[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.