Stamford Fiscal Committee Meeting - January 26, 2026

The Fiscal Committee of the Stamford Board of Representatives convened on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 7:03 PM. Chaired by Representative Andrew Zachary in his first meeting as chair, the committee reviewed 18 agenda items, including several late submissions. The meeting adjourned at 7:52 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Youth Services Microgrant (Item 8, F32.032): $5,000 appropriation from a transportation microgrant to purchase bicycles and helmets for the Pathfinders Adventure Camp. Approved 9-0.
• CT DOT Agreement (Item 9, F32.033): Resolution authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Approved 9-0.
• Summer Youth Employment Program (Item 10, F32.034): $61,364.46 appropriation for seasonal salaries and FICA costs through state and federal grants. Approved 9-0.
• DCF Youth Employment Grant (Item 11, F32.035): Resolution authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. Approved 9-0.
• Broad Street Traffic Signals (Item 12, F32.036): $125,000 capital appropriation for traffic signal upgrades at 130 Broad Street, fully funded by the developer. Approved 9-0.
• Town Clerk Historical Maps (Item 13, F32.037): $36,825 grant appropriation for compliance shelving for historical maps. Approved 8-0-1 (Representative Graham abstained).
• Stamford High School Roofing & Solar (Item 14, F32.038): Resolution related to a non-priority solar voltaic installation and partial re-roofing grant application. Approved 9-0.
• Community Wi-Fi Grant (Item 15, F32.039): Resolution authorizing the mayor to sign agreements for the CENECT Connect Community Wi-Fi grant program for Latin Wider and Cove Island Park. Approved 8-0-1 (Representative Graham abstained).
• DOJ COPS Agreement (Item 17, F32.041): Resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into agreements with the U.S. Department of Justice for the COPS Hiring Program. Approved 9-0.

Discussion Items

Police Department Staffing and COPS Hiring Grant (Items 16, 18)

The committee suspended its rules to take Items 16 and 18 out of order as they were related late submissions.

• F32.040 (Item 16): An additional appropriation of $190,755 from a federal COPS Hiring Grant to fund five new police officers for the final five months of fiscal year 2026. The grant requires a city match and the hired officers must remain employed through September 2028.
• F32.042 (Item 18): An additional appropriation of $286,756 from the Police operating budget to increase the budgeted officer positions from 217 to 222, raising the total sworn force from 287 to 292.
• Testimony and Deliberation: Director of Grants Anita Carpenter and Chief of Police Shaw presented the items. Chief Shaw stated the department is fully staffed and the five new positions were originally tabled in the FY25-26 budget. He expressed that these positions are needed to fill gaps in the patrol division created by new departmental initiatives.
• Representative De La Cruz asked if candidates had been identified. Chief Shaw confirmed the applicant list is active and candidates are undergoing background checks, with a target presentation to the Police Commission in early March.
• Representative LePine asked for clarification on the grant requirement that officers remain employed through September 2028. Chief Shaw confirmed the condition applies to the specific hired officer, but noted the mayor's administration is focused on growing the force.
• Representative Morrison clarified the position count totals for the record.
• Both items were approved unanimously by a voice vote of 9-0.

Perlane Lane Area Stormwater and Roadway Improvements (Items 1, 2)

• F32.004 (Item 1): An additional appropriation of $2 million for the city's portion of the Perlane Lane sewer project. The funds cover stormwater infrastructure, catch basins, paving, and shared costs, representing approximately 15% of the total project cost, with 85% being WPCA sanitary sewer costs.
• F32.005 (Item 2): A resolution amending the capital budget to authorize $2 million in general obligation bonds to meet the appropriation.
• Testimony and Deliberation: WPCA Executive Director Sabrina Brink and Supervising Engineer Ann Brown presented. They detailed the completed work and remaining work. Remaining work includes two pump stations, service laterals on High Ridge Road, and 60 feet of force main. Completion is scheduled for June 2026.
• Representative Weinberg, representing District 20 where the project is located, asked whether the appropriation would trigger additional cost-sharing for property owners. Director Brink confirmed the $2 million is strictly for city-coded costs and is excluded from the sanitary sewer cost-sharing arrangement.
• Both items were approved unanimously by voice votes of 9-0.

Employee Compensation Pay Plan Adjustment (Item 3)

• F32.012 (Item 3): An additional appropriation of $53,438 for Employee Benefits to fund a pay plan adjustment.
• Testimony and Deliberation: Bill McGuire from Finance and Bridget Fox from the Mayor's Office presented. Fox explained the adjustment was based on a compensation study commissioned by the mayor a year ago and conducted by former HR Director Al Cava. The study went through the Personnel Commission, Board of Finance, and Personnel Committee.
• Approved unanimously 9-0.

Utility Paving and Street Resurfacing Funding Swap (Items 4, 5, 6, 7)

The committee considered a set of four interlocking items to correct the funding sources for two paving projects. The net-zero transfer moves bond funds to the Utility Paving project and LOSIP grant funds to the Street Patch and Resurfacing project.

• Item 4 (F32.028): Rejection of capital project closeouts.
• Item 5 (F32.029): Additional appropriation of $1,223,801.59 for Utility Paving.
• Item 6 (F32.030): Additional appropriation of $1,223,801.59 for Street Patch and Resurfacing.
• Item 7 (F32.031): Resolution amending the capital budget.
• Testimony and Deliberation: Anthony Romano from the Office of Policy Management explained the swap was necessary because the Utility Paving project was not procured in accordance with state or federal requirements and thus cannot use the grant funds. The Street Patch project qualifies for grant funding.
• Representative LePine asked if the change was neutral without penalty. Romano confirmed it is a net-zero change requiring committee approval.
• Representative Weinberg asked for further details on the procurement ineligibility; Romano clarified it was related to the specific procurement method.
• Representative Morrison provided procedural guidance on the rejection vote.
• All four items were approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Police Force Expansion Approved: Authorized $477,511 in combined funding to hire 5 new police officers under the COPS grant and increase the sworn force to 292. (Vote: 9-0)
• Perlane Lane Infrastructure Funded: Approved $2 million in city funds and bonding for stormwater and roadway improvements. (Vote: 9-0)
• Compensation Study Implemented: Approved $53,438 to fund pay plan adjustments based on a citywide study. (Vote: 9-0)
• Paving Grant Corrected: Approved a $1,223,801.59 net-zero funding swap between city accounts to satisfy grant eligibility. (Vote: 9-0)
• Miscellaneous Items Approved: Numerous grants and resolutions were approved for youth services, summer employment, traffic signals, historical maps, school roofing/solar, and community Wi-Fi.
• Meeting Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned at 7:52 PM.