Clinton Town Council Meeting - July 15, 2026

The Clinton Town Council met on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Green Room. The meeting included the Pledge of Allegiance, public comments, approval of minutes, several appointments, updates on capital projects, a line-item transfer, the finance director's report, the town manager's report, and council discussions. The meeting concluded with an executive session and adjournment.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the July 1, 2026 Town Council meeting were approved unanimously.
• Appointments to town boards and commissions were approved unanimously:
  • Lee Carr to the Harbor Management Commission (term until June 30, 2030)
  • Jill Feltis to the Human Services Advisory Board (term until June 30, 2029)
  • Judy Roberts to the Beautification Committee (term until June 30, 2028)
  • Catherine Caton to the Shellfish Commission (term until June 30, 2028)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Seth Wolf, a Clinton resident, criticized the town for failing to deliver on its mission statement, saying it did not apply to him or the 41 apartments at The Meadows. He stated that deadlines have passed and that the town council does not take action, adding that members Dennis and another are up for re-election. He demanded the town run properly.

Discussion Items

• Jared Middle School Window Wall and Heating Unit Replacement: Charles Carey, Business Manager for Clinton Public Schools, presented the Building Committee's recommendation to award a contract for programming, conceptual design, and cost estimating to Antanazian Associates. The committee selected them after an RFQ/RFP process with three responsive proposers. Two motions were made: to award the contract and to authorize the Building Committee to enter into negotiations on behalf of the town. Both passed unanimously.
• Harbor Management Plan Update: Dave Adams, Chair of the Harbor Management Commission, reported that the plan, not updated since the mid-1990s, is nearing completion. It has been submitted to the DEP for comments and will then go through a public hearing before coming to the Town Council for endorsement. Abby Pearsall (Town Planner) noted that the plan is consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development and the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Rob Deary (Harbor Master) added updates on projects: a viewing platform and reconfiguration near the dock (with DEP input), a fixed pier with a floating kayak dock at Esposito Beach (final design in progress), and dredging of the town marina basin (funding in place, hoping for winter 2026-2027). Additionally, the federal channel dredging (to Cedar Island gas dock) is moving forward with Congressman Courtney's office, with design phase funding expected.
• Landfill Capping Update: Abby Pearsall updated the council on the landfill cap and closure project. The project is in local permitting at the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z), which held a public hearing on July 13. Questions raised include hours of operation (7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sat, with 50-100 trucks per day), third-party oversight to spot-check materials, and long-term monitoring costs. The town has a $300,000 reserve for project contingencies, but these additional oversight expenses were not anticipated. Future monitoring (quarterly water sampling, annual engineer inspections, annual reports) will need to be budgeted. P&Z is expected to continue the hearing on August 17, 2026, and may impose conditions pending council funding support.
• Henry Carter Hull Library Project Update: Mary Beth (Library representative) reported that the project cost, originally $3.9M and later $1.9M, is now estimated at $2M (10% increase over two years). The library is pursuing multiple funding sources: a state library construction grant ($1M), congressionally directed spending through Sen. Blumenthal ($700,000, no action expected until summer), a STEAP grant ($500,000, no details yet), a grant from the Morgan Trust ($50,000 for computer technology), $200,000 pledged from the library board's investment funds, and a $700,000 town bonding line item. A planned fundraising campaign is on hold after a rejected contract with a consultant; the library is now seeking a part-time temporary capital campaign director.
• Line Item Transfer: A request to transfer $24,107.18 within the fire department budget for fire apparatus repair and NFPA tire replacement was approved. The transfer moves funds from salaries, utilities, stationary supplies, and other operating accounts.
• Finance Director's Report: Bob (Finance Director) presented the fiscal year 2025-2026 year-end report. Revenues remain on budget, and unassigned fund balance is expected to be around $14.2 million (21%). A year-end transfer request for August 19, 2026 will address remaining deficits (e.g., Parks & Rec salaries due to a retirement payout). The P-card policy and controls were discussed; the town has nine to ten cards with documented procedures and annual external audit review. Council members raised concerns about pre-approval vs. post-approval of purchases, and it was agreed to have the outside accountants review the process.
• Town Manager's Report: Michelle (Town Manager) provided written and oral updates:
  • A red, white, and blue employee event raised $180 for the fireworks fund.
  • A Connecticut Water boil water notice on July 11-12 was handled by the state and the utility; the reverse 911 system was not used because state criteria restricted it. Council members questioned whether the town could have disseminated alerts independently, and the Town Manager will investigate.
  • Beach Park Road Bridge and Tide Gate project continues; completion anticipated spring 2027.
  • Waterside Lane Bridge: The state DOT is revising the design in response to community feedback and is submitting a design exception request. A public meeting will follow.
  • Town notification systems now have over 6,000 email subscribers and 500 text subscribers; the website, social media (4,000+ followers), and a mobile app are being expanded.
  • Upcoming events: Cert concerts, America 250 celebrations, Dock Days (including boat parade, fireworks), and Veterans Coffee.
  • K9 Sonny of the Clinton Police Department passed away; condolences were offered.
• Chairman's Report: The Chair (Hank) reported:
  • A workshop is scheduled for July 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. to prioritize policy initiatives.
  • A group of citizens is forming a nonprofit to operate Andrews Memorial Theater; the Town Manager will reach out to theater experts (e.g., Legacy Theatre, The Kate) for guidance.
  • Waterside Lane Bridge: Three council members attended a neighborhood meeting; the design is being revised. The council will await the state's design exception and then evaluate whether the project still meets the town's goals, considering cost (potentially $10M).
  • Town Manager's report will now be provided in writing at each meeting.
  • The council will develop a template for quarterly reports from boards and commissions as required by the charter.
  • A code of conduct for council meetings is under consideration.
• Council Discussion: A motion was made to allocate $10,000 to the fireworks committee. After debate about payment method (direct payment to vendors vs. invoice reimbursement for emergency services), the motion passed with one abstention. The council also discussed the tone of the meeting, with one member expressing discomfort over perceived hostility.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of July 1, 2026 approved unanimously.
• Four appointments to town boards approved unanimously.
• Contract award to Antanazian Associates for Jared Middle School window and heating project approved (two motions, both unanimous).
• Line-item transfer of $24,107.18 for fire department repairs approved unanimously.
• $10,000 allocated to the fireworks committee; the Town Manager will execute payment through direct vendor payment or emergency services invoices.
• Executive session held for a personnel matter.
• Workshop set for Monday, July 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. in the Green Room.