Honorable Mark D. Boughton, Mayor
Common Council Members

Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the Common Council Meeting to order at 7:33PM on Tuesday, February 3, 2009.

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

PRESENT: 16 ABSENT: 4 There is one vacancy.
Councilmen Nagarsheth and Riley were out of town on business and Councilmen Calandrino and Esposito were ill.

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 :
Dorathea Gulya-Stasny led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Ken Gucker- 89 Padanaram Road spoke on item #1

Al Robinson- 183 Osborne Street spoke on item # 1 and 2
Public speaking closed at 7:45PM.

Announcements for the month of February were read.

MINUTES :
Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the minutes of the Common Council meeting held January 6, 2009 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 item for the Consent Calendar:

3 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Tarrywile Park Authority
Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of David J. Manacek to serve as a member of the Tarrywile Park Authority, with a term to expire January 1, 2010.

4 - COMMUNICATION - Donations to the Department of Elderly Services
Receive the communication and accept the donations to the Department of Elderly Services, totaling $75.00, transfer into line item 5002.6000 and send appropriate letters of thanks.

6 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department - In Memory of J. R. Starnes
Receive the communication and accept the donation of $25.00, in memory of J.R. Starnes, from Ms. Marietta C. Menchini, deposit into account number 6000.2010 and send appropriate letter of thanks.

1 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Common Council
City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Trombetta moved to receive the communication and confirm the appointment, seconded by Councilwoman McMahon. Councilman Perkins moved to send item to an Ad Hoc. Mayor Boughton reminded the Council that there are time constraints per Charter section 2-6 which could cause the seat to remain vacant until the next election and that a motion had already been made to confirm the appointment. Councilman Perkins challenged the Chair, seconded by Councilman Saadi.

Mayor Boughton explained that a negative vote would support the ruling of the Chair and a vote in the affirmative would be to repeal the ruling of the Chair and refer the item to Ad Hoc. Councilman Levy called a point of order on the number of times a Council member could speak. Atty. Pinter stated a Council member could speak only once.

Councilmen Perkins, Saadi Rotello and Levy discussed procedural concerns and spoke in favor of referring to Ad Hoc. Councilman Curran requested clarification of the Charter section 2-6. Councilman Seabury spoke in favor of the appointment and Councilman Cavo stated concerns regarding Charter violations should the appointment not be confirmed.

A roll call vote was taken as follows: Perkins, Visconti, Chianese, Saadi, Rotello and Levy voted in the affirmative. Trombetta, Cavo, Diggs, Teicholz, Arconti, Curran, Knapp, Seabury and Stanley voted in the negative. Motion failed 10/6.

Discussion followed on the motion to confirm the appointment. Councilmen Perkins, Saadi and Rotello discussed procedural issues and in favor of an Ad Hoc. Councilman Levy discussed procedural issues and stated that he would be voting in favor of the appointment. Councilmen Arconti and Knapp and Councilwoman Stanley spoke in favor of the appointment.

A roll call vote was taken as follows: McMahon, Trombetta, Visconti, Chianese, Cavo, Diggs, Teicholz, Arconti, Curran, Knapp, Levy, Seabury and Stanley voted in the affirmative. Perkins, Saadi and Rotello voted in the negative. Motion passed 13/3.

Atty. Robert Yamin, Corporation Counsel, administered the oath to Michael Halas who then assumed his seat on the dais.

2 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment of Economic Development Director
City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilwoman McMahon moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Director of Finance and a representative from the Mayor’s Office. The Committee will consist of Councilmen Cavo, Seabury and Esposito.

3 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Tarrywile Park Authority
The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and appointment confirmed.

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 Fire Department - Boehringer Ingelheim
City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Curran moved to receive the communication and accept the donation, seconded by Councilman Rotello. Chief Herald was recognized to provide information regarding the tripod. This piece of equipment would be used for, among other things, confined spaces and will be stored at Engine 23. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

6 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Fire Department - In Memory of J. R. Starnes
The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted.

7 - COMMUNICATION – Request for Additional Funds for Snow Removal
City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Knapp moved to receive the communication and approve the request, seconded by Councilman Visconti. Councilmen Chianese and Rotello made inquiries regarding the amounts and type of materials to be purchased. Antonio Iadarola, P.E., Director of Public Works, explained that the request was for straight sand and sand and it is anticipated that the supply requested would be adequate to finish the season. Back to back storms have depleted supplies. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

8 - COMMUNICATION - Lease Hatters Park Banquet Hall
City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel, Director of Planning, Director of Public Works, Director of Public Buildings, and the Director of Parks. The Committee will consist of Councilmen Seabury, Knapp and Rotello.

9 - COMMUNICATION - Proposed Service Driveway - Long Ridge Road
City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilwoman Stanley moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with Corporation Counsel and the Director of Planning along with reports from Corporation Counsel and Planning. The Committee will consist of Councilwoman Teicholz and Councilmen Knapp and Chianese.

10 - RESOLUTION - Main Runway Intersection and Taxiway Bravo
Councilman Seabury moved to receive the report and adopt the Resolution as proposed, seconded by Councilman Cavo. Councilmen Chianese and Saadi made inquiries regarding funding and the effect on the operation of the airport. Paul Estefan, Airport Administrator, advised that the funding comes from the airport budget and a taxiway would be turned into a runway for the duration of the project, which would be approximately seven (7) days. Motion passed with 15 votes in favor. Councilwoman Stanley abstained.

11 - RESOLUTION - Grenier Property
Councilwoman Diggs moved to receive the report and adopt the Resolution, seconded by Councilwoman Teicholz. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

12 - RESOLUTION - Neighborhood Stabilization Program
Councilman Seabury moved to receive the report and adopt the Resolution as proposed, seconded by Councilman Cavo. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

13 - REPORT & ORDINANCE - Creation of Danbury Solid Waste and Recycling Authority and Designation of Directors
Councilman Rotello moved to waive the reading of the report, seconded by Councilman Seabury. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Councilman Cavo moved to receive the report and adopt the Ordinance as presented, seconded by Councilman Curran. Discussion followed regarding the relationship to HRRA, the powers of the local Authority, the first order of business for the Authority and clarification on the request for bid. Atty. Pinter explained that the Authority would be a separate organization from HRRA however, there could be collaboration between the two organizations. Mayor Boughton advised that the Authority would hold an organizational meeting as the first order of business. The Authority would need to hold an election and discuss planning matters. Mayor Boughton also advised that more individuals have come forward volunteering to serve on the Authority. If cooperation with the federal government is not attained, other avenues need to be explored to acquire the transfer station. The transparency of the process speaks of a public-private partnership and all documents are open for public review. A Council member would be selected from those expressing an interest to serve on the bid committee. Mayor Boughton encouraged Council members to review the RFQ.

McMahon, Halas, Trombetta, Chianese, Cavo, Rotello, Diggs, Teicholz, Arconti, Curran, Knapp, Seabury and Stanley vote in the affirmative. Councilmen Perkins, Visconti, Saadi and Levy voted in the negative. Motion passed 13/4.

14 - AD HOC REPORT - Governmental Entities
Councilwoman Teicholz moved to refer item to a Public Hearing.

15 - EXECUTIVE SESSION - Update on Acquisition of Real Property
The Executive Session for the Update on Acquisition of Real Property was withdrawn.

16 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS – Police, Fire, Public Works, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly Services, Library
Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the Department Reports as all members have copies and additional copies are on file in the City Clerk’s Office, seconded by Councilman Rotello. Councilman Perkins requested an update from David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance, regarding the financial standing of the City. Director St. Hilaire advised that the City is doing better than most, he works regularly with fund managers to minimize losses and that the City is taking a very conservative approach. There was also discussion with Chief Baker regarding crime statistics. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Mayor Boughton extended all committees.

As there was no further business to come before the Common Council a motion was made at 9:08PM by Councilman Chianese to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Respectfully submitted,

Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny
Recording Secretary

Attest,
Mark D. Boughton, Mayor