City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING January 4, 2023 - 7:30 P.M. Honorable Mayor, Dean Esposito, called the meeting to order at 7:35 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, Esposito, Esposito III, Fox, Chianese, Cavo and Visconti. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Halas, Masi, Palma, Santos, Cammisa and Molinaro. PRESENT: 15, ABSENT: 6 ALSO PRESENT: Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Ray Yamin, Outside Counsel; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT: Charlie Setaro, 27 Deer Hill Avenue, commented on Department Reports (Tax Assessor and plate scanning program). Benjamin Doto, 17 Ridge Road, commented on the following: Department Reports (Health & Human Services and Police Department), local homeless shelter (location by exit 8), and PD incident reports. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held December 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 have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office; and please note this is also to accept the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 2. COMMUNICATION - Funding Appropriations for November 2022 Election Receive the Communication and approve the Request for Additional Funding for the November Election by the Registrars of Voters and Town Clerk offices as presented. 3. RESOLUTION - CT DESPP ARPA Auto Theft and Violence Grant - Police Dept. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Patrick Ridenhour, Chief of Police, to apply for and accept funding from the Connecticut Fiscal Year 2023 ARPA Auto Theft and Violence Grant as presented. 4. RESOLUTION - CT DPH Epidemiology & Laboratory Capacity I Grant – Funding Extension – Health Dept. Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Dean Esposito or Kara Prunty, Director of Health and Human Services, to continue to apply for and accept funding for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity I grant program as presented. 7. RESOLUTION - Runway Obstruction Analysis Contract – Airport Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Dean Esposito and/or Michael Safranek, Airport Administrator, to enter into the contract agreement with Hoyle Tanner and Associates to conduct an Obstruction Analysis 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 - COVID Bonus for Firefighters and DMEA Employees A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Knapp, to receive the communication and approve the two memorandum of agreements regarding the COVID bonus for Danbury Firefighters and DMEA employees, for the two City unions as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Funding Appropriations for November 2022 Election *CONSENTED - as received. 3. RESOLUTION - CT DESPP ARPA Auto Theft and Violence Grant - Police Dept. *CONSENTED - as received. 4. RESOLUTION - CT DPH Epidemiology & Laboratory Capacity I Grant – Funding Extension – Health Dept. *CONSENTED - as received. 5. RESOLUTION - Easement Acquisition – Franklin Street Ext – for bridge replacement A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution subject to a report from the Planning Commission authorizing the City through the Office of Corporation Counsel, to acquire the property interests substantially as set forth in the attached mapping and descriptions of easement areas, to be acquired in accordance with procedures established by State law; either by negotiation or eminent domain through the institution of suit against the interested property owners and holders of mortgages encumbering the property, if any, by July 1, 2023. The motion carried unanimously. 6. RESOLUTION - Easement Acquisition - Shelter Rock Road – for bridge replacement A motion was made by Councilman Esposito III, seconded by Councilman Esposito, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution subject to a report from the Planning Commission authorizing through the Office of Corporation Counsel, be it here by authorized to acquire property, interests, substantially, as set forth in the attached mapping and description of easement areas to be acquired in accordance with procedures established by State law; either by negotiation or eminent domain through the institution of suit against the interested property owners and holders of mortgages encumbering the property, if any, by July 1, 2023. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Esposito thanked City staff for their hard work on moving these projects forward. Mr. Iadarola clarified the State's project funding with Councilman Rotello. 7. RESOLUTION - Runway Obstruction Analysis Contract – Airport *CONSENTED - as received. DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health & Human Services, Public Works, Permit Center, U.N.I.T., Elderly Services, Public Library, Tax Assessor A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading of the reports as all Members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office; and please note this is also to accept the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Ms. Prunty clarified the most recent COVID data with Councilman Rotello. The COVID positivity rate has increased since Thanksgiving; and COVID vaccines are available to the public. She provided a brief overview of COVID, Flu, and RSV safety protocols and available testing resources. Ms. Murphy clarified the license plate scanning data presented in the report from the Tax Assessor, and the report’s terminology with Councilman Esposito III. She explained the license plate investigation process and marketing efforts to Councilman Perkins. Mayor Extended All Committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Levy, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:16 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