City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING June 5, 2018 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sean Hatch. Councilman Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Christina Chieffalo, Mike Esposito, Colleen Stanley, Warren Levy, Robert Taborsak, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, John Priola, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, John Arconti, John Esposito, Duane Perkins, Ben Chianese, Paul Rotello, Nancy Cammisa, and Joe Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBER ABSENT: None. 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: None. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of June. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held May 1, 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 office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Environmental Impact Commission Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Geoffrey Herald to serve on the Environmental Impact Commission. 5. COMMUNICATION - Annual Suspense List Receive the communication from Scott M. Ferguson Tax Collector and authorize the transfer of $306,537.49 from the 2008 Motor Vehicle and Personal Property Taxes to the Annual Suspense List. 8. RESOLUTION - CT State Library Construction Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark Boughton or Katie Pearson, Library Director as his designee, to apply for and accept grant funding from the 2018 Connecticut State Library, Division of Library Development in an amount of $100,000.00 with matching funds of $100,000.00 from the Library Board Fund budget to remodel the Junior Floor of the Library. 9. RESOLUTION - NRWIB - Youth Employment Funding Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark Boughton to apply for and accept funding through the State of Connecticut Department of Labor for a Youth Employment Program in an amount not to exceed $75,000.00 which will be administered by Danbury Youth Services. 10. REPORTS - Request for Sewer Extension – 3 Parker Street Receive the communication and approve the request for a Sanitary Sewer Extension for 3 Parker Street, Tax Assessor Lot No. H12036, subject to the standard conditions and restrictions outlined in the Planning and City Engineers reports. 11. AD HOC REPORT - Workforce Investment Act – Intergovernmental Agreement Receive the communication and approve the Ad-Hoc Committees recommendation, adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton to enter into the proposed updated Intergovernmental Agreement with the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board. A motion was made by Councilman Perkins, and was seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION - Promotion - Fire Department A motion was made by Councilman M. Esposito, and was seconded by Councilman Visconti, to receive the correspondence and confirm the following promotion and appointment of Captain William Lounsbury to the position of Deputy Chief in the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Promotion - Police Department A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, and was seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Police Officer Bryan Reed to the position of Police Sergeant in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Danbury Museum Board of Trustees A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman Taborsak, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Robert G. Doyle to serve as a member of the Danbury Museum Board of Trustees for the term to expire June 1, 2021. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Environmental Impact Commission *CONSENTED - as received. 5. COMMUNICATION - Annual Suspense List *CONSENTED - as received. 6. COMMUNICATION - BOE - Notice of Lease Financing A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of the Director of Finance and a representative from the Board of Education. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Levy as Chair, Fox, and Visconti. 7. COMMUNICATION - Request for Sidewalk Easement and Road Widening Strip - 62-64 Triangle Street A motion was made by Councilwoman Cammisa to receive the communication and refer to Planning and City Engineering for reports. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 8. RESOLUTION - CT State Library Construction Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 9. RESOLUTION - NRWIB - Youth Employment Funding *CONSENTED - as received. 10. REPORTS - Request for Sewer Extension – 3 Parker Street *CONSENTED - as received. 11. AD HOC REPORT - Workforce Investment Act – Intergovernmental Agreement *CONSENTED - as received. 12. AD HOC REPORT - Revised Fees – Health Department Motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to waive the reading of the report as all members have copies and copies are on file available in the Legislative Assistant's Office. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Taborsak expressed concern with the increase in fees of several vendors. Director of Health and Human Services Lisa Morrissey responded to his questions regarding new categories, State requirements, and whether the new fees would affect small businesses. Councilman Rotello commented on the increased frequency of inspections, noting the speed at which the City is reacting to new State requirements and whether the City is overextending its reach. Ms. Morrissey responded to questions from Councilman Visconti regarding the cost of delivering services and to Councilwoman Stanley regarding late fees.  Motion was made by Councilman Priola, and was seconded, to receive the report and communication, and adopt the comprehensive schedule of fees as set forth and appended hereto securing the public health, safety, and welfare and providing necessary operating funding sources for programming and inspection requirements of the City of Danbury Health and Human Services Department. Such schedule shall remain in force until amended or modified in part or in total by local or State requirements or approvals. The motion carried 16-5, Councilmembers Visconti, John Esposito, Perkins, Rotello, and Taborsak voting no. 13. AD HOC REPORT - Abate Personal Property Tax – Informational Technology Councilman Rotello expressed concern not with Praxair, but other companies that could come in with nothing but a server farm. He suggested using targeting a reduction of personal property and protecting future jobs. Motion was made by Councilman Levy, and was seconded by Councilman Saadi, to refer to a Public Hearing. The motion carried unanimously. 14. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, UNIT, Elderly, Library, Dream Homes, Permit Center Motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman John Esposito, to waive the reading of the Departmental Reports as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office for review. No objections, so ordered. Mayor Boughton thanked City public safety and other staff for their work during the recent storm. Councilman Chianese received answers regarding the purpose of a Certified Payroll Consultant. Councilman Perkins thanked Antonio Iadarola, Tom Hughes, Tom Lopes, and Kenny Layton, Jr. for their work on the Rogers Park outdoor area fitness area near the pond. Mayor Boughton discussed the TOD study and commended Planning Director Sharon Calitro and other staff for their work, noting a $2 million dollar match was received for sidewalks. He announced the City was willed 25-acre property off the Bear Mountain Reservation including a house and a barn. He discussed the 40-foot 'Uncle Sam' coming to Danbury. ADJOURNMENT Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Boughton extended all committees. A motion was made by Councilman John Esposito, and was seconded by Councilman Taborsak, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor