City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING June 4, 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 Curran led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Phil Curran, Bruce Bennett Mike Esposito, Colleen Stanley, Warren Levy, Robert Taborsak, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Elmer Palma, Chris Arconti, John Esposito, Duane Perkins, Ben Chianese, Farley Santos, Nancy Cammisa, Paul Rotello, and Joe Scozzafava. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilman Visconti is recuperating; Councilman Priola is away on business. PRESENT: 19, ABSENT: 2 ALSO PRESENT: Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING Lynn Waller, 83 Highland Avenue, Danbury, discussed Items 10. and 11. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of June. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held May 5, 2019 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading and accept 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 5. COMMUNICATION – Suspense List Receive the communication and approve the Annual Suspense List in the amount of $263,739.54 as presented by the Tax Collector. 7. RESOLUTION – NRWIB Youth Employment Program Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton to apply for and accept funds from the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board through the State Department of Labor for a Youth Employment Program in an amount not to exceed $85,000.00 as a ’pass-through’ to Danbury Youth Services. 8. REPORT – Waste Water Treatment Plant – Upgrade Project – Plumtrees Road Receive the Planning Commission report regarding a Temporary Construction Easement, Plumtrees Rd. for the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP Upgrade Project). 9. REPORTS – Water Extension – 66 Wooster Heights Road Receive the reports and approve the request for Water Extension Time Extension, 66 Wooster Heights Road- Keystone Place, subject to the City’s standard eight (8) steps/conditions. A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION & RESOLUTION - Donation – Animal Control Facility Councilmembers and the Mayor thanked the Levy's for their generosity. A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley, seconded by Councilman Taborsak, to receive the communication and accept a most generous gift in the amount of $300,000 from Mrs. Ellen Levy's Estate for the new Animal Control Facility, and adopt a Resolution in honor of this most generous gift that the Animal Control Facility be named the Ellen Levy Animal Control Facility in her honor. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Donation – Uncle Sam Mayor Boughton noted this is a record of donations for the audit; there is another round of donations have been recorded, but not tabulated to date including in-kind and additional cash donations. A motion was made by Councilman Wetmore, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to receive the communication and accept generous donations in the amount of $17,179.11 from various donors for the Uncle Sam purchase and rehabilitation initiative. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds – Human Resources Mayor Boughton responded to Councilman Taborsak's questions regarding labor negotiations, which is actually for labor expenses such as outside services for arbitration hearings and employee hearings. Mr. Pinter responded to Councilman Chianese's questions regarding encumbrances. A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the communication and authorize the certification of funds in the amount of $140,000 from the General Contingency Fund to the Human Resources Department. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION – Waiver of Right of First Refusal – 49 Miry Brook Road - DXR Mr. Rotello requested the record reflect that, although the City is waiving the right of first refusal on this particular purchase, that right goes with the deed so that the City will always maintain the right of first refusal for future sales. Mr. Pinter concurred that is correct, and also responded to Councilman John Esposito's questions. Mr. Estefan responded to Councilman Perkin's questions regarding allowed uses. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to waive the City of Danbury's right of first refusal to purchase real property identified in the deed set forth in the correspondence from Attorney Mazzucco on May 13, 2019 in accordance with those terms. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION – Suspense List *CONSENTED - as received. 6. COMMUNICATION – Technology Lease – Board of Education Mr. Martino responded to Councilman Perkin's questions regarding teachers' laptops use, laptop carts, and projectors lifespan; and Councilman Chianese's questions regarding the lease type. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilman Bennett, to receive the communication and approve the High School Technology Lease of which total financing will be $750,000 over five years, with an estimated payment of $163,000 per year as detailed in the communication. The motion carried unanimously. 7. RESOLUTION – NRWIB Youth Employment Program *CONSENTED - as received. 8. REPORT – Waste Water Treatment Plant – Upgrade Project – Plumtrees Road *CONSENTED - as received. 9. REPORTS – Water Extension – 66 Wooster Heights Road *CONSENTED - as received. 10. AD HOC REPORT - Regionals Solid Waste and Recycling HRRA A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Rotello, 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 Arconti, and seconded by Councilman Rotello to receive the Ad Hoc Committee report and adopt the Committee's recommendation to adopt the Resolution for the Regional Solid Waste and Recycling System Agreement between HRRA and Danbury. The motion passed unanimously. 11. AD HOC REPORT & ORDINANCE – Storm Drain Illicit Discharge A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, to refer to a Public Hearing. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 12. COMMUNICATION – Youth Summer Employment - ARC Mayor Boughton responded to Councilman Chianese's questions regarding the program. A motion was made by Councilman Levy, and seconded by Councilman Rotello to approve the collaboration of the Danbury Health and Human Services, Mayor's Office, and the Association of Religious Communities to provide a Summer Youth Program, with funding of $15,000 from Account No. 002-4000- 5020-1000 Health Department’s Regular Salary. The motion passed unanimously. 13. DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire (and Statement of Condition), Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly, Library, Dream Homes Councilman Scozzafava commented on paving for Westwood Drive, Lincrest Drive, and Joes Hill Road and requested a list of paving plans for the year. He also inquired regarding acceptance of a private road, Caraway Drive. Mayor Boughton responded the list has been prepared and he can review it with Councilman Scozzafava; he does not believe the first section mentioned is on the list, but an evaluation can be done. He commented on the cost of acceptance for a private road, and that he will look into the matter. Councilmen John Esposito and Santos thanked Mr. Iadarola and his crew, as well as the Police Department regarding assistance with the sinkhole at Shelter Rock, and for providing the e-mail on bridge construction status. Mr. Iadarola provided further status details regarding the scope of review for construction on several bridges. He also responded to Councilman Chianese regarding sinkholes. Councilman Perkins thanked Police Chief Ridenhour and the Police Officers for their work at Rogers Park. He also noted compliments have been received for the weight machines and paved paths at the park, and requested an update on the tennis courts. Mayor Boughton noted the ribbon-cutting will be happening soon, and the high school is done as well. The Uncle Sam will be dedicated around the Fourth of July with an additional ceremony every September 13th, which is Uncle Sam Day. Councilman Wetmore commented on positive K-9 Officer interactions with the community which are building positive relationships, and thanked the Police Department. Councilman Fox thanked Mr. Iadarola and his team regarding the track reconstruction planning work. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Santos, 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. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Levy gave a tribute to his late wife, Ellen Levy, whose passions were children and animals. He stated their donation to the Ellen Levy Animal Control Facility is a token of appreciation for Danbury. Mayor Boughton extended all Committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, and was seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor