Legislative & Rules Committee Meeting – May 27, 2026
Legislative & Rules Committee Meeting – May 27, 2026
The Legislative & Rules Committee of the Board of Representatives met on Tuesday, May 27, 2026, at 7:04 p.m. in the Democratic Caucus Room and remotely. Chair Michael McKeown presided. Committee members present included Vice Chair Karen Camporeale, and Reps. Blank, Boudreau, Hughes, Hyatt, Lapine, Stone, and Weinberg. Ex-officio members Reps. Morson, Shaw, and Walston also attended. City staff and guests included Assistant Corporation Counsel Chris Dellaselva, CFO Ryan Fealey, Senior Transportation Planner Luke Buttenwieser, Director of Operations Matt Quiñones, Executive Director of Environmental Protection Robert Clausi, and real estate broker Tim Rorick. The meeting adjourned at 9:56 p.m.
Public Comments & Testimony
- On the Courtland Avenue bus parking lease (Item LR32.018): Gina Calabries (Cove resident) expressed concerns about noise, pollution, traffic, and the perception that the East Side neighborhood’s concerns are dismissed. She questioned why the city is the lessee if a private bus company exists and urged mitigation measures. Dave Adams (Glenbrook resident) raised procedural questions about the timing of the public hearing (noting the Board of Finance had previously held the item) and transparency regarding the property map, redacted lease terms, and cost to taxpayers.
- On the Conservation Commission ordinance (Item LR32.019): Jeanette Bilicznianski, a lifelong Stamford resident, spoke in full support of a standalone conservation commission. She cited the Comprehensive Plan’s public engagement, the decline of monarch butterflies (80% decline in eastern population, 95% in western), and the need for a dedicated body to protect natural resources, especially amid federal rollbacks. She suggested funding sources and partnerships with local organizations.
Discussion Items
- LR32.018 – City Lease of 0 & 338 Courtland Avenue for School Bus Parking: Attorney Dellaselva read the lease terms: two parcels totaling 2.93 acres; 15-year initial term with two five-year renewal options (total possible 25 years); initial rent $600,000/year with 2.5% annual increases; triple-net lease with the city paying utilities, costs, and taxes; site improvements by owners before possession; city’s right of first refusal to purchase. Directors Quiñones and Clausi explained that the lease enables the Board of Education to competitively bid bus services and that the site is in a manufacturing zone, buffered from residences, near transit options. After executive session (7:26–8:25 p.m.) to discuss terms, the committee discussed traffic, road safety (Cortland Ave is a state highway, recently rebuilt), driver parking on site, and potential for future electric buses. The resolution was approved 9-0.
- LR32.019 – Ordinance Establishing a Conservation Commission: Vice Chair Camporeale presented the ordinance as a best practice to separate conservation duties from the Environmental Protection Board, which is consumed by wetland and flood responsibilities. Mr. Clausi and Ms. Bilicznianski spoke in support. Rep. Hughes moved to recommit the item to the Land Use/Urban Redevelopment Committee, arguing it is a land-use issue. After debate, the motion was amended to recommit to Steering (voice vote 8-0-1), then the amended motion passed 5-3-1 (Reps. Hughes, Hyatt, Lapine, Stone, Weinberg in favor; Chair McKeown, Vice Chair Camporeale, Rep. Blank opposed; Rep. Boudreau abstained). The ordinance was thus recommitted to Steering for further assignment.
- LR32.017 – Information Reporting Requirements for Mayor’s Office on Appointments: The committee suspended the rules to take this item before Item 3. Extensive debate occurred. Rep. Weinberg and Majority Leader Morrison argued that collecting data on applicants (not just appointees) could yield misleading information and be weaponized; they preferred focusing on appointees, vacancies, and holdovers. Vice Chair Camporeale, Rep. Blank, and Rep. Lapine countered that applicant data is already collected, is vital for transparency, and helps identify pipeline issues (e.g., attracting youth or women). The ordinance was approved 7-2 (Reps. Hughes and Weinberg dissenting).
- LR32.016 – Ordinance to Repeal the Appointments Commission: No discussion; the committee voted 9-0 to approve the ordinance for publication, sending it to public hearing.
Key Outcomes
- LR32.018 (Courtland Ave bus parking lease): Approved by committee 9-0. The resolution moves to the full Board of Representatives.
- LR32.019 (Conservation Commission ordinance): Recommitted to Steering 5-3-1. The Steering Committee will determine whether to assign it to a primary committee or add a secondary committee.
- LR32.016 (Repeal of Appointments Commission): Approved 9-0 for publication; proceeds to public hearing and full board consideration.
- LR32.017 (Reporting requirements for mayor’s office): Approved 7-2. The ordinance will go to public hearing and then to the full board.
- Other: The committee also suspended the rules (voice vote) to take up Item 4 before Item 3.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you everybody for coming. I am going to call for this meeting of the legislative and rules committee of the board of representatives this May 26, 2026 at 7.04 p.m. I know that I've seen attendance representatives blank, Boudreau, Hyde Lepine, myself, Weinberg, representative of the committee, representatives Johnson, Walston. And I see Representative Hughes as well. So thank you. And Representative Stone. All right. So with eight out of nine members of the committee present, I declare that we do have a quorum. Also make a note for the record that Vice Chair Camperelli isn't attendance, but she's stepped out. But I'll make a note when she arrives. Do I have a motion to approve this resolution? So we've s I will thank you. I hear a motion from Representative Boudreau and a second from Representative Blank. Two invites four invitees. We have attorney Chris Delaselva, Director Matt Keonis. And we also have Luke Buttonwise. Look, please let me know if I mispronounced these names by the way. Luke Buttonweiser. Buttonweezer, but you did it the normal way people mispronounce it, so it's okay. Fair enough. Our apologies. And is Mr. Feely on? And I see Ms. Ryan Feely as well. Point of order. Yes. Before hearing from the guests, we should be holding the public hearing. Yes. Thank you. So I understand that so we are holding a public hearing on this item tonight. I have I understand that there are no members of the public who have signed up to speak in advance. But in the event that there are any members of the public, either in person, I see there's one online. Are there any in person that wish to speak? All righty. You've got the floor and you've got three minutes. Oh, there we go. Sorry, I had to unmute. I was expecting so quickly. Um hello, Gina Calabries. I live in the cove, Seaside Avenue, in the corner of Cove Road, and I understand parking, you know, but uh school buses need to go somewhere. Um I do have one question that maybe the guests can answer. It's my understanding, and I know Mr. Feely is the finance person for the board of for SPS. Um, it's my understanding we have a private bus company. Um, so I was just curious, and I know other people are as to why the city is the lessee of this property for parking the buses. And um another uh another comment I have is that I know that many residents they might not be here, but there's been a buzz on you know some social media platforms and in the neighborhood about the buses, bringing noise, pollution, and traffic. Um, those are concerns that I think many on this call, many members of our govern local government just described to NIMBYism, which um, you know, if it were in your backyard, you know, you would probably be the NIMBY then. But I think we do need to have some context for this. There's going to be the bus parking lot, and not far away, I believe the zoning board approved a warehouse with the truckloading dock.
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