Public Meetings - Stamford, Connecticut

The Stamford Zoning Board met virtually by Zoom on October 20, 2026, chaired by David Stein, with members Bill Morris, Roseanne McManus, Jerry Bozak, Keith Walker, and alternate Peter Rustin; staff included Ralph Blessing and Vanita Matter. The board conducted public hearings on zoning text and map changes and McDonald's special permit applications, then approved several regular-meeting items. Note: the transcript opens with the meeting called to order at 6:53 p.m. on October 19, 2026; the date used here follows the provided meeting date of 2026-10-20. Consent Calendar - Approved minutes of the September 28, 2026 zoning board meeting by voice vote. - Approved a time extension for application 223-34, 900 Long Ridge Road special permit, extending it from January 2, 2027 to January 2, 2028; the vote passed 5-0. - Approved a one-year extension for application 221-24, Old Town Square LLC, 160 Atlantic Street, from October 4, 2026 to October 4, 2027. The request had been submitted in August but was inadvertently omitted from an earlier agenda. Public Comments & Testimony - McDonald's applications 226-09 and 226-10: Monica Twal of 37 Hanrahan described the location as special to her family and senior friends, and voiced concerns about reduced parking, access for delivery and tow trucks, possible job reductions, and the zone change, which she opposed because the area is residential. Dave Adams of Glenbrook Road said he supported adding a second drive-through lane to reduce queues onto East Main Street, but opposed the deterrence approach to left turns as potentially dangerous, questioned the traffic-generation methodology, and urged the board to find a safer left-turn solution and eventually approve the project. - CD/CMC text change 226-14: Monica Twal opposed the change, saying High Ridge and Long Ridge should keep their traditional single-family residential character. Dave Adams said he would fully support the change if its true intent is to increase homeownership opportunities. - CSC text/map changes 226-24 and 226-23: Dave Adams spoke in favor. Monica Twal opposed, saying the explanations were vague, jargon-heavy, and not understandable to the public. - Coastal site plan text change 226-28: Dave Adams initially asked for clarification about the removal of the new-home exemption, and after staff explanation said he supported the amendment. Monica Twal said the presentation had been hard to follow due to frozen audio/video and asked for a concrete example and clearer explanation of what was exempt. Discussion Items - Application 226-27 (residential parking text change under Public Act 25-01): The board agreed to separate the state-mandated parking changes from the city's additional proposed changes. Members Roseanne McManus, Bill Morris, Jerry Bozak, Keith Walker, and Peter Rustin expressed concern that the non-state proposals reduced parking too much, especially for the West Side, Springdale, and Glenbrook, and wanted more time to review newly submitted traffic data. Staff said the transportation department was unavailable that evening. The board asked staff to prepare a revised draft containing only the state-required changes and continued the hearing to October 26, 2026, without taking public testimony because the application would be rewritten. - Application 226-20 (ML Light Industrial text change): Continued to October 26, 2026, while staff worked on possible changes. - McDonald's applications 226-09 and 226-10 (1103 East Main Street): Attorney Chris Russo presented a proposal to rezone the site from CN to CL and add a second side-by-side drive-through lane. The plan would reduce parking from 61 to 33 spaces and increase drive-through queue capacity from 11 to 23 vehicles. The existing building is more than 3,200 square feet and has operated for about 40 years. Traffic engineer Paul Going reported queue observations from February 5 and 7, 2026: weekday maximum queues of 10 at breakfast, 14 at lunch, and 18 at dinner, with four queue backup events; on Saturday, a maximum of 15 vehicles and two backups to the highway. Parking observations showed a maximum of 32 parked vehicles on Saturday lunch. The study also identified seven crashes involving left turns at the driveway. The planning board had unanimously recommended approval with landscaping and patio changes to replace excess parking spaces. Board members were skeptical that the proposed island, delineators, and signs would deter illegal left turns, and asked for a street-view rendering and a revised plan narrowing the entrance as much as possible. A filing-date issue was raised: the application was filed on April 24, 2026, after the CL zoning regulations took effect on April 13, 2026, so the new regulations may apply; the applicant agreed to provide a memo. The hearing was continued to October 26, 2026. - Application 226-14 (CD district text change to CMC): Staff presented changes to add townhouse provisions, design standards, and rename the district to Commercial and Mixed-Use Campus District. The purpose was to encourage homeownership opportunities in former office-park districts along Long Ridge and High Ridge Roads. Discussion included whether 30% building coverage was enough, the proposed 2,000 residential density divider for townhouses, and whether detached cluster homes should be included. The public hearing was closed without a vote. - Applications 226-24 and 226-23 (CSC text change and map change): Staff proposed deleting the obsolete CSC district and rezoning the city's only CSC-D district plus an adjoining CN parcel, including properties at 2215 Summer Street and 2510 Bedford Street, to CL. Staff stated the change would not create new nonconformities and would simplify the zoning code. The hearings were closed without a vote. - Applications 226-26 and 226-25 (MD text change and map change): These would delete the MD district and rezone the city's only MD districts to ML and R5 at 80 Brownhouse Road, 328 Selleck Street, and 1 and 202 Blatchley Road. They were continued to October 26, 2026, because of the related ML text change. - Application 226-28 (coastal site plan review text change): Staff explained that Public Act 25-33 removes the exemption for new single-family home construction outside designated flood hazard areas from coastal site plan review. The amendment also refines exemption criteria and removes duplicative language, generally exempting internal work that does not expand the building footprint. A 25% building-coverage threshold and a 2,500-square-foot floor-area threshold remain for flood hazard areas. Staff estimated the change would produce fewer coastal site plan review applications. The hearing was closed without a vote. - Regular-meeting text approvals: - 226-15: Approved a cleanup text change covering ZBA notice requirements, restoration of ZBA authority over gas station and dealer/repairer location approvals, staff approvals for minor changes, temporary-structure permits, transfer of development rights, public amenity and restroom requirements, community rooms counting twice, and increasing fee-in-lieu payments from $150 to $200 in the CD, R5, RM1, and RMF districts. - 226-16: Approved the CN Neighborhood Commercial District regulation overhaul, adding designation criteria, purpose statements, urban design standards, review procedures, a nonconformity continuation statement, commercial street designations, and large-site review triggers. - 226-21: Approved the map change rezoning the city's only BD district to CN. - 226-22: Approved the text change deleting the BD district regulations and updating references. Key Outcomes - Continued to the next meeting on October 26, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom: applications 226-27, 226-20, 226-09, 226-10, 226-26, and 226-25. - Public hearings closed, with action scheduled for the next meeting: applications 226-14, 226-23, 226-24, and 226-28. - Approved unanimously by voice vote: minutes of September 28, 2026; application 226-15; application 226-16; application 226-21; application 226-22; and the two time extensions. The Long Ridge Road extension passed 5-0. - The board anticipated a new public hearing on October 26, 2026, for a map change at 410 High Ridge Road from RM1 to CL, described as the parking lot north of Whole Foods; no development proposal is pending for that site yet.

The Transportation Committee of the Stamford Board of Representatives met remotely on Monday, October 19, 2026, from 6:31 p.m. to 7:51 p.m. Chair Jeff Wirz presided, with Vice Chair Scott Stone and Reps. Adams, Hughes, Pelliccia, Sandford, Shore, and Weathers present; Rep. Gilbride was excused. Also attending were Reps. Camporeale, McKeown, Pollack, Price, and President Shaw, along with Director of Operations Matthew Quiñones, Senior Transportation Planner Luke Buttenwieser, Director of Transportation Thomas Turk, and Assistant Corporation Counsel Chris Dellaselva. The committee approved a parking lot lease and reviewed the city’s Road Restoration Program. Parking Lot Lease Agreement (Item T32.007) - The committee voted 8-0-0 to suspend its rules and take this item out of order. - Director Quiñones presented a long-term parking lot lease between the City of Stamford and St. Leo Roman Catholic Church at 24 Roxbury Road. The lease supports off-site student parking during the West Hill High School construction project. Instead of monthly rent, the city would provide snow removal services, not to exceed $10,000 annually, and pave an agreed portion of the lot when the project is completed. - The minutes identify the church as St. Leo; the raw transcript transcribes the name as St. Louis. - The lease had previously been approved by the Planning Board 5-0-0 on September 22, 2026, and by the Board of Finance 6-0-0 on October 6, 2026. - The committee approved the lease 8-0-0. Road Restoration Program Review (Item T32.006) - The item was a review of the August 14, 2026 Office of Operations memorandum titled “Stamford Road Restoration Program, Recent History, Policy Evolution, and Future Strategy.” - Director Quiñones said the administration made road paving a priority starting in 2022, doubled the number of roads paved that year to about 75 through increased funding, and changed utility coordination policy so the city could pave curb-to-curb in more locations. - A citywide road assessment created a prioritized top 200 list, split into first 100 and 101-200. Before working through that list, the city honored roughly 40-plus road commitments made by the prior administration. - The 2023 road condition survey found 81% of Stamford roads unsatisfactory. The next citywide survey is planned for 2028. - Director Quiñones recommended $8 million to $12 million in annual city bond funding for road restoration, out of roughly $30 million to $36 million in annual city bonding. He said the city could handle up to about $15 million without major staffing changes. - The administration proposed a tiered program for unaccepted roads after inspecting all of them, but the funding for the tier-one focus area was not secured in the current budget. Committee Discussion - Rep. Shore asked about bicycle accommodations during repaving. Senior Planner Buttenwieser said paving projects are treated holistically and include drainage, curbs, sidewalks, and, where appropriate, bicycle infrastructure from the bike/pedestrian plan. - Vice Chair Stone asked how representatives can inform constituents about paving plans. Director Quiñones described the online road-paving tracker as fairly new and welcomed feedback. He acknowledged that many residents are on unsatisfactory roads and said the challenge is communicating the scale of the need. - Rep. Weathers asked whether asphalt is the best material and whether high-traffic roads have a guaranteed repaving cycle. Director Turk said concrete is stronger but far more expensive and impractical for city streets, and that a concrete program would complete far fewer roads. There is no set cycle; road surveys, about every five years, identify needs. Weathers also asked whether unpaved planned roads roll over; Turk confirmed that once a road is on the list, it stays on the list until completed. - Rep. Camporeale asked about state aid. Staff noted the state municipal roadway paving grant provides about $1 million per year to Stamford. She also raised constituent complaints about utility company communication, including a Vine Road meeting notice left in mailboxes the day of the meeting. Director Quiñones acknowledged the challenge and said a citywide utility audit was underway. - Rep. Pelliccia asked about funding realism, full-depth reconstruction, road-score reevaluations, and unaccepted roads. Director Quiñones said the 15-year projection was a high-level estimate and that additional funding would be welcomed. He noted the assessment removed traffic from the prioritization formula. On unaccepted roads, he suggested a joint Board of Representatives/Board of Finance discussion. Pelliccia also suggested annual performance reporting, such as roads completed, miles paved, dollars spent, and cost per mile. - Chair Wirz asked about staffing, contractors, and the paving calendar. Director Turk said internal staffing was being strengthened and the city uses a main paving contractor with multiple crews, plus separate contractors for drainage assessment, surveying, and striping. The paving season generally runs from April 1 through late October, with drainage work done in winter months. - Vice Chair Stone asked about oil-price volatility. Director Turk said multiyear contracts with one-year terms and two one-year extensions help shield the city; the next paving contract bid is expected within eight to ten months. Director Quiñones added that the purchasing ordinance was being reviewed. - Chair Wirz asked how many roads would be completed in calendar year 2026. Staff estimated the number would be in the 40s, partly because full-depth reconstructions take longer and cost more. - Regarding the online tracker, staff said it is updated roughly monthly based on contractor invoices, with “planned” indicating the remaining top 200 roads and “in progress” identifying the current season’s grouping. A 2027 paving season grouping had not yet been set. Key Outcomes - Approved the St. Leo parking lot lease agreement 8-0-0. - Received and discussed the Road Restoration Program review; no formal vote was taken on the review item. - Possible next steps identified: a joint discussion with the Board of Finance about unaccepted roads, possible annual performance reporting to the boards, continued updates to the online paving tracker, and a future paving contract bid within the next eight to ten months. - Chair Wirz adjourned the meeting at 7:51 p.m.

