City Council

CITY COUNCIL VIRTUAL MEETING November 5, 2020 Honorable Mayor, Mark D. Boughton, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. via video conference. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Cavo. Councilman Palma 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, Elmer Palma, Jack Knapp, John Esposito, Farley Santos, Duane Perkins, Ben Chianese, Nancy Cammisa, and Richard Molinaro. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: None. PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 0 ALSO PRESENT: Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Finance Director; and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC SPEAKING Mayor Boughton read the following letters into the record: Tom Browne, 10 Valerie Lane, Danbury, regarding Item 8 Department Reports related to COVID-19 questions for Police and Health & Human Services. ANNOUNCEMENTS Mayor Boughton congratulated local elected and re-elected officials. He shared the Governor's announcements and advisements related COVID-19. He reviewed current statistics, testing available, and contact tracing. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held October 7, 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 1. COMMUNICATION – Appointment to Danbury Housing Authority Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Kevin Barry to serve as a member of the Danbury Housing Authority. 6. RESOLUTION – Everybody Learns Grant – CT State Library Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Mark D. Boughton, or Katie Pearson, Library Director, as his designee, to accept funding from the Connecticut State Library through its “Everybody Learns Public Library Grant” program through Connecticut Coronavirus relief funds, this funding not to exceed $52,000 will be used to replace the self-service kiosks in an effort to continue contactless services and must be expended by December 18, 2020, no local match is required. A motion was made by Councilman , and was seconded by Councilman Taborsak, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION – Appointment to Danbury Housing Authority *CONSENTED - as received. 2. COMMUNICATION – Donation – Danbury Westerners Public Works Director Iadarola and Recreation Director Kaplanis responded to Council questions regarding who will be doing the modifications, questions regarding fencing. A motion was made by Councilman Priola, seconded by Councilwoman Stanley, to receive the communication and accept the significant donation being made by the Danbury Westerners this donation with an estimated value of $80,000 consists of needed field modification to the Rogers Park Baseball Field where the Westerners play their home games, and ask that we send an appropriate letter of thanks for this generous donation. Motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION – Mountainville Avenue Property Request A motion was made by Councilman Cavo to refer to an Ad Hoc Committee including Corporation Counsel, the Director of Public Works, the Planning Director, the Director of Parks, a Planning Commission Report, and the Petitioner. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers: Priola as Chair, Levy and Alves. 4. COMMUNICATION – Renewal of Water/Sewer Extension Approval - 28-30 Tamarack Avenue A motion was made by Councilwoman Cammisa, to direct that the item be sent to the Director of Public Works and Planning for a report. Hearing no objection, Mayor Boughton so ordered. 5. COMMUNICATION – 25 Miry Brook Road/Acquisition A motion was made by Councilman Levy to refer to an Ad Hoc Committee, the Airport Administrator, the Director of Planning, a Planning Report, and the Corporation Counsel. Hearing no objections, Mayor Boughton ordered the Ad Hoc Committee with the following Councilmembers: Levy as Chair, Fox and Rotello. 6. RESOLUTION – Everybody Learns Grant – CT State Library 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 carried unanimously. *CONSENTED - as received. 7. AD HOC REPORT – Donation of Land – Commerce Park A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, and was 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 as well as online. The motion carried unanimously. Deputy Corporation Counsel responded to Council questions regarding soils testing. A motion was made by Councilman John Esposito, seconded by Councilman Perkins to amend the motion below to include pending soil sample analysis upon accepting the donation. Following discussion noting testing is already included in the motion below, the motion to amend was withdrawn. Mayor Boughton and Planning Director Calitro responded to Council questions regarding the interior lot, parcel K11152, land features, valuation, and taxes. A motion was made by Councilman Mike Esposito, and seconded by Councilman Santos, to accept the donation of the two parcels of land Assessor Lots K11152 and LT1039 from Seymour Powers Trust and Family on Augusta Drive and Newtown Road in Commerce Park, Danbury. Said lots are discussed in Committee together with and conditional upon such testing and other due diligence pre-acquisition measures including necessary easements and/or other instruments legally necessary to obtain access or for other purposes as may be needed and as required in order to consummate the transaction. The motion passed 20 - 1, Councilman Chianese voting no. 8. DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly, Library, Dream Homes Acting Health Director Prunty provided a briefing on COVID-19 noting the Connecticut Department of Health issued an advisory due to the increase from 5.1 per 100,000 to 14 per 100,000. Danbury has a 39.2 rolling daily average up from 22.8 last week and an 8.6 positivity rate. She provided the details of Phase 2.1 which will be entered into in several hours. Ms. Prunty delineated testing sites, urged cooperation with contact tracers, and to limit gatherings to those within your household - if those outside your household are present, wear masks. She responded to Council questions regarding how increased testing affects results, and homeless serviced at Super 8. Mayor Boughton responded that Elm Street is on hold for now and it will be revisited after the Winter months. Police Chief Ridenhour responded to Council questions regarding response to human trafficking training mandated for all personnel as part of essential skills. He also responded to questions regarding the status of body cameras noting the chosen vendor was unable to meet the terms of the tentative agreement but a new vendor was chosen and it is expected they will have the cameras by the end of the year. Mr. Ridenhour also discussed in-car cameras. They are up-to-date with all other aspects of the Police Accountability Bill. Mr. Ridenhour responded that the fingerprint vendor is servicing the Department again. Regarding large gathering complaints, he responded that citizens can call and they will work with the Health Department or UNIT to educate and disperse, with enforcement as a last resort. Councilman Cavo commended Town Clerk Gigler, Registrar Dornan, Assistant Town Clerk Dunkerton, and staff who worked so diligently to get the votes counted. UNIT Coordinator Stillman and Mayor Boughton responded to Council questions regarding enforcement at the illegal junkyard at South Street. Mayor Boughton suggested Mr. Stillman meet with Mr. Pinter to determine if a Cease and Desist can be crafted. Mayor Boughton responded to Council questions regarding leaf pickup. 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 available for review in the office of the Legislative Assistant as well as online. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Boughton extended all Committees and noted www.FeedingOurNeighborsChallenge.org. A motion was made by Councilman Santos, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Lori Goor Recording Secretary Attest, Mark D. Boughton, Mayor