Danbury committee recommends renaming Wallingford Road to Sadler Way

An ad hoc committee of the Danbury City Council voted unanimously on May 21, 2025, to recommend that the full council designate Wallingford Road as the honorary "Sadler Way." The recommendation follows a presentation by the airport director about the Sadler family's multi‑generation stewardship of the Danbury Municipal Airport and a positive report from the planning commission under Connecticut General Statute section 8‑24.

The committee heard from Director Sofranik, who presented the petition and recounted the Sadler family's long involvement with the airport. "Based on the facts in the airport administrator's letter, the Sadler family is credited with shaping and developing the Danbury Municipal Airport over the last 90 years," Sofranik said, describing three generations — Cliff, his son Dale and Robbie — who maintained and cultivated the airfield and helped attract pilots to Danbury.

Sofranik described community ceremonies and personal remembrances that the family and airport users have held, and said local aviation businesses support the honorary naming. He noted the proposal is honorary only because a formal legal name change could trigger Federal Aviation Administration and permitting complications. "They're all on board with it," he said of nearby aviation businesses that provided letters of support.

Attorney Casagrani told the committee that an honorary designation does not require an ordinance and recommended the committee make a formal motion to send the recommendation to the full council for final designation. The chair read the planning commission referral and its May 21, 2025 positive recommendation, which the planning commission made pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. §8‑24.

Committee member (speaker 4) moved to recommend that the city council designate Wallingford Road as the honorary Sadler Way; the motion was seconded and the committee voted "aye" unanimously. The chair announced the motion passed unanimously.

Committee members discussed arranging a plaque and a public ceremony — possibly in September or October — to explain the naming and honor the family. Sofranik suggested costs could be covered from the airport's budget or by donations and fundraising among supporters. The committee did not approve any specific plaque language or budget allocation; the recommendation sent to the full council is for the honorary street designation only.

The ad hoc committee's recommendation will go to the full Danbury City Council for consideration and any subsequent ceremonial arrangements or plaque procurement would be handled through the city's normal administrative channels or through community fundraising, as discussed during the meeting.