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Ad hoc committee approves five‑year lease renewal for Danbury Music Center
Summary
After hearing from the Danbury Music Center’s board and city staff, the ad hoc committee voted unanimously to renew the music center’s lease for five years; corporation counsel said the renewal makes no substantive changes but will correct language to clarify that the basement is included.
The Danbury City ad hoc committee on lease renewal unanimously approved a five‑year renewal for the Danbury Music Center on a no‑fee basis after receiving a presentation from the tenant and a legal review of the proposed document.
Chair Andrea Gardner opened the meeting and said the planning commission had given a positive recommendation under Connecticut General Statutes §8‑24. Corporation Counsel (Rich) told the committee there are no substantive changes from the prior lease but the city is standardizing the lease form and will correct an inconsistent sentence so the music center’s use of the basement is explicitly included.
Laura Flockberg, president of the music center’s board, described the organization’s activities and footprint in the building, saying, “We have about 200 to 225 people visiting the building every week for rehearsals and programs,” and noting the group presents about “20 to 25 concerts every season” and runs summer music programs and an annual Nutcracker production that typically has “about 200 to 230 kids” participating.
Several council members stressed the building’s cultural and historic importance. Councilman Emile Pousaid argued for keeping a long‑term commitment and said, “I would be more comfortable just continuing forward with a 10 year lease like we always have had,” warning that a shorter term could leave the organization vulnerable to future changes in policy. Taylor O’Brien, the mayor’s chief of staff, said the administration recommended a shorter term to provide the council flexibility and to standardize lease language amid staffing changes in the city attorney’s office, adding that the administration did not intend to displace the tenant.
City public‑buildings staff provided rough operating figures: Sean Hanley estimated general maintenance at about $15,000 and cleaning at roughly $7,000 annually, and said overall annual maintenance and operating costs for the building likely approach $40,000, excluding capital projects such as major HVAC or roofing work.
The committee also clarified key operating details: the tenant currently pays for Internet and telephone service, the city covers building insurance and liability, and subletting is not permitted without the city’s approval. Counsel confirmed that the prior lease had expired the previous April and that the music center had been operating as a holdover tenant; the proposed renewal will start a fresh five‑year term with an effective date to be set by the council.
After discussion, a motion to accept the lease as presented, with the corporation counsel’s corrections to the premises language, was moved and seconded; the chair called for a voice vote and announced the motion passed unanimously to extend the lease for five years. The committee adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
The lease and corrected language will be circulated to committee members and the city will provide a revised document reflecting the basement inclusion and standardized form. The council did not set an exact start date for the renewed term during the meeting; the tenant remains a holdover until the council selects an effective date.
