OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Danbury Committee of the Whole Recommends Budget, Sewer/Water Rates, and Neighborhood Assistance Act (April 22, 2026)

Meeting PortalWednesday, April 22, 2026
BodyDanbury, Connecticut
SessionMeeting Portal
DateWednesday, April 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening.

0:03

I'm calling uh the April 22nd, 2026, Committee of the Whole to order at 6:30 p.m.

0:12

My name is still Peter Bazade, and I'm chairman of this committee.

0:17

I'm not sure, Frank.

0:19

I'm gonna do for whatever reason we have to do another roll call.

0:23

So councilman Coello.

0:26

Still here.

0:28

Councilman Flanagan.

0:29

Still here.

0:30

Councilman Hawley.

0:31

Still present.

0:32

Councilwoman Lepine.

0:35

Councilman Salvatore.

0:37

Councilman Bazade, present.

0:40

Councilman Gartner.

0:41

Present.

0:42

Councilwoman Faye.

0:44

Councilman Henry.

0:46

All right.

0:47

Councilwoman Wallace Smith is absent.

0:50

Um Councilwoman Spain Reichel.

0:54

Councilman Giordano.

0:56

Councilwoman Jabbar, still on her way.

0:59

Councilman Rotello.

1:01

Councilman Chinese is absent.

1:03

Councilman Dwayne Perkins.

1:06

Councilman Britton.

1:07

Councilman McAllister, still in Indianapolis.

1:10

Councilwoman Robinson.

1:13

Councilman Laughinghouse is still away out of town.

1:16

Councilman Dennis Perkins, not present.

1:19

Okay.

1:20

We have 15 present and six absent.

1:44

The I'm going to read the notice of this committee of the whole.

1:49

Scheduled for the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, April the 22nd at 6:30, or the conclusion of the public hearing.

1:59

The purpose is to do five items.

2:05

Actually, now we're down to four.

2:08

An ordinance appropriating $3 million for public improvements for the Capitol budget.

2:13

Ordinance establishing sewer rates has effective July 1st, 2026.

2:19

Ordinance establishing water rates effective July 1st, 2026, and the Neighborhood Assistance Act.

2:27

Those are the four items on tonight's agenda.

2:31

Councilman Salvatore.

2:33

Just to read it into the record, item number five, the amendments to ordinances section 1421 through 1480 was pulled and will come back to us at another date.

2:44

Thank you.

2:46

For purposes of tonight and the committee of the whole to review these four items that I read in the notices.

3:02

After all the discussion is completed, we'll vote on the motion.

3:05

We'll continue this process until all these four items are handled.

3:10

As to item number one, uh council councilman, I'll recognize Councilman Mike Flanagan.

3:17

Thank you, Mr.

3:18

President.

3:19

I move to recommend that the city council the adoption of the ordinance for three million dollars of public improvements and the issuance of three million dollars in bonds of the city to meet and said appropriation and pending the issuance thereof, making of temporary borrowing for such purposes.

3:37

Second.

3:39

Okay.

3:39

Thank you for the second.

3:41

Are there any are there any remarks from anybody regarding item number one on tonight's council the whole agenda?

3:50

Any remarks?

3:53

Final time.

3:54

Any remarks or comments?

3:56

Hearing none, I will try your minds.

3:59

All those in favor of this motion, please respond by saying aye.

4:03

Aye.

4:04

Are there any nays?

4:06

No.

4:07

The vote is unanimous and it is so ordered.

4:12

Item number two, an ordinance establishing sewer rates effective July 1st, 2026.

4:20

I will call on Councilwoman Gardner for a motion.

4:25

Thank you, Mr.

4:26

President.

4:27

Uh I move to recommend to the city council the adoption of the connection fee permit adjustments as set forth in section 48-168 and sewer rate adjustments as set forth in section 48-234 of the code of ordinances as of July 1st, 2026.

4:44

Second.

4:44

So that motion made and seconded by Councilman Salvatore.

4:48

Um are there any remarks or comments regarding item number two on uh the committee of the whole agenda for tonight?

4:57

Any remarks or comments?

5:00

Last time any remarks or comments hearing none, I will try your minds.

5:05

All those in favor of this motion, please respond by saying aye.

5:09

Aye.

5:10

Are there any opposed?

5:12

Hearing none, the motion carries unanimously.

5:15

The vote is so ordered.

5:17

Item number three, an ordinance establishing water rates effective July 1st, 2026.

5:24

I'll call on councilwoman Robinson for a motion.

5:28

Thank you, Mr.

5:29

President.

5:30

Uh I move to recommend to the city council the adoption of the water rate adjustments as set forth in sections 48 70 through 48 77 of the code of ordinances as of July 1, 2026.

5:45

Second.

5:45

Okay, that motion having been made by Councilman Salvatore.

5:49

Um I will ask if there are any remarks from any members of the council regarding item number three on tonight's agenda.

5:56

Are there any remarks or comments?

5:59

Last time, any remarks or comments?

6:01

Hearing none, I will try your minds.

6:03

All those in favor, please say aye.

6:06

Aye.

6:06

Are there any nays?

6:08

The motion carries unanimously unanimously.

6:11

It is so ordered.

6:12

Item number four, the final item on tonight's agenda, the resolution for the neighborhood assistance act.

6:19

Um councilwoman uh Spain Reichel.

6:24

Thank you, Mr.

6:25

President.

6:26

I move to recommend the adoption of the resolution authorizing approved and listed agencies to apply for and receive funding in the form of tax credits from the state of Connecticut through the 2026 Neighborhood Assistance Act Program.

6:44

Okay, that motion seconded by Councilwoman Lepine.

6:49

Um I will ask if any members of the council have any remarks or comments regarding item number four.

6:57

Any remarks or comments for the final time?

7:00

Any remarks or comments?

7:02

Hearing none, I will try your mind.

7:04

All those in favor of the motion on the table regarding item number four, please respond by saying aye.

7:11

Aye.

7:12

Are there any nays?

7:13

Hearing none, the motion carries unanimously unanimously.

7:17

The vote is so ordered.

7:24

Is there a motion to close the committee of the whole?

7:29

Second.

7:30

Thank you.

7:32

The motion has been made and seconded to close the committee of the whole.

7:35

Are there any remarks?

7:37

Any remarks?

7:38

Any remarks?

7:39

Hearing none, I'll try your minds again.

7:41

All those in favor of closing the committee of the whole, please respond by saying aye.

7:46

Aye.

7:46

Are there any opposed?

7:48

No.

7:48

Is there a motion to adjourn?

7:50

So moved.

7:51

Thank you.

7:52

This we are adjourned.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████████████████44%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████23%
Community Engagement█████████████████17%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████████16%
Summary of Proceedings

Danbury Committee of the Whole Meeting – April 22, 2026

The Committee of the Whole of the Danbury City Council met on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. Chairman Peter Bazade presided. Fifteen council members were present and six were absent. The committee considered four items originally on the five-item agenda (Item 5, amendments to ordinances sections 1421–1480, was pulled for a later date). No public comments or council discussion were offered on any item. All four items were approved unanimously and were recommended to the full City Council for adoption.

Key Outcomes

  • Ordinance for Public Improvements and Bonding (Item 1): Approved unanimously to recommend adoption of an ordinance appropriating $3 million for public improvements, issuing $3 million in bonds, and authorizing temporary borrowing pending bond issuance. Motion by Councilman Flanagan, seconded.
  • Sewer Rate Adjustment (Item 2): Approved unanimously to recommend adoption of an ordinance establishing sewer rate adjustments (Section 48‑234) and connection fee permit adjustments (Section 48‑168) effective July 1, 2026. Motion by Councilwoman Gardner, seconded by Councilman Salvatore.
  • Water Rate Adjustment (Item 3): Approved unanimously to recommend adoption of an ordinance establishing water rate adjustments (Sections 48‑70 through 48‑77) effective July 1, 2026. Motion by Councilwoman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Salvatore.
  • Neighborhood Assistance Act Resolution (Item 4): Approved unanimously to recommend adoption of a resolution authorizing listed agencies to apply for and receive funding in the form of tax credits through the State of Connecticut’s 2026 Neighborhood Assistance Act Program. Motion by Councilwoman Spain‑Reichel, seconded by Councilwoman Lepine.

The committee then voted unanimously to close and adjourn.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. I'm calling uh the April 22nd, 2026, Committee of the Whole to order at 6:30 p.m. My name is still Peter Bazade, and I'm chairman of this committee. I'm not sure, Frank. I'm gonna do for whatever reason we have to do another roll call. So councilman Coello. Still here. Councilman Flanagan. Still here. Councilman Hawley. Still present. Councilwoman Lepine. Councilman Salvatore. Councilman Bazade, present. Councilman Gartner. Present. Councilwoman Faye. Councilman Henry. All right. Councilwoman Wallace Smith is absent. Um Councilwoman Spain Reichel. Councilman Giordano. Councilwoman Jabbar, still on her way. Councilman Rotello. Councilman Chinese is absent. Councilman Dwayne Perkins. Councilman Britton. Councilman McAllister, still in Indianapolis. Councilwoman Robinson. Councilman Laughinghouse is still away out of town. Councilman Dennis Perkins, not present. Okay. We have 15 present and six absent. The I'm going to read the notice of this committee of the whole. Scheduled for the City Council Chambers on Wednesday, April the 22nd at 6:30, or the conclusion of the public hearing. The purpose is to do five items. Actually, now we're down to four. An ordinance appropriating $3 million for public improvements for the Capitol budget. Ordinance establishing sewer rates has effective July 1st, 2026. Ordinance establishing water rates effective July 1st, 2026, and the Neighborhood Assistance Act. Those are the four items on tonight's agenda. Councilman Salvatore. Just to read it into the record, item number five, the amendments to ordinances section 1421 through 1480 was pulled and will come back to us at another date. Thank you. For purposes of tonight and the committee of the whole to review these four items that I read in the notices. After all the discussion is completed, we'll vote on the motion. We'll continue this process until all these four items are handled. As to item number one, uh council councilman, I'll recognize Councilman Mike Flanagan. Thank you, Mr. President.

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