[1:13] like to call um the signature to order

[1:16] for Tuesday, September 22nd. Apologize,

[1:18] I'm a little under the weather, so I'm

[1:20] off to that. And the pledge of

[1:22] allegiance

[1:26] to the flag of the United States of

[1:28] America and to the republic for which it

[1:31] stands. One nation under God,

[1:33] indivisible, with liberty and justice

[1:36] for all.

[1:39] » Roll for

[1:43] » here

[1:49] » mayor

[1:50] >> here.

[1:52] >> Mayor

[1:52] >> here.

[1:54] >> We have a corner. We move on to item

[1:56] three, approval of agenda. I actually

[1:59] have something to add. Um coming up our

[2:02] conversation at the last meeting about

[2:04] open space. Actually, drafted a letter

[2:06] for members of the plans on the

[2:08] commission and other land use commission

[2:10] that I will hand out to everybody now.

[2:12] And I would just like to see if we can

[2:13] add it to the agenda as anformational

[2:15] item under 18B.

[2:17] Nobody objects.

[2:18] >> Some move. Second.

[2:25] » Motion by Deputy Marada, seconded by

[2:27] Councelor Gonzalez. Any discussion about

[2:30] adding the letter to planning and zoning

[2:31] as an agenda as aformational item 18B to

[2:35] the agenda?

[2:38] Seeing none, all those in favor? I

[2:41] >> any oppos?

[2:43] Motion carries unanimously.

[2:47] Moving right along. Uh next we have

[2:49] awards and proclamations. Um

[2:51] unfortunately Steve Parker wasn't able

[2:52] to make it tonight. We're gonna leave

[2:54] that we're going to table it and leave

[2:56] it on the agenda for our next council

[2:57] meeting so we can honor him then if

[3:00] anybody unless anybody has any

[3:01] objection.

[3:03] Seeing none. So we're going to move

[3:05] right along to public participation in

[3:08] general. If you'd like to speak in

[3:09] public participation, please step up to

[3:11] the microphone and state your name and

[3:12] address for the record. If you are

[3:14] online using Zoom, please use the raise

[3:16] hand function and we will alternate

[3:18] between in the room and over Zoom.

[3:24] » Yeah, if you're if you like to speak,

[3:25] come on up.

[3:32] Should have state your name and address

[3:34] for the record, please.

[3:35] >> Good evening. My name is Antonio, 273 ML

[3:39] in Newington.

[3:44] We just pledge to the flag liberty,

[3:48] freedom for everybody. I do not know why

[3:51] I'm denied a meeting with the right

[3:53] people to expose the problem which I

[3:56] have uh my house because my house was

[3:59] double the price the tax and I have

[4:03] issues there for years which they don't

[4:06] make me leave my house comfortable.

[4:09] So and I want to talk with the right

[4:11] people. I was here left months and then

[4:16] I have the end that said yes we will

[4:18] have a meeting but yesterday

[4:21] nothing happened and I would like to

[4:23] have because you know I have the right

[4:24] to express myself and to expose the

[4:28] evidence which I have it so to be

[4:30] correct. If you want to raise my text

[4:33] correct my problem which been have many

[4:35] years on my property.

[4:39] wide weight the night of the meeting

[4:45] and

[4:46] 51 50 whatever 49 is not enough for me

[4:50] to explain I need a meeting with the

[4:53] right people

[4:58] can it be done

[5:00] >> we don't do a back and forth during

[5:01] public participation this is just

[5:03] opportunity for that but we will make

[5:04] remarks on what you say afterwards we

[5:06] just we don't do it back and forth at

[5:07] the table like that

[5:08] >> no That's the reason. So I need a

[5:10] meeting with the private people to

[5:13] expose all the problem I've been have

[5:15] and the reason

[5:18] I have you know whatever have to say

[5:21] because I don't want to come here and b

[5:23] you people you have so so many things to

[5:25] do and probably you see me here like a

[5:29] somebody come to the no I have serious

[5:32] problem which that I encounter every day

[5:36] and then I would like to they could be

[5:38] corrected

[5:40] and I have the right to do this because

[5:42] you know the tax is double on my house

[5:46] and the problem is not corrected

[5:50] and I see maybe I don't know the Mr.

[5:53] mayor the Daniel or the people they

[5:55] signed the those paper whatever. So I

[5:57] got to talk to somebody in order

[6:01] to up this problem because I be back

[6:04] next month. I'll be back next week. Yes.

[6:06] I don't want to do that. I want the

[6:08] problem to be fixed.

[6:17] Can somebody maybe call me sending me a

[6:19] letter something? We'll I'll address it

[6:22] on once we're done with public

[6:23] participation. I will address your

[6:24] concerns. Like I said, we can't do a

[6:26] back and forth here.

[6:27] >> That's Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's what

[6:28] I'm telling you. I will we will address

[6:30] what your concerns are. I promise

[6:32] is six months now. How long we could be?

[6:37] You know, every month, every month, and nothing is done.

[6:40] >> Okay. Sure.

[6:41] >> Thank you very much. And I'm sorry about

[6:44] inconvenience.

[6:45] No, no, no. Thanks for coming and

[6:46] hanging out.

[6:52] Anybody else in the room or over Zoom

[6:54] that would like to speak in public

[6:56] participation?

[7:01] Seeing none. Um, we did have one email

[7:04] from last week or from the previous

[7:06] meeting. Um, are you reading that?

[7:08] >> Uh, I can read it if you want.

[7:09] >> All right, Lauren, we'll read it into

[7:10] the record. We did have one email that

[7:12] came in um after the 24hour uh notice to

[7:18] the council before the last meeting. Uh

[7:20] this is from Cindy Trezick of 78 Wells

[7:23] Drive North Newington Town Council. I am

[7:26] writing to address the need to keep some

[7:28] open space in Newington. While I agree

[7:30] that we need more affordable senior

[7:32] housing, putting 13 units and a tiny

[7:34] 2acre parcel of land will not put a dent

[7:37] in what is needed. However, it will

[7:40] definitely reduce the area that my

[7:41] neighbors and I have used for years.

[7:43] There's a group of us who run our dogs

[7:45] there every day, sometimes multiple

[7:47] times a day. There are so many abandoned

[7:50] buildings in Newington right now that

[7:51] are blighting our town. Why can't some

[7:54] of those buildings/spaces be renovated

[7:56] into something that could really benefit

[7:58] the seniors and put a dent in the

[8:00] affordable senior housing that's needed?

[8:02] In doing so, this will help make the

[8:04] town look so much better as parts have

[8:06] definitely become an eyesore. Cedar

[8:09] Street is so busy already. Do we really

[8:11] want to add any more traffic to this

[8:13] area? Bear sightings are reported all

[8:15] over Facebook with people complaining

[8:17] about wildlife on their properties.

[8:20] We're taking away all of their natural

[8:21] homes, resources. Where are they

[8:24] supposed to go besides on our

[8:26] properties? I've seen deer grazing and a

[8:28] fox running through there around the

[8:30] same time every day. I'm sure there's

[8:32] also other wildlife that I haven't seen.

[8:34] Newington is not the town I moved into

[8:36] almost 30 years ago. Newington can and

[8:39] should do better. That's the conclusion.

[8:42] >> Thank you. Thank you.

[8:45] >> We had no other email correspondents

[8:47] come in for this meeting. That was it.

[8:50] That will conclude public participation

[8:52] which moves us on to remarks by

[8:55] counselors on public participation. Mr.

[8:56] Pisiferado, thank you so much for coming

[8:58] out. Um, we really appreciate your input

[9:00] on that. Uh, I'm sorry that you haven't

[9:02] had that meeting yet. We will ensure

[9:04] that that meeting happens. Um, we'll get

[9:05] you in a room with whoever you need,

[9:07] whoever you want to, but we'll make sure that meeting happens in

[9:09] the next several weeks. Okay.

[9:11] >> Thank you.

[9:12] >> You got it. Uh, Deputy Mayor.

[9:15] >> Yes. Um, Mr. Pitzer, I was going to say

[9:18] exactly the same thing that that Mayor

[9:19] Trister said that first of all, thank

[9:22] you for coming. It's never an

[9:24] inconvenience. We always want people to

[9:26] come.

[9:26] >> They don't want to bug us. No, no,

[9:28] there's nobody here. It's your show.

[9:30] >> It's not a bother. This is this is what

[9:32] we do. This is part of our job is to

[9:34] listen to what you have to say.

[9:36] >> So, we will definitely work on that and

[9:38] get you connected with who you need to

[9:39] be connected to.

[9:40] >> So, this is we go on and so

[9:44] >> yeah,

[9:44] >> I would really appreciate it.

[9:46] >> You did the right thing tonight. So, we

[9:48] will we will work on that for you.

[9:49] >> Thank you. Thank you.

[9:50] >> Thank you.

[9:51] >> So, it's good tonight.

[9:54] You should go. council.

[9:58] >> Thank you, Mayor. Mr. Chris Barto, thank

[9:59] you for coming. I met with you, you'll

[10:01] recall just last month or so ago,

[10:05] you are one

[10:06] >> and we communicated quite a bit over the

[10:08] last month. Um, and I connected you with

[10:10] staff, but we want to make sure that all

[10:12] the resources that you need to help

[10:14] answer the questions that you have are

[10:15] in front of you and particularly if you

[10:17] think there's an issue that it is

[10:18] resolved. And so let's ensure that that

[10:21] happens over the next um uh week or so

[10:24] and ensure that you you are able to get

[10:26] that audience. Um but again, just as you

[10:29] have over the last month with me, you

[10:31] can do with any other member of council.

[10:33] We can meet anytime. We can have

[10:34] conversations over the phone every time.

[10:37] You have my cell, please call or text me

[10:38] anytime and we'll just make sure we get

[10:40] this resolved for you. Okay?

[10:42] I have to meet under people and do a job

[10:47] with any one of you. I say the same

[10:50] thing to anyone.

[10:52] Then they said, "Oh, I'm not the one."

[10:54] So they give you guys upstairs. Oh, I'm

[10:56] not the one. This is another way of

[10:58] house. No, go back upstairs.

[11:02] >> We'll take care of it. We'll get on it.

[11:04] You got it. You got it.

[11:06] >> Any other remarks from council?

[11:10] >> All right. Seeing

[11:12] You can go you want to stay. We got some

[11:15] other stuff.

[11:18] >> Thank you for coming.

[11:19] >> You enjoy your

[11:24] » That's the best.

[11:26] >> All right. No other remarks from

[11:28] counselors on public participation.

[11:29] We'll move on to consideration of old

[11:31] business boards and commission review

[11:33] subcommittee recommendations. Are we

[11:35] making a vote on this? I didn't see a

[11:36] resolution.

[11:37] >> Oh, there should have been one on the

[11:38] package.

[11:39] >> I have one. Maybe I'm not seeing it.

[11:43] >> Yeah, just a number.

[11:47] >> Okay, very good.

[11:50] Very good.

[11:53] All right. While you're doing that, why

[11:54] don't we move ahead to item 10,

[11:56] resignations, because I know we have one

[11:58] there.

[11:59] Council, do you want to read that um

[12:02] resolution? Resolve that the Newington

[12:04] Town Council hereby accepts the

[12:06] resignation of Rose Ser Ruby Lions as a

[12:08] public member of the ethics commission

[12:10] in accordance with the correspondence

[12:12] received on September the 8th, 2026 and

[12:14] effective September 22nd, 2026.

[12:17] >> Second motion by councelor Flor, second

[12:19] by councelor Gonzalez. Any discussion?

[12:23] Just as with anybody, we thank her for

[12:25] her service. Thank you for your service.

[12:27] >> All those in favor?

[12:29] >> Any oppose or abstain?

[12:32] Motion carries unanimously.

[12:36] » Okay, we got another one. Oh, we have

[12:38] another resignation.

[12:40] >> Oh, okay.

[12:41] >> Matt, you want to do that one, too?

[12:42] >> Sure.

[12:43] >> Resolve that the Newington Town Council

[12:45] hereby accepts the resignation of Pamela

[12:47] Canary as a member of the Lucy Robbins

[12:49] Wells Library Board in accordance with

[12:50] the correspondence received on September

[12:52] the 8th, 2026 and effective September

[12:55] 22nd, 2026.

[12:56] >> Second by council, second by councelor

[12:59] Gonzalez. Any discussion on this?

[13:02] >> Thank you for your service. Thank you

[13:04] for your service. All those in favor?

[13:07] >> I.

[13:07] >> Any oppos?

[13:10] Motion carries unanimously.

[13:13] Reco, would you like to do a tax refund?

[13:16] >> Resolve that property tax refunds in the

[13:18] amount of $4,12646

[13:22] are hereby approved in the individual

[13:24] amounts and for those named on the

[13:26] request for refund of an overpayment of

[13:28] taxes certified by the revenue

[13:30] collector, a list of which is attached

[13:32] to this resolution.

[13:33] >> Second motion by council Draco, second

[13:36] by council das.

[13:39] Any discussion?

[13:42] Seeing none, all those in favor?

[13:44] >> I.

[13:45] >> Any oppos?

[13:47] Okay. Unanimously.

[13:51] Wait another minute.

[13:54] Where's the other one? Have to hold this

[13:56] one.

[14:17] Thank you. Welcome.

[14:18] >> Thank you, Lauren.

[14:19] >> Thanks.

[14:24] » We go. Council player, you want to read

[14:26] that? Sure.

[14:28] >> Resolved. The Newington Town Council

[14:30] hereby accepts the recommendation.

[14:32] >> Wait a second. I'm sorry. Let me just

[14:33] make it clear on the record. We are back

[14:35] on old business looking at item A,

[14:37] boards and commissions review

[14:38] subcommittee recommendations.

[14:40] >> Sorry.

[14:41] >> Resolve. The Newington Town Council

[14:43] hereby accepts the recommendation of the

[14:45] boards and commissions review

[14:46] subcommittee and therefore dispands the

[14:48] affordable age restricted housing study

[14:50] committee authorized by resolution

[14:51] number 20006-117.

[14:55] The Newington housing needs study

[14:56] committee authorized by resolution

[14:58] number 2014-54.

[15:01] and the PMBC ordinance review

[15:03] subcommittee authorized by resolution

[15:05] number 2024-46.

[15:09] >> Second by council ploy was second by

[15:12] councelor Gonzalez. Any discussion on

[15:15] this

[15:19] counc mayor um just um for the public's

[15:23] clarity on that question that I asked at

[15:26] the last meeting with I think it was the

[15:28] housing needs study committee. Can you

[15:29] just speak to the question was if we

[15:31] would still need this to build our next

[15:33] iteration of our affordable housing

[15:36] plan. I imagine I think you received

[15:38] clarification on that. You just share

[15:40] that.

[15:42] >> So this study committee was actually

[15:44] specific to a certain parcel in uh

[15:47] Newington and it is not the same as any

[15:52] subcommittee or uh committee that would

[15:54] be required by state. Also, the statute

[15:57] that you had referenced two meetings ago

[15:58] has been repealed.

[16:00] >> Oh, well, there you go.

[16:01] >> So, we're good.

[16:02] >> Okay, we're good.

[16:03] >> Thank you,

[16:04] Dr.

[16:06] >> Yeah. And then just to add a little bit

[16:07] more context for the other two, too. So,

[16:08] the affordable age restricted housing

[16:10] subcommittee was something that was

[16:12] enacted back in like 2006. Um, and had

[16:15] like a streamline purpose due to the new

[16:19] Samaritans housing project that was up

[16:20] at that time. uh since then they you

[16:22] know they completed kind of their charge

[16:24] and they haven't met since I think 2017

[16:26] um so we felt like it was a good thing

[16:28] to kind of get off the books and then

[16:30] the same thing for the permanent

[16:31] municipal building committee ordinance

[16:33] review subcommittee the ordinance has

[16:35] been adopted so there's no real need for

[16:37] the review committee anymore so just to

[16:40] give the public rationale as to why to

[16:42] as well

[16:45] >> council thank you

[16:49] » all right had a motion by councelor CL

[16:52] seconded by councelor Gonzalez. Any

[16:54] further discussion?

[16:56] Seeing none, all those in favor?

[16:58] >> I

[17:00] absent

[17:02] carries unanimously.

[17:05] >> All righty.

[17:06] We did resignations, tax refunds.

[17:10] Next is item 12, minutes of previous

[17:13] meeting. I would entertain a motion to

[17:15] approve the meeting from the September

[17:17] 8th regular meeting, unless anybody has

[17:19] any changes.

[17:20] I have one

[17:23] >> on page two. The third bullet

[17:26] stories is possessive. I think it's

[17:28] stories plural.

