Council approves ordinance, multiple grant applications, contracts, leases and reappointments

The Town of Stratford Town Council on April 7 took a series of routine and programmatic actions: it adopted an ordinance, authorized several grant applications, awarded a construction bid, authorized a lease negotiation for a Short Beach restaurant, confirmed commission reappointments and directed the town attorney to proceed as discussed in executive session.

Ordinance. The council dispensed with a second reading and approved an amendment to chapter 172 (article 1, section 172.1) of the Town of Stratford code (item 6.1.0.1). The ordinance was adopted effective 30 days from passage and passed unanimously, 10–0, following a required roll‑call vote.

Grant authorizations and resolutions. The council authorized the mayor to submit and execute grant applications and related documents for multiple items (motions listed on the record as items 6.2.0.1 through 6.2.0.7). Those actions included: authorizing an application to Environmental Justice for New England for the Access Road arboretum project (item 6.2.0.1); an application to Fairfield County's Community Foundation (item 6.2.0.2); a Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging grant with a town match of $10,714.24 to continue the Senior Connection program (item 6.2.0.3); a Connecticut State Library grant of $7,000 with a town match of $7,271.42 for town clerk preservation work (item 6.2.0.4); Connecticut DEEP funding of $55,006.50 with an $18,225.50 in‑kind match for pump‑out vessel operations (item 6.2.0.5); funding from Save the Sound of $4,544 with no town match to collect and submit Long Island Sound water samples (item 6.2.0.6); and a CT DEEP grant of $111,000 (no match) to expand Roosevelt Forest by an aggregate total of 18.73 acres (item 6.2.0.7). Each resolution authorized the mayor’s office to apply for and, if awarded, accept the grant on the town’s behalf.

Contracts and leases. The council awarded bid 2025‑28 for the Sterling Community Center bathroom renovation to Westreach Construction Company, Inc. of Connecticut in the amount of $89,720 (item 7.1). The council also authorized the mayor to negotiate a lease for the Short Beach Golf Course restaurant at 1 Dorn Drive with Drowsy Wheeler LLC, subject to form acceptable to the town attorney (item 7.2).

Executive session and attorney authorization. The council moved into executive session to discuss a real‑estate transaction; afterwards the council voted to authorize the town attorney to proceed as discussed in executive session (motion recorded after executive session). The transcript does not record details of the property or the specific action beyond the attorney’s authorization.

Appointments. The council confirmed mayoral reappointments to the Roosevelt Forest Commission (Frank Bovacqua, Bob David, Dan Raskin and Peggy Nightingale) and approved appointments and reappointments to the Economic and Community Development Commission, including Joseph McKnight as chair and other members and alternates.

Votes at a glance (items recorded in meeting minutes): - Ordinance (6.1.0.1) — Adopt amendment to chapter 172. Passed by roll call, 10–0; effective 30 days after passage. - Resolution (6.2.0.1) — Authorize grant application for Access Road arboretum to Environmental Justice for New England. Approved (voice vote). - Resolution (6.2.0.2) — Authorize application to Fairfield County's Community Foundation. Approved (voice vote). - Resolution (6.2.0.3) — Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging grant ($ amount with town match $10,714.24). Approved (voice vote). - Resolution (6.2.0.4) — Connecticut State Library grant $7,000 with town match $7,271.42 for town clerk preservation. Approved (voice vote). - Resolution (6.2.0.5) — Connecticut DEEP grant $55,006.50 with $18,225.50 in‑kind match for pump‑out vessel operations. Approved (voice vote). - Resolution (6.2.0.6) — Save the Sound grant $4,544 to collect water samples. Approved (voice vote). - Resolution (6.2.0.7) — CT DEEP grant $111,000 to expand Roosevelt Forest by ~18.73 acres. Approved (voice vote). - Bid award (2025‑28) — Sterling Community Center bathroom renovation to Westreach Construction Co., Inc., $89,720. Awarded (voice vote). - Lease authorization (7.2) — Authorize mayor to negotiate lease with Drowsy Wheeler LLC for Short Beach restaurant at 1 Dorn Drive. Approved (voice vote). - Appointments — Confirmations and reappointments to Roosevelt Forest Commission and Economic and Community Development Commission. Approved (voice vote). - Executive session follow‑up — Authorized town attorney to proceed as discussed in executive session (motion and vote recorded after reconvening). Approved (voice vote).

The meeting record contains motions and seconds for each listed item; many resolutions were approved by voice vote and recorded as passed. Where the transcript shows specific roll‑call results (ordinance), that tally is included; most other items were recorded as approved by voice vote with no roll‑call tally in the public record.