Honorable Mark D. Boughton, Mayor
Common Council Members
Mayor Mark D. Boughton called the Common Council Meeting to order at 7:30PM on Tuesday, April 7, 2009.
Present were Council members: Louise P. McMahon, Shay Nagarsheth, Michael Halas, Charles Trombetta, Duane E. Perkins, Fred Visconti, Benjamin Chianese, John J. Esposito, Thomas J. Saadi, Joseph M. Cavo, Paul T. Rotello, N. Jane Diggs, Mary Teicholz, Robert F. Arconti, Philip Curran, Jack Knapp, Warren M. Levy, Gregg Seabury, Colleen A. Stanley
PRESENT: 20 ABSENT: 1 Councilman Riley was absent due to a family emergency. 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: David St. Hilaire, Director of Finance, led everyone in the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Councilman Curran led everyone in the room in a prayer.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: Elsie Marciano- 179 Long Ridge Road spoke on #1. Lynn Waller- 83 Highland Avenue spoke on #s 10, 22 and 26. Mark Nolan- 37 Brushy Hill Road spoke on #s 2 and 11. Charlotte Barrows- 55 Hospital Avenue spoke on #11. Public speaking closed at 7:52PM. Announcements for the month of April were read.
BUDGET ADDRESS: The Honorable Mayor Mark D. Boughton gave his budget address. (Please see attachment)
MINUTES: Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the minutes of the Common Council meeting held March 4, 2009 and the Special Meeting held on March 10, 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 items for the Consent Calendar:
3. Receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Michael J. Cormier to serve as a member of the Parks & Recreation Commission with a term to expire April 1, 2012.
4. Receive the communication and confirm the appointments of Kim Botelho and Patricia Weiner to serve as members of the Conservation Commission with terms to expire July 1, 2011.
6. Receive the communication and accept the donation of toothbrushes valued at $997.92 from Delta Dental of New Jersey, Inc. and send the appropriate letter of thanks.
8. Receive the communication and accept the donations to the Department of Elderly Services, totaling $175.00, transfer into line item 5002.6000 and send the appropriate letters of thanks.
9. Receive the communication and approve the execution of utility test pit / preliminary engineering agreement for the Ct Dot I-84 Interchange 6 / Route 37 Improvements.
12. Receive the communication and approve the appropriation of $20,000 from the Historic Document Reserve Account 2.2129 to the Town Clerk’s Outside Services line item account 1160.5334.
15. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Fire Chief Herald to apply for and accept a Fire Prevention Grant from FEMA to purchase a “Combination Sprinkler/ Fire Safety House”.
19. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Police Chief Baker to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management through the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee for the purpose of youth development.
21. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Scott LeRoy to apply for and accept funding from the State of Connecticut Department of Social Services for on-site dental care at the City’s School Based Health Centers.
24. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize Mayor Mark D. Boughton or Paul Estefan to enter into a lease for WOS between the City and the United States of America and the FAA.
25. Receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to authorize an additional period of time for qualified property owners to make application for specified energy-saving tax credits or rebates.
28. Receive the report.
29. Receive the reports and approve the time extension as requested subject to the current standard eight conditions.
30. Receive the Planning Commission report, receive and approve the Ad Hoc committee report and refer to a Public Hearing. Councilwoman Teicholz moved to accept the Consent Calendar as presented, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
1 - ORDINANCE & RESOLUTION - An Ordinance Making Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2009 and ending June 30, 2010 and a Resolution Levying the Property Tax for the Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2009 and ending June 30, 2010 Councilwoman Stanley requested referral of the item to a public hearing.
2 - RESOLUTION - Downtown Special Services District - Tax Levy Councilman Cavo moved to receive the communication and approve the Resolution for the Downtown Special Services District Tax Levy, seconded by Councilman Teicholz. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
3 - COMMUNICATION - Appointment to the Parks and Recreation Commission The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointment of Michael J. Cormier confirmed.
4 - COMMUNICATION - Appointments to the Conservation Commission The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the appointments of Kim Botelho and Patricia Weiner confirmed.
5 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Police Department City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Nagarsheth moved to receive the communication, accept the donation and send a letter of thanks, seconded by Councilwoman McMahon. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
6 - COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Danbury School Based Health Centers The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donation accepted.
7 -COMMUNICATION - Donation to the Public Works Department City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Curran moved to receive the communication, accept the donation and send a letter of thanks, seconded by Councilman Seabury. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
8 - COMMUNICATION - Donations to the Department of Elderly Services The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and the donations accepted.
9 - COMMUNICATION - DOT I-84 Interchange 6/Route 37 Improvements The communication was received on the Consent Calendar and approved.
10 - COMMUNICATION - Mutual Aid Assistance Agreement Councilman McMahon moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with the Fire Chief and Corporation Counsel. The committee will consist of Councilman Curran, Councilwoman McMahon and Councilman Visconti.
11 - COMMUNICATION - Proposed Revisions to Danbury Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness Councilman Knapp moved to refer to an Ad Hoc with the Director of Health, Housing and Social Services, Director of the Housing Authority and the Chairman of the Danbury Housing Partnership. The committee will consist of Councilwoman Teicholz, Councilwoman Stanley and Councilman Perkins. 12 - COMMUNICATION - Historic Document Reserve Account The communication were received on the Consent Calendar and the appropriation approved.
13 - COMMUNICATION - Farioly Funds Appropriation City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilwoman Teicholz moved to receive the communication, approve the appropriation of $9,280 to Libramation Inc., seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Discussion followed regarding to clarify the amount requested and the balance of the Farioly Fund. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 14 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Sewer and Water - 100 Federal Road Councilwoman Diggs moved to refer to Engineering, Corporation Counsel and Planning for reports.
15 - RESOLUTION - FEMA Grant - Fire Department The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted.
16 - RESOLUTION - LOCIP 2008-2009 Application
a. Sidewalk Repairs b. Modernize Library HVAC c. Traffic Calming
Councilman Nagarsheth moved to apply for and receive LOCIP funds and receive the Resolution, seconded by Councilwoman McMahon. Discussion followed regarding the HVAC system at the library, traffic calming, encumbrance of the funds and sidewalk repairs. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 17 - RESOLUTION - Byrne Competitive Grant - Police Department Councilwoman Stanley moved to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to apply for and accept funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Discussion followed regarding the use of the funds to create jobs and dispatch positions. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 18 - RESOLUTION - Byrne JAG Formula Program - Police Department City Clerk Natale read the communication Councilman Arconti moved to received the communication and adopt the Resolution to apply for and accept funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, seconded by Councilman Cavo. Motion passed by unanimous vote. 19 - RESOLUTION - Police and Youth Grant The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted.
20 - RESOLUTION - CHRP Justice Assistance Grant - Police Department City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Trombetta moved to receive the communication and adopt the resolution to apply for and accept funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Oriented Policing Services, seconded by Councilman Curran. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
21 - RESOLUTION - SBHC - Dental Health Care Funding The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted.
22 - RESOLUTION - Open Space Bond Acquisition - Sugar Hollow Road City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to refer to Planning for a report. 23 - RESOLUTION - Analyze Runway 26 Approaches/Obstructions - Danbury Airport City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Cavo moved to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution to accept the $350,000 Federal Stimulus money from the Federal Aviation Administration, seconded by Councilman Trombetta. Discussion followed regarding the purpose of the analysis. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
24 - RESOLUTION - Lease Agreement - Airport Weather Observation System The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted.
25 - RESOLUTION - Furnace and Heating Device Credit Extension The communication and Resolution were received on the Consent Calendar and the Resolution adopted.
26 - RESOLUTION - 2009 Retirement Incentive Program City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilman Seabury moved to receive the communication and adopt the Resolution for the Retirement Incentive Program, seconded by Councilman Nagarsheth. Discussion followed regarding staffing and cost savings. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
27 - ORDINANCE - 2009 Retirement Incentive Program, Section 14-16 City Clerk Natale read the communication. Councilwoman Teicholz moved to refer to a Public Hearing.
28 - REPORT - Annual Progress Report on Implementation of Danbury's Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness The report was received on the Consent Calendar.
29 - REPORT - Request for Additional Time for Water and Sewer Extensions 12 Clapboard Ridge Road The report was received on the Consent Calendar and the request granted.
30 - AD HOC REPORT - Proposed Service Driveway - Long Ridge Road The Planning Report and Ad Hoc Report were received on the Consent Calendar. The Ad Hoc report was approved and referred to a Public Hearing.
31 - DEPARTMENT REPORTS - Police, Fire, Health-Housing & Welfare, Dream Homes, Public Works, Permit Center, UNIT, Elderly Services, Library, Economic Development Councilman Cavo moved to waive the reading of the Department Reports as all members have copies and additional copies are available in the City Clerk’s Office, seconded by Councilman Perkins. Discussion followed regarding administrator contracts and give-backs. Motion passed by unanimous votes.
Mayor Boughton appointed the following Budget Committees: General Government I- Councilman Seabury, Chairman; Councilman Arconti, Councilman Cavo, Councilman Saadi and Councilman Perkins
General Government II- Councilwoman Teicholz, Chairman; Councilman Trombetta, Councilman Curran, Councilman Nagarsheth and Councilman Levy
Public Works- Councilman Knapp, Chairman; Councilman Curran, Councilman Seabury, Councilman Halas and Councilman Chianese
Education- Councilwoman Stanley, Chairman; Councilman Calandrino, Councilwoman Diggs, Councilman Riley and Councilman Visconti
Health, Housing, Social Services and Public Safety- Councilman Trombetta, Chairman; Councilman Knapp, Councilwoman McMahon, Councilman Esposito and Councilman Rotello
As there was no further business to come before the Common Council, Councilman Rotello moved to adjourn at 9:05 PM, seconded by Councilman Cavo. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Boughton extended all committees.
Respectfully submitted,
Dorathea A. Gulya-Stasny Recording Secretary
Attest: Mark D. Boughton, Mayor