City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING DECEMBER 3, 2024 - 7:30 PM Honorable Mayor, Roberto Alves, called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Sean Hatch & the Fire Department. Councilmen McAllister and Rickert led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Hawley, Rickert, Simone, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, LaPine, Wallace-Smith, Dennis Perkins, McAllister, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, Giordano, Tomchik, Fox, Robinson, and Coelho. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Palma and Britton. PRESENT: 19, ABSENT: 2 ALSO PRESENT: Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel; Robin Edwards, Assistant Corporation Counsel; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT Chris Daly, 24 Tarrywile Lake Road, Resident, spoke on the Fire Department’s toy and food drives and item #5. Lee Rosenberg, 6 Huckleberry Lane, Resident, spoke on the Fire Department Report. Mr. & Mrs. Andrews, Hillandale Road, Residents, spoke on item #7 and UNIT Report. Ken Gucker, 89 Padanaram Road, Resident, spoke on item #4,5,7, and 9. Tom Brown, 10 Valerie Lane, Resident, spoke on item #15. ATTENDANCE UPDATE: Councilman Britton arrived at 7:44pm; 20 PRESENT, 1 ABSENT. Mayor Alves thanked Scott Ferguson, Tax Collector, for his service to the city as he prepares to retire. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held November 7, 2024 A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the minutes from the November 7th meeting and waive the reading of the minutes, as all Members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office and approve them as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 9. COMMUNICATION - Civil Air Patrol Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - Office of Emergency Management I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves to execute the agreement as presented to the city council 10. RESOLUTION - CERT Category D Funding Application - Office of Emergency Management I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves or Matthew C. Cassavechia, Emergency Management Director as his designee, to apply for and accept the Citizen Corp Program Funding in the amount not to exceed $1,000 with no city match, and to execute any and all required applications, contracts, agreements and/or documents, and to take all actions necessary to accomplish the purposes 11. RESOLUTION - CT DECD Community Investment Fund - Finance I move to receive the communication and ratify the action taken for Mayor Roberto L. Alves, and/or Daniel Garrick, Director of Finance, in furtherance to apply for and accept funding in the amount of $5,000,000 if awarded (with no cost-matching requirements) for the revitalization of the City’s urban core, and to execute all applications and contracts to effectuate purposes thereof. 12. RESOLUTION - ARPA Reallocations - Finance I move to receive the communication and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury or his designed to reallocate $339,627.75 as highlighted in Exhibit 1-A-O and take all actions necessary to effectuate the intent of the resolution. 13. RESOLUTION - CT DOH Small Cities Grant - Additional Funding - Health & Human Services I move to receive the communication and ratifies the actions taken and accept the grant funds in the amount not to exceed $150,000 from the State of CT Department of Housing (CT DOH) to support homeless services in our community; and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor or Fernanda Carvalho, Director of Health and Human Services, as his designee, to apply and accept said funds, and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. 14. RESOLUTION - ARPA Auto Theft & Violence Grant - Police Department I move to receive the communication and ratifies the actions taken and accept the grant funds in the amount not to exceed $35,000 from the State of CT Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to prevent auto theft and violence in our community; and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor or Patrick Ridenhour, Chief of Police, as his designee, to apply and accept said funds, and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, and was seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Fox, seconded by Councilman (unknown), to remove item #12 from the Consent Calendar. The motion carried unanimously.  AGENDA 1. COMMUNICATION - Promotion to Police Sergeant - Rodrigues A motion was made by Councilwoman LaPine, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and approve the promotion of Charles Rodrigues to the position of Police Sergeant within the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Certified Police Officer - Manning A motion was made by Councilman McAllister, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Kevin Manning to the position of Certified Police Officer within the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointments of the Government Entities Review Committee (GERC) A motion was made by Councilwoman Wallace-Smith, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Council Members Paul Rotello, Diane LaPine, Elmer Palma, to the Committee, additionally, I move to confirm the rear appointments of Alan T. Boyce and Mark S. Chory, as citizen members of the panel. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointments to the Candlewood Lake Authority - Laughinghouse, McColgan & Siergiej A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Chianese, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of John A. Laughinghouse and Shaun McColgan, and the reappointment of Edward R. Siergiej to the Candlewood Lake Authority, with a term expiration of December 3rd, 2027. The motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - Collective Bargaining Agreement - Local 801, International Assoc. of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO A motion was made by Councilman Britton, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and approve the funds necessary to implement the 2024-2028 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Danbury and the Danbury Fire Union, and approve the previsions of the agreement which administratively modify existing pension ordinances. 