Daniel Cleary

The session was a public hearing regarding an ordinance authorizing the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices (speed enforcement cameras). Multiple residents provided testimony, expressing both strong support and significant opposition. Supporters emphasized concerns over excessive speeding on Route 161, citing safety risks for residents entering/exiting driveways and pedestrians, suggesting cameras as an efficient and unbiased enforcement tool compared to hiring additional personnel. Opponents raised concerns regarding surveillance capitalism, privacy issues related to data storage and access, the reversal of the burden of proof (guilty until proven innocent), and potential unintended consequences such as increased rear-end collisions due to sudden braking near cameras. One speaker also noted procedural concerns regarding the timing and accessibility of supplementary materials related to the proposal, which mentioned that aggressive driving, rather than speeding alone, might be the more common issue based on other municipal data.

The meeting commenced with a public hearing regarding an amendment to ordinance section 52.21, titled "Various Water Charges." The proposed amendment sought to raise the interest rate on overdue water and sewer fees from 12% to 18%. Presentation materials indicated that the 18% rate had been in effect for approximately two years following an action by the Water and Sewer Commission, which this public hearing and subsequent action aimed to formalize and update the underlying 1979 ordinance. The rationale provided highlighted that the 18% rate aligns with penalties for overdue real estate tax bills and state statutes for overdue accounts. Following the public hearing, the board moved to approve the regular meeting minutes from January 7, 2026, and special meeting minutes from January 13, 2026. The board also approved the consent calendar items for the current date. The session concluded with a motion to enter executive session to discuss pending litigation with the town attorney.

The agenda for this meeting included general matters, committee reports, student reports, and communications reports. Key discussion topics involved unfinished business, specifically the Budget for Fiscal Year 2026, and new business items. The meeting also included a presentation or discussion on the Teen Athlete Mental Health Panel and Teacher Appreciation.

The key topics for discussion at the Board of Directors meeting include the Treasurer's Report and the Coordinator's Report, which will cover updates on eDNA and bacteria monitoring, the Report Card status, and the EnviroScpae update, in addition to reviewing invoices. Old Business involves an update on apparel. Subcommittee updates will be provided for the Monitoring Group and the Education/Outreach Group. New Business focuses on the Dominion Foundation Grant application deadline. The meeting will also include updates from the Eastern CT Watershed Network.

The meeting commenced with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. A significant portion of the meeting involved procedural changes, including motions to add the election of an alternate vote to new business and to move public delegations to occur before the election of officers. The public delegation period featured substantial discussion regarding the perceived conflict of interest for a commission member (Representative Menipes) who also holds a state representative position, especially concerning state-level housing bills (HB502 and HB8002) that impact local zoning control. Following public comments, the commission proceeded with the election of officers, nominating and electing Brian Bombck as Chair and discussing nominations for Vice Chair (Nick Mace and Tim Lucer). Concerns over conflicts of interest related to political affiliations and state legislation were central to the discussions.