Residents press council on homelessness, school bell return and canceled August meeting during citizens forum

Several residents used the Vernon Town Council citizens forum to urge action on homelessness and transportation, ask that a historic bell be returned to Rockville High School, and criticize the mayor's August meeting cancellation.

Gennaro Gonzalez, who described himself as homeless and living in Vernon, told the council he regularly encounters people who need help and asked for more services and transit supports such as bus passes. "A lot of people out here need help," Gonzalez said, describing increased use of the soup kitchen and more people searching recycling bins. He credited local programs and some individuals for personal assistance but said broader supports are needed.

Edward Weaver, speaking on behalf of the water pollution control authority, thanked plant staff for their work during an extended five-year repair project. "Their staff was absolutely outstanding during this entire process," Weaver said, noting supply-chain delays and other pandemic-related impacts prolonged repairs.

Michael Winkler of Gaudier Drive told the council he believed Mayor Champagne improperly canceled the town's August meeting and criticized the mayor's use of scheduling authority. Winkler said the mayor "cannot cancel a town council meeting except due to weather" and argued the August meeting could have addressed pending business such as an RTC-submitted nominee to the Board of Education and tax refunds.

Molly Wilson, a student-athlete at Rockville High School, urged the council to return a historic school bell now located at the historical society to the school's grounds. Wilson told the council the bell, introduced to Rockville High in 1967, is central to school tradition and urged town officials and the historical society to continue work to ensure the bell "can and will be transported safely and responsibly."

Lester Polifka spoke more broadly about public health, the role of federal and state government, and community unity; he asked councilors whether they would act to protect children and seniors if federal mandates weakened. "I ask you, if mandates are weakened at the federal level, will you act to protect Vernon's children and seniors?" Polifka said.

Richard Harrigan raised a neighborhood noise complaint about a rooster on adjacent property that wakes the neighborhood at sunrise, and he asked the council for guidance under the town's noise ordinance.

The mayor closed the citizens forum after these comments and the council moved on to new business and later executive session. Several speakers framed their remarks as public comment rather than formal agenda items; no formal council action on the issues raised during the forum was recorded in the meeting minutes.

The council did take separate, formal actions later in the meeting (see "Votes at a glance" summary), but speakers at the forum asked the council to consider operational changes (transit/bus passes), property or historical-asset transfers (the Rockville bell), and compliance with meeting-schedule rules (the August meeting cancellation).