Governance, Policy & Economic Development Subcommittee - Regular Meeting

on Monday, July 7th. Welcome to our governance meeting and happy happy summer. Um, we have a full Do we have everybody here? Yeah, we have our a full committee present and accounted for. Thank you all for joining on your busy days. I know some of you have some overlap and conflict, so I definitely appreciate that. Uh, moving into new business. Um, I'll hand it over to the town manager while the town attorney makes herself comfortable at the podium for discussion and possible action regarding moving forward with the implementation of the approved town center plan in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 132 section 8-1 1933 3A acquisition and transfer of real property. A big project that we've all been working on and driving and we are just excited and ready to go um in the last couple of years. And so we're going to kind of get some direction legally and kick it up to essentially the town council for full discussion. Some of it I believe needs to go to executive session due to some pending litigation and other things can be discussed in public. So very very exciting. Mr. Town Manager. Uh yes. Good evening Madame Mayor, good evening council and and citizens of Bloomfield. And uh you wrapped it up well, Madame Mayor. As we all know, the plan is complete and the the town council needs to discuss how the plan will be implemented. Um, so the the process of developing an RFP to work with um GMA, New York needs to be addressed and um and further deliberated at at the next town council meeting. So yes, uh I do u ask that this be elevated to town council for further discussion. Excellent. I move we pass it up to the town council. Moved by council mayor. Is there a second? Second by deputy mayor. Any discussion by members of the committee? Council mccclary.

What are we moving? I'm in transit, but what are we moving? RFP or the implementation? Just the RFP is out of scope for our the council. That's an operational matter. Um I think you missed the beginning. uh discussion and possible action regarding moving forward with the implementation of the approved town center plan in accordance with Connecticut general statutes chapter 132 section 8-193 3A acquisition and transfer of real property I know you have read the uh urban plan um back to front sir so it's really to start kind of the logistics of implementing the town center plan and which has been discussed several times um on the council level as well as in the authorities ority. Is that correct, Mr. Town Manager? That's correct. And so, uh, it's an affirmative or a positive referral to the full body at this point, but if we need to discuss some of it in executive session, Council Mccclary, um, due to pending litigation, and then we need then there's things that we absolutely can discuss in public, which is the full breath of the urban plan. Does that help? Sorry, you're driving. You don't have to unmute. All right. Any other questions or comments by the All the questions question has been called. Thank you, sir. Um, all those in favor, please say I. Sorry. I Okay, council, I think that was an I. All those in favor, please say I. And um, thank you. The mayor votes I. We're kick this up to the full body. Thank you. uh discussion and possible action regarding a tax abatement request for Arbella at Blue Hills. I did have a sidebar with the town manager um earlier today and with uh leadership of the council. Um you know, I want to be very sensored. Thank you so much. I'm I'm assuming you're from Marbella. Thank you so much for coming. Um at this point, I

just want to be very transparent with you. uh you know I cannot support the abatement as it is laid out but we have been in discussions with ways to look for other scenarios or different types of um number crunching um at this point and you know we have just gone through uh a referendum on a budget or reval and we just want to be very sensitive to the full tax base of the town and be sensitive to making sure that we stick to our housing plan all throughout. And so we absolutely are excited that you want to do business in Bloomfield and we want to figure out how to support you as best we can, but it should be fair across the board with uh for all taxpayers as we continuously try to um support our grand list and grow that. Um if Mr. Coleman, we I think we have a couple questions. Some of um my colleagues asked me a couple questions. I could not answer them, sir. So, if you would be helpful, I can kind of triage some of the questions um that I know some of my colleagues have had over the weekend and I just could not answer them. Um and maybe this is a question for you or our our developer and our guest here. Is the development contingent upon a tax abatement? I would have to defer to the developer to answer that question. Okay. All right, sir. Uh yes, it is. It is. Yeah, I have a presentation on my PowerPoint. Can you get to the mic, please, sir? They can hear you. Yes. Uh I'm Jeff Matana with the United Group. I appreciate you uh having us here tonight. Um but yes, uh um at this point um with the bank financing and things challenges that are going on in real estate markets and financial markets, uh we were hoping to be successful with our proposed program here so that our project could go forward. Mhm.

Um I had a PowerPoint to kind of explain the project in detail. If uh if we could go through that, that might be helpful. It might answer a lot of the questions. We did not see that PowerPoint ahead of time. I was not aware that you had a presentation, but I think a part of my recommendation is to kick it over to the finance committee to help figure out if there is a calculation that can be made with our updated policy that works. And so again, this is attached to our tonight's agenda. It's 164 units. That's right. 17 are what we would categorize state of Connecticut affordable. Correct. And so it sounds like the abatement is, you know, it's really the others, the remaining 164 out of the take away the 17, they're categorized as luxury or market rate housing. Market rate. That's right. Right. And when you go to your website, it luxury housing and we know we need senior housing at all levels, which is and it's great. That's right. Um, but it's it's really hard for us to support or for me, I can only speak for myself, I'll let my colleagues chime in, um, an abatement to that level given, you know, the l the amount of luxury homes that we have across town. And so I I think that we need a little more convincing. We've done a little more scenario. We need to just understand what this means for our entire housing plan and not cherrypick where we do this because it is market rate. It is luxury and it's really essentially supporting the banking and your finance piece of it. And we just have to apply that across the board for all taxpayers. And so I think that that is the the action that I would ask for this particular committee to do is kick it back over to our town manager, to the finance department, and to our finance committee. Okay. lay out some scenarios um all the way from a reverse maybe it's a reverse abatement situation or I don't know the proper term I'm sorry where

maybe you phase in 100% of taxes and not in a complete um abatement I don't know what that looks like maybe are you considering upping the 17 to more you know let's talk about the community benefit of affordable housing are you open to that uh and you know just continue the conversation you know and I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear tonight, but I I do thank you. I want to make you this work at some level, but it has to work out for the entire town, sir. Yes, councelor Merritt. I I my understanding was this agreement was going to give us a million dollars in taxes a year. Mhm. Wasn't that about right, just about for the first 10 years? Nine 9 million or for 10 years? Yeah. The the the Gman and York um estimate was $9 million. over 10 years, we'd pay over a million dollars in in fees uh upfront. Um there are a couple things about the project I um that I think are helpful to understand because it is somewhat unique in in several ways and certainly we understand all the challenges that communities face in terms of tax challenges and we certainly have housing shortages in this country. Um something that is unique about how we propose our active adult projects is they are locally focused. We draw residents from that community. So we are freeing up housing stock. Most of our residents will be selling a home. So we're there is a need for single family homes as opposed to other rental projects where maybe someone's coming from another apartment. This helps free up housing in a community. I think this site in particular is is unique and that the uh uh it has been undeveloped for over 50 years because it has challenges largely due to the traffic and where it's located that that intersection at um Cottage Grove Road and Blue Hills Avenue just is it's a it's an F. Um so a lot of uses can't go in this location. Retail uses really don't work. Other commercial uses don't work. So, we

think we're proposing the highest and best use because our residents uh are uh non- peak uh travelers. Uh we have a shuttle. Many of our residents don't have cars. So, we're actually able to create a density and a level of development, over $70 million in development on a site that's otherwise really not developable. And we think that over time it really creates much more tax revenue. So, we actually think we're part of the solution as opposed to being another um uh whatever luxury project. We do think it it is mid-market. I know that senior housing is more expensive. We're actually much less expensive than than independent living and other forms of senior housing. anyone that's been in that situation of either themselves or a parent uh trying to find alternatives, I think folks find that our um uh our type housing is is uh really works really well. So I think in terms of the um economic benefit the project provides, the jobs we create, uh the tax revenue we will be paying. So I think the the current taxes on this on this vacant lot are like $12,000 a year. Um so over 10 years we're uh the goman and York proposal uh uh their estimate is it's over $9 million. So otherwise this site doesn't get developed um because uh the owner had it there for many years um I think in terms of providing senior housing uh in times in terms of generating new housing or I'm sorry breathing home sales in the market and um the other benefits that we have in terms of development. Um, we'd like to suggest that we're part of the solution. I I I agree and and we want to make sure that again we we crunch every corner. We crunch the numbers. Maybe the state has a a housing grant that they want to

throw away to do some transit oriented housing for this purpose. Um, and I would love for this finance committee to again crunch some scenarios for us to further consider and continue the conversations with you. And so at this time, I'll make a motion to provide um to kick this item over to the finance committee um to further discuss provide direction with the finance department, planning department, uh our town manager, and continue the conversations to see, you know, how and if there's a pathway forward on this one. Is there a second? Are you committed? Are you Oh, yeah. And then um if yes in the presentation I would think that the finance committee and the staff would want to see that ahead of time. Council mcclary is so the there's a motion by the mayor seconded by councelor mayor. We'll move into more discussion. Councelor mccclary and he's our finance chair as well. Thank you so much madame mayor. Can you guys hear me? Yeah you're coming across kind of muffled but we can hear you. Okay. Sorry about that. I'm in transit. Um, I have a few questions that I would like to just uh help the the gentlemen and maybe staff be prepared for at the finance committee. Um, if they could just tell us the total capital stack, how much is equity versus debt versus the public subsidy? Uh, could you talk to me about uh tax the is the tax abatement necessary to proceed with this project? Um, is it feasible without it? Uh, what is the specific value and structure for the abatement? uh obviously you know I'm asking for 10 years so I want to see that uh can you include the expected uh return on investment for yourself um without the tax baitment with the tax abatement um from a cost benefit analysis perspective can you tell me what the net present value um of the public benefit compared to u what you're going to get for a tax revenue um can you give me some assumptions on

the job creation the number of jobs the income level um property value growth opportunities. I'm happy to put all of this in a uh in the email. Uh but I agree with the mayor that we had a very contentious um budget referendum and revile and we've seen um that the commercial uh properties have made a shift of 4% uh to residential. And so I don't think we're in a position right now um as this proposal stands to give an abatement. So, if you could come to the finance committee um ready and prepared. I'm happy to put the rest of my questions um in the email. There's like 13 other questions that I have. Um are you open to um what is the cost per unit um to build um for your um your market rate versus your affordable housing? are you interested in for each additional um affordable housing unit for tax abatement subsidies for each uh unit for affordable housing that you create? Um yeah, I'd like to see the financials for the project if possible. Um and so happy to have discussions or um a meeting after after this with the town finance department um and John and yourself to figure out how we can uh potentially make this work for the whole community um and not just uh the developer. So thank you so much uh and I look forward to um um uh hearing your presentation at the next finance committee. Okay, great. Yeah, those are all obviously questions that we, you know, expect and be prepared to answer and if we could get those in writing, we can be well prepared uh for that finance committee meeting and and broach it at that time. No, sounds good. And we'll sum that up pretty nicely. Some of the questions, council mcclair, are enclosed in tonight's packet. Deputy mayor, did you

have a question or a comment? Just a just a comment. I want to I want to thank you for uh making the proposal. I think uh we have to in our own due diligence make sure that it's right for us at this particular time. We've had several other developments and I'm not blaming anyone for the manner in which they were developed. It's just that now it's crunch time and we really have to make sure we're getting the biggest bang for the buck. So, our focus right now is getting our affordable housing levels up to 11 12%. Um, I think your proposal was like maybe 9.7 like 9.7. Um, we just want to make sure that a we can get the most uh affordable housing units there. Maybe there's a possibility of increasing, maybe not, but we just want to make sure that we analyze all of it so we can speak with you with some degree of common sense and make sure that we're doing the best for for the community. So, I just want you to know that we're happy that this proposal is coming to us and that we will do everything that we can to make sure that uh you come out right and we come out right so we can talk to our residents and let them know that we've made the best possible deal. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Like I said, we we feel like we should be part of the solution for the town. And um you know, again, just the affordable units are dispersed all throughout the community, so there's no difference between um any type any unit type. So, it's it's a nice community. They're the some excellent services. I look forward to explaining to you quality of life the residents have. Uh and it really would be great for Bloomfield residents. U we've um you know, there's all of us

face challenges as right now like you do. uh we do as well. There isn't a lot of developments going on. Interest rates were supposed to be coming down. They're not caught gone up and uh all of us are just trying to solve the same thing. So sort of these public private uh partnerships I think is how good development can really happen. So I appreciate your comments and forward to talking to you all in a couple of weeks. Great. Thank you so much for coming. Um I will go ahead and call the question to kick it over to finance with the uh details that we discussed. All those in favor please say I. I any opposed? Any abstensions? Thank you, councelor Coop and councelor mccclary. All right, moving into our the mayor votes I. Motion passes. Sorry about that. Moving into discussion and possible action regarding the artificial turf resolution. We do have the chair of the CEC. I wasn't sure if your communications meant presentation or not. Okay. Yes, ma'am. Good evening. Uh Paula Jones, Five Bear Ridge Drive. As the mayor mentioned, I am the chair of the Conservation, Energy, and Environment Committee. Um I really appreciate the opportunity to say a few words tonight. I don't have a presentation. Um, I learned happily that the two resolutions that the CC had recommended were on the agenda tonight. I learned about that on Thursday. Um, and so there really wasn't time to put a presentation together, but I did send the committee members um, an email today just to provide you with some context. And um if you'll just sort of go along for a few minutes, I'll just at least give you that context for this resolution and then hopefully the next one on the agenda. Um so in back in February at its CC

meeting, the committee voted unanimously to recommend um two resolutions to the council. One resolution being banning artificial turf in town. Um, just to give you a little bit of context again, we have focused on both the negative health and environmental aspects of artificial turf for several years. Um, in early 2023, we actually presented a webinar titled healthy turf, healthy citizens. Um, we partnered with the Bloomfield Public Library to do that and we had two panelists. um one a neuroscientist Sarah Evans a PhD and a master of public health from the icon school of medicine at Mount Si and we also had Adam Annulitz who is the park environmental specialist for the city of Springfield Massachusetts Dr. Evans talked about pediatric health research findings regarding children's exposure to artificial turf fields and Mr. Anulowitz is responsible for the maintenance of Springfield's recreational fields and he talked about his overall positive experience working with natural turf. Um so that was two years ago basically. Um, we brought it up again in February and kind of paid attention more attention to it because artificial news or artificial turf hit the local news last December because Weathersfield residents voted 5 to1 against a proposed artificial turf in Milwoods Park. It's come up again um most recently in Norwok where um a ba baseball youth league was advocating for installation of an artificial turf field at its baseball

fields complex. Um it's on it's on a river which is problematic. And so last month, actually about a week ago, two weeks ago maybe, um Norwok's common council backed the decision of its wreck and parks committee by rejecting artificial turf and moving ahead in favor of clay and natural grass for the new installation. And there was a big project associated with it with grant money. So they're moving ahead. Um the public health and environmental concerns that that residents in these towns have been raising are shared by the CEC. Um here's a sample of the public health considerations. Exposure to microlastics or I mean you're you're literally playing on plastic. That's what the grass blades are. Um there's pawas in the plastic. um and from a couple different sources. Um artificial turf fields emit CO2. You know, one of the things we're trying to do in town in terms of our um energy plan is cut emissions of CO2. They're also heat islands. the the surface temperature above an artificial turf field on average is about 50 degrees higher than the temperature of the field itself. And so you can get temperatures in up to about 160 degrees. I mean, just think of the heat wave we had a few weeks ago where we had a chemical drum explosion in Bloomfield. So there are real concerns about it. Um grass on the other hand is a carbon sink. It produces oxygen. It reduces air temperature. It also absorbs sound. Um, another fact is that artificial turf fields are not recycled

in the US. They end up in landfills and just leech materials out. Um, I did provide a link to a recent webinar um from the interreligious ecojustice network on this topic. Um, there was a presentation by um Dr. JM Rogers who is a professor of turf grass research at Michigan State University. He has one of his PhD students is at Yukon which is kind of neat and uh the video is really compelling because one of the things he really focuses on and I know something that is of concern to our town staff is kind of like playing time. you know, the amount of playing time on natural grass versus artificial turf, kind of the ability for natural turf to to withstand and be playable after heavy rain events. This particular researcher has done a ton of work in terms of natural grass fields and things to do to um have kind of high playability as well as have it very be very cost-effective. Um, na artificial turf fields are a lot more expensive than natural grass. Um, in terms of the Rockwell Park proposal, um, it was about a $2 million difference in terms of the playing fields there being artificial turf versus natural grass. So, there's just a lot of considerations here. Um I'm just very concerned that Bloomfield will find itself in the position that these other towns have found themselves in that oh you know um it's time to replace the artificial turf field at uh the high school. We're coming up on the end of the the normal lifespan for an artificial turf field. And uh I just

think it's really important to have a discussion and to think about alternatives before that just happens to be proactive about it. So hence the request to get this on the agenda and um I appreciate the fact that um Mr. Molesco has sort of circulated the resolution both to the parks and recck committee and um also to the Rockwell Park committee. um you know for their kind of take on it. So I'll leave it at that and I'll stop. Thank you. No, thank you. I know you've been an advocate for our environment. Um and I think a lot you have some environmentalists here on on the dis as well. Um my biggest concern is the coordination with the school board and understanding the financial impact and where they feel is best for their particular field as it is. We've been talking about this field since I've been on town council in 2019. And I don't believe it's in their budget or if it is it kind of gets in gets out to put kind of like plant a seed there to start the funding that we know to be true. and and we want to be very um sensitive to that particular timeline so it doesn't pressure test their budget. I I am inclined to support, you know, definitely Rockwell Park, right? We we don't have to remove any artificial turf. We, you know, we um so there's no cost to that. We can actually move forward with a particular goal and then have some type of compromise. But I definitely need to hear at least um the financial impact fiscal note associated with producing an ordinance to this and seeing at least let's get the board to weigh in. as you know, we've cultivated a very strong relationship with the board of ed and I definitely want them at the table. Um, you know, whether or not we agree with them or not, at the

end of the day, we we definitely want to understand the financial impact. Um, the the their opinions on the health piece of it as well. Um, I do we do have Dave Molesco here. I don't know if you have anything to add, but I went if you do, you feel free to come to the podium with Miss Jones and and while you do that, will Council Mayor, do you have a question for the chair? I'd like to hear what he has to say, but um I I uh I have a lot of concerns, too. Uh but we might consider of saying uh not just banning it completely but saying that I I know the board of ed is already people from the board of ed are already talking about getting the money together to do that replacement. So this is not something they're not talking about yet. They are. And so it's important that we do something, but we certainly need to put it out there that we don't want anybody planning to put artificial turf field in without our Okay, that possibly. Could we do that? I think that's a question. Um, if if you read the resolution, sir, it is basically getting just having the town attorney to begin to craft an ordinance based off of what's enclosed today within four months. We can adjust that. um you know phase in you know but I don't know if we're in a position to do that without talking to the board you know I don't I'm I like the idea of talking to the board like that yes ma'am oh I'm sorry I'm all in favor of the council talking to the board I think that's really important um again part of CC's um desire is to have those conversations upfront when we kind of originally talked about this we expressed our willingness to have the conversation patients. Um, but I think it's really important for the board to consider

a natural turf option as well as artificial turf in terms of replacing the field. Now's the time to do it while you're planning about it and thinking about how to how to put the funding together and to get cost estimates to do either. Absolutely. I mean, I know for this last budget season, um, uh, Director Molesco advocated for a study and it did not get funded because we really had to make some tough decisions regarding our budget this year. So, I understand like that's a u, you know, kind of a precursor for us making kind of that decision on that. I don't know if it's required if we can get the board to weigh in, but go ahead, sir. Excuse me. Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of the council or the the committee. I'm not here to be in favor for or against at this point, just more so to discuss with what I may know. I'm far from an expert on this and so I will not speak as an expert. Um I did provide my background information on this for both the uh um what was presented at the parks recreation committee as well as the Rockwell Parks Committee. And as the mayor just mentioned, I did put in at the the bottom of my my memo over here. There is a my recommendation would be to to run that environmental report there. There are um advocates for and advocates against at this point in time and I think that it would be up to the um the committee the the community as a whole to make that decision and what they believe is in the best interest. But I believe that that would come at whatever you would need to look at the the area that it was going to be proposed and to do an environmental study. Um the uh the proposal that I received was $20,000 um in order to run that proposal that was specifically geared towards Rockwell that was just one firm um that provided us that quote. So if we actually went out to competitive bid, which we or we would go out to quote for something like that, we may get a better rate or price for that. Um but there's there's a lot

of information out there on like I said for pros and cons of it. Um, a little bit of the history of it. The reason why the high school field did does have an artificial turf field up there um was back in I believe it was 2005 the um when we had all the rains during the month of uh October there was a lot of use on that field and it it did it it compromised the natural turf and as a result of that it became an unlevel plane playing field and there were some injuries that were occurring because of it. So, they needed to make a decision on what they were going to do. And that was one of the reasons why that they went with the artificial turf, thinking that was a more consistent surface. Um, from a programmatic standpoint, you can program artificial turf 24/7 for the life of 10 years because that is approximately with what you're going to get out of it. And they make they do make u modifications on these um every single year. the crumbf filled um infill is still an option, but there are other options that you can use as well if you decided to go that route. Uh corn husks, excuse me, um coconut husks is one of them as well as some other organic materials, but as Miss Jones did say, it is still plastic. Thank you. The the artificial turf itself material is still plastic and like any other petroleum based, it's going to have POS and other other things. Aren't we filled with plastic anyway? Yeah. Again, that's not for me to say, council, deputy mayor. Thank you. No, you don't go nowhere. No. So, I understand the the concerns and and we all need to be aware of them because it's our children that are going out there to, you know, on the field. My

question is, is there a way to provide better management of use that would not put our kids in harm's way at the level that it currently is? The reason I I mention this is you I grew up in Harvard. We had, you know, that at Harvard High. And I'm wondering when you say the field, are you also talking about the Tartan track? because we have state championship teams here. Not to say state championships are more important than the health of our children. I'm just saying that it happened to be a very important element of their success. Um, and so with that in mind, I'm wondering if there could be through the analysis of the companies that you will work with to find out if there's a better use element that could be introduced that would provide some of the uh asurances uh some of the um you know the feeling that this is being mitigated to to some large degree. What for clarification is that for to limit the use on the artificial turf or to limit to use on natural turf so that it maintains at the at the level that you'd want it to be maintained at the the artificial the field defeats the purpose. It it's in all honesty I think that that would be it's what again a question that I'm not um qualified to to answer. I don't have the background, the medical expertise in order to provide that. Um, but one of the things is is you put it in there so that you can program it 24/7. Okay. You get much use. You're not going to wear out the field. The sunlight and the

elements is what there is there. Yes, ma'am. Okay. Sorry. You just a comment. Um, I have to say I think spending $20,000 um for a study is a little high, but I think it's up to 20. Um, but I will say if there's some additional analysis done, it should be an environmental impact and environmental should include public health impact. I mean, there's a lot of concern. You know, children in particular are very they're much more susceptible to heat. they're much more susceptible to, you know, um, problems with endocrine disruption. I mean, there's a lot of good information out there. CDC can certainly bring some experts in. Um, but I just want to make sure that if we we as a town do a study, it really is a study that kind of looks at all the aspects. Um, and again, you know, I I'll just say this. Um, I hope I copied Mr. Molesco on the uh on the email. I hope you look at the uh the webinar link because um I don't know how much is new in terms of the engineering of natural turf fields so they're more playable. Um that was a big part of the discussion. Um, and I think it's interesting that, you know, we've got people here at Yukon potentially that might be available to talk about it and, you know, what the possibilities are. Um, because that is kind of the big thing I hear about artificial turf. The big benefit is you can program it 24/7 and it's like, yeah, but at what cost? My last question, are we talking about all of the field and the tartan track or just the field? Because when I look at

it, I look at them being pretty much the same. Want me to go? Well, you can answer and then I can you can take it. Yeah. I you know, we've been focusing on the field. I know that there are lots of concerns about kind of putting that crumb material down in terms of track and playground material. They're moving away from it in playgrounds. Um, city of Boston has banned this stuff on all municipal property. Um, but I, you know, that's what I know. I don't know more than that. I think that would be a question to look into. Okay. I believe it was just the field for this purpose here. they most likely would be able to work around the track. Um, you know, I know that the track was just completed not too long ago and the field really is up for I think they're right around their 10 year mark as we speak. Um, so this is something that's going to be coming through very shortly. Thank you. No, thanks. Um, I so I think that um there is a strong consensus with the I'll talk about contingency items too. a strong consensus to move in the direction of natural turf for Rockwell because it's brand new. We can engineer that now for future purposes. But I think this committee would really like to see the financial impact analysis on, you know, operations like what does that do and then we just really have a clear snapshot of what we're voting for because I do know that there are implications when it comes to maintaining natural turf or grass, right? You got to you got to have more people to cut the grass, to draw the lines, to do those things. And so I would ask that the town I would make a motion to um ask the town manager to provide a financial impact analysis on operations, have a conversation with the an official conversation with the superintendent on the impact of the high school process. Where are they with that?

And um you feel free to come back to this committee or the full full body for um um you know to weigh in. I'm think that's you know I think we're open with that but I don't think we're quite ready to craft an ordinance on that. Um and so I will move that. Is there a motion? I mean is there a second on my motion? Seconded by our committee members here councelor Merritt and deputy mayor. Uh, council mcclary. Madam mayor, I have no question. That's all. What we're going to do, committee members, I'm sorry, but we're going to ask committee members to speak. And then I did ask councelor Lloyd to hold her questions to public comments. And so at this time, we're just going to take comments for committee members during our business end. Councelor McCclary, we're in debate, sir. Yeah. Yep. I would just add a friendly amendment to include the the representatives from CEC in those discussions um along with uh uh Dave Mlesco um if that's appropriate just so that all of the stakeholders are at the table um with the with the town manager. I think we'll uh I think that I mean I'll let town manager figure out who he wants to invite, but I think it's really a superintendent and town manager one-on-one discussion and then if they want to get their bodies involved if it it needs to. But I do feel that yes, everyone should get the information, but let's have them have that conversation and crunch some numbers on both of their ends. But I do agree largely with that, sir, but I don't think it's necessary for the motion. So I will not accept that friendly amendment, but I do express that sentiment of clarity and communication. Thank you. I would with that, Mor, I'd call the question. Okay. All those in favor, please say I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Okay. Thank you so much, folks. And I

know the next item is similar. Um but um the next item on our agenda is uh discussion and possible action regarding the Highlands region resolution. And this is largely a really nice formality to include um Bloomfield in our ways um included in the national organization and the national networks. It really allows us to uh tap into federal dollars to tap into more state dollars to expand the criteria in which we will be available to tap into those different um sources of revenue for purposes of our environment and and such. I don't think, madame clerk, there's a requirement to read the law the resolution out loud. So, I would move that we pass as is as enclosed in to kick it up to the full council for a positive affirmation. All right. U move to kick it up to the full council, seconded by the deputy mayor and councelor Merritt. Um, any further discussion? Okay. All those in favor, please say I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? Mayor votes I. Thank you. We'll kick it up to the full body. All right. Next is discussion and possible action regarding uh Joseph M. Suggs conceptual library plans. Mr. Town Manager, you have the floor. Yes, ma'am. And good evening again, Madame Mayor and uh Council and Citizens Bloomfield. I just wanted to um share some thoughts as it pertains to um the endeavor directive of um of um honoring uh Joseph M. Suggs at the Proer Library. So um I put together some thoughts here that I'll I'll share with you. A lot of work has gone into the

council's directive to me last fall to recognize Mr. Joseph M. Suggs, the first black mayor of Bloomfield, Connecticut at our brand new Proser Public Library. I would like to thank Mr. Mark Weissman, chair of the library building committee, our library board of trustees, and Miss Elizabeth Lane, our library directive director, for their extraordinary collective efforts in presenting me with design concepts for council approval. For the record, I spoke to Mayor Wong and Mr. Suggs. Prior to my announcement this evening, Mayor Wong fully understands and respects my thoughts. Mr. Suggs was his typical self and always wanting what is best for the town of Bloomfield. He has never done anything as a mayor or as a former mayor of Bloomfield to adversely impact our town. because I do not believe the concepts provided to me provide the recognition envisioned by council to fully capture our community's appreciation for Mr. Suggs service. My recommendation is we do not go forward with the directive to honor Mr. Suggs on the first floor of the Proser Library. Our nation has a 150year history in honoring the first black mayor of cities and towns across our country. For Bloomfield to be in line in alignment of established traditions, I will be presenting council with other ways we can acknowledge the service of Mr. Suggs. Everyone on the council agrees he is deserving of and many citizens of Bloomfield have communicated before this council he is deserving of. I am committed to executing the vision of the council and sincerely believe other efforts I will propose will better capture your intent. I look forward to sharing concepts to honor Mr. Suggs at an upcoming town council meeting subject to your questions. Madame Mayor

Councelor Merritt. Thank you, sir. Does this mean you're not going ahead with putting his picture up there in the library? Well, uh, Council Merritt, with all due respect, you're my boss, and I don't tell you what I'm not going to do. So, um, but I'm I'm telling you my thoughts about, um, following through on that directive, and I'm recommending that, uh, we do not, uh, follow through on the directive to honor uh, Mayor Suggs at the library. Okay. But I take my guidance from you with all due respect. Oh, I have no objection. I just I'm just waiting to hear what the alternatives are. Thank you, sir. I don't have any opinions at this time. I think this year all of our opinions are very much public. Um I do appreciate having those conversations with um myself. We we talked about you know what you're going to do next or provide some recommendations. So I thank you for for that. Um I think what we kick up to the full body is again this report out and then I would ask that through you Mr. town manager. Um, oh no, I'll just ask the town attorney. Sir, could you please provide some actionable direction for the next town council meeting from a body standpoint? Um, in regards to what the steps are to retract, um, I think at best we freeze the dollars that were associated with this project until the full body weighs in. We can't do that until the body votes on it. But that is our if there's a consensus, we can kind of approve that here. And you know, we'll look forward to more report outs, but I would definitely like

some legal guidance on next steps and um what we do from a body standpoint cuz I don't think I've ever been in this position. Um but I do want to respect um our town leadership and people to weigh in. All right. Um so, you know, that's some um unofficial I don't think there's any further action required. These are kind of just notes and pushing it up and there's a consensus with county subcommittee members. Um so if there aren't any other questions regarding what we just kicked up to the body, uh again we want to thank you and um Tom Newer for bringing that to our attention and we'll move on discussion. Next item is discussion and possible action regarding the town manager's annual performance review. Uh, councelor Cooper, I know that I've asked you and councelor Lloyd to kind of gather the the data for the last several months and kind of understand past practices. So, I know you're in transit. Are you prepared to give a quick highlight of where you guys are into this body? So, uh, yes, Madame Mayor, and forgive me, I will, um, be very brief. Um we have uh looked at uh the objectives that we would like um for the town manager um to uh begin to work on for a an evaluation. Um the body did not fully provide uh that direction um at the outset. However, however, we do have um uh uh some objectives that we've aligned and we would like to bring that to the full council to get um the weigh in of all council is involved. So, um it being a personnel matter, uh we'd like to bring that to the council in the next meeting during executive session.

Yeah, I think that's appropriate. That's where we discuss these items and I think the full body should weigh in on goals and objectives as we move into the next year. [Music] Yes, ma'am. Um, and if there's any questions, you know, we certainly Okay, at that time. Yep. So, it sounds like councelor Cooper, I will summarize your motion to kick up the goals and objectives to the next available executive session for the full body to consider and weigh in. And then you you and councelor Lloyd are welcome to report out in that as it is a personal matter. Um moved by councelor Cooper is there a second? Seconded by the deputy mayor. Any further discussions on the performance review for our town manager which is a part of the contractual process that we do um we're supposed to do every year. All right. Hearing none. All those in favor please say I. Oh yes. One. In the past, we've had two different approaches to this. One was an evaluation where we we we scored each council member scored the town manager um on communications and different attributes of being town manager. And the other one was to provide a set of goals uh town manager's goals. and we went back and forth with the town manager on what things he wanted to accomplish during the next year. Well, we didn't have one for his first year, but sometimes we had a set of 10, five, whatever things that we wanted him to work on, but they were really goals with town and usually the town manager had input to that as well. And so those are two different things, but both of them I think are worthwhile and we have been fairly consistent in not doing it on

time. But nevertheless, it does give us a chance to um get down to evaluating our mind how he how he's done and on a piece of paper with a scoring of 1 to 10 or whatever. And secondly, u um of sitting down what do we want to accomplish in the next year and what do you want to accomplish next year? Not just the town manager but the council of the whole towns. Yeah. That becomes a a really I think important uh goal setting exercise. I would hope we have both of those things taken care of in this process. Thank you. Thank you. And I uh councelor Cooper, did you want to response. Yes, ma'am. Ma'am. Yes, ma'am. So, I am in agreement with uh council mayor and that is the impetus for us moving forward in um a full meeting of the town council um to uh go over those objectives, right? And as you said and and we are well aware that those were not provided in the first year. Um but we also, you know, can say that um the town manager has done uh over and above um anything that we would have or could have thought of uh initially. Uh and so what we want to do is we want to uh um take that uh and use it for the next year's objectives, not only as he said for uh the council, but also for the town. And so that's going to be what I believe we want to accomplish at the next meeting. Hopefully you that's understand. Thank you. Thank you. Uh I also think um having gone through an evaluation

of a prior town manager uh we found some interesting things and I I believe since we did not put this together in advance I think we should give some consideration to the programs that he set forth and I would I would ask that this conversation I know it's getting a little detailed we stay high level as this is going to be an executive session. It's a personnel matter. And so I would love if we shared some of our more candid thoughts in the appropriate forum, but all all good stuff and everyone will have a voice in that process. But I appreciate that. Thank you, sir. So with with with that in mind, uh those that are working on it, please, you know, give consideration to some of those ideas. Thank you. Okay. All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? The mayor votes I. Motion passes. Thank you. My favorite report. Discussion regarding business development updates. John Coleman, director of building and land use. Good evening again, Madame Mayor, members of the committee, members of the town, Mr. Manager. Um, this is partially because we haven't met in some time. This will cover some and then at the end I've got some annual by the numbers to give you for the fiscal year. Town center man center plan as you know the master plan has been adopted by you and um submitted to DCED. We're waiting to hear their final response back from them. And we've also you have approved and directed that a CIF grant application uh for approximately $22 million that has also been submitted and is in the process now at uh at DCED. Terms of the plan of conservation and

development, our dear favorite um the finalized draft has been has was released in May. The TPZ is holding a public hearing next week on the 17th. I will then be referred to you the day after for your and you have um a variety of time to to review it. You do not have to hold a public hearing. You can uh like it or not like it uh and send the comments to the commission u when all is said and done. It's a commission decision, but we look forward to your to your comments. In terms of policy ordinances and regulations, uh inclusionary zoning regulations were adopted uh by the commission and are now in effect as of as of April 2025 requiring a minimum of 12% on any development that comes in with 10 units or more. Um and also there are some if they do additional units there are some minor bonus incentives in there. cannabis moratorum is still in effect and will be continued until at least September of this year and we're continuing to work with um other members of the staff and the town attorney on review of um housing trust fund policies and applications forms so we can get that up and running. Terms of developments that are either have been approved or potentially under construction. There's a couple errors on here, but Riffield Hollow, the 90 units of single family near is nearing completion. Uh, Telus 2 is up and running and it has received its final C certificate of occupancy. Uh, Sabbury uh is uh building out their 24 unit residential development. Uh, and the Watkinsbury 32 unit single family dwelling PLR plan is under construction. Uh we have already discussed the Arbella development at 87185 Blue Hills Avenue. They have submitted building plans. Uh

that doesn't mean the committee, but we are now uh building permit is under review and if it goes to fruition, we'll receive about a million dollars in permit fees. Um the West Dudley Town Road warehouse is um has not yet submitted building plan, so it's still hanging out there. Uh we've had conversations uh continue to have conversations and we'll be meeting um the day after tomorrow on housing development for 270 Woodland Avenue. Uh and um 111 1151 Blooms Avenue which is a cathedral. Um we'll be meeting with them on their they have said sent sent us as of this yesterday uh their final um pre-development plans uh for building out about 146 affordable housing units in three developments at that site. So that's moving that is a complicated site that requires some uh subdivision and subdivision of lands to meet the financing requirements. So the processing may take some time but I think that one will move along. And there is re um the final phase of um Paul Butler's project from Gab Road to uh to um the medical building on the west side of Tungstus Avenue. Um we've had preliminary conversations with him and and that is he has made a preliminary presentation uh to TPZ and that is moving along as well. And there's also renewed interest in the um the um school site on Gab Road for housing as development. And there's potential interest in um converting the atrium uh the old atrium on the sign site into housing. So there's a lot going on. Um and I think I can basically skip the next um 132 Griffin Road. No, that's been in the press. that is the potential for a data center, a very significant data center. They also have made a preliminary presentation to the planning commission.

Commission has asked for additional information and data. So that's still out there, but there seems to be some serious interest in developing that property uh as a data center. Um and um more to be told as that goes on. Um, also out the 394 Tungstus Avenue, which is the uh vacant um agricultural field just north of um Day Hill Road on the east side of Tungstus Avenue. Uh there's we've had a couple of interested parties in developing some residential development at that site as well. Um and um nothing further to report at this point on the uh we have the um the we call it the the um Aldi's proposal on on um on Cottage Grove Road right now is um is on hold uh until they can have some additional neighborhood meetings and also look at some other aspects. So that the commission will not be hearing that opening. This that hearing will be continued at least until August and potentially further than that. And the commission did approve a um a small will be hearing final plans for a small retail development on the west side of of Cottage Grove Road just east of um of the medical buildings. Um nothing further on the battery storage facilities. The one on on Toby Road at the south end um has been withdrawn. There's been no further action on the one on Terapill Road or the one on um on basically East Cottageg Grove Road. Um those two have not, as far as we know, we have not been informed of any uh formal application to the sighting council for either one of those. And finally on the numbers, um it was a

pretty good year. Um we had um over 2600 customer visits uh at our customer counter in uh in town hall. We had over 18,000 customer phone interactions with people calling us and asking us and us returning. We had uh a little over 2,200 building permits filed for and their value had $1.4 $4 million in value in building permits that we received and that generated almost $89 million in development. So, it's been a good year and um looking to next to this year going forward, we have the potential to um to exceed that permit value in terms of what we see on the horizon. And that, Madame Mayor and members of the committee is my uh annual monthly report. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Um, no, these are awesome. I I just love seeing a lot of the the projects that we've been working hard come to fruition in kind of the implementation phase of this. So, this is great. Please continue to do these report outs. Um, and although I know a lot of these it's just really good connectivity with the TPZ because we have limited we have no authority over a lot of the things that they do. we kind of talk to each other, but this really brings in that connectivity to them and really like, you know, it's their time to shine because this is really on their plate for approvals. It's not it's not our it's not under our purview or our jurisdiction, but it's great to see that you've connected the vision. You know, sometimes we agree, sometimes we don't agree as far as the bodies are concerned, but this report is is very very essential and and you know, council gets a lot of the viewage, the viewers rather than TPZ unless it's like a really contentious public hearing. And so this is kind of the avenue that I really would like to cultivate and continue to bring. So thank you sir for being so very detailed. Um

just one last thing which I know is everyone's favorite if you've driven up Tungsters Avenue. Popeyes is coming out of the ground. Yeah Popeyes. I can't wait for Popeyes. But yes. Yes. Um yeah they finally resurfaced. So, yay. I do have um the I know we talked about so our our housing trust has is enacted um but the units that our Arbella proposed were not 12%. Right? Because 12% would be closer to 20. The right the units that Arbella proposed were proposed really almost two years ago before we had a they were offered voluntarily without before we had a we had an ordinance but we will certainly have conversations with them to see if they can meet what the new regulations are. So their their application was was approved or approved after the housing because anything it was approved before. It was approved before for their application was their their zoning land use applications were approved almost a year and a half ago. Okay. So they're out of scope for the new housing trust. Got it. Technically. Technically, but you know he's open can always have a conversation. See okay. um you know the the battery energy storage facilities I am you know we want to help the state reach their energy goals but you know I'm just really I'm not in favor of battery energy storage facilities and I'm disappointed to see that um the one that could have fit in to or correct me if I'm wrong into the industrial zoning withdrew essentially so and that was one of the smaller ones. Correct. They withdrew and they withdrew for um for financial reasons.

Um because the um as I understand it, the um the um how shall I put it? The the containers that they sit that the batteries are placed in, the cost of those have apparently gone up exponentially and that that um greatly affected their financing model and it became Got it. Um, you know, just as a reminder to the public, the this is really under state agency. This is the sighting council is a council appointed by the governor and there are limited things that communities can do to stop this. We have discussed over time um the legal action that we can take. Um and so um and we would just keep that at the forefront of our options in the event that you know these battery storage facilities should not be on farmland. Like that's just not acceptable. But you know we we can we've I've sent out letters to the sighting council. They know our position when it comes to this but we um we just have to keep track of it and you have. So I really thank you for doing that. We also had a long conversation with the with the um applica potential applicant for the site on Terapill Road, which I think is the most most concerning. And we made it very clear to them that we did not support it, that we had indicated to the sighting council that we were concerned about all of the sites and that if they um did move forward that we would file as an intervenor and aggressively um oppose that application. At that time they said they would get back to me and I think that meeting was probably four months ago. They have not. So maybe they have uh understood that we would be very aggressive in opposing that particular application. Right. And I understand there are some shifts around some of the members in the sighting council. Uh maybe that has happened or not happened. So that could

be a potential issue such as chair pura is on the siding council. deep. So like those are some yeah different components of the politics and the economic model may be changing for them as it did for the one on Toby RDE. Yeah, correct. Um deputy mayor did you have something to say or councelor Merritt? Sorry I thought you I did very quickly. Could you give an analysis of what we earned through building fees and things of that sort for the prior year as opposed to this year to see whether we've said we how's it compared with the prior years? We're about the same. Yeah, we've been we've been tracking it about 1.3 to 1.4 million a year in bill in permit fees. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Yes, sir. I uh am a neighbor of the ter road potential battery site location and I'm in favor of it. I think this sort of thing we have to have like windmills and solar panels and things like that for solar warming global fighting global warming and uh I I I just have no problem with that. I I I get horse flies from the cows on that field. So, I'm not in favor of them. I don't see that the batteries would bother me at all. I So, I do I I want to register that. And uh I mean, we go swimming right near the horse flies and they are a nuisance. Um but I don't see the batteries bothering me at all. I don't know why people are against them. Uh, and so I would rather see that used as a battery site than a farmland. Thank you, Council McCclary. Thank you so much, uh, John. I'm so happy to hear that the inclusionary

zoning um is in place and it didn't face any uh I guess legal uh challenges. Uh so appreciate that. Um you mentioned that the Abella uh property was approved two years ago. I just sent an email with my questions over. Um, can you add to that list of questions since I already sent it? Um, if they were approved two years or a year and a half ago, what changed in their financial modeling to have them then request the tax abatement and why wasn't that brought up at the time of approval if they already went through approval through TPZ? Um and then another question is according to the tax debatement policy um the EDC must have a input on this. Did the EDC give an input on that development? I believe they did back when but I will confirm that counselor and if not we'll um seek that input. Perfect. Thank you so much. And then uh final question any restaurants or any updates on the uh old hardware store? Is any potential development? anybody looking at that? Um, it said vacant for a number of years. Is it possible um if anything isn't coming? Is the owner willing to work with the town to try to figure out if we can get some small businesses in there so that the space could become vibrant now that the new library is going up? I'm not I'm not aware of any um any um eminent um proposal. Uh there's always um rumors out on the mill and out on the street that there are discussions going on. Um we have not been informed of them and um we will certainly be happy to talk to the owner and and um gather his interest in working with us uh to get that property properly occupied. Thank you so much. And then my final question going back to inclusionary

zoning um at what date does the any new applications come in? Is it new applications as of July 1 or as of what date they have to apply for the uh apply to 12%. Because my recollection of the when Abello did go through the TPZ that meeting he said oh the town asked for 12% he would have given 12%. So at what point do they have to meet the new regulations for inclusionary zoning? As of this past May perfect thank you. One more. uh you spoke earlier or the developer spoke earlier about how much in fees that they would provide the town by building this facility, this 164 unit building. Was that $900,000? It's it's between it's almost a million dollars in fees we in we would we would receive. So they would almost equivalate to what we've earned during the past year in that one. Correct. Okay. Thank you. Awesome. Sauce question. Another question if that's okay. Sure. So, thank you. Um, so John, you said about $900 to a million dollars if we that's just onetime fees, right? Um, building permit fees over what span of many years because the project isn't going to um they're not going to pay upfront. And so, uh, with the tax abatement, what fees will they have generate? And without the tax abatement, what fees will they generate? On the latter question, I I don't have them on the top of my head, sir. If with the tax abatement, they would generate about 9 million in fees over the 10 10 years of the agreement in taxes on the building permit fees. Yes, those are one-time fees and we would receive them

in this fiscal year. Okay. So, what is the taxes generated without the tax abatement? Can we get that in the finance? That's a part of my email. You should check. It's a long list of questions um with their financial modeling and uh so if you can get that to us before the next finance committee meeting, I think that would be good. um along with if they're interested in some type of if they get the tax abatement a pilot payment in lie of to support us and or if they don't provide if they were to get the tax abatement the community benefit things that we agree to will they agree to any clawbacks. So there's a whole bunch of questions that I have in there that I would like to be addressed at the next finance committee meeting. Thank you. Absolutely sir. Well, council mayor, did you have another question? No. Okay. Um, do I say something before you close off with him? Yeah. I just, um, before the time manager goes, uh, could we also add, and I know it's redundant because we talk about it, but our housing or 8:30g 8:30g um, percentage just so we just visually see it on the report like where we are today as of meeting that. We get we get that one, too. We're at 11.6. Yeah. So 11.6. I think he misspoke, sir. He said 9 something. that it was based on 16. But but we need but we need to be honest about this because we get the state does the numbers and the base number is the last census count. So they will not revise the base number until the a 2030 census. So that a lot of the housing that's now being built market rate doesn't get factored in. But all of the section 8, FHA, and those types of housing units that are recorded with the state do get factored in. So in fact, our percentage went up from last year to this year. We

were at 10.5 uh for 2023 and for 2024 we went to 11.6. Yep. No. And I think so it's, you know, you got to be careful in terms of what reality is. Yeah. So we need to be as aggressive as we can in um getting additional affordable housing so that we can remain above the 10%. And and you know, and it's still unknown what the new state statutes will be when the legislature has their special session and addresses the housing. Um, we certainly want to be in a situation where we can control our own destiny and we're not being mandated by some other authority. Agreed. Agreed. Exciting to see that. Disappointed that the the legis um the governor vetoed that, but I think they are they will take it up and address that. Um, and then as as far as getting go and York in the loop for the projections, I know they're projections and and they're not solid, but however you recommend us staying in line with like, okay, calculating all these market rate out um market rate units and what does that look like, you know, 5 10 years from now, just make sure that I think those conversations are important to continue to have so we understand um kind of the housing direction that we need to go to plan longterm. Um, so for operations side of the house, councelor Cooper. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, the the John, I had a question about uh those numbers. You said that they were 10.4 and 11.6 uh respectively 23 and3 2024 or 2024 2025. The numbers are in are in in a rears. So the state comes out with the numbers in January. So at the end of January of this year, we got the percentage going

forward. So you could call them the 2025 numbers. I look back and say that's what our 2024 was. Um I understand that that can be confusing. So you can you can apply whatever calendar you want to, but the fact is we're at 11.6 right now. Okay. So I that leads me to another question. Are those numbers communicated to folks when um we uh they approach you and or the town for a project so that they know that in reality um what they are asking for what they may be seeking is going to have to fact those numbers are going to have to factor in so that we don't want to catch people at the back end and say well you know and all that is placed on the council. I think that um that's a good space to be in where we um and excuse background noise but that's a good space to be in where we are able to proactively let people know this is something that you need to work through. Um if they if there's going to be a project here we are of course open for business. Absolutely we are. But you know um some at some point you know uh projects need to meet us um at a certain point so that it makes our role in approving anything that comes before the council not before the two or anything else but before the council um that it makes our role easier in determining the value uh that it's going to bring to the town. We start every conversation now with a potential developer, if it's residential, um talking about affordable housing, uh and point out to them the minimum that we require in town and what we would like to see and that we would like to maximize more than that minimum. And um we will also now start having because I think they're going to it's going to come up every time. We will start right at the front uh asking developers uh

what incentives they may be interested in in working with the town so that we know right from the beginning um what the lay of the land is moving forward with the developer. All good questions. Um, councelor Cooper and as vice chair of governance you you know um I think that or co-chair forgot sorry one of those uh A30G is a state mandate and it is we talk about it frequently in governance it's going I've asked that it be a part of um the director's report out monthly and between these bodies it's our job um the council being legislative and the TPZ having jurisdiction over the approval approvals. We just have to continue to discuss and and talk about that so we can so we can make our own destiny, sir, as you put it. So, definitely appreciate that. Councelor McClary. Yes, Madame Mayor. I just want to refer um the the and I'm sure he's familiar with it in the committee um to our 2013 2023 housing plan. Um basically on uh I think it's page 29 of the 31 documents. It basically says uh for Bloomfield to maintain the 11.13 uh qualified affordable units uh we should seek to ensure moving forth that we have 10 to 12% of the housing constructed as deed restricted um as qualified uh based on historic absorption rate of 64 units per year. So essentially, we're going to need about 64 units a year in order to keep that 11.13% of um affordable housing. And so at the rate that we're going basically um the absorption rate, we have seven units per year. In order to get that, it would take us 36 years to get 252 units. Uh and so that's why the affordable housing

um trust fund and the inclusionary zoning is so important to make sure that we continue um to make sure that our residents have affordable housing. And so, um, any projects that move that move housing projects that move forward, we should be requiring or asking people to give us that 10 to 12% deed restricted so that we can keep that 11.13% because if not, we're going to go and drop beyond below that number and then we will be forced by whatever developer because of 830G uh, to build or give them more um, density or square footage to build market rate housing. So, um just want us to keep note of our housing plan that was adopted by the TPZ um and and also confirmed and ratified um by this body and the full council on um 830G and affordable housing. Thank you. Awesome. Mr. Town Manager. Yes. Um thank you. Um, I just wanted to just bring to the public's attention that uh before I was officially appointed in terms of coming here and and swearing in, I had assumed the duties of uh town manager when I was still on active duty down at um Fort Liberty, now known again as Fort Bragg. And um and I can tell you that um I'm very proud of my first official act uh in that capacity uh when I had determined that it was Mr. John Coleman that I was going to hire as um our director of building and plans. So, when you hear all of this stuff that we're talking about, uh, please do not be under any false impression that he's goes back to a department that's staffed with about 30 people, okay? That's not

the case, okay? It's John and it's Golman in York and and he has a um excellent uh assistant and and um Linda Lauraniano. He has excellent people in in his building uh team as chief building official and and his team. Um he has his own ordinance enforcement officer and he has um a couple of young ladies that work hard and and um in providing administrative support, but uh this man wears I can't tell you how many hats because I I I just can't count that high. Can't count that high. Okay. So, uh, but I'm just, uh, incredibly appreciative of of, uh, what you bring to the job every day, Mr. Coleman, and I wanted to take this time to give you your flowers in front of everybody. You know how I love my team and and I encourage greatness. Uh, sometimes there's organizations that acknowledge that performance like uh, Mr. Carter back there who was acknowledged in in New England for the exceptional uh, capabilities of Department of Public Works. But there's no such entity that's acknowledging the excellence of you, sir, and your staff. But I'm acknowledging you. For you to be able to sit here and and and present this all these things that are going on, it's it's almost unfair when we when we talk about comparing ourselves to ourselves, right? That's like comparing, and in this essence, I'm going to be less than humble. That's like comparing a a perennial allstar against a perennial all-star, right? because uh we are spoiled right now. I if if if our community believes that other communities are producing permit-wise the the dollar revenue and and the building that we have going on in Bloomfield year after year after year, uh you are mistaken. All right? And I'm here to tell you that there's something exceptional happening in Bloomfield because people want to be a part of what the good is happening here. Right? So

when I talk about team Bloomfield, I talk about the excellence. I want this type of message to be able to resonate with the public. This is the positivity that makes people want to come here and be a part of what we what we have going on. All that other dysfunctional arguing, debating, all that kind of stuff, it does none of us no good. But this is the excellence that we want to be known for. And I thank you for being the tip of the spear in our economic development because you along with our finance department is what puts us on the map in the town of Bloomfield. And I just want to say thank you, sir. Thank you, John. I'm embarrassed. Um, appreciate the comments. Um, I think as we all know, my comrade in harm over here, Mr. Carter knows um yeah we um we are technically the leaders of teams but it's the team that works with us uh both in our own individual offices and throughout the the town staff that uh make possible what uh what we bring to you every day and every night and what we bring to the community and u we do it for the community. Um, and it's my honor and pleasure to do it for the community and I hope that um we continue to do it at a level that um warrants the uh comments that you made this evening and uh and um I know that Dan feels the same way. Um we're in this together and um we'll make it work together. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir. Bravo. Bravo. All right, Mr. Town Manager. Uh I would like to uh give my time to uh Mr. Dan Carter. I know he came to provide an update on a number of um DPW projects and I I will provide a full report to

the council on Oh, Mr. Carter. Thank you. Uh Al, Madame Mayor, members of the committee, um Dan Carter, public works director. Um I just prepared a uh a quick update on our major projects. capital projects essentially for the for the town. Um probably the most visible one right now is the Proer Proser Library construction. Um we do have a temporary certificate of occupancy for employees. Uh they're currently finalizing interior finishes. The exterior, it's a busy place over there. The landscaping is going on. Um right now occupancy is expected in August of this year. uh the Wintonberry Library renovation. India, can you give us the next slide? Um recent progress, the development of the exterior parking lot and the children's garden design, the interior of the building is essentially done. Um we have to install exterior canopies on the front and rear entrance. Um along with that children's reading garden and landscaping, we are finalizing. We're going to redo the parking lot uh and uh sidewalks that's going to be going out to bid. Um we anticipate that being done. It's possible we can get it started at the end of this season, but more likely it would be roll over into the spring. Um right now expenditures to date on that renovation of just $2.02 02 million. Capital road paving, it's always a hot topic. Uh fiscal year 24, we um completed 8.72 miles of town roads were

resurfaced. Uh $1.52 million in expenditures. fiscal year 25 um that um we completed 10.53 miles of town roads were resurfaced, $2.33 million expended. Um, since initiating this um, asset management and pavement management program in 2014, our road surface rating has risen from 67.9 to 76.3 in 2025. I know we can't pave enough roads fast enough, um, but we're on an upwards trajectory. I can also tell you that with a community with 110 miles of roads to resurface 10% in a year, um that's double the pace of what um a an effective pavement management program would be. Um it's our current plan when we began this was a 20-year plan. Um again, that would put us a little over five miles of of road, but um we know that it's important to our residents and we're, you know, we're doubling that rate right now. Um our fiscal year 26 road list, you can go to um the public works department page on the town website and we have the 26 program laid out. Philly Park phase 4 construction substantial completion was in November of 24. Um we've literally within the last month have just wrapped up some uh small design changes. We had some uh lighting uh design change that we had to accommodate. We had a contractor in completing that. Um and then we had some deficient concrete work that we um

ultimately required the contractor to replace. So, right now we're just waiting for the uh grass to take over and um but essentially that project is complete. Blue Hills Avenue complete streets. Um that's a streetscape project. It's starts on the Hartford Town line and it goes north on Blue Hills Avenue to Britain Drive. Um it's a $1 million uh lots project from funded by Condot and $600,000 from DEC. Um and essentially the project includes new curbing uh new um pole border brick pole border and new sidewalks. Um we have a new pedestrian crossing uh about midway. Um currently the project is about 40% complete. Um, we expect substantial completion in September, which is ahead of schedule. Um, and they literally just started laying the brick work on the east side of Blue Hills Avenue. Um, so that's coming along quite nicely. Tungstus Avenue Community Connectivity Sidewalk Project. that is um a sidewalk project that was um goes from Philly Park north up to Gesler's Plaza with some traffic signal improvements and a new pedestrian crossing at the Gesler's Plaza. Um Popeye's kind of threw a little bit of a wrench into the into the works as they started working and they're they were making some changes at that intersection. So, we're working out those details with them, but again, that one is under um it's scheduled to be done in August, but we're going to probably be done with that work probably by the end of July.

Um now, we get into the greenway trails. Um the Blford Bloomfield Greenway Town Center to high school. Um right now it's under design. Um BL Companies was selected to design and prepare DID documents for this project. Surveys been completed. Preliminary engineering is underway. We've conducted a fieldwalk. Um we've coordinated with Condot as we have to cross the Griffin line on Park Avenue, which seems very simple, but it's actually amazingly complex. Um we're expecting um start of construction in May of 2026 with completion in 2026. the Bloomfield Greenway, Tyler Street to Rockwell Park. Um that's um $101,000 municipal grant for and $1.2 million for construction. VHB was selected to design and to prepare the bid bid documents for this project. Survey work has been completed. We just conducted a field walk on Wednesday uh with the consultant. Um, we are pursuing additional lots funds as we feel it's prudent to extend that trail all the way to Blue Hills Avenue. So, there would be a pedestrian corridor from Blue Hills all the way to Tyler Street with Rockwell Park and that project right in between. So, that makes sense. Um, we estimate start of construction the fall of 2026 with substantial completion in 2027. Another greenway project is the high school to Toby Road. This is a a um federal project or federally funded

project. Um design and construction $6.5 million $6.5 million 80% of it is coming from the Federal Highway Administration 20% from Condot. Um we selected BL companies to design and prepare the bid documents project through a condot qualitybased selection process. Um the engineer engineering division is currently negotiation scope negotiating scope and fee and expects design to begin this summer. Um it is a complicated project. There's a lot of rightaway acquisition which is always a um hard to nail down for timing. Um, you know, so we're estimating spring 2027 initiation of construction, fall of 28 completion. Um, but that's an estimate right now. Um, school street and Wittenber's um, complete streets state project. So that's a $180,000 design project. um 1.9 million of uh lots of funds to perform the construction. Um this was actually um uh trafficcoming that began on School Street. We kind of integrated it with um the reconstruct reconstruction of School Street and some other improvements. Um so uh we um selected VHB to perform that design. Um they are preparing uh design documents as we speak. Um we think that will be in construction in the spring of 27 with completion in calendar year 27. Next project we have is West Dudley Town Road Reconstruction. So that's $150,000 um design fee that's being funded

through the state capital municipal grant fund. Um, I'll give this credit to our town engineer, Rob Troier. He, uh, we didn't have a construction funding source. Um, we pursued a, um, classification, uh, change to West Dudleytown Road. Um, that opened up the opportunity for Kond Lots funding. So, we've we were um, awarded $3.6 million for construction. Um, so not only do we have the design in progress, we have a real we have a funding source. So this really came off the the drawing board and became a real project for us. Um, so the Crag Transportation Committee approved the project for funding in March of 2025. Um, Cardinal Engineering was working on this design prior to receipt of a funding source and can now advance plans to final design. So, um we're anticipating spring of 26 um for start of construction and completion in summer of 27. Just the general projects um trafficcoming and our sidewalk projects. So, recent progress that we've had um we've just installed uh temporary trafficcoming measures on Maple Avenue. That's an anticipation of installing permanent curbed um I'll call them medians in several locations to slow down traffic. Um that's currently in design and we anticipate start of construction in 2026. um gab road traffic calming and sidewalks. Again, we received funds from the council for design which we had initiated. Um the opportunity condised a community

connectivity grant program. This fit that program very well. So, we um submitted that to Condot for funding and they awarded us in May of 257 $760,000 for the construction for the Gab Road traffic calming and sidewalk project. Um we do have other uh trafficcoming uh applications that are in progress in the program including Forest Lane, Crestrew Drive, and a couple of others. um Prospect Avenue sidewalks. We're working on getting a designer for that. And um we just received signed contracts and um we have plans to replace approximately $300,000 of sidewalks in town. Um, and that's being funded through the CA state capital municipal grant funding, drainage improvement projects. Back in 2021 when we had some heavy heavy precipitation events that kind of um initiated interest in that. Um, we have a culvert on Mountain Avenue that needs to be replaced. It's in poor condition. Um, we submitted an application to the Kond local bridge program in May of 2025. We're still awaiting word on that for funding. Um, Partridge Lane, we have $220,000 available in local funding. Um, we finalized the design to help alleviate that issue out there. We're meeting with residents in the neighborhood uh in August. Um, and then we'll uh hopefully be moving forward with implementation of that project. Um, Juniper Road drainage, uh, Juniper Road, which has no drainage in it, it's been an issue for a number of years. Um,

we're currently in in design with one of our on calls on that project. Kenwood Circle, um, there's two outfalls on Kenwood Circle that need um, attention. Um we plan that for um either if we can get it together for 2025 at the end of the season and Newport Drive and several other locations are at various stages for uh being analyzed for um design improvements. Um condot administered projects in Bloomfield. So these are projects that are not the town's projects, but they get brought to us by the state on state roads. So um we kind of weigh in on them. Um give them our opinions on what's happening. Um so they are planning to do I think six signal upgrades uh on Cottage Grove Road. Um it's up the project consists of upgrading traffic signals and pedestrian amenities at six intersections on Cottage Grove Road. The estimated start of construction is April of 2026. Uh Mountain Avenue bridge replacement over the Washbrook. This is right near the library. We've had a couple of meetings with them. Um, this project team, every time we meet with them, seems to slide out a little bit, but um, this is for replacement of the bridge on Mountain, uh, Avenue, and they're anticipating construction in calendar year 27. Um, Tungstus Avenue bridge at Brown Street bridge replacement, that's in design. We don't have a schedule right now with Condot on that. Um but that's um a con a project that they are currently working on. And Blue Hills Avenue at Wittenberry Avenue traffic signal replacement that's also in design and not a no schedule at this point for

construction. So that's all I have for my capital project update. Madam Mayor, if there are any questions. Thank you. I do have a couple. Um, for the Blue Hill Streetscape, I I attended some of those uh local roads meetings. I don't know if that's the appropriate term for those community meetings where and maybe it wasn't Blue Hill Street Skate, but I I thought it was that we were going to have decorative lighting in scope for that streetscape project. Is that correct? It is correct. Okay. So, it's enhanced. Yes. So, the light poles that we have are on the green and at Philly Park. Great. I believe there's 42 of them that will be installed along Blue Hills Avenue. Excellent. For that run. Awesome. And they're really they're not meant to to illuminate the street for for vehicular traffic. They're really meant to illuminate the sidewalk for pedestrian travel. Similar to the streetscape on the uh Albany Avenue. Correct. Right. Awesome. Okay, great. Just wanted to confirm that. And I School Street. I thought that that was going to be um started sooner from a construction standpoint. I wasn't I didn't know it was design. You probably probably were thinking we started the design process. Yeah. Oh, okay. Um so we we still have a little time on that one. Yeah. Anyh how we can prioritize that particular street. It is horrendous. It is. as we move around programming and scheduling across the board. I think that will be really really helpful. Um I know school streets folks have been advocating for a long time to smooth out that road, fix the the humps, and then the trucks messed a lot of it up and now we've banned trucks, but they still come through. Um and that will be all new sidewalks as well. So that's almost going to be like a complete street rebuild.

Yeah. Yep. Yep. Okay, great. And then I counselors councelor Merritt. Um, thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I I had a couple questions on School Street. I'm thinking of right now the intersection where you come off of Windenberry, you go on to School Street, which is a state highway that goes around the corner with no stop sign. And uh if you're not familiar with it, you are we talking right near Seabberry that sharp bend. Yeah. So we're we're normalizing that intersection as part of Wonderful. You putting stop signs in or something. Oh yeah. Yeah. And we're going to realign the roadway to It's a very I've lost a couple of my kids have lost couple of cars going in front of the church getting into things. So yeah. So we're normalizing that intersection as part of this process. That's a dangerous situation. It is a little tricky depending on which way you need to go. The other question I had complete streets is that I always had the impression that included bike lanes. Um well it it it can be a component of complete streets. So I I don't I can't speak to the specific I don't see them in this plan but I Yeah. So I'd have to actually look at the application which was done by our former town engineer Jonathan Tissi. Yeah. um to but I can't speak to the specifics but I can get more details but uh bike lanes are are a component of complete streets it doesn't mean that every complete streets project you know looks to achieve that okay a mountain avenue cover replacement to me this is the one at the other end of mountain this is the one down near sawmill near the sawmill and that's been doing going on I remember cutting it out of the the budget maybe 20 years ago we're going to get it done I promise

Well, then I was told that the state said we either had to build it up about 15 ft above that or they they wouldn't pay for it. And that seemed ridiculous because I mean it's going to be flooded no matter what you do with it. So yeah. So we've I've I've had some very cursory conversations with our former town engineer on that project. Um, you know, unfortunately we've we've lost the, you know, the years of history with him um with the those projects, but you know, this is just something that, you know, we've it needs to get done. Yes, it I'm not sure it does, but I mean, we've done without it for the last 15 or 20 years. Yeah, but if you go by it, I think we've got signposts holding up the side of the road. Okay. Okay. Um, it's not our best work. Let's put it that way. next to the library. Um, I stood on that while it caused the library to flood one time. Now, that those culvers are not sufficient to handle the flooding. Uh, we have so much water coming down in a flood time that it it actually backed up and caused the library to flood. Yeah. So I think whatever we do there, it ought to allow more water through and I think we ought to tell the state that it is actually a d that bridge is a dam that causes problems. Yeah, the state does a pretty extensive hydraulic analysis. Um, you know, you always got to remember when you're talking about making uh conduits that allow water under, you may be alleviating a problem at Marlin Avenue, but you So, it's it's a but it's an analysis and and they go through a pretty extensive hydraulic analysis to really determine what they're going to do ultimately. Nice. And we're just kind of overseeing them

and and just offering our guidance, but certainly alleviation of the flooding is is a priority for us. Those are the kinds of local flavor that we bring y to their design projects. Good. Great. Debbie May, did you have something? No, only one one question related to the sidewalk repair on Tungsters Avenue. Yeah. Will there eventually be any additional sidewalk that will go further than Gistler or I know there's a bridge there uh and very thin areas that a sidewalk could go on on the properties, but I'm so excited to see this being done because there's so many people who hit the street or right on the grass walking to and fro. So I it's an excellent uh provision right now, but I'm just wondering going forward, will there be any thought about uh providing thought? Yes, I can tell you that we do not have any potential projects right now anticipated. Um but these are the types of things as as we sit with the manager and you know these are the types of priorities that you know he usually conveys down to us. So, you know, we have a complete complete streets program in town which encourages sidewalks. Um, and we are looking we we do have sidewalk projects. Um, and we would be looking for those hightra areas to provide that network. But right now, there are no plans to currently extend the sidewalks beyond where they're going to end now. Okay. Thank you. We have the bike path. Could we could we put that on a running list of um recommended priorities for sidewalks or complete streets projects? I don't What

street were you talking about? Tungst Elizabeth Avenue definitely needs some sidewalks. Um Avenue North by people walking there going to work at the plants. Yep. Yep. And I And yeah, that's a now we're getting into Yeah. Avenue. That's Starbucks. Yeah. Yeah. And I think that we stick to different categories as it relates to municipal and state and it's just and because Blue Hills is is um state. But anyway, we'll we'll continue to do that and then you can have your recommend your priorities to the town manager. Um even though the um just a a a brief comment on sidewalks. Um the state does not assume ownership or responsibility for sidewalks on state roads. So they defer all the maintenance to the town. Um they certainly they have a complete streets policy now. So you're going to see side some sidewalk sections as part of the traffic signal upgrades on Cottage Grove Road. They're going to install some sidewalk. But as soon as they install it, they wash their hands of it. Got it. So we get it. So you know if if we were so inclined to install sidewalks on state roads, you know, we'd have to coordinate and and get their approval. But the state, I don't believe it would be an issue. You know, we're going to own and maintain them anyway, right? So, you know, just because it's a state road, it shouldn't hold us back from making it a priority for for the community and the residents. Yeah. Excellent. Like, and let's continue to look for those opportunities to, you know, have some of those sidewalk projects for the Connecticut DOT projects. And there's a updated there's updated lighting or there's replacement of lighting. Um, what do we need to do to start installing without the wires across the streets? You know, um, kind of just have the street lights on a pole hanging over rather than the

kind of the wires hanging. So, mas arms. She wants masked arms. Mask arms. Oh, masked arms. She wants masked arms rather than the wires. Oh, for traffic signals. Well, I guess we we we would have to bring it to to cond as a priority. So, um I don't I I don't know if Condot would install a new signal on wires. I'm pretty much I'd have to check with Condot. I believe their design their design standard is a mast arm right now. Is the one on uh Crest View and Park A for the high school is is that wire or is that mast arm? That's on a mast arm. Okay, good. So, because we may have to extend that associated with the with the with the greenway project. Yeah, I think it just adds just more to the the um the environment, less kind of less better visuals and um you know, maybe less tree maybe it's a safety issue as far as a tree hanging over and not really retroacting these developments, but as we have new opportunities, let's put it in the pipeline for when we have to replace or there's new construction. Yeah, I think most in the new state is mass arms. Okay. The question they asked the town is if you just get the plain gray ones, they'll take care of them. But if you want them painted and pretty like the black master arms and some, then the town has to maintain them. Got it. Yeah. They're pretty good at deferring maintenance, those guys. And on on sidewalks, you should know that the TPZ now has a policy uh where appropriate, and it's most places are requiring sidewalks as part of any development. Excellent. The only other thing I would add that Dan was modest is that uh if you noticed in a lot of the projects there's a lot of lots of funding. Um we collectively my department and his department have been very aggressive of of seeking those

funds uh through the capital region council government. So that that partnership is is being very beneficial. Absolutely. because as we know from a local standpoint, we haven't funded CIP in a couple of years because of the tax burden overall. So that extra effort has completely transformed our road program, our our capital improvement program as it relates to state funding and so just getting creative and really chasing after those grants. So bravo gentlemen. Uh councelor mccclary. Yeah, thank you so much. A question for Dan uh related to um couple of projects. the West LA town road is that covert being uh implemented for the mega warehouse and where we with the mega warehouse now that the lawsuit or the appeal not lawsuit let me clarify the appeal um is now out will they be building and then are we doing that specifically that capital improvement project specifically for that project and if so could they share in some of the cost for that replacement? So the project was not being initiated because of the warehouse project. We have actually proposed the project for town funding for probably eight years. Um the road is in horrendous condition. Um there's no drainage in the road. Every time we get a half inch of rain, I have to put water over the road signs. Uh it's tremendous liability. Um the road just needs to be redone. Um, I did have some conversations with the developer about um, sidewalks along their frontage. Um, but that's I haven't spoken to them for probably eight or 10 months. So, that would be a good community benefit and community investment and show them showing that they want to be real good community partners. know we can't force them to do it, but it would go a long

way if they do take in the cost of that since they will be doing construction um and trucks going back and forth and making the roads terrible um over there. So, uh just something to think about. My next question is related to the um uh flooding mitigation. Good to see Ken Ken um more Kenwood Circle on there, but can you give us an update related to the um the Winonberry Hills or the Winterberry neighborhood? The Winonberry Avenue pro what's the name of that uh neighborhood back there? Uh Laurel Park. No, East Wittenberry. East Winenberry Avenue. That everything um Hill Farm. Hill Farm. Yeah, that stuff over there. Hill Farm Road. So, Hill Farm Road, we went in, we did some u uh TVing of drainage lines. We found a blockage in a in a in a trunk line that went from Hillfire down Hill Farm down to um a line that runs through the backyards. Um we cleared that line. Um we know it's going to make a big difference. Um so, we're kind of right now, you know, We didn't upsize pipes, but right now we do feel that the whole system is going to function better. So, we do feel that we've made a big improvement there. Um, thank you. What about Laurel Park? Laurel Park, that was really a groundwater complaint issue. People were complaining about uh wet basement and groundwater uh elevated groundwater. Um, so, you know, that's that's just a a um it's not a surface flooding. We we hired a consultant to actually do a study of the area just to determine that it town facilities weren't in some way, shape or form contributing to elevated

groundwater or whatever, which they determined that we were not. Um so right now we have nothing um further that we're doing in that Laurel Park neighborhood. In order to deal with groundwater, you would need an open source channel, right? like a river or stream or open source of body to redirect the groundwater, right? You need something to that effect. Yeah. I mean, um, it that it's it's it's questionable in my mind. What could you attribute it to? I I it's possible that it's global warming, increased precipitation. Um, but uh that's not necessarily uh a problem that is something that I I think the community should be responsible to try and repair. I mean, you know, there's there are areas in in in in town that are just extreme they're wet areas. Um, you know, that would that would I'd have to, you know, work with your engineering staff to probably come up with some potential solutions for that. Yeah, quick question um really followup related to that. So the the consultant that we hired, did we ever share the results of that study with the residents in the Laurel Hill Park? Um and if not, is there any plans to have a community meeting with the the consultants to share the results um so that they know that the town has actively um participated in hiring a consultant to figure out and address their concerns and that the liability is not on the town and that it is groundwater. Well, we did have a uh we did have a neighborhood meeting um I think it was when um former manager Hawthorne was here with the neighborhood. We shared the results of um the study that we had done and and we heard residents complaints. So, they're aware of of of what's been done to date. Was there any action items from that meeting that the town needed to do that we we promised to follow up on and have

we followed up on it? The only action item that came out of that meeting was to um hire a consultant to do a groundwater study and um it was a capital project that was not funded. Okay. Um last question related to um uh the greenways on from Tyler Street to the high school. Will there be any uh acquisition of property or rightaways like is the town rightaways like easements to be able to do this trail on private properties or the the trail is going through all public and state properties? So this is from the town center to Tyler Street you're referring to. Yep. And then the high school to the next phase Rockwell Park. So there may be some acquisitions and some easements required to complete that project. Uh those are that's part of the preliminary engineering that's being done right now. Have we communicated with community members and neighbors just to make sure that there's no strict outcry of not through my backyard or is there any education that we're doing with them currently being proactive instead of being reactive? I just think it's a little premature because we haven't identified the impacts to properties yet. when we do identify those things, we could hold a public outreach meeting to kind of bring people up to speed on where the design process is at. Great. Uh, thank you. And then, um, follow up to that, is there any, um, update is the updated list of all roads being paved on the website from last fiscal year to this upcoming fiscal year? Is that up on the website? It is. Fiscal year 26 list is on the website. Good. Um, India, can we just put a uh uh put that to the main page so that people can see it? Um, for the strategic communications through to you, Madame Mayor, to the town manager, to the

staff, can we put that up so people know what roads are coming because I've been getting a lot of phone calls related to um and emails related to roads. And so, I just want people to be able to not have to dig on the website and see it at the the homepage. I think that's important. Thank you so much, Dan. Good great work. um great work at getting all of the lowep grants. Appreciate it. Um the new town engineer is worth his value. Thank you. It is so refreshing to see that um the traffic common on Burr and Maple neighborhood areas is moving um and those neighbors are happy with the temporary um solution that the town manager and staff and residents came up with. So, thank you and your team for putting that up. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And for the record, um I do believe there is no more action required by the Laurel Park community. That was an extensive endeavor. We I know we wish that there was a different result, but ultimately I I agree with you. I don't know if the community should be on the hook for um something on private property. Um now, if it turned out like the other project and there was a backup and we looked into it, of course, but I don't think that there's any further action required for that particular project. So, I just wanted to make that clear for the record unless the town manager or someone else used to find a different way because I think you know that was out of budget and you know uh Mr. Hawthorne did find the dollars to do that because it was important to the community. Um and any other questions before I hand it over to the town manager? Okay, great. Thank you so much, Dan. Great job. Appreciate you and your department, your awardinning department. Thank you, Madame Mayor. Mr. town manager. Um, status updates regarding town council initiatives. Did we? Excellent.

Okay, I'm going to make my way towards the Thank you, sir. Okay. Good evening again, Madame Mayor. Good evening, council and um citizens of Bloomfield. I'd like to uh draw your attention to a number of initiatives that we're going to speak to tonight um that uh are basically uh near and dear to our council and it it definitely has a substantial impact on us as a town staff as well as our communities with the different focuses that have been had. So what you're looking at right here is um the council initiative um that uh basically focused on standardization of municipal policies. Um what we have in in Bloomfield right now is um a a significant deficit and and best practices that exist and are basically required through through policy. So we went about an endeavor by um by uh having an RFP and uh we um did select a vendor um and we've uh are going to be uh soon to have them on board to start working with our team to develop these policies. Uh the funding uh as you can see there is 125,000 and um and we're moving ahead with this. So we look forward to uh quickly uh being in a better position to to have policies that will help uh ensure our productivity, efficiency and and all legalities of of how we function as a workforce and that is uh councelor Lloyd's

initiative and and we thank her for her leadership in in this manner. Next slide please. Okay. Council initiative um carpentry trades program. This is the efforts of uh councelor Oliver and um this one right here. It's um it's been a little bit more challenging, but uh we're still answering the call. At first, this was going to be an initiative in which we tied ourselves to our our BOE and and trying to uh have the program operate out of the high school. Uh but there were just too many challenges to overcome with the logistics involved. So, so now through councelor Oliver, uh he was able to leverage um resources uh within his union to um basically provide expert guidance and um and skill sets and training for youth. So, last I knew last week, we were um touching base with a number of high school uh students through uh principal Jesse White. And um once those uh students have been identified uh this program will be up and running as you can see it's a a multiple uh part program uh but in essence we'll be transporting uh students uh to um uh to a workshop where they'll have uh the experience and and taught to them and expertise taught to them so that they can develop a skill set that will hopefully uh take them after graduation into a well- paid job. in and career path. Next slide please. Uh local small business program. This is a a council initiative of uh councelor mccclary and uh once again this uh went uh through a recent RFP selection. We have identified a vendor for this and uh we hope to have this up and running uh very soon with

the vendor that's been selected. But um you know this is going to be an opportunity for us to support local businesses and um and have some vibrancy and uh in in in town. So we look forward to this uh having uh the desired impact and and fostering uh community growth and revitalization as as noted. Next slide please. All right. This initiative um we were actually talking about this this morning. I was giving a lot of kudos to our um our uh town staff today and uh and I would be remiss if I if I didn't acknowledge some support that we received uh through the the leadership of council mccclary and uh and some of his expert citizens uh that are happen to be sitting in the room as well and and helping us uh put this tax calculator together. So, um, one thing, uh, that our our our citizens can can have faith and confidence in is the accuracy of our tax calculator. And, uh, so when you put your um your your property into this calculator, you will get the accurate numbers that you can that you would expect to to have from from uh your municipal government. So, uh, we continue to say if you have any questions, uh, to the public, please, uh, utilize us as the answers to your questions because, uh, we go through various efforts. We held off on on publishing this calculator for several weeks because, uh, we cannot afford to be wrong and uh, and we made sure that it was ready for prime time before we pushed this out last week. And uh so it is with confidence our our citizens can rely upon this for for accurate um uh mill rate information. Next slide please. Okay. So subject to your questions

madame mayor and councel. Uh thank you sir. I don't have any because we these have been kind of at the forefront of our activity. But it's it's really good for all of our other colleagues to hear the progress, you know, because some of these are task force, some of these are initiatives whether in different subcommittees. So, it's just really helpful to see the priority that we placed in the budget come to fruition and then just keep tracking that progress. Deputy Mayor, do you have a question? I'm sorry. Oh, I think those are new. I don't know. Summerbridge in your question. Where where is it? I believe maybe these are all new. Yeah, these so I'll step you're a veteran, sir. It's three years running. These are all like brand new. But if you want it up there, we can put it up there. Um because there's a lot of stuff that we don't we don't have there. There are a lot of things. And um and as was noted today, you know, as we talk about summerbridge and and helping helping youth, um we are beginning our our summer um internship program as well. So, uh we look forward to actually going to start to I think they have an orientation um on Wednesday and I'll I'll actually meet and greet those young folks and um and make sure that they they understand that they are valued members of team Bloomfield uh while while they're in this capacity. So, I look forward to that opportunity. Obviously, I'll be sending greetings on behalf of the entire council and and I'll be doing the same thing when afforded the the insight as to uh when that program kicks off. Council may. Yeah. I'm just going to ask where where can one find this uh tax calculator? Is it online? Yeah. Can we give them a a preview of how to access it? It should pop up every time you go to our website. At least it does on mine. Okay. Yeah, it's on our website. Okay. Okay. As soon as you go to website, it should

pop up with the calculator. Um, in first and foremost, yeah, this is great. While you get that up, this is a a great tool. Uh, lots of communities have this, and it's just really great that we kind of um customized ours, especially in a difficult reval year. Uh, just to let folks know that they can see the four-year phas in and the impact of that. And then there are some caveats. It does not calculate like your motor vehicle. doesn't calculate your fire district tax. You have to go to your separate fire districts. They set their own taxes. Um we are we have no jurisdiction over fire tax. So you have to go to Blue Hills Fire. You have to go to your uh center of fire to advocate for whether it be lower or higher tax rates. And I believe they're significantly different in how they charge their communities. So just wanted to make sure that that is all spelled out on this um website. and and I can't speak to, you know, just the innovation and uh and that's through dynamic leadership and and I and I and I point to, you know, council mcclary, you madame mayor and and directing this initiative and all the council in support of this. We're doing things that have never been done before in the town of Bloomfield. So, uh, there's always going to be someone who sees the the glass half empty, but this glass is half full and and we're filling it each and every day with the excellence and the vision provided by this council as well as the magnificent staff that I have that leads departments, leads the charge each and every day. And uh, and I can tell you that um, it makes my job a lot easier, right? because I deal with a lot of things and uh when these heavy lifts are taken care of by uh members of staff uh it it it just makes my my job a lot easier. So, I'm very appreciative of it. I value it and and I respect the work, you know, and um and I would love for our community to also uh have that ability to respect the work because

excellence is being done here and I'm appreciative of it. Yeah. This is how the sausage is made, right? You had Vincy, our tax assessor, uh, our tax team, our our finance team. We called our neighbors and different municipalities to say, "Hey, how do you do this? How do you code this on the back end of the website?" So, definitely an amazing an amazing endeavor. And it's the little things, right? It's definitely the little things. Um, Deputy Mayor, sorry. There you go. Thank you. Uh I would be remiss if I didn't mention one uh board of ed uh guidance counselor uh Miss Plumber who singlehandedly referred 17 students to this program. Yeah. The summer rich program there are 15 slots. So she basically fielded the whole group. They all start employment opportunities at various locations within our town. So, OP was able to reach out to local vendors to inquire to see if they could participate. The first week was all about pre-employment skill development, CPR training quite quite a bit. So, it it's a bit of a change from our other summerbridge program, but we would have been under duress if we did not have that assistance from Mrs. Plameumber. And we want to make just clear-cut acknowledge acknowledgement that she did a great job in helping us field great students for this program. Well, I I thank you for bringing Miss Plamer's name to my attention, Deputy Mayor, and and on behalf of you and the office of the town manager, I will make sure that she gets our coin of excellence as a a

token of our appreciation for the excellence that she performed. Thank you. Anna Swag Bag. Swag Bag. Council McClary. Uh thank you so much, Madame Mayor. I would be remiss if I didn't thank uh William Raymore who did the backend coding, a resident who's who reached out to step up um to code the calculator alongside Kevin Goff um the town assessor, the finance team, the town manager, communications team, uh Brian India, um there was a collective effort after um folks saw that there was a a previous calculator out there that had wrong information. um they all stepped up and wanted to provide the community with the correct information. And I just have to note that the calculator that's online assumes a 3% growth rate in a town budget. So it may not be um what you want or it may not be next it may have some es and flows. These are all just projections and I want to remind the community that it's all projections because if the budget next year grows 1% if you put your calcul if you put your number in this year it's going to show a 3% growth when next year technically is a one or 2% or it could be a 5% growth in the budget depending on um where we are with the economy but ultimately um it is it tries to get as accurate as possible over the four years by equalizing each of the years. um a previous calculator did not equalize the previous three years and this calculator equalized the residential property um assessment um each year and so it is as accurate as we could try to get as a projection. Uh and so I want to thank the committee for um working together. I I grew a little frustrated because bureaucracy takes a little long, but I understand why it took long because they wanted to get the most accurate information out there as possible and not mislead the public. So, I want to

thank all of the stakeholders um that participated. It was a team effort. Um when when they saw something was wrong and they saw that we didn't have the the expertise on staff, community members raised their hand and said, "Hey, let me be a part of it and let the charge and the staff verify the information." and then used it. So, thank you so much for everybody um that was involved in creating the calculator. I cannot take credit for it. It was a team effort. Thank you. No, excellent. No, thank you. I mean, there's a lot of work that goes in behind the scenes, you know, pushing the paper, putting pen to paper, and I just want to thank every every one of my colleagues for continuously making sure that we do the best we can with our time. Amazing. All right, moving in. Thank you so much, Councelor U. Tom McClary, you're all set. All right, Mr. Tom Manager, thank you so much for Thank you for the opportunity. Appreciate it. Public comments. Public comments, please raise your virtual hand. Public comments, please step right up to the podium. I will defer to our councelor Lloyd and then you, sir, will go right after her because I did ask her to wait. Thank you, Councelor Lloyd. No worries. I'll be brief. I just want to reiterate the sentiments and kudos as well as gratitude for our staff as well as the residents for all their continued hard work, collaboration, and continued investment in the success of what we have going on here in Bloomfield. I do thank you all. Thank you, Councelor Lloyd. And we appreciate you through and through. Yes, sir. Oh, your button. Uh Kevin Goff, five Bear Ridge Drive. Um I just wanted to um say a couple of things about artificial turf and the the discussion which I thought was very

good. Um but I think two things do need to be made clear. One is in terms of the evidence of the environmental health uh biodiversity. Keep in mind insects don't live on plastic. Um, all of these things, there is nothing debatable about them. Um, artificial turf is bad and I think it's imperative that we as a community recognize the health of our citizens and that is our fundamental priority to make sure that we as a community flourish. And yeah, you may not see the effects of long-term cancers for 20 or 30 years. My wife grew up in a Middletown, and it wasn't until what, 50 years after you left that someone had finally done the research that showed that all of those strange fumes that appeared in the town from paper production uh caused a lot of damage. So, I think that's one thing. The other thing I will say is the board of education, I agree with you, they need to be involved in the discussion. Um, but I also think we need to make it very clear the town pays for all capital expenses. We pay for all buildings. We own all buildings. The only thing the board of education at the end of the day has any true um authority over is the pedagogy of the students. We control the capital. It's not half them and half us. It's all us. It all comes from the taxpayer funds. So, um I think looking at the financials of all of this is important, but I think we will find very quickly that it costs more to for artificial turf and the maintenance at the end of the day is a lot cheaper, but we have to do it. And

that's the same we see with all of our buildings and all of our roads and all of our sidewalks. It's cheap if you do it. It's not cheap if you delay it. Thank you very much. Thank you. Oh, I I think I hear a cell phone game in the back. Are we winning? Yes. Yes. Please raise your virtual hand to be recognized or step right up to the podium. And you have two or three minutes to address the committee. Please state your name and your address. Hi, my name is Shawn Be. Young and I live at 31 Alexander Road. I just wanted to make sure I was understanding what um the town manager was talking about as far as um removing or maybe I wasn't understanding um um Mr. sucks name from the library because as I mentioned to you guys before um 1960 1970 was really the first time blacks really started migrating in numbers here and he was the first black mayor in Bloomfield but also in the greater Harford. So the minds of the young people when they come into the library, you know, it's important especially to me cuz I was here when the turnover happened from white residents to black residents and it really was something to experience being told they don't want you here. So he is very important to our, you know, the people that grew up in my time. And I just want to make sure that we understand that, you know, all that fussing last year and now here we are and and a decision is made. This is what happens when you're fussing over something that you don't understand the

impact it will have. literally taken a first black mayor from the library. And we got to remember, we're being erased already. And so, I really think this is really critical. I'm I'm I'm just really shocked to hear this. Thank you. Please raise your virtual hand to be recognized. Last call for public comment. All right, moving into approval of the minutes. So, is there a motion to approve June 2nd, 2025, May 7th, 2025, and December 2nd, 2024? So move. Moved by the deputy mayor, seconded by councelor Cooper, and thirded by councelor Merritt. All those in favor, please say I. Any opposed? Any abstensions? The mayor votes I. The motion passes. Motion to adjurnn. Moved by council merritt. Seconded by the deputy mayor. Thank you so much. Great meeting. Appreciate you, Mr.