New Rochelle Universal Complaint Review Board Public Meeting — October 2, 2026

The New Rochelle Universal Complaint Review Board (also referred to in the transcript as the Civil Component Review Board, or CCRB) convened a regular public meeting in the City Council conference room, chaired by co-chairs David Moore and Dr. Renee Barron. Members present included Julie Mercer, Christian Walker, Donna O'Keefe, Michael Cameron, and Fabiola Brito, along with Deputy City Manager Todd Castell and Deputy Corporation Counsel Jeffrey Breen. The board approved the August minutes, completed its training requirement, and reviewed — but deferred a vote on — its proposed bylaws/rules of procedure. Note: the transcript's opening line states "October 1," while the meeting timestamp is October 2, 2026.

Consent Calendar

• Motion, second, and unanimous voice vote approving the minutes of the August 12, 2026 meeting.
• No changes to the agenda; no communications from public officials were received.

Board Member Announcements

• Michael Cameron announced he intends to attend the NACOL conference in November (the national meeting of the organization that provided part of the board's training) and is exhibiting his drawings as part of Arts Fest.
• Dr. Renee Barron promoted the Songcatchers brunch gala on October 18 at Davenport, which supports reduced-rate music lessons for young people; she noted she serves on the Songcatchers board.
• A board member promoted the 24 Hour Plays Broadway gala on November 2, honoring Thomas Cale, who worked on Moana, Fossey Burden, and Hamilton; the arts education organization pairs writers, actors, and directors to write, rehearse, and produce one-act plays in 24 hours.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public attended or had requested to speak; no public testimony was offered.

Discussion Items

• Training completion and future meeting schedule: With today's meeting, the board has officially completed its training and will be ready to hear cases from Internal Affairs. The planned structure is monthly Internal Affairs case meetings with no city personnel present, plus quarterly public meetings with public comment. Lieutenant Wensler indicated Tuesday and Thursday evenings work best for his schedule. Co-chairs will coordinate a calendar with Deputy City Manager Todd Castell; board members were asked to share dates they are unavailable, including via the board's CCRB Gmail addresses.
• Bylaws/rules of procedure: Jeffrey Breen confirmed no additional changes had been made since the last iteration and stated that while the board is entitled to vote on rules, the City Council will consider whether to adopt or change them.
• Michael Cameron's proposed amendments were reviewed one by one:
  • Membership language (Article 4, Section 1): Cameron suggested using "chair or co-chairs" to allow for a single chair in the future. Breen noted the city code requires co-chairs and the board's rules cannot override the code, but agreed language could be added stating that if the code is changed, references to co-chairs would automatically adjust. Julie Mercer supported this approach.
  • Orientation (Article 3, Section 4): Cameron asked whether recorded training is acceptable and what happens if the Citizens Police Academy (CPA) is suspended. Breen confirmed recorded training is permitted since nothing prohibits it; members agreed to add language clarifying that recorded training is accepted, although in-person training is preferred. Todd Castell stated a new member would receive a spot at the next available CPA and that the CPA has operated for over a decade and is explicitly discussed in the code, which would have to change if the CPA ended. The code's holdover provision covers vacancies, with replacement required within 60 days of term end or resignation.
  • Meetings (Article 6): Cameron asked whether the Internal Affairs unit representative is always a lieutenant; Breen confirmed the code requires the lieutenant, though that could be considered for future code changes.
  • Voting section typo: Cameron noted "manner" should be "matter"; this was confirmed as a typo. Another incomplete sentence in Article 7, Section 1 (containing "under") will be deleted.
  • Working groups (Article 7): Cameron questioned whether sections defining three specific working groups should be struck so working groups can be created and terminated flexibly. Consensus favored keeping the bylaws flexible — allowing working groups to be created and disbanded as needed, by a majority vote or by the co-chairs — since the board is the first group operating under the new process.
  • Official statements (Article 5): Members discussed what constitutes an official statement on behalf of the board. Agreement was reached that only co-chairs or expressly designated persons may make official statements representing the board, and only with approval of a majority of the board; individual members speaking publicly must clarify they are speaking in their individual capacity. A caution was raised about open meeting law issues if all board members communicate on a single email chain.
• Decision to defer adoption: The board agreed to hold off on adopting the bylaws rather than drafting amendments on the fly; Corporation Counsel will produce a final amended version for a vote at the next meeting. It was noted that the board does not need to adopt the bylaws in order to begin hearing cases.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes of the August 12, 2026 meeting approved unanimously.
• Board completed its training and is ready to hear Internal Affairs cases.
• Bylaws/rules of procedure adoption deferred to the next meeting after a final amended version is prepared.
• Next meeting tentatively scheduled for November 5, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.; Todd Castell will confirm the date. A combined Internal Affairs session and public meeting on the same day was discussed as a possibility.
• Motion to adjourn carried unanimously; the meeting adjourned.