City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL 2, 2024 - 7:30 PM 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. William McAllister led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Rickert, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, Coelho, LaPine, Ratchford, Dennis Perkins, Fox, Palma, Robinson, Britton, McAllister, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, Giordano.. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Ryan Hawley, Gary Simone, and Jeffrey Tomchik. PRESENT: 18, ABSENT: 3 ALSO PRESENT: Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT Heather Lorenz, Resident, 6 Rolf Drive, spoke on item #1. Attendance Update: Hawley Arrived 7:40pm – 19 Present, 2 Absent Lynn Waller, Resident, 83 Highland Avenue, spoke on items #1 and #3. Jeff Berlant, Resident, 18 Fairlawn Avenue, spoke on the Cease Fire Op-Ed. Attendance Update: Rotello Left 8:01pm – 18 Present, 3 Absent (Inaudible), Resident, (address inaudible), spoke on item #6. Ken Gucker, Resident, 89 Padanaram Road, spoke on items #9 and #15. Mark Nolan, Resident, 37 Brushy Hill Road, spoke on item #1. Councilman Fox and Mayor Alves spoke on City Council procedure and standards. MINUTES - Minutes of the City Council Meeting held March 5, 2024 A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Councilman Chianese, 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 accepted as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 9. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Public Library Board of Directors I move to receive the communication and appoint Deborah Gogliettino to the Public Library Board of Directors. A motion was made by Councilman Giordano, and was seconded by Councilman Chianese, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. BUDGET PRESENTATION Mayor Alves presented the proposed City budget for fiscal year 2024-2025. AGENDA 1. ORDINANCE & RESOLUTION - Ordinance & Resolution - Appropriations for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025 A motion was made by Councilman Hawley, to refer this to a public hearing. So ordered. 2. ORDINANCE - Ordinance Appropriating $3,000,000 for Public Improvement in the 2024-2025 Capital Budget A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, to refer this to a public hearing followed by a Committee of The Whole. So ordered. 3. ORDINANCE - Sewer Rates as of July 1, 2024 A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, to refer this to a public hearing followed by a Committee of The Whole. So ordered. 4. ORDINANCE - Water Rates as of July 1, 2024 A motion was made by Councilwoman LaPine, to refer this to a public hearing followed by a Committee of The Whole. So ordered. 5. RESOLUTION - Downtown Special Services District Tax Levy A motion was made by Councilman Ratchford, to table this until the May 7, 2024 City Council Meeting. So ordered. 6. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Promotion - Sergeant Brian Peloso to Lieutenant A motion was made by Councilman Rickert, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and confirm the promotion of Sergeant Brian Peloso, to Lieutenant with the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 7. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Promotion - Officer Marc Doherty to Police Sergeant A motion was made by Councilman McAllister, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and confirm the promotion of Mark Dougherty, to Sergeant with the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 8. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Appointments - Entry Level Police Officers: Carinha, VanHoose, Ray, Ramirez, Tiani A motion was made by Councilman Britton, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and confirm appointments of Nicholas Carinha, Evan VanHoose, Brandon Ray, Daniel Ramirez, and Matthew Tiani, as entry level Police Officers with the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 9. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Public Library Board of Directors *CONSENTED - as received. 10. COMMUNICATION – WITHDRAWN 11. COMMUNICATION - Transfer of Funds from Contingency Account to Labor and Negotiations Account - Corporation Counsel A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, seconded by Councilwoman LaPine, to receive the communication, as amended, and authorize the transfer of $100,000, from Contingency account to the Labor Negotiations account. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Chianese clarified that the amendment is to correct the balance amount identified in the Certification of Funds. Mr. Pinter noted the two separate budgets and line items, and identified additional pension and contract negotiations as the cause for additional funding needs with Councilman Fox. 12. RESOLUTION - 2024 Neighborhood Assistance Act Program A motion was made by Councilman Giordano, to refer this to a public hearing followed by a Committee of The Whole. So ordered. 13. RESOLUTION - WITHDRAWN 14. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Transportation Infrastructure Improvement - Project Proposal A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilwoman Gartner, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, and/or Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works and City Engineer, for the sole purpose of applying to submit an application for a federal highway administration grant opportunity available, known as the Transportation Alternative through the State of Connecticut and the Department of Transportation and Western Connecticut Council of Governments, WestCOG, and to reserve such further actions as are required for the further processing of a final adaption and acceptance at a later date. The motion carried unanimously. 15. RESOLUTION - Historic Richter House Renovation DECD Grant A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution that Mayor Roberto L. Alves, in such capacity be and hereby is authorized to take all necessary action in furtherance of this project and the related grant of state financial assistance, and that any and all prior actions contemplated by the resolution and prior communications and approvals be and hereby are ratified. The motion carried unanimously. 16. RESOLUTION - FAA Grant Application - Airport Lighting Upgrade A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution that Mayor Roberto Alves, and/or Michael Safranik, Airport Administrator, for the sole purpose of applying to submit an application for a grant, to do the lighting vault upgrade, and to reserve such further actions as are required for the further processing of a final adaptation and acceptance on a later date. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Safranik clarified the grant and lighting improvement needs with Councilman Chianese. 17. REPORT & RESOLUTION - \WITHDRAWN 18. 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 P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to waive the reading of the reports, as all Members have copies of the reports, and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, and also, I ask that the reports be accepted as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Ridenhour noted traffic enforcement grants to help address traffic concerns with Councilman E. Buzaid. Furthermore, he explained to Councilman Chianese that the Department plans to increase the City’s Bicycle Patrol; and confirmed for Councilman Duane Perkins that no motorcycle funding is needed as they are phased out of patrol due to safety concerns. Councilman Duane Perkins spoke on the successful Invasive Vines Cutting Day event at Tarrywile Park. Mr. Cassavechia (Emergency Management) addressed migrant housing questions and concerns and confirmed that a plan has been drafted if needed. Mayor Alves clarified that this planning is strategic and due diligence. Mayor Extended All Committees ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Duane Perkins, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 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, Peter Buzaid, City Council President Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant