Honorable Mark D. Boughton, Mayor

Common Council Members

Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the Common Council Meeting to order at 7:30PM on Tuesday, January 6, 2009.

Present were Council members: Louise P. McMahon, Shay Nagarsheth, Duane E. Perkins, Fred Visconti, Benjamin Chianese, John J. Esposito, Thomas J. Saadi, Joseph M. Cavo, Paul T. Rotello, Jane Diggs, Robert F. Arconti, Jack Knapp, Warren M. Levy, Robert Riley, Gregg Seabury, Colleen A. Stanley, Philip Curran and Charles Trombetta

PRESENT: 18 ABSENT: 2
Councilwoman Teicholz was out of town and Councilman Calandrino was unable to attend due to an injury.

Also present were Jean Natale, City Clerk; Robert J. Yamin, Corporation Counsel and Laszlo L. Pinter, Deputy Corporation Counsel.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG & PRAYER:
Councilwoman McMahon led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Esposito led everyone in the room in a prayer.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:

Greg Williams- 104 Franklin St. spoke on item #12

MINUTES – Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the minutes of the Common Council Meeting held December 2, 2008 and the Special Meeting of December 22, 2008 as Council members have copies and copies are also available in the City Clerk’s Office, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

CONSENT CALENDAR
Councilman Seabury presented the following items for the Consent Calendar:

2. Receive the communication and accept the donation of $50.00 from Bernard and Maryann Mitchell Holand to the Danbury Police Department and send appropriate letter of thanks.

3. Receive the communication and accept the donation of a standpipe and sprinkler system installed in the Fire Department Training Facility on Plumtrees Road by Fire Stop Inc. of Bethel, and send the appropriate letters of thanks.

4. Receive the communication and accept the donations from the Visiting Angels, The Gardens, and Laurel Ridge totaling $75.00, to The Department of Elderly Services, transfer into line item 5002.6000 donations and send appropriate letters of thanks.

8. Receive the communication and approve the sidewalk easement-Old Ridgebury Rd. &Larsen Rd. and accept the proposed conveyance, subject to required Planning approval.

Councilman Cavo moved to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

1 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Ad Hoc - Lease Old Ridgebury Road
Councilwoman McMahon moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Director of Economic Development, a representative from the Mayor’s Office, Director of Finance and the Director of Planning. The Committee will consist of Councilman Seabury, Councilman Nagarsheth and Councilman Chianese.

2 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Police Department
The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted.

3 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department
The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted.

4 - COMMUNICATION - Donations to the Department of Elderly Services
The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donations accepted.

5 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Department of Health, Housing & Welfare
City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Nagarsheth moved to receive the communication and accept the donation, seconded by Councilwoman McMahon. Director Scott Leroy was congratulated on the selection of the City of Danbury to receive recognition from the CDC TIIDE and was thanked for the outstanding work of the Department by Mayor Boughton. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

6 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Ad Hoc - Fire Department
Councilman Curran moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance and the Fire Chief. The Committee will consist of Councilman Trombetta, Councilwoman McMahon and Councilman Visconti.

7 - COMMUNICATION - Candlewood Lake Shoreline Management Plan
Councilman Trombetta moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Director of Planning and a representative from the Mayor’s Office. The Committee will consist of Councilman Cavo, Councilman Calandrino and Councilman Rotello.

8 - COMMUNICATION - Sidewalk Easement - Old Ridgebury Road & Larsen Road
The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved, subject to Planning approval.

9 - COMMUNICATION - Letter of Resignation - Councilman Johnson
City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to accept the communication with regret, seconded by Councilman Trombetta. Mayor Boughton, Councilman Cavo, Councilman Seabury, Councilman Trombetta and Councilman Visconti thanked Mr. Johnson for his time on the Common Council and extended their best wises on his appointment to the position of Fire Marshall. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

10 - COMMUNICATION - Request for an Ad Hoc - Volunteer Center
Councilwoman Diggs moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with the Director of Economic Development, Director of Finance, a representative from the Mayor’s Office and a representative from the Volunteer Center.

11 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Funds - Danbury Youth Baseball
Councilwoman Stanley moved to refer to the Mayor’s Office for possible inclusion in the 09-10 Budget. As there were no objections, the Mayor so ordered.

12 - REPORT - 2008 Charter Revision - Draft Report
Councilman Riley moved to send to Public Hearing followed by a Committee of the Whole.

Councilman Cavo moved to advance item #14, Department Reports ahead of #13, Executive Session, seconded by Councilman Saadi. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

14 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Unit, Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Permit Center, Elderly Services, Public Works
Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the Department Reports as all Council members have copies, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Discussion followed with congratulations to Director Leroy and praise to the Fire Chief and his Department for the evacuation of an overcrowded club and their swift response to the sprinkler incident at the high school. Director of Finance, David St. Hilaire, gave a brief overview of the financial condition of the City. Meetings are held regularly with the Mayor to discuss the financial condition of the City. Mayor Boughton encouraged Council members to make inquiries at future meeting. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Mayor Boughton encouraged Council members to attend the Education Budget meeting on January 21, 2009. The Committee will consist of Councilwoman Stanley as Chair, Councilman Riley, Councilwoman Diggs, Councilman Calandrino and Councilman Visconti.

13 - EXECUTIVE SESSION - Pending Disputes or Litigation
Councilman Rotello moved to enter into Executive Session at 8:00PM, seconded by Councilman Cavo. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

The Common Council came out of Executive Session at 9:10PM.

Councilman Cavo moved to authorize funding, as discussed in the Executive Session, in the amount, as discussed in Executive Session for litigation and other related matters, as discussed in Executive Session, seconded by Councilman Rotello. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

As there was no further business to come before the Common Council, a motion was made at 9:13P.M. by Councilman Saadi, to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Visconti. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Respectfully submitted,
Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny
Recording Secretary

Attest,
Mark D. Boughton, Mayor