[17:32] Under counselor Gonzalez stated, I can

[17:34] imagine the stories you have to tell. We

[17:37] have it written as a possessive.

[17:39] >> Thank you.

[17:41] >> I would entertain a motion to approve

[17:42] the minutes of September 8th with

[17:45] councelor deassa's amendments.

[17:47] >> Second.

[17:47] >> No, I would entertain. Who wants you to

[17:49] move?

[17:50] >> Second.

[17:51] >> I'll move it.

[17:52] >> Second.

[17:53] >> All right. Motion by Deputy Mayor Rada,

[17:54] seconded by Councelor Pl. Any discussion

[17:56] on approving the minutes with the

[17:57] amendment?

[17:59] >> Seeing none, all those in favor?

[18:02] >> Any opposed or abstain?

[18:04] All right. Motion carries unanimously.

[18:07] That means us right on to new business.

[18:10] Uh item A, referral 824 referrals for

[18:12] emergency radio tower site, Cedar Street

[18:14] ROI parcel. I'm going to give us a quick

[18:17] up on that.

[18:19] Yes. So, as you uh I'm I'm sure are

[18:21] aware, the uh tower site location in the

[18:25] town has been a topic of discussion for

[18:27] several years. The whole time I've been

[18:29] here, we have contracted with a

[18:31] consultant, Blueing, who has been

[18:33] helping us determine the proper location

[18:35] for a new radio tower, which will house

[18:38] our public safety infrastructure. Um,

[18:41] and that site has now been determined

[18:43] between our consultant and staff. And so

[18:47] it is at the point now where we can send

[18:49] it to the PNC for their 824 review so

[18:52] that we can apply for all the things

[18:54] that we need to in order to put down the

[18:56] pad and have the tower start being

[18:58] built. Uh we are hopeful that this will

[19:00] be in in the works. So over the next

[19:03] couple of months we'll be moving to

[19:05] design phase and then we should be able

[19:08] to start construction phase sometime in

[19:10] 2027.

[19:15] » Councelor B. Thank you, mayor, and thank

[19:16] you, Lauren, for teeing that up. Um,

[19:18] it's uh it's really great to see this

[19:20] continue to move along um in in a

[19:22] productive direction, and um I know

[19:25] myself and council Draco have been a

[19:26] part of the most recent conversations

[19:28] quite a bit. Um in in particular, the

[19:31] conversations that selected this site.

[19:33] Um so, I know we both feel comfortable

[19:35] um proceeding with this site. Um but

[19:37] there's just one question um that I had.

[19:39] I I know one particular item that

[19:41] council Draco and I followed up on for a

[19:42] little while was just a a visual of uh

[19:46] the actual tower from the town center

[19:48] just so we could kind of get a rendering

[19:50] a sense of that update.

[19:52] >> So that will be part of the design

[19:53] phase. I know that that is that is in

[19:55] the plan to provide you all with that

[19:57] kind of panoramic picture of what it'll

[19:59] look like depending on where you are in the town. So we're we are that'll be

[20:04] in the works,

[20:05] >> but it is dependent on which way we go

[20:07] with the design. Sure.

[20:09] >> Excellent. Thank you so much.

[20:11] >> Sure.

[20:12] >> Any other questions or comments from

[20:14] council?

[20:16] >> You did request a waiver. Oh, Council

[20:17] Draco, go ahead.

[20:18] >> I'm just curious. Um, you said that

[20:21] estimated completion would be 2027,

[20:24] spring, summer.

[20:25] >> We're hoping to start the construction

[20:27] phase in in 2027. It really just depends

[20:30] on what the cost is going to be and and

[20:33] when we can get those documents out. So

[20:36] in terms of the rental of the current um

[20:39] >> the lease that we have runs through

[20:41] August 31st of next year I believe is

[20:43] the day. Um so we have some time. We do

[20:47] still have that that active lease. We do

[20:49] still have a current tower. Obviously

[20:52] timing being everything we are going to

[20:54] do everything we can to have one tower

[20:57] up and then sunset the old tower and not

[21:00] have any any you know wiggle room there.

[21:02] So that that would be our goal. But I

[21:04] don't want to promise you the end of

[21:05] August and then be here in July and say,

[21:08] you know, things are slower than we

[21:10] Yeah.

[21:18] » Any questions or comments?

[21:20] A waiver was was requested so we can

[21:23] make approvals on this tonight.

[21:24] Councelor Floyd, would you please read

[21:25] the first uh resolution?

[21:27] >> Sure. First part of it. Resolved. The

[21:29] Newington Town Council in accordance

[21:31] with the Town Council rules of procedure

[21:33] section 14 voting adopted September 8th,

[21:36] 2026, hereby moves to allow action on

[21:39] new business agenda item 13A to

[21:41] authorize Lauren Ry, acting town

[21:43] manager, to submit to the town planning

[21:45] and zoning commission for its report in

[21:47] accordance with section 8-24 of the

[21:50] Connecticut General Statutes, a review

[21:52] of the proposed emergency radio tower

[21:54] site, Cedar Street, RO parcel.

[21:57] >> Second. Motion by councelor floor. It

[21:59] was seconded by deputy marada. Um

[22:02] because we are waving our rules. Um I

[22:04] will open up the floor for public

[22:05] participation specifically on the

[22:07] waiver. Um if you'd like to speak about

[22:09] the waiver, please step to the

[22:11] microphone and state your name and

[22:12] address for the record. Or if you're on

[22:13] Zoom, please use the raise hand

[22:15] function.

[22:21] » Go right ahead. Miss Lions,

[22:24] Rose Lions, 46 Elton Drive. I didn't

[22:27] look at the new rules and procedures.

[22:29] Could Lauren just explain how the waiver

[22:32] is supposed to go? I'm a little bit

[22:34] confused. I thought you waved it and

[22:35] then once you went to vote, then the

[22:37] public participated. I asked this

[22:39] question about a month ago and I'm not

[22:42] quite sure of how it goes. So, if you

[22:43] could just explain that, I'd appreciate

[22:45] it.

[22:48] » Thank you, Miss Lions. We were supposed

[22:50] to vote before I opened up the floor.

[22:52] Oh, sorry.

[22:54] >> I know. I thought we changed that. We

[22:56] had we talked about it in our meeting

[22:59] but I don't think we changed it. I think

[23:00] we just kind of clarified.

[23:02] >> I didn't see that in the draft change in

[23:04] the change meeting. Yeah,

[23:07] >> I think you got it right

[23:09] >> to get rid of the fact that the the

[23:12] publication would be on the proposal

[23:14] itself.

[23:15] >> Just remind

[23:18] the waiver but to be on the

[23:20] >> agenda item itself. So, it's a motion

[23:23] and a second for the waving of the

[23:25] rules. And then you would take a vote to

[23:27] approve waving the rules.

[23:28] >> Then you'd open it up.

[23:29] >> Then you would have a motion and a

[23:31] second on the item.

[23:33] >> And then you open it up to public

[23:34] discussion and then your discussion and

[23:37] then a vote on the item.

[23:38] >> Interesting.

[23:40] >> Which is what it was before, too. We

[23:42] just kind of did it differently

[23:44] >> all the time.

[23:46] >> Rut

[23:48] backtrack. So, I would backtrack and

[23:49] just call for a vote on waving the

[23:51] rules.

[23:52] >> Okay.

[23:52] >> And then move on to the item itself

[23:54] >> and then do it all over again. All

[23:56] right.

[23:56] >> Yeah.

[23:57] >> Stricken last 45 seconds for the record.

[24:00] >> We had a motion by councelor and it was

[24:03] uh it was seconded by Debbie Natada. Any

[24:05] discussion on waving the rules?

[24:08] Seeing none. All those in favor?

[24:10] >> Any oppose or abstain?

[24:13] Motion carries unanimously.

[24:15] And council report, would you read the

[24:17] second half? Sure.

[24:20] >> Be it further resolved that the

[24:21] Newington Town Council hereby directs uh

[24:24] Lauren Ryan's acting town manager to

[24:26] submit to the town planning and zoning

[24:27] commission for its report in accordance

[24:29] with section 8-24 of the Connecticut

[24:31] General Statutes a review of the

[24:33] proposed emergency radio tower site

[24:35] Cedar Street RO parcel.

[24:37] >> Second by council second by council

[24:40] Gonzalez.

[24:42] >> Now I'm now I will open it up for public

[24:44] participation on this item if any folks.

[24:46] Thanks, Rose.

[24:49] >> All right, Miss Lions.

[24:54] » Rose Lions, 46 Elton Drive. Thank you.

[24:57] After 20 years of back and forth and

[24:59] back and forth, I thought we had it

[25:00] straight and then I thought we I was

[25:02] mixed up that maybe it got changed, but

[25:04] hopefully going forward, we'll all be on

[25:06] the same page. Thank you.

[25:09] >> Thank you.

[25:13] Anybody else in the room or over Zoom

[25:15] that would like to speak in public

[25:16] participation?

[25:18] All right. Seeing none, now I will with

[25:20] a motion in a second. I'll open up for

[25:22] any council discussion on this. Any

[25:24] discussion from counselors? Deputy

[25:26] mayor.

[25:27] >> Uh yes, my suggestion is that we strike

[25:31] and so that it reads that the Newington

[25:33] Town Council hereby directs Lauren Ryan.

[25:36] >> Okay, I support that. Everyone okay with

[25:40] the change to the to the resolution?

[25:42] >> Yes.

[25:43] >> All right. Very good. Any other remarks

[25:47] from councel?

[25:49] >> All right. Seeing none. We had a motion

[25:51] in a second and a change was addressed.

[25:54] Uh all those in favor?

[25:55] >> I. Any oppose or pin? All right. We got

[25:59] through that. Motion carries

[26:01] unanimously. Again, I pause this letter.

[26:05] All righty. I don't know what our excuse

[26:08] is.

[26:11] » Uh, next up on the agenda is item B in

[26:14] under new business open space protection

[26:16] ordinance development subcommittee.

[26:19] >> All right. Uh, council, do you want to

[26:21] kick that off? Tee that up?

[26:23] >> Yeah, absolutely. I'm happy to. um you

[26:25] know, our caucus, um after the

[26:27] conversations that have happened over

[26:28] the um last couple of weeks, um and

[26:31] plenty of other conversations we've had

[26:33] around the community for for a long time

[26:35] now, um you know, have kind of

[26:37] recognized that while a lot of great

[26:39] work has happened at the council level

[26:41] in the past on open space, that work has

[26:44] not always um continued with subsequent

[26:47] councils, there hasn't been as much of a

[26:50] um sustained focus on this issue that

[26:53] our entire community agrees is of the

[26:56] most essential importance importance

[26:58] particularly when we have the scale and

[27:01] rate of development that we've seen uh

[27:03] in the last few years um before we were

[27:05] on council. And so, um, we wanted to

[27:09] pull together a council subcommittee

[27:11] where, you know, members could work

[27:13] together to find changes to be made, uh,

[27:16] at a council level in ordinance or

[27:18] resolution to improve the way that we

[27:21] treat open space parcels in our town. um

[27:24] uh to create limitations and barriers to

[27:27] um changing open space parcels and their

[27:30] status as open space parcels in our

[27:32] community so that future councils don't

[27:34] have the authority that frankly we

[27:36] currently do um to alter those parcels.

[27:40] Um thankfully we would never take that

[27:41] authority. We we also want to take the

[27:43] authority away from future councils as

[27:45] well. Um and um we also have a land

[27:48] acquisition fund that um you know we

[27:51] make routine investments in um every uh

[27:54] budget. Uh but we don't have a clear

[27:57] plan this you know councils haven't set

[28:00] in policy a clear plan for continuing to

[28:02] deposit into this fund um so that it can

[28:05] be used sustainably and so that we can

[28:07] actually use it to to acquire these open

[28:10] space parcels when they come up. We've

[28:11] also discussed at great length the

[28:13] importance of further protecting our

[28:16] open space parcels not just um with you

[28:19] know votes from this table um not just

[28:22] with work at the zoning commission

[28:23] though I'm grateful for for the mayor's

[28:25] letter um but also um setting a new

[28:29] standard and uh putting a new layer of

[28:32] protection with conservation on these

[28:34] parcels and that's something that the

[28:35] open space committee has already been

[28:37] discussing that we discussed that way in

[28:40] leadership Um and you know and and we're

[28:43] glad to work together with them to to

[28:45] move that forward. Um and there are

[28:47] other things as well. Um you know folks

[28:49] are aware that the town um holds the

[28:53] development rights for Eddie Farm. That

[28:54] is a model that we think might be worth

[28:57] exploring on other parcels um as well as

[28:59] rights of first refusal for parcels that

[29:01] remain undeveloped over long periods of

[29:03] time. um you know and that that that uh

[29:06] you know should sit as open space in the community's hands if we you know

[29:11] had the resources to do that. So um

[29:14] there's a lot of opportunities to to to

[29:16] work on this at a council level. The

[29:18] open space committee has stepped up.

[29:20] We're asking um the you know other folks

[29:23] to step up. Um, I'm glad the the mayor

[29:26] and we'll talk about it, I'm sure, more

[29:28] informational items when it comes up,

[29:29] but that that he wrote that letter to

[29:31] the zoning commission so that they can

[29:33] step up. But we also as a council need

[29:35] to take responsibility for the work that

[29:37] we can do to be full advocates for open

[29:41] space in our community. Um, because

[29:43] nobody should be advocating the

[29:45] responsibility to preserve this

[29:47] essential resource that once it's gone

[29:50] can never ever ever be regained. So, um,

[29:53] I'm excited for us to continue to

[29:55] discuss this and hopefully set up this

[29:56] subcommittee so that we can do some

[29:58] really important, strong, sustained

[30:00] work, um, as a council to protect open

[30:04] space.

[30:06] >> Council, any other comments or remarks

[30:09] from the other council

[30:13] discussing it now?

[30:14] >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

[30:17] >> Counc.

[30:19] >> Yeah. I um certainly as you as you're

[30:23] aware we've talked so many times before

[30:25] um support any kind of work um that

[30:29] contributes to the preservation,

[30:30] protection, acquisition of open space.

[30:33] Um but what I really want to ensure is

[30:36] that any new commission would complement

[30:40] rather than overlap responsibilities

[30:42] with other land use commissions. Um and

[30:45] there needs to be like a clear

[30:47] delineation to avoid any you know

[30:49] duplication and um regarding the open

[30:54] space committee um I've watched it from

[30:58] the inception and in the beginning it

[31:00] was like really gunho and the cedum and

[31:02] we were able to get the mark cap and

[31:04] blah blah blah and then um

[31:09] it kind of over the years kind of became

[31:13] dormant and

[31:14] Not that it was inactive, but it seemed

[31:17] that there um they didn't feel

[31:20] there because there wasn't much open

[31:22] space left. There wasn't any money. Um

[31:24] you know, regarding the land acquisition

[31:26] fund, actually it was always there, but

[31:28] councils unfortunately in budget

[31:30] crisises kind of ignore the fact that it

[31:33] was legis legislated or in our budget to

[31:36] put money in there every year, but it

[31:38] was so thankfully we got that going

[31:40] again. But um the momentum of the open space committee

[31:46] actually we went to from meeting um

[31:50] monthly to actually quarterly because it

[31:52] didn't seem that there was quite enough

[31:54] to do and part again part of this was

[31:59] um

[32:01] staff advised us kind of at the time

[32:04] um that we were sort of the charter the

[32:09] way the the commission was set up was

[32:11] kind of we were at the not the whim but

[32:14] at the direction of the town council and

[32:17] some of us kind of pushed back and said

[32:18] no we we as a com as a open space

[32:22] commission we're allowed to make

[32:23] proposals and recommendations but yet

[32:25] there was push back saying no you really

[32:27] should be at the direction of the

[32:28] council and and and implementing you

[32:30] know their concerns or whatever so

[32:34] it became it's not as effective as it

[32:37] could have been and actually John I mean

[32:39] this letter is absolutely super. I mean,

[32:41] um I was just reading it through, but

[32:43] this is the type of thing that I think

[32:45] um staff was expecting

[32:50] this type of detail to come from the

[32:52] town council to the open space

[32:54] committee.

[32:55] >> And in my estimation, it should have

[32:58] been the open space committee coming up

[33:01] with some of these ideas and going back

[33:02] to the council and say, "Hey, would you

[33:04] support us on this, that, and the other

[33:05] thing?" So, this is an absolutely great

[33:06] step. and actually you know the open

[33:08] space foundation you know we should look

[33:09] at something for them too. But in any

[33:11] event, um because there was hesitancy to

[33:15] be proactive, now the open space, the

[33:18] current open space committee, um the ch

[33:21] the leadership and the membership is

[33:23] starting to be proactive. And like two

[33:25] of those things that um are part of the

[33:27] charges for this open space committee,

[33:30] identifying town parcels, um identifying

[33:33] private um or

[33:36] consideration of bright first, whatever.

[33:38] The current open space committee

[33:39] certainly has been doing an awful lot of

[33:41] work on that uh with Eric's help, with

[33:44] Charlie's help, with um

[33:46] >> Monique.

[33:47] thank you. Mon'nique's help.

[33:49] So, we've got like a really good start

[33:51] on that. And in fact, in one of our

[33:53] executive sessions tonight, you know,

[33:55] you'll hear more about it. So, my only

[33:59] that I the only thing that I'd like to

[34:00] do is in order to avoid duplication or

[34:04] stepping on people's um toes, I would

[34:08] like this to maybe go to the open space

[34:11] committee for their review to see

[34:14] whether they feel if there's any

[34:16] duplication or any clarification to

[34:20] so that the commissions can be set up to

[34:22] make ensure that they're working

[34:24] cooperatively

[34:25] um rather and you know duplication of

[34:27] efforts particularly since it's going to

[34:28] take staff's time I would imagine a

[34:30] staff leazison would be involved

[34:31] probably the same one if before we vote

[34:33] on this or move on this if I think this

[34:36] just for review not only for um courtesy

[34:39] sake because it's it is their topic but

[34:43] also to go maybe even to GDC but

[34:45] certainly to the open space committee

[34:46] and see whether they feel that hey you

[34:49] know we want to do this or we should be

[34:51] doing this maybe their charge should

[34:53] change

[34:54] >> to incorporate some of this or if they

[34:56] say no, you know, I think this is a good

[34:58] idea. Um, let's work together or I would

[35:02] like their input on it before we vote on

[35:04] it. That's

[35:06] >> a for sure

[35:08] >> both for TBZ and for open space, but

[35:10] particularly open space.

[35:12] >> Council PL.

[35:13] >> Thank you, Mayor. Yeah, I'll just say I

[35:14] mean ditto to a lot of what council

[35:17] Draco said and you'll you'll see that in

[35:19] the resolution there's a there's a a a

[35:21] call out of the open space committee um

[35:24] and the work that they've done and the

[35:26] you know purpose our purpose in setting

[35:28] up the subcommittee is just to

[35:30] complement that work. It's not to

[35:32] subsume it. It's not to replace it. It's

[35:34] not to I know we had a conversation in

[35:36] agenda setting about um ensuring that

[35:38] it's not um to approve the work of the

[35:41] open space committee. Um and I'll also

[35:44] just say that the open the chair of the

[35:45] open space commission um who's doing

[35:47] excellent work leading that commission

[35:50] is aware of this resolution supports

[35:52] this resolution um is is very excited

[35:54] about it. Um and um and so you know

[35:57] thankfully we're not voting on this this

[35:59] evening. We have a couple of weeks. I'

[36:01] I'd certainly welcome

[36:02] >> forward it on

[36:03] >> for us to forward it on and you know for us to receive their feedback on it

[36:08] um you know so that we can ensure that

[36:09] you know they they they um they're aware of it. I know at least

[36:13] that the open space committee chair

[36:15] supports it. Um

[36:17] >> what about conservation maybe too? I'm I so one thing I would ask and and and

[36:22] we're just having this conversation out

[36:23] in the open, but you know the the

[36:25] commission call or the subcommittee

[36:28] specifically mentions the open space

[36:29] committee because the the intention of

[36:31] the subcommittee is to work on things

[36:34] for which the only possible overlap may

[36:37] be with the open space committee. Right.

[36:39] You mentioned there's a couple things

[36:41] already that this subcommittee would

[36:42] partner with the open space committee

[36:44] on. But there aren't things here that

[36:46] involve zoning changes. there aren't

[36:49] things here that involve um you know um

[36:53] jurisdiction of the conservation

[36:54] commission and so I you know

[36:59] certainly those commissions um are

[37:01] important to our preservation of open

[37:05] space in town as evidenced by the

[37:06] mayor's letter. Um but I think the most

[37:10] important folks to get feedback on is

[37:12] open space. I'd support having the

[37:14] discussion with open space, at least

[37:15] passing it along to them, ensure that

[37:17] they're aware of it that if they have

[37:18] any notes to send those to us and we'll

[37:20] integrate them. Um, beyond that, I don't I don't know. I don't I just

[37:24] don't want to muddy people's

[37:26] >> That's true. Um, and again, I think this

[37:28] letter

[37:30] is well.

[37:32] >> Um, no, fine. as long as um yeah

[37:35] with that

[37:38] >> I'm going to come at it from the angle

[37:39] of one of the council members tasked

[37:42] with removing duplicative and and

[37:44] cleaning up all kinds of boards and

[37:45] commissions because there are I think

[37:48] charges three, four and five do feel

[37:50] duplicative at this time with open space

[37:53] and one almost feels duplicative with

[37:56] TPZ and open space as you've addressed

[37:58] kind of and I guess I would like

[37:59] clarification on what

[38:02] two would be tasking like the charge the

[38:05] second charge would be looking for us to

[38:08] do it says developing policy changes to

[38:11] increase regular funding mechanisms

[38:13] including federal state and private

[38:15] grants into the land acquisition fund.

[38:16] So I guess I'm just looking for what the

[38:19] drive behind that would be and the task

[38:21] to the council members would be for

[38:24] that.

[38:25] >> So thank you mayor. I'll just say for number two, it'd be up to first of

[38:29] all any of the changes that would come

[38:30] out of this update would be up to the

[38:32] members that serve on it. I will provide

[38:33] recommendations to the whole council for

[38:36] us to all then consider. Um, you know,

[38:38] number two, I think speaks to the fact

[38:40] that our only regular funding source

[38:42] into the land acquisition fund right now

[38:44] is our budgeted funds, right? And um,

[38:47] you know, we like council Draco said in

[38:52] recent years, we have contributed um,

[38:55] regularly to that fund in ways that

[38:57] other councils maybe haven't, but um,

[39:00] you know, there's only we've only been

[39:01] able to contribute so much to the fund.

[39:04] And as we've seen with this exercise

[39:06] with the uh with the land acquisition

[39:08] grant that we've been pursuing, the

[39:10] money can only stretch so far and and

[39:12] we'd like to stretch it further so that

[39:15] we can have the conversation about

[39:16] larger parcels um and you know and and

[39:19] using those resources in in really

[39:21] meaningful ways. So I think that's what

[39:23] number two kind of speaks to. and three,

[39:25] four, and five. I'd just say, you know,

[39:27] um the open space committee um has has

[39:30] considered some of that work and and

[39:32] discussed it. Um of it is to say though

[39:36] that a lot of the actual changes that

[39:38] would come from those recommendations

[39:40] would be made at a council level, right?

[39:42] So I think it's relevant that council um

[39:45] thinks about them as well um and works

[39:48] together with the open space committee

[39:50] um to you know put our own focus and

[39:53] staff's focus on those critical issues

[39:56] so that we can actually drive them

[39:57] forward right and that they don't

[39:58] languish um or or that we lose focus um

[40:01] because they are really really important

[40:03] um and so you know this would be an

[40:05] interesting experiment I think we don't

[40:07] have um subcommittees and I think you're right to point it out that

[40:11] regularly would um partner with other

[40:14] commissions or committees of the town in ways other than you know kind of

[40:18] informally. Um and so this will be an

[40:21] interesting experiment. But I think this

[40:23] issue really warrants that because um

[40:26] you we have a commission um with a

[40:29] history of advocacy and organizing

[40:32] around this really essential issue

[40:33] that's thankfully been formalized over

[40:36] the the the years and integrating that

[40:40] feedback um really onetoone could come

[40:43] up could bring some really good policy

[40:46] changes to this table um and actually

[40:49] continue to drive that issue forward.

[40:50] So, I think it could be really exciting.

[40:52] It is kind of novel, but um I I'd like

[40:55] that this committee would be able to

[40:56] think about that as well.

[40:57] >> I'm not disagreeing with you, and I know

[40:59] that open space would bring everything

[41:00] to the council table for consideration.

[41:02] Um the current open space does have two

[41:04] council members as as members of that.

[41:07] So, I don't

[41:09] it would come to council either way.

[41:11] Like, we have council who are updated on

[41:13] it at that point and it would come to

[41:15] the full council to continue to move

[41:17] forward. So, I guess I was I I just

[41:20] don't want to

[41:22] feel disrespectful to the members doing

[41:24] all of the work there, including our

[41:26] council members who are on the open

[41:28] space as well. So, I just I hesitate

[41:33] there besides the whole task with

[41:36] removing duplicative courts and

[41:38] commissions.

[41:40] >> I agree. I agree. I think it makes a lot

[41:42] of sense to, you know, have those

[41:43] conversations over the next few weeks

[41:44] and, you know, sort of tighten it up. We

[41:46] have, you know, a little break before

[41:48] our next council meeting so we got some

[41:49] time to review it and put some stuff out

[41:50] there and uh come with a a perfect

[41:53] resolution. So, we have it all ready to

[41:54] go. Excellent. Any other comments or

[41:57] will you send it out?

[41:59] >> I can send it.

[42:01] >> Thank you.

[42:03] >> All righty. That'll conclude new

[42:05] business and move on to town manager

[42:08] report

[42:10] you got for us.

[42:13] Let me turn my mic on first. There is a

[42:16] lot going on in town over the next few

[42:18] weeks.

[42:21] Uh waterfall festival is this Saturday.

[42:24] Hopefully it still happens. Obviously

[42:26] the weather is a little iffy, so we'll

[42:28] see if that gets postponed or not. But

[42:30] that is Saturday from 10 to 3. The food

[42:33] scraps pilot program at the um transfer

[42:37] station will start this Saturday also

[42:40] September 26. We're very excited. We've

[42:42] gotten um we've gotten a lot of inquiry

[42:45] about it. So, we are really hopeful that

[42:47] this is going to be a utilized program

[42:49] and also a very successful program. And

[42:51] the highway department will also be

[42:53] sending out a news slash later this week

[42:54] just to notify residents directly that

[42:57] it is up and running.

[42:59] Also, um basketball, youth basketball

[43:01] registration opens um next Wednesday,

[43:05] September 30th, and the registration

[43:07] deadline is Friday, November 20th. Uh

[43:11] the deadline is firm. I've been asked to

[43:13] say the deadline is firm and that they

[43:15] strongly encourage parents to register

[43:18] early to ensure their spot in the

[43:20] program. There will be a virtual public

[43:23] information session held by the

[43:24] Connecticut DOT next week also. That's

[43:27] October 1st and that is regarding the

[43:31] rectangular rapid flashing beacons that

[43:34] they plan on installing on Robins and

[43:36] Flaggler. So, these are upgraded

[43:39] um notification signs. They're going to

[43:42] be larger and they're going to have a

[43:44] flashing beacon. Other towns have them.

[43:46] So, Newington is getting a couple as

[43:48] well.

[43:49] The town hall will be hosting a

[43:52] Halloween event on October 10th. That's

[43:54] Parks and Wreck who was running that.

[43:56] And that will be in the gym. Uh 5 to

[43:59] 8:00 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. It's

[44:01] the first time that they are going to be

[44:02] running a Halloween program. They're

[44:04] very excited to bring this to the town.

[44:06] and then watch it grow every year. Uh we

[44:09] also have completed our broadband

[44:12] infrastructure upgrades. So this is

[44:15] allowing public I know and and huge huge

[44:18] kudos to the IT department specifically

[44:21] uh Scott Charlo who kind of took this

[44:24] project on and got it to completion. We

[44:27] have upgraded public Wi-Fi to 23 town

[44:32] locations. So that includes town

[44:35] buildings, some areas of downtown as

[44:37] well as parks, and that allows everybody

[44:40] to tap into public Wi-Fi, and it's goes

[44:43] a long way to creating equity in our

[44:46] community. So, we're very proud of this project, and we've gotten a lot

[44:50] of positive feedback so far from

[44:52] residents. And then last but not least,

[44:54] the GFOA has uh given the town again the

[44:58] certificate of achievement for

[44:59] excellence in financial reporting for

[45:01] our fiscal year 24-25.

[45:04] So huge, you know, congratulations to

[45:06] the finance department, including our

[45:07] former finance director, Janet Murphy.

[45:10] Um and we look forward to receiving this

[45:12] again next year. That's it.

[45:15] >> Thank you.

[45:16] >> Questions for Lauren Draco?

[45:18] >> Yeah, I'm just this GFOA thing. Um, does

[45:22] that also look at the board of ed um

[45:24] budget?

[45:25] >> It considers our entire audit. Yep, it's

[45:27] our entire audit.

[45:28] >> Thank you.

[45:29] >> Yep.

[45:30] >> Thank you, Lauren. Um, I just also uh

[45:33] want to mention as well, uh, we have

[45:36] Candlewick Park opening tomorrow.

[45:38] >> Yes, that's right. 6 PM Candleick Park

[45:40] of Ribbon Cutting. That's right. I did

[45:42] announce that at the last meeting, but

[45:43] then it got No, but then it got moved.

[45:45] It got rescheduled. Um, and it will be

[45:48] happening tomorrow evening. Awesome.

[45:50] Thanks for all your great questions.

[45:52] >> Thank you.

[45:53] All righty. Moving on to council

[45:56] committee liaison and committee reports.

[45:58] Any updates from counselors on your

[46:00] committee work? Yeah, deputy mayor.

[46:02] >> Yes. I just want to report on um

[46:06] the September 10th meeting of the board

[46:08] of fire commissioners. Um first of all

[46:11] um

[46:14] Tony Palas Palasi, I hope I'm

[46:17] pronouncing his name correctly.

[46:19] um has completed uh fire officer three

[46:23] and fire instructor three which is high

[46:27] level awesome

[46:28] >> um

[46:30] awards well it's not even awards it's

[46:32] this is tremendous amount of work and

[46:34] training that went into that so kudos to

[46:37] him um

[46:40] the uh kickball game that took place on

[46:43] the 12th between the fire department

[46:45] police department well 12 fire

[46:47] department Anyway,

[46:49] that's that's okay. It was all in good

[46:51] fun. Um

[46:53] on um October 10th, there is going to be

[46:57] a picnic with um the police department.

[46:59] Invitations are going to go out to um

[47:02] town council. Um it's 11 already. I

[47:04] haven't seen it, but they it's um fire

[47:08] department fire department police

[47:11] department combined picnic.

[47:12] >> And there's going to be a cornhole

[47:14] tournament. So, anybody that's

[47:16] interested or thinks that they

[47:19] cornhole aicionados can take part in

[47:22] that. Um, and uh then the cadet pancake

[47:26] breakfast um will take place in October.

[47:29] Um

[47:31] date to be announced and related to the

[47:34] cadet program um three new applications

[47:38] for the cadet program

[47:39] >> nice have been handed into the fire

[47:41] department. So, they're moving right

[47:43] along.

[47:44] Thank you,

[47:47] Counc.

[47:48] >> Um, yeah, the library uh board had met.

[47:51] Um, they started their meetings back up

[47:53] last week. Um, they uh had a few

[47:56] updates. Um, they recently uh qualified

[47:59] for uh a new grant that is quite sizable

[48:01] in their in their words. Uh, which is

[48:03] always great. Uh, they have a book sale

[48:05] coming up October 16th, the weekend of

[48:08] the 16th through the 18th. And they, uh,

[48:10] fingers crossed will be at the waterfall

[48:12] festival. um so long as the weather

[48:14] holds off there. So that's good. Um they

[48:16] have a few job openings opening up. So

[48:18] if anyone knows someone who is qualified

[48:21] and would like to work at a library, you

[48:22] know, please spread the word. Um other

[48:25] than that, the uh we said it a few

[48:28] times, but it's coming up. The senior

[48:30] center is having their bingo night

[48:32] October 2nd. Um so definitely I'll

[48:35] definitely be there. Um it should be a

[48:37] good time. They have like great prizes

[48:39] lined up and it's always a fun time. And

[48:41] then the parks and recck board is um

[48:44] they're still, you know, added trying to

[48:47] provide more uh programs for the town,

[48:49] but they are something notable is that

[48:51] they are trying to start up the uh

[48:52] Morgan Square concerts again. So fingers

[48:54] crossed that they they can make that

[48:56] happen because yeah, that would be a fun

[48:57] time. I haven't seen that in my time

[48:59] here in town. So I would love to see

[49:00] that. That's all I got.

[49:03] >> Thank you, councelor

[49:07] Ford.

[49:07] >> Thanks, Mayor. Um a few things. Um,

[49:09] council Draco and I attended uh the town

[49:11] planning and zoning commission um

[49:13] meeting. Um, there was a public hearing

[49:16] on a signage piece of signage for over

[49:20] street apartments um that a lot of

[49:22] residents shared feedback on um in the

[49:25] meeting um and the zoning commission um

[49:27] opted to continue that discussion into

[49:30] their next meeting. Um so encourage

[49:32] folks to to keep an eye on that. Um the

[49:35] um e economic development commission met

[49:38] as well um last week and we um learned

[49:42] from them that they have begun reviewing

[49:45] vacant parcels throughout town. Um

[49:47] identifying uh parcels um that uh could

[49:51] be right for redevelopment and actually

[49:53] reaching out to property owners and

[49:55] engaging with them on hey what do you

[49:57] need? How can we help? What can we do?

[49:59] Uh what resources might you need from

[50:01] the town or support from the town, etc.

[50:03] Um and so um I'm glad that there are so

[50:06] many commission members who have been

[50:07] involved with that. Um and that that

[50:09] work is happening. Um and obviously we

[50:12] support that. Um and then I also just

[50:13] want to mention a couple things. One

[50:15] that um many of us here attended the

[50:18] grand opening of John Wallace Middle

[50:20] School and got to see the amazing

[50:22] renovation work that was done there.

[50:24] It's like a completely brand new school.

[50:26] Um and also got to see them open a time

[50:28] capsule from the class of 2001 which was

[50:31] pretty cool. Um and um also that um not

[50:35] a phase celebrated a one-year

[50:37] anniversary and had a massive vendor

[50:40] fair in market square um just I don't

[50:42] know last weekend or so that was very well attended. They had lines like

[50:47] out the door. It was pretty amazing. Um

[50:49] and I could see so many people leaving

[50:51] Nana or leaving the vendor fair and then

[50:53] like going to Rooster or going to TJ's

[50:55] or going to the pet shop or going like

[50:58] just going to so many of the other

[50:59] businesses downtown. So that was really

[51:02] excellent to see. Um and also just want

[51:04] to mention um that we have a brand new

[51:06] business, two brand new businesses to

[51:08] welcome. Um one um I believe is called

[51:11] AMR and they are um in the um space that

[51:16] um was formerly held by Mom and Pop

[51:19] Sushi and before that a long time ago it

[51:21] was the Chamber of Commerce was what I

[51:23] mostly remember it as. But they're now

[51:25] in that space um and I think are holding

[51:28] classes and other things as well. So

[51:30] definitely check them out. That has been

[51:31] a a a you know vacant site for um a

[51:35] little bit. Um and so um it's great to

[51:37] have them there. Another small business.

[51:39] And also um Bora Bora Smoothie just

[51:41] opened up on the turnpike in the former

[51:43] vacuum village lot. This is their second

[51:45] location in the entire state of

[51:46] Connecticut. The other one is is in New

[51:48] Haven. Um and um they've been very

[51:50] popular. I went in and there were vines

[51:53] and um it's going to be quite a um an

[51:56] attraction. So, um, lots of stuff going

[51:59] on. Um, and then I'd just be remiss if I

[52:02] didn't mention as well that, um, most of

[52:03] us members of council also attended two

[52:06] really, um, uh, impactful, very

[52:09] emotional ceremonies, um, to recognize

[52:12] the 25th anniversary of 911. Um, one in

[52:15] the morning, um, at the firehouse and

[52:17] then later that evening. Um, and I know

[52:19] our our mayor spoke at the at the, uh,

[52:22] evening ceremony as well. Um it was very

[52:25] moving to um memorialize the families

[52:29] that have been impacted continue to be

[52:31] impacted by the tremendous losses of

[52:32] that day and also all of our public

[52:35] safety personnel and the very personal

[52:37] stories that they have of that day as

[52:39] well. So um we just continue to hold

[52:41] them in our prayers every single day.

[52:44] >> Councelor Council Drego. Yeah, I was

[52:46] just going to um mention thank you

[52:48] councelor Pard um the 911 ceremony that

[52:52] was and to thank the Newington Volunteer

[52:54] Fire Department for um sponsoring both

[52:56] of those celebrations. But what really

[53:01] um

[53:02] was surprising to me at least or eye

[53:05] opening is the number of people from

[53:08] Newington um who were on site or there

[53:11] that day um including you know our some

[53:14] of our first responders who whether they

[53:18] were given the okay or not hopped in

[53:19] their cars to you know go down and and

[53:22] serve in any way they can. And also um

[53:26] our mayor witnessed it first time, I

[53:29] mean firsthand because he was actually

[53:31] living in the vicinity that day. So um

[53:34] it wasn't just a far away event. It it

[53:37] impacted people um our neighbors. So and

[53:40] it was moving and um it was quite an

[53:43] event.

[53:46] >> I agree.

[53:49] Bring that up.

[53:51] >> All right. Any more updates from

[53:52] counselors?

[53:55] All right, seeing none and move back

[53:57] public participation. Speaking of public

[53:59] participation, please step to the

[54:00] microphone and state your name and

[54:01] address for the record or use the raised

[54:03] Zoom. We'll alternate between in the

[54:04] room and over Zoom.

[54:06] We got one on Zoom. Go right ahead. Miss

[54:10] Lions.

[54:13] » Hi, Rose 46 Elton Drive. Um, I've been

[54:18] listening but had to stop and go out of

[54:20] the room for a few minutes. I'm just

[54:22] wondering if you mentioned whether or

[54:24] not the letter that you've been

[54:25] referencing is going to be attached to

[54:27] the minutes of tonight's meeting so that

[54:29] we can the public can look at it in case

[54:32] we have any comments to be made. Uh, as

[54:34] you all know, I'm not happy with the

[54:36] decision that was re reached regarding

[54:38] the Mil Street Extension building of

[54:40] senior housing, but I am happy to see

[54:43] that the open space acquisition is being

[54:46] brought to the forefront. I was sitting

[54:48] with Gail many times during Save Cedar

[54:52] Mountain meetings and Save Mil Pond Park

[54:54] meetings and open space. And I

[54:57] especially think back to the time when

[54:59] Carol Wowitch, who was first on one of

[55:01] on the first committee, I believe, tried

[55:02] to get a land trust established and she

[55:06] could get no support to do that. And I'm

[55:09] happy to see that you're going forward

[55:11] with what you plan on doing. At least I

[55:13] hope that it seems like if you're going

[55:15] to be doing some land acquisition and

[55:17] making some funding available. I do wish

[55:21] that some of the money from National

[55:23] Welding had been put into the land

[55:24] acquisition. Um maybe going forward you

[55:28] can also make some provisions where a

[55:31] certain amount of money not just what

[55:32] you have line in the line item on the

[55:35] budget but if town property is sold

[55:36] maybe a percentage should go back into

[55:38] land acquisition.

[55:40] And I get chills up my spine when I hear

[55:44] Marap property

[55:47] being said about Mr. Cohen's property

[55:49] that we bought from him several years

[55:51] ago. And I know Gail that's what we

[55:53] refer to it as. But if there's anything

[55:56] that should be named in this town, I

[55:57] think we should even give it the

[55:59] Newington Cedar Mountain property or

[56:02] something. Marap, just like I say, sends

[56:04] chills up my spine, especially after the

[56:07] torture that we went through buying that

[56:09] property. With that being said, thank

[56:11] you very much. Have a good night.

[56:14] >> Thank you.

[56:18] » Anybody else in the room or over Zoom

[56:20] that would like to speak in public

[56:21] participation?

[56:25] » All right, seeing none, we move on to

[56:27] remarks by counselors. I'll just address

[56:29] yes, we will be adding the letter to the agenda after the fact and we're

[56:33] going to discuss it further in in a

[56:34] couple minutes. Any other remarks from

[56:37] council?

[56:39] All right, seeing none brings us

[56:41] toformational items. Item A, update from

[56:43] library renovations additions project

[56:45] building committee. Um we got a letter

[56:47] you want to then go ahead.

[56:49] >> Yeah. Uh so the library additions

[56:51] renovations commi committee lark as we

[56:54] call it continues to meet monthly just

[56:56] to review um the current iteration of

[56:58] the plan and also their plan to bring a

[57:01] recommendation back to your body to send

[57:03] the project referendum and this is

[57:06] around the time when they would normally

[57:08] come back and give you that update.

[57:10] However, with everything that they have

[57:11] been doing for the last year, they feel

[57:14] that at this time it's more important

[57:15] for them to go out and continue to get

[57:18] community buyin and community opinion so

[57:20] that they can tailor the plan to what

[57:22] that community input is. So they are

[57:25] going to um they actually meet again

[57:28] this week and they intend to take on a

[57:31] public information public survey uh

[57:34] phase of of their planning and then use

[57:36] that to refine their plan and then come

[57:39] back to you at a later date. And so they

[57:41] did want to just give you an update and

[57:42] let you know that they have not stalled

[57:44] the project. They are still very active,

[57:46] very much working and this is where they

[57:48] are today.

[57:49] >> Excellent.

[57:50] >> Thank you.

[57:50] Excellent. That's exciting.

[57:55] All right. And we'll move on from that

[57:57] to added item B. Uh the letter to town

[58:00] planning and zoning. Um I'm not going to

[58:02] read the whole thing. Or should I read

[58:04] it?

[58:06] >> Um I I think you can summarize it. I did

[58:08] already send it to Sue so that I can get

[58:10] attached to the minutes of the meeting.

[58:11] >> Perfect. So yeah, it's you know it that

[58:15] we've been having this discussion about

[58:16] open space for

[58:18] a while now and I think you know we we

[58:21] wanted to sort of take it a little step

[58:23] further and start to really engage with

[58:24] some of the other stakeholders. So we

[58:26] felt that it was good to have some you

[58:27] know we had some ideas and some things

[58:29] that we wanted to um you know work with

[58:31] our other boards and commissions on. So

[58:32] it was a good time to uh send him a

[58:34] letter bring that up. So you know we're

[58:36] going to open that conversation up.

[58:38] Council Gonzalez,

[58:39] >> just really quickly, I wanted to say

[58:40] thank you um for taking the initiative

[58:43] and and writing that letter. Um I fully

[58:46] support it and I know that we've heard

[58:48] very recent, bless you, from the

[58:50] community how important open space is to

[58:52] them as well and I think um this can do

[58:55] nothing but help the community, the

[58:57] residents are us and and open space and

[59:00] it's just a good thing altogether. So

[59:02] thank you very much. I will clarify and

[59:04] thank you for bringing that out that

[59:05] when I I sent the letter to actually

[59:07] Eric to send to the land use commissions

[59:09] I sent to TP open space and conservation

[59:12] so they all have a copy of it as well

[59:14] >> already

[59:15] >> well that was that's yeah

[59:18] >> councelor

[59:19] >> yeah um I just want to echo um councelor

[59:22] Gonzalez's comments I I really thank you

[59:24] mayor for taking leadership and

[59:26] initiative to um take the organizing and

[59:31] um work great work that's happened

[59:33] throughout the community over the last

[59:35] uh weeks and frankly over the last many

[59:37] years and actually bring it to this

[59:39] table and um you know not just commit at

[59:43] a council level to the work that we're

[59:44] going to do but also as you said

[59:46] collaborate uh and open the hand to

[59:48] collaborating with other commissions and

[59:51] boards that um are doing excellent work

[59:53] or or should be doing excellent work in

[59:55] these areas. Um, so I I read through the

[59:58] letter. I think there's some um really

[1:00:01] um amazing recommendations and frankly

[1:00:04] ones that should have been made by the

[1:00:06] zoning commission I think a long time

[1:00:08] ago. um they seem fairly straightforward

[1:00:11] to me, not being a member of the

[1:00:13] commission, but um I I'm excited for

[1:00:15] them to take up some of this work and

[1:00:18] consider how to, you know, integrate it

[1:00:20] into our zoning regulations um so that,

[1:00:24] you know, they can protect our open

[1:00:25] space parcels to the fullest extent

[1:00:27] possible. So, thank you so much,

[1:00:30] >> Council Mrego. Yeah, what's great about

[1:00:34] this is um

[1:00:36] these have been, you know, some

[1:00:37] suggestions or words thrown about the

[1:00:40] past

[1:00:42] months, years, whatever. Um but these

[1:00:45] are concrete. It's not like, you know,

[1:00:48] Newington values open space. We we're

[1:00:50] also blah blah blah. Well, yeah, but

[1:00:54] this is concrete steps to protect what

[1:00:58] we have. Unfortunately, you know, you

[1:01:01] don't have a budget thing in here to let

[1:01:03] us buy more space, but that will come, I

[1:01:06] guess.

[1:01:07] >> That's for us, not for them.

[1:01:09] >> But that's what that's

[1:01:13] um this is going to in my mind um

[1:01:17] protect what we have. And we found the

[1:01:19] past couple months um it's even though

[1:01:23] we think we have these these parals,

[1:01:25] these parks, whatever, they're

[1:01:27] vulnerable. So some of these items if

[1:01:29] they can be implemented would certainly

[1:01:31] help in that respect. So again concrete

[1:01:35] actions um that can be implemented

[1:01:37] without um too much

[1:01:41] um too many problems in my opinion. So

[1:01:44] thank you.

[1:01:45] >> Thank you councel.

[1:01:48] >> All right

[1:01:50] concludeformational items

[1:01:53] say item 19 executive session. Council

[1:01:57] employer, would you please read the

[1:01:58] double resolution?

[1:01:59] >> Sure.

[1:02:03] » Resolve that the town council in

[1:02:04] accordance with Connecticut general

[1:02:06] statutes um section 1-26

[1:02:09] hereby moves to go into executive

[1:02:11] session and invites Mayor John Trist,

[1:02:13] acting town manager Lauren Ry, acting

[1:02:15] town planner Eric Hinckley, acting uh

[1:02:18] >> I would just add that Charlie is not in

[1:02:21] attendance tonight, so we can strike him

[1:02:24] from the message.

[1:02:24] >> Thank you. So, acting town planner Erica

[1:02:26] Kinckley and the members of the town

[1:02:29] council to discuss the potential

[1:02:30] acquisition of real estate, be it

[1:02:33] further resolved that the town council

[1:02:34] in accordance with Connecticut general

[1:02:35] statute section 1-260 will hereby move

[1:02:38] to go into a separate executive session

[1:02:40] at the closing of the discussion of

[1:02:42] potential acquisition of real estate and

[1:02:44] invites Mayor John Trister, Jamie

[1:02:46] Trevetton, and the members of the town

[1:02:47] council to discuss town manager search.

[1:02:50] Second

[1:02:52] by council floor. Second by council.

[1:02:55] Any discussion?

[1:02:58] Seeing none. All those in favor?

[1:03:01] >> Any oppose or abstain?

[1:03:03] All right. Motion carries unanimous.

[1:03:04] We're in executive session. Folks want

[1:03:06] to take a quick two minutes. Yeah. Two

[1:03:08] minutes. Whatever you need.

[1:03:12] All right.

[1:52:31] Hope I get the update. Yeah, sure.

[1:52:44] All right, we are back from executive

[1:52:46] session. Thanks to those folks that hung

[1:52:48] around and waited. Um, we have two more

[1:52:50] items on the agenda to get to. Number 20

[1:52:52] on the agenda is town manager search

[1:52:54] update. Um, we just wanted to give an

[1:52:56] update on kind of where we're at in the

[1:52:58] process. Um we posted the job on it had

[1:53:01] been posted for a couple of weeks and

[1:53:02] received a some several several

[1:53:05] applicants came back in um who were now

[1:53:07] going to sort of make the next step of

[1:53:09] uh sorting through and figuring out

[1:53:10] which way we want to go. Um be on the

[1:53:13] lookout. We are planning some sort of a

[1:53:15] public input or sort of thing coming up.

[1:53:17] So be on the lookout for what's coming

[1:53:20] with that. Um but that's the update for

[1:53:22] now and we'll have more to update at our

[1:53:23] next council meeting.

[1:53:26] All right, with that I'll move on to

[1:53:28] item 21 and I'd entertain a motion to

[1:53:29] adjurnn. So move

[1:53:30] >> second.

[1:53:31] >> Motion by council for second by

[1:53:32] councelor Gonzalez. Any discussion on

[1:53:34] adjournment?

[1:53:35] Seeing none. All those in favor.

[1:53:37] >> I.

[1:53:38] >> Any oppos?

[1:53:40] All right. Motion carries unanimously.

[1:53:41] We are return 8:52 p.m.

[1:53:45] >> All right. Scott, what do you need from

[1:53:46] us?

Mayor & Town Council Regular Meeting Sep 22, 2026

Transcript