City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 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. Council member Salvatore led all in prayer. ROLL CALL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Flanagan, Fay, Gartner, Salvatore, Peter Buzaid, Henry, Coelho, LaPine, Wallace-Smith, Dennis Perkins, Spain-Reichl, Laughinghouse, Robinson, McAllister, Duane Perkins, Chianese, Rotello, Giordano, Jabbour COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Hawley, Britton PRESENT: 19 ABSENT: 2 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. PUBLIC INPUT Sonny Parsons, Resident, South King Street, Spoke in favor of Items #8-11, and 13-14 (Grants). MINUTES Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting held November 12, 2025. A motion was made by Council member Buzaid, and was seconded by Council member Duane Perkins, to receive the council minutes from the November 12th Council meeting, waive the reading of these minutes, as all members have copies and copies are on file in the Legislative Assistants Office, and approve them as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 2. COMMUNICATION - Donation of EV blankets from Linde Inc. – Fire Department I move to receive the communication and accept on behalf of the Danbury Fire Department two electric vehicle fire blankets valued at $7,200 and extend thanks to Linde, Inc. for the donation. 5. RESOLUTION - Release of Mortgage - 5 Hoyt Street I move to receive the communication and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury to execute a Release of Mortgage. 7. RESOLUTION - MOU Renewal for use of FCI Range for training – Police Department I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or his designee, Danbury Police Chief Patrick Ridenhour, to execute a Memorandum of Understanding and any related documents between the FCI and the City of Danbury Police Department for the purposes of using a firing range and training facilities on FCI Property, to assist in police firearms training and such related purposes as may be necessary for the furtherance thereof. 11. RESOLUTION - Online Health Literacy Adult Program Grant – Library I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or Katie Pearson, Library Director as his designee, to apply for and accept said funding and to execute all contracts, agreements and other required documents and to take all necessary actions to effectuate the purposes of this grant application. 13. RESOLUTION - AAU Grant – Recreation Department I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or Kara Prunty, Assistant Director of Finance, as his designee, to apply for and accept said funding and to execute all contracts, agreements and other required documents and to take all necessary actions to effectuate the purposes of this grant application. 14. RESOLUTION - Peter & Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation Grant Department of Elderly Services I move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or Susan M. Tomanio, Director of Elderly Services, as his designee, to apply for and accept said funding and to execute all contracts, agreements and other required documents and to take all necessary actions to effectuate the purposes of this grant application. 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 - Appointments to the Government Entities Review Committee (G.E.R.C.) A motion was made by Council member Flanagan, seconded by Council member Gartner, to receive the communication and approve the appointment of council members Frank Salvatore Jr, Diane LaPine and Mike Henry, and confirm the reappointment of Alan T. Boyce and Mark S. Chory to the Government Entities Review Committee. Motion Carried Unanimously. 2. COMMUNICATION - Donation of EV blankets from Linde Inc. - Fire Department *CONSENTED - as received. 3. COMMUNICATION - Lease Renewal - Danbury Duck Pin Bowling Lanes (7 East Hayestown Rd) A motion was made by Council member Laughinghouse, seconded by Council member Robinson, to receive the communication and refer this to the planning commission for a CGS Section 8-24 report back for the January 2026 meeting. Motion Carried Unanimously. 4. COMMUNICATION – Water Main Extension Application - 68 Morgan Ave A motion was made by Council member LaPine, seconded by Council member Wallace-Smith, to receive the communication and send this for reports from the planning commission and city engineer. Motion Carried Unanimously. 5. RESOLUTION - Release of Mortgage - 5 Hoyt Street *CONSENTED - as received. 6. RESOLUTION – Elected Officials' Compensation Request A motion was made by Council member Salvatore, seconded by Council member Gartner, to receive the communication and send this to an ad hoc committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, the Finance department, and the Mayor’s Office. So Ordered. The Mayor appointed to the ad hoc: Britton, Chair, McAllister, Wallace-Smith, Giordano, Coelho. 7. RESOLUTION – MOU Renewal for use of FCI Range for training - Police Department *CONSENTED - as received. 