City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING November 2, 2022 - 7:30 P.M. Honorable Mayor, Dean Esposito, called the meeting to order at 7:36 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, Eriquez, Knapp, Levy, DiGilio, Rotello, Henry, Britton, Perkins, Santos, Chianese, Cammisa, Fox, Esposito, Esposito III, Cavo, Halas and Molinaro. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Visconti, Palma and Masi. PRESENT: 18, ABSENT: 3 ALSO PRESENT: Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Dan Garrick, Assistant Finance Director; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT Dr. Bialik, Resident, Resident, 5 Wilderswood Way, expressed concern regarding Zoning’s notification system. Andrew Marcus, Resident, 2 Enclave Drive, expressed concern regarding the Clancy Relocation plans Richard Janelli, Resident, 18 Benson Drive, spoke in favor of item #8. Charles Setaro, Resident, 27 Deer Hill Avenue, spoke in support of item #8. Steve Cook, Resident, 23 Country View Road, expressed concern regarding the Clancy Relocation plans. Don Pellegrino, Resident, 22 Old Pasture Drive, expressed concern regarding the Clancy Relocation plans, and discussed how it goes against the (POCD) plan presented as item #8. Brenda Henderson, Resident, 5 Mill Road, expressed concern regarding the Clancy Relocation plans, and the business’s health effects on residents. Frank Distefano, Resident, 24 Old Pasture Drive, expressed concern regarding the Clancy Relocation plans. Andrew Marcus, Resident, 2 Enclave Drive, expressed concern regarding the Clancy Relocation plans. Dr. Bialik, Resident, 5 Wilderswood Way, expressed concern regarding the time of the neighborhood meeting regarding the Clancy Relocation plans. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held October 6, 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; and to accept the Minutes as amended. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Rotello requested to amend item #12 to read: “Mr. Garrick and Mr. Rotello discussed the issue.” CONSENT CALENDAR 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Government Entity – Lake Kenosia Commission Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Ms. Leslie Mae-Ann Ballard to serve on the Lake Kenosia Commission. 12. RESOLUTION - CT DEMHS Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Mathew Cassavechia, Emergency Management Director, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection Emergency Management Performance Grant Program as presented. 13. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement (DDHVE) Grant Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Dean Esposito or Chief Patrick Ridenhour, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, Division of Highway Safety through its Fiscal Year 2023 Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement Program as presented. 14. RESOLUTION - CT DECD Youth Services Corps (YSC) Grant Receive the Communication adopt the Resolution authorizing Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury, to apply for and accept funding for Danbury Youth Services from the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Fiscal Year 2023 Youth Services Corps Grant Program as presented. 15. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Applications for Renewal of Extensions of Water & Storm Sewer - 54, 55 & 58 Town Hill Avenue & Park Place 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 Renewals of Water Main and Storm Sewer Extensions at 54, 56, and 58 Town Hill Avenue and Park Place subject to the City’s standard eight steps/conditions as presented. 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 - Fire Department Promotion - Thomas Corbett to Admin Fire Captain A motion was made by Councilman Esposito, seconded by Councilman Knapp, to accept the correspondence and approve the promotion of Fire Lieutenant Thomas Corbett to the position of Administrative Fire Captain in the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried, 16 Yes Votes. Councilmen Chianese and Rotello were absent for voting. 2. COMMUNICATION - Fire Department Promotion - Kevin Lunnie to Admin Fire Captain A motion was made by Councilman Henry, seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa, to receive the communication and confirm the promotional appointment of Fire Lieutenant Kevin Lunnie to the position of Administrative Fire Captain in the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried, 16 Yes Votes. Councilmen Chianese and Rotello were absent for voting. 3. COMMUNICATION - Fire Department Promotion - Theodore Mourges to Admin Fire Captain A motion was made by Councilman Esposito III, seconded by Councilman Esposito, to receive the communication and confirm the promotional appointment of Fire Lieutenant Theodore Mourges to the position of Administrative Fire Captain in the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried, 16 Yes Votes. Councilmen Chianese and Rotello were absent for voting. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Government Entity - Fair Rent Commission Item Withdrawn 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Government Entity – Lake Kenosia Commission *CONSENTED - as received. 6. COMMUNICATION - Hat City Labor Lodge 028 Agreement A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Esposito III, to accept the correspondence from your office and approve the funding for the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Danbury and the Hat City Labor Lodge 028, Fraternal Order of Police July 20, 2021, to June 30, 2024. The motion carried, 16 Yes Votes. Councilmen Chianese and Rotello were absent for voting. 7. COMMUNICATION - Request for changes to Ordinance Sec. 14-104 & 14-105 – Volunteer Fire Companies A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, to refer the item to a public hearing, followed by a Committee of The Whole. So Ordered. 8. COMMUNICATION - Request for endorsement of the 2023 City of Danbury Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to endorse the 2023 Plan of Conservation & Development dated October 24, 2022, as presented by the Planning Director; pending a Planning Commission Public Hearing and final approve by the Planning Commission. The motion carried, 16 Yes Votes. Councilmen Chianese and Rotello were absent for voting. Councilman Perkins spoke in favor of endorsing the plan and emphasized its detailed information. Councilman Fox expressed concern regarding the service areas (sewer and water) in the city’s first ward. Councilman DiGilio spoke in favor of the endorsement, and thanked City staff for their hard work. 9. COMMUNICATION - Emergency Fueling Contingency Plan with Norbert E. Mitchell Co. – Office of Emergency Management A motion was made by Councilman Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Cavo, to accept the communication and approve the Emergency Fueling Contingency Plan with Norbert E. Mitchell Co. and the Office of Emergency Management. The motion carried, 17 Yes Votes. Councilman Chianese was absent for the vote. 10. COMMUNICATION - Request for Kenosia Park Field #4 Naming & Dedication A motion was made by Councilman Henry, to refer this to an Ad Hoc consisting of Corporation Counsel, Director of Recreation Youth Soccer, Planning, and Public Buildings. So Ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman Cavo in the Chair, along with Councilmen Knapp and Santos. 11. RESOLUTION - Deauthorizing a portion of Danbury Career Academy ($99 mil) Bond Ordinance A motion was made by Councilman Halas, seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution deauthorizing a portion of the ordinance entitled Accordance appropriating $99 million for the purchase of real property; including common interest community units, development rights, and for the planning, design, acquisition, construction, equipping, andfurnishing, new grade 6 to 12 Danbury Career Academy School; and authorizing issuance of $99 million bonds of the City to meet an appropriation and pending issuance thereof the making of temporary borrowings for such purpose as presented. The motion carried, 17 Yes Votes. Councilman Chianese was absent for the vote. Mr. Garrick clarified the bond ordinance details and amounts with Councilman Perkins, deauthorizing a total of $96,177,000. 12. RESOLUTION - CT DEMHS Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) *CONSENTED - as received. 13. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement (DDHVE) Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 14. RESOLUTION - CT DECD Youth Services Corps (YSC) Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 15. REPORTS - Planning & Engineering - Applications for Renewal of Extensions of Water & Storm Sewer - 54, 55 & 58 Town Hill Avenue & Park Place *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; please note this motion includes accepting the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Santos thanked Mr. Hayes for helping local veterans in the community. Mayor Extended All Committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilwoman Cammisa, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:32 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