Committee recommends renewing advisory boards, recommends sunsetting Danbury Housing Partnership

The Committee of the Whole on March 31 moved to recommend the full Danbury City Council adopt ad hoc recommendations updating terms for multiple advisory bodies under Ordinance section 2-2-59. The motion, made by Councilman Rotello and seconded by Councilman Chinase, passed at committee.

What changed: The ad hoc recommendation sets five-year renewals for the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the Danbury Aquifer Protection Agency, the Fair Rent Commission and the Board of Ethics. The Design Review Board was recommended for a two-year extension to allow further consideration of its role. The committee recommended taking no action on the Danbury Housing Partnership; under the committee’s described rollout that means a one-year period after council action before the body would cease to exist.

Council discussion referenced reestablishment options and administrative processes. Councilman Rotello said the statute gives the council authority to reestablish committees if circumstances change, urging that design review procedures may be useful as Danbury grows. Council members asked for clearer online information about the design review board’s responsibilities; administration representatives said the planning department handles design review and that the extension gives time to consider a formal commission.

Votes and outcome: The committee voted to recommend adoption of the ad hoc recommendations; the ayes carried. The recommendation will be forwarded to the full council for final action. If the council follows the committee recommendation, the Danbury Housing Partnership would have an effective one-year sunsetting period from the council action date.

Next steps: The administration and planning department were asked to provide further clarification about the design review board’s scope and the timeline to reestablish advisory bodies if the council chooses to do so.