City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING March 5, 2019 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. Councilman DiGilio led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mike Esposito, Colleen Stanley, Warren Levy, Robert Taborsak, Andrew Wetmore, John Priola, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, Chris Arconti, John Esposito, Duane Perkins, Ben Chianese, Nancy Cammisa, Paul Rotello, and Joe Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilmen Curran and Bennett are recovering; Councilman Fox had a loss in the family. PRESENT: 17, ABSENT: 3 Note: At 7:45 p.m. Councilman Farley Santos was seated. PRESENT: 18, ABSENT: 3 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 Thomas Saadi, 24 Tobins Court, Danbury, spoke in favor of Item 1. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of March. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held February 6, 2019 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading and adopt the minutes as presented, 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 the Cultural Commission Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Edward Moore to serve as a Member of the Cultural Commission with a term to expire March 1, 2022. 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Danbury Museum Authority Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Douglas Polistena to serve as an Alternate Member of the Danbury Museum Authority with a term to expire March 1, 2022. 6. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Danbury Museum Authority Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Rev. Brandon Whitfield to serve as a Member of the Danbury Museum Authority with a term to expire March 1, 2022. 7. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Danbury Museum Authority Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Roberto L. Alves to serve as an Alternate Member of the Danbury Museum Authority with a term to expire March 1, 2022. 13. RESOLUTION - Distracted Driving Grant – Police Department Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Chief Patrick Ridenhour, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation through its "FY 2019 Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement" program, this funding not to exceed $58,800 will be used in the Danbury Police Departments continued efforts of distracted driving enforcement activities in April 2019 and August 2019, no local match is required. 15. AD HOC REPORT - Governmental Entities Review Board Receive the Government Entities ad-hoc Committee Report/Ordinance and refer to a Public Hearing. 16. AD HOC REPORT - Acquisition Congregational Church Receive the ad-hoc Committee Report and adopt the recommendation to authorize the Mayor’s Office to commence formal negotiations with the First Congregational Church and Ecclesiastical Society for the purchase of the property at 162 Deer Hill Avenue by the City of Danbury, upon conclusion of the negotiation process, the Committee shall be recalled for review. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Wetmore to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION – Appointment to the City Council A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman John Esposito, to receive the correspondence from the Democratic Town Committee, approve the recommendation, and appoint Mr. Farley Santos to the Fourth Ward City Council seat. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Farley Santos was sworn-in as a City Councilman by Mr. Yamin. Councilman Santos introduced his family and was seated at the dais. 2. COMMUNICATION – Appointment and Promotion of Fire Marshal A motion was made by Councilman Mike Esposito, and was seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the correspondence, and approve the appointment and promotion of Deputy Fire Marshal Terence Timan to the position of Fire Marshal of the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION – 2019 Wells Fargo and USCM Community WINS Grant A motion was made by Councilman Priola, and was seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to allow the Mayor of the City of Danbury to apply for the 2019 Wells Fargo and USCM Community WINS Grant program in an amount not- to-exceed $150,000 and accept said funds and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. There is no City match required. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Cultural Commission *CONSENTED - as received. 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Danbury Museum Authority *CONSENTED - as received. 6. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Danbury Museum Authority *CONSENTED - as received. 7. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Danbury Museum Authority *CONSENTED - as received. 8. COMMUNICATION - Updating the Code of Ordinances A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, to refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - DiGilio as Chair, Fox, and Visconti; Councilman Levy will be attending as the petitioner. 9. COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department Fire Chief Wiedl responded to Councilman Perkins' inquiry regarding carbon monoxide detectors, and to John Esposito regarding the donor who is remaining publicly anonymous. A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, and was seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and accept the donation of $1,000 to the Danbury Fire Department for the purchase of smoke alarms for Danbury residents who need them. The motion carried unanimously. 10. COMMUNICATION - Supplemental Funding Request Mr. St. Hilaire responded to Councilman Chianese regarding a breakdown of what the funds would be used for. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman John Esposito, to receive the communication and approve the request for the supplemental funding appropriation of $300,000 from the Fund Balance Litigation Account #002-3700.0510. The motion carried unanimously. 11. COMMUNICATION - Massage and Spa Therapy Establishment Ordinance A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, to refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, the Director of Health, and a representative from the Mayor's Office. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Priola as Chair, Mike Esposito, and Chianese. 12. RESOLUTION - Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation Inc. It was noted the City of Danbury Department of Health and Human Services has been given the opportunity to apply for and accept funding not to exceed $25,000 from the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation Inc. to be utilized, in conjunction with other funding sources, to cooperatively and collaboratively work with all non-profit organizations working with the homeless population in Danbury. There is no City match required. A motion was made by Councilman Scozzafava, and was seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 13. RESOLUTION - Distracted Driving Grant – Police Department *CONSENTED - as received. 14. AD HOC REPORT - Flyers and Circulars 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 Office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Levy, and seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the report, adopt the recommendations, and that the UNIT, with the assistance of the Corporation Counsel's Office, issue a warning letter to the offending parties causing unsolicited marketing flyers, circulars, commercial handbills, and advertising materials to be distributed to residential properties within the City of Danbury, notifying such parties to cease distributing all such materials. The motion passed unanimously. 15. AD HOC REPORT - Governmental Entities Review Board *CONSENTED - as received. 16. AD HOC REPORT - Acquisition Congregational Church *CONSENTED - as received. 17. DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, UNIT, Elderly, Library, Dream Homes, (not submitted) Permit Center Mayor Boughton commended the Chief and the Deputy Chief of Police noting crime is down two months in a row, and suggested this would be a good front page story in the newspaper. Councilman Wetmore commended the Police and further clarified that there was a 13% reduction in crime this January over January of 2018 and the crime rate has steadily dropped 7% over the last six months. Public Works Director Iadarola responded to Councilman John Esposito's questions regarding Triangle Street Bridge, as well as other bridges, construction. Councilman Chianese commended Mr. Iadarola on the roadwork done during the latest storms and inquired as to road status. Mr. Iadarola also responded to Councilman Rotello regarding the outside pothole repair crew. Mayor Boughton also responded regarding the best way to register phone numbers for towing notices is on the City’s website. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Saadi, 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. No objections, so ordered. Mayor Boughton extended all Committees. Mayor Boughton appointed the Education Committee as follows: Councilman Levy as Chair, with Councilmembers Fox, Scozzafava, Stanley, and Visconti. Mayor Boughton requested the following staff remain for the Executive Session: Mr. St. Hilaire, Mr. Pinter, and Mr. Yamin. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman DiGilio, add Item 18. Executive Session to the Agenda. The motion carried unanimously. 18. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Litigation A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to enter Executive Session for the purposes of discussing Litigation. The motion carried unanimously. At 9:30 p.m., Mayor Boughton announced the Council is returning to regular session. Motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman John Esposito, to authorize further actions as recommended by Corporation Counsel regarding the MSW and the Connecticut DEEP Litigation. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by Councilman Levy, and was seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:31 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor