City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING November 8, 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 Mayor Mark D. Boughton. Councilman DiGilio led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Philip Curran, Bruce Bennett, Mike Esposito, Colleen Stanley, Warren Levy, Robert Taborsak, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, John Priola, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Thomas Saadi, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, Chris Arconti, John Esposito, Duane Perkins, Ben Chianese, Paul Rotello, and Joe Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilwoman Cammisa was absent. PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 ALSO PRESENT: Attorney Raymond Yamin; Robin L. Edwards, Assistant 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 November. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held October 2, 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 available for review in the office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Board of Assessment of Appeals Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Gary Falkenthal to serve on the Board of Assessment Appeals. 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Board of Directors for Charles Ives Authority Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Paul Barkan to serve on the Charles Ives Authority for the Performing Arts, Board of Directors. 6. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Commission on Persons with Disabilities Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Quentin T. Hughes III to serve on the Commission on Persons with disAbilities. 7. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds - Refurbish Pumpers Receive the communication and authorize the certification of funds from the Sale of Surplus Assets Fund and the General Funds Assigned Fund Balance for Capital in the amount of $600,000.00 for the Refurbishment of two Pumpers with any amounted exceeding $600,000.00 to be transferred from balances remaining in the Assets Fund. 10. RESOLUTION - Libraries and Autism Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Katie Pearson, Library Director, as his designee, to apply for and accept funds made available through Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected "Autism Welcome Here" grant in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00, no local match is required. 11. RESOLUTION - American Library Association Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Katie Pearson, Library Director, as his designee, to apply for and accept funds made available through the American Library Association’s ’Dollar General Literacy Foundation’ grant in an amount not to exceed $10,000.00, no local match is required. 12. RESOLUTION - Police Department ‘Click it or Ticket’ Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Patrick Ridenhour, Chief of Police, as his designee, to apply for and accept funds made available through the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, Division of Highway Safety’s ’Click It or Ticket’ Seatbelt Enforcement Program grant in an amount not to exceed $17,000.00, no local match is required. 13. RESOLUTION - Police Department - 2019 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Patrick Ridenhour, Chief of Police, as his designee, to apply for and accept funds made available through the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, Division of Highway Safety’s ’2019 Comprehensive Driving Under the Influence Enforcement Program’ grant in an amount not to exceed $47,600.00, no local match is required. 14. RESOLUTION - Emergency Management Planning Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Paul D. Estefan, Director of Civil Preparedness, as his designee, to apply for and accept funds made available through the Federal "Emergency Management Performance Grant" (EMPG) program in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00, local match requires an equal cash or in-kind match that will be met through general operations of the emergency management team and facilities. 15. RESOLUTION - NRWIB Youth Employment Program Increase Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, to apply for and accept an increase in funding through the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board in an amount not to exceed $82,000.00 for a year-round program for the participants, no local match is required. 16. RESOLUTION - FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Thomas J. Wiedl, Fire Chief, as his designee, to apply for and accept funds made available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program in an amount not to exceed $300,000.00 with FEMA covering 90%, or $270,000.00 and the City’s match not to exceed 10%, or $30,000.00 which will come from the department’s operational budget. 17. REPORT - Chow House at Farrington Woods, Residential Lease Receive the communication and approve the proposed residential lease for the Chow House at Farrington Woods Park as presented. 18. REPORTS - Sewer and Water – 1 & 2 Kevin Drive Receive the report and approve the request of Sanitary Sewer and Water Extensions for 1 & 2 Kevin Dr (G05085 & G05074) subject to standard Public Works/Engineering Department requirements for sewer & water extensions and all final plans and documents acceptable in form and content to the Office of Corporation Counsel. 