Cromwell Council Approves $10,000 for Historic Bell Restoration, New Health Director
Town Council · Meeting of March 11, 2026
Cromwell Town Council split 4-2 to fund a $21,000 restoration of the town's 1836 Holbrook Bell, approving $10,000 from the Capital Non-Recurring Fund Balance. Library Director Kara brought the bell — visible on the town seal and currently stored on a dolly in her office — before the council with Verdon Company of Ohio set to do the work, with $11,000 coming from library gift funds; a companion bid waiver passed on a voice vote. The council also voted to approve $4,725 in seed funding for the Cromwell Cultural District Commission for startup marketing materials and a part-time secretary, over the town manager's suggestion to cap the amount at $3,225.
Member Jamin DeProto backed the full ask, saying "this is a good price based on my experience." The council separately appointed Maura Esposito as director of public health, subject to state acceptance, and heard from Board of Education member Matthew Zoroski that health-insurance costs are projected to rise between 23.71 and 32.86 percent depending on which carrier the district chooses, with all seven union contracts potentially needing to be reopened to access the most affordable option.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 1,239 words
Source: the Town Council meeting of March 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
The Full Article
CROMWELL — March 11, 2026 — The Cromwell Town Council voted 4-2 to appropriate $10,000 from the Capital Non-Recurring Fund Balance toward a $21,000 restoration of the historic Holbrook Bell, approved $4,725 in seed funding for the Cromwell Cultural District Commission, and appointed a new health director at its regular meeting Wednesday evening.
The meeting, which ran nearly two hours, also included a detailed exchange between council members and the town assessor over the handling of Public Act 490a farm-use assessments, a police update from the newly appointed chief, and the approval of updated Belden Free Public Library policies.
The Full Story
Library Director Kara, whose surname did not appear in the transcript or supplied documents, brought the 1836 Holbrook Bell before the council with a request for $10,000 from the town, paired with $11,000 from library gift funds, to cover a $21,000 refurbishment contract with Verdon Company of Ohio. The bell, which appears on Cromwell's official seal and was once housed in the cupola of the academy on Main Street, has a broken clapper and has sat on a dolly in the library director's office. The plan calls for shipping the bell to Ohio for cleaning, possible sandblasting, and mounting on a stanchion in the outdoor space between Town Hall and the library. Verdon has a Connecticut representative based in Madison.
"I'm hoping that with a $10,000 request, we could make the $21,000 happen. Verdon is a very reputable company." [00:32:41] — Library Director Kara
Several council members expressed sticker shock at the price. Member Jack Henehan called the history compelling but the cost steep. Member Anne Hulick offered what the transcript suggested was an additional pledge — described as bringing the total closer to manageable — that shifted the mood in the room. The motion to appropriate the $10,000 from the Capital Non-Recurring Fund Balance passed 4-2. A companion bid waiver to expedite the contract, moved by Member James Demetriades and seconded by Member Paula G. Luna, passed on a voice vote with at least one abstention.
The council then took up a request from the Cromwell Cultural District Commission. Ann Grosso, identified in the transcript as a representative of the commission, asked for $225 to fund three months of a part-time secretary beginning in April and $4,500 in seed money for startup marketing — primarily banners for Main Street and the Route 9 corridor entrances — ahead of an April 30 walking tour with state officials. Town Manager Tony, whose surname did not appear in the transcript, suggested trimming the request to $3,225, citing the lack of written price quotes. Member Jamin DeProto pushed back, saying he was personally familiar with banner costs and considered the ask reasonable.
"I feel kind of like a clown in a way because I demand or at least request that people bring in like some kind of price quote. But here I know what it costs. And this is a good price based on my experience." [01:03:02] — Jamin DeProto, Town Council Member
The council voted to approve the full $4,725 request. One member abstained.
Under unfinished business, the council questioned Town Assessor Shawna — her surname was not provided in the transcript — at length about her office's handling of PA 490a farm-use valuations. The chair explained the council's investigation authority under the town charter and asked a series of yes-or-no questions. The assessor confirmed she is the only assessor in the immediate area who did not initially apply the governor's recommended values, attributing that to timing: her grand list had already closed. She said she did not consult the assessors' association or the town attorney before deciding not to apply the new rates, because she believed the grand list closure left no legal mechanism to reopen it. The matter was ultimately resolved when the town manager issued a directive, which the assessor said she accepted because he serves as her administrative supervisor.
"I just needed some kind of authority for me to change it. So if I get audited, I can say I did it because of this. I can't just change somebody's assessment because I feel like it." [01:22:51] — Town Assessor Shawna
The council also approved the appointment of Maura Esposito as director of public health, subject to acceptance by the state commissioner of the Department of Public Health. The town manager explained that Mr. Bell, who has served as health director, will continue as coordinator while Esposito moves into the director role. The switch was delayed a year because Esposito's state-service background initially prevented the state from approving the designation.
Board of Education member Matthew Zoroski updated the council on the school district's health-insurance situation, noting that staying with Cigna would cost a 32.86 percent increase, switching to Anthem would mean a 31.77 percent increase, and joining the Connecticut Partnership plan would bring the increase to 23.71 percent — the most palatable option, though it would require reopening all seven union contracts.
Why It Matters
The Holbrook Bell vote ties directly to Cromwell's dual anniversary year: the town's 175th and the nation's 250th. With the bell currently unrung in the library director's office, council members debated whether the $21,000 restoration — half funded by library gift money — is the right use of public dollars at a moment when the town is also navigating healthcare cost increases and open staff vacancies. The council acknowledged that delay risks higher costs and a missed July 4 target date, though Verdon gave no firm guarantee on timing. A special Board of Finance meeting is expected to be scheduled shortly to finalize the appropriation and any further cultural district funding.
The PA 490a discussion clarified, for the public record, the boundaries of council authority over tax assessments. The council chair stated the town deviated from every neighboring municipality in its initial handling of the farm rates. The assessor confirmed no statute governs whether the council must approve tax-case settlements, leaving the council the option of establishing a formal policy going forward.
Key Motions & Votes
- Vote: Amend the meeting agenda to add items H5 (CCDC appropriation request) and M2 (appoint health director) Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Appropriate $10,000 from Capital Non-Recurring Fund Balance for the Holbrook Bell refurbishment Tally: For: 4, Against: 2, Abstain: 0, Total: 6
- Vote: Bid waiver to expedite the Holbrook Bell refurbishment contract with Verdon Company Tally: Approved (voice vote, at least one abstention noted)
- Vote: Approve $4,725 in supplemental funding for the Cromwell Cultural District Commission (current fiscal year) Tally: Approved (voice vote, one abstention noted)
- Vote: Approve tax refunds items 1 through 11 Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Approve Belden Free Public Library policy manual updates with page numbers added Tally: Approved (voice vote, one abstention noted)
- Vote: Appoint Maura Esposito as director of public health, subject to state commissioner acceptance Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Approve February 11, 2026 regular meeting minutes Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Appoint Mike Cannata as Inland Wetlands Watercourse Agency alternate; move Victor Hartley from full member to alternate on the Public Asset Committee Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Reappointments A through I Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Accept resignation with regrets of Steve Fortenbach from Inland Wetlands Tally: Approved unanimously
- Vote: Adjourn Tally: Approved unanimously
Source
Cromwell's community access TV: Town Council meeting, March 11, 2026