Cromwell Town Council Approves Health Code Overhaul and New Recreation Director

Town Council · Meeting of May 27, 2026

CT CROMWELL — Cromwell Town Council adopted health and sanitation code changes and approved a new recreation director at its May 27 meeting. The council voted 6-1 to amend Town Code chapters 137, 146, 150, 151, and 189, incorporating Scrivener's error corrections proposed by council member Jamin DeProto; a separate 6-1 vote approved the town manager's appointment of a recreation director identified as Mr. Gagney, a candidate with experience in Brookfield and Trumbull who will be formally introduced at the next meeting.

Members debated but left intact a penalty provision allowing up to 30 days imprisonment per day of a food establishment violation, with DeProto calling it "shockingly stiff," while agreeing not to codify a verbal-notification requirement for inspectors but directing the town manager to make the practice standard. Council member Paula G. Luna's discovery of an anti-spitting provision referencing trolley cars — a relic of the original code — produced brief deliberation before the council voted to leave the language unchanged.

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Source: the Town Council meeting of May 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

CROMWELL — May 27, 2026 — The Cromwell Town Council voted to adopt sweeping changes to the town's health and sanitation code and approved a new recreation director appointment at its Tuesday meeting, with one abstention recorded on each vote.

The council adopted amendments to Town Code chapters 137, 146, 150, 151, and 189, incorporating Scrivener's error corrections proposed by council member Jamin DeProto. The council also consented to Town Manager Tony's appointment of a recreation director, identified as Mr. Gagney, who was not present at the meeting but is expected to appear before the council at its next regular meeting.

The Full Story

The bulk of the meeting centered on a line-by-line review of the health and sanitation code amendments during what council members described as a public hearing. Members raised several questions about the practical language of the code, including provisions governing inspector conduct, food condemnation procedures, and penalty structures for violations.

DeProto pressed for a provision requiring inspectors to verbally notify a senior employee or owner when a written notice of violation is left at a business. Council members ultimately agreed not to codify the requirement in the ordinance itself but directed the town manager to make verbal notification standard informal practice. The town manager, referred to throughout the meeting as Tony, noted that health inspector Maura typically communicates directly with business owners during inspections but acknowledged the process could be inconsistent when an owner is not on site.

Council member Paula G. Luna flagged an anachronistic reference in section 189.14 banning spitting on a trolley car. Members debated briefly whether to remove the language, ultimately choosing to leave it in place. The section also references disease control provisions related to scarlet fever, yellow fever, and typhus.

DeProto raised a concern about the penalty structure under section 137-13, which calls for a fine of $50 to $200 and up to 30 days imprisonment for each day a violation persists. Members expressed surprise at the severity, with DeProto calling it "shockingly stiff" for a food establishment infraction. Council members reviewed several related Connecticut statutes, including sections 19A-36, 19A-220, and 19A-230, and determined that state law defaults to a Class C misdemeanor when a municipality has not set its own penalty, but does permit towns to establish their own. The council left the existing penalty language unchanged.

"I just thought maybe this is the opportunity to put it into the ordinance. I don't know how other people feel about that." [No timestamp available] — Jamin DeProto, Council Member

"I feel that if the violation warrants that kind of a repercussion, I don't think you can remain open with a violation." [No timestamp available] — Council Member (speaker not individually identified in transcript)

On the recreation director appointment, the town manager told the council he had convened a panel of three interviewers — including himself, a former recreation director now serving as superintendent of recreation in Newington identified only as Scott, and a human resources or assistant town manager — to evaluate three finalists. The town manager said Gagney's background in communities including Brookfield and Trumbull made him the strongest fit.

"I think he brings the education, experience, and training that we're looking for and has handled similar type situations to Cromwell in the past." [No timestamp available] — Town Manager Tony, on the Gagney appointment

The council adjourned at 5:36 p.m.

Why It Matters

The health code amendments affect how Cromwell inspects and penalizes food establishments and governs public health nuisances. The retention of the 30-days-per-violation imprisonment provision means business owners could theoretically face compounding penalties if violations persist, though council members acknowledged the harshest outcomes would be subject to judicial discretion. The informal directive to inspectors to verbally notify on-site staff before leaving a business is not binding code but reflects a new expectation from the council. The recreation director appointment fills a vacant leadership post in the town's parks and recreation department; the new director is expected to be formally introduced at the next council meeting.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Adopt amendments to Town Code chapters 137, 146, 150, 151, and 189, including Scrivener's error corrections Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 1, Total: 7

- Vote: Approve town manager's appointment of recreation director Mr. Gagney Tally: For: 6, Against: 0, Abstain: 1, Total: 7

- Vote: Adjourn at 5:36 p.m. Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Cromwell's community access TV: Town Council meeting, May 27, 2026