City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 6, 2022-7:30 P.M. Honorable Mayor, Dean Esposito, called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Attorney Yamin. Councilman DiGilio led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Buzaid, Cavo, Eriquez, Knapp, Levy, DiGilio, Rotello, Visconti, Esposito, Masi, Henry, Britton, Perkins, Chianese, Cammisa and Molinaro. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Palma, Halas, Stanley, Fox and Santos. PRESENT: 16, ABSENT: 5 ALSO PRESENT: Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; David St. Hilaire, Finance Director, and Jean Natale, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT Tom Brown, 10 Valerie Lane, commented on Police Funding and offered funding suggestions. Thanked Legislative Assistant for years of service and emails. Al Robinson, 7 Melrose Avenue, commented on the Health Department reports. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held December 7, 2021 Councilman Chianese stated three people voted no on 3 Post Office Street and requested the minutes be amended. 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. A motion was made by Councilman Chianese, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to amend the motion to approve the minutes as revised. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 6. RESOLUTION - 2022 JAG Local VCP Grant Program Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury or Patrick Ridenhour, Chief of Police as his designee to apply for and accept funding for the “2022 JAG Local VCP Grant Program” with funding not to exceed $15,000.00. No local match is required. 7. RESOLUTION - Request to Enter MOU with DCF Receive the Communication submitted by Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour and adopt the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Department of Children and Families and the Danbury Police Department for the use of space for the Special Victims Unit. 9. RESOLUTION - FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Councilman Levy noted that there needs to be a year correction on the resolution. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury or Richard Thode, Fire Chief as his designee to apply for and accept funding for the “FY 2021 Assistance to Firefighters” grant program with funding not to exceed $143,100.00. A City of Danbury share of 10% or $14,310.00 as required. A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Legislative Assistant Councilman Cavo wished Ms. Natale a farewell and expressed his full support of Ms. Etcheto’s appointment. Mayor Esposito wished Ms. Natale a farewell and congratulated Ms. Etcheto on her new position. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Ms. Elisa Etcheto to the position of Legislative Assistant, effective February 4, 2022. Motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Certification of Funds Corporation Counsel Mr. Hilaire responded to Councilman Chianese regarding tax assessment savings. A motion was made by Councilman Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to accept the correspondence and approve an authorized request by Corporation Counsel for the immediate supplemental appropriation of $350,000, out of the Contingency Fund, as certified by the Director of Finance. Motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Request for Assignment of Fund Balance Mr. Hilaire responded to Councilman Visconti regarding the $139,000 expense. He noted the patrol boats and gas are very expensive and not part of the same City contract. Councilman Rotello noted the City will be receiving Restoration Act Funds. Mr. Hilaire commented the $3.3 million expense will not be covered by the Restoration Act Funds. Furthermore, he responded to Councilman Perkins regarding restricted project funding and Board Of Education contingency funds. He also responded to Councilman Chianese regarding the assigned fund balance and Councilman DiGilio regarding audits, and noted the best use of the available fund balance. A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to receive the communication submitted by David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance, and motion to approve the request for assignment of fund balance for fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Year End Re-Appropriations and Budget Amendments  A motion was made by Councilman Henry, seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa, to receive the communication and approve the June 30, 2021, year-end re-appropriations and budget amendments. Motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - Main House – Residential License A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Masi, to receive the communication and approve the license agreement for the main house on the Farrington property, for this license agreement. Motion carried unanimously. 6. RESOLUTION - 2022 JAG Local VCP Grant Program *CONSENTED - as received. 7. RESOLUTION - Request to Enter MOU with DCF *CONSENTED - as received. 8. RESOLUTION - Acquisition of Property – White Street Intersection Improvement Project A motion was made by Councilman Esposito, seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa, to receive the correspondence and adopt a new resolution to renew the Council’s previous approval of the acquisitions of certain properties. Two more properties needed additional time to finish the process of negotiations and/or acquisitions. Motion carried unanimously. 9. RESOLUTION - FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant *CONSENTED - as corrected, should read 2021. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly, Library Councilman Rotello commented the City has done a great job providing COVID testing and offering testing kits to the public. Ms. Tomanio responded to Councilman Rotello regarding COVID updates. The City distributed over 620 test kits to older adults. The City is performing community outreach and working with local agencies to distribute flyers. Ms. Prunty responded to Councilman Rotello regarding COVID updates. The case rate is 154.4 per 100,000 and the positivity rate is 23.6%. To note, the City has three confirmed Omicron variant cases. She responded to Councilman Perkins regarding the relocation to WestConn and Councilman Chianese regarding the replenishment of testing kits. She also responded to Councilman Molinaro regarding use of at home test kits, and Councilman Britton regarding housing the homeless, warming centers and expanding COVID testing. Ms. Alsoco Werner responded to Councilman Chianese regarding City shortages for public safety. Mr. Ridenhour commented the Police Department is able to manage their shifts. Mr. Thode commented six employees tested positive and they are able to manage their shifts appropriately. Mr. Nolan commented the City is prepared for the storm tonight. Mr. Pinter responded to Councilman Britton regarding the elimination of numbering of the Department Reports indicating that the numbered items are to be acted upon. Mayor Esposito passed the gavel to Councilman DiGilio to discuss how the City is working hard to combat COVID and protect the public. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading of the minutes as all Council Members have copies and copies are on file with the Legislative Assistant's Office and accept them as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Esposito extended all Committees. ADJOURNMENT Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistants Office A motion was made by Councilman Levy, and was seconded by Councilman Visconti, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Christina Martinez Recording Secretary Attest, Dean Esposito, Mayor