The Personnel Committee of the Board of Representatives met on October 19, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. to consider a single agenda item, Approval P32.016, a three-year agreement with Concentra for occupational health and random drug testing services. Chair Carl Weinberg presided, and the meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Discussion Items - Item P32.016: Agreement with Concentra – Director of Human Resources Paula Russell presented the proposed contract, which was previously approved unanimously by the Board of Finance on March 12, 2026. The contract includes a standard three-year term with options for two additional one-year extensions. - Procurement and Selection: The city conducted a competitive RFP process, receiving six proposals and interviewing three finalists: Concentra, Hartford Healthcare, and Yale New Haven Health. Concentra was selected for providing the best overall value, offering comprehensive services including pre-employment physicals, drug and alcohol testing, fitness for duty evaluations, return to work evaluations, and annual firefighter physicals. - Financing: Historical expenditures for the services in FY 2025-2026 were approximately $144,000. The current budget for the HR professional medicine account is $63,000, with a total budget request for the relevant line items of $186,900 and current allocated funding at $125,000. Director Russell stated there was no anticipated shortfall. - Firefighter Coverage: The city employs 170 firefighters and 59 fire captains and lieutenants. Annual physicals mandated by NFPA standards are a primary cost driver, conducted over a three-month period to manage operational impact. Concentra has 11 locations in Connecticut, including one in Stamford. Volunteer firefighters, while held to the same physical standards, are not covered under this contract and manage their own costs. - Police Department: Occupational health services for the police department, including steroid testing for recertification, are managed separately through Greenwich Occupational Health (Yale New Haven Health), a contract handled by the HR liaison for the police department. - Contract Term and Extensions: Representative de la Cruz raised concerns about the five-year potential duration (three years plus two one-year extensions) without requiring further BOR approval. Attorney Liz Turner clarified that extensions would only require a return to the Board of Representatives if they caused the contract value to exceed $100,000, as stipulated by the city charter. - Safeguards and Employee Options: Vice Chair Pavia asked about safeguards against false positive drug tests and the termination for convenience clause. Director Russell noted the fire contract includes a detailed City of Stamford Drug and Alcohol Policy appendix outlining procedures for various violation categories. Representative Pollack asked if employees could use a third-party vendor for drug tests at their own expense; Director Russell confirmed employees are required to use the city's vendor to ensure results are received and this alternative is not offered. Representative Hill confirmed drug testing occurs annually. - Contract Negotiations: Representative Hill inquired about exceptions requested by Concentra in the contract. Attorney Turner confirmed that while Concentra initially requested the removal of the city's standard indemnification language, the final contract contains the city's standard, broad indemnification clause favorable to the city. Key Outcomes - Vote: The committee voted unanimously to approve Item P32.016, the agreement with Concentra for occupational health and random drug testing. The motion passed by a voice vote of 7-0-0, with Chair Weinberg, Vice Chair Pavia, and Representatives de la Cruz, Gross, Hill, Pollack, and Salas voting in favor.

Date Discrepancy Note: The agenda and transcript for this meeting indicate it occurred on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The user instructions specify the date as October 14, 2026. The proceedings described below took place on the evening of October 13, 2026. The Stamford Planning Board convened a public meeting to approve prior meeting minutes, authorize a concession license, and hear capital budget presentations from nine city departments and community organizations for the upcoming fiscal year. Consent Calendar - Minutes of October 6, 2026: The Board unanimously approved the minutes from the previous capital budget presentation meeting. Licenses and Authorizations - Snack Isle LLC Concession Agreement (77 Buckingham Drive): The Board unanimously approved a three-year License and Operating Agreement for the management of concessions at Terry Conners Rink. The agreement features escalating fees ($9,000 in Years 1 and 2, $10,000 in Year 3, with 3% annual increases thereafter). Capital Budget Discussion Items Office of Administration – Technology (Prasant Tangirala) - Request: $1,432,000 for nine technology items. - Position: Tangirala advocated for full funding, emphasizing the data warehouse’s role in public transparency (e.g., Vision Zero crash data, permitting delays) and the health imperative of the IT floor modernization. He stated that partial funding would force a calculated increase in enterprise risk tolerance. - Key Details: Network switch replacements ($50k), UPS batteries ($23,750), Wi-Fi upgrades ($54k), computer replacements ($205k, noting 30% cost escalation due to tariffs), fiber migration from leased to city-owned ($200k, saving 20% annually), security cameras ($100k for analytics), and a citywide data warehouse project ($150–175k). The IT floor modernization item was moved to the Government Center Renovations account. Bartlett Arboretum (Tracy Kay) - Request: $2.35 million for a horticultural complex (greenhouse/conservatory/pavilion) and $300,000 for maintenance building upgrades. - Position: Kay expressed that the project is stuck in a cycle of partial funding and inflation, making full funding critical to utilizing a $500,000 state grant set to expire in June 2029. She stressed the facility is a 91-acre free public asset managed by her organization. - Key Details: Original project estimate was $4.1 million; current estimate is $6.5 million. Board member Ravi recommended the request be broken down into explicit priority phases (e.g., stormwater management is mandatory) to improve its success in later approval stages. Kay clarified the pavilion is designed for community programming, not private catering. Ferguson Library (Alice Knapp) - Request: Emergency HVAC replacement for the Harry Bennett Branch and $705,000 for short-term IT needs. - Position: Knapp positioned the Harry Bennett HVAC failure as a top emergency, warning that without immediate funding, the branch—a critical city cooling and warming center—faces a multi-month closure. - Key Details: The IT request covers self-checkout machines, firewalls, and security cameras across all branches. The current capital balance will be fully consumed by these urgent upgrades. The library’s foundation is funding the children’s room renovation separately. Charter Oak Communities – Post House (Natalie Coard) - Request: $50,000 to replace five aging heat pump systems in the common areas. - Context: Post House is a 60-unit affordable housing property serving seniors, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable adults. The common areas serve as cooling centers. Stamford Center for the Arts – Palace Theater (Randy Thomas) - Request: Funding for exterior wall repointing/waterproofing and evaluation of the century-old plumbing system. - Context: The venue serves 75,000 annual guests. Pipe bursts have caused damage to historical stock. Thomas noted the theater invested $50,000 of its own funds in emergency repairs this past summer. Stamford Historical Society (Michael Macari, Jr. / Nancy Ornsby) - Request: Approximately $470,000, with $95,000 allocated for hazmat abatement (lead paint, asbestos, VAT). - Position: Macari and staff member Nancy Ornsby stressed that basement waterproofing is the top priority, as water infiltration is actively causing mold and loss of historical artifacts (paper, fabric, photos). - Context: The facility houses 35,000 artifacts, serves 3,000 students annually, and operates out of a century-old building. The hazmat items were discussed as logical deferrals to reduce the current ask, though the Board noted the cost of abatement will escalate regardless. Stamford Museum & Nature Center (Bill Brucker) - Request: $250,000 to repave 75,000 square feet of the lower campus (entry drive and preschool parking lot). - Position: Brucker presented the project as an immediate safety and accessibility imperative, noting it is shovel-ready and will address tripping hazards, potholes, and stormwater pooling. - Key Details: The campus hosts 125,000 annual visitors, including a preschool program. Brucker noted that partial funding would allow work on the most critical areas but would be less cost-effective than a single mobilization. Liberation Programs, Inc. (John Hamilton) - Request: $253,731.54 for a new elevator in a five-story building. - Position: Hamilton framed the elevator as an indispensable part of the recovery environment and ADA compliance, noting the current breakdowns are a daily hardship for clients and staff. - Key Details: The elevator is the only vertical transport in the building, which houses 64 men in a residential treatment program. The project is part of a braided funding strategy including a $3 million federal grant. Services will continue during construction. Stamford Police Athletic League (PAL) (Latisha Williams) - Request: $150,000 to replace the gymnasium floor. - Position: Williams stated the floor is a safety hazard, having forced the suspension of facility rentals and community programs. Replacing it will restore a free, safe space for youth and allow the organization to resume revenue-generating rentals. - Key Details: The floor is bubbling and lifting. Board member Chet Sandler noted the pattern suggests potential vinyl asbestos tile (VAT), adding urgency to the project. Encapsulation is the planned abatement method. Key Outcomes - Approved: Minutes of October 6, 2026 (unanimous). Snack Isle LLC Concession Agreement (unanimous). - Capital Budget Deliberations: The Board completed all scheduled presentations. Pre-public departmental vetting continues. - Next Steps: The Planning Board will reconvene for further capital budget discussions on October 27, November 4 (Wednesday, adjusted from Election Day), and November 10, 2026. Additional items deferred from the current agenda will be addressed on November 4.

The Steering Committee of the 32nd Board of Representatives of the City of Stamford met remotely on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, from 7:01 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. President Shaw chaired, and a quorum was present; Rep. Johnson was excused. No honorary resolutions were submitted. The committee set the agenda for the Board's regular meeting on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, by placing standing-committee items on it and confirming October standing-committee meeting schedules. All agenda-placement motions were approved by unanimous voice vote unless noted. (The transcript refers to 'Monday, October 13th,' but the recorded meeting date is Tuesday, October 13, 2026.) Consent Calendar - Appointments Committee (Oct. 28, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Democratic Caucus Room and webinar): placed nine appointments on the November agenda, including William Morris (Zoning Board, reappointment), Isobel Bonar, Stuart Adelberg, and Susan Johnson (Personnel Commission), Melissa Fay (Patriotic and Special Events Commission), Michael Miller and Duffy Sasser (Stamford Golf Authority), Izabella Parillo (Zoning Board of Appeals alternate), and Enton Nikaj (Zoning Board of Appeals). Nikaj was not re-interviewed because he had recently interviewed for an alternate seat. Melissa Fay's term expires Dec. 1, 2026, because the appointment fills a vacancy. - Fiscal Committee (Oct. 26, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Democratic Caucus Room and webinar): placed six items, including F32.092, the Graviton Consulting Services Oracle Cloud ERP support agreement; F32.126, $150,000 for traffic signal improvements on Long Ridge Road at 120 Long Ridge Road; F32.127, $991,192 for replacing all City parking meters; F32.128, $50,000 for roadway and pedestrian improvements at Bull Head on High Ridge Road/Long Ridge Road; F32.129, $1,000,000 for parking garage capital upgrades; and F32.130, the Municipal Valuations Services LLC citywide property revaluation agreement for Oct. 1, 2027. The capital appropriations had previously been approved by the Planning Board 5-0 and the Board of Finance 6-0. - Legislative and Rules Committee (Oct. 27, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Democratic Caucus Room and webinar): placed LR32.021, a resolution urging the Connecticut General Assembly to enact statewide window safety legislation for children, and LR32.023, an ordinance for publication establishing an urban grocery store development district. Chair McKeown declared a potential conflict on LR32.023 and did not participate in that vote; Vice Chair Camporeale moved the item, and McKeown asked that his absence be recorded. - Personnel Committee (Oct. 19, 2026, 7:00 p.m., Democratic Caucus Room and webinar): placed P32.016, an agreement with Concentra for occupational health and random drug testing. - Land Use and Urban Redevelopment Committee: no items were submitted, so the committee will not meet in October. - Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee (Oct. 22, 2026, 7:00 p.m., webinar): placed OPR32.018 and OPR32.019, approving cost-recovery fee models for electric vehicle chargers at the Bell Street Garage and Government Center Garage with public hearings, and OPR32.020, a review of the noise ordinance. - Public Safety and Health Committee (Oct. 29, 2026, 6:30 p.m., webinar): placed PS32.010, review of blighted property procedures; PS32.014, overview of e-bike laws and regulations and Stamford Police enforcement; and PS32.015, review of the Stamford air quality monitoring program. Chair Bouchard noted the blighted-property review was being resubmitted and an administration representative had not been able to attend previously. - C.H.E.S.S. Committee (Oct. 20, 2026, 6:30 p.m., Democratic Caucus Room and webinar): placed CHESS32.024, an ordinance for public hearing and final adoption amending Section 146 Article VI of the Code of Ordinances (Stamford Housing Affordable Trust Fund), and CHESS32.025, a proposed rejection of a $1,500,000 allocation to Southfield Village Limited Partnership (Beacon Communities LLC) to rehabilitate and preserve 315 units of mixed-income housing at Southwood Square Apartments. - Transportation Committee (special meeting Oct. 19, 2026, 6:30 p.m., webinar): placed T32.006, a review of the Stamford Road Restoration Program, and T32.007, a parking lot lease agreement with St. Leo Roman Catholic Church at 24 Roxbury Road. The initially misspoken meeting date, Oct. 9, was corrected to Oct. 19 for the record. - Minutes: Approval of the Oct. 5, 2026 Regular Board Meeting minutes was placed on the November agenda. Public Comments & Testimony No members of the public addressed the committee during the public participation session. Discussion Items - For OPR32.020, Chair Sandford explained that the committee will review the existing noise ordinance and may suggest a revision based on feedback from the administration and community. Parliamentarian McKeown recommended updating the item description to cite the ordinance's chapter/section, and Sandford agreed to provide that information after the meeting. Vice Chair Camporeale expressed support for making the item title reflect the potential for an ordinance revision. Sandford said the review is comprehensive, including issues such as construction start times and quiet hours, and was prompted by several incidents rather than a single event. - On appointments item A32.066 (William Morris, Zoning Board), a committee member noted receiving a late-arriving letter from Dave Adams and said it would be discussed later; no action was taken on the letter. - President Shaw made three calls for any member to move an item off the Pending Agenda; none was made. Key Outcomes - All standing-committee agenda items were placed on the Nov. 4, 2026 Regular Board meeting agenda by voice vote. LR32.023 was placed with Chair McKeown recused because of a declared potential conflict. - The Board office will update the OPR32.020 item description with the noise ordinance chapter/section information. - All Pending Agenda items remain on the Pending Agenda, including F32.043, F32.087, LR32.011, LR32.014, OPR32.004, OPR32.005, OPR32.007, OPR32.017, CHESS32.008, CHESS32.009, and CHESS32.010. - The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

