City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 9, 2021 Honorable Mayor Joseph M. Cavo called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sean Hatch. Councilman Palma led everyone in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Alves, Buzaid, M. Esposito, Levy, Fox, Digilio, Rotello, Visconti, Salvatore, Stanley, Taborsak, Palma, Henry, Knapp, J. Esposito, Santos, Perkins, Chianese, Cammisa and Molinaro. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Priola 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 INPUT Mark Boughton, 1 Kennedy Ave, Danbury, regarding items 1 and 19 Charles Setaro - 27 Deer Hill Avenue, Danbury commented on water treatment issues Ken Gucker, 89 Padanaram Road, Danbury spoke regarding flooding and Ives Center Al Robinson, 7 Melrose Avenue, spoke regarding flooding MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held August 3, 2021 A motion was made by Councilman Digilio, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading of the Minutes as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 12. COMMUNICATION Supplemental Suspense List Receive the communication and approve the supplement to the Annual Suspense List in the amount of $11,449.57 as presented by the Tax Collector. 14. RESOLUTION – Airport Rescue Grant Program (ARGP) Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Joseph M. Cavo, and/or Michael Safranek, Airport Administrator, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding from the Federal Aviation Administration through its Airport Rescue Grant Program (ARGP), this funding not to exceed $59,000 will be used for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, combating the spread of pathogens at the airport, and debt service payments, no local match is required. 16. REPORT – Sanitary Sewer Main Extension – 85 Wooster Heights Receive the communication and approve the request for sanitary sewer main extension for 85 Wooster Heights Road (Tax Assessor’s Lot No. G18062), as presented to the City Council at its August 3 rd, 2021 meeting and subsequently given a positive recommendation by the Planning Commission at its August 24th, 2021 meeting, subject to the City’s standard 8 steps and conditions. 17. REPORT – Water Main Extension – 53 Lake Avenue Extension Receive the communication and approve the request for water main extension for 53 Lake Avenue Extension (Tax Assessor’s Lot No. E15064), as presented to the City Council at its August 3 rd, 2021 meeting and subsequently given a positive recommendation by the Planning Commission at its August 24th, 2021 meeting, subject to the City’s standard 8 steps and conditions. 18. REPORT – Sanitary Sewer and Water Main Extension – 100 Saw Mill Road Receive the communication and approve the request for sanitary sewer main and water main extension for 100 Saw Mill Road (Tax Assessor’s Lot No. A17005), as presented to the City Council at its August 3rd, 2021 meeting and subsequently given a positive recommendation by the Planning Commission at its August 24th, 2021 meeting, subject to the City’s standard 8 steps and conditions. A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, to remove item 18 from the Consent Calendar. Seeing no objection, it was so ordered. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to adopt the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION – Appointment of Director of Health and Human Services A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio and seconded by Councilman J. Esposito to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Kara Prunty as Director of Health and Human Services. Motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION – Promotion, Sergeant, Police Department, Matthew Malone A motion was made by Councilman Henry and seconded by Councilman Chianese to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Matthew Malone as Police Department Sergeant. Motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION – Promotion, Sergeant, Police Department, Brian Peloso A motion was made by Councilwoman Stanley and seconded by Councilman Santos to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Brian Peloso as Police Department Sergeant. Motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION – Promotion, Fire Department, Assistant Fire Chief, William Lounsbury A motion was made by Councilman M. Esposito and seconded by Councilman Visconti to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of William Lounsbury as Assistant Fire Chief. Motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION – Promotion, Fire Department, Deputy Fire Chief, Jaime Schiller A motion was made by Councilman Buziad and seconded by Councilman Perkins to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Jaime Schiller as Deputy Fire Chief. Motion carried unanimously. 6. COMMUNICATION – Promotion, Fire Department, Deputy Fire Chief, Robert Forbes A motion was made by Councilman Fox and seconded by Councilman Stanley to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Robert Forbes as Deputy Fire Chief. Motion carried unanimously. 7. COMMUNICATION – Promotion, Fire Department, Fire Captain, Douglas Zaniewski A motion was made by Councilman Knapp and seconded by Councilwoman Stanley to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Douglas Zaniewski as Fire Captain. Motion carried unanimously. 8. COMMUNICATION – Promotion, Fire Department, Fire Captain, Shawn McGee A motion was made by Councilman Palmer and seconded by Councilman M. Esposito to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Shawn McGee as Fire Captain. Motion carried unanimously. 9. COMMUNICATION – Promotion, Fire Department, Fire Lieutenant, Jeffrey Nolet A motion was made by Councilman J. Esposito and seconded by Councilman Rotello to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Jeffrey Nolet as Fire Lieutenant. Motion carried unanimously. 10. COMMUNICATION – Promotion, Fire Department, Fire Lieutenant, Dickon John (DJ) Brown A motion was made by Councilman Levy and seconded by Councilman Taborsak to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Dickon John (DJ) Brown as Fire Lieutenant. Motion carried unanimously 11. COMMUNICATION – Transfer of Property - Driftway Road – Charles Ives Center, LLC A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, to refer this to an Ad Hoc and with Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance, Director of Public Works, Director of Planning, the Tax Assessor, and a representative from the Mayor's office in attendance. The Mayor appointed Councilman DiGilio in the chair, along with Councilman Henry and Visconti. Motion carried unanimously. 12. COMMUNICATION – Supplemental Suspense List *CONSENTED - as received. 13. COMMUNICATION – Request for Change – Parking Ordinance A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, to refer this to a Public Hearing and Committee of the Whole with Corporation Council, Director of Planning, and the Parking Authority. Motion carried unanimously. 14. RESOLUTION – Airport Rescue Grant Program (ARGP) *CONSENTED - as received. 15. RESOLUTION – WestCOG Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2021-2026 A motion was made by Councilman M. Esposito, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution for Western Connecticut Council of Governments ( WESCOG) With the Multi Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for 2021-2026 Motion carried unanimously. 16. REPORT – Sanitary Sewer Main Extension – 85 Wooster Heights *CONSENTED - as received. 17. REPORT – Water Main Extension – 53 Lake Avenue Extension *CONSENTED - as received. 18. REPORT – Sanitary Sewer and Water Main Extension – 100 Saw Mill Road A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading of the report as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Rotello to refer this to an Ad Hoc and with Corporation Counsel, Director of Public Works, Director of Planning, , and Business Advocacy Representative. The Mayor appointed Councilman Levy in the chair, along with Councilmen Priola and Rotello. Motion carried unanimously. 19. AD HOC REPORT – Disposition of City Land – 33 East Franklin and 72-80 Maple Avenue A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to waive the reading of the report as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to receive the communication and accept the report from the Ad Hoc Committee .Subject to a planning Commission report and in accordance with Danbury Code of Ordinances Section 2-211 ( b) as pertains to disposition of real property by publication and bids, I move to recommend the declaration of the subject site at 72-80 Maple Ave and 33 E. Franklin Street as surplus, and , together with a Public Hearing under CGS 7-163 (e), recommend to disposal of the subject site by Request for Proposals “ RFP”. It is further recommended that upon selection of the successful bidder by the City Board of Awards pursuant to Code Section 2-211 (b) (4), a final agreement of sale shall be returned to the City Council for final authorization of sale pursuant to Charter Section 3-17. Motion carried unanimously. 20. DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly, Library A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to accept the Department Reports as presented and waive the reading of the individual reports as all members have copies and copies are on file with the Legislative Assistant. Motion Carried unanimously. Councilman Santos spoke on police staffing. Councilman Taborsak spoke regarding the homeless shelter. Mr. Tim Nolan spoke about money saved by using a new process for road paving. Councilman Salvatore spoke about water quality and reporting. ADJOURNMENT Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office Mayor Cavo extended all committees. A motion was made by Councilman Perkins, and was seconded by Councilman Knapp, to adjourn the City Council Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:47 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jean Natale Legislative Assistant Attest, Joseph M. Cavo, Mayor