City Council

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Budget Ordinances and Resolutions Thursday, April 11, 2024 Call To Order: Mr. p. bUZAID called the Committee of the Whole meeting to order at 10:26 p.m. Roll Call: COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Hawley, Rickert, Simone, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, Coelho, Ratchford, Dennis Perkins, Fox (arrived back at 10:28pm), Palma, Robinson, Britton, McAllister, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, Giordano, Tomchik COUNCIL MEMBER ABSENT: LaPine PRESENT: 20, ABSENT: 1 ALSO PRESENT: Roberto Alves, Mayor; Taylor O’Brien, Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office; Francesca Capodilupo, Government Affairs & Communications Advisor, Mayor’s Office; Farley Santos, Community Relations & Constituent Services Advisor, Mayor’s Office; Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel; Les Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Kara Prunty, Assistant Finance Director (Budgets & Grants); Joanne Stark, Assistant Finance Director (Operations); David Day, Public Utilities Superintendent; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. NOTICE: Mr. P. Buzaid read the meeting notice and identified the items that are open for public comment: A. An Ordinance Appropriating $3,000,000 for Public Improvements in the 2024-2025 Capital Budget and Authorizing the Issuance of $3,000,000 Bonds of the City to Meet said Appropriations and Pending the Issuance Thereof the Making of Temporary Borrowings for Such Purpose. B. An Ordinance establishing Sewer Rates as of July 1, 2024. C. An Ordinance establishing Water Rates as of July 1, 2024. D. Neighborhood Assistance Act. E. Government Entities Review Committee (G.E.R.C.): (1) The Tarrywile Park Authority (2) The Danbury Parks and Recreation Commission (3) The Aviation Commission (4) The Design Review Board (5) The Danbury Housing Partnership. A. An Ordinance Appropriating $3,000,000 for Public Improvements in the 2024-2025 Capital Budget and Authorizing the Issuance of $3,000,000 Bonds of the City to Meet said Appropriations and Pending the Issuance Thereof the Making of Temporary Borrowings for Such Purpose. A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to recommend to the City Council the adoption of the ordinance for $3 million dollars in public improvements and the issuance of $3million in bonds of the City to meet such obligations, and to make temporary borrowings for such purposes. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Chianese asked if $3million from the Academy Bond/School Projects Bond could be used for school improvements. Mayor Alves noted that those funds were allocated for specific projects that are expected to move forward. He asked that the motion be re-read. B. Sewer Rates as of July 1, 2024 A motion was made by Councilman Britton, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to recommend to the City Council the adoption of the Sewer Rate adjustments as set forth in Section 48-234, and Connection Fee Permits adjustments as set forth in Section 48-168 of the Code of Ordinances as of July 1, 2024. and as attached. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Rotello asked for the average increase to households, Mr. Day identified the average usage as 72,000 gallons per year, which is $7 per quarter. *He also identified the water rate increase as $5.10 per quarter. C. Water Rates as of July 1, 2024 A motion was made by Councilman Giordano, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to recommend to the City Council the adoption of the Water Rat adjustments as set forth in Sections 48-70 through 48-77 of the Code of Ordinances as of July 1, 2024. The motion carried unanimously. *Mr. Day identified the water rate increase as $5.10 per quarter during Item B discussion. D. Neighborhood Assistance Act (N.A.A.) A motion was made by Councilman Rickert, seconded by Councilwoman Gartner, to recommend the adoption of a resolution authorizing approved agencies to apply for and receive funding in the form of tax credits in the State of Connecticut through the Neighborhood Assistance Act Program. 19 Yes. 1 Abstention (Salvatore). The motion carried. E. Government Entities Review Committee (G.E.R.C.) A motion was made by Councilman Simone, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to recommend the adoption of Ordinance Section 2-259 reauthorizing the Tarrywile Park Authority, Danbury Parks & Recreation Commission and the Aviation Commission through January 30, 2028, and the Design Review Board and Danbury Housing Partnership through June 30, 2025. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Rotello noted that further discussion of this item could take place at the May City Council meeting. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Ratchford, and was seconded by Councilwoman Gartner, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:39 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant Attest: Peter Buzaid, City Council President