OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Stanford City Council Meeting Summary - November 6, 2025

Board of Representatives — Thursday, November 6, 2025
BodyStamford, Connecticut
SessionBoard of Representatives
DateThursday, November 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:37:35

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Okay.

0:00

All right.

0:01

We are back.

0:02

So members that have left the floor may want to return.

0:06

Representative Camparelli, you have the floor.

0:08

All right.

0:09

I'm gonna be I'm gonna be brief.

0:11

Um I think that the risk is worth the reward.

0:16

Uh I started with this board on behalf of animal rights.

0:21

I came to speak to the board to protect deer in in my neighborhood.

0:26

Um I will fall on this sword every day.

0:30

I think it's worth the risk.

0:32

I think the mayor is not going to veto it because I do think she's a caring person, and I think she cares about animals.

0:39

Uh the law is a living, breathing document.

0:43

It's not stagnant.

0:44

It changes all the time because people go up against the law and they challenge it.

0:50

And animals are worth us challenging the law.

0:54

Um we have heard from the public.

0:58

I think over 170 emails have been received, and the public is willing to go to bat for this.

1:05

These are taxpayers in that live in Stanford, they're willing to put their money where their mouth is.

1:12

Uh and and I think that the the risk of this getting challenged in court is so low because of the political uh fallout from this that it's not even worth speaking of.

1:23

I will be voting wholeheartedly in favor of this, and I hope all of you will too.

1:31

Thank you.

1:32

Uh Representative Williams.

1:35

Thank you, Chair.

1:36

So um I feel like there's a parallel between what we may be seeing with out-of-state breeders, illegal breeders or puppy mills doing supposedly in Connecticut.

1:50

And what we're seeing with out-of-state can redemptions, bottle and can redemptions coming to Connecticut.

1:57

Um if you stand in line at Shopi to bring your bag, you're seeing people from New York bringing in their bottles and cans because they can get 10 cents here.

2:06

They could do it legally here instead of five cents in New York or in other states.

2:10

Um given that the zoning regulations still presents a loophole that would allow uh puppy mills to still be raised and permitted in certain regions of the city.

2:28

Given the willingness of people to travel for profit, I feel like we could still see puppy mills set up here, the same way we do with people bringing bottles and cans across the border.

2:41

And um I appreciate Ashley's work on this, Karen's work on this, or representative Campo and Camp Repli.

2:51

And I will be supporting this as well.

2:54

Thank you.

2:57

Uh thank you.

2:58

Representative Goldberg.

3:00

Uh I'll pass to the moment.

3:03

Thank you.

3:03

Representative Weinberg.

3:06

So I I understand how the vote's going, and I and I'm not surprised and not even entirely disappointed.

3:13

Uh I do want to point out that I I think that I think that some of the speakers have presented a false choice, um, which is to either pass this ordinance or just continue with the current situation.

3:27

I don't believe that's the choice.

3:30

Um there are things that we can be doing that will bear results.

3:38

I know they will bear results because we have done them in the past and they have borne results.

3:43

We picketed the store on Long Ridge Road, and they are closed.

3:48

They are out of business because nobody wants to take their kids across a picket line to go, you know, to go look at a possible pet.

3:57

We can pick it uh any remaining store in Stanford.

4:03

Um I'll be the first to join that picket line.

4:06

My picketing days go back to the great boycotts of the late 60s, which perhaps some of you remember.

4:16

Um we can close down the any stores that any stores, I believe there's only one remaining in Stanford, but I could be mistaken.

4:28

We can close that store down by picketing it, by making it unattractive for people to patronize it.

4:36

We've already made it so unattractive for companies for for companies to open news stores by limiting them to unattractive parts of the city.

4:50

Um industrial parts of the city, and as a result, none of them have opened or contemplated opening.

5:00

That's the choice that we have.

5:01

It's hard work, it's actually frankly, maybe takes more effort and maybe a little bit more time than passing an ordinance that I don't believe will actually uh will actually create action.

5:18

But we can do those things and get rid of these abominable stores.

5:24

And I will be the first one to be there when when we when we do that.

5:29

But that to me is the right way to proceed, and I yield.

5:37

Thank you, Representative Kaczynski.

5:40

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Honorary Resolutions█████████████████████21%
Urban Forestry Management████████████12%
Public Health█████████9%
Animal Welfare█████5%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure████4%
Legal███3%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Stanford City Council Meeting Summary - November 6, 2025

This concluding session of the 31st Board of Representatives featured the final adoption of three major ordinances concerning animal welfare, urban forestry, and environmental health, alongside unanimous resolutions honoring retiring officials Representative Annie Somerville and journalist Angela Corella. The meeting was marked by extended deliberation on public safety and legal risks, emotional tributes to long-serving members, and a roll call vote confirming a 35-1-1 outcome on the pet store regulation.

Consent Calendar

  • LR 31.108: Ordinance for public hearing and final adoption regarding a veterans tax exemption. (Passed unanimously with one abstention from Rep. Sanford).
  • F31605, F31606, F31607, F31608, F31609: Additional appropriations for utility paving, police grants, and early voting costs.
  • P31079, P31080: Approvals of Clerk of the Works 3 agreements with Raquel Anderson and Sean P. McGarrity.
  • PS31.073: Resolution to rename West Park Place to Annie Somerville Way.
  • T31.052, T31.051, T31.053: Resolutions accepting in-kind advertising contributions, lease agreements for Watchlley Road, and the parking management contract with LAC Parking.
  • PR31.050, PR31.053: Ordinances regarding beach access and park regulations updates.
  • PR31.059, LU31.063: Various review items and renaming resolutions related to Annie Somerville (passed unanimously).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Input on Dog Ordinance (LR 31.072): Over 170 emails were cited as evidence of public willingness to challenge the law, with representatives noting that taxpayers are "willing to put their money where their mouth is" regarding the risk of litigation.
  • Tree Ordinance (LR 31.106) & Leaf Blower Ordinance (LR 31.100): The public expressed strong support for the tree preservation program and the transition to electric landscaping equipment, with residents highlighting the need to protect children's access to nature and the health of landscaping workers.
  • Angela Corella Retirement: Public sentiment and press statements emphasized the importance of the press as the "fourth estate" and the need to honor investigative journalism that exposed municipal corruption.

Discussion Items

  • LR 31.072: Regulation of Dog and Cat Sales (Puppy Mill Ban):

    • Rep. Camporelli expressed full support, stating, "I will fall on this sword every day," arguing the risk of legal challenge is low due to political fallout and that the law is a "living, breathing document" worthy of testing for animal rights.
    • Rep. Williams expressed full support, drawing a parallel between out-of-state bottle redemption shoppers and potential out-of-state puppy mill operators exploiting zoning loopholes.
    • Rep. Goldberg expressed opposition to the approach, arguing the board is deliberating an "abstraction versus a reality." He stated that picketing and boycotts are more effective realities than a potentially unenforceable ordinance, citing the success of past boycotts.
    • Rep. Kaczynski expressed full support, characterizing the court's potential ruling as an "abstraction" while the suffering of animals is a "reality," and urged colleagues to "eliminate the suffering sooner rather than later."
    • Rep. Mollock (likely Pollock/Hollock/Corrigan transcription variance based on context of "abstraction") expressed support, acknowledging the legal risk but prioritizing moral action and the potential to test the waters for other municipalities.
    • Rep. Goldberg (reiteration) expressed opposition, stating he reluctantly must vote no because legal counsel has bound the board to a specific interpretation, and he believes the real solution is legislative change at the state level, not a "feel-good vote."
    • Rep. Somerville expressed full support, citing a "no-brainer" feeling and the moral imperative to try, even if it fails.

  • LR 31.106: Comprehensive Tree Preservation Program:

    • Rep. Goldberg expressed hesitation and eventual abstention, noting constituent concerns that the ordinance feels like an "imposition on private property" and is "too expensive," despite acknowledging the legal clarity.
    • Rep. Sherwood (Chair) expressed strong support for the ordinance, highlighting the five-year effort to create a unique program that offers residents a public fund to maintain legacy trees on private property.
    • Rep. Vanderhart expressed full support, emphasizing the ordinance's "Tree of the Year" component and its role in connecting children to nature.
    • Rep. Camporelli expressed full support, praising the creativity and soul invested in the legislation.
    • Rep. Weinberg expressed full support, arguing that while trees are private property, they also serve a vital public good (oxygen, carbon sequestration, flood control), and the ordinance shifts the balance to recognize this.
    • Rep. Curtis expressed support, noting that while the residential aspect was initially problematic, the legislation has been improved to be more palatable.
    • Rep. Somerville expressed full support, using the metaphor, "I'm just like a tree planted by the water. I shall not be moved," to affirm commitment to the environment.

  • LR 31.100: Transition to Electric Landscaping Equipment:

    • Rep. Mays expressed full support, citing public health, safety, and the protection of landscaping workers from noise and toxic exhaust; she argued strongly against amendments that would weaken the original proposal.
    • Rep. Della Cruz expressed full support, highlighting the environmental benefit of protecting overwintering habitats for butterflies.
    • Rep. Watkins expressed conditional support (leaning yes), raising concerns about electric blower power, battery charging safety, and expenses, but accepting the three-year phase-in.
    • Rep. Matheny expressed opposition, citing financial hardship for residents, the belief that electric technology is not yet ready, and the argument that the ordinance is not a "silver bullet" for noise control.
    • Rep. Stella expressed opposition, focusing heavily on the safety risk of lithium-ion batteries catching fire, especially in basements/attics and with unregulated "knockoff" batteries.
    • Rep. Camporelli expressed full support (rebutting safety concerns), stating that gas-powered equipment is "300 times more likely" to start a fire than electric equipment and labeling safety fears as "sensationalism."
    • Rep. Tomas expressed opposition, echoing concerns about battery fire risks and the difficulty of enforcing regulations on non-compliant equipment.

Key Outcomes

  • LR 31.072 (Pet Store Ordinance): Passed on final adoption with a vote tally of 35 Yes, 1 No (Rep. Weinberg), 1 Abstain (Rep. Goldberg). (Note: Transcript confirms Rep. Somerville initially said "yes" but the count shows 35 yes/1 no/1 abstain; Rep. Goldberg and Rep. Somerville's vote status requires verification in the final text, but the transcript explicitly states "35 yeses. We have one no, and we have one abstain." Rep. Goldberg abstained on this item in the vote count section, and Rep. Somerville was counted in the

Meeting Transcript

Okay. All right. We are back. So members that have left the floor may want to return. Representative Camparelli, you have the floor. All right. I'm gonna be I'm gonna be brief. Um I think that the risk is worth the reward. Uh I started with this board on behalf of animal rights. I came to speak to the board to protect deer in in my neighborhood. Um I will fall on this sword every day. I think it's worth the risk. I think the mayor is not going to veto it because I do think she's a caring person, and I think she cares about animals. Uh the law is a living, breathing document. It's not stagnant. It changes all the time because people go up against the law and they challenge it. And animals are worth us challenging the law. Um we have heard from the public. I think over 170 emails have been received, and the public is willing to go to bat for this. These are taxpayers in that live in Stanford, they're willing to put their money where their mouth is. Uh and and I think that the the risk of this getting challenged in court is so low because of the political uh fallout from this that it's not even worth speaking of. I will be voting wholeheartedly in favor of this, and I hope all of you will too. Thank you. Uh Representative Williams. Thank you, Chair. So um I feel like there's a parallel between what we may be seeing with out-of-state breeders, illegal breeders or puppy mills doing supposedly in Connecticut. And what we're seeing with out-of-state can redemptions, bottle and can redemptions coming to Connecticut. Um if you stand in line at Shopi to bring your bag, you're seeing people from New York bringing in their bottles and cans because they can get 10 cents here. They could do it legally here instead of five cents in New York or in other states. Um given that the zoning regulations still presents a loophole that would allow uh puppy mills to still be raised and permitted in certain regions of the city. Given the willingness of people to travel for profit, I feel like we could still see puppy mills set up here, the same way we do with people bringing bottles and cans across the border. And um I appreciate Ashley's work on this, Karen's work on this, or representative Campo and Camp Repli. And I will be supporting this as well. Thank you. Uh thank you. Representative Goldberg. Uh I'll pass to the moment. Thank you. Representative Weinberg. So I I understand how the vote's going, and I and I'm not surprised and not even entirely disappointed. Uh I do want to point out that I I think that I think that some of the speakers have presented a false choice, um, which is to either pass this ordinance or just continue with the current situation. I don't believe that's the choice. Um there are things that we can be doing that will bear results. I know they will bear results because we have done them in the past and they have borne results. We picketed the store on Long Ridge Road, and they are closed. They are out of business because nobody wants to take their kids across a picket line to go, you know, to go look at a possible pet. We can pick it uh any remaining store in Stanford. Um I'll be the first to join that picket line. My picketing days go back to the great boycotts of the late 60s, which perhaps some of you remember. Um we can close down the any stores that any stores, I believe there's only one remaining in Stanford, but I could be mistaken.

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