OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Legislative & Rules Committee Meeting – July 28, 2026

Board of Representatives — Tuesday, July 28, 2026
BodyStamford, Connecticut
SessionBoard of Representatives
DateTuesday, July 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:17:17

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Thank you so much for your attendance at this time.

0:03

I'd like to call to order this meeting of the legislative and rules committee, June 20, excuse me, July 28, 2026 at 701 p.m.

0:13

In attendance.

0:14

I see we've got committee members, uh, Representative Blank, Boudreau, Vice Chair Camparelli, Representative Hughes, myself, Representative Stone, Representative Weinberg.

0:25

Uh, and I don't think we yet see Representative.

0:32

No.

0:33

And Representative Lepine is excused.

0:36

Uh, and so with that, we have seven members out of the nine and have a quorum.

0:43

Uh, additionally SEX officio members, uh, Representative Field, Finkel, Morrison, Pavia, Politia, Price, Shaw, Sylvestri in attendance.

0:56

And if there's anybody else that I may have missed, please let me know.

1:00

So did I I did yep, thank you.

1:02

And Representative Sanford.

1:05

Okay.

1:07

All righty.

1:07

So with that, I think for some administrative ease and scheduling, um, I would appreciate if we could take the agenda backwards.

1:16

Um, so at this time I'd like to make a mo, or excuse me, I'd like to solicit a motion to suspend the rules for the purposes of taking items in the following orders.

1:25

Three, two, and then one.

1:26

So move.

1:27

So I thank you.

1:28

I hear a motion and a second.

1:30

All in favor.

1:31

All right.

1:32

Any opposed?

1:34

Any abstentions?

1:36

Any abstentions?

1:38

All right, so the motion passes.

1:40

One roll move.

1:53

All right.

1:54

And with that, first up on the agenda now will be LR32.020, an ordinance for publication, an amendment to the code of ordinances, article seven, delegating authority, uh, the shellfish commission to the harbor management commission as submitted by Mayor Caroline Simmons.

2:11

Uh, we have two invited guests with respect to this item.

2:13

Attorney Rosenberg and Corporations Council, the legal department's office, uh, and Chairman uh Damian Ortelli.

2:20

Um, would either attorney Rosenberg or Chairman Ortelli if you'd like any, you know, say any words with respect to the item.

2:30

Mr.

2:31

Chairman, I think it might be helpful for Dr.

2:33

Ortelli to give some background as to the measure that uh former mayor David Martin took uh to uh endow the Harbor Management Commission with the duties of the Shellfish Commission.

2:50

Sure.

2:52

Chairman Ortelli, I think you're muted if you're looking to speak.

2:56

Gotcha.

2:57

Okay.

2:57

Uh thank you.

2:58

Um, just to introduce myself, um Damian Ortelli, Chair of the Stanford Harbor Management Commission, and sort of of the uh shellfish commission, apparently.

3:08

Um back about 2016, Mayor Martin came to me and said, hey, you're doing a good job as chair of the harbor commission.

3:19

Uh we'd like you to take the duties of the shellfish commission.

3:23

And I said, okay, uh never do a bad job good, so why not?

3:27

Um and uh uh so he uh uh this memo uh shifting the powers and responsibilities to the uh shelf to the harbor management commission.

3:39

Um and we have uh dutifully discharged those duties over the last uh several years.

3:45

Um we uh uh one of the things that's bringing this to us now is that um a part of uh the responsibilities is we have uh certain number of acres out in the harbor that we lease to uh a shellfish purveyor.

3:59

Um and we were up for renew on that.

4:02

And um the um the the minds at in corporation council felt like it would be a good idea to establish this ordinance to uh you know have this uh uh officially on the books so that you didn't have to go searching for Mayor Memos um, you know, sort of executive order, I guess.

4:23

Uh and so this is really just codifying um how we've been active active um over the last uh eight or nine years.

4:32

Um and uh I appreciate the uh appreciate the the the thought that went into it.

4:39

Um we we had a couple of uh revisions over the last couple of days just to make the language a little bit more clear.

4:46

Um, and I can you know take any questions anyone has on uh what the Harbor Commission does as Shellfish Commission or um you know any more of the history uh that uh uh you know you guys would like to hear.

5:00

the last uh eight or nine years um and uh appreciate the uh appreciate the the the thought that went into it um we we had a couple of uh revisions over the last couple of days just to make the language a little bit more clear um and i can you know take any questions anyone has on uh what the harbor commission does as shellfish commission or um you know any more of the history uh that uh uh you know you guys would like to hear and here to answer any questions that you have and and thank you uh for taking this up and thank you to attorney rosenberg for helping shepherd this to you guys thank you very much chairley one second can you choose I think it's the final thing uh okay perfect all right so I'd like us to take a couple of votes to get this rolling so we can open this up for questions and any discussion um specifically we've got one minor procedural hurdle um we've got a revised version of the ordinance that we received yesterday uh and the board rules mandate that we get those uh 36 hours prior um we can consider it upon a two-thirds vote i don't think it'll be controversial but I'd like to at least have the vote so that we can follow our board rules um is there any motion to consider the the revised version of the ordinance thank you and a second all in favor uh any opposed any abstentions the motion passes and now we are permitted to consider it so now we may I have a motion to approve LR 32.020 motion to approve thank you second and a second perfect representative second that's all right oh thank you thank you um my my question is to uh to either the the um the chairperson of the harbor management and shellfish commission or to the attorney um with regards to paragraph c of the ordinance uh of the yeah ordinance um uh violations regulator issue uh by commission pursuant to the section shall be fined no more than 250 dollars that sounds like a lukewarm slap on the wrist in today's market um is there a cap by the state or feds that keeps us from yes increasing that um uh I I really would like to see us change that language may I respond it's Bert Rosenberg please that language is taken directly from the state statute so in my opinion uh we don't have the we don't have the authority to impose a fine that exceeds uh what is permitted by the state statute all right so this is state driven yes sir and not and not the city or our willingness to yes sir that entire section C is is taken directly from the uh from the state statute okay uh not happy but okay uh representative representative uh thank you uh through you a question for um uh for Dr.

8:00

Ortelli by money yes uh Dr.

8:03

Ortelli um are the um members of the harbor management commission in favor of the passage of this ordinance thank you for asking that yes um they all are and they uh uh enjoy doing the the work of both committees uh both commissions um and so it'll really just be much the same uh uh it it's just on the books in a more uh uh convenient and uh I I suppose thorough way thank you I yield thank you representative um at the risk of nitpicking I think I see a couple typos in the draft that's ahead of us and I just want to make sure that I'm not misunderstanding um anything and that they are in fact typos in section C it says the commission may prohibit the tapping of such shellfish is that supposed to say taking or is hacking something that actually shellfish but I don't know that I noticed it I believe that is the language of the state statute.

9:11

Dr.

9:12

Ortelly I don't know if you want to uh oh yeah yeah you know I I I didn't see that and I suppose tapping a shellfish is not very kind to it um but um uh it it may be uh it may be a typo I'm I'm not sure all right if it's a typo I'll I'll correct it yeah uh point of order then does this turn to wear it yeah but uh see uh screener's error is we could be correct yes okay yeah okay which he confirmed okay's errors then I don't know that did you have a okay that was the only one there's another one in the title which is it says shells you got it I yeah uh attorney Roger did you hear that second one just no I didn't repeat that for a minute in the title of the ordinance it says shells fish rather than shellfish oh yes yeah I'm sorry I'm sorry about that okay perfect you hi um this is for Dr.

10:00

Uh attorney Brokenbird.

10:02

Did you hear that second one?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Legal█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Procedural█████████████████████████27%
Harbor Management██████7%
Personnel Matters██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Democratic Process███3%
Community Engagement█1%
Transparency█1%
Committee Assignments█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Legislative & Rules Committee Meeting – July 28, 2026

The Legislative & Rules Committee of the Stamford Board of Representatives met on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, from 7:01 p.m. to 9:16 p.m. The committee took up three agenda items in reverse order: an ordinance to delegate Shellfish Commission authority to the Harbor Management Commission (LR32.020), an ordinance to establish information reporting requirements for mayoral appointments (LR32.017), and an ordinance to repeal the Appointments Commission (LR32.016). The meeting included a public hearing on LR32.017, extensive legal discussion, and multiple amendments.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sue Halpern (South End resident) expressed support for the appointments ordinance (LR32.017), stating it promotes transparency without diminishing the mayor's authority.
  • Mr. Papa (Stamford resident) expressed support, arguing that democracy requires public participation and that the ordinance helps ensure accountability.
  • Mr. Adams (Stamford resident) expressed support, noting that the appointment process should be auditable and that the ordinance is a step toward transparency, though he believed it should go further by including names.
  • Paula Waldman (Bull's Head area resident) expressed support, stating that transparency builds trust and that the ordinance provides objective information while protecting privacy.

Discussion Items

1. LR32.020 – Ordinance to Delegate Shellfish Commission Authority to Harbor Management Commission

  • Dr. Damien Ortelli, Chair of the Harbor Management Commission, explained that the ordinance codifies a practice that has been in effect since 2016 via a mayoral memo. The commission manages shellfish leases, water quality testing, and land-use impacts. The ordinance was revised the day before the meeting.
  • The committee voted unanimously (7-0-0) to consider the revised version submitted after the 36-hour board rule deadline.
  • Discussion revealed two typographical errors: “shells fish” in the title and “tapping” instead of “taking” in Section C. These were acknowledged as scriveners’ errors to be corrected.
  • The committee approved the ordinance as amended for publication and public hearing by a unanimous voice vote of 8-0-0.

2. LR32.017 – Ordinance on Information Reporting Requirements for Mayoral Appointments

  • Public hearing was held from 7:18 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with four speakers all in support.
  • Assistant Corporation Counsel Dana Lee provided a legal opinion stating that the ordinance as drafted would conflict with the city charter and be void. He argued that the charter grants the mayor sole authority over the pre-nomination process, and the board cannot mandate an application or specific data collection. He suggested that the board could require reporting of data already collected by the mayor.
  • Committee members grappled with the legal boundaries. Chair McKeown, Rep. Blank, Rep. Boudreau, Rep. Weinberg, Rep. Hughes, Rep. Hyatt, and Rep. Shaw participated in discussion.
  • Several amendments were proposed and voted on sequentially:
    • Motion to strike “reasonable” and insert “sole” in Section A (approved 8-0-0).
    • Motion to divide the question on reporting frequency (approved 8-0-0).
    • Motion to approve Sections A through D as amended, excluding the reporting-frequency change (approved unanimously by voice vote).
    • Motion to change reporting frequency from quarterly to semi-annually (approved 8-0-0 on roll call).
    • Motion to strike Section 52-12 entirely (approved unanimously by voice vote).
    • Motion to strike Section 52-13 entirely (approved 6-2-0 on roll call; Chair McKeown and Rep. Hughes voted against).
  • After all amendments, the committee approved the ordinance as amended for a third public hearing by a roll call vote of 8-0-0.

3. LR32.016 – Ordinance to Repeal the Appointments Commission

  • This item had been postponed multiple times. The committee voted to postpone it definitely to the next meeting by a unanimous voice vote of 8-0-0.

Key Outcomes

  • LR32.020 – Approved as amended (with typographical corrections) for publication and public hearing. Vote: 8-0-0.
  • LR32.017 – Approved as amended (with changes to application language, reporting frequency changed to semi-annual, and removal of Sections 52-12 and 52-13) for a third public hearing. Vote: 8-0-0.
  • LR32.016 – Postponed definitely to the next meeting. Vote: 8-0-0.
  • The committee adjourned at 9:16 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Thank you so much for your attendance at this time. I'd like to call to order this meeting of the legislative and rules committee, June 20, excuse me, July 28, 2026 at 701 p.m. In attendance. I see we've got committee members, uh, Representative Blank, Boudreau, Vice Chair Camparelli, Representative Hughes, myself, Representative Stone, Representative Weinberg. Uh, and I don't think we yet see Representative. No. And Representative Lepine is excused. Uh, and so with that, we have seven members out of the nine and have a quorum. Uh, additionally SEX officio members, uh, Representative Field, Finkel, Morrison, Pavia, Politia, Price, Shaw, Sylvestri in attendance. And if there's anybody else that I may have missed, please let me know. So did I I did yep, thank you. And Representative Sanford. Okay. All righty. So with that, I think for some administrative ease and scheduling, um, I would appreciate if we could take the agenda backwards. Um, so at this time I'd like to make a mo, or excuse me, I'd like to solicit a motion to suspend the rules for the purposes of taking items in the following orders. Three, two, and then one. So move. So I thank you. I hear a motion and a second. All in favor. All right. Any opposed? Any abstentions? Any abstentions? All right, so the motion passes. One roll move. All right. And with that, first up on the agenda now will be LR32.020, an ordinance for publication, an amendment to the code of ordinances, article seven, delegating authority, uh, the shellfish commission to the harbor management commission as submitted by Mayor Caroline Simmons. Uh, we have two invited guests with respect to this item. Attorney Rosenberg and Corporations Council, the legal department's office, uh, and Chairman uh Damian Ortelli. Um, would either attorney Rosenberg or Chairman Ortelli if you'd like any, you know, say any words with respect to the item. Mr. Chairman, I think it might be helpful for Dr. Ortelli to give some background as to the measure that uh former mayor David Martin took uh to uh endow the Harbor Management Commission with the duties of the Shellfish Commission. Sure. Chairman Ortelli, I think you're muted if you're looking to speak. Gotcha. Okay. Uh thank you. Um, just to introduce myself, um Damian Ortelli, Chair of the Stanford Harbor Management Commission, and sort of of the uh shellfish commission, apparently. Um back about 2016, Mayor Martin came to me and said, hey, you're doing a good job as chair of the harbor commission. Uh we'd like you to take the duties of the shellfish commission. And I said, okay, uh never do a bad job good, so why not? Um and uh uh so he uh uh this memo uh shifting the powers and responsibilities to the uh shelf to the harbor management commission. Um and we have uh dutifully discharged those duties over the last uh several years. Um we uh uh one of the things that's bringing this to us now is that um a part of uh the responsibilities is we have uh certain number of acres out in the harbor that we lease to uh a shellfish purveyor. Um and we were up for renew on that. And um the um the the minds at in corporation council felt like it would be a good idea to establish this ordinance to uh you know have this uh uh officially on the books so that you didn't have to go searching for Mayor Memos um, you know, sort of executive order, I guess. Uh and so this is really just codifying um how we've been active active um over the last uh eight or nine years.

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