City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING July 6, 2016 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER Danbury Council of Veterans posted the colors and Oral Hites led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Vincent DiGilio 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, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Christopher Arconti, John Esposito, Duane Perkins, Ben Chianese, Paul Rotello, Nancy Cammisa, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: John Priola is at a family function; Elmer Palma is at a Church function. PRESENT: 19, ABSENT: 2 ALSO PRESENT: Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance; Dan Garrick, Assistant Director of Finance; Alan Baker, Chief of Police; TJ Wiedl, Fire Chief; Paul Estefan, Airport Administrator; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. SPECIAL RECOGNITION Mayor Boughton provided a Proclamation to U.S. Navy Veteran Oral J. Hites, Jr. PUBLIC SPEAKING Jack Knapp, 1 Valley Spring Drive, Danbury; expressed support for Colleen Stanley for City Council. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of July. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held June 7, 2016 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo and was 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 DiGilio read the Consent Calendar as follows: 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Commission on Persons with Disabilities Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Laura Brothers to serve as an alternate member of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities with a term to expire on July 1, 2019. 5. COMMUNICATION - Donation to Permit & Zoning Department from Mel Powers Industries Receive the communication and accept the donation from Mel J. Powers Industries to the Permit and Zoning Department of seven (7) lateral filing cabinets with a total estimated value of $1,890.00 and send a letter of appreciation for this generous donation. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio and seconded by Councilman Perkins, accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointment - to City Council A motion was made by Councilman Seabury, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to accept the recommendation of the Republican Town Committee and welcome back his friend Colleen Stanley to the City Council. The motion carried unanimously. Colleen Stanley was sworn in. 2. COMMUNICATION - Bond - Public Improvement Projects 2016 A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, and was seconded, to receive the communication and refer to a Public Hearing with a meeting of the Committee of the Whole to follow. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Boughton noted the meeting would include Mr. St. Hilaire and Mr. Iadarola and the Public Hearing should be scheduled July 18, 2016. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Commission on Persons with Disabilities *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Laura Brothers to serve as an alternate member of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities with a term to expire on July 1, 2019. 4. COMMUNICATION - Request for Appropriation - Candlewood Lake Authority Candlewood Lake Authority Chair Phyllis Schaer responded to Councilman Perkin's questions regarding the number of vessels for enforcement and noted there is only one boat currently patrolling the Lake.  A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, as seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the communication and approve the appropriation of $9,905 from the Contingency Account for the partial funding of a Candlewood Lake Marine Patrol Boat. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - Donation to Permit & Zoning Department from Mel Powers Industries *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and accept the donation from Mel J. Powers Industries to the Permit and Zoning Department of seven (7) lateral filing cabinets with a total estimated value of $1,890.00 and send a letter of appreciation for this generous donation. 6. COMMUNICATION - Donation to Fire Department - Omega Granite & Kitchen Warehouse A motion was made by Councilman Curran, as seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and approve the generous donation from Omega Granite and Kitchen Warehouse for the kitchen cabinets and granite countertops with stainless steel sink for Engine #26, and send an appropriate letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. 7. COMMUNICATION - Donation to Police Department - Ridgefield & Leir Foundations A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, as seconded by Councilman Esposito, to receive the communication and accept the donation of $10,000 from the Ridgefield & Leir Foundations, Inc. in memory of Henry J. and Erna D. Leir for the Danbury Police Department, and send an appropriate letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. 8. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds - Shelter Rock School Temporary Classrooms Councilman Chianese inquired regarding total availability of the bond. Mayor Boughton responded with an approximation and added that they will get that number to Councilman Chianese. Councilman Saadi's commended the Shelter Rock School PTO, parents, Board of Education, administration, the City Council, and the Mayor for their work on the issue. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, as seconded by Councilman Saadi, to receive the communication and approve the budget transfer from Contingency of $370,765 and interest on notes of $119,235 to the Shelter Rock Temporary Classrooms Account for a total of $490,000. The motion carried unanimously. 9. COMMUNICATION - Appropriations to the Ambulance Fund Fire Chief Wiedl responded to Councilman Visconti's questions regarding reasons for the increase in calls. A motion was made by Councilman Levy, as seconded by Councilman Seabury, to approve the additional appropriation of $158,000 to the Ambulance Fund Budget for the increased revenue generated from the Ambulance User Fee. The motion carried unanimously. 10. COMMUNICATION - Library Cafe - Bagelman A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, as seconded by Councilman Saadi, to receive the communication and refer the item to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, a representative from the Mayor's Office, a Small Business Advocate, the Library Director, and a Representative from The Bagelman. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - DiGilio as Chair, Levy, and J. Esposito. 11. COMMUNICATION - Proposed MOA & Operational Agreement for Danbury ATCT Airport Administrator Estefan responded to Councilman Visconti's questions regarding the tower and Councilman Saadi's questions regarding continuing the MOA. A motion was made by Councilwoman Cammisa, as seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and approve the proposed MOA DTF AEN-16-L-00055 and the Operational Agreement for Danbury ATCT from the United States of America Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration on the MOA renewal of the Air Traffic Control Tower location as presented. 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 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. Councilmen Curran, Seabury, Saadi, Rotello, Cavo, and Mayor Boughton thanked Police Chief Baker for his excellent service and wished him well in his retirement. Police Chief Baker thanked the Mayor and Council for their support and highlighted the many positive features of Danbury. Mayor Boughton stated the swearing-in of Incoming Police Chief Ridenhour will be 6:00 p.m. July 11, 2016 in Council Chambers followed by a reception at Amerigo Vespucci Lodge. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, a motion was made by Councilman Perkins, seconded by Councilman Levy, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor extended all committees. The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor