City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING August 1, 2017 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sean Hatch. Phil Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Christina Chieffalo, Mike Esposito, Warren Levy, Colleen Stanley, 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. PRESENT: 21, ABSENT: 0 ALSO PRESENT: Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance, and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING  Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue, Danbury, commended the contractors on the Westville and Highland sidewalks, and had concerns on the City's new website and agendas on the website. She spoke regarding Item 15 and requested some units be for seniors.  P.J. Prunty, 43 Chambers Road, City Center Danbury Executive Director, expressed support for Item 15 and submitted a letter expressing support from City Center Board of Commissioners. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements and special presentations for the month of August. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held July 6, 2017 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 on file in the Legislative Assistant's office for review. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 7. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds - Historic Documents Reserve Fund Receive the communication and approve the request to transfer $5,103 from the Historic Document Reserve Account to the Town Clerk’s Outside Services Account for purchases necessary to store historic materials. 10. RESOLUTION - Danbury Library - American Library Association Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution allowing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his designee, Library Director Katie Ventura, to apply for and receive a grant in the amount of approximately $25,000 from the American Library Association for the implementation of collaborative youth programming as proposed and to take such action as may be necessary for the purposes thereof. Please note there is no requirement for matching funds from the City. 11. RESOLUTION - Danbury Youth Services Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mark D. Boughton as Mayor of the City of Danbury to apply for and accept said funding for Danbury Youth Services and execute any and all documents to effectuate the purposes thereof related to the State of Connecticut Department of Education grant program available to the City of Danbury for Youth Services Bureau Operations. The cost sharing grant and enhancement grant contract is for a period of two years, July 1, 2017 to June 30 , 2019, for an amount not to exceed $75,000 per year. 12. RESOLUTION - Shelter EFSP Funding - United Way Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Lisa M. Morrissey, Director of Health, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and to do all things necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof as related to the funding opportunity made available to the City’s shelter through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program to be used by the City of Danbury Health and Human Services department to offset operational costs associated with the shelter. The funding request is not to exceed $4,000 and is to be expended between 10/31/16 and 1/31/18 with no City match required. 13. RESOLUTION - Per Capita 2018 Grant Allocation Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Lisa M. Morrissey, Director of Health, as his designee to apply for and accept said funding and to execute all contracts to effectuate the purposes thereof as related to the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health per capita funding available for the 2017-2018 fiscal year to municipalities in accordance with Section 19a-202 of the Connecticut General Statutes. This continuation grant award application is in the amount of $99,895.26 is for funding available from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 with no local match being required. 14. RESOLUTION - Aviation Easement - 98 Miry Brook Road Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton and Paul D. Estefan, Airport Administrator, to apply to the Federal Aviation Administration to obtain grant funding for reimbursement for the costs of acquiring the real property, to obtain the real property appraisals, and to appropriate the 2.5% of the total grant amount as related to acquiring an aviation easement in, over and appurtenant to the parcel of land known as 98 Miry Brook Road, Danbury, Tax Assessor’s lot no. E19009, which easement is more particularly described in the attached Schedule A, and if the grant is approved, to execute any necessary documents, and to take any additional actions necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Police Department A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Police Officer Jonathan Mead to the position of Police Officer in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment Police Department - Detective Kupchok A motion was made by Councilman Mike Esposito, seconded by Councilman Chia nese, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Police Officer Travis Kupchok to the position of Police Detective in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment - Police Department - Reo A motion was made by Councilman Priola, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Police Officer Michael Reo to the position of Police Detective in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Naming of Softball Field A motion was made by Councilman Curran, seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the communication and authorize the renaming of Field No. 2 at Rogers Park as the Thomas 'Moose' Lynch Field. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - Acceptance of Land - 115 - 125 King Street A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, to receive the communication and refer to the Planning Department, Corporation Counsel, and City Engineer for reports. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 6. COMMUNICATION - Turnaround Easement - 9 Oak Lane A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and refer to the City Engineer, Corporation Counsel, and the Planning Commission for a report. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 7. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds - Historic Documents Reserve Fund *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and approve the request to transfer $5,103 from the Historic Document Reserve Account to the Town Clerk’s Outside Services Account for purchases necessary to store historic materials. 8. Communication - Daycare Ordinance Revision A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel and the Director of Health. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Wetmore as Chair, Chieffalo, and John Esposito. 