8. RESOLUTION – LOTCIP (CT DOT / WestCOG) Funds for Citywide Pedestrian Safety & Traffic Controller Upgrade Project - Engineering A motion was made by Council member Robinson, seconded by Council member LaPine, to receive the communication and authorize Roberto L. Alves, Mayor of the City of Danbury, and/or Antonio Iadarola, Director of Public Works and City Engineer as his designee, to apply for and accept funding available through the State of Connecticut, WestCOG LOTCIP, 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. Council member Rotello asked Mr. Iadarola if the crosswalk at Miry Brook and Sugar Hollow would be included for these funds; Mr. Iadarola confirmed it would not but other grants and funding sources will be allocated for that project. 9. RESOLUTION – CT DOH Small Cities Grant - Amend for Additional Funding and Contract Extension - Health and Human Services A motion was made by Council member McAllister, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to receive the communication and ratifies the action taken, and accepts the grant funds in the amount not to exceed $124,000 from the CTDOH, to support homeless services in our community; and that Roberto L. Alves, Mayor or Fernanda Carvalho, Director of Health and Human Services as his designe,e to apply and accept said funds, and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. Motion Carried Unanimously. Council member Chianese asked Ms. Carvalho if these funds will cover costs for the year; Ms. Carvalho confirmed the shelters are currently running with funds, however, funds will be needed to cover deficits towards the end of the fiscal year. Council member Rotello asked Ms. Carvalho about capacities at the shelters; she confirmed emergency shelters have opened to accommodate additional needs due to the weather. 10. RESOLUTION – CT DOH Emergency Shelter Grant update - Health and Human Services A motion was made by Council member Giordano, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to receive the communication and amend the September 2023 resolution to reflect the actual awarded amount of $805,000, and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves or Fernanda Carvalho, Director of Health and Human Services as his designee, to submit reimbursement requests, and accept said funds, and to execute all contracts and agreements necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. Motion Carried Unanimously. 11. RESOLUTION – Online Health Literacy Adult Program Grant - Library *CONSENTED - as received. 12. RESOLUTION – Condemnation of Utility Easement within Lombardi Street A motion was made by Council member Jabbour, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to receive the communication and refer this matter to the Planning Commission for a CGS Section 8-24 report and to the city engineer for a report as well. Motion Carried Unanimously. 13. RESOLUTION – AAU Grant – Recreation Department *CONSENTED - as received 14. RESOLUTION - Peter & Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation Grant - Department of Elderly Services *CONSENTED - as received. 15. REPORTS – Ad Hoc: CT City and Town Development Act 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 Spain-Reichl to accept the ad hoc minutes and move to send this to a public hearing. So Ordered. 16. REPORTS - Audit Committee (2024) A motion was made by Council member P. Buzaid, seconded by Council member 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. Motion Carried Unanimously A motion was made by Council member Gartner, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to accept the ad hoc minutes and adopt the audited financial statements of the City of Danbury as prepared by RSM for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Motion Carried Unanimously. 17. DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire, Health & Human Services, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, 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, as well as accept the reports as they are presented. Motion Carried Unanimously. Council member Giordano asked Chief Ridenhour (Police) about school bus violations (estimated at 1500 per month) and asked for these to be included in the Police Department’s monthly report; Chief Ridenhour confirmed he would look to reflect that data in future reports. Council member Henry asked Mr. Iadarola about the status of the bio-diesel treatment plant revenue and productions; Mr. Iadarola spoke about expired incentives that shut the plant down about three months earlier. Council member Robinson asked about elevator replacement at Hayestown School; Mr. Hughes confirmed the project will be installed and completed by February. Council member Dennis Perkins asked Chief Ridenhour for reasons behind verbal warnings vs. ticketed violations. COMMITTEES The Mayor Sunsetted All Open Ads Hoc Committees, except for the Margerie Reservoir Trail Advisory Committee. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Council member Salvatore, seconded by Council member Gartner, to adjourn. Motion Carried Unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:04 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