City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING April 2, 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 Boy Scout Troop 9. Councilman Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Phil Curran, Mike Esposito, Colleen Stanley, Warren Levy, Robert Taborsak, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, John Priola, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Fred Visconti, Elmer Palma, John Esposito, Duane Perkins, Ben Chianese, Farley Santos, Nancy Cammisa, Paul Rotello, and Joe Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilman Bennett is away on business; Councilman Arconti is out with an illness. PRESENT: 19, ABSENT: 2 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  Christina Heffley, 9 John Perry Drive, Danbury, submitted a petition for Danbury High School Track.  Erin Daily, 24 Tarrywile Lake Road, Danbury, representing teachers for fully funding the school budget.  Kate Conetta, 4 Tophill Road, Danbury, Board of Education Member, in favor of fully funding the school budget.  (Name unintelligible), 8 1/2 Fourth Street, Danbury, in support of the school budget and urged an increase in preschool budgets.  Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue, Danbury, expressed concern with taxes on seniors and support for the UNIT. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of April. BUDGET ADDRESS Mayor Boughton gave the Budget Address and noted Budget Committee appointments as follows: General Government I – DiGilio as Chair, Cavo, Cammisa, John Esposito, and Perkins. General Government II – Wetmore as Chair, Arconti, Cavo, Palma, and Santos. Public Works – Stanley as Chair, Curran, DiGilio, Taborsak, and Chianese. Health, Housing, and Public Safety – Curran as Chair, Mike Esposito, Priola, Bennett, and Rotello. Education - Levy as Chair, Stanley, Scozzafava, Fox, and Visconti. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held March 5, 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 14. COMMUNICATION – Donation – Parks and Recreation Receive the communication and accept the donation from the Danbury Westerners in the amount of $2,500.00 to purchase and install netting on the 1st & 3rd baselines at the Rogers Park baseball field. 15. RESOLUTION - 2019 Neighborhood Assistance Act Receive the communication and refer the 2019 Neighborhood Assistance Act Resolution to a Public Hearing. 16. RESOLUTION – AARP Community Health Challenge Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, Lisa Michelle Morrissey Director of Health, or Sharon Calitro Director of Planning as his designee(s), to apply for and accept funds from the Quick Action grant through the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) in an amount not to exceed $80,000, no local match is required. 17. RESOLUTION – Awesome foundation Grant - Library 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 from the Awesome Foundation not to exceed $1,000, no local match is required. 18. RESOLUTION – CT Space Grant Consortium - Library 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 from the NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium (CTSGC) in an amount not to exceed $2,000, this grant requires a 100% local match which will be met and documented through staff and facility in-kind services. 19. RESOLUTION – Better World Books Grant - Library 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 from the Better World Books program in an amount not to exceed $10,000, no local match is required. 21. RESOLUTION – Crosby Street Connector Bridge and Triangle Street Bridge Receive the communication and adopt the Resolutions authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton to sign the Local Bridge Program Grant Agreements for the Crosby Street Connector Bridge No. 06183 and Triangle Street over Still River Bridge No. 04073 and execute all agreements and contracts on behalf of the City of Danbury. 22. REPORT - Governmental Entities Review Commission Receive the communication and adopt the Government Entities Ordinance as presented. A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. ORDINANCE & RESOLUTION - An Ordinance Making Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2020 and a Resolution Levying the Property Tax for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2020 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, to refer Item 1. to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 2. ORDINANCE - An Ordinance Appropriating $3,000,000 for Public Improvements in The 2019-2020 Capital Budget and Authorizing the Issuance of $3,000,000 Bonds of the City to Meet Said Appropriations And Pending The Issuance Thereof The Making Of Temporary Borrowings For Such Purpose A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, to refer Item 2. to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 3. ORDINANCE - Sewer Rates as of July 1, 2019 A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, to refer Item 3 to a Public Hearing followed by a Committee of the Whole. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 4. ORDINANCE - Transfer Unexpended Bond Proceeds A motion was made by Councilman Priola, to refer Item 4. to a Public Hearing to be followed by a Committee of the Whole. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 5. ORDINANCE - Senior Tax Freeze A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley, to refer Item 5. to a Public Hearing to be followed by a Committee of the Whole. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 6. RESOLUTION - Downtown Special Services District – Tax Levy A motion was made by Councilwoman Cammisa, and was seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to table the item until the May meeting. The motion carried unanimously. 7. COMMUNICATION - Appointment – Deputy Fire Marshal A motion was made by Councilman Mike Esposito, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to accept the correspondence and confirm the promotional appointment of Firefighter Timothy Smith to the position to the Deputy Fire Marshal in the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 8. COMMUNICATION - Body Piercing and Tattoo Establishment Ordinance A motion was made by Councilman Curran, to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel and a representative of the Health Department. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Priola as Chair, Mike Esposito, and Chianese. 9. COMMUNICATION - Body Care Facility Ordinance A motion was made by Councilman Fox, receive the communication and to 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 - Priola as Chair, Mike Esposito, and Chianese. 10. COMMUNICATION - Disposition of City Land, Liberty Street Surface Parking Lot A motion was made by Councilman Scozzafava, to refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of the Parking Authority, Corporation Counsel, Planning Director, and Business Advocate, and a report from Planning Commission. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers - Fox as Chair, Levy, and Perkins. 11. COMMUNICATION – Certification of Funds – Historic Document Reserve Director of Finance St. Hilaire responded to Commission questions, and did Town Clerk Giegler. A motion was made by Councilman Levy, and was seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the communication and approve the transfer of $130,920 in accordance with the attached Director of Finance Certification. The motion carried unanimously. 12. COMMUNICATION – Application for Federal Highway Administration Grant Councilman Perkins cited reasons he is requesting Deer Hill Avenue be included in the application. Mayor Boughton noted this grant is related to handicap accessibility, but that issues on Deer Hill Avenue could be worked on and he will ask Public Works Director Iadarola if that street could be included in this grant. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the communication and authorize the Mayor to execute the application to solicit a $1.4 million grant from the Federal Highway Administration Program known as the Transportation Alternative through the Western Connecticut Council of Government and the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation. The requested grant would cover 80% of the engineering, design, and construction costs, with 20% of the cost being borne by the City of Danbury through funds provided in the Danbury Road Bond 2020 Program. The motion carried unanimously. 13. COMMUNICATION – Donation – Police Department Police Chief Ridenhour commented on the donor. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the communication and accept the generous donation from this very industrious young man, a Third Grader from Strongville, Ohio who runs Brady's Canine Fund who is donating three vests for Gunner, Dirk, and cael, at a value of $4,072.50 with a great letter of thanks and congratulations for providing our Officers with these vests. The motion carried unanimously. 14. COMMUNICATION – Donation – Parks and Recreation *CONSENTED - as received. 15. RESOLUTION - 2019 Neighborhood Assistance Act *CONSENTED - as received. 16. RESOLUTION – AARP Community Health Challenge Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 17. RESOLUTION – Awesome foundation Grant - Library *CONSENTED - as received. 18. RESOLUTION – CT Space Grant Consortium - Library *CONSENTED - as received. 19. RESOLUTION – Better World Books Grant - Library *CONSENTED - as received. 20. RESOLUTION – Naming of City Property J24015 (Long Ridge Road) A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, and was seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to rename the property along Long Ridge Road identified as Tax Assessor Lot Number J24015 to be named Wiedel Meadows in honor of the former owners Monique and Philip Wiedel. The motion carried unanimously. 21. RESOLUTION – Crosby Street Connector Bridge and Triangle Street Bridge *CONSENTED - as received. 22. REPORT - Governmental Entities Review Commission *CONSENTED - as received. 23. REPORT - Illicit Discharge and Connection Ordinance A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded, to table Item 23 until the May meeting when hopefully, Public Works Director Iadarola will be well enough to join in the discussion of this matter. The motion carried unanimously. 24. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly, Library Councilman Cavo commented Mr. Nolan and Mr. Iadarola and their crews for the quick pothole response. 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. No objections, so ordered. Mayor Boughton extended all Committees noting the Budget Workshop will commence on Monday at 6:30 p.m.. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Priola, 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