City Council - Regular Meeting

It is now 6:35. We will start the public hearing. Um I when you name is called please come up say your name and your address and the clerk will do the attendance. Thank you. Okay. Gracia. Oh, wait.

Yeah. Oh, wait. I'm Francis. Um, oh, this is public speaking. This one Ashley Good evening.

More catching Nicole Nelson. Denise Deloy. Cruz. Oh, equal. Dasha spell. Roland Smith. Akim Voy, Janet Herren, Loretta Dubc, Michelle Lions,

Mary Mcley, Risha Ortiz,

Alfredo Castillo, Frederick Hodes, Idenz, Maria Vay, Kayla Medina, Maria Pareda, Anita Martinez, Ernest Newton. We have a quarum. Thank you. Our first we have 14 speakers. So if there are people not here, we will use the signin sheet that was given. So Joe Burns Joe Burns Joe Burns. Okay. John Marshall Lee with communities where neighbors as just plain folk planned a cleanup in advance of spring and held a working morning for volunteers in the 139th district staged from an open space behind Blessed Sacrament Church. I heard about it through Greater Bridgeport NAACP as well as the Black Rockck NRZ and a direct invite from Alvaro Ramirez whom I met last year when he spoke to you on two occasions. He did not know that I was an experienced weeder. But I knelt and began pulling onion grass and other intrusive weeds that surrounded the raised garden beds. I also got to know Alvaro Senior and Al's uncle. my wedding weeding companions. We sent many bags to

be carted away by city trucks. Thank you for participating. That type of citizen oversight and action is natural where civics is practiced. However, merely passing a resolution or ordinance in the council may not provide a productive outcome. An appointment of someone to maintain oversight and an enforcement mechanism are equally necessary to change behavior in a community. I observe two current occasions where we had city council action. Um but the results show a lack of followth through. First, each city official, that's all of you, elected or appointed by ordinance, must register their current address each January or when it changes. And I've been stating that um 11 people have done that so far. The mayor did come in between my last speaking and he signed in. But as of this meeting, uh there are nine of you, some of whom are here tonight, um who haven't signed in yet. Perhaps you haven't been told uh that that's necessary, but some of you oldtimers or long-timers know about the ordinance and uh ignore it. uh action by the city councelor returned a fair rent commission with citizen participation three years ago. But where is the qualified fair rent coordinator or liaison will meet with citizens and keep track of the many reasons why people are confused, suffering from unfair practices or need more info. Currently, a full-time position remains open with a supervisor managing multiple

duties but providing little or no information to the taxpaying public about process and practice in this city which has many renters. Anyway, it's also fair housing and I that's my time's up. Thank you. Thank you. Rebecca Hos, please state your name, address for the record.

Rebecca Hos, 161 Court D, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06610. Good evening, members of the city council. My name is Rebecca Hos and I'm a unit owner at Success Village, where I have lived for the past five years. I also grew up in Bridgeport for the first 25 years of my life. I care deeply about this city and about my home in Success Village. As you're aware, Success Village endured serious financial harm over a three-year period due to the actions of a previous board of directors along with failures in property management and legal oversight. During that three-year period, that board failed to pay semiannual municipal taxes, even though funds had already been set aside in a dedicated tax account for that purpose by the previous administration. Because of this failure, the property tax subjected to a delinquent penalty of 18% per year, which went unpaid for about five years. This resulted in a cumulative penalty fee of $437,000, $27,77.30, nearly a half a million dollar in penalty fees alone. The tax bill has now been paid in full by receiver Barry not using a $6 million loan from the state of Connecticut. So, I just want to be clear. This was not the fault of the unit owners. There are 924 success village unit owners who faithfully paid their common charges, trusting that those funds would be used responsibly to meet the obligations like municipal taxes and utilities. Instead, essential bills, including the water pollution and the gas, were not paid during that three year of the bad board. Some residents were aware of these issues, and we worked hard to remove the board, but those efforts were delayed through prolonged legal battles. We did our part. the system did not respond in time. Today, I'm respectfully asking you, the city council, to support a refund of the penalty fees. Holding homeowners responsible for nearly half a

million dollars in penalties is not fair. If the city takes a step, I'm hopeful that WPCA may also consider a similar relief. A year and a half ago, when Barry Kn was appointed as our receiver, SVA was unable to pay its bills. In order for SBA to get back on track financially, common charges have increased by 20%. Many in our community are struggling with this increase, but we are now solving. On a side note, I just want to highlight something positive. I started a Facebook group called members of SVA. In that group, you can access the documents. The under the files are the court transcripts from the rightful board case. These records show that three court orders, judges orders were ignored and that accountability never occurred. I invite you city leaders to join the group, review the information, and engage directly with the residents to better understand what our community has experienced. In closing, I want to express sincere gratitude to the city of Britport for the support has already provided. Your role in removing the bad board and appointing a receiver has made a real difference. I would also like to thank receiver Barry Na. His work has brought stability, removed leans from our property, and given residents a renewed hope for the future. We're just asking for fairness and relief of the financial burden that we did not create. Thank you for your time consideration. Next speaker is an Stapleton. Good evening. My name is Anne Stapleton. I live at 140 Court D, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06610. I've lived in Success Village for eight years. And throughout that time, I've faithfully paid my common charges, which

include heat, hot water, and property tax. In the fall of 2023, our heat became intermittent and by winter had completely failed. To keep my home livable, I had to use two electric heaters, which doubled my electric bill. Shortly after our heat failed, we lost our hot water as well. Every day was a challenge figuring out when and where to shower. I'm fortunate enough to have family nearby and I can't imagine the problem this created for people who didn't have family nearby or didn't have transportation. Despite our continued payment of common charges, our board director's mismanagement allowed our boiler system to completely fail and left our property taxes unpaid. As a result, leans were placed on our properties and we carried additional stress of losing our homes. After a legal battle by residents Jose Sandos, Rebecca Hass, and Jihira Ortiz, the court finally rem removed our old board and appointed Barry Not in the receiverhip role. In less than 18 months, attorney not has fully restored our heat, hot water, and paid our property taxes in full. All leans have been removed, providing us peace of mind for a hopeful future. I ask that you vote for in favor of HB5500, allowing us a refund of interest paid, providing us with critical funds needed to pay remaining debt, ensuring the long-term solveny of Success Village. Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you, Willie Medina.

Madam Chair, I'll be uh yielding my time to the number two in the signup sheet. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Salvatore Benny. Um 111 Calhoun Place 06604. Um, I'm speaking about the Colby School taking over the um the the street parking on Calhoun Place. Um, there I know there's only two residential houses on there. That's six apartments in total. Um, at two cars a piece. They they'll have at least 12 cars, 10 to 12 cars on the street. Um it's going to be very difficult for these folks to stay there and go around looking for parking as the other roads get uh get very busy with parking and there is no not too much parking on there. Um as it is there's only parking on the KBY side at the moment. Um and I I do always see that there's difficulty in parking especially in the daytime. Um I'm sure there's people who work around there and park also up there. Um the other thing is uh the residents it's going to be very difficult to rent out apartments if they don't have parking. Um there is a small driveway but it only fits two cars back to back which is very difficult in uh the parking for the residents there. Um they usually park on the streets especially with small children that they have. Uh some of our tenants they go in and out with small children. It's going to be very difficult for them to park around the corners and find parking. Um, which also brings it down to uh maybe not getting enough rent uh for people that might want parking with their rentals and taxes that are being paid to have these folks park on the streets. Um, please, if you can vote no, I appreciate it. Thank you and good evening.

Thank you, Lonnie Gorman. Good evening. Good evening.

My name is Lonnie Gorm. I'm at 271 Success Avenue, building 14. Uh I've been at Success for over 22 years. I'm a military veteran and I'm a loyal person to this country. What we want is uh that this committee has enough oomph to pass this bill 5500 to help out the residents here at Success Avenue so we can continue living in peace. Thank you. Thank you,

Mark Haynes. Uh hello, Mark Haynes, 49, Court A, Bridgeport, Connecticut. Uh I just want to make a couple points here. Uh when Tai took over, all of our bills and taxes were paid. Uh we were working with multiple engineers and Greenbank on a new heating system. Uh we had around $2 million in reserves, so we were a pretty healthy community. Uh once Tai took over, he fired our managers, our lawyers, our accountants, uh everyone that was looking out for our interest. He stopped paying our bills, our taxes, stopped releasing financials. Uh he stopped holding meetings, and uh eventually stopped holding elections, and uh we're still facing financial hardships and challenges. And this bill would definitely help secure our homes. So, I hope you uh pass HB5500. Thank you.

Thank you, Mary Lou Weekes.

Good evening. My name is Mary Lou Weekes. I live at 343 Court D, Building 48, Bridgeport, Connecticut in Success Village Apartments. I've lived in Success Village for 42 years and my grandparents and parents had lived there before me beginning in 1942. I consider Success Village an important part of my family heritage and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Bridgeport City Council for the support you have given to myself and all 924 member owners of Success Village Apartments over the last four years. I would also like to take a moment for one more request. Please support Success Village and House Bill 5500 authorizing the property tax refund of $437,277.30 of interest assessments previously paid. This money will be used to pay down a substantial amount of principal debt still remaining. Thank you for your time tonight and for all that you have done for Success Village.

Thank you, K. Akoa. K, please let me know how I pronounce that last name.

Good evening everyone. My name is Kay Akoa. I live at 317D Granford Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut, Success Village. I am one of many residents of Success Village this evening and I am urging respectfully the city council to say yes to the tax refund for HB5500 in the amount of $4372730. I am a mother and a workingclass person and I've been an owner and member of Success Village since 2011. Our community sadly fell victim to mishandling, mismanagement, and theft. We paid our common charges. I am just one of hundreds of victims left to repay money that was already paid. And we did not steal or mismanage. The common fees have increased $300 monthly, a 220% special assessment fee, and an additional $100 a month for 35 months. Because of these substantial increases, I am suffering financial hardship and occasional food insecurity to repay money success now owes. It is important for me to share with you during a very cold winter of 2024, the city health department declared success a no heat emergency. This is significant because during this time I had to boil water to bathe. I had to use electric space heaters to try and keep warm. And although it wasn't safe, on many occasions, I used a gas stove to keep warm. As a result, I suffered incidents of respiratory illness, arthritic pain, and later due to the fact that we were afraid of losing the safety of our homes, developed anxiety and depression as a direct result of the constant fear of becoming homeless.

I witnessed success move from a safe, stable community to one in which we had to fight mismanagement and theft and to remove people working against our interest. We asked the city and the state for help and now we have an opportunity to be relieved of some of the financial burdens of which we did not place upon ourselves. Voting yes to this refund would be another step in assisting Success Village to regain stability and give relief to myself and all of us who have been victimized not once but twice. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you very much. Shirley Young. Shirley Young. Maria Pereira.

Good evening. Maria Pereira, 80 Granfield Avenue. Um, it's I've been on the council, this is my seventh year, and I've never asked anybody to ever be recognized for their achievements. And I know we can't do that officially tonight, but I want to say as an individual how impressed I am with Barry Kn and I'm really impressed with anything. I mean, what he has accomplished in 18 months is just so staggering. I don't know if you know that nobody could get a mortgage at Success Village for 10 years. If you weren't a cash buyer, you couldn't get a unit. There were so many leans on the property. and he just announced that for the first time buyers can get a mortgage, which is important because if you have to rely on you're a seller and you can only have a cash buyer pool, you're depressing the value of your your home and you're very limited in your in the buyers. So, that alone is an amazing achievement and I just want to congratulate Gary. Um, number two, I know that some of the residents have asked you to pass HB5500, which is the responsibility of the legislature. I was informed today the bill is running in the House on Wednesday. Um, and it's expected to pass and then we've got to get it quickly onto the consent calendar in the Senate. I gave all of you a recap just so you know. Look at the outrageous amount of interest penalties that have been paid a million and84,98. That's not the principle of a bill. That doesn't benefit a single person here. Those are the penalties that they had absolutely nothing to do with. They paid their common charges. Those common charges were supposed to pay their taxes and their WPCA and all of that. And because those bills weren't paid, they've amassed a million84,000 in interest. So, we're also circulating a letter tonight. As you know, we have no

authority over the WPCA, but the exact number that they paid in interest to the WPCA was 187,900, excuse me, $630.86. So we are circulating a letter asking all 20 members to sign it addressed to the chair of WCA which is Ken Fato and the director um and asking them to also vote to return those interest penalties. Not the um Barry paid 965,000 to the WPCA. So mo by far most of it's the principal but they also need they cannot afford to pay a million dollars in interest penalties. We still have a million dollars in outstanding debt. And the gas company who has over 400,000 in penalties is refusing to cooperate. Now, we're going to get that back. We're going to put people in front of their office in wheelchairs, uh, walkers. We'll have a press event there. But I just want you to know, everybody has been so helpful. The governor, the housing commissioner, the legislature, the Bridgeport Council, Straford, both mayors. So, it's amazing that we've worked together. and I hope you will continue to help these really innocent victims. And um we have the letter and I hope everybody who's here tonight will sign it. Thank you so much. Thank you. Next is Salvatore.

Oh, okay. Thank you. Um Alvin O'Neal, that would be the last speaker. He's after me. I know. I have That's the last speaker. We have We We have 10 speakers. That's all we can take.

Alvin O'Neal, 1450 Main Street, 06604. I'm here this evening just to say thank you. I'm representing Bridgeport Pop Warner Raiders. uh this year will be 42 years that we've been in existence and um I want to thank on record going on record saying we want want to thank uh Mayor Ganham and his administration for always being there for us helping want to thank the council people that um vote and help us you know and it takes a village and I just want to say thank you Ernie you know has always been there for us senator Gaskin has helped us as well but tonight you know I don't know what the procedure is here, but I'd like to be able to present a plaque to two other individuals, two other council members, uh, Anita and Maria, um, for being there for us as well last year and, um, you know, always encouraging us, you know, to go forward and stuff. So, if that's okay, I don't know what your procedure is here. Um, so I don't know if you want them to come down or if you want me to leave it to give it to them or whatever, however you want to do it. Uh, Maria Valier and Anita Martinez. You don't want to get it. Oh, Maria Pereira. Maria.

Maria. Maria. Maria Pere. Which Maria? Maria Valier and Anita Martinez. You can come on in and you can come in and give it to them. Normally, we do this ahead of time, but we'll let you do it. Just give her give them a second. They'll come back. We got two Maras here. Oh, and and Maria Valier

Maria, take it from Maria because she just walked in the back. No, an Maria. Maria, she just walked in the back. Thank you so much. Thank you. That's the close of public speaking. Thank you.

the attention of the members of the city council and the public. Welcome tonight to the regularly scheduled meeting Monday, April 20th, 2026 at 700 p.m. or thereabouts of the uh city council and ask everyone if you could I draw your attention to the printed and electronic agenda as we begin the meeting as council members settle in and thank the public. Um I would just remind as we get going we'll we'll start as we normally do with a prayer and ask everyone to stand and um let's do it at this time and if there's anyone I always invite if possible if there's someone from the audience that would like to appropriately lead us in a prayer uh they can come to the microphone and do it. If not we've had the pleasure of council members leading us at various times most notably Councilman Mary Lee McBride. Does anyone want to? If not, uh, councilwoman, please, as we stand and give a moment to be led in a prayer. Father God, in the name of Jesus, Lord, we thank you for this day that you made. Thank you, oh God, because we rejoice in it. Lord, we thank you for waking us up this morning, clothed and yet in our right mind. We thank you, oh God, because you're good to us. You kind. And we thank you right now. ask you oh God to bless us one by one then bless us collectively in the name of Jesus and oh God we are asking you to bless every council member that's assembly here tonight bless the mayor of this great city and God we ask every citizen that abide in this city we ask you to bless them tonight in the name of Jesus and oh God we are asking you right now to stay with us and be with us in Jesus holy name I pray amen

amen Amen. And at this time, I'd ask Councilwoman Denise Taylor Moyer to lead us in a prayer. I mean in a pledge. Okay. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

Oh, Ernie, I didn't see you there. I'm kidding. Um, if we could, Madame Clerk, at your appropriate conveniences, we welcome everyone here, remind the uh public and the council that uh this meeting is here in person, but also I think we're hopefully we're broadcasting. Is that right? So, there could be greater public access and we appreciate um being able to do that going forward. So, madame clerk, you have the floor to uh do roll call uh attendance, if you will, for a quorum. Madame clerk, thank you. Gal Murray here. Nicole Nelson,

present. Denise Deloy, present. Cruz, Dasha Spellel, Roland Smith, Akim Void, Janet Heron, Loretta Dubag, Michelle Lions, Mary Mcbrryley here. Richard Ortiz here. Alfredo Castillo, Pred Hodgees, Maria, Kayla Medina, Maria Pereira, Enda Martinez, Ernest Newton. We have a call.

Uh thank you. So, we're going to go according to the printed agenda except uh we're going to move right to brief uh report from attorney Barry not regarding receiverhip of success village and I want to make sure that microphone is available and I'll thank and also I know there's a number of residents here and council members and others and members of the uh city uh various departments that have I want to thank everyone for kind of working hard as we've moved forward on this very important important very important issue um with regards to the success village and the residents. So with that Baron, can you I think your microphone's on with the indulgence of the council members and at the request I think of the council members. If you could bring us up to speed, we'd be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor, members of the city council, members of the administration. My name is Barry not. I'm a lawyer. I was appointed by Judge uh Dale Radcliffe as receiver of uh the Success Village Apartments on September 24th, 2024 as a result of litigation that had been ongoing for about two or three weeks prior to that date. The litigation was prompted by uh financial malfeasants or misfasence as the case may be having occurred by the prior administration. Uh when I took over, there was $10,000 in the bank, notwithstanding the fact that the Success Village apartments generate in excess of $500,000 per month in uh rental and maintenance income. In March of 2024, the state building inspector condemned the furnaces and as had been testified to earlier tonight at that microphone, there was no heat and hot water for the bulk of 2024. Uh I was lent $650,000 by both the city of Bridgeport and the town of Stratford which I used to engage HVAC contractors and as a result of that effort I was able to get the heat and hot water operational uh by uh November 15, 2024. Uh it it was a significant problem but with the help of the people uh the Bridgeport administration, the Straford administration uh and uh the management company that I hired on the mark uh we were able to get it done. It was at that time I looked at the financial circumstances of the of Success Village. uh when I took over their utility bills had not been paid. The gas company had

not been paid. Water, electric, there was approximately $6.6 million in liabilities that resulted from the uh prior administration uh operating of the facility. success was on the verge of bankruptcy. Uh we were able to negotiate uh through the efforts of the Bridgeport uh administration, the Straford administration, Department of Housing, and the governor's office the $6 million loan to success from the Department of Housing. which funds were used to bring current uh the aquaron bill, the UI bill, 50% of the gas company bill, but most importantly pay off all of the taxes and water pollution control obligations to both the city of Bridgeport and the town of Stratford. The total of those obligations uh came to $6 million. We used the whole $6 million just to pay off the leans. The important thing about that is that it freed up the land records so that the leans that had been recorded by both the city of Bridgeport and the town of Stratford were able to be released so that people who were buying these units now can get mortgages. Prior to that, people buying these units couldn't could not get mortgages. Now they can. So and and it also removed us from the spectrum of bankruptcy. We were at bankruptcies uh doors because we were insolvent. Insolveny is when your liabilities exceed your assets. Another definition of insolveny is when you cannot meet your obligations as they come due. both of the definitions of insolveny we met

and as a result of the department of housing uh effort and uh the the people who I uh mentioned a few minutes ago uh we were able to avoid that uh at this point the only thing that remains to be done we need a long-term solution to the heat problem and the long-term solution is probably a furnace at every one of the 97 buildings we don't have the money for that now I'm investigating the possibility of doing that now. I'm pro probably going to know within the next four to 6 months whether that's even feasible and I'll be able to report back to you at that point in time. But we paid 422,000 to Stratford, 3,12,000 to Bridgeport, $963,555 to Water Pollution Control Authority as a result of that loan. All of which would would not have been able to have been done without the help of the administration of this city, the administration of the town of Stratford and state officials including the uh chairperson of the department of housing and the governor. And with that, uh, Mr. Mayor my

behind you says thank you uh to you and I'm sure it's by the residents success village and by in the city I want to just say thank you for for helping very much put some integrity into a very important matter for the residents.

Thank you. Thank you. And you have our continued commitment. I think uh collectively uh we're so happy to see such a difficult situation beyond the road that we're on now and more work to be done. All right. So, why don't we go to the public hearing? 5125 is a public hearing proposed resolution authorize enactment of a development agreement with Pillar Property Management LLC for the former Bassic High School site located at 1181 Fairfield Avenue, 226 Clinton Avenue and 1180 State Street. So how this is done and I know there's a number of members are here people here um maybe on this issue and on other issues but anyone who wants to uh be heard at a public hearing uh just very short and quick and easy is please come up state your name I don't think we're going to have a lot of people um if we do I'll ask you to limit your comments to a short period of time but otherwise if it's with if there's no objection from members of the council I'm going to announce the public hearing on this matter is now open a gentleman is has approached the microphone phone and I'm going to yield to you one second um and give him the opportunity to speak state your name and I think we state the address too right state your name and address and then uh you have to speak on this topic 5125 when we exhaust speakers uh you can speak in favor or against and then at the end if no one else approaches we'll uh without objection we'll uh close the public hearing let's consider the public hearing open sir you have the microphone let me make sure it's on um is it on Tom can you tell me go ahead My name is uh Darnell Stevenson. I go to the University of Bridgeport and that is my current address. I am a student who lives on campus at the University of Bridgeport. And you said the topic is about the old building at the Bassic High School located in Bridgeport,

Connecticut, but yet students have to go past take public transportation and pass dope fiends and crack houses and drug addicts to get to school. But yet we have 18 year olds and we have more pedophiles in the city of Britwood than the Jeffrey Epstein list. But the current city doesn't have any education, housing or employment. We don't have the the affordable housing uh uh budget in regards to the financial in infrastructure of the government of the United States. However, if you really want to get the old Bassic high school up to date, then maybe we should find jobs that actually employ people within the city than going to New York or Rhode Island. Again, I feel that the old Bassic High School located in Bridgeport, Connecticut should be more as for as a community for a basketball or gymnasium to help people get in shape and get healthy instead of addicted to drugs and other contrabands. Again, the old Bassic High School. Again, as a student at the University of Bridgeport, I go past dope fiends and crack houses just just to get a better education. as a criminal justice major, again, as a trying to get my bachelor's degree, I feel that the old Bass High School should be a community center where basketball players and within the city of Bridgeport could develop a basketball player to go to the NBA to become LeBron James, Michael Jordan, or the next Stefon Curry instead of building more affordable housing in which people cannot afford in the city of Bridgeport because of $10,000 per month. Landlords cannot afford to pay rent because taxes are too high. So, if you want my opinion

about the Bridgeport Public School of the Bassic High School, turning it into a basketball center so which kids can uh can develop skills to go to college and get a professional contract to play in the National Basketball Association. Thank you. Thank you very much. Is there anyone else that wants to be heard? Okay, good. Councilwoman

the microphone.

Thank you, Mayor Maria. You left your phone. Thank you, Mayor. Councilwoman Nita Martinez. My address is 8:19 Connecticut Avenue. What I would like to say is that I think that um whatever the process is for the school, I think that we should speed up on it rapidly because I was just telling Councilwoman um Smith that it looks like the squatters are starting to destroy the school. So, I was by the area um last week and there were about maybe 20 squatters loading up um by the uh gymnasium area. So, it looks like they started entering the school. So, what's going to happen is that the school is going to start getting destroyed um with the squatters as time goes on. So, whatever the decision is here, I believe that it should be rapidly sped up so that we can um get this up and going. I would like to make a recommendation um to the elected officials that is their district um to consider have a conversation with regards to housing or tease boxing at that location if possible. Um he's looking for a huger, you know, a bigger space to accommodate and to increase the members of his boxing um facility. He has outgrown Connecticut Avenue. So I am asking to consider to with all due respect to the elected officials Rolanda Smithy and Dasha Spell when you meet um as well as the historic district can't forget about the historic district members um respectfully um have the conversation when at the table to consider Ortiz Boxing to rent the space to increase the services that he provides to our children here in the city of Bridgeport. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Good evening, everyone. Dash Despel, Councilwoman of 132nd District, 284 Beachwood Avenue. Um, I'm here tonight to speak about Bassic High School. I support the idea of Basic being remodeled. Um, but also I'm eerie because I still to this day haven't sat down with the developer. So, I'm putting out that we do need to do something about what's going on at BASC right now because Ronda and I both have seen people squatting and even when we had the walkth through and the press conference, they're starting to just hang out, take over, I heard that a couple young kids actually got caught trying to break into the school. We do not want to prolong this. We don't want to do an forever moment. So, I'm thinking and I'm putting it out there. Tom, Bill, let's get together with Roland, myself, and a developer and actually have conversations about all the ideas that came together and get this conversation going cuz I know that the board of ed needs to pass the keys and we need to do something about it. Thank you, Dasha. We'll keep we'll move it along and make sure. I don't know who the developer is, but I'm sure Bill does and they can if it's that far along, get everyone together. Anyone else want to be heard in the public hearing?

Hi, council. Hello, my name is Margaret Judge, 51 Brooklon Place, also president of the Stratfield Historic District Association. And thank you for having this public hearing for us. Um, we did tour with Tom's help. Thank you, Tom, and also the prospective new owner. We're thrilled that it will be sold because to Dasha's point, it's getting worse and worse by the day. So we really need to act fast on it before it becomes um a place of um beyond control. So we do want to act. We just ask that you keep the historic pieces of that beautiful auditorium and the gym whether it's to house the Ortiz um boxing which I think is a great idea because he needs to expand and the west side is the best side. No, but the west side is uh a very historic part as is all of Bridgeport, but also um to keep that beauty and partner with a nonprofit, have the 70 units, but come to a compromise where everybody wins, I think would be best for the neighborhood and the city. Thank you. hearing was open and closed. Thank you so much for turning my microphone back on. If I bring your attention now to where it states minutes for approval, uh that has a request on this agenda to review and uh appropriately approve the minutes from February 17, 2026. It's been moved by Councilman Newton. Do I hear a second?

And it's second. All in favor? I'm sorry. Do you want on this one? Well, any opposed? Okay. Minutes are approved. Say again, Madam President. Oh, I'm sorry. I missed a point of personal privilege with my apologies, but it seems appropriate to recognize at this time. Councilwoman, if your microphone will go, it won't go on. Huh?

Try to go on. I would like to have a moment of silence for Mike Mike Padino who is no longer with us. Mike wasn't employed as an inspector for the health department in this city for years. Mike also was a good district leader for the 132nd district who gave great advice. So, we would like to have a moment of silence for Mike's family. Thank you. It references uh a portion of Calhoun Place west of Washington Avenue per item 34-25. I don't know if that's reference to an item agenda on this agenda and I think that it is. Is that the last item on the agenda? Okay. All right. So, I don't know what action we need to take on this if um it's at the end of the

It's like a public hearing if anybody

But there's a public hearing at the end, I think. Is Oh, no. It's a matter to be active. Okay. Unless someone objects, I'm told it should be treated as a public hearing. So, I'm going to have the record reflect. I've read it into the the agenda. It reads like a public hearing. is just not it's just not um titled as a public hearing and no harm can come from a public hearing. So why don't we we're right here, Madame Clerk. If you want to sign a number to it, we'll accept your your your uh number that you want to sign to it. I recognize you in a second, ma uh councilwoman, and we're going to do a public hearing on um the matter. It's referenced a meeting of a butters of a portion of Calhoun Place. And whether it's before the public hearing, Councilwoman, or or at this point, if you'd like to say something, I'm going to recognize Councilwoman.

Hold on. Let me get your microphone on. Madam, I raised this before the meeting started. Why is this under minutes for approval? Is you sure this is a public hearing that was voted? Public hearing. It's a meeting of abutters. So, so if we could interpret that and unless somebody wants to be more definitive on the on the rules of the law immediately the abutters I mean if if that can be done I think it should be on uh if that is the call and the publication of it I'd want to give people an opportunity to be heard. So I if there's unless there's objection to treating as a public hearing I'd like to proceed that way. Councilman Newton if you'd like to be heard.

Help me help me if I'm if I'm mistaken. Wasn't there a gentleman here that spoke already as an abuter to the Calhoun place? Someone already spoke on that. He's gone. Okay. Why don't we do this? So, I don't understand. Let me do If there's anyone that wants to be heard, I'll open a public hearing. Let them be heard. Uh I there's no harm in that even if there was an opportunity before. Councilman, do you want to be heard? Yes. Can I do it from here or do you

Let me let me let me open the public hearing and then you can you can be act as anybody else does that wants to be heard at the public hearing from the main microphone. So with that and with the caveats that have been mentioned around this item on the agenda I've asked the clerk to assign it a number if necessary. But regardless, we're going to open a public hearing on the matter uh on a meeting of a butters of a portion of Calhoun Place of Washington Avenue per item 3425 to be discontinued. Is this is on the agenda? Public hearing is open. If you want to be heard, please approach the microphone. I'm confused. Why is it under the minutes? Why is that under the minutes?

I'm I'm advised uh that the only people that are technically able to speak are the three of Butters. Are any of the three of Butters here? They'd be blasted. All right. So, if that's considered, then was was that the public hearing earlier? Okay. I'm confused. Councilwoman Denise Taylor Moy wants to be heard. I'm going to recognize you, Councilwoman. You have the floor. Okay. I would still like to weigh in. Your microphone is on. Councilwoman Denise Taylor Moy.

Okay. I I thank you. I want to say that um this is in the district that George and I serve and um we have been to the meetings there. We have spoken um as far as last year in regards to the things that are coming up over there by Kobe. Kobe has been doing a great job. They have been an asset to the city here and to our children. You know, I think with them wanting to expand and do the work that they doing, I think it could do nothing but bring more value to Kobe High School as well as to the city of Bridgeport. I think at this point in time, what I really want to say to my fellow council people, I would like you to support this, you know, because this is something that is needed. We need everything in regards to education. We need everything in regards to where our children go to school. We need this. This is something that is needed. And Kobe has done a great job throughout the years of teaching our children and getting things going, doing work in that community, doing different things. Anything that they build has has been a success. Um, keeping it clean over there, you know. So, we need to look at all these things. And again, I'm just going to go back to asking my fellow council people to please vote yes on this. Please vote yes on this.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman prayer, did you want to be heard? Let me see if I got the right microphone here. Hold on. Yeah, it's on.

Okay. Those two gentlemen arrived early and this is under the minutes approval, this item. And I had I known what this was, Willie Medina graciously gave up one spot of the two property owners because nobody knew what this was. We thought it was an error because it's under approval. So I just want to say that um after the the the committee meeting, I graciously Alfredo Castillo drove me over to the street because I wanted to see it. And at 8:00 at night, there were nine vehicles parked in front of those two three family homes. And my issue is this. People buy their homes with the expectation of these are two, three family homes that they're going to have some on street parking. That night that we went there, there were nine vehicles at 8:00 parked on the street. These are taxpayers. They pay taxes. People moved in those apartments or whatever because they they felt they had some on street parking. And now we're giving it to Colby. They're not paying for any rights to the street. They're going to gate it off. They don't pay any property taxes. So the people who pay property tax and and and rely on the on street parking will not be allowed to park a single vehicle there. And those poor men didn't even know that they could speak because this is under minutes for approval and I didn't know what it was. I thought it was a typo. So I'm against it for that reason. I don't have any personal issues with Kobe. A lot of my cousins went there. But why are we hurting taxpayers by telling them they can't park a single vehicle on their street to benefit somebody who pays no taxes? I don't think that's appropriate and that's why I will be a no. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else want to be heard on this from Councilwoman Vay? You have the floor. Thank you. Um again, this item I was expecting it to be a um

public speaking. I didn't see it until now. It was mentioned. I voted no during the meeting that we had for for several reasons. Um, yes, I I want our children to be safe walking to and from school, but I also stop and think the need of parking for individuals that are working, come home late, whether it's snowing, whatever is happening out there, they need a place to come home to after work and be able to park their vehicle. I know. I understand that uh I guess the residents along that area a letter was sent to their home. I did ask to see that letter and how many came back undelivered. Again, I want you to go by East Main Street. And I know we're in two different sections of the city. Go by East Main Street where Kagwa Supermarket several years ago until maybe 10 years ago they sold the the the the building. And now what do we have behind that building? A um a gas station.

If there should be some fire, guess what? And again, I know that a street closing you're it's not a gas station, but I'm thinking again of the people that are being kind of displaced in the area, and I did. They said there was a parking uh lot, what have you. But here you go. Councilwoman Para stated that there are individuals that need a place to park. And again, don't forget the East Main Street 74 unit that was supposedly being built

with no parking. And just as every day we ask when we have a snowstorm, we ask our residents to park in the opposite side of the street or park here. So here you're taking away a street and now where are these people going to park? and then the city's going to come and tow them away. That's another burden. So again, I want our children to be safe, believe you me. But again, we should think twice because it is hindering individuals that are hardworking, come home late at night, and when they come home, they want to be able to get inside the house, have their dinner, and go to bed. And again, this is another example like uh the Sacred Heart University, our council woman Michelle Lions fighting because of the again the the number of homes that are being purchased and again displacing people. Thank you.

Thank you. I know Ernie raised his hand. Um I see four microphones on Ernie. What I'm going to do is I'm going to do the so it's fairness. There's a button here. It says next speaker. Let's see who comes up. That's you.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And I was we were not at least I was not aware of the situation on Calhoun Street before we it came before us. And I support Kobe, but I do think there should be a way that the school and the homeowners over there should work something out because you we want to be fair. And that when we were on the impression this would help Kobe, it would have kids go across, no cars, whatever, it was not brought to our attention that property owners would not have a place to park and I don't think that that's fair. So, I would ask this committee to at least let's meet with the school folk that came before us before to see if there something can be worked out. Cuz if I own a property, I'd be, you know what, if I couldn't park in front of my house,

I would be upset if I couldn't park in front of my own house. And you would be upset if you couldn't park in front of your house. You had to park around the corner down the street. You would be upset. So, Mr. May I would ask the chair of our committee to send this back to committee so we can meet and maybe iron this out so that they would have everybody's on the same page on how we can accommodate those folk on that street and help the school at the same time. Is there any way we could do that? Mayor,

I'm sorry. He was just putting my Is there Is there any way that I'm sorry, Councilman? I can't. She the the city clerk and I apologize to both because I was distracted, but the clerk asked with reference to you to either restate or explain if it's a request. I would I would like I would like to because this issue was not raised when it was in committee and they approved it that we send it back to committee. What's the number that you're talking about? So, there's an item at the end of the agenda. Just to clarify the agenda, there's an item at the end of the agenda. I don't if it's an addendum, right? Uh I'm sorry. It's not at the top.

We're not there yet because we're not there yet. It's at the bottom cuz then we can then you have an item number to then I can do it. Okay. Okay. Um so I'll hold that motion till we get to that item at the bottom of the agenda. I'm not going to recognize it at this time. Let's just leave it out of the Okay. Okay. And if you want to get to it, if that time, you make that decision. Okay. Uh, Councilwoman Alliance has the microphone.

Okay. Thank you. Um, I'm sorry. I am one of the co-chairs of I am one of the co-chairs of public safety and I wasn't there that night. I had a personal uh issue, but I do agree with my colleagues because I just went through that in front of my house and um I had to talk to my next door neighbor because I couldn't even park. I couldn't even have my own family member park in front of my house. So, I think that probably one of the best things maybe working this out is if if you have houses there, I don't know the whole circumstance because I I'm sorry I wasn't there that that day, but maybe they can have um they can have parking spaces there outlined just for them specifically living in the house there. Okay. Maybe that could be worked out in in reference to that so that no one else could park on the street and it would only be the homeowners there and then Kobe could get what they want and the church and the school and you know work it out. There has to be something that could be worked out. If I was there, I would have said something and I I talked to my other co-chair and she had that with some of her concerns as well. So, I think that I mean I I don't know if anybody else is going to speak on this on the city. So, I wouldn't want to make motion without uh

without saying anything. Thank you, council woman. Let me let me just give us a statement because I don't mind I know but Denise is um out of respect for the council person there too, but I wasn't there to discuss this.

So, just to be clear, I think a couple things and we're going to continue to recognize council members that want to be heard. And if anyone from the public, this is considered a a public hearing. It's it was supposed to be just the butter, so to speak. I said I think it's there's no harm in letting people speak. And so council members are speaking and again if someone from the public wants to speak council I don't know if you do but let me get uh the council members first. The other thing is just so we're clear um there were I was told and I wasn't didn't chair the public hearing madam president but I know there were people that spoke Councilman Newton referenced or Councilwoman Pereira did that spoke at the general public hearing. I don't know under what item. I guess we can go back and look. But unless there's objection either at this time or at the close of this public hearing, I'd like out of respect for them to uh and I've checked with the city uh the attorney and with uh the city clerk, I don't unless there's objection that their comments be incorporated at least into the record of this public hearing for any purpose that it might be appropriate. I I don't see any harm in that either. This way they know that they didn't speak so to speak in vain. Um, and with that, I'm going to continue to go down. The next speaker who, um, is uh, Councilwoman Denise Taylor Moy. Did you want to be heard on this, Councilwoman?

Yes. I I just want to say a couple of things. Um, in regards to this, I I know that we're looking and we're um, talking about the homeowners. Um, what I have heard in regards to the homeowners is that they live out of Bridgeport. They don't live in Bridgeport. And I'm a renter and I know that I like to have my parking space too, you know. And I know that's the same for everyone that's rents there. We're looking at um two houses on the street. We're looking at um maybe eight to um 10 people on the street that um rent. It's a couple of things here that maybe none of us knew or uh or haven't known, you know. So, I I am not in disagreement with about sending it back and everybody come out to speak or doing whatever that's needed to be done. But I I do feel that we all that are sitting here right now as council people, we do need to have our facts right. We do need to have our facts correct. And it doesn't need what we hear here or what we hear there or how we hear. We just need to make sure that we have all our facts correct, you know. And this is the only thing that um I really need to say in regards to um Calhoun Street. Thank you. All right. Uh, next speaker should go automatic.

I heard you. I have uh council woman. No, I don't want to say. You don't want to be heard? Okay. And then I have Councilman Castillo. Did you want to microphone? Okay. Anybody else want to be heard? Council, do you want to be heard? And hopefully that microphone is working. Can you hear me? Is it can Okay, great.

Yes. Mayor, uh, members of the council, Chris Russo with Russo and Rizzio LLC. Um, I'm here on behalf of the Dasis. Um, joined by Terry O' Conor with, uh, Colby as well. Um, just wanted to address a couple of comments. Uh, first regarding um, for this meeting, my understanding procedurally what's happening is that it was uh, it's a meeting of the abutter. So if a Butters wanted to come and speak, they could come uh voice uh you know their opinions on it. They were sent notice uh of the date and time uh uh for that hearing um for this hearing for them to show up. Um but so just wanted to clarify that. Um this is a application that uh we submitted that's received a favorable recommendation um from the planning and zoning commission. Uh it also went to went to the subcommittee um regarding because I know there's questions regarding parking. We did submit and it's in your packet a traffic study um and uh that was performed by a licensed professional. They looked at parking as well. Um if you look through that you'll note on there um there is parking on both sides of Vine. Um and um what we've found through our personal experience um but also in that site is that some of those vehicles that are on Calhoun Place, some of them are vacant and just left, but there there may be some that are from the neighbors. Uh but they do have the ability to park on both sides of Vine. Um which is right there. Um also the reason why the on street parking spaces were asked to be removed from uh Calhoun Place is when the engineers reviewed the plans the turning radius is needed for um uh school buses and emergency vehicles. Those spaces needed to be eliminated and frankly right now it's non-conforming. The turning radiuses for

those vehicles onto the street is already not conforming. So by removing the on street parking spaces um on Calhoun Place they can make the appropriate turns safely um for all those vehicles. Um so we took the recommendation from the engineers uh certainly for safety perspective um you know uh we we we put what they wanted uh and so that's why uh it's done in that manner. We we are certainly uh you know the the dasis and KBY uh tries to be neighborly and and work with our neighbors. We do have some constraints though as a school just from security perspectives about letting people onto the property for things like parking. So we are constrained by that. Um uh but um you know certainly we'll we'll try to to do what we can to to help our neighbors. Um but I just wanted to provide some clarity on that.

Thank you. All right. this is an this is uh just here's the problem. Okay? And I don't know it's a public hearing. It's not a Q&A. It's not a you know what I mean? So I don't want to get too far a field of what we're doing here. So and I do want to satisfy the council. Listen, this is at the end of the agenda. Um if you want to try and communicate this parking issue, let let's let's get it, you know, kind of amongst yourselves. But I'm going to go on with the rest of the agenda. If you want to be heard in the public hearing, you can be you can be heard. I'm not going to do a Q&A. Councilman, I mean, attorney, thank you.

I just want to know gentlemen came in and they came here early. They said they received a notice and I said, well, there's already 11 speakers ahead of you. You're probably not going to get a spot because this is so confusing. I've been here, this is my seventh year. Why this meeting of a Butters is under minutes for approval. I would thought that was a typo and I told those poor men you can sign up but there's 11 people ahead of you and you're probably not going to get to speak and then Willie Medina graciously s so there were both homeowners were here and because this was not I don't know again why is this under minutes for approval I don't think that those men got their right to speak at the hearing

your comments are incorporated into the record and we want to have all the respect for them I Yeah. And I know you were trying to tell them maybe not to stay. Maybe you shouldn't have given them advice to not stay. Maybe they would have been here. But you know, be careful with that from a council person. Ernie, did you want to be heard? I never told them not to stay. All right. So, we're going to move ahead. I'm closing the public hearing at this time and we're going to move on to the next item. Yes. I never told them. Oh, I'm sorry, Councilwoman, but the public this is a public hearing. You want to be heard on this item? All right.

A public hearing. Yeah. About the parking. Uh, I I am a homeowner and the worst thing that can happen to a home owner is when you get off work and you can't park in front of your house.

And not only that, you know, when the big snow was, I paid someone to to move the snow so we could put our car there. somebody else came and and uh right in front of my house and took the parking space instead of digging out their own place. That is not true. So I called the police department to see that I put cones in front of my house so that I can have parking space when I get out. And that's against the law out there. You can't put no cones out there. You got to be you got to be handicapped.

But people should be courteous enough to know that they should not park right in front of someone house. cuz I can understand up the street, across the street or whatever, but right in front of your house, you know, and and I I you know, I I would not vote for I I would I am going to vote that they that they don't do that. It it it don't make good sense. You're very frustrated when you get off work and you don't worked all day and you got to work a walk a mile or two or three blocks in order to get to your house. Thank you. Councilman Murray.

Yeah. I'd just like to point out that refer us to our packet where we have a traffic study that looks like it's 80 100 pages that's been done on this. We're talking about a portion of Calhoun Place being closed down, not the entire uh and as the attorney said, there is Vine Street where I believe these apartments are located as well. So, we're not talking about moving people, you know, two blocks away from their home. We're we're talking about uh accommodating this plan. So, I I personally think we should move this forward. Thank you.

Okay. All right. At this point then after that um I think everyone I don't see any more lights. We're going to close the public hearing and obviously this item come up for vote at the end of the agenda. So stay tuned. Considate. Motion to consolidate and referral to committee the items on the bottom of page one and page two. Is there a second? All in favor indicate by saying I.

Any opposed be recognized now. There's none. Unanimous. There are matters on the consent calendar. Everyone knows. But for the sake of the public who don't. Uh these items are voted out of committee by consent. They will stay on this item and be voted collectively without comment, argument or debate unless a council member wants to remove any item and any council person can remove one without reason or cause just by raising their hand and be recognized. Which councilwoman Pereira is doing at this time? Therefore, she is going to be recognized. What item or items, Madame Councilwoman, would you like to remove from the consent calendar at this time?

Based on communication from Judge Radcliffe, 4625. 4625 is removed. Any other matter that you would like to remove? Any other matter that any council member would like to remove at this time? Hearing none. Madame clerk, according to the council rules, it would be appropriate for you at this time to read the remaining items from the consent calendar into the agenda, starting with item 28-25. Madame clerk, you have the floor.

Thank you. We got it now. Thank you. 2825 Public Safety and Transportation Committee report resolution declaring domestic violence a public health emergency and establishing a domestic violent task force.

That's 3625. Miscellaneous matter committee report refund of s payment 107 Boston Avenue 4425 contracts committee report resolution approving and authorizing entry into a parking license agreement with Golden Hill United Methodist Church. All right. Is there a motion to move the consent calendar with exception of the item that moved second? There's no debate as or question on any item, Ernie. There's no discussion on any item. You're going to force me to recognize you. I will.

Okay. If there's confusion, I'm going to recognize 4625. She took that off. Right. Yes. 4625 was removed. I recognize the motion as as moving the balance of the item 25. 3625 and 4425. If that clarifies the issue when there's no others, I'm going to move for a vote. Was there a motion in a second? Madam clerk, yes. All in favor indicate by saying I. I.

Any opposed? Please give an indication at this time. I see none. It carries unanimously. There is next item if you notice indicates under roll call vote items which are now listed. It says withdrawn. I'm so sorry. You are correct. Uh, please strike my last comments about the roll call vote and go to 4625 miscellaneous matters committee report resolution regarding success village apartments SVA property tax interest penalty refund. Is there someone who would like to move this matter? Marie Marie Councilwoman Pereira, you're moving the matter. Yes. Well, I'm making a motion to table. A motion to table? Is there a second? Yeah, but wait, let me No, there's no discussion on a motion to table.

I'm I'm making a motion debating. You want to run the meeting, I'll give you the chair, but right now I'm gonna just finish it. The motion to table. Is there a second? All in favor indicate by saying I table is not that you're making the motion. Next matter is matters to be acted upon is 3425 public safety and transportation committee report. This is the item we had the debate on a public uh I'm sorry I call it debate but it was actually a public hearing. Um is there someone who would like to move 3425? It's been moved. Is it seconded? Who move it, please? Who move it? It was moved by Councilwoman Janette Herren. It was seconded by Who?

I'm C. Sorry, Councilman Ernie's trying to get all the attention on this side. You know how it is. All right. There's a motion to second. Does anybody want to be heard on this? Hit your microphone and I will recognize you if you want to. Uh, Councilwoman Pere, you have the floor. Oh, I just want to say this is the item that you just had the hearing for that I believe Council I'm sorry the public hearing on called it. Yeah. So, well, I've never Yeah. Yes. But, um I know that we were talking about sending this back to committee to try to work something out between the actual taxpaying property owners and KBY. And was I misunderstanding that that was your intent that you wanted to send? Okay. I I thought that's where I was confused. Okay. Councilman Newton has the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. After listening to the city attorney, not city attorneys, but the school's attorneys, I'm led to believe that there's no way that they're going to be able to park on Calhoun Street where their houses are. But if you know the area, if you know the area, Vine Street

is so close to Calhoun Street even though it's not right in front of it. And he explained why they they had to take parts of Calhoun so that they could build a wave so police and fire engines could get in there. So it makes sense now even though I think it's unfair but you know the school needs a safe place and um if you've been to Kobe and you've seen how cars go in and out of there where those kids are crossing we want our kids to be safe and so I'm not going to send it back to committee because sending it back to committee after listening to the attorney attorney. It doesn't it it doesn't seem like that there's a way they can keep that portion of Calhoun where those two houses are

to accommodate them and accommodate the plan for the school to um be able to make the school more safer for those kids. So I I'm not going to send it back to committee. It's on the committee floor to be voted on and then we'll we'll do that. So I'm not going to send it back to committee after listening and we'll just vote on it and take the vote and move on. Mr. Mayor, thank you. Next speaker, Councilwoman Lions. Did you want to be heard? Yes.

And there'll be a if someone wants a roll call, we'll do a roll call. But Councilwoman Lions, you have the floor. because I I just feel I just feel really bad that I wasn't there to get the clarification because I am concerned about the people from what I understand they said they were going to give them parking and am I is that correct to my co-chair so now they're saying they're not giving them parking so are they getting parking or they not getting parking well then how could it been said in the meeting that they were getting parking and then now they're saying they're not getting parking I'm confused I'd rather have just sent this back to get clarification. Huh?

What's that? Mayor, Councilwoman, you have the floor.

I appreciate everybody making their comments. Um, unfortunately, our city has grown so much that even as a homeowner, you don't have spots in front of your homes. Families have five and six cars per family, sometimes more. And then when we have renters, they have more spaces taken as well. Um, from what I'm hearing here, the attorney is saying they have parking. Vine Street is right there. There are times that many of us can't park in front of our homes. Some of us are lucky. We have driveways, but not everybody has driveways in front. I know the east side, some of you guys have driveways, some of you don't. Most of them don't. So, we have to figure out a way maybe in the future. We talked about permit parking. We've talked about all these things. We've not moved forward with that like other municipalities do throughout the state and throughout the country, but we are getting too big for our own good. So, we have to talk collaboratively, I think, to figure out a plan so we can help our constituents. You know, we do have to be conscious of that. But the council, uh, Denise Taylor said they were okay with this. They talked to the residents. I think they've w met with um the dasis too to get the plan. I know my um past council president had met with them as well. So I think we need to get a happy medium here. Thank you.

All right. There was a roll call vote. Was that Have you been heard yet, Councilwoman? No. All right. I'll take I'll recognize you and then we'll vote. I just want to say I attended the meeting. There there will be zero parking

on Calhoun Place 24 hours a day because it's going to be an emergency fire lane. You can never park a car there. They're going to gate it from Washington to halfway up Calhoun where only Kobe will have access to it. The other end of Calhoun where the two three family houses are, they will never be able to park a car on the street because it's an emergency for emergency services. Now they have to create like a culde-sac at where the gate comes where the homes are down here and they have to create a turnabout. So there's never going to be a car parked there ever. And again, I always say this to people, don't pass things for others that you wouldn't pass for yourself or your mother or your sister. Who in the world doesn't want to be able to park ever in front of ever in front of their house to unload groceries, whatever. I need to go there for two hours. You if you wouldn't do it in front of your home or your family member's home, why would we do it to somebody else? And these people are taxpayers. And whether you like it or not, Kobe doesn't pay any taxes. So, I'm opposed to it for those reasons. If I wouldn't want not to be able to park in front of my residence, I'm certainly not going to to homeowners who bought homes and there's six units there and I'm they are parking at least the night we of our Wednesday night meeting there were nine cars parked in the street because there's only two driveways, two cars in each driveway. So I I'm never going to do to somebody else what I which I wouldn't want done to me. So I'm a no. Thank you.

Thank you. Council and then we'll vote. Denise Taylor Moore has the floor if she wants it and then we'll vote.

Yes, I hear everything what everyone's saying, but I just want to say this here in my district in the 131st district in the south end of Bridgeport. I have many residents with the same problem. I have residents on Lower Main Street. I have residents over there on Atlantic Street. I have residents that are upset in regards to when there's certain events and different things that are coming into the city. I have that and this is a ongoing thing in my district and the district you know so it's not to say that people shouldn't have their parking but I'm going to tell you I may be the blind council woman but I have a car and sometimes I go to park and I come out and I don't even have my parking space my parking area and I have to take my cane and I have to have someone guide me to the corner or through wherever to get to there. So, I'm I'm I'm just saying this here in general, you know, let's just look at all the facts here. You you understand? we're all um proactive and and everything, you know, but this is a district that I have served for a very long time and this is a district as well as I know many of us have had these problems in the district. You know, let's we're airing it out, you know, let's see what else can um happen here. let the residents that are are are living there get the opportunity to speak to Kobe or whatever again because I know letters and stuff was sent out. I know that they were trying to um or they did make contact with them, you know, but again, I say, let's make sure our facts is right and let's make sure that

we know what we doing and we know how we doing and we know the reason because right now I can take you to lower main street and I got residents over there and that complaint all by cottage place all up and down all in that area there, you know, and you have some people that have three and four cars and you still don't have your parking space, you know, and they not doing nothing for the school system. They're not doing nothing for the kids. They just have three or four cars. You can't tell them I can't have three or four cars. You can't do that, you know. So, let's let's let's deal with with the facts and let's move on from this. Let's move on.

All right. At that, we're going to vote. Madame clerk, voter yes is to vote yes in behalf of this item which I'll identify as 3425. Voter no is uh no. It was a roll call vote. I said I would honor the roll call vote. Madam clerk, you have the floor for a roll call vote. Thank you. Gener. Yes. Nicole Nelson. Deloy. Can you clarify for her? She said yes.

Jorge Cruz is not here. Dasha spell. Rolanda Smith. Akim Voy. Janet Herren. Loretta Dubag. Michelle Lions. Yes. Mary McBry.

Richard Ortiz. Alfredo Castillo. Ideni Ev. Maria Vaj. Kayla Medina, Maria Pereira, Ana Martinez, Ernest Newton. Item pass. Item pass. The motion carries. Did I hear a motion to adjurnn? All in favor indicate by saying I.