Clinton Town Council Meeting - August 5, 2026
Clinton Town Council Meeting - August 5, 2026
The Clinton Town Council held a regular meeting on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. in the Rose Room. The meeting included public comments, routine approvals, software contract authorization, fund transfers for capital repairs, updates on infrastructure projects, adoption of strategic plan elements, discussion on filling a vacant council seat, and personnel actions.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Unanimously approved the minutes from July 15, 2026.
- Reappointments to Human Rights Committee: Mary Jane Engle, Amanda Corker Corcoran, and Abby Rocca Priori were reappointed to terms ending July 1, 2029. Motion passed unanimously.
- Appointment to Inland Wetlands Commission: Amy Handler was moved from an alternate seat to a full seat for a term ending June 30, 2027. Motion passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Maureen Wellman (Waterside Lane) advocated for a historically sensitive rehabilitation of the Waterside Lane Bridge, citing a Connecticut Department of Transportation historic preservation award for a similar project and urging the town to "keep our history alive and our highway safe while staying as true to the original design as possible."
- Barbara Blanco (Waterside Lane) described the bridge as a community asset that provides serenity and urged against a two-lane design, saying "a two-lane bridge with cars passing both ways changes everything."
- An unidentified visitor threatened to file a lawsuit against the town unless the town manager, who they claimed lacks qualifications required by the town charter, is removed. They cited precedent and stated they would spend $350 to file the suit.
Discussion Items
- Vital Director Software Contract: The Town Clerk proposed adopting an online vital records system to allow residents to request birth, death, and marriage records online. The service would cost the user approximately $6 ($5 vendor fee + $1 identity verification) and would have no cost to the town, with a one-year renewable contract. Council members raised questions about a confusing order form referencing annual invoicing and potential cybersecurity. The clerk explained the form is generic and the town would not be charged. The motion carried, with one abstention.
- Library Roof Repair Fund Transfer: The Town Manager requested a $125,000 transfer from the sidewalk project grant account to the library metal roof account. The roof repair was previously approved in the capital budget, and funds are available from a $1.4 million CIP fund replenished by grants. The motion passed unanimously.
- AC Compressor Repair Fund Transfer: The Town Manager requested an $18,000 transfer from contingency to the town building and facilities account to replace a failed 20-year-old compressor at the Police Department. The motion passed unanimously.
- Town Manager Report:
- Waterside Lane Bridge: The Town Manager submitted a formal letter to CT DOT requesting a design exemption to allow a one-lane bridge with two sidewalks, reflecting community input and low traffic volume.
- Route 81 Paving: Project on schedule to be completed by August 21. Paving in Clinton is finished; remaining work includes the commuter parking lot and lane markings.
- Landfill Closure: The public hearing before Planning and Zoning is expected to be continued to September to allow time for outstanding questions. Professional services for project oversight (stormwater review, road conditions, construction oversight) are estimated at $162,645, already appropriated.
- 250th Celebration: The town will host an all-day festival on Saturday, August 8.
- Chairman's Report – Strategic Plan Adoption:
- Vision Statement adopted: "Clinton will be a thriving shoreline community where people of all ages and income can live, work, and prosper, rooted in a strong local economy, environmental stewardship, and the civic character that makes Clinton home."
- Mission Statement adopted: "The town of Clinton is committed to delivering efficient and effective municipal services that protect public health and safety, preserve community character and history, and provide responsible stewardship of financial, physical, and environmental assets."
- Core Values adopted: integrity, respect, partnership, honesty, stewardship, accountability.
- Code of Conduct adopted for council conduct, with the understanding that consequences for infractions will be addressed separately.
- Five Strategic Directives adopted: fiscal sustainability, economic development, quality of life, housing, and organizational and governance excellence.
- All items passed with one council member noting a concern about the mission statement not addressing "how" but voting in favor.
- Town Manager Performance Evaluation: A subcommittee reported that evaluation questionnaires have been collected. An executive session to finalize the evaluation and set goals for the next fiscal year is planned for the August 19 meeting. A possible special meeting before then may be needed to develop goals.
