The first Town Council meeting of the new administration took place at 8 p.m., December 8th, just after Dr. David Chess was inaugurated as our new mayor. Once the inauguration ceremonies at Stratford High School for the mayor and council members were complete, they hurried across the way to Town Hall. Town Clerk Susan Pawluk, acting as temporary council chair until the new one is elected, introduced Mayor Chess, and the council members who were then sworn in: Jean Collier, Dist. 1; Chris Green, Dist. 2; William Boyd, Dist. 3; Renee Gibson, Dist. 4; Anthony Afriyie, Dist. 5; Phil Young, Dist. 6; Lisa Carroll Fabian, Dist.7; Carl Glad, Dist. 8; George Zamary, Dist. 9; Paul Aurelia, Dist. 10.
Anthony Afriyie was nominated as Chair of the Council by Chris Green, and unanimously voted in to that role. Lisa Carroll Fabian was then unanimously elected as Chairperson Pro Tem. Andrea Corcoran was nominated by Lisa Fabian as Town Council Clerk, and unanimously elected. There followed some discussion regarding an item in the minutes of the last meeting. The minutes were approved but Councilor Gibson requested a change in the wording of an ordinance referenced in the minutes, which would need to be considered and discussed at another meeting. Adoption of new rules of procedure revisions was tabled until the next Council meeting. The next item was support of DEEP for constructing an arboretum on Access Road. A motion was made and unanimously accepted, as was a motion regarding South End Community Center.
Council Chair Afriyie announced that the council is opening participation on all committees, commissions and boards, including three new ones, to any interested Stratford residents. Contact Karen Kaufman in the Mayor’s office for further information. In the near future, a complete list of committees, commissions and boards plus directions for how to apply will be on the Town Council landing page of the Town website.
If you’d like to watch the 53rd session of the Stratford Town Council, you can do so here.
