental Impact Commission *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and confirm the appointments of Robert A. Azud and Robert G. Oravetz to serve as members of the Environmental Impact Commission with a term expire December 1, 2017. 3. COMMUNICATION-Appointment to the Still River Alliance *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and confirm the appointment of Joseph G. Zabbara to the Still River Alliance with a term to expire November 1, 2018. 4. COMMUNICATION-Appointments to Governmental Entities Review *CONSENTED - Receive the Communication and confirm the appointments of Councilmembers Philip Curran, Christina Chieffalo, and Paul Rotello and the reappointments of Alan T. Boyce and Mark S. Quarry to serve on the Governmental Entities Review Committee in accordance with Section 2-176 of the Code of Ordinances. 5. COMMUNICATION-License - Friends of Danbury Library-13-15 Main Street A motion was made by Councilman Fox to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc consisting of Corporation Counsel, the Director of the Library, a Representative from the Friends of the Danbury Library, and a Representative from the Mayor's Office as well as the Director of Planning. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Fox as Chair, Chieffalo, and Rotello. 6. COMMUNICATION-Hat City Monument A motion was made by Councilman Scozzafava to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc consisting of Corporation Counsel, a Representative from the Mayor's Office, and the petitioners. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Scozzafava as Chair, Cammisa, and Chianese. 7. COMMUNICATION-Request for Sewer 78-84 Newtown Road and 86-92 Newtown Rd. A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore to refer the item to the City Engineer and Planning for reports. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 8. COMMUNICATION-Request for Water - 8 Ivy Lane A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio to refer the item to the City Engineer and Planning Commission for reports. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 9. REPORTS - Sanitary Sewer Time Extension-Gr. Plain and Gr. Meadow Councilman Cavo noted for the record that the Planning Commission gave a positive recommendation subject to the restriction that the extension serve only 63 dwelling units. A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the reports from the City Engineer, Corporation Counsel, and the Planning Commission and approve the request for a time extension related to the Sanitary Sewer extension at Great Plain Road and Great Meadow Road as per the application of Albert J. Salem. The motion carried 19-1, Councilmember Wetmore dissenting. 10. REPORTS- sanitary Sewer Extension-14 Starr Road *CONSENTED - Receive the Report from the City Engineer, Corporation Counsel, and the Planning Commission and approve the request for a time extension related to the Sanitary Sewer Extension at 14 Starr Road. 11. AD-HOC REPORT - BOE Technology Lease Councilman Levy read the Minutes of the Board of Education Technology Lease Meeting of November 18, 2015. Councilman Rotello requested the Board of Education (BOE) be requested to provide the Councilmembers with a copy of the lease at their convenience. Councilman Perkins thanked Mr. Martino and the BOE Team for seeing the process through; he also suggested a BOE prepare a summary regarding how technology used over the last few years are being used to improve outcomes in math, science, reading, and the arts. Councilman Levy noted he will provide the lease agreement and the technology assessment to Mr. Rotello and Mr. Perkins. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to accept the Ad Hoc Committee's report and approve the recommendation for the Board of Education to enter into a lease agreement with First Niagra Leasing subject to the terms of Corporation Counsel, and the Finance Director. The motion carried unanimously. 12. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly, Library A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Levy 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. 12.A. War Memorial Lease A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to take from the table Item 11. of the November 5, 2015 Agenda regarding the War Memorial Lease. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Knapp noted meetings with Mr. Maloney and representatives from the War Memorial with clarifications regarding the setbacks from the ballfield. He asked for the record, regarding a seniors program with the War Memorial and the YMCA or the Silver Sneakers. Mr. Maloney discussed a hand-shake agreement during reconstruction of the former YMCA. In it, there would be no adult exercise facility as that would be competitive with the War Memorial, but the two organizations would work together. Also, although no swimming pool would be built by the War Memorial, the new Danbury Community Center would have a pool with hopes for a joint agreement for shared membership. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to waive the reading of the report from the November 5, 2015 Agenda, receive the Communication and adopt the recommendations that were put forward by the Ad Hoc Committee. Motion carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION 13. COMMUNICATION - Ratification of Recent Tax Appeal Settlement A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to go into Executive Session. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Saadi, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to re-enter Regular Session. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the recommendation of Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance, Tax Assessor and approve the recommendation for the ratification of the tax settlement in regards to the item discussed in Executive Session. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Councilman Perkins, seconded by Councilman John Esposito, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor extended all committees, and the meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor