Good evening, everybody.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Good evening.

It's 7 p.m.

and I like to call the March 3rd, 2026 meeting to order.

I'll ask that we all please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

And I will ask former fire marshal, fireman Danbury Barry Ricker to lead us to the Pledge of Allegiance today.

Pledge of allegiance.

If we can remain standing, I'll ask Councilman Salvatore to lead us in prayer this evening.

Dear God, we gather here today intent on doing good work.

We seek to represent fairly and well those who have given us this task.

May our efforts be blessed with insight, guided by understanding and wisdom.

We seek to serve with respect for all.

May our personal faiths give us strength to act honestly and well in all matters before us.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you, Councilman.

Madam Legislative Assistant.

The roll, please.

Coala.

Flanagan.

Paulie.

LaPine.

Salvatore.

Present.

Gardner.

Present.

Faye.

Henry.

Wallace Smith.

Spain Reichel.

Giordano.

Jabor.

Rotello.

Chinese.

Dwayne Perkins.

Britton.

Uh McAllister.

Robinson.

Laughinghouse.

And Dennis Perkins.

Hold on.

19 present, two absent.

Thank you.

We have a calendar events that is posted, but I will before I read off.

I do want to draw your attention to some life events.

For the month of March, we have Councilman Mike Flanagan's birthday.

Councilman Mike is not here, but we wish him a happy birthday.

March 20th.

Happy birthday, Councilman Flanagan.

All right.

March 8th, we have the Scholarship Fund Breakfast.

Danbury VFW post 149, 9 a.m.

5 Byron Street.

March 17th, the annual good morning breakfast hosted by Regional Hospice to RSVP.

Visit Regional Hospice CT.org/slash events.

This is 7 a.m.

at the Amber Room.

March 17th.

We also have the Irish flag raising here, hosted by the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center, 12 p.m.

Danbury City Hall Heritage Plaza.

March 21st, the annual Fireman's Ball.

For more information, you can email uh the representative here for the Danbury Volunteer Firefighters at President at DVFB31.com.

This is 6 45 p.m.

at the Amber Room.

March 22nd, the St.

Patrick's Day Parade, hosted by the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center.

This is 2 p.m.

Uh, starting at St.

Peter's Church and ending at the Irish Club there, the Electric Cultural Center on West Street.

March 24th, the Foundation Leadership Breakfast, hosted by the Naughty Valley Community College.

For more information, visit nvcc Foundation.org.

Uh 7 a.m.

La Bella Vista.

This is in Waterbury.

Uh but they do tremendous work here for their Danbury campus.

March 28th, the blue and white gala.

This is the Immaculate High School Gala to RSVP.

Visit ImmaculateHS.org.

Uh this is 6 p.m.

at the Amber Room.

March 29th, the Vietnam Memorial, hosted by the Danbury Veterans Council.

10 a.m., the Danbury War Memorial outside the Vietnam Memorial there.

April 4th, we have the Easter Festival hosted by City Center Danbury.

This is on the green, starting at 1 p.m.

They get a ton of kids and family.

Please stop by.

That is our calendar of events.

Excuse me.

The first 30 minutes of this meeting are reserved for the views and expression of the matters before this council here from members of the public or taxpayers in the city of Danbury.

I ask that you use one of the microphones that you'll find either one of those aisles.

Please state your name and address clearly into the microphone.

Are there any members of the public look wishing to speak?

Any members of the public wishing to speak?

Any members of the public wishing to speak?

Seeing none, uh, we will close public speaking.

And I'll call on Council President Peter Buzade on our minutes, please.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

I move we receive the council minutes from the meeting on January 6th.

I'm sorry, February.

Uh February 3rd and waiver read of those minutes as all members of copies and copies are on file at the Legislative Assistance Office.

And we approve them as presented.

Motion is made and seconded by Councilman Dwayne Perkins.

And the special meeting minutes, Councilman.

I also move that we uh receive the uh special meeting minutes and wave a reading to those minutes as all members of copies and copies are on file in the legislative assistance office.

Is that uh amendment to the first motion, sir?

It's it is motion is made and seconded by Councilman Dwayne Perkins.

Council are any remarks on the minutes.

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Seeing none, I will try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Councilman Salvatore, the consent calendar, please.

Consent calendar for March third, 2026.

Item number one, I move to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Jeffrey R.

Harold to serve as a full member of the City of Danbury Environmental Impact Commission for a term that will expire on March 1st, 2029.

Item number two, 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.

Item number three, a move to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Eva L.

Avega to serve as an alternate member of the City of Danbury Planning Commission for a term to expire March 1st, 2029.

Item number four, move to receive the communication and confirm the appointment of Catherine Cathy Gleason to serve as a full member of the Board of Ethics for a term to expire March 1st, 2028.

Item five, appoint uh 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 Kenosha Commission for a term set to expire March 1st, 2029.

Item number six, 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 Kenosha Commission for a term to expire March 1, 2029.

Item number 12, move to receive the communication and accept the report as presented by the sustainability advisory team.

Item 13, move to receive the communication and accept the donation of a thousand dollars from Michael Scherer for supporting the programs in relation to the uh DPD CCU ICE ice cream truck.

That will and we'll ask the legislative assistant to send a note of thanks on behalf of the city council.

Item number 14, move to receive the communication and accept the donation of items listed in the letter valuing 271,000 from the Danbury Westerners, and we'll ask the legislative assistant to send a note of thanks on behalf of the City Council.

Item number 16.

Move to receive the communication and authorize Mayor Roberto L.

Alves or Chief Patrick Riddenauer as his designee to accept these grant funds and sign all contracts and documents necessary to effectuate the purposes thereof.

That is your consent calendar, Mr.

Mayor.

Thank you, Council.

What is your pleasure?

Councilwoman Gardner.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I move to accept the consent calendar as presented.

Motion is made, seconded by Councilman Dwayne Perkins.

Council, are there any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Seeing none, I'll charge your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Vote is so ordered.

Thank you.

Let's go to item number 1A, please.

Communication charter revision.

Honorable members of the City Council.

The Danbury City Charter outlines that the City Council shall on or before July 15, 2019, and at least every 10 years thereafter, consider and act upon a resolution calling for the establishment of a charter revision commission to review and if necessary, amend the Danbury Municipal Charter.

The Danbury Municipal Charter was last modified in 2009.

I am requesting the City Council establish an ad hoc committee to consider recommendations for initiating charter revision, creation of a charter revision commission, and appointments of members to review and if necessary, amend the Danbury Municipal Charter.

Sincerely, Roberto Alves, Mayor.

Council, it's your pleasure.

Councilwoman Spain.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I move to receive the communication and send this to an ad hoc committee consisting of Corporation Council and the Mayor's Office.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Motion has been made to send to an ad hoc and the vote is so ordered.

The ad hoc will consist of Councilman Joe Britton in the chair, Councilwoman Holly Robinson, and Councilman Mike Henry.

Item number seven, please.

Communication, new ordinance, section 46-35, automated traffic enforcement safety devices.

Honorable members of the City Council.

Attached for your consideration is an ordinance authorizing the municipal use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices, also known as speed and red light cameras, in accordance with the Connecticut General Statute Section 14-307C.

The Danbury Police Department, in partnership with my office, has put considerable time, effort, and resources into decreasing traffic violations throughout the city.

Enforcement has increased over 300 percent in the past two years, and the city has leveraged automated stop arm cameras on city school buses successfully for the past six months.

I believe the next essential step to furthering safety on our streets is to begin the process to implement an automated traffic enforcement safety devices program.

The statute allows municipalities to leverage such devices to increase enforcement.

It also details how and where such devices can be used, who may operate the cameras, and how footage is to be stored and secured.

Should the city council wish to move forward with the installation of the automated traffic enforcement safety devices, the council will be asked to adopt this ordinance and approve a plan detailed by the city with proposed camera locations.

Both the ordinance and the plan will go to a public hearing before adoption.

The plan must then be submitted and approved by the State Department of Transportation before Danbury can install the devices.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, Roberto Alves, Mayor.

Thank you, Council.

What's your pleasure?

Councilwoman Robinson.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I move to receive the communication and send this to an ad hoc committee consisting of the mayor's office, corporation council, the police chief or designee, and any other departments necessary to provide necessary information as needed.

Motion has been made.

To send to an ad hoc, the vote is so ordered.

The ad hoc will consist of Councilman Frank Salvatore and the Chair, Councilwoman Cheryl Wallace Smith, and Councilwoman Candace Fay.

Item number eight, please.

Communication collective bargaining agreement.

City Council, I am pleased to present to the Council with my endorsement a request for funds to implement the economic items included in the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the public works department.

Roberto Alves, Mayor.

Council, with your pleasure.

Councilman Britton, welcome back.

Thank you, Your Honor.

It's good to be back.

I move to receive the communication and approve the funds necessary to implement the 2025 through 2029 collective bargaining agreement between the city and public works department slash highway and equipment maintenance division, parks division, forestry division, and airport maintenance.

Second.

Motion is made, seconded by Councilman Frank Salvatore.

Council, are there any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Seeing none, I'll try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Item number nine, please.

Communication collective bargaining agreement.

City Council, I am pleased to present to the Council with my endorsement a request for funds to implement the economic items included in the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the public buildings division.

Roberto Alves, Mayor.

Thank you.

Council, with your pleasure.

Councilman McAllister.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I move to receive the communication and approve the funds necessary to implement the 25 2025 2029 collective bargaining agreement between the city and public buildings division.

Motion has been made, seconded by Councilman Frank Salvatore.

Council, are there any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

See none, I'll charge your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Item number 10, please.

Communication collective bargaining agreement.

City Council, I am pleased to present to the Council with my endorsement a request for funds to implement the economic items included in the connect collective bargaining agreement between the city and the public utilities department.

Roberto Alves, Mayor.

Council, with your pleasure.

Councilwoman Wallace Smith.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I move to receive the communication and approve the funds necessary to implement the 2025 through 2029 collective bargaining agreement between the city and the public utilities department, water and maintenance divisions.

Second.

Motion has been made, seconded by Councilman Frank Salvatore.

Council, are there any remarks?

Any remarks?

Councilman Rotello?

Your Honor.

Okay.

Through the chair to the Director of Finance.

Dan, we've got a cumulative uh increase of 3,600,000 approximately over the course of these three contracts over the course of their term.

And let's divide that by what?

Six, something like that?

Five years, six-year terms on these?

Uh so it's a uh four-year term?

All of them?

Yes.

Okay.

So we divide that by four.

And what does that work out to per year?

Um part.

900, 800.

Yeah, I'm sorry.

I was looking at the total increase of two million, so it's 500 a year each year that it's increasing approximately.

Okay.

I I I took all three of these and added them up.

Two million.

Oh, so you were looking at the compounding.

Two million the next one was 346,000, and the final one was 1,252, giving me a total of 3,598, 460.

And we want to divide that by four.

So it's 899.

Let's call it 900,000.

No.

Okay.

This is completely theoretical, because we know that this does not translate directly to a mill rate because that has to do with how the budget is going to happen and everything else.

But what would this be in a vacuum for a theoretical mill rate?

One and a half, something like that?

Um two possibly.

No, I believe it's just under a mill.

Under a mill.

If if you're taking the full correct, yeah.

So what's a mill now?

Just to educate me.

I did not look at that at all before we came tonight.

I really don't know off the top of my head.

But you're uh all things being equal, this would be less than a mill, this increase right here.

Yes.

Okay.

All right, thank you.

Thank you, Your Honor.

Council.

Any other excuse me?

Apologize.

Any other remarks?

Any other remarks?

Any other remarks?

Seeing none, I will try your minds.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Item number 11, please.

Communication 2025 year end reappropriations and budget transfers.

Honorable mayor and city council.

The city's independent auditors, RSM U.S.

are currently performing the audit of the city's financials for the year ending June 30th, 2025.

Any excuse me.

Any transfer from one department, commission, board, or division to another requires City Council approval.

I hereby certify the availability and request the approval of the attached budget transfers for 222,683.

That is necessary to close the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

Dan Garrick, Director of Finance.

Council, with your pleasure.

Councilman Giordano.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I move 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 has been made, seconded by Councilwoman Diane Lepine.

Council, are there any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Seeing none, I will try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Item number 15, please.

Communication, application for sewer extension 72 Liberty Street.

Council, with your pleasure.

Councilwoman Gardner?

Thank you, Your Honor.

Um I move to receive the communication and send this report.

Uh reports from the City Engineer and Planning Commission.

Thank you.

Then we have, excuse me, 16 is on consent.

Item number 17, please.

Resolution and report.

Public hearing, resolution regarding series 2026 bonds.

Mr.

Mayor, I move that we may have a reading of the public hearing minutes.

All members of the topic during file in the legislative assistance office, as well as accept the report as presented.

Motion has been made, seconded by Councilman Paul Rotello.

Council, this is on the minutes only.

Are there any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Seeing none, I'll try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Council, what is your pleasure?

Councilman Hawley.

Thank you, Honor.

I move 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.

Motion has been made, seconded by Councilman Chinese.

Council, are there any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Seeing none, I will try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Any opposed?

Two.

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Item number 17, please.

Report ad hoc appointment of constable.

Mr.

Mayor, I move we waiver reading of the ad hoc minutes of all members of copies and copies are on file with the legislative assistance office, as well as accept uh the minutes as presented.

Motions are made, seconded by Councilman Paul Rotello.

Uh council, this is just on the minutes.

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

See none, I will try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Council, what is your pleasure?

Anybody?

Councilman Laughenhouse?

I move to receive the communication and based on the positive report from the City Engineer and Planning Commission.

Approved the uh water main extension application for one.

Sorry.

Councilman Salvatore.

I move to receive the communication based on the ad hoc recommendation.

A point Mr.

Michael Sopranic is possible to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Louise McMahon.

Motion has been made seconded by Councilman Ben Chinese.

Council, are there any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

See none, I will try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

One opposed?

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Congratulations, Constable Sepranek.

Well, we'll start by 18, please.

Reports, engineering and planning, water main extension, renewal for 119, Franklin Street extension.

Mr.

Mayor, I move we waiver reading of the reports as all members of copies and copies are on file with the legislative assistance office, as well as accept the reports as presented.

Motion has been made and seconded by Councilman Paul Rotello.

Council, uh again, this is just on the minutes.

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Seeing none, I'll try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Council, what is your pleasure?

Councilwoman LePine.

Thank you, Your Honor.

I move 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.

Motion has been made, seconded by Councilman Chinese.

Council, are there any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Seeing none, I will try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Item number 19, please.

Mr.

Mayor, I I move we waiver reading the reports as all members have copies and copies are on file in the legislative assistance office, as well as accept the reports as they're presented.

Motion has been made seconded by Councilman Paul Rotello.

Council, are there any remarks or questions for our department heads?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

Any remarks?

See none, I will try your minds.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

The ayes have it.

The vote is so ordered.

Item number 20, please.

Executive session, fire truck litigation and antitrust claims.

Dear council members, attached for your adoption is a resolution seeking to permit the city to engage with the outside legal counsels at Simmonson, Sussman, LLP, and Barron and Bud PC to represent the city in potential litigation arising from injuries and damages related to and caused by REV Group, Inc., Oshkosh Corporation, Pierce Manufacturing Inc.

and their companies, and any other potential liable entities, and to pursue any and all available remedies to the city for antitrust violations, unfair competition, and uh and related claims resulting from alleged anti-competitive practices of the defendants.

Through authorization from the council and by adoption of the attached resolution, you will be approving independent actions brought to secure the city's interests.

Outside council will investigate all potential actions and will, where legally appropriate, prepare claims against those responsible.

Their fee will be contingent and fixed percentage of recovery, as is standard in the industry.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely, Daniel Cassagrandy, Corporation Council.

Councilman Busade.

Mr.

Mayor, I move that we send this to an ad hoc consisting of the Corporation Council, the Mayor's Office, outside Council, the fire chief, and any other departments necessary to advance discussion regarding the resolution.

Thank you.

Motion has been made to send this to an ad hoc.

So to so ordered.

The ad ad hoc will consist of Councilman Peter Busade in the Chair, Councilman John Laffinhouse, and Councilman Mike Henry.

So before we depart, I do want to name our budget committees for the upcoming budget season.

So if you want to write this down, if not, I am sure Lisa will email everybody this list.

Budget ad hocs.

Health and public safety in the chair, Councilman Frank Salvatore, Councilman Lou Giordano, Councilwoman Claire Jabor, Councilman Paul Rotello, Councilman Mike Henry.

Government one.

In the chair, Councilman Joe Britton, Councilman Mike Flanagan, Councilman Dwayne Perkins, Councilman Billy McAllister, Councilman Mike Henry.

Education.

I'm sorry, I'll do government two.

Government two.

Councilwoman Andrea Gartner, Councilman John Laughinghouse, Councilwoman Mia Spain, Councilman Dennis Perkins, Councilman Mike Coello, Education, Chair, Councilwoman Holly Robinson, Councilwoman Andrea Gardner, Councilwoman Cheryl Wallace Smith, Councilman Joe Britton, Councilwoman Candice Fay, Public Works, Public Works in the Chair, Councilman Peter Buzade, Councilman Ryan Hawley, Councilwoman Diane LePine, Councilman Ben Chinese, Councilman Mike Coello.

You're very welcome.

I extend all other committees and we'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

So I'm sorry, let me before I do that, I apologize.

Mike, I'll go to you, but I wanted to give Councilman actually I'll go to Mike first.

Yep.

I just I should have brought it up in the beginning of the meeting, but I think what we should do in light of the soldiers that were killed in the latest conflict and this joint venture with uh in operation with uh Israel.

I think we should take a moment of silence to honor those.

Absolutely.

Thank you.

If everybody could please just bow their heads, a stand, please, and bow their heads for a moment of silence.

Thank you.

Um and I do want to extend just a point, personal privilege to Councilman Joe Britton, who asked for a few seconds to address the council and the and the public.

Thank you, Your Honor.

And I will only be a few seconds, but I just wanted to I this is gonna be the most delayed welcome and hello to my council colleagues because I haven't seen most of you since November.

Um, but I wanted to just welcome the newcomers and welcome back those that have been serving.

I'm looking forward to working with each and every one of you and for being all part of the same team.

And I'm looking forward uh to just being back with all of you, been away visiting the Army down Charlesville for a few months, but I'm happy to be back and working alongside all of you.

Um and I'm back here in the fourth ward with Billy.

So Councilman Britton, please stand up so we can give you a round of well-deserved round of applause.

He just graduated the Jag School, he's a lieutenant, Joseph Britain.

Congratulations, Councilman.

Uh well deserved, and thank you for serving our country.

I will entertain a motion to adjourn.

Is there a second?

Seconded by Councilman Ben Chinese.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Vote is so ordered, have a good evening, drive safe.