City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 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, Rickert, Simone, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, Coelho, LaPine, Wallace-Smith, Dennis Perkins, Fox, Robinson, McAllister, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello and Giordano. COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Britton, Tomchik and Palma*. PRESENT: 18, ABSENT: 3 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: *Council Member Elmer Palma arrived at 7:32 pm (19 Present, 2 Absent) PUBLIC INPUT Edward Carvalho, Resident, 9 Driftway Point Rd, Spoke about Item #5. Ken Gucker, Resident, 89 Padanaram Rd., Spoke in favor of Item #5 and #6. Robert Carazzo, Resident, 136 Pembroke Rd., Spoke in support of Item #5. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held August 5, 2025 A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Council member Duane Perkins, to receive the minutes from the August 5th meeting and waive a reading of the minutes, as all Members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, and approve those minutes as they are presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 8. RESOLUTION - CT Judicial Branch Funding for Youth Services Prevention Program I move to receive the communication and approve the resolution authorizing Roberto L. Alves, Mayor and/or Kara Prunty, Assistant Director of Finance: Budget & Grants, as his designee to apply for and accept funding available through the State of CT Judicial Branch for Youth Violence Prevention programs, and to execute any and all contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, and all other documents necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof, and to ratify all previous, and future, actions taken in the furtherance thereof. 9. RESOLUTION - Student Educational Training Affiliation I move to receive the communication and approve the resolution authorizing Mayor Roberto L. Alves and/or Ryan Boggan, Acting Director of Health and Human Services, or his designee to execute for a period of three (3) years, a student Educational Training Affiliation Agreement and all related documents and furthermore to take and ratify all such actions necessary for the accomplishment of the purposes hereof. 10. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Application for Water Main Extension – 55 Newtown Road I move to receive the reports and approve the application for a water main extension for 55 Newtown Rd subject to the City’s standard eight (8) steps/conditions. A motion was made by Council member Gartner, and was seconded by Council member Duane Perkins, to accept the Consent Calendar as presented. Motion carried unanimously. AGENDA 1. COMMUNICATION - Fire Department Promotion of James Croswell to Fire Lieutenant A motion was made by Council member McAllister, seconded by Council member Chianese, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of James Croswell to Fire Lieutenant with the Danbury Fire Department. Motion carried unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Police Department Appointment of Entry Level Police Officers - Martz, Cotronco, Pena A motion was made by Council member Hawley, seconded by Council member Duane Perkins, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of Christopher Martz, Sophia Cotroneo, and Andy Pena as entry level police officers with the Danbury Police Department. Motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Citation Hearing Officer – Skelly A motion was made by Council member LaPine, seconded by Council member Coelho, to receive the communication and appoint Wayne A. Skelly to serve as Citation Hearing Officer for a term that will expire on 4/1/2027. Motion carried unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to Tarrywile Park Authority - Henvy A motion was made by Council member Wallace-Smith, seconded by Council member LaPine, to receive the communication and appoint Elisabeth Henvy to serve as a member of the Tarrywile Park Authority. Motion carried unanimously. 5. COMMUNICATION - New Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans - CT Legislation (PA 25-168) A motion was made by Council Member Robinson to receive the communication and move that this be sent to an ad hoc committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, Tax Assessor, Veterans Affairs, and the Mayor’s Office. Motion carried unanimously. The Mayor appointed Council member Chianese in the chair, along with Council members Robinson and Fox. 6. COMMUNICATION - Review Ord. Sec. 46-3: All-terrain vehicles, utility terrain vehicles, dirt bikes & mini-motorcycles; operation prohibited on city property A motion was made by Council member Giordano to receive the communication and move that this be sent to an ad hoc committee consisting of corporation council, police department, and the Mayor’s Office. Motion carried unanimously. The Mayor appointed Council member Peter Buzaid in the chair, along with Council members Wallace-Smith and Palma. 7. RESOLUTION - Acquisition of Property: 84 Mill Plain Rd (West Side Fire Station) A motion was made by Council member Simone, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to receive the communication and approve the resolution authorizing the city through the Office of Corporation Counsel to acquire the property known as 84 Mill Plain Rd in accordance with the procedures established by state law. A friendly amendment was made: A motion was made by Council member Salvatore, seconded by Council member Rotello, to receive the communication and approve the resolution authorizing the city through the Office of Corporation Counsel to acquire the property known as 84 Mill Plain Rd in accordance with the procedures established by state law and come back to the Council with a final agreement. Motion carried unanimously. Council member Chianese asked for clarification on wording and the process of acquiring the property. Council member Rotello asked for a friendly amendment to reflect the intent of having the agreement return to the Council for final approval. Mr. Casagrande discussed with Council member Duane Perkins, the options available for acquiring the property through a purchase or eminent domain. He confirmed that the acquisition reaches an impasse, the item can return to the Council for review. Council member Emile Buzaid asked about other parties that might be interested in the property and asked for a timeline of the eminent domain process and asked about funds available for the purchase; Mr. Casagrande explained that a firehouse is part of an expedited process with the courts due to the public safety impact and it could be decided within 6 to 9 months. Mayor Alves confirmed that the Public Safety Bond includes funds for this purchase. Council member Coelho asked about options for the Council to have a say in the acquisition if a sale price can not be agreed on; Ms. Casagrande explained that there are ways for the Council to review the matter again in the future. 8. RESOLUTION - CT Judicial Branch Funding for Youth Services Prevention Program *CONSENTED - as received. 9. RESOLUTION - Student Educational Training Affiliation *CONSENTED - as received. 10. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Application for Water Main Extension – 55 Newtown Road *CONSENTED - as received. 11. REPORT - Ad Hoc: State Homeland Security Grant Program (Region 5) MOA - Office of Emergency Management A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, seconded by Council member Chianese, 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. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Council member Gartner, seconded by Council member Salvatore to accept the ad hoc minutes and approve the execution of the Memorandum of Agreement as amended. Motion carried unanimously. 12. REPORTS (Tabled) - Ad Hoc: Illegal Apartments - Review of Ordinances, Regulations, Codes, Statutes & Penalties A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to take the item off the table. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Council member Rickert, seconded by Council member Gartner, to receive the communication and recommit this to the original ad hoc for their review of the new ordinances. Motion carried. Yes – 18, No – 1 (Chianese). Council member Chianese spoke against recommitting the item due to the extensive meetings that have taken place and would prefer to send the ordinances directly to a Public Hearing. Council member Salvatore explained that the ordinances will go to a Public Hearing after the ad hoc has an opportunity to review the ordinances. The Mayor re-appointed Council member Peter Buzaid in the chair, along with Council members Wallace- Smith and Palma. 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 Council member P. Buzaid, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to waive a reading of the reports, as all Members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant's Office, and accept the reports as they are presented. The motion carried unanimously. Council member Rotello asked Mr. Day (Public Utilities Superintendent) about water levels; 1.5% below average; and thanked departments for their work at dangerous intersections. Council member Chianese and the Mayor thanked Public Works and all City Department for their work on the DHS West school. Council member Hawley asked Mr. Ratchford (Recreation Director) for an update on summer activities at the Town Park and about updates to dog parks; Mr. Ratchford thanked all departments for all their work and noted a historic high revenue and attendance at the parks; new benches have been added at the dog parks. Council member Duane Perkins spoke in favor of the DHS West school and its progressive academics. Council member Coelho asked for an update on Franklin St. Bridge and the Ellsworth School roof; Mr. Iadarola (Public Works Director and City Engineer) confirmed work is being done on utilities and the project is on budget despite delays. He also confirmed that the roof at Ellsworth School is completed with a savings of $2M and he noted a 50-year warranty. Council member Robinson asked about a retaining wall and drainage project on Barnum Rd. with paving expected to take place by the end of the season. Council member Coelho asked about winter preparations at the Shelters; Mr. Boggan (Acting Heath Director) and Mr. Roeun (Associate Director of Community Health) explained that preparation has begun and the current occupancy is one available bed. Mr. Iadarola noted that paving and restoration goals for this year are 15 miles which is the largest number in 20 years. ADD-ON: 14. RESOLUTION – CT City and Town Development Act A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, seconded by Council member Salvatore, move to add on a resolution regarding the Connecticut City and Town Development Act Authorizing the City of Danbury to Undertake Programs and Projects Authorized Under Said Act, I move to place this item on the agenda. Motion Failed. Yes – 12, No – 7 (E. Buzaid, Coelho, Dennis Perkins, Fox, Palma, Duane Perkins, Rotello). ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Council member Rotello, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m. Copies of Agenda Items are available in the Legislative Assistant’s Office and on the City’s website. Respectfully submitted, Elisa Etcheto, Legislative Assistant