This was the first in a series of capital budget presentations for the FY 2027-28 budget cycle. The board reviewed requests from public safety, emergency communications, fire, and municipal departments. The total bond cap available is approximately $33 million, constrained by prior commitments to school construction. The meeting was originally noticed for October 6, 2026 (as per the agenda and transcript) but the instruction for this summary specifies October 7, 2026. Consent Calendar - Approval of September 22, 2026 Planning Board Minutes: Moved by Ravi, seconded, and passed unanimously. Discussion Items Police Department – Captain Scott Duckworth - Police Range Infrastructure Improvements: Request to extend steel plating and replace outdated range electronics. Previously approved $800,000–$825,000, with $425,000 spent. The current request amount was not explicitly stated; board member Jeremy suggested exploring operational funds to reduce the ask. - Specialty Police Vehicles – Command Truck: Joint PD/fire command vehicle, total cost $875,000–$900,000. The city already holds $400,000 from prior appropriations; an additional $450,000 is requested to replace a 20-year-old vehicle. Costs have escalated 10% per year. Duckworth noted the vehicle is critical for major incidents and events. Board members recommended providing cost comparisons of ongoing repairs and noting the 20-month delivery delay is not expected. Office of Public Safety, Health & Welfare – Director Louis DeRubeis - Blue Light Emergency Call Box Program: Request of $350,000 for 8 new locations (Schofield Park, Mill River Park, Bakutse Park, Cummings Park, West Beach, Chestnut Hill Park, Leone Park). Current system handles over 120 calls/year (60% medical, 40% law enforcement). DeRubeis emphasized these are needed in areas without cell service. Board discussed phasing and master planning. - Public Safety Equipment (Citywide): $425,000 total for five sub-items: 1. Citywide camera program for sensitive locations and coastline ($125,000). 2. Drone as First Responder (DFR) expansion ($95,000) – 800+ deployments in first year, pilot funded previously. 3. Generator for public safety facilities (no separately listed amount). 4. Medical trauma kits and fire hose/ladder replacement. DeRubeis prioritized life safety items (kits, hoses) as top. The account is ongoing; current balance $430,000 expected to drop to $20,000 by January. - Public Safety Vehicle Replacement: Request $1.88 million to replace 20 police vehicles, 3 fire marshal vehicles, 2 motorcycles (at $40,000 each), and a fuel truck for the fire department. Current fund balance $750,000 will buy 7–8 cars. Board noted the police fleet rotation goal is 20 vehicles/year, but only 10–12 have been funded recently. - Public Safety Complex: Not submitted this year; mayor directed resubmission at a later date. Emergency Communications Center – Director Brian Faughan - Citywide Radio Replacement and Upgrade (Phase 2): Request $2 million to outfit police mobile radios with TDMA capability, replace fire department repeaters, and license all radios for state interoperability and AES encryption. Motorola’s end-of-life is 2032; total project cost estimated at $12–$20 million. Phase 1 (portable radios) and fire mobiles already done. Board encouraged phasing and providing cost escalation details (repeater costs up 30% in 7 months). - Network Communications Equipment (Modems): Replace LTE modems with 5G units for police/fire vehicles to improve GPS tracking (AVL). No specific request amount; Faughan indicated cost $1,500–$1,800 per unit. Board asked for phasing options. - Generator Replacement for 911 Center: Replace two aging generators with one 200 kW generator to ensure 96-hour continuous power. No specific dollar amount given; Faughan noted a single bid will be required. The generators failed during a test, causing temperature spikes threatening servers. Stamford Fire Department – Chief Robert Morris - Firefighter Gear (Annual): $243,000 for 54 sets (mandated by collective bargaining). Current funds are being expended. - Hydrant Replacement: $250,000. Hydrant costs have nearly tripled (from $2,000 to $6,000 each). Prior bulk purchase used up; ongoing replacement program. - Air Cylinder Replacement: $60,000 for 30 cylinders (15-year lifespan replacement cycle). - Fire Apparatus – Tanker: New 1,500-gallon tanker to replace a 40-year-old 500-gallon unit. Request amount not specified; last year’s plan involved a $400,000 private contribution from Turn of River, but this year the city would own the asset. Chair suggested it may approach a mandated safety replacement. - Lean-to Structure: $100,000 for a 40’x40’ cover over shipping containers to protect apparatus from weather. Price has not increased. Board asked about width vs. depth and confirmed design. Office of Administration – Director Anthony Romano (new to role) - Acquisition and Disposition of Property: $50,000 as cap non-recurrent funds for appraisals, surveys, title searches (e.g., for municipal waterfront access identification). Board member Ravi questioned whether this could be covered by operating budget; Romano explained it is funded from operating surplus. No current projects. Town Clerk – David Hoak - Land Records Backfile Conversion (Year 3): $99,715 to digitize 269,500 pages (769 volumes) at $0.37/page. This multi-year project now covers back to 1983. Year 1 (to 1992) is underway; Year 2 (to 1987) will be funded through restricted revenue. One more annual request will reach 1976. Benefits include preservation, public access, and revenue generation. Other Items - Office of Administration – Technology (Prasant Tangirala): Not present; presentation postponed to a future meeting. Key Outcomes - No votes were taken on any capital budget requests; this session was solely presentations and discussion. - Board members consistently asked for phasing options, cost escalation evidence, and comparisons of ongoing maintenance costs to support funding decisions. - The public safety complex request was withdrawn per mayoral directive. - The Chief Information Officer’s presentation was postponed. - The board will continue capital budget hearings on October 13 and October 27, 2026.

The regular meeting of the Stamford Board of Representatives was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on October 6, 2026, with 37 members present (three absent). The meeting included public comment, committee reports, and approvals of several items. The meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m. Consent Calendar - Appointments Committee (Items A32.063–A32.068): Approved unanimously the appointments of Alan De Luca (citation officer), Patrick Blessinger (Environmental Protection Board alternate), Brendan Leighton (Patriotic and Special Events Commission), Jenny Johnson (Zoning Board alternate), and Peter Janoff (Planning Board alternate). - Fiscal Committee (Items F32.092, F32.108–F32.125, excluding F32.117): Approved unanimously, including funding for police walking patrols and life-saving kits ($52,890 via Justice Assistance Grant), traffic/road maintenance funding changes, Leone Park and Scalzi Park tennis court projects, Cove Island Park tennis court reconstruction, Glenbrook Community Center flood repairs ($2.5 million), indoor air quality projects, fire training grants, website redesign agreement, and a feasibility project with the Connecticut Port Authority. Item F32.117 (rejection of capital project closures) was not approved (failed). - Legislative and Rules Committee (LR32.024): Approved unanimously a resolution authorizing a lease with Domus Kids Inc. for the Glenbrook Community Center. Chair McEwen recused himself from this vote. - Operations, Parks and Recreation Committee (OPR32.018 and OPR32.019): Approved unanimously the cost recovery fee models for electric vehicle chargers at the Bell Street Garage and Government Center Garage. - Community Development, Housing, Education, Social Services, State and Commerce Committee (CHESS 32.024): Approved as amended an ordinance amending the Stamford Housing Affordable Trust Fund. Representatives Walston and Zachary abstained. Public Comments & Testimony - Kieran Edmondson (Waterside resident): Urged the board to vote in favor of item F32.108, which provides funding for extra police walking patrols and life-saving anti-choking kits. Expressed strong support for the measure to protect citizens. - Mike Papa (Baldwin Street resident): Raised concerns about city spending priorities, citing a $12 million settlement, tree damage to his truck, unsafe intersections (Irish Road and Oakland Road), and lack of response from the city. Criticized the focus on development over basic safety. - Dave Adams (neighborhood representative): Raised a procedural question regarding the $44 million appropriation for Roxbury school construction, asking for a record of whether the city attorney confirmed the purchasing ordinance exemption. Also urged the board to investigate the history of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund before reorganizing it. Discussion Items - BOE Liaison Report (Rep. LePine): Reported on Superintendent Dr. Talley's Coffee and Conversation series (first event October 1 at Davenport Elementary). Upcoming dates: October 19 (SPS Welcome Center), October 21 (Westover Magnet, in Spanish), November 12 (Rogers International). A panel discussion on education is scheduled for December 3 at the Old Long Ridge Firehouse. - Fiscal Committee (Co-Chair Zachary): Reported 19 items considered. Most were moved to the consent agenda. Item F32.117 (rejection of capital project closures) was not rejected; the motion failed. - Legislative and Rules Committee (Vice Chair Camperelli, substituting for Chair McEwen): Reported three items. LR32.021 (window safety legislation) and LR32.023 (urban grocery store development district) were recommended to steering. LR32.024 (Glenbrook Community Center lease) was approved. - Public Safety and Health Committee (Chair Bouchard): Reported two items. PS32.010 (blighted property procedures) was recommitted due to a missing key invite. PS32.011 (SPD Office of Community Engagement) was reviewed positively. - Transportation Committee (Chair Weirs): Provided updates on Vision Zero road safety campaign, sidewalk repairs in Springdale/east side/Newfield, pedestrian fatality site improvements (Progress Drive, Colonial Road), CT Transit bus shelter replacements, speed safety cameras (14 cameras at 7 schools operational by end of October), Washington Boulevard safety enhancement project (design contract approved July 2026, concepts expected 2027), Eversource transmission line replacement (through 2028), road restoration program memo, and Vision Zero Task Force next meeting October 27 at 10 a.m. - Approval of Minutes: The minutes of the September 8, 2026 regular meeting were approved after a correction regarding the date. Key Outcomes - All consent calendar items were approved unanimously (except as noted). - The fiscal committee rejection item (F32.117) failed; the capital project closures were not rejected. - CHESS 32.024 passed with two abstentions. - LR32.024 (Glenbrook Community Center lease) passed with Chair McEwen recused. - The blighted property procedures item (PS32.010) was recommitted for further discussion. - The next steering committee is October 13, 2026, and the next full board meeting is November 4, 2026.

The Appointments Committee of the Stamford Board of Representatives met on October 1, 2026, to interview and vote on five nominees for various city boards and commissions. All nominees were approved unanimously. Consent Calendar - No consent calendar items were listed or discussed. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comments were made. Discussion Items - Citation Officer (Alan DeLuca): Mr. DeLuca, a retired Stamford police officer of 46 years, described his transition from patrol to abandoned vehicle enforcement and now to part-time security aide for the mayor and citations officer. He explained that citations officers primarily issue warnings, but need sworn status to write citations. He noted that the top complaint is illegal dumping. Committee members praised his service and asked about workload (10–14 hours/week for mayor, 7 hours/week for citations) and the process for enforcing violations. - Environmental Protection Board Alternate (Patrick Blessinger): Mr. Blessinger, a teacher and adjunct professor, moved to Stamford for affordability and safety. He expressed interest in environmental protection. Committee member explained the EPB’s statutory role focuses on wetlands review, while a recent ordinance created a separate Conservation Commission for broader advisory duties. Blessinger indicated he would learn on the job. - Patriotic and Special Events Commission (Brendan Leiden): Mr. Leiden, a veteran and longtime volunteer, was appointed to complete a term. He noted the commission focuses on parades and veteran support. Committee members welcomed his background and teamwork. - Zoning Board Alternate (Jenny Johnson): Ms. Johnson, with a family background in architecture and development, discussed her interest in zoning, sustainability, and community involvement. She emphasized the need for affordable housing and rejected an either/or mentality. Committee members highlighted her potential to bring aesthetic awareness to the board and urged her to consider housing equity. - Planning Board (Peter Janov): Mr. Janov, a former attorney and real estate asset manager, offered broad qualifications. He critiqued the Stamford Town Center as a dead mall and suggested residential redevelopment. He discussed capital budget priorities aligning with the city’s comprehensive plan and stressed leaning on developers for good design. Committee members queried him on UConn’s growth, affordable housing, and pedestrian safety. Key Outcomes - All five nominees were approved unanimously by voice vote: Alan DeLuca (Citation Officer), Patrick Blessinger (EPB alternate), Brendan Leiden (Patriotic and Special Events Commission), Jenny Johnson (Zoning Board alternate), and Peter Janov (Planning Board). - The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 PM.

The Public Safety & Health Committee of the Stamford Board of Representatives met remotely at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Chair Tom Bouchard called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. and adjourned it at 7:09 p.m. The committee reviewed two agenda items: blighted property procedures for the City of Stamford (PS32.010) and the Stamford Police Department Office of Community Engagement (PS32.011). Attendance and Procedural Notes - Chair Bouchard (District 1), Vice Chair Terry Adams, and Representatives Blank, Field, Gilbride, and Walston attended; Representative Ilo was excused; Representative Graham was absent; Representative Morrison was expected to dial in late. - Chair Bouchard noted at the start that only four members were present, below quorum, but the agenda was discussion-focused, so the meeting continued. The official minutes list six members in attendance. - The meeting was held over Zoom (Webinar ID 885 0101 0982). Attorney Vincent Freccia attended for the blighted property item; invited City representative Sean Reed could not attend. Blighted Property Procedures (PS32.010) - This review item was submitted by Rep. Adams on 07/08/2026. The agenda record shows it was previously recommitted to the Steering Committee on 07/30/2026 by a 6-0-0 vote. - Chair Bouchard explained that the item had been carried over from a July meeting that was cut short due to a technical issue, and that Sean Reed was unable to provide the expected critical insight. - A motion to recommit the item to Steering was made, seconded, and approved by a vote of 5-0-0 (Chair Bouchard, Vice Chair Adams, and Reps. Field, Gilbride, and Walston in favor). Stamford Police Department Office of Community Engagement (PS32.011) - This review item was submitted by Rep. Bouchard on 09/10/2026. Capt. Gene Dohmann presented an overview. He said he has served with the Stamford Police Department for 46 years, with earlier assignments in narcotics, West Side district command, patrol, internal affairs, special victims, the youth bureau, and the Behavioral Health Unit. - He stated that his primary focus is safety through relationships. He cited examples: after a pedestrian fatality at Progress Street and Stillwater, he worked with city tree foreman Ron Markey to clear crosswalk markings that had been obscured by trees; on Delaware Avenue behind the Boys and Girls Club, a dedicated towing officer removed abandoned vehicles, with four towed and three more scheduled. - Rep. Adams thanked Dohmann and asked him to look at a food truck near the Stillwater/Merrill Avenue crosswalk that creates a blind spot during afternoon hours; Dohmann agreed to inspect it and speak with the vendor. - Rep. Walston praised Dohmann as a valuable resource and described a constituent whose family member received help through Dohmann's referral to the Behavioral Health Unit. Rep. Adams also recounted a mental health case helped by the Mentor team. - Rep. Fields asked what the Board or committee could do to help Dohmann. Dohmann said it was a unique question and he would think about it and respond. - Rep. Blank, referencing the city's Vision Zero effort and unsafe scooter/delivery riders, asked about a proposed New York City-style ordinance requiring delivery vehicles and scooters to be more visible. Dohmann called the concept a good deterrent but said enforcement is difficult because riders and drivers keep moving and police will not chase them; he recommended traffic squad Sgt. Jeff Booth review any draft ordinance. - Dohmann said community engagement covers the whole city, including schools. He described community policing as central to the department's approach, with staffing currently around 290 officers and a high of about 315; higher staffing would let Chief Shaw assign more officers to dedicated community policing. He also mentioned technology such as cameras, a drone unit, and a fusion center that monitors street and school cameras. - Dohmann highlighted upcoming outreach events, including trunk-or-treat that weekend and a Faith in Blue weekend around October 18-20 at Cove Island Park; he directed members to the PD website for details. - On Rep. Fields' questions about leaf pile fines, heavily tinted windows, and Park Police jurisdiction, Dohmann said police are not typically involved in leaf enforcement and he did not know who issues those fines, offered to discuss it offline, said he would check whether tinted-window summonses have increased, and explained that Park Police operations fall under the Patrol Division rather than his office. Key Outcomes - PS32.010 was recommitted to the Steering Committee by a 5-0-0 vote so the review can be rescheduled when Sean Reed can participate. - PS32.011 was an informational report/review; no vote was taken on it. - The committee voted by voice to conclude the discussion and journal the meeting. - Follow-ups include Dohmann inspecting the food truck blind spot, checking tinted-window enforcement, reviewing a possible scooter/delivery visibility ordinance, and sharing community event information. The committee plans to resume the blighted property discussion at a future meeting.