19 Yes, 1 Abstention (Tomchik). The motion carried. Councilman Perkins asked for a summary of the changes in this agreement; Attorney Harrington (Outside Counsel) spoke on the need to update the agreement last reviewed in 2011, and noted changes to wage rates for the next four years, increases to health insurance contributions, a reduction to the city’s contribution to the deductible plan and sick time, a change to overtime calculations, education and longevity bonuses, and a stipend for living in the city. 6. COMMUNICATION - Lease Agreements for Danbury Hackerspace and The New American Dream Foundation A motion was made by Councilman Giordano, to receive the communication and move this to an Ad Hoc Committee, to included Public Building, Library, Mayor’s Office, and Corporation Council. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Salvatore in the chair, along with Councilwoman Robinson and Councilman Coelho. 7. COMMUNICATION - Illegal Apartments: Review of ordinances, regulations, codes, statutes and penalties A motion was made by Councilman Hawley, to receive the communication and send it to an Ad Hoc Committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, the Unit, Fire Marshal Office, Building Inspector, Zoning Enforcement Office, Health Department’s Housing Division, the Planning and Zoning Department, and the Mayor's Office. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman P. Buzaid in the chair, along with Councilwoman Wallace-Smith and Councilman Palma. 8. COMMUNICATION - Amendment to Ordinance Sec.10-24 Intrastate Mutual Aid Compact A motion was made by Councilman Rickert, motion was rescinded. Mayor Alves ordered the item be sent to a Public Hearing. The item was revisited and a motion was deemed necessary. A motion was made by Councilman Rickert, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and refer this to a public hearing. Motion carried unanimously. 9. COMMUNICATION - Civil Air Patrol Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - Office of Emergency Management *CONSENTED - as received. 10. RESOLUTION - CERT Category D Funding Application - Office of Emergency Management *CONSENTED - as received. 11. RESOLUTION - CT DECD Community Investment Fund - Finance *CONSENTED - as received. 12. RESOLUTION - ARPA Reallocations - Finance A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilwoman Gartner, move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor, Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of City of Danbury, or his designee, to reallocate $339,627.75, as highlighted in exhibit 1-A-O, and take all actions necessary to fluctuate the intent of the resolution. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Fox asked for more details regarding the BOE allocation and monies being taken from Authorities. Mr. Garrick (Finance Director) and Ms. Prunty (Asst. Finance Director) explained the reallocations between projects for Councilman Fox; they noted monies from authorities were set aside for revenue loss and they have caught up, the BOE funds are for operational costs for the new Academy that can be used over the next two years. 13. RESOLUTION - CT DOH Small Cities Grant - Additional Funding - Health & Human Services *CONSENTED - as received. 14. RESOLUTION - ARPA Auto Theft & Violence Grant - Police Department *CONSENTED - as received. 15. REPORTS - Ad Hoc: Review of Elderly Tax Relief Programs (Amendments to Ordinances Sec. 44-51, 44- 53 & 44-54 and Establishment of Sec. 44-71) A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to waive the reading of the Ad Hoc minutes, as all Members have copies, and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office and accept the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Simone, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and recommit this back to the Ad Hoc Committee due to the substantial changes recommended by Corporate Council and the Tax Assessor. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Alves ordered the item back to the same ad hoc (Chianese, chair, Salvatore, E. Buzaid). 16. 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 Rotello, to waive the reading of the reports, as all Members have copies, and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, as well as accept the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Rotello requested an update on water resources; Mr. Day (Public Utilities Superintendent) confirmed there is a 13% deficit, and noted recent rain events that have helped fill the reservoir levels. Councilman Rickert recognized the Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services for their emergency support efforts. 17. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Executive Session - Floor & Decor v. City of Danbury and Prime Storage Old Ridgebury v. City of Danbury A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to enter into executive session for the purposes of discussing pending legal matter involving property tax appeals legislation in the Floor Décor versus the City of Danbury, and Prime Storage of Old Ridgebury versus the City of Danbury. The following individuals are directed to remain for this session, Dan Garrick, Finance Director; Donna Murphy, Tax Assessor; Taylor O’Brien, and Members of the Corporation Counsel’s Office, as well as outside litigation Counsel. The motion carried unanimously. Entered Executive Session at 8:47pm. Exited Executive Session at 9:21 pm. Meeting reconvened at 9:25 pm. A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to move and authorize the resolution of the pending legal matters in accordance with the discussion together with the certification of funding as provided. The motion carried unanimously. COMMITTEES Sunset: Schools Request to Release Reserve Funds - Due to withdrawal of request. Mayor Extended All Other Committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:26 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