City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 7, 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, Mike Esposito, Colleen Stanley, Warren Levy, Robert Taborsak, Andrew Wetmore, Irving Fox, John Priola, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Paul Rotello, Elmer Palma, Chris Arconti, John Esposito, Duane Perkins, Farley Santos, and Nancy Cammisa. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilman Bennett is away on business, Councilman Visconti is out on family business, Councilman Scozzafava is out on family business, and Councilman Chianese is tending to business but is enroute. PRESENT: 17, ABSENT: 4 Councilman Chianese arrived at _7:45 p.m. ALSO PRESENT: Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING  Mark Nolan, 37 Brushy Hill Road, Danbury, thanked outgoing Council Members for their service and discussed Item 4. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Boughton made the announcements for the month of November. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held October 3, 2019 A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading of 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 1. COMMUNICATION – Appointment to Cultural Commission Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Richard J. Aronson to the Danbury Cultural Commission. 7. RESOLUTION - LSTA 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 from the Connecticut State Library through the FY2020 LSTA Planning Grant in the amount of $5,000, a 25% match of in-kind staff and facilities services is required. 8. REPORTS – Water Extension for 94 Hospital Avenue Receive the Report and approve the request for a water main extension BRT Hillside, LLC Hospital Avenue (Tax Assessor’s Lot No. J11215) 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 – Appointment to Cultural Commission *CONSENTED - as received. 2. COMMUNICATION – Donation to Pembroke School A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Taborsak, to receive the communication and accept the $8,000 donation towards the Pembrook School Playground Project, and send an appropriate letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Donation to Police & Fire Department A motion was made by Councilman Mike Esposito, seconded by Councilman John Esposito, to receive the correspondence and accept the donation from GoodHouse Flooring in the amount of $1,048.69 and send the appropriate letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. 4. RESOLUTION - Emergency Shelter Funding Councilman Taborsak inquired whether this would increase the amount of people that can be accepted into the shelter. Ms. Morrissey responded with regard to the operational expenses, staffing, and safety noting a few beds are open for emergencies. She noted this grant has been received in the past and procedures are in place. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution authorizing acceptance of the amended amount for the homeless shelter of $138,264 as the new dollar figure. The motion carried unanimously. 5. RESOLUTION – PHHSBG Contract- Health Department At Councilman Chianese's request, Ms. Morrissey provided further information on the program. A motion was made by Councilman Levy, seconded by Councilman Mike Esposito, that Mark D. Boughton, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Lisa Michelle Morrissey, Director of Health, as his designee, be authorized to apply for and accept funds and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary for the purposes of receiving a grant in the amount of $92,104 from the Connecticut Department of Public Health for a Type II Diabetes Prevention Program. The motion carried unanimously. 6. RESOLUTION - CT Space Grant Consortium - Library In response to Councilmen Perkins, Chianese, John Esposito, and Palma, the Library representative further described the program, its goals, camp, and the program partner as well as opportunities for more of these types of grants. A motion was made by Councilman Arconti, seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Katie Pearson, Library Director, as his designee, to apply for and accept grant funding through the NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium not-to-exceed $4,800 with a 100% local match be met through in-kind services from staff and facilities. The motion carried unanimously. 7. RESOLUTION - LSTA Grant Consortium - Library *CONSENTED - as received. 8. REPORTS – Water Extension for 94 Hospital Avenue *CONSENTED - as received. 9. REPORTS - Property Donations - East Lake Road Mayor Boughton responded to Councilman John Esposito regarding the plans for the property as passive recreation. A motion was made by Councilman Priola, and was seconded, to receive the reports from the Planning Commission, Office of the Tax Assessor, and Public Works, and accept the property donations of 42-44 and 46 East Lake Road, subject to terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the Office of Corporation Counsel, and send the appropriate letter of thanks. The motion carried unanimously. 10. AD HOC REPORT - Aquarion Water Company A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, that since all members have copies, and copies are available in the Office of the Legislative Assistant, to waive the reading of the minutes with no objection. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Day responded to Councilman Perkins regarding the current level of the water table and what kinds of levels would constitute emergency levels. Mr. Pinter and Mr. Day responded to questions from Councilmen Perkins, John Esposito, Chianese, and Priola regarding the outcome if the City does not enter into the agreement, the option to extend the agreement, future ownership, the current lines, age of the neighborhood, the system is not for sale, and that Aquarion is responsible for the construction for the record. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, and seconded by Councilman John Esposito, to receive the report of the Ad Hoc Committee, and to approve the interconnection of the Danbury Water System and the Aquarion Water System, which is designed to ensure an adequate water supply to Aquarion Water customers and the Pierce-Manor community of Danbury, and to adopt the related Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton to execute the interconnection agreement between the City of Danbury and Aquarion together with the related easement and to take such additional action consistent with the terms of this resolution as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. The motion passed unanimously. 11. DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly, Library, Dream Homes Mayor Boughton congratulated Police Chief Ridenhour and Deputy Chief McColgan on crime statistics. Councilman John Esposito commented on concerns regarding water quality concerns related to fireflow testing. Councilman Fox commended Mr. Iadarola and his team regarding resurfacing of the high school track and inquired as to the budget with the completion. Councilman Taborsak inquired regarding (mic off, unintelligible). Councilman Chianese requested on behalf of Spruce Mountain, a Neighborhood Watch Sign, road striping, and bear sighting warnings. Councilman Perkins commended Mr. Iadarola and his team for guardrails and road assessment processes.  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 available for review in the office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Rotello, to add to the agenda Item 12. Approval for Funding Pension Provisions in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Danbury Board of Education and the Teamsters Union, Local 677 (School Custodians, Maintenance and Drivers) from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022; and Item 13. Request for Assignment of Fund Balance for fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. The motion carried unanimously. 12. Approval for Funding Pension Provisions in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Danbury Board of Education and the Teamsters Union, Local 677 (School Custodians, Maintenance and Drivers) from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022 Mr. Pinter responded to Council Members regarding new hires/current employees, grandfathering, ratification, various strikeouts in the agreement, and matching percentage caps. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 13. Request for Assignment of Fund Balance for fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 Mr. St. Hilaire and Mayor Boughton responded to Council Member questions regarding the fund balance, and timing. Councilman Perkins commented on his previous attempts to increase the education budget from Fund Balance and commented on whether this increase would put the City below the 9% discussed at an earlier meeting. Mayor Boughton and Mr. St. Hilaire commented on the monies from the recent audit and the changes in enrollment from the demographer from 1.5% to the actual 5% increase. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman Wetmore, to receive the communication and approve the request for Assignment of Fund Balance for fiscal year ending June 30, 2019 as outlined in the accompanying memorandum. A motion was made by Councilman Perkins, to refer to an Ad Hoc Committee. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton so ordered with Councilman Cavo as Chair, DiGilio, and Santos. Said meeting shall be conducted next week as well as a special meeting next week to adopt. RECOGNITIONS Mayor Boughton provided plaques to outgoing Councilman Wetmore, and Councilman Curran, Councilman, and noted he would get plaques to those not present this evening as well. 14. Executive Session Employment/Related Matters-Resolution/Settlement of Appeals A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to move into Executive Session for the purposes of an Employment Related Matter- Resolution/Settlement of Appeal and to add (same) Item 14. to the Agenda. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Rotello, to come out of executive session and return to regular session. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman John Esposito, that related to Item 14, in Executive Session, to authorize Corporation Counsel Office and the Human Resources Personnel Department to resolve this matter as described to the Council tonight during Executive Session with the dollar figures as given and all the other descriptive clauses discussed tonight. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Boughton stated a Special Meeting will be noticed for Tuesday night. The Ad Hoc will be at 6:00 p.m. and the Special Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Boughton extended all committees and congratulated re-elected members. A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, and was seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:53 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor