City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING July 6, 2023 - 7:30 P.M. Honorable Mayor, Dean Esposito, called the meeting to order at 7:32 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, Putnam, Eriquez, Knapp, Levy, DiGilio, Rotello, Esposito, Esposito III, Fox, Palma, Henry, Merchan, Perkins, Chianese, and Cammisa. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Visconti, Halas, Masi, Britton, and Tomchik. PRESENT: 16, ABSENT: 5 ALSO PRESENT: Bob Yamin, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT: No speakers. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held June 6, 2023 and the Special Meeting held June 29, 2023 A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, and was seconded by Councilman Perkins, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Council meeting held June 6, 2023, and the Special Council meeting held June 29, 2023, as well as approve them being we all have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 6. RESOLUTION - Easement Acquisition - Franklin Street Extension - Extension of Time Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the Office of Corporation Counsel to acquire the necessary easements related to the Franklin Street Extension Bridge as presented. 7. RESOLUTION - Easement Acquisition - Shelter Rock Road Bridge - Extension of Time Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing the Office of Corporation Counsel to acquire the necessary easements related to the Shelter Rock Road Bridge as presented. 8. RESOLUTION - Contract for Modification of Standards – Taxiway Charlie - Airport Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Dean Esposito and/or Michael Safranek, Airport Administrator, to amend the grant related to the contract with Hoyle, Tanner and Associates at the request Federal Aviation Administration for the Danbury Municipal Airport’s Taxiway C project as presented. This amendment results in the City’s portion of the cost to increase by $392.50. 9. RESOLUTION - Zero Emission Vehicle Program Grant - Airport Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Dean Esposito and/or Michael Safranek, Airport Administrator, to submit and execute the documentation related to the Federal Aviation Administration Zero Emission Vehicle Grant Program as presented. The City’s portion of the cost would be $14,051.40. 10. RESOLUTION - Elderly and Disabled Demand Responsive Transit Service Grant - HART Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Mayor Dean Esposito to execute all necessary agreements and documents related to the enhanced regional municipal ‘Elderly and Disabled Demand Responsive Transit Service’ matching grant program through the State of CT Department of Transportation as coordinated through the Western CT Council of Governments as presented. 11. RESOLUTION - Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant - Health & Human Services Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Fernanda Carvalho, Acting Director of Health, as his designee, to apply for and accept funds related to the State of CT Department of Health Public Health Emergency and Hospital Preparedness grant funding program through the Torrington Health District for fifth year funding in an amount not to exceed $47,960 as presented. 12. RESOLUTION - Per Capita 2024 Grant - Health & Human Services Receive the Communication and adopt the Resolution authorizing Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Kara Marie Prunty, Director of Health, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding related to the State of CT Department of Public Health per capita funding available in the amount of $167,444.87 from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 with no local match being required 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. ATTENDANCE UPDATE: Councilman Tomchik arrived at 7:35pm - 17 PRESENT, 4 ABSENT 1. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Appointments - Maldonado & Babatsikos as Certified Police Officers A motion was made by Councilman Henry, seconded by Councilman Esposito III, to receive the communication and confirm the appointments of Paul Maldonado and Demetrios Babatsikos to the position of Certified Police Officers within the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Assistant Corporation Counsel & Outside Counsel - Updike Kelly & Spellacy P.C. A motion was made by Councilman Esposito III, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution that Dean Esposito, Mayor of the City of Danbury, being herby is authorized to engage in the legal services of Updike Kelly & Spellacy P.C. in accordance with the engagement agreement for the purposes of assisting the City with the administration and review of the City's URAA Program and associated legal matters as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Yamin provided Councilman Chianese with a brief overview of the URAA legislation and noted the cost savings to the city by using counsel with expertise in the legislation requirements. Councilman Perkins asked about the frequency of URAA actions. Councilman Tomchik asked for examples where this program will be used. Furthermore, he explained to Councilman Rotello that the City agreed to an hourly rate by outside Legal Counsel. Councilman Esposito III noted the efficiency of using Outside Counsel to expedite housing for those who are displaced, and encouraged the Council to support the item for public safety benefits. 3. COMMUNICATION - Proposed Acquisition of Property - 14 Granville Avenue A motion was made by Councilman DiGilio, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive this communication and approve the request authorizing the Mayor's Office to engage in negotiations with the property of 14 Granville Avenue, for its acquisition as described. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Esposito clarified the property use with Councilman Chianese, and he confirmed that the request before Council is to initiate negotiations. Councilman DiGilio spoke on the expansion plans at an existing school and noted the savings that this acquisition could bring to the taxpayers. Councilman Perkins expressed concern that the acquisition will impact the schools’ budget. Councilman Levy commented that the acquisition is considered a capital expenditure, which has no effect on the operating schools’ budget. 4. COMMUNICATION - Statement of Condition and Property - Fire Department A motion was made by Councilman Esposito, seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to receive the correspondents from the Chief of the Danbury Fire Department regarding the listings of property and general statement of conditions and affairs of the department, in accordance with Section 8-13 of the City Charter. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Thode provided a brief overview of the property consolidation and surplus plan to Councilman Rotello. 5. WITHDRAWN 6. RESOLUTION - Easement Acquisition - Franklin Street Extension - Extension of Time *CONSENTED - as received. 7. RESOLUTION - Easement Acquisition - Shelter Rock Road Bridge - Extension of Time *CONSENTED - as received. 8. RESOLUTION - Contract for Modification of Standards – Taxiway Charlie - Airport *CONSENTED - as received. 9. RESOLUTION - Zero Emission Vehicle Program Grant - Airport *CONSENTED - as received. 10. RESOLUTION - Elderly and Disabled Demand Responsive Transit Service Grant - HART *CONSENTED - as received. 11. RESOLUTION - Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant - Health & Human Services *CONSENTED - as received. 12. RESOLUTION - Per Capita 2024 Grant - Health & Human Services *CONSENTED - as received. 13. REPORTS - Application for Renewal of Water & Sewer Exts. - 100 Saw Mill Rd. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilman DiGilio, to receive the communication and refer this item to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, Director Planning, Director of Public Works, and the petitioner. So Ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman Levy in the chair, along with Councilmen Buzaid and Rotello. RESIGNATION: The Mayor recognize Michael Halas for his service. The Mayor also recognize Jack Knapp for his service. 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, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to both waive the reading of the Department Reports, as we all have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, as well as accept them as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Ridenhour provided a brief overview of the Police Officer training process for Councilman Perkins. He confirmed the Police Department will work with the Fire Department on noise enforcement due to fireworks. Mayor Extended All Other Committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, seconded by Councilman Eriquez, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m. Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office and on the City’s website. Respectfully submitted, Christina Martinez, Recording Secretary Attest, Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant