City Council

CITY COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING October 6, 2020 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:29 p.m. via video conference. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Buzaid. Councilman DiGilio led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Roberto Alves, Emile Buzaid, Mike Esposito, Warren Levy, Frank Salvatore, Colleen Stanley, Robert Taborsak, Irving Fox, John Priola, Vinny DiGilio, Joseph Cavo, Paul Rotello, Fred Visconti, Jack Knapp, John Esposito, Farley Santos, Ben Chianese, Nancy Cammisa, and Richard Molinaro. Duane Perkins joined the meeting at 7:37 p.m. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Elmer Palma had a last minute business obligation. PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 ALSO PRESENT: Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Finance Director; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING The City Council held a moment of silence in memory of Former Councilman Mike Calandrino. Mayor Boughton pointed to posted comments from all over the world, in favor of naming the waste water treatment plant after John Oliver, Item 6. Mayor Boughton read the following letters into the record: • Tom Brown, 10 Valerie Lane, Danbury, regarding Items 7 and 19. • Peter Green, 51 Main Street, regarding Items 6 and 18. Mayor Boughton read approximately 60 comments from Danbury residents in favor of naming the waste water treatment plant after John Oliver, Item 6. ANNOUNCEMENTS: School Superintendent Dr. Sal Pascarella provided a briefing on COVID-19 related to the status of the school re- openings in Danbury. He commented on a grant and a lease that was pivoted to get needed technology for students. When the State ordered students back to the classroom, Danbury received permission to go to a hybrid model and Dr. Pascarella reviewed those details; however, it was determined distance learning was the best course of action at that time. Two weeks ago, it was determined that moving to moderate status, the hybrid model, was acceptable but will take several weeks to institute and is expected to be in place approximately October 26, 2020. Dr. Sal commented on both the health as well as the social and emotional needs of the students. He responded to Council questions regarding the State recommended metric for community positivity rate in relation to patterns in relation to distance learning. Danbury Public Schools Health & Nursing Services Coordinator Nursing Kathy O'Dowd stated a reopening plan is in place with mitigation strategies. Ms. O'Dowd commented they are not seeing cases spread in the public schools, rather in the community, which shows their mitigation strategies are working and they are prepared to welcome students back to the classroom. She responded to Council questions regarding guidance from the Centers for Disease and the State and local Departments of Health, what will occur when a positive case is reported, there will not be temperature-taking, but there will be a check-list for home. Assistant School Superintendent Kevin Walston commented that with the help of the Director of Facilities and Operations, a template for each school reopening has been created for every Principal. He responded to Council questions regarding school transportation. School Director of Finance & Operations Courtney LeBorious commented on the costs of COVID-19 related mitigation of approximately $5 million, and where those funds are coming from: the State CARES Act ESSER $2.2 million; additional State CORONA Virus Relief Funds $1.3 million; State carry-overs; and City reserves along with virus-related underspending and items purchased last year. Spending has included $3.7 million on on- line instruction and long-distance learning; over $200,000 on social/emotional support some of which will be on- going; $750,000 on sanitizing including staff coaching; and $500,000 on facility safety, PPE, etc. Acting Health Director Prunty responded to Council questions regarding the 7-day rolling average per 100,000 and the positivity rate trends. She provided a COVID-19 update noting the City's metrics have been stable the past few weeks. The current positivity rate is 4.7%; the 7-day rolling average is 16 per 100,000. Free testing events are being held, including drive-through testing, in addition to free daily testing. Phase 3 will begin on Thursday. It is still critical to continue to wear masks and maintain social distancing. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held September 1, 2020 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 on file for review in the office of the Legislative Assistant. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 11. RESOLUTION – CT DOT Community Connectivity Grant Program Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or the Planning Director and/or Director of Public Works/City Engineer, as his designee to apply for and accept funding from the Connecticut Department of Transportation through its "Community Connectivity Grant Program (CCGP)" in an amount not to exceed $600,000, with funds to be used by the City of Danbury Planning & Zoning and Public Works Departments to help improve downtown sidewalks, no local match is required. 