City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 2, 2016 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Troop 9 Senior Patrol Leader Joe Dejan led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Chief Philip Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Christina Chieffalo, Mike Esposito, Jack Knapp, Warren Levy, Gregg Seabury, 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: None. PRESENT: 21, ABSENT: 0 ALSO PRESENT: Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance; Alan Baker, Chief of Police; TJ Wiedl, Fire Chief; Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works; Stephen Nocera, Director of Project Excellence; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING  Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue, Danbury, discussed Items 7, 10, and 13.  Martha Rhodes, 209 Long Ridge Road, Danbury, discussed Item 7.  Mr. Chaudhry, Hat City Monument Committee Chair, discussed Item 13.  Ken Gucker, 89 Padanaram Road, Danbury, discussed Items 7 and 10. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of February. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held January 5, 2016 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading and accept the minutes, 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: 5. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds – Hat City Monument/USB Match Receive the communication and approve the Certification of Funds-"Hat City Monument- up to $50,000.00 to match Union Savings Bank funds" as certified by the David St. Hilaire Director of Finance. 11. REPORTS – Water Extension – 8 Ivy Lane Receive the reports from the Planning Commission and City Engineer and approve the request for a water main extension submitted by Pandolfi Properties, LLC to serve 8 Ivy Lane, tax assessor’s lot number I09037, subject to the eight steps required by the City Engineers Office and all applicable documents being received in acceptable form and content to the Office of Corporation Counsel. 12. REPORTS – Sewer Extension – 78-84 Newtown Rd. & Portion of 86-92 Newtown Rd. Receive the reports from the Planning Commission and City Engineer and approve the request for a sanitary sewer extension submitted by MIB Realty to serve 78-84 Newtown Road and 86-92 Newtown Road, tax assessor’s lot numbers L11028 and a portion of L11029, subject to subject to the eight steps required by the City Engineers Office and all applicable documents being received in acceptable form and content to the Office of Corporation Counsel. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio and seconded by Councilman Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION – Appointment and Promotion – Library Director A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Katie Ventura to the position of Library Director. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Promotions – Police Department A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa to receive the communication and approve the promotion of Police Officer Drew Carlson to the position of Police Sergeant in the City of Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa, to receive the communication and approve the promotion of Police Officer Roger Hancock to the position of Police Detective in the City of Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Donation – Fire Department - Drone A motion was made by Councilman Levy and seconded by Councilman Rotello, to accept the generous donation of $9,000 to be used in the Fire Department's Unmanned Arial Vehicle Project and a letter be sent to the Kallas family notifying them of the donation. The anonymous donation was made in memory of a man who was a husband, a father, and a role model citizen. He was a successful businessman that provided housing for hundreds of people. He volunteered his time to his church and his community. He was Past President of the Danbury Alliance and a friend of Mr. Levy, and the donation is accepted in the memory of Michael Kallas. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Donation - Fire Department – Fire Training Facility Labor & Equipment A motion was made by Councilman Knapp and seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the communication and accept the generous donation to the Danbury Fire Department in the amount of $7,500 for labor and equipment from Kenosia Development LLC and send the appropriate letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds – Hat City Monument/USB Match *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and approve the Certification of Funds - "Hat City Monument- up to $50,000.00 to match Union Savings Bank funds" as certified by the David St. Hilaire Director of Finance. 6. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds – Zoom Foundation Fellowship A motion was made by Councilman Priola and seconded by Councilman Seabury, to receive the communication and approve the certification of funds for the Zoom Foundation Fellowship cost share of $5,000 required to host a Zoom Fellow as certified by David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance. The motion carried unanimously. 7. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds – State Lobbying Services A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore and seconded by Councilman Seabury, to receive the communication and approve the certification of funds for State Lobbying Services up to $25,000 to secure lobbying services. Councilman John Esposito requested the item be sent to an ad Hoc Committee. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Cavo DiGilio, and Visconti. Mayor Boughton noted the Board of Education has already appropriated $25,000 and another vote will come forward in March following the Ad Hoc Committee. 8. COMMUNICATION - Reallocation of Capital Funds – Street Light Conversion Study A motion was made by Councilman Fox and seconded by Councilman Cavo, to accept the communication and approve the reallocation of Capital Funds in the amount of $50,000 for the purposes of the Street Light Conversion Study. The motion carried unanimously. 9. RESOLUTION - Authorization for Lease Financing Fire Chief Wiedl responded to numerous Council questions regarding details of the fire equipment. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio and seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the Department of Finance to secure the services of one or more qualified and vetted financing institutions or lenders and waive the bidding for these apparatus for lease purchase of the pumper trucks and to refurbish the ladder truck for the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 10. RESOLUTION - Application to OPM – Grant Program A motion was made by Councilman Levy and seconded by Councilman Mike Esposito, that Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of the City of Danbury be authorized to make application and sign any documents necessary to effectuate a grant from the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management in the amount of $250,000 for responsible growth in transit oriented development study as outlined in the Agenda Item 10-1 Resolution. The motion carried unanimously. 11. REPORTS – Water Extension – 8 Ivy Lane *CONSENTED - Receive the reports from the Planning Commission and City Engineer and approve the request for a water main extension submitted by Pandolfi Properties, LLC to serve 8 Ivy Lane, tax assessor's lot number I09037, subject to the eight steps required by the City Engineers Office and all applicable documents being received in acceptable form and content to the Office of Corporation Counsel. 12. REPORTS – Sewer Extension – 78-84 Newtown Rd. & Portion of 86-92 Newtown Rd. *CONSENTED - Receive the reports from the Planning Commission and City Engineer and approve the request for a sanitary sewer extension submitted by MIB Realty to serve 78-84 Newtown Road and 86-92 Newtown Road, tax assessor's lot numbers L11028 and a portion of L11029, subject to subject to the eight steps required by the City Engineers Office and all applicable documents being received in acceptable form and content to the Office of Corporation Counsel. 13. AD HOC REPORTS – Hat City Monument A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to waive the reading of the Minutes as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office for review. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and adopt the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee with regard to the Hat City Monument and provide the matching grant of up to $50,000 with Union Savings Bank as suggested by the Ad Hoc Committee. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Boughton responded to questions regarding the site, funds and donations, etc. Councilman Saadi thanked donors and those who have worked toward achieving the goal, and discussed Heritage Walkway as well as the City's diverse heritage. 14. AD HOC REPORTS – Algonquin Gas Transmission Line (AIM) – 2 Year License A motion was made by Councilman Cavo to refer to a Public Hearing and a report from the Assessor. Heaing no objection, the Mayor so ordered. 15. 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 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. Fire Chief Wiedl responded to Council questions regarding drone details, repairs, anticipated use, and training. Mayor Boughton thanked Police Chief Baker for his ten years of service; a roast is planned February 25th. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Councilman Perkins, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor extended all committees, and the meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor