A dispute over fire safety at the Danbury Ice Arena will come before the City Council Tuesday in an effort to resolve a complex financial and safety issue that dates back more than 10 years.
Danbury Mayor Mark Bougton said in a letter to the City Council, "Today, the Whalers owe us a significant amount of money for services provided: $64,879 for police and $16,221 for Fire Marshals."
Provisional Danbury Fire Marshal Marilyn Gillotti explained the issue dates back to the days of the Danbury Trashers and when the original sprinkler system was installed in the arena. It was a light duty sprinkler system, not designed for the crowds that can attend a hockey game. The sprinkler and the number of exits are inadequate, requiring the presence of fire marshalls at each home game.
The city is arguing the staff should be paid by the Whalers, but the Whalers are behind on their payments. A written agreement to this deal can't be located, Gillotti said.
"We're still required to protect the health and safety of the public," Mayor Boughton said. "Somebody has to pay for these guys, and right now the public is paying."
Boughton wants to turn the issue over to the council to solve, so Tuesday it will likely be turned over to a council committee for study.
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