19. AD HOC REPORT - Addendum to 2009 Affordable Housing Agreement – Victorian Association – Cleveland Street Receive the Ad Hoc Committee Report and adopt the committee’s recommendation to approve the addendum to the affordable housing contract between the City of Danbury and Victorian Association LLC filed pursuant to the provision of Section 8-2. G of the Connecticut General Statute. A motion was made by Mayor Boughton, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointment and Promotion of Fire Captain A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, and was seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Deputy Fire Marshal Eric Handau to the position of Fire Captain in the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment and Promotion of Deputy Fire Marshal A motion was made by Councilman Curran, and was seconded by Councilman Mike Esposito, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Lieutenant Heather Anderson to the position of Deputy Fire Marshal in the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment and Promotion of Police Sergeant A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman Saadi, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Police Officer Rui Fernandes to the position of Police Sergeant in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Board of Assessment of Appeals *CONSENTED - as received. 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Board of Directors for Charles Ives Authority *CONSENTED - as received. 6. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Commission on Persons with Disabilities *CONSENTED - as received. 7. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds - Refurbish Pumpers *CONSENTED - as received. 8. COMMUNICATION - Request for Assignment of Fund Balance Finance Director St. Hilaire responded to Councilman Chianese's and Perkins' questions regarding fund balances, and Public Works Director Iadarola responded to Councilman Taborsak's questions regarding the Capital Project fund balance. A motion was made by Councilman Priola, and was seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to receive the communication and approve the assignment of fund balance as per the following reclassifications: $1,477,000 assigned fund balance Tax Appeals; $1,700,000 assigned fund balance Capital Projects; $516,225 assigned fund balance Capital Projects (2 pumper refurbishments); $750,000 assigned fund balance Litigation; and $135,831 assigned fund balance Education. The motion carried unanimously. 9. RESOLUTION - Placement of Antennas and Emergency Communications Equipment Assistant Corporation Counsel Edwards responded to Councilman Chianese's questions regarding whether the easement would be purchased, noting there does not appear to be any need for condemnation in this friendly transaction. She noted for the record that a revised Resolution is before the Council. In response to Councilman Rotello, Mayor Boughton suggested holding off the execution and that he be given a ceiling of $2,500 for the potential cost of the easement; he will return to Counsel if the request is over that amount. No objections were noted. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, and was seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution that the City, through the Office of the Corporation Counsel is hereby authorized to acquire the easement as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto, in accordance with the procedures established by State Law, either by negotiation or eminent domain, the institution of suit against interested property owners, and holders of mortgages encumbering the properties, if any, by June 1, 2019. The motion carried unanimously. 10. RESOLUTION - Libraries and Autism Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 11. RESOLUTION - American Library Association Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 12. RESOLUTION - Police Department ‘Click it or Ticket’ Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 13. RESOLUTION - Police Department - 2019 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program *CONSENTED - as received. 14. RESOLUTION - Emergency Management Planning Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 15. RESOLUTION - NRWIB Youth Employment Program Increase *CONSENTED - as received. 16. RESOLUTION - FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 17. REPORT - Chow House at Farrington Woods,Residential Lease *CONSENTED - as received. 18. REPORTS - Sewer and Water – 1 & 2 Kevin Drive *CONSENTED - as received. 19. AD HOC REPORT - Addendum to 2009 Affordable Housing Agreement – Victorian Association – Cleveland Street *CONSENTED - as received. 20. DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, UNIT, Elderly, Library, Dream Homes, Permit Center Public Works Director Iadarola responded to Councilman Rotello's questions regarding voter approval of the sewer bond, per subscriber costs, and next steps. Councilman John Esposito inquired regarding the leaf pickup schedule and the traffic light at Old Shelter Rock and Newtown Road. Public Works Director discussed the leaf pickup schedule, and the traffic light control. Police Chief Ridenhour responded to Councilman Chianese's questions regarding recent nursing home robberies. He noted there is no charge for patrols; as opposed to having an Officer assigned inside a building. He noted that he did not receive an alert. Mayor Boughton requested the Police Chief look into the robberies and get details on the robberies. Mayor Boughton thanked Danny Hayes, Director of Veterans Affairs for his work. Mayor Boughton recalled the passing of Councilman Gregg Seabury a year ago, and commented on the many years of service he gave to the City of Danbury. 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 Office of the Legislative Assistant for review. No objections, so ordered. 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 Taborsak, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor