City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING October 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 Jenny Warner led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Philip Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Christina Chieffalo, Mike Esposito, Colleen Stanley, Warren Levy, Gregg Seabury, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, John Priola, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, John Esposito, Duane Perkins, Ben Chianese, Paul Rotello, Nancy Cammisa, and Joseph Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Vinny DiGilio is attending a family function, and Christopher Arconti had an urgent business matter to attend to. PRESENT: 19, ABSENT: 2 ALSO PRESENT: Robin Edwards, Assistant Corporation Counsel, David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance; Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING - None. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of October. 6. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held August 2, 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. 7. CONSENT CALENDAR Councilman Seabury read the Consent Calendar as follows: 3. COMMUNICATION - Re-Appropriations Receive the communication and approve the re-appropriations of $337,848.94 to the General Fund, $108,856.44 to the Water Fund, and $103,541.80 to the Sewer Fund for the current fiscal year, as well as reassign $11,735.15 from the General Fund Capital Projects to the City’s fund balance. 9. RESOLUTION - Easement Acquisition - Danbury Airport Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton and/or Paul D. Estefan, Airport Administrator, to apply to the Federal Aviation Administration to obtain grant funding for reimbursement for the cost of acquiring the specified real properties, to obtain the real property appraisals as necessary, to appropriate 2.5% of the total grant amount if approved, to execute any necessary documents, and to take any additional actions necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof. 11. AD-HOC REPORT - Tax Exemption - Habitat for Humanity Receive the report from the Ad Hoc Committee regarding Habitat for Humanity and take no action. A motion was made by Councilwoman Chieffalo and seconded by Councilman Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION - Promotion - Police Department A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley, seconded by Councilman Seabury, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Police Officer John Rudisill to the position of Police Detective in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Promotion - Police Department A motion was made by Councilman Priola, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Police Officer Robert Perun to the position of Police Detective in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Re-Appropriations *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and approve the re-appropriations of $337,848.94 to the General Fund, $108,856.44 to the Water Fund, and $103,541.80 to the Sewer Fund for the current fiscal year, as well as reassign $11,735.15 from the General Fund Capital Projects to the City’s fund balance. 4. COMMUNICATION - Abate Personal Property Taxes on Information Technology A motion was made by Councilman Curran to refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, Tax Assessor, Director of Finance. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Fox as Chair, Levy, and Rotello. 5. COMMUNICATION - Donation - Police Department A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the letter and accept the very generous donation from Mr. Kenneth M. Gleszer's Estate (of $100,000 for purchase and training of Police K-9s). The motion carried unanimously. 6. RESOLUTION - Master Municipal Agreement Mr. Iadarola responded to Mr. Saadi's questions regarding coordinating engineering projects and Mr. Rotello's comments regarding oversight. A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution for the Master Municipal Agreement for preliminary engineering projects for the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 7. RESOLUTION - Savings Bank of Danbury - Foundation Grant A motion was made by Councilman Levy, seconded by Councilman Seabury, be it resolved that the Mayor, Mark D. Boughton or Scott T. Leroy, Director of Health & Human Services, are hereby authorized to apply to the Savings Bank of Danbury for a $10,000 grant and, if approved, to accept said funding, execute any agreements or other documents necessary to effectuate the Homeless Shelter operation. The motion carried unanimously. 8. RESOLUTION - United Way Funding - Shelter Mr. St. Hilaire noted a correction to the letter: the amount is $2,400 not $2,500. A motion was made by Councilman Mike Esposito, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to approve the Resolution and accept the funding in the amount of $2,400 from the Department of Homeland Security through the United Way to be used for the City Homeless Shelter operations. The motion carried unanimously. 9. RESOLUTION - Easement Acquisition - Danbury Airport *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton and/or Paul D. Estefan, Airport Administrator, to apply to the Federal Aviation Administration to obtain grant funding for reimbursement for the cost of acquiring the specified real properties, to obtain the real property appraisals as necessary, to appropriate 2.5% of the total grant amount if approved, to execute any necessary documents, and to take any additional actions necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof. 10. AD HOC REPORT - Chow House A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to waive the reading of the Minutes as all members have copies and copies are available in the Legislative Assistant's Office for review. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the report and approve the recommendation of the Committee to adopt the lease of the Farrington Woods Chow House to Mr. Peter Elste for a period of one year, as per the lease agreement contained in the report. The motion carried unanimously. 11. AD-HOC REPORT - Tax Exemption - Habitat for Humanity *CONSENTED - Receive the report from the Ad Hoc Committee regarding Habitat for Humanity and take no action. 12. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, Unit, Elderly, Library Mr. Iadarola responded to questions from Mr. Perkins regarding broken water main repair reimbursement and effects on water supply. 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. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Boughton extended all committees. A motion was made by Councilman Perkins, and was seconded by Councilman Saadi, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor