City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING March 3, 2026 - 7 PM Honorable Mayor, Roberto Alves, called the meeting to order at 7p.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: Coelho, Hawley, LaPine, Salvatore, Buzaid, Gartner, Fay, Henry, Wallace-Smith, Spain-Reichl, Giordano, Rotello, Chianese, Duane Perkins, Britton, McAllister, Robinson, Laughinghouse, Dennis Perkins COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: Flanagan, Jabbour 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 None MINUTES Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting held February 3, 2026 and the Special Council Meeting held February 17, 2026. A motion was made by Council member Buzaid, and was seconded by Council member Duane Perkins, to receive the council minutes from the Regular City Council Meeting held February 3rd, 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; and accept the minutes of the Special Meeting on February 17th. Motion Carried Unanimously. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Environmental Impact Commission – Herald I Move to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Geoffrey R. Herald to serve as a full member of the City of Danbury Environmental Impact Commission for a term that will expire on March 1, 2029. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Environmental Impact Commission – Massoud I Move to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Mark G. Massoud as a full member of the Environmental Impact commission for a term to expire March 1, 2029. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Planning Commission (Alternate) – Aveiga I Move to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Eva L. Aveiga to serve as an alternate member of the City of Danbury Planning Commission for a term to expire March 1, 2029. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Board of Ethics – Gleason I Move to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Kathryn (Kathy) Gleason to serve as a full member of the Board of Ethics for a term to expire March 1, 2028. 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointments to the Lake Kenosia Commission – White I Move to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Cynthia M. White to serve as a full member of the City of Danbury Lake Kenosia Commission for terms to expire March 1, 2029. 6. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Lake Kenosia Commission – Keller I Move to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Amy J. Keller to serve as a full member of the City of Danbury Lake Kenosia Commission for terms to expire March 1, 2029. 12. COMMUNICATION - Sustainable CT Annual Report I Move to receive the communication and accept the report as presented by the Sustainability Advisory Team. 13. COMMUNICATION - Donation to Copsicle Ice Cream Truck - Police Department I Move to receive the communication and accept the donation of $1,000 from Michael Scherer for supporting the programs in relation to the EPE/CCU Ice Cream Truck and will ask the legislative assistant to send a note of thanks on behalf of the City Council. 14. COMMUNICATION - Donation from Danbury Westerners - Recreation Department I Move to receive the communication and accept the donation of items listed in the letter valuing $271,000 from the Danbury Westerners and will ask the legislative assistant to send a note of thanks on behalf of the City Council. 16. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Distracted Driving / High Visibility Enforcement Grant - Police Department I Move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L. Alves, or Chief Parick Ridenhour, as his designee, to accept these grant funds and sign all contracts and documents necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof. 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 1A. COMMUNICATION – Charter Revision A motion was made by Council member Spain-Reichl to receive the communication and send this to an ad hoc committee consisting of Corporation Counsel and the Mayor’s Office. So Ordered. Mayor Alves appointed Council member Britton as Chair; and Council members Robinson and Henry. 1. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Environmental Impact Commission – Herald *CONSENTED - as received. 2. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Environmental Impact Commission – Massoud *CONSENTED - as received. 3. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Planning Commission (Alternate) – Aveiga *CONSENTED - as received. 4. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Board of Ethics – Gleason *CONSENTED - as received. 5. COMMUNICATION - Appointments to the Lake Kenosia Commission – White *CONSENTED - as received. 6. COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Lake Kenosia Commission – Keller *CONSENTED - as received. 7. COMMUNICATION - New Ordinance Sec. 46-35: Automated Traffic Enforcement Safety Devices A motion was made by Council member Robinson to receive the communication and send this to an ad hoc committee consisting of the Mayor’s Office, Corporation Counsel, the Police Chief or his designee, and any other departments necessary to provide necessary information as needed. Mayor Alves appointed Council member Salvatore as Chair; and Council members Wallace-Smith and Fay. 8. COMMUNICATION - Collective Bargaining Agreement: Public Works (7/15/25-6/30/29) A motion was made by Council member Britton, seconded by Council member Salvatore, receive the communication and approve the funds necessary to implement the 2025-2029 collective bargaining agreement between the City and Public Works Department/Highway and Equipment Maintenance Division, Parks Division, Forestry Division and Airport Maintenance. Motion Carried Unanimously. 