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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Ad Hoc Committee Meeting on Chow House License Agreement – September 21, 2026

Meeting Portal — Monday, September 21, 2026

BodyDanbury, Connecticut

SessionMeeting Portal

DateMonday, September 21, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 15:20

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

My name's Peter Bazaid, and I'm sorry, I apologize for being late.

0:05

Me too.

0:06

I am the chairman of this ad hoc committee regarding uh a lease agreement for what's known as the Chow House at 125 Milkman Road.

0:17

On my ad hoc is Councilman Mike Flanagan, who's ill and will not attend tonight.

0:24

Councilman Michael Coello, who's to my left.

0:28

And also present as a representative of the corporation council's office.

0:33

Thank you.

0:34

Mayor's office, uh Taylor O'Brien, Sean Hanley is also present.

0:40

Uh ex officio members who are present in the room are Councilman Ryan Hawley and Councilman Frank Salvatore.

0:49

So thank you very much.

0:52

This is, I believe, to review and recommend to the council the approval of a license agreement for that property for the current licensee or tenant.

1:06

It's my understanding that the current licensee is the same person who's been there for a while.

1:13

Is that accurate?

1:14

That's accurate.

1:15

Yes.

1:17

This is a standard license agreement.

1:21

It has the terms, the rent.

1:27

Is it for four other properties in Danbury that are like this?

1:31

Mr.

1:32

Young?

1:33

Four of them, right?

1:36

There's these two.

1:36

There's actually three on here.

1:37

We've got to finish the other one.

1:40

I think we had the same thing over at Terry Lowe.

1:42

Terry Well does it.

1:43

Terry Well does its own, right?

1:45

Similar, but the council actually is input only into this.

1:49

Yes.

1:50

And while I have no objections to the current arrangement for this property, I do have a question about this because it's my understanding that for a while now the city has maintained that the name of the person who rents this property must remain confidential under uh a state statute that protects the anonymity of police officers.

2:15

Is that correct?

2:17

Yeah.

2:18

Okay.

2:19

For both housings.

2:22

Uh the other owner of, well, this we're only on this property, but this property is a police offer.

2:27

So that's the topic I was hope.

2:30

That's the area this I was hoping to discuss.

2:32

I don't know if Councilman tell uh councilman Coelho has any other questions beyond that.

2:38

So my question, Tracy, of you, is are you satisfied that in this type of arrangement where the city is operating in a proprietary capacity as a landlord for a residence?

2:53

Um, that the name of the person occupying that house as his residence, if he's a police officer, a public safety officer, must remain confidential.

3:06

Yes.

3:07

Regardless.

3:08

Regardless.

3:12

Uh act is clear.

3:13

If he's a police officer, his name can't his address cannot be released.

3:18

It can that be waived by the police officer, to your knowledge.

3:23

Not that I'm aware of.

3:24

I I don't know.

3:26

I don't think so, no.

3:28

So police officer can't voluntarily decide to disclose his view.

3:32

No.

3:33

You it's in the statute.

3:34

It's my opinion that no, in the statute that says they are.

3:38

So the statute operates against the city as employer, correct?

3:41

Yes.

3:42

But in this instance, is not the city a landlord.

3:48

The city's a landlord, but it doesn't change the fact that he's a police officer.

3:53

He's a police officer, and it doesn't matter the capacity of the city, it matters the capacity of the resident as a police officer.

4:05

Okay.

4:06

So it's your opinion uh this statute would prevent the council or anybody else from determining who the person is who is getting a preferred rental from a city property.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Buildings Management█████████████████████████████████████████████74%

Police Regulation████████████████26%

Summary of Proceedings

Ad Hoc Committee Meeting on Chow House License Agreement – September 21, 2026

The Ad Hoc Committee on the Chow House property at 125 Milkman Road met to review and recommend approval of a new license agreement for the current tenant, a police officer. The committee discussed confidentiality of the tenant's identity, insurance coverage, rent increases, and the city's workforce housing program for public safety officers.

Discussion Items

Confidentiality of Tenant Identity: Committee Chair Peter Bazaid questioned whether the tenant's name could remain confidential under a state statute protecting police officers' addresses. Corporation Counsel representative Tracy (last name not given) confirmed the statute applies regardless of the city's role as landlord and prevents disclosure of the officer's name and address, even to the council. Bazaid expressed concern about transparency and arm's-length transactions but accepted the legal opinion.
Insurance Coverage: Councilman Michael Coello asked about the $300,000 liability insurance requirement, suggesting it may be low given property appreciation. The city representative (Taylor O'Brien) stated the tenant is responsible for the insurance. The chair requested review of the coverage amount.
Rent Increase Structure: The proposed license agreement includes a rent increase from $1,200 to $1,250 over three years (increments of $50 per year). Taylor O'Brien explained the increase was based on tenant maintenance contributions, property size, and square footage, and that rents had been flat since 2019.
Maintenance Costs: The city has spent a few thousand dollars on roof, painting, and flooring prior to tenancy, and continues to pay for minor maintenance (water filters, burner tune-up) and a tank guard ($1,000/year). The tenant pays for oil, electricity, and utilities.
Process for Vacancies: Taylor O'Brien described that when a property becomes available, the Mayor's office contacts the police and fire chiefs to post notice within their departments, then interviews interested officers.
FOIA Applicability: Councilman Coello asked if the agreement would be subject to FOIA. Tracy confirmed the police officer address exemption applies to FOIA requests, so the name and address would remain protected.
Ex Officio Support: Councilman Frank Salvatore expressed strong support for the workforce housing program, noting it has existed for 70 years and provides benefits by having public safety officers on site. Councilman Ryan Hawley concurred.

Key Outcomes

The committee voted unanimously to recommend that the full council approve the new license agreement for the Chow House as presented. The motion to close the ad hoc and approve was made by Chair Bazaid, seconded, and carried by voice vote (all in favor).
The committee asked the Mayor's office to review the $300,000 liability insurance requirement to ensure adequate coverage.

Meeting Transcript

My name's Peter Bazaid, and I'm sorry, I apologize for being late. Me too. I am the chairman of this ad hoc committee regarding uh a lease agreement for what's known as the Chow House at 125 Milkman Road. On my ad hoc is Councilman Mike Flanagan, who's ill and will not attend tonight. Councilman Michael Coello, who's to my left. And also present as a representative of the corporation council's office. Thank you. Mayor's office, uh Taylor O'Brien, Sean Hanley is also present. Uh ex officio members who are present in the room are Councilman Ryan Hawley and Councilman Frank Salvatore. So thank you very much. This is, I believe, to review and recommend to the council the approval of a license agreement for that property for the current licensee or tenant. It's my understanding that the current licensee is the same person who's been there for a while. Is that accurate? That's accurate. Yes. This is a standard license agreement. It has the terms, the rent. Is it for four other properties in Danbury that are like this? Mr. Young? Four of them, right? There's these two. There's actually three on here. We've got to finish the other one. I think we had the same thing over at Terry Lowe. Terry Well does it. Terry Well does its own, right? Similar, but the council actually is input only into this. Yes. And while I have no objections to the current arrangement for this property, I do have a question about this because it's my understanding that for a while now the city has maintained that the name of the person who rents this property must remain confidential under uh a state statute that protects the anonymity of police officers. Is that correct? Yeah. Okay. For both housings. Uh the other owner of, well, this we're only on this property, but this property is a police offer. So that's the topic I was hope. That's the area this I was hoping to discuss. I don't know if Councilman tell uh councilman Coelho has any other questions beyond that. So my question, Tracy, of you, is are you satisfied that in this type of arrangement where the city is operating in a proprietary capacity as a landlord for a residence? Um, that the name of the person occupying that house as his residence, if he's a police officer, a public safety officer, must remain confidential. Yes. Regardless. Regardless. Uh act is clear. If he's a police officer, his name can't his address cannot be released. It can that be waived by the police officer, to your knowledge. Not that I'm aware of. I I don't know. I don't think so, no. So police officer can't voluntarily decide to disclose his view.

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