12. RESOLUTION – Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) CT DPH Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Kara Marie Prunty MPA, Acting Director of Health, as his designee to apply for and accept funding from the Connecticut Department of Public Health as part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreement grant program in an amount not to exceed $510,143, with funds to be used by the City of Danbury Health and Human Services Department to hire staff to assist with COVID-19 related activities and emergency response, no local match is required. 13. RESOLUTION – Ct. Health Foundation – Community Health Worker Grant Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Kara Marie Prunty, Acting Director of Health, as his designee to apply for and accept increased funding from the Connecticut Health Foundation through its "Utilizing Community Health Workers in COVID-19 Response" grant program in an amount not to exceed $125,000, with funds to be used by the City of Danbury Health and Human Services Department to assist in mass immunization, contact tracing, and prevention and control activities from 9/1/2020 to 2/28/2021, no local match is required. 14. RESOLUTION – Ratification of Aftermath K9 Grant Application Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Police Chief Patrick A. Ridenhour, as his designee to accept funding from Aftermath, Inc. through its "Aftermath K9" grant program in an amount not to exceed $10,000, with funds to be used by the City of Danbury Police Department to enhance the K9 unit, no local match is required. 16. 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 2021 Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement (DDHVE)" program, this funding not to exceed $60,000 will be used in the Danbury Police Departments continued efforts of distracted driving enforcement activities in October 2020 and April 2021, no local match is required. 17. RESOLUTION – EMPG Funding – State FY 2020 Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Matthew Cassavechia, Emergency Management Director as his designee, to apply for and accept funding from the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security through its "Emergency Management Performance" Grant Program," this funding not to exceed $42,623 will be used to enhance emergency management activities, a local match of 50% is required and will be available from funds in the current FY20/21 operating budget. 18. REPORTS – Renewal Sewer and Water Main Extension – 1 & 2 Kevin Drive Receive the communication and approve the request for Water and Storm Sewer time extension for #1 and #2 Kevin Drive (Tax Assessor’s Lots Nos. G05085 and G05074), as presented to the City Council at its September 1st, 2020 meeting noting no objections in reports from the Planning Commission and City Engineer. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously with the exception of Items 12. and 13. on which Councilman Cavo abstained. 1. COMMUNICATION – Appointment of Tax Assessor A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and approve the promotion and the appointment of Donna Murphy to the position of Tax Assessor. Motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION – Fire Lieutenant – Walter Arteaga A motion was made by Councilman Mike Esposito, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to accept the correspondence and confirm the promotional appointment of Firefighter Walter Arteaga to Fire Lieutenant in the Danbury Fire Department. Motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION – Fire Lieutenant – Denis Rickard A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley, seconded by Councilman Santos, to receive the communication and confirm the promotional appointment of Firefighter Denis Rickard to the position of Fire Lieutenant. Motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION – Fire Lieutenant – Seth Ambruso A motion was made by Councilwoman Cammisa, seconded by Councilman Alves, to receive the communication and confirm the promotional appointment of Firefighter Seth Ambruso to the position of Fire Lieutenant. Motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION – Appointments to the Police Department A motion was made by Councilman Buzaid, seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Mr. Johnathan Vasquez to the position of Police Officer. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Mr. Erik Merrill to the position of Police Officer. Motion carried unanimously. 6. COMMUNICATION – Naming of Waste Water Treatment Plant A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution that will rename the waste water treatment plant, the John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant and accept his generous donations of $25,000 to Donor's Choice, $25,000 to the Connecticut Food Bank, and $5,000 to the ALS Connecticut Foundation along with the generous donations being raised by our ever- generous local financial institutions and businesses. Motion superseded by the motion below. A motion was made by Councilman Rotello to refer to an Ad Hoc. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers: Cavo as Chair, DiGilio and Santos. 7. COMMUNICATION – Extension of Collective Bargaining Agreement - DMEA Mayor Boughton responded to Council questions regarding limitations on layoffs and furloughs in mid-contract year only, and limitations on reassignments and options to amend budgets and flexibility in future. Deputy Corporation Counsel Pinter provided guidance on the motion. Human Resources Director Alosco-Werner noted staffing is very lean with a number of unfilled positions and combined positions in the year there is zero percent raise, this fiscal year, there will be no layoffs. Finance Director St. Hilaire commented there is no excess in DMEA staffing.  A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, as reworded, to receive the communication and authorize the funding necessary for the extension of the DMEA Collective Bargaining Agreement for the time period as proposed, from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 8. COMMUNICATION – June 30, 2020 -Year End Re-Appropriations & Budget Amendments Finance Director St. Hilaire responded to questions noting water and sewer funds labeled as surplus are actually purchase orders for which goods or services have not been received before June 30, 2020. A motion was made by Councilman Priola, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and approve the following June 30, 2020 year-end reappropriations and budget transfers: necessary to close out the 2019/20 Fiscal Year: General Fund $120,735.05; Water Fund $174,566.40; Sewer Fund $294,808.01; and the Internal Service Fund-Risk Management $15,00.00. Motion carried unanimously. 9. COMMUNICATION – Danbury Train Station Lease Proposed Budget Mr. St. Hilaire responded to Council questions regarding the expected deficit due to COVID. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa, to receive the communication and approve the Fiscal Year 2020/21 Danbury Train Station Lease Proposed Budget as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 10. COMMUNICATION – Lease Agreement Ambulance Building – Keystone Place Mr. Pinter responded to Council questions noting the payment period paragraph 8 will be modified to a 45-day period consistent with other payment processes, along with insubstantial adjustments to the lease i.e., ingress/ egress and cost of living with regard to insurance amounts. An updated lease will be provided to the Council. A motion was made by Councilman Levy, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to accept the Lease Agreement and donation for a Public Safety Building at 66 Wooster Heights Road from Keystone Place at Wooster Heights LLC and a letter of thanks be sent to Anthony Rizzo, Jr. for his generosity and thoughtfulness. Motion carried unanimously. 11. RESOLUTION – CT DOT Community Connectivity Grant Program *CONSENTED - as received. 12. RESOLUTION – Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) CT DPH Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 13. RESOLUTION – Ct. Health Foundation – Community Health Worker Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 14. RESOLUTION – Ratification of Aftermath K9 Grant Application *CONSENTED - as received. 15. RESOLUTION – CTIC / RILO Sub Grant Application A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the communication and refer to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel and the Chief of Police. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers: Knapp as Chair, Stanley and Visconti. 16. RESOLUTION – Distracted Driving Grant – Police Department *CONSENTED - as received. 17. RESOLUTION – EMPG Funding – State FY 2020 *CONSENTED - as received. 18. REPORTS – Renewal Sewer and Water Main Extension – 1 & 2 Kevin Drive *CONSENTED - as received. 19. DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly, Library, Dream Homes Public Works Director Iadarola responded to Councilman John Esposito regarding the oil spill on Shelter Rock Lane with three contractors coming in with the City lending a hand. He also responded to Councilman Visconti regarding work on Grant Street and Long Ridge Road. U.N.I.T. Coordinator Stillman responded to 110 South Street blight issues noting it has been a challenge and concurred with Councilman John Esposito that a visual notice or deterrent should be there to prevent issues. Health Director Prunty responded to Councilman Taborsak providing an overview on homeless issues such as Super8 during winter including current and expected numbers of residents. Councilman Rotello commended Public Works Director Iadarola on the work done on Backus Road. Superintendent of Utilities Day responded to Councilman Rotello regarding reservoir water levels. Councilman Mike Esposito noted due to the lateness of the hour, he will contact Mr. Stillman regarding the issue at 110 South Street tomorrow. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman DiGilio, 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. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Boughton extended all Committees. A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was seconded by Councilman Taborsak, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:27 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor