City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 7, 2022 - 7:30 P.M. Honorable Mayor, Dean Esposito, called the meeting to order at 7:42 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sean Hatch. Councilman DiGilio led all in prayer. ROLL CALL: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Buzaid, Cavo, Eriquez, Knapp, Levy, DiGilio, Rotello, Henry, Britton, Perkins, Santos, Chianese, Cammisa, Fox, Esposito, Halas, Esposito III, Masi and Molinaro. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Visconti and Palma. PRESENT: 19, ABSENT: 2 ALSO PRESENT: Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Dan Garrick, Assistant Finance Director; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT Dr. Bialik, Resident, 5 Wilderswood Way, spoke in opposition of item #11; due to concerns regarding traffic congestion and road deterioration. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held August 2, 2022 A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading of the Minutes as all members of the Council have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 2. COMMUNICATION – Appointments to Government Entity – Danbury Housing Authority Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Shay Nagarsheth and the re-appointment of Rose Morrison to the Danbury Housing Authority as presented. 6. COMMUNICATION – Supplemental Suspension List – Office of the Tax Collector Receive the Communication from Scott Ferguson, Tax Collector, and approve the 2012 Supplemental Suspension List as presented. 7. COMMUNICATION – Donation - Linde Global Industrial Gas – Highway Dept. Receive the Communication from Timothy Nolan, Superintendent of Public Services, and accept the generous donation from Linde Global Industrial Gas and Engineering Company valued at $2,400 for tree planting as presented with an appropriate letter of thanks to be sent. 8. COMMUNICATION – Donation - The Danbury Westerners – Parks & Recreation Dept. Receive the Communication from Nicholas Kaplanis, Director of Recreation, and accept the generous donation from the Danbury Westerners valued at $10,000 for a storage shed as presented with an appropriate letter of thanks to be sent. 10. RESOLUTION - Student Educational Training Agreement – WCSU – Health & Human Services Receive the Communication from Kara Prunty, Director of Health and Human Services, and Adopt the Resolution for the Student Educational Training Affiliation Agreement as presented. 12. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Request for Access and Drainage Easement – Appollo Road, Bethel CT Receive the Reports from the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, the Planning Department, and the Planning Commission and adopt their positive recommendations for the Access and Drainage Easement at 50 Apollo Road, Bethel, CT subject to the legal documents being acceptable to the Office of Corporation Counsel as presented. 13. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Application for Extension of Sewer Main – 1 & 15 Miry Brook Rd Receive the Reports from the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, the Planning Department, and the Planning Commission and adopt their positive recommendations for a Sanitary Sewer Main Extension at 1 and 15 Miry Brook Road subject to the City’s standard eight steps/conditions as presented. 14. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Application for Extension of Water Main – 1 & 3 Scuppo Rd Receive the Reports from the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, the Planning Department, and the Planning Commission and adopt their positive recommendations for the Extension of Water Main at 1 & 3 Scuppo Road subject to the City’s standard eight steps/conditions as presented. 15. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Application for Renewal of Extension of Sewer Main – 5 Great Pasture Road Receive the Reports from the Director of Public Works/City Engineer, the Planning Department, and the Planning Commission and adopt their positive recommendations for the Renewal of Extension of Sewer Main at 5 Great Pasture Road subject to the City’s standard eight steps/conditions as presented. A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, and was seconded by Councilman M. Esposito, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 1. COMMUNICATION – Police Department Hire – Officer Thomas Pace A motion was made by Councilman Henry, seconded by Councilman Esposito III, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Thomas Pace, to the position of Certified Police Officer in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION – Appointments to Government Entity – Danbury Housing Authority *CONSENTED - as received. 3. COMMUNICATION – Request for Water Line & Hydrant Easement – 102 Mill Plain Road A motion was made by Councilman Esposito III, to refer this item to the City Engineer and Planning Commission for department reports. So Ordered. 4. COMMUNICATION – Settlement of Claim/Litigation – Corporation Counsel/Outside Counsel A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Knapp, to move this item to the end of the agenda following Department Reports. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION – Application for Tax Deferral – Main Street, White Street & Post Office Walk - Savings Bank of Danbury A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, to move to receive the communication, and refer this to an Ad Hoc consisting of Corporation Counsel, Tax Assessor, Director of Finance, Director of Planning, a representative Mayor's Office, and the petitioner. So Ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman Cavo in the Chair, along with Councilmen Levy and Visconti. 6. COMMUNICATION – Supplemental Suspension List – Office of the Tax Collector *CONSENTED - as received. 7. COMMUNICATION – Donation - Linde Global Industrial Gas – Highway Dept. *CONSENTED - as received. 8. COMMUNICATION – Donation - The Danbury Westerners – Parks & Recreation Dept. *CONSENTED - as received. 9. RESOLUTION - City Charter Revision - 2022 A motion was made by Councilman Fox, to move receive the communication and refer this item to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel and a representative from the Mayor's Office. So Ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman DiGilio in the Chair, along with Councilmen Levy and Chianese. 10. RESOLUTION - Student Educational Training Agreement – WCSU – Health & Human Services *CONSENTED - as received. 11. REPORT & RESOLUTIONS - Ad Hoc – Application for Tax Deferral – Clancy Relocation & Logistics/Armagh Storage Group LLC A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman Levy, to waive the reading of the Minutes as all have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office. The motion carried unanimously.  A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Esposito III, to accept the report and adopt the resolution authorizing Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury, to execute and record an agreement, to defer increase in tax assessment between the City of Danbury and Armagh Storage Group LLC; subject to the application and the commitments made for the construction and improvements proposed, in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes 12-65b, and City Code Section 44-63, and other relevant City requirements. 3 No Votes (Buzaid, Perkins, Chianese), 16 Yes Votes. The motion carried. Councilman Britton favored the tax deferral application but was concerned with public perception. Councilman Esposito III spoke in favor of the tax deferral application. Councilman Chianese encouraged the Council to not support the tax deferral application. Ms. Murphy addressed Councilman Chianese regarding the total tax abatement deferral amount ($225,000 per year) and the assessment change of excess acreage. Councilman Perkins discussed concerns with the tax deferral application. Councilman Rotello discussed the benefits of the tax deferral and favored the tax deferral application. Councilman Santos stated the tax deferral program will greatly benefit the community. Councilman DiGilio and Councilman Cavo also favored, and encouraged the Council to support, the tax deferral application. 12. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Request for Access and Drainage Easement – Appollo Road, Bethel CT *CONSENTED - as received. 13. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Application for Extension of Sewer Main – 1 & 15 Miry Brook Rd *CONSENTED - as received. 14. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Application for Extension of Water Main – 1 & 3 Scuppo Rd *CONSENTED - as received. 15. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Application for Renewal of Extension of Sewer Main – 5 Great Pasture Road *CONSENTED - as received. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health & Human Services, Public Works, Permit Center, U.N.I.T., Elderly Services, Public Library 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; as well as to accept the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Iadarola addressed the water shortage issues with Councilman Levy. The City will continue to monitor the water levels/usage; and noted the use Lake Kenosia as an emergency water source. He responded to Councilman Perkins regarding the completion of the east ditch project, which did not flood during the last storm; and provided a brief paving update to Councilman Santos. Mr. Garrick addressed Councilman Chianese regarding the pending finalization of the City audit. Mayor Esposito thanked the public for cutting back on water usage during the current drought. EXECUTIVE SESSION A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to enter into Executive Session for purposes of discussing a pending legal matter involving the Director of Finance. 1 No Vote (Rotello), 18 Yes Votes. The motion carried. City Council meeting put on hold at 8:49pm The following were present during Executive Session: Mayor Esposito, 18 Council Members present, 1 absent: Councilman Cavo recused himself and exited the chambers, Johanna Zelman, Outside Counsel, Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel, Dan Jowdy, City Treasurer, Dan Garrick, Assistant Finance Director, Virginia Alosco-Werner, Human Resources Director, Roger Palanzo, Chief of Staff, John Kleinhans, Mayor’s Office, Jonathan Barney, Mayor’s Office. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Levy, to return to open session. Motion carried unanimously. City Council meeting reconvened at 10:34 p.m. A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Levy, to authorize the resolution of the pending legal matter in accordance with the discussion, together with the certification of funds provided. 2 No Votes (Rotello, Fox), 16 Yes Votes, 1 Abstention (Cavo). The motion carried. Mayor Sunsetted the Charter Revision Commission created in 2019, and Extended All Other Committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Santos, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:36 p.m. Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office. Respectfully submitted, Christina Martinez, Recording Secretary Attest, Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant