Clinton Town Council Regular Meeting – June 17, 2026

The Clinton Town Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM. The meeting covered public comments, routine approvals, several appointments and reappointments, two line-item budget transfers, the finance director's and town manager's reports, a discussion on fireworks funding conditions, and committee liaison updates. Two executive sessions were also held.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The council approved the minutes of the previous meeting with one abstention (motion carried).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Seth Wolf (20 Janes Lane) : Speaking for about two months on the same issue, Mr. Wolf presented photos comparing code violations in New Haven to conditions he says exist in his Clinton home—exposed wires, mold, and a questionable electrical box. He stated that the building inspector deemed the box fine but that a state official confirmed corrective action was in progress. Mr. Wolf criticized the building inspector as unqualified and unresponsive, citing complaints from residents on Shore Road, a town employee’s spouse, and a local resident who emailed without reply. He gave the council a deadline of June 30 to fire the inspector and threatened to contact the Department of Education and the Interdistrict Cooperative Grant Program. He demanded a job posting for the inspector’s position by that date.

Discussion Items

• Appointments and Reappointments:

  • Robert Corson was appointed to a full seat on the Planning and Zoning Commission through November 2027 (motion carried unanimously).
  • Five reappointments were approved together: Mark Burno (Inland Wetlands Commission alternate to June 2030), Mike Florio (Inland Wetlands Commission full seat to June 2030), Mark Giacaniya (Conservation Commission to June 2028), Joan Ulate (Conservation Commission to June 2028), and Kathleen Davidson and Giro Valenga (Sustainability Committee to June 2028). The motion carried. During discussion, a council member asked about nine or ten other Republican appointees not yet reappointed; the town clerk explained difficulty contacting them, and the council agreed to keep trying.

• Line Item Transfers:

  • First Transfer ($33,812.45): The finance director proposed transferring funds from the health insurance account to a new “Contractual Severance Benefits” account to cover a contractual retirement payout for a supervisor (80 unused sick days at 50%, plus unused vacation). The transfer was approved unanimously after clarifying that future retirements would similarly be funded via transfers from contingency or other accounts.
  • Second Transfer ($60,850): A transfer from various salary accounts to other salary accounts to adjust for mid-year anniversary dates affecting time and service awards. Approved unanimously.

• Finance Director’s Report:

  • General fund revenue/expenditure statements were stable. Interest income was under budget but offset by overperformance in charges for services.
  • Fund 45 (Parks & Rec sports activities) showed $45,000 in May expenditures, offset by seasonal revenues; a soccer tournament donation of a few thousand dollars is pending.
  • Fund 46 (donations) has $36,000, inactive for years; the new Parks & Rec director is assessing capital needs (speakers, fields, cameras, skate park) and will present priorities for using these funds.
  • Social Services donation fund balance is about $20,000 (including $10,000 in deposits and $1,700 in checks to date).
  • CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) fund has $68,000 available for low-income home repairs, most in receivables from liens repaid when houses are sold.
  • The director explained interfund short-term financing (due to/from accounts) using a pooled cash account. Clinton’s healthy undesignated fund balance of $14.1 million (20.8% of the proposed FY27 budget) allows this flexibility. For large projects (e.g., $8 million bridge), short-term borrowing (BAN) would be used instead.
  • Legal services budget of $250,000 will get a full fiscal-year breakdown by attorney at the July meeting.

• Town Manager’s Report:

  • Waterside Lane Bridge: A public information session was held June 4. The $9 million replacement is 100% reimbursable by federal/state funds. Due to community concerns (over 20 emails received by Monday) about two lanes and aesthetics, the DOT has paused design approval for a few weeks. The town manager will meet with DOT at end of July and update the council in August. The two-lane configuration was stated as non-negotiable for funding, but approaches may be narrowed. Speeding and congestion are not bridge issues.
  • America 250 Celebration: Banners are up; a July 8 reading of the Declaration of Independence on town hall steps at 6 PM will be held (David Lavassar reading).
  • Personnel: A landfill operator position was filled internally; a truck driver job posting opened.
  • Elliott Window Project: Bids were opened June 16; the School Building Committee will review and recommend.

• Council Discussion – Fireworks Funding:

  • Clarification of the prior motion to give $10,000 to the fireworks committee. The condition is that the committee must raise enough to come within $10,000 of their goal (stated as $50,000). If they raise $40,000, the town gives $10,000; if they raise only $35,000, they do not receive the town funds. Unused donations would carry over to the next year. Some council members expressed a preference for unconditional support, but others cited past failures by the Chamber to pay bills, justifying the condition.

• Committee Liaison Reports:

  • Planning & Zoning: The Aldi public hearing was pushed to July due to an administrative error; the Old Nod Road landfill capping hearing is set for July; the tree committee plans a potential ordinance update; a rear lot application for Pearson School and a self-storage facility behind Grove Gardens were approved; Eddie Alberino was recognized for service.
  • Police Commission: The SRO (Corbin) presented an e-bike/ATV rules session at the middle school, recorded.
  • School Building Committee: For the Elliott project, three contract qualifications were reviewed but no decision was made; references are being checked, with a decision expected July 1.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments Approved: Robert Corson to Planning & Zoning; five reappointments to various boards/commissions. (Unanimous votes)
• Line Item Transfers Approved: $33,812.45 for severance benefits and $60,850 for time and service awards. (Unanimous)
• Fireworks Funding Condition Reaffirmed: $10,000 town contribution is contingent on the committee raising at least enough to reach $40,000 toward a $50,000 goal.
• Waterside Bridge Design Paused: DOT will re-evaluate after community input; town manager to update in August.
• Executive Sessions: Two motions approved to enter executive session (real estate and personal matters) – carried.
• Adjournment: Motion carried unanimously.