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Council approves two Fair Rent Commission appointments and $1,723 for animal shelter; residents raise dumping and sewer concerns
Summary
At the May 11 meeting the council approved appointments of Sonia Y. Bacote and Mason C. Smith to the Fair Rent Commission, accepted $1,723 in animal-shelter donations and heard several public comments about dumping behind the Bloom Street pump station and the availability of on-site sewer drawings.
The West Haven City Council on May 11 approved two mayoral appointments to the Fair Rent Commission, accepted a committee recommendation to deposit $1,723 in donations to the animal-shelter account and heard multiple residents raise neighborhood concerns about dumping and the availability of sewer drawings.
Appointments and donations: The council's personnel committee recommended and the full council approved Sonia Y. Bacote to the Fair Rent Commission and Mason C. Smith to the panel of alternates; both appointments are effective immediately with terms expiring April 30, 2028. The finance committee recommended — and the council approved — depositing $1,723 of donations into account 10100000-28285. The finance report itemized contributions including $1,500 from the West Haven Lodge Elks.
Public comments and enforcement: Resident Rich Hebert, who said he serves on the Water Pollution Commission, asked who should receive the commission's agenda and who owns the property behind the Bloom Street pump station, which he described as a "big collector of a lot of trash." Hebert also asked whether the city keeps a copy of the sewer pipe plans on-site for rapid response after a recent plant incident. "Is there a pipe plan for the city, for the sewage... I guess we had a recent incident at the plant, and there's no documentation on-site," he said. Mayor Dorinda Borer confirmed the city has pipe plans but said copies are kept at City Hall and that she would check whether on-site copies are available at the sewer facility.
Mayor and council notes: The mayor reported that cameras have produced enforcement results at dumping hot spots (one recent fine cited at about $1,000) and that more cameras will be added as funding becomes available. She also announced the Memorial Day parade schedule (May 25 at 10:30 a.m.), described forthcoming federal funding for security, and said the police contract has been settled and will be brought to the council at a future meeting.
Votes at a glance: - Animal-shelter donations ($1,723): approved by voice vote; donors listed by committee report (West Haven Lodge Elks $1,500 among others). - Appointment: Sonia Y. Bacote to Fair Rent Commission (term to 04/30/2028): approved by voice vote. - Appointment: Mason C. Smith to Fair Rent Commission alternates (term to 04/30/2028): approved by voice vote.
What happens next: The mayor said she would follow up with public works on on-site sewer drawings and the council will proceed with scheduled budget hearings in the coming weeks.
