[0:01] Okay. I'm going to call to order the

[0:04] Monday, September 14th, 2026 Committee

[0:07] of the Whole. Madam Clerk, if you could

[0:09] please call the roll call.

[0:11] >> Mayor Russ, Deputy Mayor Sheffield,

[0:13] Councilor McElroy, Councilor Norris,

[0:15] Councilor Piazza, and Councilor Jones

[0:16] are present.

[0:17] >> Thank you so much. Um so, the first item

[0:20] of business is the holiday light parade

[0:21] donation acceptance. Um we've been

[0:24] talking about this for a little bit.

[0:25] We're doing our very first holiday light

[0:27] parade. It will be November I'm sorry,

[0:30] it will be December 5th um starting at

[0:33] 5:00 p.m. And we have our first

[0:36] donation. So, a donation request went

[0:38] out to a number of area businesses. Um

[0:41] you received that donation request form

[0:43] as well as information about the holiday

[0:46] light parade um in your packet. Um so,

[0:48] the first donation came from

[0:52] Palermo Pizza in the amount of $250.

[0:55] Um this is considered a supporting

[0:58] sponsor. And the information regarding

[1:00] what that entails is in your packet. Um

[1:03] are there any questions?

[1:06] Yes.

[1:07] >> Um yeah, just thank you. Thanks to the

[1:10] owner of Palermo Pizza for this

[1:12] donation. And like I said, he's a new

[1:14] business that has started here in the

[1:16] city. So,

[1:17] we encourage other businesses as well to

[1:20] you know, chime in and you know, assist

[1:23] donating

[1:24] for special events that we have here in

[1:26] the city.

[1:27] Thank you.

[1:30] >> Any other questions?

[1:32] Okay. So, the request is um to accept

[1:34] the donation

[1:36] um of $250.

[1:38] If that is um acceptable, I'll take a

[1:41] motion to move that to the Monday,

[1:43] September 14th special Mayor and

[1:45] Council.

[1:46] >> So moved.

[1:47] >> Second.

[1:48] >> There's a motion and a second. All those

[1:50] in favor?

[1:51] >> Aye.

[1:52] >> Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? That

[1:55] passes unanimously.

[1:56] Um

[1:57] I will take a motion to move into

[1:59] executive session pursuant to CGS 1-206a

[2:05] to include the council, the mayor, Chief

[2:09] Burton, and Joshua Figueroa, and

[2:12] Captain Lido.

[2:16] » So move.

[2:17] >> Second.

[2:18] >> It's a motion and a second. Any

[2:20] questions or comments?

[2:22] Seeing none, all those in favor?

[2:23] >> I.

[2:25] >> Okay, that is unanimous. So, I am going

[2:28] to ask everyone else if you could

[2:32] Okay, um we are out of executive

[2:34] session. It is 6:18.

[2:36] Um I will take a motion to move the

[2:40] appointment of Joshua Figueroa as a

[2:42] probationary police officer

[2:44] um to the

[2:46] mayor and council of Monday, September

[2:48] 14th, 2026.

[2:50] >> So move.

[2:51] >> Second.

[2:51] >> It's a motion and a second. Are there

[2:52] any questions or comments?

[2:54] >> Do you need to say special mayor and

[2:55] council or

[2:56] >> How I can special mayor and council

[2:59] of

[3:00] Monday, September 14th.

[3:01] >> So move.

[3:03] >> Second.

[3:04] >> Thank you. Sorry.

[3:05] >> [laughter]

[3:06] >> Um thank you. Um my apologies for

[3:08] misspelling there.

[3:10] Um any questions or comments?

[3:13] Seeing none, all those in favor?

[3:15] >> I.

[3:17] >> Will anyone oppose?

[3:18] >> No.

[3:19] >> Any abstentions?

[3:21] Okay, that passes unanimously. I will

[3:23] take a motion to adjourn from the

[3:25] committee of the whole meeting.

[3:27] >> Make a motion to adjourn.

[3:29] >> Second.

[3:30] >> All those in favor? [clears throat]

[3:31] >> I.

[3:32] >> We are

[3:33] Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? We are

[3:35] adjourned at 6:19 6:20. Um

[3:40] I am going to call to order the special

[3:42] mayor and council

[3:44] of Monday, September 14th, 2026. Madam

[3:48] Clerk, if you'll please call the roll.

[3:49] >> We still have Mayor Rusk, Deputy Mayor

[3:51] Sheffield, Councilor Miguel Roy,

[3:52] Councilor Norris, Councilor Piazza,

[3:54] Councilor Johns via Zoom.

[3:56] >> Thank you. Um we have two proclamations

[3:59] tonight. Would someone like to read the

[4:01] first one?

[4:03] Thank you.

[4:08] Yes, please.

[4:15] » Constitution Week Proclamation. Whereas

[4:17] September 17th, 2026 marks the 239th

[4:20] anniversary of the signing of the

[4:22] Constitution of the United States of

[4:23] America, the foundation of our nation's

[4:25] system of government, and the enduring

[4:27] safeguard of our rights and freedoms.

[4:29] And whereas it is fitting and proper to

[4:31] accord official recognition to this

[4:33] magnificent document and its memorable

[4:35] anniversary and to the patriotic

[4:37] celebrations which will commemorate the

[4:39] occasion. And whereas Public Law 915

[4:42] guarantees the issuing of a proclamation

[4:45] each year by the President of the United

[4:46] States of America designating September

[4:48] 17th through 23 as Constitution Week.

[4:52] And now therefore, I Joe Russ, Mayor of

[4:55] the City of Groton, do hereby designate

[4:57] the week September 17th

[4:59] to the 23rd, 2026 as Constitution Week

[5:02] in the City of Groton and urge our

[5:04] citizens to study the Constitution and

[5:05] reflect on the privileges of being an

[5:08] American with all the rights and

[5:09] responsibilities which that honor holds.

[5:12] In witness whereof, I have hereunto set

[5:15] my hand and affix the official seal of

[5:17] the City of Groton this 21st day of

[5:19] September 2026. Joe Russ, Mayor City of

[5:22] Groton.

[5:23] >> Thank you.

[5:25] Um the second one came to us via a

[5:29] citizen um who reached out um Miss Kelly

[5:31] Sergeant who's come before. So thank you

[5:33] so much again for coming tonight. From

[5:35] the office of the Mayor of the City of

[5:36] Groton, Connecticut, Proclamation

[5:39] Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day.

[5:41] Whereas 20,000 pregnancies in the United

[5:43] States end in stillbirth each year with

[5:46] Native black,

[5:48] I'm sorry, with black, native Hawaiian,

[5:50] and other Pacific Islander, Hispanic,

[5:52] and American Indian or Alaskan native

[5:54] families at the greatest risk of losing

[5:57] a baby to stillbirth. And whereas,

[5:59] according to the Centers of Disease

[6:01] Control Control and Prevention, the

[6:03] annual number of stillbirths far exceed

[6:05] the top five leading cause of death

[6:08] among children aged 0 to 14

[6:11] combined,

[6:12] including unintentional injuries,

[6:15] congenital abnormalities, pre-term

[6:17] birth, homicide, and SIDS.

[6:20] And whereas, according to the CDC,

[6:22] expectant parents in some age groups,

[6:25] geographical location, and those

[6:27] expecting multiples also face an

[6:29] increased risk of stillbirth.

[6:31] And in the last two decades, the

[6:32] stillbirth rate in the United States

[6:34] declined by a negligible 0.9%.

[6:39] And in a report published by UNICEF

[6:41] comparing progress in improving

[6:43] stillbirth rate, the United States was

[6:46] worse worse than 151 countries.

[6:50] And whereas, stillbirths are devastating

[6:52] and have a profound impact on the family

[6:54] who endures them and are linked to an

[6:57] increased risk of maternal morbidity and

[6:59] mortality.

[7:01] And with increased awareness and better

[7:03] data collection, we'll be able to better

[7:05] understand why stillbirths are happening

[7:08] in such an alarming rate and identify

[7:10] what can be done to combat this crisis.

[7:13] Proven stillbirth prevention efforts

[7:16] have the power to save thousands of

[7:17] babies every year, and innovations in

[7:20] stillbirth prevention could save

[7:22] thousands of additional families

[7:23] nationwide from the heartache of losing

[7:25] a baby every year.

[7:27] And whereas, recognizing stillbirth

[7:29] prevention and awareness day is an

[7:31] opportunity to increase awareness,

[7:34] support evidence-based prevention

[7:36] efforts, promote research, encourage

[7:39] improved data collection and greater

[7:41] understanding, provide support to those

[7:44] who have experienced stillbirth and help

[7:46] reduce stillbirth, and to ensure every

[7:49] expectant family is educated on how to

[7:51] reduce the risk of losing losing a baby

[7:54] to stillbirth.

[7:56] Therefore, be it resolved that I, Jill

[7:58] Russell, Mayor of the City of Groton, on

[7:59] behalf of the citizens and city, do

[8:01] hereby proclaim September 19th, 2026

[8:06] to be stillbirth prevention and

[8:07] awareness day in the City of Groton,

[8:09] recognizing the tens and thousands tens

[8:12] of thousands of American families that

[8:15] have endured a stillbirth and help raise

[8:16] awareness in order to prevent this

[8:18] tragedy from impacting other families.

[8:22] In witness whereof, I hereunto have set

[8:24] my hand and affix the official seal of

[8:26] the City of Groton this given under my

[8:29] hand on this 14th day of September,

[8:31] 2026.

[8:32] Signed, Jill Russell, Mayor of the City

[8:34] of Groton.

[8:36] >> I just wanted

[8:46] I just want to say thank you very much.

[8:48] Um

[8:50] I'm trying not to get emotional.

[8:52] My first son, Grayson,

[8:55] sorry, was born still at 34 weeks.

[9:00] And I've been doing a lot of work

[9:03] through organization called Measure the

[9:04] Placenta, writing letters and a campaign

[9:07] trying to get things passed to bring

[9:09] more awareness to stillbirth. Just in

[9:12] the hope that no families have to go

[9:15] through what I went through, and I just

[9:16] want to really appreciate that you

[9:17] passed this for me. So, thank you very

[9:19] much.

[9:19] >> Awesome.

[9:25] » Mommy.

[9:26] >> No.

[9:28] >> Mommy.

[9:30] >> Girl.

[9:33] » Yeah.

[10:05] » Okay.

[10:10] Council Miguel Bryan.

[10:11] >> All right. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um

[10:14] so, resolution R-26-09-101.

[10:19] Uh therefore, be it resolved that the

[10:21] Mayor and Council approve the

[10:22] appointment of Joshua Figueroa as a

[10:24] probationary police officer grade D in

[10:27] the City of Groton Police Department,

[10:29] waive the residency requirement, and

[10:31] that the appointment be effective March

[10:33] 16th, 2026.

[10:35] Um I so move.

[10:36] >> Second.

[10:37] >> There's a motion and a second. Chief.

[10:42] >> Thank you, Mayor and Council.

[10:43] Um I would uh at this time ask our City

[10:46] Clerk to administer an oath to uh our

[10:50] candidate, Joshua Figueroa, and then uh

[10:54] we have a little ceremony that will will

[10:56] uh perform after uh that act is done.

[11:04] » Please raise your right hand.

[11:09] You, Joshua Figueroa, do solemnly swear

[11:12] or affirm to faithfully support and

[11:14] defend the Constitution of the United

[11:16] States and Connecticut State law, to

[11:18] discharge the duties of police officer

[11:20] for the City of Groton Police Department

[11:22] in accordance with the rules of the

[11:23] city.

[11:24] To faithfully serve its citizens and

[11:26] visitors with honor and integrity, to

[11:29] promote and maintain the public trust,

[11:31] and adhere to the department's code of

[11:32] ethics. Do you assume these obligations

[11:35] freely, voluntarily, and without

[11:37] reservation?

[11:37] >> I DO.

[11:40] » [applause]

[11:45] » OKAY. YOU GOT TO STAND HERE.

[11:47] >> OKAY. COOL.

[11:48] >> [laughter]

[11:48] >> SEE, NOW I'M IN CHARGE.

[11:53] Um so, we do have a little ceremony. Um

[11:56] it is the first time that uh Josh will

[11:58] get to see his shield or badge uh as the

[12:01] public knows this.

[12:03] Um it is the uh first point in the uh

[12:07] process here that uh police officer

[12:09] um candidates, recruits, and then the

[12:12] police officer later on um has to weigh

[12:15] what the gravity of their oath of office

[12:18] is because our shields are

[12:20] representative of that. Uh it does for

[12:23] us represent community trust,

[12:25] professionalism, and the uh professional

[12:28] service that we deliver to our public on

[12:31] a day-to-day basis. So, with that, uh we

[12:34] do have a badge available for Joshua.

[12:38] Now, I'm not going to allow Joshua to

[12:39] pin himself because that would be no

[12:41] fun. So, uh what we are going to do is

[12:44] ask Sienna to come up here

[12:47] and pin this

[12:49] on

[12:54] There we go.

[12:55] It's a very sharp needle, so if you want

[12:57] to stay back, that's fine.

[13:14] » [applause]

[13:24] » Promise we'll take good take of him.

[13:27] All right. I'm going to ask you to say a

[13:28] few words.

[13:30] See, I'm going to put you on the spot.

[13:31] Huh?

[13:32] >> [laughter]

[13:32] >> Step up.

[13:34] >> Well, first and foremost, thank you to

[13:35] the council. Thank you to the mayor for

[13:37] having me, and thank you for the city of

[13:38] Groton for having me also.

[13:40] Uh I look forward to assisting the

[13:41] youth, assisting the community, and

[13:44] making the city of Groton a better

[13:45] place.

[13:48] » [applause]

[13:52] » We're all set, Mayor.

[13:53] >> Okay.

[13:55] All right, are there any questions or

[13:56] comments?

[14:00] Seeing none, all those in favor.

[14:02] >> Aye.

[14:02] Anyone opposed?

[14:05] >> Sorry. Anyone opposed? Any abstentions?

[14:08] That passes unanimously. Welcome to the

[14:10] city of Groton. Thank you.

[14:12] >> [applause]

[14:17] » COUNCILOR NORRIS.

[14:20] » ORDINANCE 26-09-102.

[14:25] THEREFORE, be it resolved that the mayor

[14:27] and council accept a donation of $250.00

[14:30] from Palermo Pizzeria LLC, 344 Mitchell

[14:35] Street, Groton, Connecticut, 06340,

[14:39] for supporting sponsor level sponsorship

[14:42] for the 2026 City of Groton Holiday

[14:45] Lights Parade and Tree Lighting

[14:47] Festival. I so move.

[14:49] >> Second.

[14:50] >> There's a motion and a second. Are there

[14:51] any questions or comments?

[14:54] >> Uh yeah, I just wanted to make a comment

[14:56] cuz I wasn't able to before. Just wanted

[14:57] to thank

[14:58] uh the the uh business very much for uh

[15:01] for contributing.

[15:03] >> Thank you.

[15:04] I agree.

[15:06] All right, seeing no other questions or

[15:07] comments, all those in favor.

[15:09] >> Aye.

[15:11] >> Anyone opposed? Any abstentions? That

[15:13] passes unanimously. I will take a motion

[15:15] to adjourn.

[15:16] >> Make a motion to adjourn.

[15:17] >> Second.

[15:18] >> There's a motion and a second. All those

[15:19] in favor.

[15:20] >> Aye.

[15:21] >> We are adjourned. It is 6:32. Thank you

[15:24] all.

City of Groton Committee of the Whole and Special Mayor and Council - 9/14/26

Transcript