City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING February 7, 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, Visconti, Halas, Masi, Palma, Santos, Cammisa and Molinaro. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: PRESENT: 21, ABSENT: 0 ALSO PRESENT: Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Ray Yamin, Outside Counsel; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT: Robert Taborsak, Resident, 110 Hayestown Road, spoke on item #14. Marlene Silva, Resident, 34 Austin Street, spoke on item #14. Margaret Henderson, Resident, 19 Grove Place, spoke on item #14. Heather Lorenz, Resident, 46 Rolf Drive, spoke on item #14. William Sweeney, Resident, 19 Ironwood Drive, spoke on item #14. Larry Riefberg, Resident, 6 Ervie Drive, spoke on the following items: 1-6, and 14. Ken Gucker, Resident, 89 Padanaram Road, spoke on item #14. Glenda Armstrong, Resident, 224 Franklin Street, spoke on item #14. Mayor Esposito requested Council extend public comment with no objections. Kate Johnson, Resident, 132 Great Plain Road, spoke on item #14. Elvis Novas, Resident, 4 Stetson Place, spoke on item #14. Wes Johnson, Resident, 65 Brittania Drive, spoke on item #14. Ernesto Rodriguez, Resident, 23 George Street, spoke on item #7. A motion was made by Councilman Santos to further extend public speaking. Motion was invalid. Corporation Counsel explained that the Charter only allows the Mayor to extend Public Speaking. MINUTES: Minutes of the Council Meeting held January 4, 2023 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 accept them as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR: 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Government Entity – Planning Commission Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Kevin Haas to serve as a full member of the Planning Commission. 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Government Entity – Environmental Impact Commission Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Elizabeth Falk as a full member of the Environmental Impact Commission. 6. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Government Entity – Zoning Board of Appeals Receive the Communication and approve the appointment of Peter DeLucia as a full member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. 8. COMMUNICATION - MOU with Portuguese Cultural Center – Office of Emergency Management Receive the Communication and approve the request from Matthew Cassavechia, Emergency Management Director, to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Danbury Office of Emergency Management and The Portuguese Cultural Center as presented. 10. RESOLUTION - CT Health Foundation Trusted Messengers to Support Health Care Coverage Grant Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Dean Esposito or Kara Marie Prunty, Director of Health, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding not to exceed $15,000 from the Connecticut Health Foundation Trusted Messengers to Support Health Care Coverage Grant with no local match required as presented. 13. REPORT - Ad Hoc - Lease Renewal/Agreement – 33 Hayestown Road to Danbury Fish & Game Association Receive the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee and adopt their recommendation to authorize Mayor Dean Esposito to sign and approve the renewal of the lease agreement for the periods listed at the current rate of $1.00 per year between the City of Danbury and the Danbury Fish & Game Association, located at 33 Hayestown Road as presented. 15. REPORT - Planning & Engineering – Application for Ext. of Water Main - 21 Old Sherman Turnpike Receive the Reports from the Planning Commission and Director of Public Works/City Engineer, and adopt their positive recommendations for a Water Main Extension at 21 Old Sherman Turnpike 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. AGENDA: 1. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Promotion – Anthony Mistretta to Sergeant A motion was made by Councilman Henry, seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment and promotion of Police Officer Anthony Mistretta to the position of Police Sergeant within the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Appointments – Perry, Kolenovic to Certified Police Officers A motion was made by Councilman Esposito III, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and confirm the appointments of Police Officer Stephen Perry and Police Officer Anec Kolenovic to the positions of Certified Police Officers within the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Appointments – Magrino, Viertel, Orengo, Perdomo, Mistretta to Entry Level Police Officers A motion was made by Councilman Esposito, seconded by Councilman Palma, to confirm the appointment and receive the correspondence for the following individuals as Police Officers, entry level, in the Danbury Police Department; William Magrino, David Viertel, Olgamaianne Orengo, Miguel Perdomo, Carmen Mistretta, in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Government Entity – Planning Commission *CONSENTED - as received. 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Government Entity – Environmental Impact Commission *CONSENTED - as received. 6. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Government Entity – Zoning Board of Appeals *CONSENTED - as received. 7. COMMUNICATION - Lease and Purchase of Property – 98 Elm Street A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Palma, to refer this item to an Ad Hoc consisting of Corporation Counsel, Director of Planning, Director of Finance, a representative from the Housing Authority, a representative from the Pacific House, a representative from the Mayor's Office, and also request a report from the Planning Commission. So Ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman DiGilio in the Chair, along with Councilmen Levy and Santos. 8. COMMUNICATION - MOU with Portuguese Cultural Center – Office of Emergency Management *CONSENTED - as received. 9. RESOLUTION - CT DECD Urban Development Projects Grant – Richter House Improvements A motion was made by Councilman Masi, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication, adopt the resolution, authorizing Mayor Dean Esposito to accept funding from the Connecticut Department of Economic Development for $650,000, for the Richter House. The motion carried unanimously. City Engineer, Mr. Iadarola clarified the project funding and planned improvements with Councilmen Rotello, Chianese, and discussed the current state of the house with Councilman Perkins. 10. RESOLUTION - CT Health Foundation Trusted Messengers to Support Health Care Coverage Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 11. RESOLUTION - Flood Management Feasibility Study – Upper Reaches of the Still River A motion was made by Councilman Eriquez, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to adopt the resolution authorizing Dean Esposito, Mayor, or his designee, Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works/City Engineer be, and hereby is, authorized to negotiate, and execute a feasible cost sharing agreement between the Department of the Army and the City of Danbury for the Still River Danbury Connecticut Flood Risk Management Feasibility study, and all associated documents required to execute this project. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Rotello spoke on the history of flooding issues in various parts of the city. Mayor Esposito thanked Councilman Cavo for his hard work with correcting some flooding issues in the past. 12. REPORT, ORDINANCE & RESOLUTION - Bond: Water System Assets - Upgrades & Improvements A motion was made by Councilman Cavo, seconded by Councilman Esposito III, that the full City Council, also performing the duties as the Danbury Water Pollution Patrol Authority, receive and accept the reports from the public hearing on 1/23/23, Committee of the Whole on 01/23/23, and the Planning Commission report as presented, and adopt an ordinance appropriating $115 million for the planning, design, engineering, construction of improvements, upgrades, and rehabilitation of the existing water system assets, facilities, infrastructure, and authorizing the issuance of $115 million in bonds for the City to meet said appropriations, and pending the issuance thereof, and making of temporary borrowings for such purpose; together with the adoption of a resolution, that said ordinance be submitted for approval or disapproval at a special City meeting, to be called by the Mayor pursuant to sections 7-10A of the City Charter, on April 25, 2023 between the hours of 6 am and 8 pm eastern standard time, and that the warning of said meeting state the question to be voted on set forth in the resolution. The motion carried unanimously. A motion to amend was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Esposito III, to waive the reading of these two reports (the Public Hearing and the Committee of the Whole), as we all have copies, and copies are on file. The motion carried unanimously. 13. REPORT - Ad Hoc - Lease Renewal/Agreement – 33 Hayestown Road to Danbury Fish & Game Association *CONSENTED - as received. 14. REPORT - Ad Hoc- Reapportionment A motion was made by Councilman Knapp, seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to recommit this item, #14 on reapportionment, back to Ad Hoc. The motion carried unanimously. The Mayor renamed the standing committee with Councilman Knapp in the chair, along with Councilwoman Cammisa and Councilman Visconti. Councilmen Rotello and Perkins spoke in support of recommitting the item. Mr. Pinter confirmed that discussion should be focused on the motion of recommittal. 15. REPORT - Planning & Engineering – Application for Ext. of Water Main - 21 Old Sherman Turnpike *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 departmental reports as all Members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office; and also, include the acceptance of the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Extended All Committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, seconded by Councilman Visconti, to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:02p.m. Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office. Respectfully submitted, Christina Martinez Recording Secretary Attest, Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant