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Danbury ad hoc panel recommends council approve Region 5 MOA to retain regional emergency assets
Summary
An ad hoc panel recommended that the city council approve a Region 5 memorandum of agreement (MOA) allowing Danbury to remain a custodian of regional emergency equipment and retain priority access to shared resources; corporation counsel said the MOA applies to 2024 grant conditions and does not bind the city to 2025 language that raised concerns about intelligence-sharing and federal access.
Frank Salvatore, chair of the Region 5 MOA State Homeland Security Grant Program ad hoc, said the panel would recommend that the city council approve a memorandum of agreement that keeps Danbury eligible to hold and distribute regional emergency equipment.
The ad hoc considered legal and operational implications before the recommendation. "Thankfully, we have assurances from the state, that this is for 2024 grant funding only," said Joe Mortleti, corporation counsel, describing his office's review with state attorneys and explaining that the MOA was amended to address previously troubling language. Mortleti said those assurances meant the office did not see a legal basis to withhold execution of the document under the 2024 grant terms.
Members pressed counsel and emergency management staff about specific provisions and operational details. Councilman Thomas flagged Article 2, reading language that "recipients must give DHS access to examine copies of reference accounts, other documents, sources of information," and asked what records and recipients that clause would cover. Mortleti reiterated that, after state amendment and review, the MOA as drafted for 2024 grants was not expected to bind the city to the broader 2025 grant conditions that had prompted concern.
Matt Casavecchia, representing emergency management, described the practical benefits of participation: the MOA enables Danbury to serve as a custodian for items such as portable radios used for interoperability and variable message signs, which can be shared with neighboring municipalities during outages or large-scale incidents. Casavecchia said those custodial arrangements and activation of equipment follow separate operational procedures and continuity plans; the MOA itself is administrative and does not authorize tactical activation.
The ad hoc also confirmed participation under the MOA carries no annual fee, as Mortleti and Casavecchia said the arrangement is grant-funded. Members asked Mortleti to follow up with any additional documentation about where the 2024 funds are held; Mortleti said his understanding is the state holds the funds and offered to provide further confirmation.
After discussion, Salvatore moved that the ad hoc recommend the city council approve the resolution and allow Mayor Alves or his designee to execute the MOA as amended; the motion was seconded and the body recorded affirmative votes and ordered the motion carried. The ad hoc then moved to adjourn.
The ad hoc's recommendation will go to the full city council for consideration under the council’s normal procedures.
