Regular Meeting of the 32nd Board of Representatives – June 1, 2026
Regular Meeting of the 32nd Board of Representatives of the City of Stamford – June 1, 2026
The Board of Representatives convened at 7:35 p.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026, in the Legislative Chambers at the Government Center and via Zoom. The meeting included an invocation by Rabbi Moshe Shemtov, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call with 36 members present initially (later 3 more arrived). The board observed moments of silence for former Representative Dr. Mary Savage, former Board of Education member Nicola Tarzia, and Dylan Thomas Graham. The meeting adjourned at 10:38 p.m. The board acted on 28 items from seven standing committees, including several controversial items. Three honorary resolutions were passed unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Appointments Committee (Consent): Approved unanimously by voice vote: A32.029 (Ira Stechel, Board of Ethics reappointment), A32.035 (Drew McKay, Planning Board), A32.038 (Stefania Payares Arteaga, Environmental Protection Board alternate), A32.040 (Joe Miller, Urban Redevelopment Commission), A32.041 (Anthony Stark, School Building Committee), A32.043 (Ellen Bromley, Board of Ethics), A32.044 (Christopher Smyth, Parks and Recreation Commission).
- Fiscal Committee (Consent): Approved unanimously by voice vote: F32.071 ($398,695 for emergency asbestos abatement at Yerwood Community Center); F32.073 ($3,437,000 capital appropriation for Transfer Station Canal Wall Replacement); F32.074 (resolution amending capital budget and authorizing $2,762,000 in bonds); F32.075 ($25,000 Project Champion Grant for youth substance use prevention); F32.076 (resolution authorizing agreements for Project Champion); F32.077 ($62,500 for Cummings Marina dredging); F32.078 (resolution re Connecticut Port Authority for Cummings Marina testing); F32.079 (resolution re Emergency Management Performance Grant); F32.080 (resolution re Office of Early Childhood Quality Enhancement Funding); F32.081 ($9,925,945 for Stamford High School improvements); F32.084 ($85,000 Supplemental Revenue Sharing Grant for Project Music and ROSCCO); F32.085 (resolution for Stamford High School science lab/energy grant application); F32.086 (resolution re U.S. Economic Development Administration for East Harbor canal wall). Rep. Pavia abstained from F32.084.
- Personnel Committee (Consent): Approved unanimously: P32.010 (Clerk of the Works II contract with Allan Hoyt).
- Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee (Consent): Approved unanimously: OPR32.011 (modification of agreement with Gabrielli Truck Sales for Mack OEM parts and service).
- Community Development, Housing, Education, Social Services, State & Commerce (C.H.E.S.S.) Committee (Consent): Approved unanimously: CHESS32.011 (Neighborhood Assistance Act programs list); CHESS32.017 (CDBG Program Year 52 budget); CHESS32.018 (authorizing mayor to submit Year 52 Annual Action Plan).
- Transportation Committee (Consent): Approved unanimously: T32.004 (1st Amendment to Desman Contract for on-call engineering services for city parking facilities).
- Minutes: Approved unanimously: May 4, 2026 regular meeting minutes; May 7, 2026 special budget meeting minutes; May 20, 2026 special board meeting minutes.
Public Comments & Testimony
Four speakers addressed the board:
- Kieran Edmondson (remote, Waterside resident) – Expressed full support for F32.075, urging funding for substance use prevention initiatives targeting youth, citing the need to protect young people from drug abuse.
- Sue Halpern (remote, South End resident) – Opposed the $125,000 boat launch feasibility study (F32.082), arguing that the park is in dire need of remediation and that a public boat launch would be dismissive of long-standing maintenance concerns. Suggested negotiating with developers for a boat launch elsewhere.
- David Berman (in person, District 12) – Raised broader questions about the city’s development strategy, asking whether the city is building lasting value for residents and creating pathways to ownership. Referenced the Cortland Avenue lease and Midas redevelopment as examples.
- Dave Adams (in person) – Criticized the handling of the Cortland Park deed restrictions and urged transparency. Also praised LR32.017 (ordinance on reporting requirements for appointments) as a long-overdue transparency measure.
Discussion Items
- Appointments Committee – A32.042 (Jackie Heftman, School Building Committee reappointment): Removed from consent by Rep. Walston, who opposed due to perceived lack of seriousness during the committee meeting. After brief discussion, approved by roll call vote 36-2-1 (Reps. Blank and Walston opposed; Rep. Bouchard abstained).
- Fiscal Committee – F32.082 ($125,000 for Stamford Harbor Boat Launch Feasibility Study): Removed from consent by Rep. Camporeale. Debate centered on whether the study is appropriate given budget constraints, park conditions, and traffic/safety concerns. Supporters noted funding comes from grants and a restricted donation, not city tax dollars. Opponents argued the money could be used for other priorities and that the park needs investment. Failed 10-26-3 (Reps. Didelot, Gardner, Gilbride, Johnson, Morson, Price, Sandford, Shaw, Weinberg, Wirz in favor; 26 opposed; Reps. Bradford, Pollack, Zachary abstained).
- Fiscal Committee – F32.083 (Resolution authorizing agreements with Connecticut Port Authority for the same project): Failed 2-36-1 (only Reps. Gardner and Gilbride in favor; Rep. Bradford abstained).
- Fiscal Committee – F32.072 (Rejection of capital project closeout for Transfer Station Canal Wall Replacement): No action taken (committee recommended no action, and no motion was made to take it up).
- Legislative & Rules Committee – LR32.018 (City Lease of 0 & 338 Courtland Avenue for School Bus Parking): Removed from consent by Rep. Gross due to traffic concerns. Debate included points about traffic impacts (pre-peak hours vs. return at rush hour), the need to break First Student’s monopoly, and the condition of the current bus parking on the West Side. Approved 35-4 (Reps. Gross, Hughes, Price, Yeager opposed).
- Legislative & Rules Committee – LR32.017 (Ordinance establishing information reporting requirements of the Mayor’s Office on appointments): Approved for publication/public hearing by roll call 37-2 (Reps. Gilbride and Weinberg opposed).
- Legislative & Rules Committee – LR32.016 (Ordinance to repeal the Appointments Commission): Approved for publication/public hearing by unanimous voice vote.
- Legislative & Rules Committee – LR32.019 (Ordinance establishing a Conservation Commission): Recommitted to Steering by committee; no action by full board.
- Land Use/Urban Redevelopment Committee – LU32.008 (Sale and Development of 41 Main Street – Former Midas Site): Removed from consent by Rep. Beckham, who argued for a second public hearing due to lack of community awareness. A motion to recommit to Steering failed 16-21-1. After extensive debate, the sale was approved 27-5-6 (Reps. Beckham, Dorsey, Graham, Hyatt, Walston opposed; Reps. Adams, Camporeale, de la Cruz, Hill, Sylvestre, Weathers abstained).
- Personnel Committee – P32.009 (Employment contract for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Janeene Freeman): Held by Board of Finance; no action taken by committee.
- Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee – OPR32.008 (Review of snow removal process): Report made; no vote.
- Public Safety & Health Committee – PS32.007 (Overview of restaurant inspection and rating system): Report made; no vote.
- C.H.E.S.S. Committee – CHESS32.014 (Rejection of $2,100,000 allocation to Heritage Housing for St. John Towers affordable housing redevelopment): The rejection failed (meaning the allocation is not rejected) by unanimous voice vote; the item was not put on consent.
Key Outcomes
- Appointments approved: 9 appointments confirmed on consent; Heftman approved 36-2-1.
- Fiscal items: 11 consent fiscal items approved; two related to boat launch feasibility (F32.082 and F32.083) failed.
- Cortland Avenue lease approved 35-4.
- Transparency ordinance (appointment reporting) approved for public hearing 37-2.
- Repeal of Appointments Commission approved for public hearing unanimously.
- 41 Main Street sale approved 27-5-6.
- St. John Towers funding not rejected (rejection motion failed).
- Restaurant inspection report received; no action.
- Minutes approved.
The board rejected a motion to recommit the 41 Main Street sale back to committee. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
I think we're gonna get started. Good evening, everyone. It's Monday, June 1st, 2026, and I call the regular meeting of the Board of Representatives to order. The time now is 7 35 p.m. The invocation tonight will be delivered by Rabbi Shemto. Welcome. Good evening, good evening, everyone, and I want to thank you for giving me this honor of being able to be here and speak to you on behalf of the Chabad on behalf of the Jewish community of Stanford, and to share a few words of perhaps inspiration. I'm not here just as a individual, a citizen of Stanford, or even a rabbi of a specific uh congregation, but I'm also here as a representative of the Labavacharebbe, blessed memory, and here to uh further the mission of Chabad, a mission of inclusion, a mission of inspiration of uplifting, and utilizing every drop of positive energy there is in our world in our city in our streets for good, and the rest I leave to you. Before I uh give a little prayer, it's interesting that we are this week studying the portion in the Bible that starts off by saying that God instructs Moses as follows to instruct Aaron the high priest. This happens few days after the dedication of the original temporary temple tabernacle in the desert, right at a year after the Jews came out of Egypt, and it says, when he will light the candelabra, in essence, God is telling Aaron, make the lights go up by themselves. And our sages teach us what that means is that you're not gonna stand by the candelabra all the time. Hopefully, you can make those lanterns and the lamps kindled and continue to kindle the world around them. Standing here in this room, while the rest of Stanford is bustling, nobody knows what's going on over here on the fourth floor. You guys are doing the hard work. You're regular citizens, regular people, each one with your own greatnesses and challenges, some days better, some days worse, and you're here to do the people's work. And you're inspired to be here for the people and to take care of the people of Stanford and have in mind the best interests, and that's a noble cause, a lot of hours. May God bless you. That you should have the wisdom, the strength, the mood, and the support that you need to continue. What are you doing? It doesn't show up. Rebono Shalola, master of the universe, we ask your blessings upon the city council and this board and the civic leaders gathered here tonight. Grant them the wisdom to govern with justice, the compassion to protect the vulnerable, and the and the insight to act as faithful stewards of this community. Inspire these public servants to put aside the vision, recognizing that every individual in our city is created in your image. May their decisions bring peace, prosperity, and harmony to all who call the city home. Bless their work, their families, and our neighborhoods with your light. And may we say Amen. Thank you very much. Thank you so much, Rabbi Shemto. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Clerk Johnson, can you please call the roll? Absolutely. Good to see everyone. Uh quick reminder just for tonight. If you all could make sure to unmute and talk on your mics whenever we're voting or anything. Just uh we've had some people comment that have struggled hearing online. Uh all right. Representative Adams. Present. Thank you. Representative Beckham. Present, Mr. Clerk. Thank you. Representative Blank. Present, Mr. Clerk. Next, Representative Bouchard. Present, Mr. Clerk. Representative Boudreaux.
openpublica.com