Public Safety & Health Committee Meeting – June 25, 2026

The Public Safety & Health Committee of the Stamford Board of Representatives met remotely on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 6:31 p.m., chaired by Rep. Tom Bouchard. Vice Chair Terry Adams and members Reps. Didelot, Field, Graham, Morson, and Walston were present. The committee reviewed two agenda items: an overview of personal watercraft regulations and enforcement (PS32.008), and an overview of Stamford Park Police enforcement of quality-of-life issues in parks (PS32.009). Invited guests included Kevin Murray (Parks & Recreation), Kevin Fitzgibbons (Police Harbor Unit), Peter Gould (Park Police Coordinator), Christopher Baker (Police Captain), and Evan Weiss (Vincent Island Stamford LLC).

PS32.008: Personal Watercraft Regulations and Enforcement

• Evan Weiss presented a three-part safety proposal for Westcott Cove: marking two unmarked submerged hazards (GPS coordinates provided), improving signage at West Beach boat ramp with clear maps and rules, and redefining slow/no-wake zones to reduce ambiguity and enhance safety. He noted that personal watercraft (PWCs) can reach 75 mph and that noise levels comparable to leaf blowers impact nearby residents.
• Sgt. Kevin Fitzgibbons described enforcement practices: daily patrols, checking registrations and safety equipment at the ramp, issuing $150 tickets for speed violations, and educating operators using pamphlets. He explained that 90% of Long Island fatalities involve paddlecraft, not PWCs, and many PWC operators are legal.
• Committee members asked about expanding no-wake zones. Sgt. Fitzgibbons noted that changes require approval from the U.S. Coast Guard and NOAA, a time-consuming process. Rep. Shore inquired about marking the 200-foot no-wake boundary on the eastern side; Fitzgibbons clarified that any official marking must go through state and federal processes.
• Weiss also raised the idea of requiring insurance for ramp permits (as Greenwich does) to protect the city from liability in case of accidents.
• Discussion highlighted that the West Beach ramp is the busiest and that enforcement focuses on education and engineering before enforcement.

PS32.009: Park Police and Quality-of-Life Enforcement

• Park Police Coordinator Peter Gould reported that the department has shrunk from 31 officers in 1979 to currently two (one full-time, one part-time), with a third expected in December. Quality-of-life complaints center on amplified music, unregistered dirt bikes/ATVs, e-bikes, and loud cars. He described two city ordinances (for external speakers and motorized recreational vehicles) that allow seizure and potential destruction of equipment, but enforcement has been hampered by a lack of hearing officers.
• Capt. Chris Baker confirmed that three appeal hearing officers were approved the previous night, enabling the ordinances to be fully implemented.
• Committee members discussed specific incidents: loud music at Mill River Park on Father’s Day weekend (a New York crowd, complaints from miles away), and the proliferation of e-bikes and ATVs citywide. Rep. Field raised concerns about inconsistent enforcement and the need for a uniform decibel limit on all permits, including for Mill River Collaborative events. Rep. Walston echoed the call for consistency.
• Gould explained that for city-sanctioned events (like Alive at Five), the police do not enforce noise limits because it is an administrative matter between the city and the vendor. Mill River Park regulations are set by the Mill River Collaborative, creating a bifurcated system. Lou DeRubeis (Director of Public Safety, Health and Welfare) acknowledged the city is working to bring Mill River events under the same permitting process.
• Current penalties: $120-$150 for unregistered vehicle; under the new ordinance, first offense for external speakers is $1,000, second $1,500, third $2,000, plus confiscation. The department focuses on education but will escalate for repeat or egregious violators.
• Challenges in pursuing fleeing ATVs/off-road vehicles were noted; police use intelligence and preventive strategies rather than dangerous pursuits.

Key Outcomes

• No votes were taken; both items were received as reports.
• Three appeal hearing officers were approved the night before the meeting, enabling full enforcement of the seizure ordinances for amplified speakers and motorized recreational vehicles.
• Chair Bouchard committed to working with the administration and the committee to address noise ordinance consistency across all city parks, including Mill River Collaborative events. A future discussion on decibel limits in permits was suggested.
• The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.