9. Communication - Food Code Ordinance Revision A motion was made by Councilman Fox to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of the Director of Health and Corporation Counsel. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Wetmore as Chair, Chieffalo, and John Esposito. 10. RESOLUTION - Danbury Library - American Library Association Grant *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution allowing Mayor Mark D. Boughton or his designee, Library Director Katie Ventura, to apply for and receive a grant in the amount of approximately $25,000 from the American Library Association for the implementation of collaborative youth programming as proposed and to take such action as may be necessary for the purposes thereof. Please note there is no requirement for matching funds from the City. 11. RESOLUTION - Danbury Youth Services *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mark D. Boughton as Mayor of the City of Danbury to apply for and accept said funding for Danbury Youth Services and execute any and all documents to effectuate the purposes thereof related to the State of Connecticut Department of Education grant program available to the City of Danbury for Youth Services Bureau Operations. The cost sharing grant and enhancement grant contract is for a period of two years, July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019, for an amount not to exceed $75,000 per year. 12. RESOLUTION - Shelter EFSP Funding - United Way *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Lisa M. Morrissey, Director of Health, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and to do all things necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof as related to the funding opportunity made available to the City’s shelter through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program to be used by the City of Danbury Health and Human Services department to offset operational costs associated with the shelter. The funding request is not to exceed $4,000 and is to be expended between 10/31/16 and 1/31/18 with no City match required. 13. RESOLUTION - Per Capita 2018 Grant Allocation *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Lisa M. Morrissey, Director of Health, as his designee to apply for and accept said funding and to execute all contracts to effectuate the purposes thereof as related to the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health per capita funding available for the 2017-2018 fiscal year to municipalities in accordance with Section 19a-202 of the Connecticut General Statutes. This continuation grant award application is in the amount of $99,895.26 is for funding available from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018 with no local match being required. 14. RESOLUTION - Aviation Easement - 98 Miry Brook Road *CONSENTED - Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton and Paul D. Estefan, Airport Administrator, to apply to the Federal Aviation Administration to obtain grant funding for reimbursement for the costs of acquiring the real property, to obtain the real property appraisals, and to appropriate the 2.5% of the total grant amount as related to acquiring an aviation easement in, over and appurtenant to the parcel of land known as 98 Miry Brook Road, Danbury, Tax Assessor’s lot no. E19009, which easement is more particularly described in the attached Schedule A, and if the grant is approved, to execute any necessary documents, and to take any additional actions necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. 15. AD HOC REPORT - Deferral of Assessment - 333 Main Street A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to waive the reading of the report. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Pinter responded to Mr. Scozzafava about a clause regarding representations made to Council, and to Mr. Chianese regarding the retail portion and assessed values. He, along with Ms. Calitro, also responded to Mr. Levy and Mr. Chianese regarding timing. Mr. Rotello suggested on Page 15-3, Section 3, Subsection c. adding, '(parcel) for clarity.' A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication, approve the recommendation of the Ad Hoc Committee, and adopt the Resolution regarding the agreement to defer the increase in tax assessment between the City of Danbury and BRT General Corporation and 333 Main Street, Danbury Connecticut. The motion carried 18-4; Councilmen Chianese, John Esposito, Saadi, and Visconti, dissenting. 16. AD HOC REPORT - Library Cafe A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to waive the reading of the report. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Pinter responded to Mr. Rotello regarding the petitioner's agreement and timing. A motion was made by Councilman Levy, seconded by Councilman Seabury, to receive the report, adopt the recommendation, and approve the license agreement between t he City of Danbury and Kervin P. Francois. The motion carried 20-1; Councilman Fox dissenting. 17. AD HOC REPORT - E-Commerce Exchange A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Mr. Saadi, to waive the reading of the report. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Pinter responded to Mr. Chianese regarding what other municipalities that are utilizing this are doing and that there are no high level concerns other than those expressed. Police Chief Ridenhour responded to Mr. Saadi by stating that pertinent information could be noted during the monthly report, and to Mr. Perkins regarding signage. He also responded to Ms. Stanley regarding surveillance and signage. A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilwoman Chieffalo, to receive the Committee's report, adopt the Committee's recommendation, to establish at the Danbury Police Station an e- commerce exchange zone, with the location to be authorized or located by the Police Chief or his designee. The motion carried unanimously. 18. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Permit Center, Unit, Elderly, Library Police Chief Ridenhour responded to Mr. Perkins regarding recruitment, noting there were 526 applicants and thanking Community Services and Human Resources for their assistance. He also responded to Mr. Rotello and Mr. Saadi regarding staffing and crime rate reductions. Human Resources Director Alosco-Werner responded to Mr. Perkins and Mr. Scozzafava regarding the commencement of testing, and training. 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. 19. COMMUNICATION - Status Report: Litigation: Connecticut Fund for the Environment A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Scozzafava, to table Item 19 to the next meeting. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Boughton extended all committees. A motion was made by Councilwoman Cammisa, and was seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor