Council refers 10-year DOT master agreement to ad hoc after concerns about limited council review

The Danbury City Council on Sept. 5 declined to authorize a 10-year master municipal agreement with the Connecticut Department of Transportation and instead referred the item to an ad hoc committee for further review.

Councilman Fox told colleagues he was uncomfortable approving a lengthy, multi-decade contract without an executive summary or a presentation. "We have an agreement that's over a 100 pages long… we really haven't been given any information, such as summary information," Fox said, urging additional council input before action.

The communication presented the DOT agreement as a standard, largely non-negotiable statewide form that streamlines state-funded construction contracts. The city’s director of public works previously asked the council to authorize the mayor to sign the updated master agreement; that signature is a routine administrative step for municipalities that accept state funding.

Instead of immediate approval, the council agreed to form an ad hoc group to review the contract language and implications. Mayor (presiding) asked council leadership to chair the committee and named Council President Peter Bousaid, Councilwoman Gartner and Councilman Emil Bousaid to the panel; the ad hoc will include corporation counsel, the director of public works, the director of finance and a state DOT representative, per the referral motion.

Council members said they want an executive summary and opportunities to ask detailed questions before committing Danbury to a decade-long agreement. No vote on contract approval was taken; the referral to the ad hoc committee is the next procedural step.

The item will return after the ad hoc provides a summary and recommendations to the full council.