9. COMMUNICATION - Collective Bargaining Agreement: Public Buildings (7/1/25-6/30/29) A motion was made by Council member McAllister, seconded by Council member Salvatore, receive the communication and approve the funds necessary to implement the 2025-2029 collective bargaining agreement between the City and Public Buildings Division. Motion Carried Unanimously. 10. COMMUNICATION - Collective Bargaining Agreement: Public Utilities (7/1/25-6/30/29) A motion was made by Council member Wallace-Smith, seconded by Council member Salvatore, to receive the communication and approve the funds necessary to implement the 2025-2029 collective bargaining agreement between the City and Public Utilities Department/Water and Maintenance Divisions. Motion Carried Unanimously. Council member Rotello asked Mr. Garrick (Director of Finance) about the compounded increases in the agreements ($900,000) and a theoretical impact on the Mill Rate; Mr. Garrick estimated that it could be equivalent to under 1 mill. 11. COMMUNICATION - 2025 Year End Re-Appropriations & Budget Transfers A motion was made by Council member Giordano, seconded by Council member LaPine,to receive the communication, and authorize the transfer of $222,683 as noted on page 42 of the agenda to close the 2024/2025 fiscal year. Motion Carried Unanimously. 12. COMMUNICATION - Sustainable CT Annual Report *CONSENTED - as received. 13. COMMUNICATION - Donation to Copsicle Ice Cream Truck - Police Department *CONSENTED - as received. 14. COMMUNICATION - Donation from Danbury Westerners - Recreation Department *CONSENTED - as received. 15. COMMUNICATION - Application for Sewer Extension - 72 Liberty Street A motion was made by Council member Gartner to receive the communication and send this for reports from the City Engineer and Planning Commission. So Ordered. 16. RESOLUTION - CT DOT Distracted Driving / High Visibility Enforcement Grant - Police Department *CONSENTED - as received.  17A. RESOLUTION & REPORT - Public Hearing: Resolution - Series 2026 Bonds (Danbury Proton) A motion was made by Council member Buzaid, seconded by Council member Rotello, to waive the reading of the public hearing minutes as all members have copies and copies are on file with the Legislative Assistant's Office, as well as accept the report as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously. A motion was made by Council member Hawley, seconded by Council member Chianese, to receive the communication and adopt the resolution as presented, provided that the council’s approval is conditioned on the right of first refusal to the city on financing any additional treatment rooms beyond those contemplated by this resolution, proposed while the bonds are outstanding. Yes - 17, No – 2 (Fay, Henry), Motion Carried. 17. REPORT - Ad Hoc: Appointment of Constable A motion was made by Council member 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 with the Legislative Assistant's Office, as well as accept the reports as presented. Motion Carried Unanimously. A motion was made by Council member Salvatore, seconded by Council member Chianese, to receive the communication and based on the ad hoc recommendation, appoint Mr. Michael Safranek as Constable to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Louise McMahon. Yes - 18, No – 1 (Coelho), Motion Carried. 18. REPORTS - Engineering & Planning: Water Main Extension Renewal – 119 Franklin St Ext. A motion was made by Council member Buzaid, seconded by Council member Rotello, to waive the reading of the reports as all members have copies and copies are on file with the Legislative Assistant's Office, as well as accept the reports as presented.” Motion Carried Unanimously. A motion was made by Council member LaPine, seconded by Council member Chianese, to receive the communication and based on the positive reports from the City Engineer and Planning Commission approve the water main extension application for 119 Franklin Street Extension subject to the City’s standard eight steps and conditions. So Ordered. 19. 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 Rotello, 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. 20. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Firetruck Litigation & Antitrust Claims A motion was made by Council member Buzaid to send this to an ad hoc committee consisting of Corporation Counsel, Mayor’s Office, Outside Counsel, the Fire Chief and any other departments necessary to advance the resolution. So Ordered. Mayor Alves appointed Council member Buzaid as Chair; and Council members Laughinghouse and Henry. COMMITTEES The Mayor appointed the 2026 Budget Ad Hoc Committees; Health & Public Safety: Salvatore, Chair; Giordano, Jabbour, Rotello, Henry Government I: Britton, Chair; Flanagan, Duane Perkins, McAllister, Henry Government II: Gartner, Chair; Laughinghouse, Spain-Reichl, Dennis Perkins, Coelho Education: Robinson, Chair; Gartner, Wallace-Smith, Britton, Fay Public Works: Buzaid, Chair; Hawley, LaPine, Chianese, Coelho and Extended All Other Committees. ADJOURNMENT Council member Coelho asked for a moment of silence for soldiers killed during the war; and Mayor Alves congratulated Council member Britton on graduating from JAG Corps. A motion was made by Council member Rotello, seconded by Council member Chianese, to adjourn. Motion Carried Unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:29p.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