City Council - 2026-02-10

Council unanimously approved naming the new South Norwalk Elementary School after Doctor Ruby Shaw, a longtime Norwalk educator who earned her doctorate from University of Bridgeport in 1985, served as assistant for human services and alternative education for Norwalk Public Schools, and established the district's first magnet school. She was instrumental in the I Have a Dream program and Columbus Elementary magnet school conversion.

Council unanimously reappointed Robert Stowers as Director of Recreation and Parks. Stowers has served approximately four years, previously worked in Seattle, and has led initiatives including a ten-year recreation master plan, ten-year tree master plan, joint use agreement with school district, playground replacements, and establishment of a Parks Foundation.

Council unanimously appointed five members to the new Urban Forestry Commission: Peter Frank Federico as chair (licensed landscape architect with 40+ years experience), Gay McCloud (environmental education background, former Tree Advisory Commission vice chair), Sonia Oliver (Tree Advisory Commission and Fair Rent Commission member), Amy Vero (urban forestry experience with NYC Parks and NY State Parks), and David McGoldrick (land steward for Aspetuck Land Trust).

Council unanimously reappointed Christina Testabuzzi (Chief Workforce Officer for State of Connecticut), Jasmine Prezi (Director of mentorship program at Human Services Council and Board of Education member), and Chantal Coffey (nursing and healthcare background) to the Commission on Gender Equity.

Council authorized a third amendment to the memorandum agreement with Recovery Network of Programs Inc. for two full-time social workers for the police department's behavioral health unit, commencing 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2026, in the amount of $300,528. The program handled 529 cases in 2025.

Council authorized non-competitive procurement with Lexapol for Cortico mobile application software for police department mental health support, for one year from 02/01/2026 to 01/31/2027, not to exceed $21,600. 46% of personnel have utilized the platform, with 23 calls made to crisis helpline.

Council authorized the mayor to execute documents adopting the City of Norwalk Arts and Cultural Plan as the official guiding document for arts and cultural initiatives, consistent with the city's designation as a state recognized arts and cultural district. Plan will be attached as addendum to Plan of Conservation and Development after Planning and Zoning Commission approval.

Council unanimously approved consent calendar including: emergency management grant program participation, police vehicle upfitting extension with Fleet Auto Supply ($290,000/year), land use restriction agreement for 7 Academy Street Carver Center, police headquarters fuel oil pump replacement ($128,000 plus $12,800 contingency), Tecton Architects design services increase for North School ($56,147.72), Calf Pasture Beach project account correction, subordination agreement with Housing Authority for 20 Day Street, M Rodano Inc drainage contract amendment ($1,124,616.15), community development software agreement with Granicus ($204,000), South Main Street rails removal with ABD Excavators ($849,497).