City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 4, 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, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, Coelho, Wallace-Smith, Dennis Perkins, Fox, Robinson, Britton, McAllister, Rickert, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, and Giordano. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Simone, LaPine, Palma, and Tomchik. PRESENT: 17, ABSENT: 4 ALSO PRESENT: Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel; Robin Edwards, Deputy Corporation Counsel; and Taylor O’Brien, Chief of Staff, Mayor’s Office; Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. PUBLIC INPUT Richard Jannelli, 18 Benson Drive, Resident, spoke on item #2. Warren Levy, 5 Pilgrim Drive, Resident, spoke on item #12. Larry Sposato, 6 Briar Patch Lane, Resident, spoke on item #3. Ken Gucker, 89 Padanaram Road, Resident, spoke on item #3. Shaun Richarson, 23 Heritage Drive, Resident, spoke on item #3. Michelle Coelho, 47 East Lake Road, Resident, spoke on item #12. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held February 4, 2025 A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the minutes from the February 4th regular 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 4. COMMUNICATION - Sustainable CT - Annual Report Move to receive the communication and accept the annual report and move that it be made publicly available. 5. COMMUNICATION - Disposal of Surplus Equipment - Purchasing Move to receive the communication and approve of the disposal of surplus items as submitted. 6. RESOLUTION - CT State Library Historic Preservation Grant - Town Clerk Move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, and/or Laurie Esposito, Town Clerk as his designee, to sign any documents necessary to effectuate the purposes of said grant application and execute on behalf of the City of Danbury all contracts, agreements or amendments and to take all actions necessary to accomplish the purposes of receiving funding of $10,000 with no city match. 7. RESOLUTION - Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement Grant – Police Move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or Chief Patrick Ridenhour, as his designee, to accept grant funds not to exceed $68,331.73 and sign all contracts and documents necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. 8. RESOLUTION - LOTCIP Grant for Norwalk River Valley Trail Initiative at Tarrywile Park Move to receive the communication and affirm that the City Council of the City of Danbury hereby ratifies the action taken and accepts the grant funds in the amount not to exceed seven hundred nine thousand two hundred dollars ($709,200) from the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation to support the construction of the multi-use trail within Tarrywile Park; and that Roberto L. Alves, Mayor, of the City of Danbury is authorized to apply for and accept funding through the State of Connecticut Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program, and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. 11. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: 4-6 Elwell Place (Assessor’s Lot# 112147) Water Main Extension Move to receive the positive reports from the Engineering department and Planning Commission approve the extension of the water main at 4-6 Elwell Place subject to the City’s standard eight steps and conditions. 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. AGENDA 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointments of Certified Police Officers - Lopez & Kops A motion was made by Councilwoman Wallace-Smith, seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Jaime Lopez and Kristen Kops, to the position of entry level Police Officer of the Danbury Police Department. The motion carried unanimously. 2. ORDINANCE & REPORT -Government Entities Review Committee Ord. Sec. 2-259 A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, 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 we accept the reports as presented. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Rotello to receive the report and refer to a Public Hearing followed by a Committee Of The Whole. So ordered. 3. COMMUNICATION - Request to Name Rogers Park Batting Cages A motion was made by Councilman McAllister, seconded by Councilman E. Buzaid, to receive the communication and move to name of the batting cages at Roger's Park in honor of Coach and Councilman Gary Simone. The motion carried unanimously. Councilmen Rotello, Fox, and Coelho, spoke in support of naming the batting cages in honor of Councilman Simone. 4. COMMUNICATION - Sustainable CT - Annual Report *CONSENTED - as received. 5. COMMUNICATION - Disposal of Surplus Equipment - Purchasing *CONSENTED - as received. 6. RESOLUTION - CT State Library Historic Preservation Grant - Town Clerk *CONSENTED - as received. 7. RESOLUTION - Distracted Driving High Visibility Enforcement Grant – Police *CONSENTED - as received. 8. RESOLUTION - LOTCIP Grant for Norwalk River Valley Trail Initiative at Tarrywile Park *CONSENTED - as received. 9. RESOLUTION - CT DECD Funds for Brownfield Remediation A motion was made by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury, to apply for maximum award amount of $4 million dollars for the mediation of 13 Barnum Court, with no City match, and accept funding through the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development’s Office of Brownfield remediation and Development Program, and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate purposes thereof. The motion carried unanimously. 10. RESOLUTION - CT DECD Funds for Brownfield Assessment A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury, to apply for the maximum award amount of $200,000, with no City match, for an assessment at the former Fairfield County Courthouse at 71 Main Street and accept funding through the State of Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development Program, and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate purposes thereof. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Santos (Community and Economic Advisor, Mayor’s Office) spoke on the pursuit of these grant funding opportunities to restore the historic building. He noted that if restored, the building could be used for municipal offices or services. He confirmed for Councilman E. Buzaid that the city is no longer looking to buy the property and instead the state is looking to convey the building to the City. Mayor Alves confirmed with Councilman Rotello that the City will work on scheduling a building tour for the City Council and suggested that the schools could use the building for mock trials and career path studies. Mr. Iadarola provided Councilman Coelho with an overview of the building; he noted that last time he was in the building was a few years ago and the structure seemed solid at that time. Councilwoman Gartner asked Mr. Santos about economic development opportunities with the building. 11. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: 4-6 Elwell Place (Assessor’s Lot# 112147) Water Main Extension *CONSENTED - as received. 12. REPORTS - Audit Committee (2023) A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to waive the reading of the minutes and accept the report, copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, and accept them as presented. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Rickert, seconded by Councilwoman Gartner, to receive the communication and accept the audit financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, including all management letters and adjustments as indicated. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Garrick (Director of Finance) clarified the schools’ surplus amounts for Councilman Fox; he confirmed the actual amount is just under $7.8M. He clarified that the surplus in prior years came from unused healthcare costs. Mr. Webber (Danbury Public Schools’ Chief Financial Officer) spoke on the audit adjustments and he clarified for Councilman Fox that the majority of the surplus came from healthcare estimates vs. actual costs. Councilman Fox expressed concerns with the school finances and urged that the departments work together to catch up. Councilman Coelho noted that the 2023 school budget was not fully funded and yet there was a $7.8M surplus. Ms. Sterk (Asst. Director of Finance, City of Danbury) identified two major drivers for the surplus including healthcare costs and unfilled positions; she confirmed that the City is already working on finalizing the audit report for year 2024. Councilman Coelho asked about the allocation of additional funding allocated by the council to help complete the audits; Ms. Sterk estimated it was 50/50 for school and city work. Councilman Salvatore spoke on the importance of getting caught up on the audits; and spoke on the legal requirements and deadlines the city has to meet to present a budget for the next fiscal year. 13. 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 presented. The motion carried unanimously. Ms. Murphy provided a brief update on the Tax Relief Program for Councilmembers Robinson and Coelho. Mayor Alves recognized law enforcement for their community support efforts and traffic control. COMMITTEES Mayor appointed the following committees: Education: Chair – Robinson, Britton, P. Buzaid, Salvatore, Fox Government 1: Chair – Britton, Wallace-Smith, Simone, Duane Perkins, E. Buzaid Government 2: Chair – Gartner, LaPine, McAllister, Dennis Perkins, Coelho Public Works: Chair – P. Buzaid, Hawley, Tomchik, Chianese, Palma Health & Public Safety – Chair – Salvatore, Giordano, Rickert, Rotello, E. Buzaid Mayor Extended All Other Committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, seconded by Councilman Coelho, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m. Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office and on the City’s website. Respectfully submitted, Christina Dior Carol Martinez Recording Secretary’s Attest, Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant