Panel recommends Icke to fill school board seat

Other Committee · Meeting of August 13, 2026

Bloomfield's Committee on Committees voted 2-0 to recommend Robert Icke to fill a Republican vacancy on the Board of Education, the only appointment it acted on after interviewing dozens of applicants for ten town boards. Chair Councilor Goodwin and Councilor DeVethan Brown tabled recommendations for the Emergency Medical Services Committee, Public Art Commission, Conservation, Energy and Environment Commission and seven other bodies pending review by the absent Councilor Waterhouse. Icke, a 25-year former board member, must be confirmed by the full Town Council by a September 7 charter deadline.

Emergency Medical Services applicant Mary Laupa told the panel, "I would gladly give up my space if that committee would put some people on there that weren't old white people," a diversity concern echoed later by environment commission member Nancy Bowden. Resident Kate Keefe urged the panel to extend its public-interview process to the Charter Revision Committee, saying "we need to hear these interviews."

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,965 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of August 13, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.

The Full Article

Roll Call and Format

The Committee on Committees subcommittee convened at 6 p.m. with Councilor Goodwin, who identified himself as chair, and Councilor DeVethan Brown present. Councilor Waterhouse was absent, "out of the country," according to Goodwin. Before interviews began, Goodwin laid out the three standard questions every applicant would be asked: why they want to serve, what they would contribute, whether they can attend the meeting schedule, and anything else they want the subcommittee to know. The format repeated through eleven committee interview blocks over roughly ninety minutes.

Emergency Medical Services Committee

Background and stakes: The nine-member Emergency Medical Services Committee's term expired in November 2025, and the body needs full reappointment through November 8, 2027.

The question before the body: whether to recommend a slate of returning and new members for the EMS Committee.

Substantive content: Seven candidates were interviewed, several with decades of ties to the Bloomfield Volunteer Ambulance (BVA). Sharon Furman, a BVA member since 1979, said she can no longer serve as an active EMT but wants to stay involved; she previously wrote the BVA newsletter and authored an article that won a Hartford Courant volunteer recognition award. Robert Mara cited 30 years of EMS experience, including BVA service and two decades in commercial-service leadership. Patrick Braun, a 39-year Bloomfield volunteer EMT and vice president of the BVA fund that purchases ambulances, said the committee's role is to connect management, volunteers and the public, and noted a new ambulance is due for delivery soon. Mary Laupa, who holds a master's in public health, said she brings community-health connections through the Interfaith Council. Susan Zedoff, a 20-year active EMT and former CPR instructor, and a candidate identified only as Seth, a volunteer firefighter of 30 years living on Doncaster Road, both said they could attend most meetings. James "Jay" Daly, a Town Council member and BVA assistant chief, said he has served on the EMS Committee for more than ten years after beginning as an ex officio member when he was BVA chief. Phillips Brown and Deidre Gilbert were called but did not appear.

The deliberation: Laupa used her turn to raise a broader concern about committee composition, telling the subcommittee she would step aside for more diverse membership: "I would gladly give up my space if that committee would put some people on there that weren't old white people. And I am not kidding. I don't think we're representing Bloomfield very well." [00:09:55] No subcommittee member responded directly on the record, though Goodwin called it "an invitation to all residents to get more deeply involved."

Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken on EMS Committee candidates Thursday; the item was tabled along with other non-Board of Education appointments pending further review.

Implications and what is next: The nine-member EMS Committee remains unreappointed past its November 2025 expiration; a recommended slate will go to a future Town Council meeting.

Economic Development Commission and Development Authority

Background and stakes: Four seats on the EDCD are open for staggered terms (131.28 through 131.31).

The question before the body: whether to recommend a candidate for one of four vacancies.

Substantive content: The sole applicant, identified by the chair as "Catania" and later addressed as "Tanya," described leadership experience in underserved-community revitalization and said she currently oversees the Cottage Grove Business Park Initiative, working with town contacts identified as Shelby Young and "Mr. Graham." She said she has lived in Bloomfield since 1971.

The deliberation: The candidate said she joined the call despite illness after recent international travel, calling business-development strategy and capital access for small businesses her focus area. No subcommittee member raised questions beyond the standard three.

Procedural steps and outcome: Tabled with the other non-BOE items.

Implications and what is next: The EDCD's four vacancies await a future council slate.

Fair Rent Commission

Background and stakes: The seven-member Fair Rent Commission's term expired in November 2025.

The question before the body: whether to recommend reappointing its longtime chair.

Substantive content: Applicant Joy Chance said she was one of two people who reactivated the Fair Rent Commission fifteen years ago and has chaired it since the original chair's abrupt departure. She cited state-level fair-rent training and said she helped draft portions of the commission's current procedures. She has lived in Bloomfield since 1970.

The deliberation: Goodwin thanked Chance for serving as "a model and an example" of long-term volunteer service.

Procedural steps and outcome: Tabled.

Implications and what is next: The seven-member commission's reappointment, including Chance's chairmanship, awaits council action.

Youth Diversion Team

Background and stakes: The Youth Diversion Team has five citizen-representative vacancies for terms ending November 2027.

The question before the body: whether to recommend a candidate for one of five open seats.

Substantive content: An applicant identified on the agenda list by a garbled name rendered in the transcript as "Kate Thief" described herself as a licensed clinical social worker with 27 years advocating for adolescents, currently doing utilization management for inpatient psychiatric facilities, and a Bloomfield resident since 2023. She said she researched the Connecticut Youth Services Association's description of the diversion-team model as "restorative, collaborative, equity-informed, and individualized."

The deliberation: The candidate disclosed that she personally went through a youth diversion process at age sixteen, calling it "impactful" in her life. Douglas Mosby, also on the interview list, did not appear.

Procedural steps and outcome: Tabled.

Implications and what is next: Five seats remain open on the Youth Diversion Team pending a future slate.

Youth Adult Council

Background and stakes: Six vacancies exist on the Youth Adult Council for terms ending November 2027.

The question before the body: whether to recommend candidates for two of the six seats.

Substantive content: Kenesha Johnson-Krawalk, a licensed clinical social worker who has worked thirteen years at a Bloomfield magnet school, described running a youth program with Bloomfield High School and the Youth Service Center. Andrea Tavares, a Bloomfield resident since September 2012, said this would be her fourth year on the council.

The deliberation: Both candidates described direct ties to Bloomfield schools and youth sports; neither raised policy disagreements.

Procedural steps and outcome: Tabled.

Implications and what is next: Four of six council seats remain unfilled pending further review.

Board of Education Vacancy

Background and stakes: A Board of Education vacancy was created July 9, 2026, by the resignation of a Republican-affiliated member. Under town charter Chapter 2, Section 203, any vacancy in an elective office must be filled within 60 days, by a member of the same party as the departing officeholder, setting a September 7, 2026 deadline cited explicitly by Councilor DeVethan Brown during the meeting.

The question before the body: whether to recommend a replacement to the full Town Council in time to meet the statutory deadline.

Substantive content: The sole applicant, Robert Icke (also referred to in the transcript as "Bob Ike"), said he is a 25-year former elected Board of Education member retiring from the very term he now seeks to refill, and a more than 30-year Bloomfield resident and registered voter.

The deliberation: Icke opened by invoking former board colleague Thomas Moore, who died in January and would otherwise have interviewed for the seat: "I am here in memory of my fellow and former board colleague, Thomas Moore. Had Thomas Moore not tragically died in January, he would be interviewed right now." [00:31:09] Before the vote, DeVethan Brown flagged the statutory urgency, prompting Goodwin to note that Icke carries the Republican Party's endorsement, which satisfies the charter's same-party requirement.

Procedural steps and outcome: Goodwin moved: "I'd like to make a motion that we submit Bob Ike as the Republican replacement for the Board of Education to the full council." DeVethan Brown seconded. The motion passed 2-0, with Waterhouse absent.

Implications and what is next: Icke's appointment now goes to the full Town Council, which must act by September 7, 2026, to comply with the charter deadline.

Golf Advisory Committee

Background and stakes: Three two-year seats on the Golf Advisory Committee run through June 2028.

The question before the body: whether to recommend a candidate for one of three seats.

Substantive content: Matt McCarthy, an eight-year Bloomfield resident, said he is active with the First Tee of Connecticut and sees potential for Bloomfield's municipal golf course. He disclosed he is attempting 100 holes of golf in one day on August 31 for a First Tee fundraiser and had already raised $35,000.

The deliberation: Brief; no follow-up questions beyond the standard three.

Procedural steps and outcome: Tabled.

Implications and what is next: Three Golf Advisory Committee seats remain open.

Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Commission

Background and stakes: One seat on the commission runs through November 2026. The listed applicant, Douglas Bernard, did not appear, and the subcommittee moved on without an interview.

Public Art Commission

Background and stakes: The seven-member Public Art Commission's term expired in November 2025.

The question before the body: whether to recommend a slate for the commission, which recently lost its longtime chair, Bob Ferger, described by multiple candidates as having died "rather suddenly and unexpectedly."

Substantive content: Chip Caton, an artist's agent for 25 years and Bloomfield resident since 2002, cited board service with the Trap Rock Ridge Land Trust and said his advertising background could help the commission market its exhibits. Neil Clark, a retired architect and more than 50-year resident, said he has served two years as a non-voting ad hoc member and also sits on the town's Design Review Board. Patrick Lawrence, a visual artist with more than 20 years in public-school art education, said he wants to bring Afrocentric and Afro-Caribbean work into the commission's programming. A candidate identified as "Arshina" (also rendered "Ashina," with a surname given once in the transcript as "Hines") said she has been a Public Art Commission member for three years and wants more student-focused programming. Robin Sherwood, the commission's vice chair for roughly two and a half years, described a BookCon event with library staff member Elizabeth Lane, a Trees for Bloomfield photo contest co-sponsorship, and an exhibit by artist Michael Borders that drew nearly 300 attendees to La Salette Park.

The deliberation: Several candidates echoed the view, as Clark put it, that "art is the heart and soul of any community," and Sherwood said the commission hopes to "carry forward" Ferger's vision after his death.

Procedural steps and outcome: Tabled, with candidates Vivian and Lee Good listed but not present.

Implications and what is next: The seven-member commission's reappointment, and its new leadership following Ferger's death, awaits a future council slate.

Conservation, Energy and Environment Commission

Background and stakes: The nine-member Conservation, Energy and Environment Commission (CEEC/CEC) term expired in November 2025.

The question before the body: whether to recommend a slate of up to nine members.

Substantive content: Brad Huskinson, a volunteer with the national advocacy group Beyond Plastics, detailed work converting Bloomfield school cafeterias from single-use plastics and drafting a "skip-the-stuff" ordinance, both routed through town contacts Paula Jones and Nick Gabuzda to Superintendent Youngberg; he is organizing a September 15 screening of "The Story of Plastic" at Prosser Library with guest speaker Dr. Catherine Owens of the University of Hartford. A candidate identified as "Corinna," who said to "call me Cory," described running Bloomfield's Pollinator Pathways chapter and a native-seed mutual-aid project, and her work as a state-certified Master Wildlife Conservationist. Nancy Bowden, a CEEC member since 2022, said the commission has not lived up to Bloomfield's climate emergency resolution. Bob Dickerson cited an engineering background and prior service on South Windsor's energy commission. A candidate identified as "Claudia Guardiak" said she has lived in Bloomfield since 1945 and contributes writing to the Bloomfield Messenger. David Hager, who said he currently serves as CEC chair, cited ten years on the commission and relationships with sustainability officials in Simsbury, West Hartford and Windsor; he praised the town's "new environmental planner" without naming him. Zelene Sandler, a member since the 1990s and past president of the Hartford Audubon Society, described successfully opposing a tree-planting project at Samuel Wheeler-Reed Park that she said would have destroyed grassland nesting habitat for bobolinks. Brenda Watson, a member for under a year, organized a tour of the Seabury retirement community's geothermal system, which she said saved it roughly $1.4 million over seven years. Jessica White, a three- or four-year member, cited past presentations on nuisance insects and extreme-heat health risks.

The deliberation: Both Bowden and Sandler raised the same diversity concern voiced earlier by Mary Laupa. "We are largely white, and I don't think that's a very good representation of the Town of Bloomfield," Bowden said. [01:01:48] Goodwin responded that he appreciates "everyone who's asking for diversity on these committees."

Procedural steps and outcome: Tabled, with candidate Harold Park listed but not present.

Implications and what is next: The nine-member CEC's full reappointment, and the composition concerns raised by multiple members, await a future council slate.

Parks and Recreation Committee

Background and stakes: The nine-member committee's term expired in November 2025.

The question before the body: whether to recommend a slate for the committee.

Substantive content: Jeanette Lawrence, a health and fitness professional and human-resources veteran, said she wants to expand accessible recreation programs. Nicholas Soros, a physical-education teacher and musical-theater performer, described starting fitness programs aboard a cruise ship where he was stranded more than 100 days during the pandemic. A third candidate, referred to only as "Paula," cited roughly two decades as Bloomfield's representative to the Lower Farmington River Wild and Scenic Committee and current vice presidency of the Trap Rock Ridge Land Conservancy, but was not present when called a second time.

Procedural steps and outcome: Tabled, with candidate Lissandra Rosario listed but not present.

Implications and what is next: The nine-member committee's reappointment awaits a future council slate.

Tabling and Public Comment

Procedural steps and outcome: Goodwin moved to table recommendations for every committee except the Board of Education, saying the subcommittee wants Councilor Waterhouse to review video of Thursday's interviews before finalizing a slate. The motion to table passed 2-0.

During public comment, an unnamed town official identified in the transcript only as "Mayor" praised the volunteer turnout. Resident Kate Keefe of 16 Breezy Knoll Drive asked the subcommittee to consider extending its public-interview process to the Charter Revision Committee: "When it was done behind closed doors, we weren't able to hear from the residents... I do hope that the committee members, and maybe even the member, mayor, might consider the reappointment of the Charter Revision Committee" through the same public process. [00:27:06] DeVethan Brown thanked residents for their patience with the reappointment process; no formal action followed Keefe's request.

The subcommittee then voted to approve the minutes of its July 16 meeting, unanimously, and adjourned without further comment.

WHO WAS THERE

Councilor Goodwin — Chair, Committee on Committees subcommittee, present. Councilor DeVethan Brown — Member, present (transcript renders the name variously as "Devitha Brown," "Debuthan Brown" and "DeRetha Brown"). Councilor Waterhouse — Member, absent, out of the country. The Mayor — present, spoke during public comment; name not given in the transcript. Lynn — town staff member coordinating applicant scheduling and video/Zoom access; no surname given. Kate Keefe, 16 Breezy Knoll Drive — resident, public comment. Applicants interviewed (by committee): Emergency Medical Services Committee — Sharon Furman, Robert Mara, Patrick Braun, Mary Laupa, Seth, Susan Zedoff, James "Jay" Daly. Economic Development Commission and Development Authority — Catania ("Tanya"). Fair Rent Commission — Joy Chance. Youth Diversion Team — "Kate" (surname uncertain). Youth Adult Council — Kenesha Johnson-Krawalk, Andrea Tavares. Board of Education — Robert Icke. Golf Advisory Committee — Matt McCarthy. Public Art Commission — Chip Caton, Neil Clark, Patrick Lawrence, Arshina (Hines), Robin Sherwood. Conservation, Energy and Environment Commission — Brad Huskinson, Corinna ("Cory"), Nancy Bowden, Bob Dickerson, Claudia Guardiak, David Hager, Zelene Sandler, Brenda Watson, Jessica White. Parks and Recreation Committee — Jeanette Lawrence, Nicholas Soros, "Paula." Applicants listed but not present: Phillips Brown, Deidre Gilbert, Douglas Mosby, Douglas Bernard, Vivian, Lee Good, Harold Park, Lissandra Rosario.

ORGANIZATIONS AND DOCUMENTS REFERENCED

Bloomfield Volunteer Ambulance (BVA) — subject of most Emergency Medical Services Committee testimony; multiple candidates described current or past BVA membership and leadership. First Tee of Connecticut — youth golf program cited by Golf Advisory Committee applicant Matt McCarthy. Cottage Grove Business Park Initiative — redevelopment project cited by Economic Development Commission applicant Catania. Connecticut Youth Services Association — cited by the Youth Diversion Team applicant for the program's "restorative" philosophy. Trap Rock Ridge Land Conservancy — board affiliation cited by Public Art Commission applicant Chip Caton and Parks and Recreation applicant "Paula." Trees for Bloomfield — tree-planting volunteer group whose photo contest is co-sponsored by the Public Art Commission. Design Review Board — town board on which Public Art Commission applicant Neil Clark serves. Pollinator Pathways / Bloomfield Native Seed Bank — organizations led by CEEC applicant "Cory," cited in her interview. Hartford Audubon Society — organization led in the past by CEEC applicant Zelene Sandler. Beyond Plastics — national advocacy group represented locally by CEEC applicant Brad Huskinson. Prosser Library — venue for a September 15 film screening cited by Huskinson. Seabury — retirement community whose geothermal system was the subject of a tour organized by CEEC applicant Brenda Watson. Lower Farmington River Wild and Scenic Committee — body on which Parks and Recreation applicant "Paula" has represented Bloomfield for roughly two decades. Town Charter, Chapter 2, Section 203 — cited by Councilor DeVethan Brown as the authority requiring the Board of Education vacancy be filled within 60 days by a same-party replacement. Climate Emergency Resolution — passed previously by Bloomfield, cited by CEEC applicant Nancy Bowden as a commitment the town has not fully met.