Council votes 6-2-1 to extend charter deadline

Town Council · Meeting of August 24, 2026

Bloomfield's Town Council voted 6-2-1 to extend the Charter Revision Commission's draft report deadline to January 30, 2027, after councilors sparred over why a prior charter revision never reached the ballot. Councilor Joseph Merritt blamed a departed town clerk's oversight, but Councilor Shamar Mahon called that "completely untrue," citing an email from the deputy town manager saying staff wanted more input time. Councilors Suzette DeBeatham-Brown and Mahon voted no; Darrell Goodwin abstained.

Separately, the council voted unanimously to send proposed building permit and land use fee increases, projected to generate $130,000 in fiscal year 2027, to a public hearing. Director Coleman said the town collected $1.7 million in permit fees last year against a $1.3 million projection. Residents also pressed officials on a 255-day-old, unfilled Ethics Commission and an unexplained $4 million economic development reserve.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,901 words

Source: the Town Council meeting of August 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.

The Full Article

Maple Avenue Traffic Calming Project

Background and stakes: The Maple Avenue traffic calming project has been in development since 2022 under the town's traffic calming initiative, following years of resident requests for action on a corridor residents describe as a de facto bypass around the town center. The question before the council: an informational update, not a vote, on construction timing after some residents reported being unaware the project was imminent.

Substantive content: Director of Public Works and Facilities Glenn Garty introduced Town Engineer Darren Lemire, who said he replaced a predecessor, "Rob," who recently departed the position. Lemire said the project runs from Mountain Avenue south past Burr Avenue toward Cottage Grove, and will include four concrete median islands, or "chokers," asphalt paths for pedestrians and cyclists adjacent to the chokers, and a raised intersection at Maple Avenue and Sandpiper Drive. The RFP went out in late 2024; temporary delineators were installed in 2025; design work was completed in 2025; construction is expected to begin the week after Labor Day, with the road remaining open under one-way alternating traffic.

The deliberation: Councilor Todd E. Cooper asked when construction would begin and how long each phase would run. Garty said the contractor, soon to be awarded, is confident the four median islands can be completed by October or November 2026, with the raised intersection to follow in spring 2027. Deputy Mayor Cindi A. Lloyd thanked staff and noted that resident concern about traffic on the street predates the project's 2022 formal start. Councilor Joseph P. Merritt said residents had been asking "for maybe 30 or 40 years" and credited the current administration with finally acting where prior town managers reportedly could not.

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was required; this was a staff presentation. The council took no formal action.

Implications and what is next: Construction begins the week after Labor Day 2026, with median island work targeted for completion by November and the more complex raised intersection work planned for spring 2027, weather permitting.

Public Comment: Accountability and Oversight Concerns

Background and stakes: Public comment ran long and touched several recurring themes: delayed appointments to town boards, inconsistent handling of executive session agenda items, and questions about town finances following the resignation of the finance director.

The question before the body: Residents used the citizens' statements period to press the council for explanations rather than to seek a vote.

Substantive content: Robert Berman, of 8 Hiram Lane, asked that the pending lawsuit Berman, Robert, et al. v. Schwab, Allen, et al. be discussed in open session rather than executive session, and argued that two prior council motions appropriating unassigned fund balance to Bloomfield Access Television and the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce did not specify dollar amounts within the motion language itself, meaning, in his view, the associated dollar figures should not appear in the minutes. Mark Sanderson, of 17 Oak Lane, said an earlier charter revision was approved by both the council and the prior Charter Revision Commission but never reached the ballot, and said an investigation he referred to as the "SCEC" was open into the matter. An unnamed resident asked why Bloomfield was not among towns, including South Windsor and West Hartford, that received a share of $10.6 million in special education funding announced by the governor on August 17. Former Mayor Sid Shulman asked whether the town could move $3 million of a $4 million fund set aside years ago for economic development back into the town's reserve fund, citing a projection that the reserve could fall below its target percentage by June 2027; an official responded that the $4 million remains intact. Erin Barringer, of 28 Kenmore Road, said 255 days had passed since the town's December 12 call for Ethics Commission volunteers and asked Committee on Committees chair Darrell Goodwin to prioritize it; she also asked that the deputy finance director be allowed to help categorize roughly $250,000 in "undefined" spending in the town's Open Finance portal. Resident Rickford Curtin raised the inconsistent listing of litigation, including Wendy Taylor v. Town of Bloomfield and the town manager, and Town of Bloomfield v. FOIC, on executive session agendas, and asked whether the finance department would be staffed up following the finance director's departure on the 15th.

The deliberation: These were public comments rather than council debate; no councilor responded in real time, though several items were revisited later in council comments.

Procedural steps and outcome: No votes; statements were accepted into the record.

Implications and what is next: Several speakers asked for written answers rather than offering new information, and the recurring theme, that residents feel questions submitted to the administration go unanswered, was echoed later by councilors Mahon and DeBeatham-Brown during council comments.

Council Subcommittee Reports

Background and stakes: Each standing committee chair gives a monthly update; no votes occur during this agenda segment.

Governance, Policy and Economic Development, chaired by Mayor Anthony C. Harrington: the Blue Hills Avenue extension project is expected to bring four businesses, including Peoples Bank and Sherwin Williams, with two more prospective tenants in discussion. The Arabella project on Blue Hills Avenue has hired a compliance officer to help meet council-required conditions. Harrington reported a meeting with new Cigna CEO Brian Ivanko about the town center and other collaboration opportunities.

Finance, Budget, Audit and Bonding, Deputy Mayor Cindi A. Lloyd: the fiscal year 2024 audit has been submitted; the FY25 trial balance has been submitted and the town's audit consultant, CLA, has begun fieldwork, with completion expected around October 2026. FY26 audit submission is targeted for March 2027. Budget preparation for FY28 will begin earlier than in past years, running in parallel with the audit work.

Public Health, Safety and Environment, Councilor Todd E. Cooper: Captain Zachary Klomberg, representing Police Chief Hammock, reported 46 accidents and 148 motor vehicle stops in the reporting period, along with increases in larceny, fraud and online scams and a sustained decline in auto theft; Officer Janine Allen is retiring after 10 years of service. Fire Chief Bernard of the Center Fire District reported 57 calls for service in July, including six motor vehicle accidents and five hazardous material incidents. Blue Hills Fire District Chief Willie Jones reported no major incidents in July aside from an RV fire with one minor firefighter injury; the district and Center Fire District are jointly planning a 100th anniversary parade and banquet for October 3, 2026. Captain Klomberg, reporting for Lou Blumenfeld, said Bloomfield Volunteer Ambulance handled 188 calls including seven cardiac arrests. Conservation, Energy and Environment Committee chair Paula Jones highlighted a Climate Resilience Hub project at the Swift Factory in Hartford, warned residents about rodenticide harming birds of prey, and flagged the spread of the spotted lanternfly near Hoskins Road. Health Director Amy Kraus of the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District reported two outdoor harm reduction cabins installed in town, with a third location being explored at Town Hall. Cooper added that a town blight ordinance is in effect but lacks an enforcement and ticketing mechanism.

Committee on Committees, chair Darrell Goodwin: the committee has interviewed more than 60 residents for 13 boards and commissions, with four to five committees and roughly 40 applicants remaining. Goodwin said Connecticut law limiting the number of members from one political party on a given board may require turnover on some panels regardless of tenure.

Education, Workforce, Youth Development and Community Services, Councilor Michael J. Oliver, attending remotely, was unable to deliver his report due to an audio connection issue.

Procedural steps and outcome: No votes taken during subcommittee reports.

Old Business: Charter Revision Commission Deadline Extension

Background and stakes: A prior charter revision was approved by the council and the former Charter Revision Commission but was never placed on the ballot in a prior election cycle, a gap residents and councilors have asked about at multiple meetings. Item 2027-03 asked the council to extend the submission deadline for the reconvened commission's draft report.

The question before the body: Whether to extend the commission's report deadline and, implicitly, whether the council accepted an explanation for why the prior effort missed the ballot.

Substantive content: Councilor Joseph P. Merritt said he had been told the ballot omission traced to an oversight by a town clerk who has since left the position, and that he had heard no other explanation. Councilor Shamar A. Mahon said that account was "completely untrue," citing an email from the deputy town manager stating town staff wanted time to provide feedback on the charter process before it went to the ballot. Councilor Suzette DeBeatham-Brown said she could not support the extension unless the commission examined the full charter and added members; Councilor Todd E. Cooper said he would support it, arguing delay serves no one. Deputy Mayor Cindi A. Lloyd, who made the motion, said the commission's charge has already been shared in writing and in prior council meetings, and that residents and staff will have a fresh opportunity for input.

The deliberation included a procedural tangle over a motion to "call the question." An initial roll call on calling the question produced inconsistent results and was restarted; a second roll call on calling the question recorded Cooper, Oliver, Merritt, Waterhouse, Lloyd and Harrington in favor and DeBeatham-Brown, Mahon and Goodwin opposed. Mayor Harrington then called for the roll on the underlying motion.

Procedural steps and outcome: The motion to extend the Charter Revision Commission's draft report deadline to January 30, 2027, moved by Lloyd, passed 6-2-1: Cooper, Oliver, Merritt, Waterhouse, Lloyd and Harrington voted yes; DeBeatham-Brown and Mahon voted no; Goodwin abstained. Following the vote, Harrington asked that future "call the question" votes be taken by voice rather than roll call to streamline proceedings.

Implications and what is next: The commission's draft report is now due January 30, 2027. No cost estimate for the renewed commission process was provided Monday; Mahon said he has asked for one at multiple meetings without receiving an answer.

New Business: Building Permit and Land Use Application Fee Revisions

Background and stakes: Item 2027-04 proposed revisions to building permit and land use application fees, implementing revenue assumptions already built into the council-approved budget.

The question before the body: Whether to advance the proposed fee changes to a public hearing.

Substantive content: A town official identified as Director Coleman told the council the fee changes are projected to generate about $130,000 in additional revenue in fiscal year 2027. One percent of permit fee revenue is directed to the town's housing fund, which has collected more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2026 in addition to an initial $500,000 seed. Coleman said the department collected $1.7 million in fees last year against a $1.3 million projection, and said fiscal year 2027 projections in the $1.2 million to $1.3 million range should be met or exceeded.

The deliberation: Councilor Shamar A. Mahon asked whether revenue projections existed and whether the housing fund's governing procedure was complete. Coleman confirmed the fee changes were already assumed in the approved budget and said the housing fund procedure is still being finalized.

Procedural steps and outcome: The council voted by voice, without recorded dissent, to refer the proposed fee revisions to a public hearing at its next meeting rather than adopt them Monday.

Implications and what is next: Residents and applicants will have an opportunity to comment on the fee changes at a public hearing to be held at the council's next meeting; no specific hearing date was announced Monday.

Town Manager's Report

Background and stakes: The town manager's report covered staffing transitions, an accelerated fiscal year 2028 budget calendar, and ongoing audit work.

Substantive content: The town manager said the finance director position is open and being filled through an internal process, with a second round of interviews to be scheduled; the assistant town accountant, assistant town engineer and a maintainer position are open, with the maintainer process moving to an external search after an internal process produced no candidates; a custodian has been hired and starts within two weeks; the full-time IT technician position remains open. On the budget, the town manager outlined a calendar in which a newly formed "Blue Ribbon" budget development team meets in September, the manager begins discussions with the Board of Education in October, a preliminary proposed budget goes to the finance chair in November, and a final proposed budget goes to the full council in December. The manager also reported a town center development presentation to interested applicants, prepared by Goldman and York, with the selection process closing in September, and a developer matter concerning 800 Cottage Grove Road still moving toward the Town Plan and Zoning Commission. The manager thanked resident Lori Julianne, who the manager said first raised Maple Avenue traffic concerns in a call received while the manager was still on active military duty in North Carolina before being sworn in. The manager also announced a $535 donation to the Social and Youth Services department from Composite Lodge No. 22 for teacher supplies, and noted Clerk of Council Latonia Tabb's recent loss of her father, Clinton Cook.

The deliberation: Councilor Shamar A. Mahon asked how members of the manager's Blue Ribbon budget team are selected and when they would be announced; the manager said selections are based on his own observation of residents engaged in civic life, that the process was not an open application, and that members will be announced in September. Mahon separately asked the cost of the renewed Charter Revision Commission process; the manager said he did not know.

Procedural steps and outcome: No votes; informational report.

Implications and what is next: The FY28 budget calendar compresses several steps into the fall of 2026, with a final town manager budget proposal due to the council in December.

Council Comments

Background and stakes: Each councilor is allotted two minutes for closing comments.

Substantive content: Councilor Suzette DeBeatham-Brown asked the council to revisit the two-minute comment limit, which she said was changed without a council vote, and suggested the town consider a more frequent tax payment collection schedule. She also renewed a request for a copy of the statement of work for a planned workforce study, which she identified as being conducted by a consultant she referred to as "CTHRC." Councilor Darrell Goodwin said there is no deliberate effort to delay the Ethics Commission and that every applicant slate, including the roughly 15 people awaiting Ethics Commission interviews, will get two interview opportunities under the committee's equity-focused process. Councilor Elizabeth A. Waterhouse announced a Lions Club pet food drive on August 27 benefiting the Simon Foundation and Bloomfield Animal Control. Councilor Shamar A. Mahon again raised the unanswered question of the Charter Revision Commission's cost. Deputy Mayor Cindi A. Lloyd said the current two-minute comment rule and the shift from two council meetings a month to one were adopted in a prior administration in November 2023, not by the current council, and said the town's starting point for estimating Charter Revision Commission costs should be what was spent on the prior effort.

Procedural steps and outcome: No votes.

Implications and what is next: The comment-time rule DeBeatham-Brown raised remains unchanged pending further council action.

Executive Session

The council voted unanimously by voice to move into executive session with the town attorney at the close of the meeting. The substance of the session was not disclosed in open session.

WHO WAS THERE

Mayor Anthony C. Harrington, presiding Deputy Mayor Cindi A. Lloyd Councilor Todd E. Cooper Councilor Suzette DeBeatham-Brown Councilor Darrell Goodwin Councilor Shamar A. Mahon Councilor Joseph P. Merritt Councilor Michael J. Oliver, attending remotely Councilor Elizabeth A. Waterhouse Town manager, not named in available sources Director of Public Works and Facilities Glenn Garty (surname as heard in audio; unverified spelling) Town Engineer Darren Lemire Director Coleman, department and full title not specified in available sources Town attorney, not named in available sources, joined for executive session Clerk of Council Latonia Tabb, referenced but attendance not confirmed Robert Berman, 8 Hiram Lane, public comment Mark Sanderson, 17 Oak Lane, public comment Erin Barringer, 28 Kenmore Road, public comment Rickford Curtin, Bloomfield resident, public comment Former Mayor Sid Shulman, public comment Unnamed resident, public comment on special education funding

ORGANIZATIONS AND DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

Charter Revision Commission — subject of the old business deadline-extension vote CLA — town's audit consultant, conducting FY25 fieldwork cited in the finance committee report Goldman and York — firm that prepared the town center redevelopment presentation referenced in the town manager's report Cigna — company whose new CEO, Brian Ivanko, met with town officials on town center collaboration Composite Lodge No. 22 — donated $535 to the Social and Youth Services department Bloomfield Access Television and Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce — recipients of prior unassigned fund balance appropriations challenged by Robert Berman over motion language Wendy Taylor v. Town of Bloomfield and the town manager; Town of Bloomfield v. FOIC — litigation cited by Rickford Curtin regarding inconsistent executive session agenda listings Berman, Robert, et al. v. Schwab, Allen, et al. — pending litigation Robert Berman asked be discussed in open session Swift Factory, Hartford — site of the Climate Resilience Hub project cited by Conservation Committee chair Paula Jones State Elections Enforcement body (referred to in the meeting as "SCEC") — cited by Mark Sanderson as investigating the charter ballot omission