Clinton Town Council Regular Meeting Summary - September 17, 2025

The Clinton Town Council held a regular meeting on September 17, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Green Room. The meeting covered routine approvals, appointments to town committees, a financial report from the finance director, updates from the town manager, and discussions on upcoming public hearings, capital projects, and community events. The council also entered executive session to discuss personnel matters before adjourning.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the September 3, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously.
• Appointments:
  • Christina Bergman was appointed to the Sustainability Committee for a term ending June 30, 2026. She expressed interest in sustainability, citing her father's prior service on the committee and her academic background in public administration.
  • Makai Howard was appointed as a student member of the Human Rights Committee (previously considered on September 3).
  • Hank was appointed as the council representative to the Library Building Committee.
• Historic Preservation Grant: Sharon received permission to apply for a $5,000 historic preservation grant to make historical records available electronically. The motion carried unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Finance Director’s Report (Bob):

  • The fiscal year 2024-2025 expenditure budget showed a savings of $454,000 compared to budget, reducing the budgeted use of fund balance.
  • Revenue performance exceeded expectations: property taxes exceeded budget by $322,000, state revenues by $252,000, charges for services by $256,000, and interest on investments by $697,000. The finance director noted that such high interest earnings are unlikely to recur.
  • The 2025-2026 revenue budget is on track, with July and August tax collections at 55% of the total budgeted, consistent with the ten-year average.
  • The unassigned fund balance is projected at $15 million, above the 20% threshold of $13.2 million, providing flexibility but cautioning against over-reliance.
  • The contingency account stands at $266,000, down from $301,000 due to union contract adjustments.
  • A non-lapsing fund balance of $959,000 was noted.
  • The finance director confirmed that the town has not yet received the state school construction grant for Morton School.

• Town Manager’s Report:

  • A custodial vacancy was filled by an internal public works employee, creating a truck driver position to be posted.
  • The town manager will hold a joint meet-and-greet with the zoning enforcement officer on October 16, 2025, to address resident questions about properties and blight.
  • The Board of Assessment Appeals for DMV taxation has been rescheduled to September 29, 2025, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.
  • Christmas in Clinton will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 2:00 to 6:00 PM, coordinated with other local events (Joel School craft fair and First Church of Christ craft fair). The town manager’s office will host a gingerbread house contest and is working to bring back the soup cook-off.
  • Fireworks event: The town’s $10,000 budget allocation was largely unused; only $2,000 was needed due to successful fundraising. The town manager will request a line-item transfer to create a community event fund for future events like Christmas in Clinton and summer concerts.

• Chairman’s Report:

  • An update on the Beach Park bridge construction was provided, noting that residents appreciate updates even if the news is not always positive.
  • The public hearing on automated traffic enforcement is scheduled for October 2, 2025. The chairman expressed a preference for specifying in the ordinance (rather than policy) that funds generated from the program be placed in a non-lapsing account, with the police commission recommending uses and the council approving. Concerns were raised about ensuring the money can be spent on items like roundabouts and sidewalks without supplementing the budget, and the chief is expected to clarify state statute at the hearing.
  • Demolition of houses on High Street is at a standstill; no permits are currently issued.
  • The Pearson project is progressing with subcommittee meetings every two weeks, and an update will be provided to the council soon.

• Council Discussion:

  • The sidewalk public hearing from the previous day was recorded and will be posted; council members were encouraged to watch it.
  • The police commission reported one officer temporarily out but expected back, and an officer at the academy returning; overtime is manageable.
  • The Economic Development Commission (EDC) is showing increased engagement, with members actively executing the strategic plan. The Connecticut Main Street subcommittee is working on an inventory of vacant storefronts to assist businesses.
  • The former TJ Maxx location was a profitable store, and the property owner is optimistic about finding a strong replacement tenant.
  • Planning and Zoning: The public hearing on the Plan of Conservation and Development was held; the first draft is online for comment until September 24, with finalization expected in December.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments Approved: Christina Bergman (Sustainability Committee), Makai Howard (Human Rights Committee student member), and Hank (Library Building Committee) were all appointed unanimously.
• Grant Application Authorized: The town manager was authorized to apply for a $5,000 historic preservation grant.
• Fund Transfer Proposed: The town manager will bring a line-item transfer request to the next meeting to move unspent fireworks funds into a community event account.
• Traffic Enforcement Fund Discussion: The council agreed to further discuss the ordinance language for the automated traffic enforcement fund, with the chairman advocating for codifying the fund’s use and approval process in the town ordinance.
• Executive Session: The council moved into executive session to discuss personnel matters, then adjourned.