- Enders Memorial Theater Exploration: The Chairman directed the Town Manager to explore expanded use of the theater for economic development and arts, with a report due by September 15. The Town Manager noted complexities due to shared government building usage, existing nonprofit relationships, and parking/volume conflicts.
- Park & Recreation Facilities Inventory: A council member reported deteriorating conditions at the track, skate park, Hester's Pond, Clinton Beach, and playground equipment. The Park and Rec revolving fund balance is approximately $364,168; about $300,000 of that is accumulated surplus from 15 years. The director is compiling a prioritized list of repairs and costs. The council also noted the Ethel Peters Trust Fund ($1 million principal, interest available) could be used for projects.
- Town Council Vacancy: The Republican Town Committee nominated Mike Chove to fill the vacant seat (Jerry Dunn resigned effective August 1). After discussion about following past practice of having appointees appear in person, the council voted to amend the agenda and then approved the appointment effective upon swearing in. Mike Chove was on vacation and expected to be sworn in before the August 19 meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Vital Director software contract approved (passed, with one abstention).
- Library roof repair fund transfer approved (unanimous).
- AC compressor repair fund transfer approved (unanimous).
- Vision statement, mission statement, core values, code of conduct, and five strategic directives adopted (each passed with one council member expressing a concern but voting in favor).
- Mike Chove appointed to fill vacant Town Council seat effective immediately upon being sworn in (unanimous).
- Executive session held on personnel matters; following the session, the council voted unanimously to:
- Hire a recommended candidate for a truck driver position.
- Hire a recommended candidate for the Economic Development Coordinator position.
- Confirm the appointment of Mike Chove to the council.
- Meeting adjourned after all motions.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Today is Wednesday, August 5th, 2026. It is 8 a.m. in the Rose Room, and I call the town council meeting to order. Dennis, will you lead us in the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. You're welcome. Item number two on the agenda that's been posted. Visitors. Do we have any visitors that would like to speak? Please come to the table and state your name, address and uh a standard format that we disclose is that we will not respond to you. We're just only here for the from the public because it's not an agenda item. And if there's actions that's necessary, the council will either convene and act later or the town manager will get back to you. Okay, thank you. My name is Maureen Wellman. I live on Waterside Lane. I'd like to make a statement in regards to the Waterside Lane Bridge Project. A few years ago, the Connecticut Department of Transportation won a historic preservation award from Preservation Connecticut for its work in rehabilitating the 1940 era Lake Avenue Bridge over the Merritt Parkway in Greenwich. Here is a direct quote from then CT DOT Commissioner Joseph Giulietti. Quote An award of this nature illustrates and underscores the DOT's commitment to historic preservation as well as our ability to partner with local and statewide organizations to keep our history alive and our highway safe while staying as true to the original design as possible. End quote. This partnership would collaborate in order to repair the Waterside Lane Bridge in a way that would continue to remain sympathetic to the original design, as have all the other restorations throughout the past 400 years. In the commissioner's own words again, quote, to keep our history alive and our highway safe while staying as true to the or to the original design as possible. Thank you. Great, thank you. Thank you. Would you like to speak? Yes. My name is Barbara Blanco, and I also live on Waterside Lane. A lot has been said already, but I would just like to say that the Waterside Lane Bridge is a community asset. There aren't too many streets in this town where you can walk and feel the serenity that you can feel walking down Waterside Lane in across the bridge to the beach from dawn to dusk. Clinton families enjoy it. A two-lane bridge with cars passes passing both ways changes everything. Thank you. Thank you. Any other come? Morning. How are you? So you guys all know why I come here each week. Um I actually met somebody who works for another town. Um, and they're having an issue with our town manager. Um, and he clicked me into the fact that citizens can sue the town regarding the town charter. So our town charter has a very specific set of qualifications that the town manager is supposed to have. Um she doesn't have those qualifications. So technically, anyone can sue you to have her removed, and there is precedent to have town officials removed based on the town charter because the town charter is law. So is it worth me spending $350 to file a lawsuit to get my ones base back? It might be. So you might want to reread your charter and the deadline that I gave you. Because it was very specific.
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