City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 5, 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. Councilman Salvatore led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Hawley, Rickert, Simone, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, Coelho, LaPine, Wallace-Smith, Dennis Perkins, Fox, Palma, Robinson, Britton, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, Giordano. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: McAllister and Tomchik. PRESENT: 19, ABSENT: 2 ALSO PRESENT: Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel; Robin Edwards, Assistant Corporation Counsel; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT Dan & Barb Aziere, Residents, 52 Hillandale Road, spoke on the Department Reports. MINUTES - Minutes of the Regular Council Meeting held August 6, 2024 & the Special Council Meeting held August 26, 2024 A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the minutes from the August 6th regular meeting and the August 26th special meeting, waive the reading of the minutes, as all Members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, and we approve them as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR Items 4 & 5 were removed from the Consent Calendar by Councilman Salvatore. 7. RESOLUTION - Acceptance of Funds & Increase to FAA Airport Lighting Grant I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves and/or Michael Safranek, Airport Administrator, to execute the FAA Airfield Lighting Grant in the actual amount of $220,900 and the city’s share to be increased by $197 to $5,572. 8. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Water Main Ext - 119 Franklin Street Ext. 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 the proposed water main extension at 119 Franklin Street Extension as presented and subject to the City’s standard eight (8) steps/conditions. 9. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Conveyance of Sidewalk and Roadway - 12 Great Pasture Road 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 the conveyance of sidewalk and roadway at 12 Great Pasture Road as presented. 10. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Conveyance of Sidewalk Easement - 29 Park Avenue 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 the conveyance of sidewalk easement at 29 Park Avenue as presented. A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, and was seconded by Councilman Dune Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. AGENDA 1. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Appointment of Daniel Fortunato as Certified Police Officer A motion was made by Councilwoman LaPine, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Daniel Fortunato as Certified Police Officer within the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - 2023 Year End Re-Appropriations and Budget Transfers A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and approve the following June 30th, 2023, year-end reapportionments and budget transfers necessary to close out the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the General Fund $320,507.13, Water Fund $65,500,520.73, Sewer Fund $121,525.28. The motion carried unanimously 3. COMMUNICATION - Master Municipal Agreement for Construction Projects A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and authorize the Mayor to sign a tenyear master municipal agreement for construction projects with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. The motion superseded by call for an Ad Hoc. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, to refer this to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, Director of Public Works, Director of Finance, a representative of the Mayor's Office, and a representative of the State DOT. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman P. Buzaid in the chair, along with Councilwoman Gartner and Councilman E. Buzaid. Councilman Fox expressed concern regarding the time constraints to review the proposed agreement. 4. COMMUNICATION - Water and Sewer Extension Renewal - Great Plain Road and Great Meadow Road A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilwoman Gartner, to receive the communication and refer this to the City Engineer and Planning Commission for review and a report back. The motion carried unanimously. 5. RESOLUTION - ARPA Re-Allocations A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilwoman Gartner, to receive the communication and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor or his designee, to take all actions necessary to effectuate the reallocation of $970,100.61, documented in exhibit 1-A-M, in this resolution. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Gentile (IT Director) clarified the MUNIS technology fees, budget, and software for Councilmen Coelho, Chianese Duane Perkins and Councilwoman Gartner. Councilman Coelho asked for more details from Mr. Gentile regarding the digitization of planning records; Mr. Gentile highlighted greater efficiencies. Mr. Garrick discussed the administrative fees for ARPA projects with Councilman Coelho. 6. RESOLUTION - Acceptance of Funds - FAA Grant for Electric Vehicles - Airport A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilwoman LaPine, to receive the communication and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor, and/or Michael Safranek, Airport Administrator, to execute the FAA Electric Vehicle EV Grant in the amount of $184,000, with a City share of 10% at $18,400, and enter into a contract with Hoyle Tanner & Associates at a cost to the City of $1,650, which is 10% of the total, and to ratify all previous actions taken in the furtherance thereof. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Safranek clarified the types of electric vehicles to be purchased and the contract services for Councilman Fox; Mr. Safranek identified the seven vehicle options and noted the extensive work and research needed to complete the contract.. Councilman Coelho asked if the grant includes infrastructure; Mr. Safranek confirmed that outfitting and charging stations are included and noted that the vehicles will only be used on airport property. Councilman Chianese spoke in support of purchasing electrical vehicles. 7. RESOLUTION - Acceptance of Funds & Increase to FAA Airport Lighting Grant *CONSENTED - as received. 8. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Water Main Ext - 119 Franklin Street Ext. *CONSENTED - as received. 9. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Conveyance of Sidewalk and Roadway - 12 Great Pasture Road *CONSENTED - as received. 10. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Conveyance of Sidewalk Easement - 29 Park Avenue *CONSENTED - as received. 11. 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 Salvatore, to waive the reading of the reports, 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. Iadarola (Public Works Director) provided a brief update on the Beaver Street basketball court upgrades and storm flooding on West Street for Councilmen Coelho and Rotello. Mr. Stillman (UNIT Director) spoke on enforcement challenges related to unsafe dwellings with Councilman Duane Perkins. Mayor Alves also confirmed that the issue on Hillandale (spoken on during public speaking) was addressed and several inspections took place. Councilmen Salvatore and Coelho recognized Mr. Stillman for his community safety efforts. 12. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Tax Appeal Litigation A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, I move that we enter executive session for the purpose of discussing the pending legal matter involving the property tax appeals litigation and Abbey Woods LLC versus the City of Danbury. The following individuals are directed to remain for this session: Finance Director Dan Garrick, Donna Murphy, the Tax Assessor, Taylor O’Brien of the Mayor’s office, Members of the Corporation Counsel’s office, and outside litigation counsel. The motion carried unanimously. Entered into Executive Session at 8:33 pm Attendees: Donna Murphy, Tax Assessor, Dan Garrick, Finance Director, Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel, Robin Edwards, Assistant Corporation Counsel, Patrick Finn, Outside Counsel (Secor, Cassidy & McPartland, PC) Taylor O’Brien, Chief of Staff,Mayor’s Office. Exited Executive Session at 8:46pm. The meetingreconvened at 8:50 pm A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Rotello, I move to authorize the resolution of the pending legal matter in accordance with the discussion, together with the certification of the funding as provided. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Extended All Committees ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Chianese, seconded by Councilman E. Buzaid, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:54 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