City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING JULY 1, 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 McAllister led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Hawley, Rickert, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, LaPine, Wallace-Smith, Fox, Palma, McAllister, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, and Tomchik. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Simone, Coelho, Dennis Perkins*, Robinson, Britton, and Giordano. PRESENT: 15, ABSENT: 6 ALSO PRESENT: Dan Casagrande, Corporation Counsel; Robin Edwards, Deputy Corporation Counsel; Taylor O’Brien, Chief of Staff to the Mayor; and Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant. ATTENDANCE UPDATE: *Councilman Dennis Perkins arrived at 7:36 pm (16 Present, 5 Absent). PUBLIC INPUT Geoffrey Herald, Resident, 18 Foster Street, Spoke in support of item #2. MINUTES - City Council Meeting on June 5, 2025 & Special Meeting of the City Council on June 23, 2025 A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Councilman Duane Perkins, to receive and approve the minutes from the June meetings and waive the reading of the minutes, as all Members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 4. COMMUNICATION - Monetary Donation to Danbury Police Department for Ice Cream Truck Program I move to receive the communication from the Chief of the Police Department regarding the donation of $1,000 from Michael Scherer for the DPD/CCU Ice Cream Truck and approve the acceptance of the donation and ask that a note of thanks be sent on behalf of the City of Danbury. 5. COMMUNICATION - Donation of 3D Printer to Danbury Public Library I move to receive the communication from the Library Director regarding the donation of a Bambu Lab X1 Carbon 3D Printer valued at $1,619 and approve the acceptance of the donation and ask that a note of thanks be sent on behalf of the City of Danbury. 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 - Appointment to the Fair Rent Commission - Nazaruk A motion was made by Councilman Rickert, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Barbara Nazaruk to serve as a full Member of the Fair Rent Commission. The motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Danbury Museum & Historical Society - Putnam A motion was made by Councilman Hawley, seconded by Councilman Palma, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Sydney Putnam to serve as a full Member of the Board of Trustees at the Danbury Museum & Historical Society. The motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Annual Statement of Conditions - Fire Department A motion was made by Councilwoman Gartner, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the communication from the Chief of the Danbury Fire Department regarding the listings of property and general statement of conditions and affairs of the department in accordance with section 14-46C of the Code of Ordinances. The motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Monetary Donation to Danbury Police Department for Ice Cream Truck Program *CONSENTED - as received. 5. COMMUNICATION - Donation of 3D Printer to Danbury Public Library *CONSENTED - as received. 6. RESOLUTION - CT DPH Per Capita Grant - Health & Human Services A motion was made by Councilwoman LaPine, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Fernanda Carvalho, Director of Health & Human Services, as his designee to apply for the Connecticut DPH Per Capita Grant and accept funds in the amount of $149,597.39, with no local match, and to execute all contracts and agreement necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Alves noted an incorrect amount in the communication but was said correctly in the reading and motion. Councilman Rotello asked Ms. Carvalho about Federal funding that had been revoked; she confirmed that the funds were all reinstated and that staff would be rehired. 7. RESOLUTION - CT DPH Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant - Health & Human Services A motion was made by Councilwoman Wallace-Smith, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury, or Fernanda Carvalho, Director of Health & Human Services, as his designee, to apply for the CT DPH Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant and accept funds in the amount of $47,960.00, with no local match, and to execute all contracts and agreement necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. The motion carried unanimously. 8. RESOLUTION - State Homeland Security Grant Program (Region 5) MOA - Office of Emergency Management A motion was made by Councilman McAllister, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to receive the communication and send this to an Ad Hoc consisting of the Emergency Management Director, the Mayor's Office, and Corporation Counsel. So ordered. The Mayor appointed Councilman Salvatore in the chair, along with Councilmen Britton and Palma. 9. RESOLUTION - Report & Resolution - Honorary Renaming of Wallingford Road to Sadler Way – Danbury Airport (DXR) 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. The motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Councilman Chianese, seconded by Councilman Salvatore, to receive the Ad Hoc minutes and adopt the Ad Hoc recommendation to approve that Wallingford Road shall hereafter be honorarily designated as Sadler Way. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Chianese recognized the Sadler Family and their dedication to the airport. He further asked that a plaque be placed at the airport in the family’s honor. 10. REPORT - Ad Hoc: Ordinance Sec. 2-203 thru 2-207 & 2-211: Changes to Purchasing Threshold 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. The motion carried unanimously. Councilman Chianese identified an error in the minutes; he identified language that was incorrectly included from a previous ad hoc report. A motion was made by Councilman Rotello, to accept the Ad Hoc minutes and refer this to a public hearing. So ordered. 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 Duane Perkins, to waive a 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. Mr. Iadarola provided a brief update on City projects including a move in date (Aug. 4) for staff at the new high school and confirmed that a tour could be scheduled; the Still River study by the Army Corps of Engineers (costly recommendations); the Franklin Street Bridge project (waiting on utilities). Councilmen McAllister and Salvatore thanked the UNIT for their quick response to concerns. Ms. Pereira (UNIT Ambassador) thanked him for his remarks. On behalf of Councilman Coelho, Councilman P. Buzaid recognized city staff for their efforts with a fire at the Portuguese Cultural Center. Mr. Gentile (IT Director) spoke on live meeting broadcasting challenges with Councilman Chianese. Sgt. Wakeman (Police Department) discussed the regulation of off-road vehicles on city roads and sidewalks including ATVs, electric bikes and quads with Councilmen P. Buzaid and E. Buzaid. Councilman Chianese and Councilwoman LaPine asked for an update regarding the new senior tax credit program. Ms. Murphy (Tax Assessor) and Mayor Alves spoke on the success of the program. 12. EXECUTIVE SESSION - Tax Appeal for Urstadt Biddle Properties (15-19 Backus Avenue) A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to enter into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing the pending legal matter involving a property tax appeals litigation for the Urstadt Biddle Properties located at 15-19 Backus Avenue. The following individuals are directed to remain for the session, Dan Garrick, Donna Murphy, Taylor O’Brien as well as Members of the Corporation Counsel's Office, as well as outside litigation Counsel. The motion carried unanimously. Entered Executive Session at 8:17 pm, Exited Executive Session at 8:29 pm, Returned to Order at 8:30 pm. A motion was made by Councilman P. Buzaid, seconded by Councilman Rotello, to authorize a resolution of the pending legal matters in accordance with the discussion together with the certification of funding as provided. The motion carried unanimously. COMMITTEES Mayor Extended All Committees ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Councilman Salvatore, seconded by Councilman Palma, 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