City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 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. Frank Salvatore led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Rickert, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, Coelho, Lapine, VACANT, Fox, Robinson, McAllister, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, Giordano, Dennis Perkins, Hawley, and Tomchik. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Simone, Palma, and Britton. PRESENT: 17, ABSENT: 3, VACANCY: 1 ALSO PRESENT: Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel; Robin Edwards, Assistant Corporation Counsel; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT Ken Gucker, Resident, 89 Padanaram Road, spoke on items #1 and #3. Larry Riefberg, Resident, 6 Ervie Drive, spoke on item #1. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held June 4, 2024 A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the minutes from the June 4th regular meeting and waive the reading of the minutes, as all Members of the Council have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office and approve them as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 8. ORDINANCE - Ordinance: Amendment to Sec. 14-104 (Merger of Beckerle & Hose Co.) I move to receive the public hearing report of June 17, 2024, and the ad hoc report presented in the June council meeting dated May 22, 2024, related to the Volunteer Fire Companies changes to ordinance section 14-104 and approve the adoption of said ordinance as amended and presented. 10. RESOLUTION - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program – Finance I move to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury, to approve and submit the City’s Annual Action Plan for Program Year 50 and make application on behalf of the City of Danbury to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and accept grant funds of $578,597 with no local match for the CDBG program year 8/1/24 through 7/31/25 and is authorized execute all contracts and take all necessary actions to effectuate the purposes of this grant application and distribution to the recommended recipients as documented by the Mayor’s Community Development Block Grant Policy Committee. 16. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Conveyance of Sidewalk Easement to City - 3,5,7,9 Morgan Ave. I move to receive the reports from the Director of Public Works/City Engineer and Planning Commission and adopt their positive recommendations for the acceptance of sidewalk easements to the city at 3,5,7, and 9 Morgan Ave as presented. A motion was made by Councilman Gartner, and was seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. AGENDA 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to City Council A motion was made by Councilman Rickert, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Cheryl Wallace-Smith to fill the vacancy, as a Member of the City Council at Large. The motion carried unanimously. ROLL CALL UPDATE: PRESENT: 18, ABSENT: 3 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Director of Health & Human Services A motion was made by Councilman Hawley, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Fernanda Carvalho to the position of Director of Health & Human Services. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Environmental Impact Commission A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Michael J. Flanagan to the Environmental Impact Commission. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointments to Sustainability CT Team A motion was made by Councilwoman Lapine, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Robbin May, Lisa Scails, and Ryan Hawley, to Danbury’s Sustainability Team as a part of Danbury’s membership in Sustainable Connecticut. The motion carried. Abstained 1 (Hawley). 5. COMMUNICATION - Rogers Park Field (#1) Naming A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, to refer this item to an Ad Hoc, consisting of Corporation Council, Director of Parks & Recreation, Planning, a representative from the Mayor’s Office, and Larry Spasado, the original petitioner and Member of Danbury Youth Baseball Board. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilwoman Gartner in the Chair, along with Councilmen Britton and E. Buzaid. 6. COMMUNICATION - Lease Agreement with City of Danbury and The Summit for Police and Emergency Management Services Substation A motion was made by Councilman McAllister, to refer this item to an Ad Hoc Committee, consisting of Corporation Council, the Director of Emergency Management, the Director of Finance, and a representative from the Mayor’s Office. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman P. Buzaid in the Chair, along with Councilwoman Robinson and Councilman Fox. Mr. Casagrande noted that the intent is also to request a report from the Planning Commission. 7. COMMUNICATION - Lease Agreement between City of Danbury and The Summit for Emergency Commodities Staging and Mass Distribution - Office of Emergency Management A motion was made by Councilman Tomchik, to refer this item to Ad Hoc also, consisting of Corporation Council, the Director of Emergency Management, Director of Finance, and a representative from the Mayor’s Office, and also send to Planning to get a planning report. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman P. Buzaid in the chair, along with Councilwoman Robinson and Councilman Fox. 8. ORDINANCE - Ordinance: Amendment to Sec. 14-104 (Merger of Beckerle & Hose Co.) *CONSENTED - as received. 9. RESOLUTION - ARPA Allocation of Funds A motion was made by Councilman Giordano, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to reallocate funds for the American Rescue Plan Act in the amount of $641,928, to the items listed in exhibit one, AK, as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Garrick (Finance Director) confirmed for Councilman Duane Perkins that the list has not changed, and does include funds for the War Memorial. Deputy Fire Chief provided Councilman Coelho with an update on roof repairs, and confirmed the City is evaluating improvement costs. He provided a brief overview of the planned improvements. Mr. Hughes (Construction Services) spoke on the planned improvements to the Beaver Street basketball courts with Councilmen Coelho and Chianese. 10. RESOLUTION - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program – Finance *CONSENTED - as received. 11. RESOLUTION - CT State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program - Information Technology A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or his designee, to take all actions necessary to effectuate the application for funding, and acceptance of funding if awarded, in the amount not to exceed $350,000, with the notation of the local match coming from the budget. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Garrick clarified the competitiveness of the grant for Councilman Fox, and noted that the grant it is not awarded, the work will move forward with alternate funding. 12. RESOLUTION - Airfield Lighting Upgrade Project - Approval of FAA Grant Funds and Contract with Hoyle, Tanner & Associates - Airport A motion was made by Councilwoman LaPine, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, and/or Michael Safranek, Airport Administrator, to accept the grant, estimated total cost to be around $215,000, once final approval is given by the FAA, with the FAA share around $193,500, Connecticut Airport Authority share around $16,125, and the City responsibility of $5,375, and to execute the FAA lighting grant, and enter into a contract with Hoyle Tanner & Associates, (HTA) necessary for this project, and to ratify all previous actions taken in furtherance thereof. The motion carried unanimously. 13. RESOLUTION - CT DPH - Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant - Health & Human Services A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Fernanda Carvalho, Director of the Health & Human Services, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding in the amount of $47,960 and execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purpose thereof. The motion carried unanimously. 14. RESOLUTION - CT DPH - Small Cities Grant - Health & Human Services A motion was made by Councilman McAllister, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Fernanda Carvalho, our new Director of the Health & Human Services, as his designee, to apply for the accept funding in the amount of $150,000, with no local match required, and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purpose thereof. The motion carried unanimously. Ms. Carvalho clarified the shelters receiving grant funding for Councilman Chianese. 15. RESOLUTION - CT DPH - Per Capita FY 2025 Grant - Health & Human Services A motion was made by Councilman Giordano, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Fernanda Carvalho, Director of Health & Human Services, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding in the amount of $167,444.87, with no local match required and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purpose thereof. The motion carried unanimously. 16. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Conveyance of Sidewalk Easement to City - 3,5,7,9 Morgan Ave. *CONSENTED - as received. 17. REPORTS - Public Hearing: Disposition (Sale) of City Property (17 North Street) A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to waive the reading of the minutes of the Public Hearing, as all Members have copies, and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, and we accept the reports as they are presented. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Chianese, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the Public Hearing report of June 17, 2024, and the Ad Hoc report presented in the June Council meeting dated May 9, 2024, related to the Disposition of City Property 17 North Street, subject to the positive report received from the Planning Commission dated June 5, 2024, in accordance with the Danbury Code of Ordinances, Section 2-11B, as it pertains to the deposition of real property by publication and bids, I move to declare the subject site at 17 North Street, as surplus, and after our Public Hearing held on June 17, 2024, recommend the preparation and issuance of request for proposal of the sale of the subject site, it is further recommended that upon the selection of a successful bidder or candidate by the City Board of Awards, pursuant to Code Section 2-11B4, proceeds once received be placed in a City account for use by the Danbury Volunteer Fire Department, administered by the appropriate authorities. The motion carried unanimously. 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 Duane Perkins, to waive the reading of the minutes, as all Members have copies, and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, and we accept the reports as they are presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Day (Public Utilities Superintendent) provided an update on the reservoirs, and discussed plans to deal with irrigation system issues throughout the city with Councilmen Rotello, Coelho, E. Buzaid and Chianese. Mr. Hughes spoke on improvements to the science labs at Danbury High School and identified the date of completion for Councilman Rickert. 19. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Tax Appeals Litigation A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to enter Executive Session for the purposes of discussing the following pending legal matters involving property taxes appeals litigation: Ethan Allen Global vs. City of Danbury, Lake Avenue Associates vs. City of Danbury, Staples Realty vs. City of Danbury, CT Property & Realty vs. City of Danbury, Stop & Shop Supermarket vs. City Danbury, and the Danbury Investment Company vs. City of Danbury. The following individuals are directed to remain in the room for the session: Dan Garrick, Finance Director, Donna Murphy, Tax Assessor, members of the Corporation Counsel, and Outside Litigation Counsel. The motion carried unanimously. The Council entered Executive Session at 8:35pm. The Council reconvened at 9:15pm. ROLL CALL UPDATE: PRESENT: 17, ABSENT: 4 (McAllister left during Executive Session) A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to authorize a resolution of the pending legal matters in accordance with this discussion, together with certification of funding as provided. The motion carried unanimously. Item 20. ADD-ON: Statement of Condition and Property – Fire Department A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to add item 20, communication, Statement of Condition and Property for the Fire Department, to the agenda. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to table the communication to the next meeting. The motion carried unanimously. COMMITTEES Mayor made one reassignment: Ad Hoc: Tax Deferral - 11 Boughton Street – Replace Former Councilman Ratchford with Councilman McAllister. Mayor Extended all other committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, seconded by Councilman E. Buzaid, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:19 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