City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING November 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 Dan Garrick led all in the Pledge of Allegiance. Vinny DiGilio 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, 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: Elmer Palma has business meeting to attend. PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 ALSO PRESENT: Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance; Dan Garrick, Assistant Finance Director; Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works; David Day, Public Works Superintendent; Shawn Stillman, Neighborhood Coordinator; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING - None. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of November. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held October 6, 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 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 - Appointment to Zoning Commission Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Angela Hylenski to fill the vacancy as an Alternate on the Zoning Commission. 5. RESOLUTION - Police 2017 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 "Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program." 6. RESOLUTION - Police - Click It or Ticket Grant Funding Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution allowing the City of Danbury Police Department to accept funding from the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation for the "Click It or Ticket (CIOT) High Visibility Enforcement Program." 8. RESOLUTION - Reservoir Street Bridge - Land Acquisition and Easements Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the Corporation Counsel’s Office to take the steps necessary to acquire the easements with regards to the Reservoir Street Bridge Reconstruction Project. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio seconded by Councilman Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo to accept the add-on Item 13. a promotion within the Fire Department to Captain, and Item 14. a donation from Danbury Savings Banks for a new flagpole and West and Main Streets, be added to the Agenda. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo that Item 13. be taken ahead of Item 1. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 1. COMMUNICATION - Neighborhood Integrity Initiative - 2017 Crime Free Zone Ordinances A motion was made by Councilman Arconti to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of the Mayor's Office, Corporation Counsel, and a member of the Unit. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Cavo as Chair, Cammisa, and Chianese. 2. COMMUNICATION - Outside Assistant Corporation Counsel A motion was made by Councilman Mike Esposito, seconded by Councilman Seabury, to receive the communication and approve the request for authorization and use of as needed specialized attorney services of Ford Harrison (labor counsel) and Howd and Ludorf, LLC (worker's compensation) and the ratification of such services at no additional cost to the City of Danbury. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Zoning Commission *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Angela Hylenski to fill the vacancy as an Alternate on the Zoning Commission. 4. COMMUNICATION - Donation to Homeless Shelter - WCHN A motion was made by Councilman Levy, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to accept the donation of $7,500 from Western Connecticut Health Network to be used exclusively for the new street homeless shelter and a letter of appreciation be sent to them from the Council. The motion carried unanimously. 5. RESOLUTION - Police 2017 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 "Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program." 6. RESOLUTION - Police - Click It or Ticket Grant Funding *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution allowing the City of Danbury Police Department to accept funding from the State of Connecticut, Department of Transportation for the "Click It or Ticket (CIOT) High Visibility Enforcement Program." 7. RESOLUTION - FEMA assistance to Firefighters A motion was made by Councilman Priola, seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to adopt the Resolution authorizing Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Fire Chief TJ Wiedl, to apply for and accept funding from FEMA through its Fiscal Year 2016 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and to do all things necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. The motion carried unanimously. 8. RESOLUTION - Reservoir Street Bridge - Land Acquisition and Easements *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the Corporation Counsel's Office to take the steps necessary to acquire the easements with regards to the Reservoir Street Bridge Reconstruction Project. 9. AD-HOC REPORT - Volunteer Fire Department A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to waive the reading of the report as all members have copies and copies are on file for review in the Legislative Assistant's Office for review. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Seabury requested the record reflect that Mr. Levy be marked in attendance; Mr. Boughton noted the Minutes will be changed to reflect that. Mr. Saadi thanked all those who participated noting this supports public safety, reduces costs, lowers deductibles, and improves coverage. A motion was made by Councilman Curran, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to approve the proposal for the Volunteer Firefighter Liability Insurance Plan as described and also to approve the funding to be paid for by the City of Danbury for at least the first year, with the intentions for on-going discussions for continual funding. The motion carried unanimously. 10. AD-HOC REPORT - Non-Union Pension Amendments A motion was made by Councilman Fox to receive the report and refer the matter to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objection, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 11. AD-HOC REPORT - Affordable Housing Contract-Star Landing - 55 South Street A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to waive the reading of the report as all members have copies. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Rotello commented regarding the rental rate formulas that come from the State and Federal government, noting Danbury is one of the few, if not only, City that has exceeded its minimum 10% State-mandated affordable housing. He also cited particular details related to this site. A motion was made by Councilwoman Chieffalo, seconded by Councilman Esposito, to receive the communication, accept the Ad Hoc report as outlined, and the recommendation made by the Committee to approve the Affordable Housing Contract with the City of Danbury. The motion carried unanimously. 12. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, Unit, Elderly, Library Mr. Day responded to Mr. Rotello regarding water issues. Mr. Saadi thanked Mr. Wiedl for the new fire school ribbon-cutting and demonstration. Mr. Cavo thanked Mr. Stillman and his unit for assisting a veteran with his house. Mr. Scozzafava commented on the restaurant that The Bagelman has chosen not to continue as a tenant. Mr. Boughton noted the Mothership Bakery opening on Main Street may help others see success and indicated that may help recruit other businesses to consider tenancy. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading of the Departmental Reports as all members have copies and copies are on file for review in the Legislative Assistant's Office for review. The motion carried unanimously. 13. COMMUNICATION - Fire Department Promotion A motion was made by Councilman Mike Esposito, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to receive the communication and approve the appointment and promotion of Fire Lieutenant Jamie Schiller to the position of Fire Captain in the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 14. COMMUNICATION - Danbury Savings Banks Donation A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to move Item 14. just ahead of Department Reports. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Saadi asked that Mr. Garrick orally certify for the record that those funds are there and the amount of contingency funds that would remain. Mr. Garrick responded and Mr. Saadi noted this would then be well- within range. Mr. Boughton and Mr. Iadarola responded to Mr. Chianese's questions regarding the state of the original flagpole. He also commented on the size of the new flagpole and other donations that may be coming in.  A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to receive the communication and accept the generous donation from the Danbury Savings Bank for $25,000 for a new flag pole at the corner of West and Main and send an appropriate letter of thanks from the City Council and the pending certification of $75,000 out of Contingency and set aside to remake the park, for installation of the flagpole, plantings, and other work as deemed necessary in order to effectuate the project. The motion carried unanimously. 23. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Levy, and was seconded by Councilman Saadi, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor