City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 6, 2018 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 Boy Scouts of America Troop 9 Senior Patrol Leader Alexander Voss. Chief Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Christina Chieffalo, Warren Levy, Robert Taborsak, Colleen Stanley, 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, and Nancy Cammisa. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilmen Mike Esposito and Scozzafava have family commitments. Councilman Palma has business this evening. PRESENT: 19, ABSENT: 2 ALSO PRESENT: Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; and David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance PUBLIC SPEAKING Kathleen Snow, 6 Lindencrest Drive, Danbury, spoke in favor of Item 14. Mayor Boughton announced that with regard to Item 16, SPORTECH has withdrawn their request. MINUTES-Minutes of the Council Meeting held January 3,2018 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 for review in the Legislative Assistant's office. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR - None 1. COMMUNICATION - Promotion - Fire Department - Lieutenant - Guard A motion was made by Councilman Curran, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to receive the communication and approve the promotion of Firefighter Ray Guard to Fire Lieutenant in the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Promotion - Police Department - Sergeant - Grundman A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, seconded by Councilman John Esposito, to receive the communication and confirm the promotional appointment of Police Officer James Grundman to the position of Sergeant. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Promotion - Police Department - Sergeant - Pardovich A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and confirm the promotional appointment of Police Officer David Pardovich to the position of Sergeant. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Extension of Collective Bargaining Agreements - City of Danbury & Fire Union, Local 801 Councilmen Visconti, Cavo, and Curran recused themselves and left the dais. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the communication and memorandum to extend the Fire Union Local 801 International Association of Firefighters Collective Bargaining Agreement and authorize the funding accordingly. The motion carried 16-0, with Councilmen Visconti, Cavo, and Curran recused. Councilmen Visconti, Cavo, and Curran returned to the dais. 5. COMMUNICATION - Extension of Collective Bargaining Agreements - City of Danbury & DMEA Mayor Boughton responded to questions from Councilman Taborsak regarding the issue of Friday hours. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the communication and memorandum to extend the Danbury Municipal Employee's Association UPSEU Local 424 Unit 14 City Employees (DMEA) Collective Bargaining Agreement and authorize the funding accordingly. The motion carried unanimously. 6. COMMUNICATION - Police Activities League Lease A motion was made by Councilman Fox to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, a representative from the Police Activity Group Board of Directors, and a representative from the Mayor's Office. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the Councilman Fox as the Chair, Councilwoman Stanley and Councilman Perkins. 7. COMMUNICATION - Assistance for Firefighters Grant A motion was made by Councilman Priola, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to accept Chief Wiedl's request to apply for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant, offered by FEMA. The grant request would be to purchase equipment for an amount not-to-exceed $300,000. If awarded, the City is responsible for 10 percent of the award amount or a maximum of $30,000. The motion carried unanimously. 8. COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and accept the generous donation by Enbridge-Algonquin Gas Transmission LLC in the amount of $36,000 for the funding of rescue equipment. Funds to be deposited to our Donations.6000.2010 Account and send a letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Boughton thanked Former State Senator David Cappiello for his assistance in obtaining the donation. 9. COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Danbury’s Emergency Shelter A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilwoman Chieffalo, to receive the communication and accept the generous donation in the amount of $4,000 from the Olde Crabs Hockey Club for the City of Danbury's Emergency Shelter and send the appropriate letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. 10. COMMUNICATION - Sidewalk Easement - 1 Precision Road A motion was made by Councilwoman Cammisa, to receive the communication and refer this to the City Engineer and Planning for reports. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 11. COMMUNICATION - Request for Sewer Connection - 11 Greenview Road A motion was made by Councilwoman Chieffalo, to receive the communication and refer this to City Engineering for reports. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 12. RESOLUTION - PCLB Foundation Grant - Elderly Services A motion was made by Councilman Priola, seconded by Councilman Levy, to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Susan M. Tomanio, Director of Elderly Services, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding from the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck (PCLB) Foundation. This funding will allow the Director to expand services to the City's elderly clients through staffing, programs, materials/equipment purchases for Fiscal Year 2018-2019. The maximum current year funding request is $27,000 and there is no City match required. The motion carried unanimously. 13. RESOLUTION - PCLB Foundation Grant - Health Department A motion was made by Councilman Visconti, seconded by Councilman Saadi, to accept the Resolution that allows the authorize the Danbury Department of Health to apply for and accept funding from the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck (PCLB) Foundation for Fiscal Year 2019. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Cavo expressed his appreciation to the Foundation for the record on behalf of the City Council. 14. RESOLUTION - Westside Middle School Academy Temporary Classroom Mayor Boughton stated for the record that Resolution 14- lists the committee members hall be Thomas Hughes, Dan Garick ,Sean Hanley, Chick Volpe, Antonio Iadarola, Joe Martino, Richard Jalbert,BOE members Rachel Chaleski ,Kathleen Molinaro and City Councilman Visconti. Superintendent of Schools Joe Martino and Mayor Boughton responded to Councilmen Rotello, Perkins, and Taborsak regarding current and future population at the middle schools and the number of proposed classrooms. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilman Taborsak, to adopt the Resolution authorizing the Board of Education of the City of Danbury with the Superintendent of Schools to file a grant application and related documents with and to the State Department of Administrative Services to include the three following items. 1. Establishes a School Building Committee for Westside Middle School Academy Temporary Classrooms; 2. The City Council authorizes the preparation of schematic and final drawings and specifications for the following project: Westside Middle School Academy Temporary Classrooms; and 3. That the City Council authorizes the Danbury Board of Education to submit a grant application with related documents to the State of Connecticut and to accept a grant for State reimbursement funding for Westside Middle School Academy Temporary Classrooms. The motion carried unanimously. 15. RESOLUTION - Regional Solid Waste and Recycling System Agreement HRRA - Winter Brothers A motion was made by Councilman Arconti to refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of a representative from HRRA and Corporation Counsel. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the Councilman Arconti as the Chair, Councilman Priola and Councilman Rotello. 16. REPORT & RESOLUTION - SPORTECH - 5-7 Ives Street A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Saadi, 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. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Saadi, that for Item 16, receive the report and take no action . The motion carried unanimously. 17. REPORT & ORDINANCE - Governmental Entities Review - Ordinance 2-176 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Saadi, 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. The motion carried unanimously.. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Levy, seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the report and extend the following through June 30, 2022: Stanley Richter Memorial Park Authority, Danbury Museum and Historical Society Authority, Danbury Main Street Partnership, Environmental Impact Commission, Conservation Commission, and Still River Alliance Commission. Mr. Pinter stated the item needs to go to a public hearing. Mayor Boughton stated the motion is then that the item go to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 18. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Unit, Elderly, Library 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. No objections, so ordered. Public Works Director Iadarola responded to Councilman Saadi's inquiry regarding projects related to and the State budget. He also responded to Councilman Levy regarding Tarrywile Castle status and perimeter fencing. Mayor Boughton responded to Councilman Perkins regarding basketball courts that were part of last year's budget and potential sites. Councilman Wetmore complimented the Water Department noting several comments were received regarding the quick response and politeness of City workers with regard to stormwater. Unit Coordinator Stillman responded to Councilman Rotello regarding progress on safety of a non-City tree at 96 Park Avenue. Councilman Cavo commended Police Chief Ridenhour and his staff on reduced crime figures in the recent crime report. Councilman Arconti commended Mayor Boughton on the Commercial (?). Councilman Taborsak commented he is glad to see all the First Responders training that is happening, noting the use of Narcan. Mayor Boughton noted the new Tax Assessor will be starting next week. Mayor Boughton appointed the Education Budget Committee with Levy as the Chair with Fox, Scozzafava, Stanley, and Visconti. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of February. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Boughton extended all committees. A motion was made by Councilman Saadi, and was seconded by Councilman Visconti, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor