City Council

CITY OF DANBURY 155 DEER HILL AVENUE DANBURY, CONNECTICUT 06810 www.danbury-ct.gov ELISA ETCHETO PHONE: 203-797-4514 LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT FAX: 203-796-1529 e.etcheto@danbury-ct.gov PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Who: City Council members When: 7 P.M. – Tuesday, September 16, 2025 Where: Chambers, 3rd Floor City Hall, 155 Deer Hill Avenue Purpose: Ordinances: Sec 32-75: Payments to surviving spouse, surviving children, dependents Sec. 44-71: Tax Abatement Program for Volunteer Firefighters *Agenda Items on file in the Legislative Assistant’s Office and on the City website. Noticed: Corporation Counsel Richard Thode, Fire Chief Mayor’s Office Chip Daly, Local 801 President Posted: Town Clerk Information Board City Website Calendar  1 ORDINANCE CITY OF DANBURY, STATE OF CONNECTICUT CITY COUNCIL 2025 Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Danbury: That Section 32-75 of the Code of Ordinances of Danbury, Connecticut, is hereby amended to read as follows: Sec. 32-75. Payments to surviving spouse, surviving children, dependents. (a) Moved to Section 32-71. (b) When any member of the paid Fire Department who has less than ten (10) years of Fire Department service shall die due to causes unconnected with his performance of duty with the Fire Department, the surviving spouse or children or parents shall receive an annually adjusted pension, payable monthly, equal in amount to two (2) percent of pay then being received by members in the same grade and rank as was held by such former member at the time of his death for each year of such former member's Fire Department service. Alternatively, at the option of such surviving spouse or children or parents, as the case may be, may elect to and shall have such member's total contribution to the Firefighters Pension Fund returned to them. (c) Upon the death of any member of the Fire Department killed while in the actual performance of duty in his department or who died from the proximate effects of any injury or exposure received while in the actual discharge of such duty, the surviving spouse of such member shall receive the benefits provided for herein until her death or remarriage out of the Firefighters Pension Fund of such department. If such deceased member was in active service at the time of his death the surviving spouse shall receive an annually adjusted sum, payable weekly or monthly, equal to one-half (½) of the pay then being received by members in the same rank and grade as was held by such former member at the time of his death. If such deceased member was retired at the time of his death the surviving spouse shall receive an annually adjusted sum, payable weekly or monthly, equal to the pension which such deceased member would have been entitled to receive had he survived. If such deceased leaves no surviving spouse, or upon the death of such surviving spouse before remarriage, the Board of Directors of said fund shall cause to be paid monthly or weekly to the legally appointed guardian of any surviving child or children of such deceased member under the age of eighteen (18) years, for the use and benefit of such child or children, a sum or sums not exceeding in total the amount hereinbefore provided to be received by such surviving spouse, and may, from time to time, apportion such sum between such children as it may deem best; provided, as each child shall arrive at the age of eighteen (18) years, the payment to each child shall cease. If such member shall die leaving neither surviving spouse nor children surviving him, then the Board of Directors of said fund shall cause to be paid a sum or sums not exceeding in total the amount hereinbefore provided to be received by such surviving spouse, to the parent or parents of such deceased member; provided, such payments shall not be made to such parents unless the Board of Directors determines that such deceased member was the principal support of such parents at the time of his death. (d) Upon the death of any member of the Fire Department who has served continuously as a regular member of such department for at least ten (10) years and whose death is due to causes unconnected with the performance of duty with the Fire Department, the surviving spouse or children or the parents of such deceased member shall receive the benefits provided for herein. If such deceased member was in active service at the time of his death the surviving spouse or children or parents shall receive an annually adjusted sum equal to one-fourth (¼) of the pay then being received by members in the same rank and grade as was held by such former member at the time of his death. If such deceased member was retired at the time of his death then the surviving spouse or children or parents shall receive an annually adjusted sum equal to one-half (½) of the pension which such deceased member would have been entitled to receive had he survived. All benefits granted by this subsection shall be provided upon the same conditions and under the circumstances as appear in subsection (b) of this section. (e) The term “surviving spouse” as used in this section, shall mean the spouse of any such member, who shall have been married to him or her prior to their retirement from such department, if retired, and who shall be living with him or her as their spouse at the time of their death. The term "child" or "children," as used in this section, shall be limited in meaning to the child or children born to such member by his wife to whom he was married prior to his retirement from such department, if retired. A word importing the masculine gender shall extend and be applied to females as well as males. A word importing the feminine gender shall extend and be applied to males as well as to females.  2 ORDINANCE CITY OF DANBURY, STATE OF CONNECTICUT CITY COUNCIL 2025 Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Danbury: That the Code of Ordinances of Danbury, Connecticut is hereby amended by adding Section 44- 71 to Chapter 44, Article II, Division 2, entitled “Tax Abatement Program for Volunteer Firefighters,” which said section reads as follows: Sec. 44-71: Tax Abatement Program for Volunteer Firefighters. (a) PURPOSE AND STATUTORY AUTHORITY: In recognition of the benefits provided to the City of Danbury by its volunteer firefighters, this section is hereby established pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 12-81w, as amended by Public Act 99-272, Public Act 00-120, Public Act 01-187, Public Act 04-241, Public Act 11-21, Public Act 11-243, Public Act 16-99, Public Act 19-36 and Public Act 21-83. (b) DEFINITIONS: (1) “Abatement” shall mean the reduction in real property taxes or motor vehicle taxes owed by Eligible Residents of the below-referenced Danbury volunteer fire department companies qualifying for a tax abatement. (2) "Active" shall mean those members in good standing certified by the Chief Business Officer or Chief Fire Officer of Independent Hose Company No. 4, Mill Plain Hose Company No. 12, Miry Brook Hose Company No. 13, Miry Brook Ladies Auxiliary, King Street Hose Company No. 14, Danbury Volunteer Fire Battalion Nineteen, Danbury Volunteer Fire Battalion Thirty- One, or any successors to the foregoing volunteer fire companies, or on or before the Certification Date, as eligible for tax abatement under this ordinance. (3) "Benefit" shall mean the reduction in real property taxes or motor vehicle taxes described in subsection (c) below. (4) "Certification Date" shall mean May 15 of the assessment year commencing October 1, 2025 and each assessment year thereafter. (5) "Eligible Resident" shall mean each resident of the City of Danbury who volunteers his or her services: (A) as an active firefighter who is tagged to respond to emergency calls for one of the Danbury volunteer fire department companies or their successors, or (B) as an active member who served in one of the Danbury volunteer fire department companies or their successors for twenty-five (25) concurrent years as an active firefighter, fire police member, ladies auxiliary and/or business officer of the volunteer fire department or (C) as an active fire police member for one of the Danbury volunteer fire department companies or their successors, or (D) as an active member of the Ladies Auxiliary for one of the Danbury volunteer fire department companies or their successors, or (6) “Fiscal year” shall mean the City of Danbury’s budget year beginning July 1 of the calendar year immediately following the grand list year. (c) BENEFIT: Each Eligible Resident who satisfies all requirements as provided in this Section, and as provided by Connecticut law, shall receive a tax abatement applied first against any real property taxes owed to the City of Danbury. If any amount of the total benefit remains, the balance of the total benefit abatement shall be applied against any motor vehicle taxes owed to the City of Danbury. The tax abatement shall apply for any fiscal year during which the Eligible Resident satisfies the provisions of this Section. The total tax abatement shall not exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) and shall not exceed the total assessed value of real property or motor vehicles owned by the Eligible Resident. The tax abatement shall not be carried over from one fiscal year to another and shall not be transferrable in part or in whole. (1) Service point system (Activity Point System and Years of Service). The Chief Business Officer and/or Chief Fire Officer of the Danbury volunteer fire department companies listed in subsection (b)(2) of this Section shall track the participation of service of its members with respect to years of service, past and present and current level of activity. The service point system and the amount of the tax abatement shall be as follows: Service Point System YEARS OF SERVICE MAXIMUM TAX ABATEMENT After 1 full year of service $500.00 2-5 $750.00 6-10 $1,000.00 11-25 $1,500.00 26 and over $2,000.00 (d) Activity Point System (1) The member of the Danbury volunteer fire department company must satisfy the Eligible Resident requirements in subsection (b)(5)(A-D) of this Section and achieve the minimum number of points (sixty (60)) to be eligible for the tax abatement listed in the Service Point System Chart in subsection (c)(1) of this Section. Activity Example Points Training • Quarterly Training (req. for active FF) 2 • Completion of Approved Courses (maximum 40 points per year) 1/Hour Drills • Attend/participate in drills 1 • Organize/Lead drills 2 • Attend/Participate in “truck night” 1 Monthly Meeting • Attend Monthly Meeting 2 Emergency Response • Responded to an emergency call 5 Non-Emergency Participation • Chair of committee or organizing an event (per) 2 • Participate in a committee/event per meeting 1 Elected Officer • Fire or Business Officer 25 Life Member • Served 25 years or more 25 2 (2) Members can receive extra credit incentives based on achieving points greater than the minimum required. The percentage of increase is based on the maximum tax abatement available in relation to the member’s years of service. Members with twenty six (26) years of service or more cannot achieve extra credit incentives. Members can receive an increase based on the chart below, but in any case the maximum tax abatement benefit cannot exceed $2,000. Points Percentage Extra 61-80 10% 81-100 20% 101+ 30% (e) LIMITATIONS: The benefit shall be subject to the following limitations: (1) Members of the Danbury volunteer fire department companies who are Eligible Residents under two (2) or more conditions under subsection (b)(5)(A-D) and qualify under Connecticut law and this Section for the tax abatement benefit shall be entitled to one (1) benefit only. (f) ABATEMENT APPLICATION/PROCEDURE: The respective Chief Business Officers or Chief Fire Officers of Independent Hose Company No. 4, Mill Plain Hose Company No. 12, Miry Brook Hose Company No. 13, Miry Brook Ladies Auxiliary, King Street Hose Company No. 14, Danbury Volunteer Fire Battalion Nineteen, Danbury Volunteer Fire Battalion Thirty-One, or any successors to the foregoing Danbury volunteer fire department companies shall, on or before the Certification Date: (1) The Chief Business or Fire Officer of the Danbury volunteer fire department companies listed subsection (f) of this Section shall determine eligibility based on previous years points achieved as listed in subsection (d) of this Section; (2) Members of the Danbury volunteer fire department companies who satisfy the eligibility criteria as set forth in this Section must apply using approved forms and submit the same to the Chief Business or Fire Officer of the organizations listed in subsection (f) of this Section for approval. All forms and certifications must include the name and address of the member who satisfies all eligibility criteria, and state that the member has served as a volunteer firefighter for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding departmental leave, military service or injury under workers’ compensation) so as to qualify said member for the tax abatement for each fiscal year; (3) By May 1 prior to the Certification Date, the Chief Business or Fire Officer of the Danbury volunteer fire department companies listed in subsection (f) of this Section must submit the original certifications to the leadership of the Danbury Volunteer Firemen’s Council, who shall submit the original certifications to the Tax Assessor for the City of Danbury on or before the Certification Date, and; (4) forward a copy of their certifications to the Fire Chief of the City of Danbury. (f) ELIGIBILITY: Independent Hose Company No. 4, Mill Plain Hose Company No. 12, Miry Brook Hose Company No. 13, Miry Brook Ladies Auxiliary, King Street Hose Company No. 14, Danbury Volunteer Fire Battalion Nineteen, Danbury Volunteer Fire Battalion Thirty-One, or any 3 successors to the foregoing Danbury volunteer fire department companies shall determine the eligibility for their respective members, which criteria shall not be less stringent than the criteria set forth above in subsection (b)(5)(A-D) and shall meet the service point system criteria in subsections (c) and (d) of this Section. (g) RECORD RETENTION. The Tax Assessor of the City of Danbury shall maintain a record of all tax abatements provided pursuant to this Section, and shall maintain a certified list of all tax abatements provided under this Section. The Danbury volunteer fire department companies and any successors thereto shall retain records of all tax abatement documentation for a period of at least seven (7) years from the date such documentation was prepared and submitted to the Tax Assessor. This ordinance shall take effect and be applicable to taxes owed as of the assessment year commencing October 1, 2026. 4