City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 5, 2023 - 7:30 P.M. Honorable Mayor, Roberto Alves, called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sean Hatch. Councilwoman Gartner led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Britton, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, Chianese, Coelho, Gartner, Giordano, Hawley, LaPine, McAllister, Palma, Dennis Perkins, Duane Perkins, Ratchford, Rickert, Robinson, Salvatore, Simone, and Tomchik. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Masi, and Rotello. PRESENT: 19, ABSENT: 2 ALSO PRESENT: Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Robin Edwards, Assistant Corporation Counsel; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT: Karen Palanzo, Resident, 27 Middle River Road, spoke on item #6. Lynn Waller, Resident, 83 Highland Avenue, spoke on item #2. Lynn Tabosak, Resident, 110 Hayestown Road, spoke on item #2. Ken Gucker, Resident, 89 Padanaram Road, spoke on items #2 and #3. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held November 9, 2023 A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Councilman E. Buzaid, to receive the minutes and waive the reading of the minutes, as all Members have copies, and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, and that we also approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 7. RESOLUTION - ARPA Allocation of Funds - Finance Receive the communication and adopt the resolution to reallocate funds for the American Rescue Plan Act in the amount of $350,000 to the public safety items listed in Exhibit 1-F as presented. 8. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Click It Or Ticket Grant Program - Police Receive the communication and adopt the resolution authorizing Roberto Alves, Mayor of Danbury, or Chief Patrick Ridenhour as his designee, to accept grant funding not to exceed $9,700 from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation, Division of Highway Safety through the “Click It or Ticket Seatbelt Enforcement Program with no city match required as presented. 9. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Sewer Main Ext.- 22 DePalma Lane Receive the reports from the Director of Public Works/City Engineer and the planning commission and adopt their positive recommendations for the sewer main extension at 22 DePalma Lane. A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, and was seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar. The motion carried unanimously. ADD-ON: Item # 12 – BRT Brookview Commons Tax Deferral (333 Main Street) A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to add the item provided to everyone and request and consider the modification of the agreement to defer the increase in tax assessment for BRT’s Brookview Commons project, and add this item as item 12 on our agenda. The motion carried unanimously. AGENDA: 1. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Appointment - Russell Tompkins A motion was made by Councilman Perkins, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the correspondence and confirm the appoint of Russell Tompkins to the position of Certified Police Officer in the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Request to review Elderly Tax Relief Programs A motion was made by Councilman Chianese, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to refer this to an Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance, Tax Assessor, and a representative from the Mayor's Office. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman Chianese in the chair, along with Councilmen Salvatore and E. Buzaid. 3. COMMUNICATION - CT DECD Community Investment Fund Grant A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson to refer this to an Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Corporation Counsel, Director of Public Works, City Engineer, the Planning Department, and a representative from the Mayor's Office. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman Britton in the chair, along with Councilmen Perkins and E. Buzaid. 4. COMMUNICATION - Donation from Danbury Kitchen Warehouse - Fire Dept. A motion was made by Councilman Giordano, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and approve accepting the donation of kitchen cabinets valued at $8,123.59 and counter tops valued at $3,250.00, at the Engine number 24 station, as presented with an appropriate letter of thanks to be sent. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - Funding Request for Technology Expenses - Danbury Public Schools A motion was made by Councilman Simone, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to refer this to an Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Corporation Counsel, City Director of Finance, Superintendent of Schools, Board of Education, Chief Financial Officers, and a representative from the Mayor's Office. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman Britton in the chair, along with Councilwoman Robinson, and Councilman Palma. 6. COMMUNICATION - Additional Funding Request for Special Education - Danbury Public Schools A motion was made by Councilman Dennis Perkins, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to refer this to an Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Corporation Counsel, City Director of Finance, Superintendent of Schools, Board of Education, Chief Financial Officers, and a representative of the Mayor's Office. So Ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman Britton in the chair, along with Councilwoman Robinson, and Councilman Palma. 7. RESOLUTION - ARPA Allocation of Funds - Finance *CONSENTED - as received. 8. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Click It Or Ticket Grant Program - Police *CONSENTED - as received. 9. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Sewer Main Ext.- 22 DePalma Lane *CONSENTED - as received. 10. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Sewer Main Ext - Fairfield Ave. & Morton St. A motion was made by Councilman McAllister, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the reports from the Director of Public Works, the City Engineer, and the Planning Commission, and adopt their positive recommendations for the sewer main extension of Fairfield Avenue & Morton Street. 18 Yes, 1 No (Rickert). The motion carried. 11. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Water Main Ext. - Fairfield Ave. & Morton St. A motion was made by Councilman Ratchford, seconded by Councilman Chianese to receive the reports from the Director of Public Works, the City Engineer, and the Planning Commission, and adopt their positive recommendations for the water main extension at Fairfield Avenue & Morton Street. The motion carried unanimously. Add On 12. BRT Brookview Commons Tax Deferral (333 Main Street) A motion was made by Councilman Britton, seconded by Councilman Perkins, to refer this to an Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Corporation Counsel, City Director of Finance, Tax Assessor, and a representative of the Mayor's Office. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman Salvatore in the chair, along with Councilwoman Gartner and Councilman E. Buzaid. 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 Rickert, seconded by Councilman Buzaid, to accept the reports and waive the reading of the reports. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Chianese recognized the Public Works Department and Tim Nolan for addressing flooding needs. Mayor Extended All Committees with the following changes: New Assignments: Property Tax Abatement for Volunteers: Firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics Chair – Britton, Chianese, Coelho Body Care Facility - New Ordinance Chair – Gartner, Chianese, Palma Massage Therapy Establishments – New Ordinance Chair - Gartner, Chianese, Palma Tattoo & Body Piercing Establishments – New Ordinance Chair – Gartner, Chianese, Palma Petition for Acceptance of Private Road – Flintlock Drive Chair – Chianese, Dennis Perkins, Masi Deferral of Tax Assessment: 11 Boughton Street Chair – Britton, Ratchford, Emile Buzaid Danbury Museum and Historical Society Authority – Ordinance Changes (13A-61) Chair – Rotello, Gartner E. Buzaid Danbury Public Schools – Request for Release of Educational Reserve Chair – Britton, Gartner, E. Buzaid 41 New Street – 41 New Street Lease & Operations Chair – Chainese, Hawley E. Buzaid 98 Elm Street – Lease & Operations Chair - Chainese, Hawley E. Buzaid Sunset: Public Access Broadcast of Council Meetings July 5, 2006 Item #8 Alcoholic Beverage Consumption in Public Places: Ordinance Changes March 2015 Item #3 Littering on Public or Private Property: Ordinance Changes August 2, 2016 Item #3 Satellite Dish Devices Regulation August 2, 2016 Item # 1 UNIT Support for Tax Assessor Enforcement March 3, 2020 Item #2 25 Miry Brook Road Acquisition May 6, 2021 Item #6 Charles Ives Center Transfer of Property September 9, 2021 #11 Sewer Line Easement - Airport (Miry Brook Road) May 4, 2021 Item #6 Request Regarding Revaluation 2022 March 9, 2023 Item #4 Request for Workforce and Civil Service Review October 3, 2023 Item #1 ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Chianese, seconded by Councilman E. Buzaid, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:11 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