City Council

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL November 12, 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. Council member Salvatore led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Hawley, Simone, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Emile Buzaid, Coelho, Wallace-Smith, Dennis Perkins, Fox, Robinson, Britton, McAllister, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, Giordano, Tomchik COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Rickert, LaPine, 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. NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING Read by the Legislative Assistant. ACCEPTANCE OF CALL TO SERVICE A motion was made by Council member Salvatore, seconded by Council member Chianese, to accept the call to service. Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC INPUT Lucille – Mill Road (Rivington), Spoke against Item #6. MINUTES - Minutes of the Council Meeting held October 9, 2025 and Special Meeting held October 21, 2025. A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Council member Chianese, to receive the Council minutes from October 9th and the Special Meeting minutes on October 21st, and waive the reading of both minutes, as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistants Office, and approve them as presented. The motion carried unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 4. COMMUNICATION - Donation from Mr. DaSilva for Cost of Stamped Concrete - Planning I move to receive the communication and accept the donation in the amount of $4,059.16 from Joe DaSilva to reimburse the city for the decorative stamped concrete in front of the Palace Theater. 5. COMMUNICATION - Agreement for Use of Airport Space by Candlewood Lake Authority I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, t execute the agreement. 10. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Click It or Ticket Enforcement Grant – Police Department I move to receive the communication and adopt the resolution as presented. 11. RESOLUTION - CT DOT DUI Enforcement Grant - Police Department I move to receive the communication and adopt the resolution as presented. 12. REPORTS - Engineering, Planning & Corp. Counsel: Application for Sidewalk Easement - 7 Great Pasture Road I move to accept the planning commission, engineering reports, and corporation counsel reports and accept the sidewalk easement subject to the completion of all necessary documentation in a form acceptable to the corporation counsel office. 13. REPORT - Engineering & Planning: Application for Water & Sewer Extension - 1 & 3 Pembroke Road I move to accept the planning commission and engineering reports and approve the application 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 - Appointment of Entry Level Police Officers - Montana, Sabovic, Korona, Almonte and Ynoa A motion was made by Council member Britton, and was seconded by Council member Salvatore, to receive the communication and approve the appointments of Joseph Montana, Rahim Sabovic, Chris Korona, Benjamin Almonte, and Kenneth Ynoa as Entry Level Police Officers with the Danbury Police Department. Yes – 17, Abstention – 1 (Fox). Motion carried. Member Fox asked about swearing-in of the officers vs. active pay dates; Chief Ridenhour confirmed that entry level officers must be sworn-in before going to the academy and that waiting would result in months long delay. Member Fox noted his abstention to the vote due to the swearing-in taking place before Council approval of the appointments. 2. ORDINANCE & REPORT - Ordinance Sec. 44-72 Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, and was seconded by Council member Rotello, to waive the reading of the public hearing minutes as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistant’s Office. Motion carried unanimously. Council member. Buzaid noted that the original minutes were corrected to reflect the attendance of Council member Hawley and that all Council members have copies. A motion was made by Council member Chianese, and was seconded by Council member Coelho, to receive the communication and adopt the ordinance Sec. 44-72 as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 3. COMMUNICATION - Conveyance of Parcel to the City — 24 Hillandale Road A motion was made by Council member Simone, to receive the communication and request reports from the planning commission and city engineer. So Ordered. 4. COMMUNICATION - Donation from Mr. DaSilva for Cost of Stamped Concrete - Planning *CONSENTED - as received. 5. COMMUNICATION - Agreement for Use of Airport Space by Candlewood Lake Authority *CONSENTED - as received. 6. RESOLUTION - Acquisition of Property - Reserve Road Parcel (West Side Fire Station) A motion was made by Council member Hawley, and was seconded by Council member Rotello, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Council member Chianese asked if the purchase has to return to the Council for approval, Mr. Casagrande explained that this resolution gives the Mayor the authority to move forward, however, the Council can revisit this item if they would like to. Council member Rotello spoke in favor of the station in this location. Council member E. Buzaid asked who owns the property, Corporation Counsel said an LLC owns it however they were not at liberty to give names at this time. 7. RESOLUTION - Extension of Time for Property Acquisition - 147-149 Westville Avenue Extension A motion was made by Council member Giordano, and was seconded by Council member Gartner, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 8. RESOLUTION - CT DECD Round 8 Community Investment Fund (CIF) - Finance A motion was made by Council member Gartner, and was seconded by Council member Wallace-Smith, to accept the communication and adopt the resolution as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 9. RESOLUTION - LOTCIP Downtown Streetscape Renaissance Project Grant update - Planning A motion was made by Council member Wallace-Smith, and was seconded by Council member Gartner, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution as presented. Motion carried unanimously. 10. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Click It or Ticket Enforcement Grant – Police Department *CONSENTED - as received. 11. RESOLUTION - CT DOT DUI Enforcement Grant - Police Department *CONSENTED - as received. 12. REPORTS - Engineering, Planning & Corp. Counsel: Application for Sidewalk Easement - 7 Great Pasture Road *CONSENTED - as received. 13. REPORT - Engineering & Planning: Application for Water & Sewer Extension - 1 & 3 Pembroke Road *CONSENTED - as received. 14. Ad Hoc: Illegal Apartments (Recommittal) Ord. Sec. 20-99 and Sec. 20-137 A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, seconded by Council member 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. Motion carried unanimously. A motion was made by Council member Robinson, seconded by Council member Gartner, to accept the ad hoc minutes and send this to a public hearing. So Ordered. 15. Ad Hoc: Review Ord. Sec. 46-3 All-Terrain vehicles, etc.; operation prohibited on city property A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, seconded by Council member 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. Motion Carried unanimously. A motion was made by Council member McAllister, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to accept the ad hoc minutes and move to send this to a public hearing. So Ordered. 16. 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 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, and we accept the reports as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Member Chianese asked the Police Chief about crosswalk enforcement, Chief Ridenhour confirmed that increased enforcement will continue. Member Simone thanked the Police Department for enforcement of off-road vehicles, he asked the Recreation Director for an update on the department’s successes, Mr. Ratchford spoke on the department’s initiatives for social outreach, the success of the summer camp programs and beach improvements, he also thanked other departments for their help with maintenance. Member Coelho asked about utility work and getting out the work about traffic delays and road closures. Member Gartner asked the Highway Superintendent about sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, Mr. Nolan confirmed the state requires compliance when upgrade work is done. Ms. O’Brien thanked the Finance Department for the hard work in completing the 2024 Audit. Departing City Council members were presented with thank you plaques for their work on the Council. 17. EXECUTIVE SESSION - PFAS/CERCLA Litigation A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to enter Executive Session for the purposes of discussing the potential legal matter involving issues related to engaging outside legal services for the purpose of pursuing any and all CERCLA claims that result in municipal damages therefrom. The following individuals are directed to remain for the session: Dan Garrick, Director of Finance; Antonio Iadorola, City Engineer; David Day, Superintendent of Public Utilities, Taylor O’Brien, and members of the Corporation Counsel office as well as outside litigation counsel. Entered: 8:50pm Exited: 9:09pm Returned to Order: 9:11pm A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to approve the resolution to engage outside Counsel (lawyers) to pursue legal claims in accordance with the discussion. Motion carried unanimously. Member Rotello asked if hiring an outside firm will be more successful than pursuing this litigation through city counsel, Mr. Casagrande spoke in favor of using an outside firm due to their level of expertise on this matter. Member Tomchik spoke in favor of using outside counsel for this matter. COMMITTEES Mayor Extended All Committees. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Council member Rotello, seconded by Council member Britton, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:16 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