City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 7, 2025 - 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, LaPine, Wallace-Smith, Dennis Perkins, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, Giordano, Fox, Robinson, Palma, Britton, and Coelho. 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 Charlie Setaro, 27 Deer Hill Avenue, spoke on Item #13. Councilman McAllister arrived at 7:53 pm; 20 PRESENT, 1 ABSENT. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held December 3, 2024 A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the minutes from the December 3, 2024 meeting of the Council, and waive the reading of those minutes, as all Members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, and approve said minutes as their presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 4. COMMUNICATION - Donation from Movie Monster LLC - Danbury Airport I move to receive the communication accept the donation of $5,000 from Movie Monster LLC. and send the necessary thank you. To be used to update or repair needed areas of the Airport Maintenance Building. 6. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Click It or Ticket Enforcement Grant - Police I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or Chief Patrick Ridenhour, as his designee to apply for, accept funding not to exceed $9,500 and to sign all contracts, agreements and any other documentation necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. 7. RESOLUTION - CT DOT High Risk Rural Roads Speed Enforcement Grant - Police I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or Chief Patrick Ridenhour, as his designee to apply for, accept funding not to exceed $50,000.00 and to sign all contracts, agreements and any other documentation necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. 8. RESOLUTION - WCSU Public Health Department Affiliation Agreement - Health & Human Services I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or Fernanda Carvalho, Director of Health and Human Services, as his designee to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. 10. RESOLUTION - PCLB Grant - Elderly Services I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves or Susan M. Tomanio, Director of Elderly Services, as his designee, to apply for and accept funding in the amount not to exceed $75,000 with no city match, and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. 11. RESOLUTION - Life Enhancing Programs Grant - Library I move to receive the communication and ratify the action taken for Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or Katie Pearson, Library Director, as his designee to apply for and accept funding in the amount of $2,500 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. A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, and was seconded by Councilman Chianese, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. The motion carried unanimously. AGENDA 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Police Officer Ernst A motion was made by Councilman Giordano, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Brandon Ernst to the position of Entry Level Police Officer within the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Deputy Fire Marshal Ohmen A motion was made by Councilman Rickert, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Brian Ohmen to the position of Deputy Fire Marshall within the Danbury Fire Department. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Deputy Corporation Counsel Robin Edwards A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Robin Edwards to the role of Deputy Corporation Counsel and Managing Attorney within the City of Danbury. The motion carried unanimously. Council Members Rotello, Chianese and Gartner expressed their support of the appointment. Attorney Edwards thanked the Mayor and Council. Mayor Alves thanked retiring Deputy Corporation Counsel, Les Pinter, for his service. 4. COMMUNICATION - Donation from Movie Monster LLC - Danbury Airport *CONSENTED - as received. 5. RESOLUTION - Transfer of Easements: Route 53 at Triangle St. and Coalpit Hill Rd. A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilwoman Gartner, to receive the communication and authorize the Mayor Roberto L. Alves, to transfer the easements identified on the map attached to schedule A, to the State of Connecticut in connection to the proposed project of intersection improvements on Route 53 and Triangle Street and Coalpit Hill Road, furthermore, Mayor Roberto Alves, hereby is authorized to execute and deliver to the State of Connecticut the proposed acceptance agreement in connection there with, together with any additional documentation that maybe are required, and to take any additional action that may be necessary to accomplish the purposes thereof. The motion carried unanimously. 6. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Click It or Ticket Enforcement Grant - Police *CONSENTED - as received. 7. RESOLUTION - CT DOT High Risk Rural Roads Speed Enforcement Grant - Police *CONSENTED - as received. 8. RESOLUTION - WCSU Public Health Department Affiliation Agreement - Health & Human Services *CONSENTED - as received. 9. RESOLUTION - Emergency Management Performance Grant A motion was made by Councilwoman Wallace-Smith, seconded by Councilwoman LaPine, to receive the communication authorizing Mayor Roberto L. Alves, and/or Matthew Cassavechia, Director of Emergency Management, to apply for and accept the funding of $95,663.70, to be funded 50% by the State of Connecticut and the 50% City match that is available in the fiscal year 2025 Emergency Management budget, and to execute all applications agreements contracts necessary to officiate purposes thereof. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Cassavechia clarified the Everbridge mass notification tool with Councilman Duane Perkins. 10. RESOLUTION - PCLB Grant - Elderly Services *CONSENTED - as received. 11. RESOLUTION - Life Enhancing Programs Grant - Library *CONSENTED - as received. 12. WITHDRAWN - RESOLUTION - CTH & COA Museum Makeover Grant (Revolutionary War Exhibit) - Library 13. REPORTS - Ad Hocs: Review of Elderly Tax Relief Programs (Amendments to Ord. 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, as well as to accept the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilwoman LaPine, to receive the communication and send this to a Public Hearing followed by a Committee of The Whole, the Public Hearing will be proceeded by a workshop regarding the new program. So ordered. 14. REPORT - Ad Hoc: Rogers Park Field (#1) Naming 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, as well as to accept the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and adopt the Ad Hoc recommendations to take no action. The motion carried unanimously. 15. 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 reports, as all Members have copies, and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, as well accept the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Day provided an update on water levels for Councilman Rotello. Mr. Iadarola provided updates on the Franklin Street Bridge project and the new school for Councilman Rickert; he noted the bridge project is out to bid and the school is scheduled to be open for students on August 25th. Ms. Sterk (Assistant Finance Director) confirmed that she will follow-up on an available bond funds report request from Councilman Fox. Furthermore, she provided an update on the 2023 City Audit. Councilman Coelho asked Mr. Iadarola about downtown sewer capacity; Mr. Iadarola confirmed a study was completed that identified some capacity and ionide issues. He noted that additional studies will need to be made for future development projects, and he explained that there is an open state application to increase plant capacity, and the sewer capacity can accommodate all current approved projects. 16. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Mill Plain Center Limited Partnership vs. City of Danbury A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to enter Executive Session for the purposes of discussing a pending legal matter involving property tax appeals litigation in the Mill Plain Center Limited Partnership versus City of Danbury case. The following individuals are directed to remain for the session, Dan Garrick or his designee, Donna Murphy, Tax Assessor, Taylor O’Brien, and Members of the Corporation Counsel Office, as well as outside counsel. The motion carried unanimously. Entered Executive Session at 8:17pm. Attendees: Donna Murphy, Tax Assessor; Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel; Robin Edwards, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Ken Nolan, Outside Counsel, Cramer & Anderson; Taylor O’Brien, Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office. Exited Executive Session at 8:27pm. Meeting reconvened at 8:30pm. A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to authorize a resolution of the pending legal matters in accordance with the discussion, together with certification of funding as provided. The motion carried unanimously. COMMITTEES: Mayor Extended All Committees ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Council Member Salvatore, seconded by Council Member Gartner, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m. Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office and on the City’s website. Respectfully submitted, Christina Dior Recording Secretary Attest, Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant