Public Health, Safety & Environment Subcommittee - Regular Meeting

I'm not here in the chamber. Deputy Chief Hides, can you hear me? Okay. Yes, I can. Awesome. Uh, so we will um take your report. Yes, sir. Let me see. Excuse me. Was there attendance? I was about to say, can you hear me? I didn't ask the attendance.

Oh, they did not. Okay. So, um, forgive me if you could not hear me. Um, I was taking, uh, I called the meeting to order and roll call. Uh, I see councelor Oliver is here. I do see you, Councelor Death Brown, and I do not see councelor Mahan. Uh, so we will, um, we've started the meeting. We'll wait to see if he does join. Can I just say that we didn't hear you when you first started the meeting, sir. I think councelor Oliver can attest to that. We weren't hearing anything.

Right. Uh so I did welcome um the town of Bloomfield to the um public uh health and safety committee meeting and uh the u uh committee members um and also the uh those who are here in the room and online. Um and then I made the the roll call. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. Any Thank you. Um and so then I move to um uh the police department update with uh Deputy Chief Haidash and and he couldn't hear me either. So So this is where we are. This is where we are now. Okay.

Thank you, Deputy Chief. All right. We'll uh proceed. Thank you. Sharing the screen. I'll just uh check to make sure that that went through. Is that sharing? Yes.

Okay. Our crime stats for April of 2026 again looks that continues our downward trend in overall crime. Uh we just uh clocked or recorded six sexual assaults. I'll get into those in a little bit. Uh two burglaries. uh bulk of it all is shoplifting uh for the most part and uh some incidental larsenies mostly uh frauds that we've uh come across now electronic after the fact reporting to us. All of our um sexual assaults were past tense uh involving uh improper touching of juvenile in one case um and the other two were also juveniles that came in through uh DCF referrals to us and our detective units are actively investigating uh all of the claims and uh going through with that. again our larsenies 22 of shoplifting the bulk of which are Home Depot, Lowe's and stop and shop. Other uh lararsenes the uh various ones that were there nine a lot of fraud cases one bad check uh there is one substantial fraud claim u that the detective unit is investigating but is a very large number involving improper investments and such. So, they're still detangling all of that. And there going to be quite a few uh search warrants for um inst investment institutions to try to uh piece that all together to find out what they can actually do for that claim. We did have two burglaries. One was at the snipes, which just basically a smash and grab. Uh the patrol unit is investigating that. They are still trying to pursue some um video from the uh establishment and nearby

establishments so they can kind of piece some certain things together, maybe get some uh inkling of the suspects, but uh they really don't have much to go on right now. And unfortunately, the body of Christ Church on Blue Hills Avenue, an arrest was made on that one that was inactive. uh somebody saw uh from the church did see somebody in the uh building that wasn't supposed to be there. Officers arrived. They did make an arrest with it, but uh more so it was a uh mental health issue and uh they there was a referral to the mental health clinician services that we have here in town. Our personnel report at the end of April uh we have six police officer openings. Uh we did also lose one on May 1st. So that that'll come into uh play next month. And uh we have three of our recruits in themies. Two are in the uh post academy in Meridan and we just entered one into the Hartford Academy. Our traffic statistics are um holding here with 45 motor vehicle accidents on the public roads. Uh the patrol division conducted 169 motor vehicle stops. They did have one DUI arrest and they were deployed at 100 traffic details throughout the town. Our specific traffic complaints uh perpetual on Brown Street for the speed and uh details are being assigned out there. Woodland Avenue, the south side where the semi-tra trailer trucks are um complaints of there not abiding by the uh prohibition of of traveling on that road. Uh we have put details out there in conjunction with that. There also is a a very big MDC uh project going through there and so officers will be uh

at those details throughout the day while the project is on. So, if there is any uh tractor trailers going down there, they will be dealing with them as they uh see fit when they come across them. Uh Maple Avenue and Bur Road. Uh that's a perpetual one for speed and stop sign violations. There were 13 motor vehicle details there with 17 motor vehicle stops conducted. Uh no report of motor vehicle accidents and Brown Street again for speed stop sign violations. motor vehicles details were assigned and there were five details and multiple uh let's see 20 motor vehicle stops in that area and again no motor vehicle accidents were reported. our speed shield or uh displays that were distributed throughout town. They have been uh on Maple Avenue until the uh traffic calming measures are put into place north and southbound and we do have sple speed displays there. We get lit limited data from those. Um but we do get speed data that we share with the engineering department. Crest View Drive is a speed only indicator but it's out there as is Winterberry Avenue. and our two data collection units which we do work hand inand with uh traffic engineering throughout town were deployed on Mills and Tungstus during the last month. Our mental health clinician we had 24 calls for service with her. There were 13 police requests for emergency examinations, one or I'm sorry, four voluntary committals. two of were juvenile committals and five were either refusals or unfounded uh in the

way of uh services there. Uh a little thumbnail of what uh BVA had during the uh month from Captain Clownberg. They updated the uh portable radio. So with the special events, they'd have communications with the uh police department and dispatch and uh they have been deployed at special events in a in a standby capacity for uh certain events in the town. Uh their April training was a joint training with Blue Hills Fire Department and there were two community CPR classes held and four citizens had been trained. uh they instituted a new medical records release forms for the uh patients there. So when they want to share their their medical records with their service providers, we have that uh documented that they are allowing that sharing taken place and we posted on our website so they can have easy access for that. And they also uh entered into a partnership with Amplify to establish victim uh patient resources that plaqueards are in the ambulances. And this is have a broad range of uh different things to um maybe uh drug dependency, alcoholism or any other initiatives, mental health initiatives or so. It's a uh it's a service that's provided and uh they're trying to bridge the gap between just uh being a transport unit to actually provide some uh social aspects to try to uh deal with the issues and and maybe overcome them. as far as being a uh a frequent uh user of BVA there in those capacities. And that concludes the report we have for April. Thank you.

Uh thank you, Deputy Chief Haidesh. Um for our committee members, I see Council Oliver and Councelor Beth and Brown next. Council Oliver. Thank you, Chairman. Um yes. How you doing, Deputy Chief? I was curious um about what type of data was taken from um the data collection on I think you said Mills and Tungstus. Is it just like timing between two um lines in the road or is it cameras? What's what type of data is? Is it

No, it is a laser unit and it gives us the uh the speed of the uh vehicles, gives us a number count of the vehicles and also breaks it down to hour of the day. So uh when we get certain um requests or so we'll we'll put the speed out there and then we can uh analyze it and um with help of engineering but on our side we analyze it to see okay if there's a problem say between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. there's a spike that were some uh violators going there. Well, that's when we're going to match our motor vehicle details to so the supervisor will send out that car in that district during that time and put them on a motor vehicle detail for violators. And uh you know, it's proven to be quite a a a good method where we can get the most out of our resources that we can to put them there when we know perpetual violators have are happening there. So, it's been there for a month. So, we get a pretty good indication what times of day that uh there is going to be uh certain violators or behaviors that are out there like that. So,

Oh, but that's pretty good strategics. Uh you know, it allows you not to waste any time posting up in places you don't need to. Um so, that that's that's good to hear. I was just curious. Thank you, Deputy Chief. You're welcome. Thank you. Um Councelor Dean Brown, thank you so much. Um, Deputy Chief, I'd like to go back to your um the slide that had the openings. I think you said that there's six as far as personnel voids. Yes. Yes. Yes, there are. And we have three um in process. Is that correct?

That's correct. They are in the uh police academy right now. They're at the initial stages. It's going to be another six months or so before we can actually uh put them in the field. Yeah.

So, I think I I'm trying to get the correlation if there is any to the four vacancies that were given up for part of savings in the budget. Do these have any correlations or are there two separate vacancies? Uh no there is a correlation and this is just as it stands uh through this fiscal year and what we were allocated for. Now obviously as we go forward when those other ones uh come out of our um I guess aotment then those numbers will go down obviously. So the ones that uh were not funded for 27 we will uh will u those numbers will come down that'll eat up a good portion of those. So right now we have six vacancies. We have three in process, right? So that means we have three vacancies. Nothing in process. Those those three vacancies are they a part of the four that were given up in the vacancy savings for the department or no?

Um the the six there are part that are going to be given up. the three that are in the academy, those are not considered vacancies because those are hired. Okay. So, so those are So, we still have the four vacancy savings. Correct. Okay. Excellent. So, once we we get these three, so the other three that's not filled, are they a part of the vacancy savings? And that might be a difficult question and you can get back to us. I just want to know where we are with that. Yes. The ones that are not filled will be part of the vacancy savings for fiscal year 27. Okay. So, they're not looking to be filled right now.

That's correct. That's correct. We we anticipate that they're not going to be coming. So, uh we, you know, that would be a fool's errand there. Okay. Excellent. Thank you so very much, Deputy Chiefs.

Uh thank you, counselor. Um, Chief Haidash, Deputy Chief Haidash, I just had uh um a couple of questions about uh No, not actually questions. These are uh kudos really um because we had um citizens come in who um had some talk about um Woodland uh and I see that your report, you know, had uh traffic detail out there uh which is great. And also um some stepped up on uh Brown Street. There was a couple other um notes that came in and complaints and so glad that you know a detail also went out that way and uh really appreciate uh that you guys are are you know tracking to through via the um the speeds speed uh limits you know and taking that data and using it um for uh you know for for timing uh as council Oliver said to you know get some effective um enforce out there. So, really appreciate that that piece.

Okay. Yes. Thank you. We also have, you know, informed the officers that when they're in their districts and maybe they're um, you know, completing their reports, these hotspots, if you will, for for in uh traffic enforcements or so maybe they're not on a motor vehicle detail, but they'll go to those spots just so the uh citizens there can see us as well. And uh we have gotten a lot of uh a lot of citizen interaction with that as well that they're happy to see us and and uh you know frankly the officers are happy to be out there with them too. Good hustle. Thank you. Councelor Beth Brown. Is that legacy or is that

uh No, thank you so much. It just brought up a a a point that was brought up at the council meeting where the people on Jackson Road um feel that they're a little bit neglected um and feel like there there needs to be some more enforcement on that side of town.

So, I didn't see that on the um the the report. I just wanted to kind of like uh elevate that a little bit more because it was brought up at council meeting on Monday where um individuals on Jackson Road and on the other side of Bloomfield feel like it's um a motor speed rate down their street and they don't feel like they're uh getting um and these are my words enough attention from the police department in this area of town when it comes to speeding as Yeah, Jackson has been on the uh we do have the data from that and we have uh conducted those uh enforcement actions over there in the past. Again, you are correct that we kind of have to uh shift at times and but we don't forget we still you know go back and revisit and uh we you know have been out there in the past and yeah it they are due for another uh another tour if you will of uh of enforcement and uh and priority. Thank you,

Council Oliver.

Council Oliver, is that legacy hand or Sorry, I thought I unmuted. Thank you, Chairman. Deputy Chief, I got a lot of complaints. I mean, obviously, this is just verbal across uh well, I don't want to say across the table because I'm I'm not present. Um, but I hear a lot of complaints of Brookline, too, because, you know, it's a oneway and a lot of people there's, you know, at the end of Brooklyn. Um, there's there's an extra street down there and people are just flying in and out of there. Um, so I just wanted to, you know, speak on that on behalf of, uh, the residents that when I see them, there's a lot of people on Brookline complaining. Thank you.

Yes, we'll duly noted. We will uh put that on the uh on the enforcement list as well. Much appreciated. Thank you. Thank you, Deputy Chief Haidash. Um so so we'll move along to um the fire department updates. One more question. Oh, councelor Mahan. Okay, please.

Thank you. Uh and thank you for uh your presentation, Deputy Chief. I I missed quite a bit of it. Um, but I'm uh still very thankful that you uh gave that presentation. A quick question is, you know, of course we've had um the of course our budget issues, we've had um those staffing issues. Can you um please give us some insight on um what the I guess patrol expectations have looked like and um uh what the current abilities are of our police force to meet kind of what those expectations um are from the community.

Yes. Well, you know, we have our uh our mandates for our um patrol division as far as the number of officers that we're putting out there. Um fortunately, when we get kind of uh into these summer months now, slim and we have a couple of um officers that have planned paternity coming as well. Um, so then we kind of get into a a a case there when there's uh overtime and quite frankly there's a lot of times where we're going to have to force officers to stay and work to to meet those minimum mandates that we have in place. So the the coverage is always going to be there and uh that services will be there. Now, unfortunately, when we get kind of thin, maybe some of the extra details that we might might put out there, uh when we'd have a couple of extra bodies now above the minimum mandates, those kind of get depleted a little bit. Um when certain summer vacations come and um you know, that's where we suffer. and now with paternity and and other leave that um some of those extra details might not be out there. But um we also kind of will will shift a little bit like uh with our um new um our um emotional support animal with the officer uh Moyes. He's on regular patrol, but then when we have extra people on that day, he gets assigned particularly to community services with uh with the uh K-9 there and other activities that we might have. So, some of those we don't neglect them. We kind of fit them in. It's not the best of uh situations that we um have because we can't have somebody there assigned there all the time to community service and that's their function. they're 40 hours a week, but we don't neglect it. We have them uh, you know, shoehorned in there and we try to

provide as best we can with what we have. And then, you know, again, there are budgetary constraints there. So, with the mandated um, contractual leave and stuff like that that we have to give and and fill that with backfill of overtime, some of those other details uh, can't be sustained on an overtime basis. So, but we will do our best to get them in. And again, you know, we're not going to neglect it. We will try to fit them in as best we can with what we have. Thank you very much, Deputy Chief.

Thank you, Councelor Mahan, and thank you for joining us. Um we're going to uh now move on to um fire department updates and we have uh center fire district and uh Lieutenant Arnold is here for Chief Bernard. Good evening.

Hi, good evening. Uh Lieutenant Mike Arnold filling in for Chief Barner who couldn't couldn't be here tonight. Um I believe everyone was given a copy of the report if I'm not mistaken. I'm not sure how this really works, but um for the month of April, we responded to 32 calls for service, which brought up to our to May 1st, we 191 calls for service for the year. uh responded to three water calls, four carbon monoxide calls, CO calls, one hazmat call, four motor vehicle accidents, three open burns, nine false alarms, and three medical assists assists, and two electrical emergencies. On April 6th, uh we had a dual response. We responded to Blue Hills at 50 East Newberry Road for smoke from a chimney. On April 8th, Blue Hills responded to us on a dual response to 12 River Drive for a reported oven fire. Um, April 9th, we responded to Blue Hills on a dual response to 52 Joyce Street for reported porch fire and we were subsequently canceled in route. On April 14th, we responded to the Blue Hills for a mutual aid to 1414 Blue Hills A Pepperage Farms for a drier fire. On April 21st, uh, Blue Hills responded to us on a dual response to 42 Hill Farm Road where a neighbor reported the rear of a house was on fire, which ended up being a garbage can that was next to the house that caught fire and caused some damage to the exterior of the home. For maintenance purposes, we were in the process of updating the cosmetics of the uh, fire headquarters at 8 18 Whittenberry A. uh some of the I believe some of the uh wood is uh rot rotting.

Uh we're still updating the HVAC system at the same firehouse and we will be replacing a bad catch basin behind the company 2 firehouse on Duncaster Road. For community outreach on April 12th, we did a driveby with a few of the apparatus for a child's birthday. On April 25th, we had a large group attend in Hartford for the Fight for Air stair climb, which was a huge success. And uh I believe they raised over like $4,000. Um training April 7th, um we did a back to basics like ladder training drill. Uh followed by April 14th, we trained on fire hydrants and brush fires. Then April 21st, we performed a search and rescue training. April 28th, we had our monthly maintenance night and commissioners meeting. And April 16th, we hosted the task force 52 meeting at Company 3. uh that brings all the uh fire chiefs and uh training officers from the specific task force 52 of the surrounding towns east Graanby Softfield, Windsor Locks, Windsor, uh the Blue Hills and so forth. Um we we had one member complete the firefighter one class successfully and right now our training roster has a total of 35 members and we approximately have six cadets at this time. I believe that's it.

Awesome. Thank you so much, Lieutenaro. Uh, are there any questions um online? No. Uh, chair has none. Um, we will move on to Blue Hills Fire District. Chief, M Mr. Chair, councelor Oliver had his hand up. I'm sorry. Um, thank you.

Thank you. I appreciate that. I pul I put my hand up last minute. Thank you, Councelor Dean Brown. Um, thank you, Chair. Uh, no, I just want to say, you know, I hear training training training and I I I think that's great. Um, you know, keep keep a sharp tool, right? Um, is important in toolbox. So, I just want to say um kudos to you guys for keeping up on training. Thank you, counselor. Thanks, Councelor Oliver. Uh none. No more anymore. No. Uh we'll move to uh Chief Jones.

Okay. Good evening everyone. I I'll just quickly do an update of uh March seeing that we didn't meet last month. Uh in March, the Blue Hills fire responded to 37 incidents. No major incidents in district, but we were dispatched to the dual response the center fire for the house explosion on Bir Lane and a kitchen fire in Tungstus Avenue. Windsor had requested Blue Hills to the scene of a structure fire on Leage Road. So, one engine responded over there. Uh we responded to five mutual aid calls and or dual responses. Uh other ind district calls mainly involved fire alarm activations uh that were unintentional smoke from cooking uh accident or accidental alarms, motor vehicle accidents with injuries or fluids and uh calls involving electrical wires. Uh for that month we did a critique of a fire that we had on East Harold Street back in February. uh radio communications hazmat situation drill and we went over departmental SGS. Also uh proud to report that we're continuing to recruit volunteers and our attendance for responding to calls is up and that certain volunteers uh you know have passed all their certifications and training and are signed up to drive the fire apparatus for that month of March. Well, we conducted a fire drill at the correct school for community outreach. Uh, and both departments are continuing to meet and plan our 100th combined anniversary celebration. And the first soldout event will be the golf tournament which is tomorrow at Wooden Berry Hills Golf Club and we are working on our 2016 Junth parade and craft event. Uh, that's it for March. for

April. Uh for the month of April, Blues Fire responded to 33 incidents, including two due responses to uh Bloomfield Center Fire District and one mutual aid call to Windsor uh 72 Pleasant Street to assist with a structure fire there. There are no major incidents to report within the district. We did have a small fire uh as a lieutenant was mentioning that produced smoke at a residence at 52 Joyce and a fire and a dryer at uh 14 14 Blue Hills Avenue, Pepperage Farms that was knocked down uh by the employees working there with a fire extinguisher, but it did produce a lot of smoke throughout the building. Uh mainly the other calls for the month were primarily fire alarm activations, unintentional due to cooking or alarm malfunctions, small outside fires, calls involving electrical cable wires or motor vehicle accidents with injuries and or fluids. And for the month of April uh for training uh we worked on ground ladders talked about uh hazardous conditions and we did a Mayday CPR drill with the uh Bloomfield ambulance for community outreach. here. Blue Hills Fire was invited to uh attend a service of ribbon cutting at the True Faith Baptist uh Ministries Church at 7:30 Blue Hills Avenue and Blue Hills Fire attended a wake of uh Bloomfield Police Sergeant Stacy Thomas' mother who passed away. Uh the services were at the Bethlehem Church and both departments are continuing to plan a 100th anniversary celebration. As I mentioned before, uh the first soldout event will be the golf

tournament tomorrow at Whittenberry Hills and we are continuing to work on the Junth uh festivities. And that pretty much concludes my report. Thank you, Chief. Thank you. Thank you, Chief Jones. Um, councelor dean Brown. Thank you so very much. Thank you, Chief Jones. Um, I am so excited about the 100th uh centennial an uh anniversary celebration. I'm very excited about that, but I was also very disappointed that I couldn't make the um graduation ceremony this past Monday. Would you like to tell us a little bit more about that?

Oh, yes. the graduation, we we had five firefighters that uh completed their firefighter one class. You know, they're fully certified to uh you know, enter a burning fire structure. So, uh you know, that was really big for the department and uh hopefully they'll continue their training and uh progress even more. But it was a wonderful event that was well attended.

Thank you so much. Once again, I was so very sorry that I couldn't make the event. Um, but do definitely bring congratulations to you, to the department, and to all the students. Thank you so very much. And once again, can't wait for the celebration. Can't wait for the carnival, right, that's going to take place. There's going to be a carnival Bloomfield. Um, while we have the Junth celebration on the 20th, there will be a carnival that evening and I believe it goes through that Sunday. The carnival is going to take place at the uh first cathedral. So, I am hoping to all of our residents and friends and families from other neighboring towns to come out and celebrate with us. I'm excited. Um I haven't been to a carnival in a long time. So, thanks to you and to Center Fire and to this amazing milestone for our fire departments here in the town of Bloomfield. Thank you so very much.

Yep. Thank you. It should be quite an event. Thank you, councelor. Uh, councelor Oliver.

Thank you, chairman. Uh, first off, I'd like to uh say my condolences to uh Sergeant Thomas on u the loss of a family member. Um, and second off, I'm I'm excited to hear about the carnival. I mean, I grew up in this neighborhood here when I used to walk across the street to the Save More Carnival, um, which you never see anymore. So, bringing a carnival to Bloomfield, I think that's awesome. Um, and you know, I when I hear you you guys speak on training that you guys do, do you have like are they like a weekly toolbox talk type of thing? Um, are these scheduled trainings? Cuz I I I always hear a lot of training and I was just curious like is it like a weekly thing where you have small trainings and then you have larger trainings? I'm just happy to hear about the training.

Well, our departmental training is on a Monday evening and every Monday there's something scheduled for us to train on. Um so, you know, we pretty much do that year round and um you know, if someone wants to go to anything additional, we provide that as well. You know, there's a financial, you know, financial we'll pay for any course that someone wants to take. I I agree. You know, like sharpening the tool, right? Yeah. We we constantly train and you know, that's that's kind of what we do. Okay. Thank you. I I appreciate um your your report. Mhm. Thank you.

Hey, Council Oliver, um Chief, just want to ask a question. I did see where there is some um the gas training uh for Bloomfield residents. Is that Yeah, that's that's going to be uh next Monday night. Mhm. We're going to have some speakers there and uh there will be training on what the dos and don'ts of uh natural gas. Okay. Is that um is that at uh the Blue Hills? Yeah, it'll be at the fire department. Fire department on Monday. Monday the 18th. 18th. Yes. Okay.

Monday, folks. Monday the 18th at Blue Hills Fire Department. there will be some uh gas training and this is um based on the incident that that we had on Bambberry Lane and wanted to just Yeah, that that's kind of what uh you know got this whole thing started. 700 p.m. uh Monday 700 p.m. Blue Hills Fire Department. Um if you're interested, Mr. Chair.

Yes. Yes, ma'am. Is it possible that we can get that information up on our website so um that our residents would know and maybe even in the Bloomfield messenger? I do believe that training is necessary and it's timely based on what we've just gone through. So, if we could get that training up on the website and maybe in the messenger, I think that would be absolutely wonderful just to let most more of our residents know what's taking place. Thank you.

Yes, ma'am. So, I I understand from um that from our comms and ops uh folks that it is up on the Bloomfield website. It's on our calendar. Um maybe if we can expand it just a little bit quick maybe Facebook elevate that a little bit more. maybe put it on our Facebook page, get it in the paper just so that we can try to reach as many residents as possible is I believe that this will be once again very timely and very important for our residents to know about. Thank you. I I certainly agree. I certainly agree. If we can we can do that. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Um no other questions. We're we're going to move on to um EMS. Uh Mr. Blumenfeld.

Thank you. Well, I I did not prepare a written report because we have not been able to have a EMS committee meeting since our last meeting here of public health, safety, and environment. Uh we do during interim times keep an eye on what's going on largely through uh coordinator uh Clomberg's reports. Uh it it's certainly clear that the ambulance uh continues to work smoothly in its usual manner and uh we continue to keep an eye on that. We are currently in the process of trying to reschedu our May meeting and anticipate having it probably next week. Um, I as would like to take a minute or a second, a couple seconds to thank the council for recognizing the exceptional efforts of the BVA volunteers who receive incentives by increasing the budgeted amount for those purposes. Uh, it's much appreciated. Thank you. And end of report.

Thank you, Mr. Fenfeld really appreciate it. Um any questions? No. Uh Council Beth Brown,

thank you so much. Just um trying to see how we could provide more support to our residents as far as CPR training, AED training coming out of the volunteer ambulance um division. Is that something I know that we have offered training in the past, but is there possibly a way that we can get a good cadence of it um once a quarter um once every 6 months something like that just so that we can make it available to our residents? I know that it will be a cost but just to getting on on a regular cadence with that is that a possibility CPR training is done for public groups on an ongoing basis. Um, I certainly can ask uh the coordinator to look into uh stimulating more of those. Um, and then certainly they will continue to do the ones that are requested. Um, and I would think that if anybody knows groups or groups of people who would like to have training and are willing to spend a little bit of time, um, they definitely should contact uh, coordinator Clomberg to set that up.

I will pass that along though. Thank you. I would appreciate that. I think it's it's it's purely selfish selfish on my part because I know that my um certification is coming up for uh renewal. So if there was a cadence that we knew that it's going to take place every 6 months um every quarter, we would be able to provide um to to plan for it and to make sure that we are in the classes. So that's what I'm saying is if if there's something that can be more formalized that we could share with our residents, I think would be beneficial and once again it might just be purely selfish on my part. Thank you. Thank you councelor Dean Brown. Uh council Oliver.

Thank you chairman u to piggy back off of councelor uh dean brown um you know training training training training o always is great. Um but the I I don't know the name of the virus. What's it the the new virus that has come out virus? Hans virus. Hans virus. Right.

Um thank you. Are we training it? Are we prepared for that because that seems to be the new coming co possibly. Um or I would think that maybe we could um I know the budget season's tight, but um is there a way that we can figure out a plan, have a plan in place if if this actually turns into something uh bigger than it is now? Uh that's just uh maybe a statement or a question. I just just an idea. Thank you.

Interesting question. um and and thoughtful. Uh I think that the uh BVA people do try to keep up on current uh needs. Um I don't know if there is something about the hentus that would impact particularly on uh ambulance services. Um, it it sounds like something that's not pandemic like at least hopefully at all and at least yet. So, I I would have to ask, but I would think that they should and will

about what's going on to be able to respond the way they need to. Yeah, I didn't mean to put you on the spot. It's just it just you know talking about training um it just seemed like it it it could be a um interesting topic or you know just some some type of discussion. I don't know where it could begin but I just wanted to bring it up. Great. Thank you.

Thanks Council. I wanted um Director Krauss um I see your hand raised. I'm sure you have something that you can weigh in on this. Thank you. Yes, good evening. And I can talk about it a little bit. Um I don't want to take um anyone else's time that speaking before mine, but I do um have something that I can share when it is my turn. So I didn't want everyone to start jumping and and um but I will talk about it when it when it's my turn to talk. Thank you. Thank Thank you so much. Thank you so much.

Yeah, no problem. And and so with that I I am going to hold off my question but it is to ask um and I our town manager is here also you know just made me think of us provide and then it has nothing to do with hunter virus. I'm sorry let me back up just a moment but it had to do with the uh CPR training if maybe the town staff um also might be interested in the CPR training. you know, we have quite a few people coming in and out of the building, things of that nature, and you might, you know, run into something and and want to be prepared before the ambulance gets here, uh, if at all possible. But just a thought, just a thought that, you know, it' be nice to have everyone prepared if we're going to be prepared. No, that that's a good thought uh councelor Cooper and and we already have that type of uh training provided uh to us through BVA as well as with um defib training as well. So um we are prepared uh to help staff and citizens alike uh if anyone finds himself in distress.

Awesome. Awesome. Thank you so much, town manage. Really appreciate that. I do. Thanks. Um so we're we're going to move on uh and we will move on to the conservation energy and environment committee. Uh Paula Jones. Hi Paula.

Hello. Um good evening and thank you. Uh just in terms of April highlights, uh these are all things that I think I mentioned previously, but we had our Arbor Day event on April 24th. It was very well attended um at town hall about 60 people. We planted a white oak in honor of David Mann's longtime service and uh it was nice again to have a speaker from the Connecticut DEP forestry division. Um we are again recognized as a tree city uh USA community for the second consecutive year and uh once again for the second consecutive year we are one of 23 communities in the state. So um something to take pride in. um only 23. Um secondly, uh a shout out uh to the land use department and our environmental planner. Um he's been doing really fantastic work and because of that, Bloomfield was among a group of 14 towns invited to a special reception for legislators at the capital to talk about programs and pro uh projects advancing sustainability and community engagement. Um, Sustainable CT actually requested that we um, invite our legislators to stop by if they were in the building. It was kind of a quiet time at that point at the capital. Um, but Representative Bobby Gibson did stop by, as did Bloomfield resident Lorie Brown, who is the executive director of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. Um it was kind of a lunchon over the lunch period uh activity and very helpful in terms of networking with other towns and getting other ideas. So um you know time well spent. And then finally um on May 2nd we uh participated

in Simsbury sustainability the the Simsbury sustainability committee's fair. It's something they've been doing for a number of years with the Simsbury Public Library. They invited us this year to co-sponsor uh the fair along with Avon's clean energy commission. We had over well we collectively at the at the public library over,200 people attended the fair. Um there were 35 different organizations sharing their work. Trees for Bloomfield had a table. Um and the Bloomfield Pollinator Pathway Group had a native seedbank. Uh we had several volunteers staffing the table and uh again it was just another fantastic opportunity to make connections with new people and uh talk about potential partnerships. Uh, one thing that was kind of fun was somebody from the Army Corps of Engineers, uh, you know, at the Trees for Boomfield table talked about providing potentially some free some free saplings, uh, native trees, uh, because apparently they they grow on the kind of embankment of the Colbrook River Colbrook River Lake Dam and uh, there's something that they need to kind of remove for the int integrity of the dam, but um you know it's a source of free trees potentially. So it's something to look into. Um so again, you know, just good events and good networking opportunities. Uh one thing that's not correct on the report and I want to correct it right now, our shred day and small electronics recycling event is coming up, but it's on Saturday, May 30th. we needed to move the date because there was another event scheduled at Bloomfield High School. So, that's still coming up. There will be an

article in the Messenger this week about it. Um and once again, we'll be accepting donations for the food pantry. Um so, please help get the word out to um to our neighbors. And then finally, um, upcoming for the fall, we are partnering with the Bloomfield Public Library to, um, do a, uh, film screening, the story of plastic, and a panel discussion. Basically talks about things you can do to, um, reduce your use of plastics, particularly single-use plastics. And, you know, it provides information about how much that you think gets recycled actually isn't recycled. So just an effort again to um reduce the waist stream and uh you know be better environmental stewards. That concludes my report and as you can see there are um flyers attached and these have been shared I think on the town website and uh this has been published in the um messenger a couple times. So I'll take questions.

Awesome. Thank you. Uh, Miss Jones. Um, Councelor Oliver, I think you have your hand raised. Yes. Thank you, Chairman. Uh, no, I don't really have a question, you know, I just I think it's a great idea, you know, about, you know, making um things go hand in hand and we end up with free trees. I think that's a plus and I just want to thank you for your report. Thanks, Paula. Thank you.

Thank you, counselor. Uh, no other questions. Um I'm uh I'm just interested in seeing that uh uh expose on plastic. I I will sign up for that. Right. We've heard a lot about it and microlastics in our food and in systems and everything. So yeah, I think that's it's good to know. Um so thank you very much. Um we're going to move on. I'm sorry. Okay, we're going to move on. Um we are moving to the uh West Hartford Bloomfield health updates. Uh Amy Krauss, our health director.

Uh good evening. Um so what I'll do is I'll first talk about um some of the community outreach events. Um April 6th we held our healthy lifestyle workshop. Um we've also been holding um some Nlloxxone trainings. Um we held one at the library and also one at our office. Um, one particular one was April 8th, which was Save a Life Day. Um, we've also participated in the Bloomfield Youth Summit and provided some health education materials. We've recently just got accepted um funding, well, not funding, but we've recently just got asked by the Department of Public Health to help promote their sun um cancer screening program. And so we with that we've been receiving some um sunscreen dispensers. And so we've been working with Dave um Mlesco and Leisure Services and we will be providing those. So I'm excited about that because that's a new program um that we're going to be partnering with. Um and those dispensers I believe might be at the park or at the pool area. Um I'm going to leave that up to Dave to decide what he wants to do with those. Um and they're also going to be providing some sunscreen um cancer awareness materials as well that we are also going to start passing out um when we are doing our health education. Some upcoming events again another healthy lifestyle workshop and our bone and postural workshop with our physical therapist. Um I am going to talk about I am now going to jump into the Hannah virus update. So, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the West Harford Bloomfield Health District have closely been monitoring the outbreak um related to the cruise ship. The risk though to Connecticut residents is extremely low. Um currently when DPH and the health district are not aware at

this time of any Connecticut residents being aboard the cruise ship or also or being exposed to the illness of the outbreak. Um Hannah virus there's two different types. There a family of viruses if you don't know much about it that cause um this disease. There's the pulmonary syndrome one and then there's one that um you would have fever and renal syndrome. Both can be deadly especially if you have a delay to health care and don't have access um to healthcare. There is no treatment for it. It is spread through contact with rodent urine dropping saliva. um rarely though through any bites or scratch from an infected rodent. Uh this particular um type is the the Andes virus. Um and again um Andes is spread primarily through the exposure to rodent urine droppings and saliva limited situations. With this particular one, it is from person to person. Um and so that is why the concern is is trying to isolate um people that have been infected and and quarantine them. Um but again Connecticut the last reported case of Hannah virus was back in 2014. Um this originally um is primarily occurs in the southwest portion of the US. um back in 1995 is when it became a nationally notable um disease, but again right now there is um the risk to Connecticut is is very low. So some things that residents can do if they are concerned um they can reach out to the health district obviously for more information, but to avoid contact obviously with rodent urine droppings and saliva. Um also any materials that you might find in a rodent nest. Um, people can also reach out to a pest control company um and have their

properties assessed to see if they have any rodent activity. Um, they can also be proactive and just do that and look at preventative measures even um even before there is a problem. They can seal holes, gaps in the home, um, garages, anything to keep rodents out and clean up any food that might attract rodents as well. Um, again, people will place traps. Um, but the best thing to do is to reach out to a to a pest control company. Um, but again, the health district has information if anyone is interested. Um, they can stop by the office or they can reach out to us for more info. Thank you.

Thank you, Director Krauss. Um I don't see any hands raised but I just um you know thank you for the information um that we received and and I do know that there was a I guess the concern was one of the points you made. I I don't want to raise anybody's, you know, temperature about this, but one of the concerns was that this was a a human-touman um spread. And so that was the I guess the impetus for the quarantining and shutting down of everything and putting people in uh different buildings uh here in Nebraska. So, um, thank you for the information and and certainly if anybody's looking for it, you guys have it and, uh, should reach out to the, uh, uh, West Hartford Bloomfield Health District. Um, thank you. So, Councelor Ethan Brown,

thank you so much. I just really wanted to say that, you know, the health district is like a superhero. They're there when you need them. Um, and I want to just thank uh, Director Krauss for that information. and for your willingness to be able to share with our community. When things happen like this and we don't have rhyme or reason, panic is is is something that is is a natural occurrence, but thank you for having the information and so for being willing to share the information with us. Um, I don't believe that this is going to be a pandemic. I could be wrong, but because I know how you all stood up quickly during CO, if this should turn out to be something worse, I am confident that the health district will be able to take care of the needs of the residents of West Hartford and Bloomfield. So, Director Krauss, thank you to you and your staff for all that you do to keep us informed and to keep us safe.

Thank you. I appreciate that. Thank you, Councelor Beth Brown. Councelor Oliver. Thank you, Chairman. Yes, I just wanted to say thank you as well. Um, and uh, you know, that's why we have professionals around us and to give us their advice and input. So, thank you.

Thank you. I appreciate I think you had also asked um, Councelor Oliver about plans and if we were ready. So, you know, um, we've always had different types of plans. We've had smallox um plans, then we had flu pandemic plans. And so we um work very closely with our EMS and our emergency management director um for both towns. And so um even after COVID, we revisited those plans. And so um rest assured those plans get updated. We're required to update those, submit them. We review school plans, school security plans. Um, so we do have plans in place. Um, and then what we do is when something like this happens and we partner with DPH to get the the correct information and even if um, we had questions, we're able to reach out to them and get a response if need be right away. Um, so I feel confident um, with the information that I share and obviously if anything changed um, that both town um, managers and mayors would know immediately. Um, but thank you for for your questions and for and for your support. Thank you.

Appreciate it. Yep. Byebye.

Thank you, Director Cross. Thank you, Councelor Oliver. Um, no other hands raised. We're going to move next to um uh the other other public safety concerns. Um so, you know, I um I reached out to uh uh Mr. Carter uh of public works and um he has provided me with uh some updates um for the trafficcoming measures uh on Maple. And um his uh statement uh is that um the trafficcoming uh measures um such as raised intersections and islands to reduce speeds are what they consist of. and the bid and the contract were forwarded to purchasing last week. They are under legal review by attorney Crumby. And while that is occurring, uh they are finalizing the plans. Um he anticipates the process being completed this month, May, with the contract going out to bid after that. bids will be received, awarded and a start of construction is anticipated later this season. So um that is the statement that we have th that is the report um that is current and I want to um ensure our residents who have uh made uh you know numerous inquiries that um you know this committee uh will report out on a regular basis um the information that we receive uh so that folks have a uh a single source of of information um and and don't have to reach out um to numerous individuals here in the town. Um and if any further uh questions they

have, they will either come from uh town manager or Mr. Carter, but also monthly uh whenever these meetings are scheduled flow through here so that it is um announced um throughout um the town of Bloomfield and and not siloed to just certain individuals. Um and that's that's that from from um this this body's point of view, but certainly if there are any questions um from our counselors or no. Okay. Thank all right then. So we we will now move on to public comments. Okay, Lori Jillian, 43 Maple Avenue. Uh, thank you very much uh for that. It's good to know that we will get regular updates on a monthly basis. uh as as I won't go reiterate into because we we did speak the other night at before the council because we thought we were gonna have a presentation. Uh so I don't need to rehash about all the delays in this project. So it it it's very very helpful to have a monthly bas a monthly update because this as many of you know this has been going on for since 2022 and um it it's much needed I think you know uh I'll go into that in a second

about the daily uh daily traffic uh concerns that we have and but that And I just wanted to ask the question because we heard that Robert Troier and we are very thankful for his work in in moving this project and he's very talented and we respect him and think the world of him and we're very saddened to hear that he will be t I I don't want to get into this too much but I get He's I think Alvin reported the other night that he's taking the package. So, we just want to know how that might impact this project uh because we have seen in the past when there have been staff issues that it has delayed the project. So, uh that you know that said I just wanted to put that question out there. Maybe you could answer it some other time. Whatever. Anyways, I just wanted to I wanted to go on because uh given the opportunity, I I see that there was a lot of discussion during public hearings about traffic concerns throughout town and we heard it tonight. It's it's in the public comments last week. And uh that said, I think number one, there are things that can be done that are not costly uh and could be done immediately. And I think you might have read the article in the Harford Current. It's very good article about many towns having a um what do they call it? a um vision zero committee to work on these

issues. And I think I think if anything the time is is is now is apparent. I think we we've heard from the public. I think that a task force like that that would have community input, we are all experiencing this not for nothing. uh staff does not live here. Staff does not experience what we residents experience on a daily basis. It is for that reason that we complain to whomever we can, to Todd, to Alvin, to council, and not for nothing, I know that um we did get the ordinance, which is a huge step. I think we can add some more streets to that. Make it the corridor Maple Avenue added to that oversized vehicles. Which will lead me to the point that I want to make is that it has gone on for way too long. There should not be the amount of industrial traffic that we see on our collector residential streets. It is unsafe. We residents should feel safe walking down our streets, driving down our streets, getting out of our driveways, and it is just a recipe for disaster. We do not need to have another Woodland Avenue fatality. These commercial trucks haul heavy equipment. Our streets were not meant for resident for our residential streets which our collector

roads were not meant for the heavy load that goes up and down the streets every day on a continuous basis. That said, I just want to say that there are a couple of measures because I did reference that and if we had if we had a task force or a committee with public representation, I think that we could just achieve so much stop signs not costly crosswalks, speed

humps. So, I would hope that you might take into consideration that we form a a task force or we have a uh committee. There are people that would like to volunteer. I'll I'll wrap up. Thank you. And and I think we would achieve a lot more in this town. Thank you, Lori. I appreciate your words. Thank you. Thank you for sharing. Please. Did I turn it off? No, you Oh, okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening. Hi,

Jonah Weidman, 247 Park Avenue. I ditto everything the lady said. I'm here to represent School Street even though I live on Park Avenue, but I'm on the corner and uh it's one of the hot spots. We have been dealing with this since, like she said, 2022. It was approved that we have a sign put up to say no tractor semi-tractor trailer trucks come down school street. Well, no one's paying attention to that sign at all. I um experienced the house shaking every time a truck come down the street. I'm so afraid that my foundation on my house is going to be um compromised. Uh I went to a meeting yesterday with the engineers about the street being repaired and the hump bumps put in and um the sign moved. The sign is so far back really the trucks cannot see it until they turn into school street from Park Avenue and then it's too late to back up and go another direction. The engineers said that uh something will be done maybe next year. Well, like I said, this been going on since 2022. We are suffering on school street. We have one of the oldest senior citizens living on the corner who happens to be 104 years old.

She likes to cross the street, but there are gator uh holes in this road and I'm so afraid that if she even trip or stumble, that's going to be the end of our resident of 104 years old. Uh there has been no reduction of traffic trailer trucks coming on the school street. I spoke to um Kevin who's part of the um traffic caling committee. I we emailed um Chief Hammock I believe that's his name about the situation years ago. Nothing has been done. I suggested that maybe they can put some lights on the sign that says no semi-tractor trailer trucks. Nothing has been done. Uh it's very frustrating and it's very dangerous like she said and um it's costly because I believe there's damaging being done to the homes with the um movement of the trucks. The houses move. Every time the trucks come down the street, the houses move. We only We don't only get tractor trailer trucks. We get the city buses. We get the school buses. We get the fire trucks. We get everything coming down there to go down to um Cottage Grove Road or Home Depot or Lowe's or wherever they're going. It's very disturbing. And I don't know if this is a waste of time to keep coming here to talk about this because nothing's being done. So I I don't know where to go from here. You said there's going to be reporting done every month about the situation. We're a little tired of reporting. We need some action. What about it? Who do we talk to? What

do we do next? Can anyone tell me? So, first of all, thank you right for sharing your concerns and and you are in the right place. Our town staff, town manager, police, um they hear you. Okay. You know, unfortunately, the wheels do turn slowly sometimes, but they do indeed turn. Yeah. Um, you know, we are a town of, you know, 22,000 and we try to, um, make every attempt to, um, use the resources wisely, um, with all of the interests and concerns that everyone has.

And so that's not to say that yours is not important to you, because it is, or you wouldn't be here. Um, but we are trying to balance some of those and and hopefully, you know, we can get to it, the town itself, just part of the the town council, but hopefully the town itself and, you know, some of those priorities can be moved forward. Yeah. Right. I don't think it'll take much to uh move the sign up a little further to the corner, maybe. The sign is on school street. It's on school street. It's on school street, but it's It's by the bus stop where on school what's the crossing street park park

in school streets get there I believe she's talking about sorry I believe through the chair I believe she's talking about the cottage grove side of school street not the metaccomt metaccomt side okay if I'm correct ma'am side the metaccom site across the street from the historical schoolhouse house. The sign is way back where the bus stop is, and you cannot see the sign until you drive uh a few feet down School Street.

We need to at least have a blinking light or have the sign. I called the um what is it? The public works and asked them could they move the sign because the sign shakes anyway. And um nothing has been done. So, if you if you don't mind, we we have our town manager and it looks like he has his hand up and hopefully Hi. Hello, Mr.

Good evening. Good, good evening, ladies and thank you for your voice tonight. And um uh Councelor Cooper, um you you you were um spot on in terms of just uh explaining the process and and and and what it takes here, but uh I'm going to call you tomorrow and um and and see where we can go in a conversation. I know you've been trying to tie me down and and I do appreciate your your perseverance and and reaching out to me. So, you can await that call and um and I've been that guy. and Lori can attest to it. I'll get the whole team in a room and and we'll sit there and and we'll um

we'll uh hash it out together because I do believe that uh um you know more hands make the the work easier and um and as someone who's vested in community who's experiencing uh what you speak of uh your voice will be valued at my table at all times. So, uh, we'll we'll reach out to you and we'll schedule that. It probably be closer to next week, uh, versus this week with the week almost over. Uh, so if that's agreeable to you, I look forward to our conversation. I look forward to it also and I appreciate it. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. And and I wanted to say one other thing cuz uh, what's that Lori? Well, this is for Lori and hopefully she

Oh, okay. can hear me. But um you know and I know her well-intentioned as well. And uh but but Lori, you over there starting rumors. You're starting rumors. Lori, you're over there telling people that I'm I'm giving the retirement incentives to to the people who've been working here for two years. And uh you about to get me in trouble. So uh just for clarification, Rob Trier is is going on to enjoy the rest of his life. He is not taking part in any retirement incentive. Uh he's just going on to enjoy the rest of his life and and we wish him luck. Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you all. Okay.

Evening. Hi, my name is Anthony Gray. I live at 118 School Street and I'm here about well, she already went over with the trucks, but I'm um here about the speed on my street between West Angleston and Park Street. You don't got you got um a three-way intersection, a three-way intersection with stop signs. You literally have cars blowing through that stop signs. I lived here for been in that house since 1986. The cops used to sit west all the time. You guys, the cops, West Egleston,

West Engleston, they used to sit back there. It they I haven't seen them. And I mean, they used to be posted out there from morning to night. And I know you can't do that, but every time I used to come downstairs at 12:00 at night time, 1:00 over 2, you could always see police always got somebody pulled over. Now there's nothing. You got more people moving in. You got people um what's that new um project um right across from Berry Circle with the corner. You got more people coming through. They use our street through a cut cut through. They're literally going around cars or on top of that street even passing cars in between the streets. What do you call it? Trying to beat the light that before it turns green before it turns green. Then we got traffic that builds up. Say if you got a bus that wants um the bus that's going to Seabberry, people that want to take a left onto Park Park A, the traffic backs up all the way all the way almost to Rockwell. I can't pull out my driveway. It gets stand still. Can there be a left a left um um a arrow turning left or something to let cars go to relieve the traffic, the congestion? Cuz this is like getting ridiculous. There's times that I can't even pull out my driveway cuz I know cars you can literally see them not stopping for the sign or they will go some cars will stop and they'll go around that car that stopped at that stop sign and I mean I have called the police. I have left a message on there and nothing has been going. I mean I understand Rockwell is a hot spot but so is West English and I'm just tired of it and people on my street are tired of it too. Yes, sir. I can uh add in that there have been 30 uh motor vehicle details on school street um so far this year and 30

motor vehicle stops as well on between west but I'm not Rockwell between westston and park that's that's a hot spot you guys always sit at

park the cottage between park and cottage that's what I our data shows that there have been 30 details and 30 enforcement actions taken so far to date this Well, something need to be done between West Angleston and Park A cuz they're literally blowing through that light. Literally blowing through those stop signs. Literally, you literally got cars going around other cars while they're stopped. Or sometimes if they're not moving fast enough in between my street cuz I live at 118 and I sit right there. They all go around there and I'm just tired of it. I can't back out of my my um back out of my driveway while worry about somebody gonna smack into my car or my next door neighbor. He has a big pickup. We constantly got to sit there and we see it all the time and nothing has been done about it.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Gray. Um I'm certain that the police department will get some data and come out there. Okay. But thank you first of all for your comments. Thank you for sharing. Uh, Council Oliver.

Uh, yes. Thank you, Chair. Yeah, I just wanted to speak on Anthony Gray's comment. Um, that that area has had a lot more traffic. There is a lot more stuff coming in Bloomfield. Um, I do know that, um, things like speed bumps need to be signed in, uh, by petition, I believe, uh, by the residents on that street. And if they're all in accordance with that, um, I think that that that's a direction that Mr. Gray could take and I could reach out to you later, Anthony, and uh, we could maybe uh, door knock together and talk talk to the residents and see if that's something they're interested in. I don't I don't want to overstep here, but I just know that that is a hot area.

We have me and her walk out neighbors. like you know my number. If you want to walk out the street and literally talk to them neighbor by neighbor and give them you can walk down or come over. Does he mind coming to the mics while I'm talking? So So councelor Oliver sounds like you volunteered for that. So we're I'm going to leave that up to you and Mr. Gray and get you to move that process forward. All right. Thank you. You're welcome. Thanks. Uh so we are going to move on to um the uh uh well public comments over there any online first of all okay

okay Huttinger um you are unmuted.

Thank you. Uh, Barbara Huttinger, 41 Maple Avenue. Um, I actually spoke in quite a bit of detail on Monday at the council meeting, but I I just wanted to circle back on a a couple of topics. um the uh speaking to the signage for um that the woman there on on School Street spoke about um I don't think the problem at Maple and Burr and and Brown um uh is a problem with where the sign is in in our situation. Um I think it's just um nobody bothers to adhere to what the sign says. Um I did miss the um the beginning of this meeting. So I don't know if there was any reporting um from the police around any enforcement against um either tractor trailers on Maple or overweight vehicles on Burr. Um I I don't know if that's something that has been observed and ticketed um or it's just something that the residents seem to see. So, uh, Miss Hutinger, um, yes, there was, um, and that that information was put out by, uh, Deputy Chief, uh, Steven Haidesh. Um, what we can do is, uh, get your information. and we'll share it with you um and so that you you can have um what motor vehicle actions have been taking taken and some of the data that was uh used for those um stops and and those uh tours of duty um around Bloomfield and certainly in that area. Um you know, full disclosure, I I live in that area um off of Brown Street, so

I I do know about the traffic there. Um, you know, it it is um it is a busy area. We have some industries over there, insurance companies. We're back road coming from uh folks coming from Massachusetts uh down that way. Um you know, so you know, there there's a lot and there's new housing of course up there and and going some more going up. Uh Bloomfield is a growing town. I just um that's just something at this point. Also, I know that we're going to have to deal with um you know, businesses are coming in here. Um where traffic goes, this is just my opinion, but where traffic goes is um you know, allowed in certain spaces. It's not allowed in certain spaces. Uh but I would um I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say that um our police department is certainly um doing the best that they can uh to address these and with the number of officers that they can and and based off of the reports uh Deputy Chief Haidash gave I got a smile on my face because there's a lot of ticketing going on. Um but I'll leave it at that. But certainly, Deputy Chief, if you want to say something, uh, please do.

And let me just clarify, I'm not talking about speeding vehicles per se, which is obviously an issue, but specifically overweight vehicles that are prohibited and and um tractor trailers that are also prohibited, not residential people driving to and from work. Right. Well, the uh over oversized vehicles uh are burr. The two are burr and gab. The uh the other ones aren't um oversized prohibited. Just the semi trailers are the prohibited ones. So,

some of the dump trucks and all that, they're not prohibited from going there. So, um we understand your concerns, but um until something changes with that, that's it's uninforceable. But uh you know any anytime our officers do encounter uh a semi when it's on a road where they're prohibited, they are engaging with them and uh you know making a stop and uh taking some sort of a action whether it's um ticketing or uh well or the uh the um violation of town ordinance is is the I guess the uh actual fine there. So, um, you know, I I don't have the data at hand for on those streets right now. I certainly can get those for, uh, for next month's meeting, but, um, you know, like the, uh, um, councelor had mentioned, you know, when we actively see it, the officers are engaging in it because they are they are well aware of the prohibitions and uh, you know, when they're there, they can do it. And so,

okay, just a final um, request. Um I is there a process in place for having streets evaluated for weight restrictions and what is that process? How does it get started? How can we get involved in that?

I'm unaware of a weight restriction process uh other than touching with the engineering department. there's the uh traffic calming measures for the for the speeding and and you know kind of gets incorporated sometimes uh for that uh committee to to look at certain so if you have any um concerns in that matter certainly goes through in the engineering department and then they uh get a hold of us and the chief and I sit down with engineering and we uh review the complaints. So it's it's a conduit that can go through there and if it's appropriate for traffic calming then it'll go through that committee and and get resolved that way and otherwise the engineering department uh you know we'll look at all these uh concerns as we do and you know unfortunately um our enforcement actions can only take place after things are in in place like you know the plaquearding and such and putting out there and when council makes it a a an ordinance violation. So, um, but we are actively involved with him and like you had mentioned, I mean, I I talked to probably Rob on a daily basis when, you know, when we're both, uh, working here. So, we he's going to be missed, but I'm sure Darren is going to step up and, um, you know, actively get engaged as well upon Rob's departure. Well, I I thought that the ordinance for weight restrictions was revised um to remove, you know, the names of specific roads and there's a list available in the town hall, but there is a process of evaluating these kinds of possible restrictions that involves the police department and I'm not sure who else like h how did gab get added there? I I understood there was was a process for getting getting a review done. So I I'm just

trying to understand what the process is and how to get it engaged. So correct. So Mr. Uh, I I will um, councelor Cooper speaking, I will um, get information via our town manager uh, from his staff and we will reach out to you um, with that if there is any if that's satisfactory to you. If there's a process, if if there is and uh, we will certainly I will ask the town manager and his staff to reach out to you with whatever it is so that you have the correct information. I I I certainly don't want to provide something that's outside my scope. Um and and we will, you know, if there is, we'll we'll make sure that you have it.

Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. And we have your contact information. Yes. Yes. Yes, you do. Okay. Thank you so much. Uh child manager, I see your hand is raised.

Yes. Um um thank you, uh Chair Cooper. Um, good evening, Miss Huttinger. We'll be adding you to the list and and we'll speak as well. We do have a process uh for um any type of uh traffic mitigation uh that's quite extensive and involved. So, um, we'll make sure that, uh, we get you up to speed with what that process is and and if there is an interest in in moving forward, uh, with that, uh, we'll be here to to guide you through it and and and ensure that, you know, you have that opportunity, every opportunity to to advocate what you're saying. At the end of the day though, this is uh, this is determined by the will of the community in terms of um, a majority vote. So, uh I what I would start to do now is um is just start to have those conversations and and networking and if you can build a team of support and and you get more on your side versus uh who may not support it then you should see success. But that alone is is not the only uh challenge that we'll have. What we'll face after that is um is uh putting it on a capital um improvement uh project uh and plan so that uh this can be funded. So um we'll uh we'll walk you through it. We'll be there hand in hand. Uh but uh this is going to be a marathon, right? Not not a sprint, but it has to start somewhere. And uh and I'm looking forward to uh having that discussion with you to to get you up to speed. So uh we will reach out. Miss Anatasha Kinland, my senior administrative assistant, will reach out to you and and make sure that all parties who need to be present for the meeting at your convenience are on the line when we meet.

Miss Honey seems to have dropped. Um so, uh count she is okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a quick question. Um is there any public representation on the local road safety committee just asking? So that is not a question that I am able to answer but um we can you know look u you know ask uh the town manager through his staff and you know uh have them get back to us with that. Okay. if that's all right with you,

right? That would be great. Um if we if we can have those that answer, that would absolutely um be wonderful, right? Um just trying to make sure that there is proper representation as well. Um is there funding to add other streets to this? And I don't know if that if if uh the the um you know that's and once again I may you may not know but if someone can find the answers for me I'd greatly appreciate it.

I I I I guess I'm looking for clarification when you say is there funding are you talking about grant resourcing or are you talking about uh tax dollars because there's always funding. It all depends on what you're trying to where you're trying to fund from. So I think just funding period. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. If we want to raise taxes, we can pave every street in this town if if that's what we want. I'm not trying to be facitious. I'm just trying to No, I hear you. That's the extreme that we can go to, but we we try to rely upon state funding. I hear you. True. True. Um, council Oliver.

Thanks, Chairman Cooper. Um, kind of piggyback off both uh councelor uh to be brown and the town manager um seeing that these roads are sandwiched by state roads, right? Is there a way that we can um have a buy in from them to help us out in some type of form or fashion or does it have to be a grant? I mean, it is their road. I'm I'm trying to understand the the question. Are you saying is there is there a buy in for the state to to to to pay for the cost of state roads being repaired? Is that what you're asking?

Well, you know, I know like there's a sign of the road from the center of the road out. They own right a certain amount of distance. Um, but you know, like for signage or you know, I don't know if there's what type of I don't know if they have like things where they're height restrictions from entering those streets from off these main roads. Um, and if they would pay for it seeing that the traffic's coming off those. I mean, I'm just just asking. I can I can tell you state roads are are maintained funded uh uh through the state and and town roads that's our responsibility and we try to do so through through through state aid

I'm answering your question you you are I was just you know if they're turning off Cottage Grove Road to go to school street going you know towards Park A um you know would they be able to put up something like a like a bar going across that would restrict tractor trailers from height from going in there like you know bright orange bar and not being able to go down those roads or is that overstepping and would the state do that is what you're asking. Yeah, probably not.

I I I can't tell you. I've seen that before or but uh but that doesn't mean it it can't happen. But um we can we can discuss um methods to um and and I have no problems being creative in in our efforts to to see what would be best um uh practical and um and applicable here. Um I I'd be concerned about um putting uh any type of structure across a road um to be honest with you. Um but uh you know those those those folks who answer those types of questions are are called engineers with PE on the end of their name and and uh so we can we can get them in the fight and see what they have to offer in terms of thought.

Thank you. I mean I don't want to restrict fire trucks, right? That's another contradicting idea. So I just just just an idea. Thank you. So um before we adjourn uh just want to share some information that you know that the state of Connecticut councelor

Okay. Um just just want to let me just say I want to take a quick privilege that state of Connecticut is um um providing $10 million uh for some road improvements um you know as we speak. There will be uh some update to some of the traffic signal infrastructure and other things that on state routes 218 and 187. And so this will help help with uh travel times and and uh safety. Uh so that's that's coming up. But you know, just a bit of information to share in this meeting um because it has to do with with some of the traffic here in Bloomfield. um not necessarily local issues, but again uh just to address some of the questions that folks have. And so with that, councelor Mahan.

Thank you, Councelor Cooper. Um I one I I appreciate my colleagues and the residents for all the questions uh and um the questions that they posed and the um issues that they that they presented. Um, one thing that council Oliver of course pointed out was that of course these roads are sandwiched between a lot of state roads and as a result they definitely do pay for uh from high usage or uh uh being used uh with heavier uh trucks than some of our other roads and Bloomfield. So, I'm hoping that we can have some sort of partnership uh with the state um or or ask for ask for help out beyond grants. Um and and I don't know if the I guess I guess this is a question for the town manager. Um what are those conversations like? uh are we having those conversations around around the usage and what what more the state can do to help us to maintain uh our roads that are are definitely taking a little bit more of a a beating due to increased usage. In addition, um the sorry this is a two-part council beat Brown of course asked a question on funding and we broke it up between uh you know the tax funding or taxpayer funding and state grant funding. what have um uh what have the uh grant prospects uh looked like and uh if you can I guess elaborate a bit more on on that process.

And thank you for your question, sir. And um folks, Bloomfield is not unique. We're not the only town that's that's growing. We're not the only town with truck truck traffic. Um we're not unique, right? and and the concerns and the and the complaints that we have are visited upon every town hall within the state of Connecticut. State of Connecticut takes care of state roads, period. I sincerely doubt that the state will take on paving costs outside of grant opportunities for our town roads. I could be wrong, but I sincerely doubt that. no more than the state police will be coming into our jurisdiction to investigate accidents. You have state and you have municipality and and that's just the way we function as a government and and we've been doing so for for decades upon decades upon decades. Okay. So, in regards to the grant opportunities, I I know everybody heard me when I was talking about um just the the the hit we're going to take with our our town engineer who is um going on to do what he wants to do at this point of his life and is welld deserved and and him doing so. I can tell you that gentleman himself single-handedly uh under the leadership of uh Dan Carter brought in over $12 million worth of of of of money for or improvement projects within the town of Bloomfield. And that's because he's such a dedicated, focused professional and he knows his craft well. So, the challenge for me is going to be someone who's just as um knowledgeable of the of the the um the the the levers that can be pulled and and capable of walking and talking and and navigating uh through the many

channels to be just as uh aggressive and bringing money back to the town of Bloomfield. We've never had that before. All right. So, can it be done? Are there other resources? Have we been productive in and and um since my arrival? The the answer is yes. But I'm going have to cultivate that and and making sure that uh the right person is going to be our our next town engineer. I hope I answered your question, sir. I'm I'm willing to continue if you need anything else. No, that that was sufficient time, Andrew. Thank you.

Thank you. Um no more questions. Um our next uh On the agenda is the approval of the March 11th, 2026 uh meeting minutes. Um if everyone has had a chance to review them, I will entertain a motion to approve those minutes. Second. Second. Second.

Thank you. Moved by councelor Mahan, seconded by councelor Dean Brown. Um all in favor? I I chair votes I. The motion passes. Motion to adjurnn. So second move by councelor Mahan, second by councelor Oliver. The meeting is adjourned 7:43 p.m. Have a good night everybody. Thank you everyone. Have a good night.