In the minutes: Mansfield Minutes, license plate reader (Aug 10)

Town Council
Regular Meeting
August 10, 2026
Council Chamber | Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building
4 So. Eagleville Road, Mansfield, CT

MINUTES
1. CALL TO ORDER
Deputy Mayor Ben Shaiken called the meeting of the Mansfield Town Council to order at 7:52
p.m. in the Council Chamber of the Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Bruder, Dufresne, Kueffner, Shaiken, Tomecko,
Virtual: Mullen, Zaicek
Excused: Cotton, Moran
3. OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL
Brian Coleman, Centre Street, spoke regarding his loss of confidence in the Town Council and the
related petition. (Statement attached.)
Aaron Bowman, Middle Turnpike, spoke regarding his loss of confidence in how Mansfield is
being governed and submitted the related petition to the Town Clerk. (Statement attached.)
Jill Paterson, Olsen Road, spoke in opposition to the proposed UConn golf practice facility on East
Road, cited several concerns about the health risks of chemicals associated with such facilities,
and asked the Council to keep fighting against the project.
Joanne Rees, Spring Hill Road, shared concerns about the rental housing inspection program.
(Statement attached.)
Vera Ward, Spring Hill Road, noted that both Kennedy and Aylesworth were hired despite existing
concerns about their management from prior employers and urged the Council to be more
thorough during the process of vetting a new town manager.
Zach Anglin, Storrs Road, asked the Council to obtain the actual costs of regionalizing animal
control services and compare them to the costs of maintaining our own municipal animal control
services.
Charles Ausburger, Middle Turnpike, noted that he was not in support of moving the senior center
to the town hall/community center property several years ago when he was on the Town Council
and he is still not supportive of the idea. He suggested locating some town services to either of the
two abandoned school properties if more room is needed in the existing town buildings.
Paul Stern, Storrs Road, member of the Affordable Housing Committee but speaking on his own
behalf, urged the Council to look at the Carriage House Drive developer’s plan very carefully, to
maximize the financial benefit to the town, and to deliver those proceeds to the affordable housing
trust fund.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
A. Cancellation of the August 24, 2026 Meeting
B. Setting of a Public Hearing for the Conveyance of Town-Owned Property Underlying
Carriage House Drive
Audrey P. Beck Building | 4 South Eagleville Road, Mansfield, CT 06268 | 860.429.3336 | mansfieldct.gov
August 10, 2026

C. Historic Documents Preservation Grant 2027
D. Town of Mansfield Corporate Resolution
E. 07.27.2026 TC Minutes
Shaiken pulled consent agenda item 4B Setting of a Public Hearing for the Conveyance of TownOwned Property Underlying Carriage House Drive and placed it under new business.
Dufresne moved and Bruder seconded to approve the consent agenda as amended. Motion
passed unanimously.
Motion approved by consent:
• Move, to cancel the August 24, 2026 regular meeting of the Mansfield Town Council.
• Resolved: That Stephen Daly, Acting Town Manager, is empowered to execute and deliver
in the name and on behalf of this municipality a contract with the Connecticut State Library
for a Historic Documents Preservation Grant.
• Resolved, pursuant to Section C502 of the Charter of the Town of Mansfield, Stephen Daly,
the Acting Town Manager of the Town of Mansfield, shall sign and make all contracts and
agreements in the name of the Corporation from this day forward.
• Move to approve the July 27, 2026 regular Town Council meeting minutes.
5. OLD BUSINESS
None.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Veterans Services
Jessica St. Louis, Director of Human Services, provided an update on Veterans services
programming and next steps.
B. Replacement of Animal Shelter – Funding and Referendum Question
Councilors discussed project funding, timing, and regionalization considerations. Amanda
Backhaus, Director of Finance, answered questions about whether the project should be funded
through bonding or available cash reserves, including the impact on the Town's fund balance and
other planned expenditures. Discussion also included the anticipated project timeline, with
construction expected to begin in Spring 2027 and the facility operational by 2028. The Council
further discussed the rationale for not pursuing regionalization, citing concerns about local control,
staffing, response times, and service quality, while acknowledging the potential to design the
facility for future regional expansion.
Bruder moved and Kueffner seconded, effective August 10, 2026, to fund the remaining balance
for the construction of the Animal Shelter in cash. Motion passed unanimously.
C. Tax Compliance Solution
Amanda Backhaus, Director of Finance, and Chandler Rose, Assessor, presented and answered
Councilor questions regarding a proposal to contract with a company that assists municipalities in
identifying vehicles that are primarily garaged in Mansfield but are not currently assessed on the
Town's Grand List, with the goal of improving compliance with state motor vehicle tax laws and
increasing tax revenue. The Council inquired about the company's methods for verifying vehicle
locations, including the use of license plate reader data, and the process for adding qualifying
vehicles to the tax rolls. Council members raised concerns regarding privacy, data security,
potential data-sharing practices, and the Governor's guidance on the use of license plate readers.
Audrey P. Beck Building | 4 South Eagleville Road, Mansfield, CT 06268 | 860.429.3336 | mansfieldct.gov
August 10, 2026

Additional questions were asked about the company's fee structure, experience working with other
Connecticut municipalities, and compliance with the Town's purchasing policies. Further
information regarding data protections and vendor practices will be presented at a future meeting.
D. Setting of a Public Hearing for the Conveyance of Town-Owned Property Underlying
Carriage House Drive
Jennifer Kaufman, Director of Planning and Development, answered Councilor questions
regarding the disposition of Town land, the steps needed before scheduling the required public
hearing, and the appraisal process. Kaufman noted that while an appraisal is not required by
statute, obtaining one would provide valuable information for negotiating purposes. The Council
confirmed that the Town is not obligated to sell the property and expressed support for delaying
the public hearing in order to allow more time for additional information, including the appraisal.
7. REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
Acting Town Manager Stephen Daly presented and discussed the written report. The report is
available online at www.MansfieldCT.gov and is on file with the Town Clerk.
8. REPORTS AND COMMENTS OF COUNCIL MEMBERS
None.
9. REPORTS OF COUNCIL COMMITTEES
None.
10. PETITIONS, REQUESTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
A. J. O'Keefe - Concerns Regarding Town Manager Investigation
B. B. Coleman - Town Manager Investigation
C. B. Coleman - Investigation into Mansfield Public Works
D. Mansfield Veterans Coffee House Flyer
11. FUTURE AGENDAS
None.
12. EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. Sale or Purchase of Real Property, in accordance with CGS §1-200(6)(d) - Acquisition of
Property
B. Personnel Matter in Accordance with CGS §1-200(6)(a) – Town Manager Performance
Bruder moved and Kueffner seconded to enter executive session for the purposes of a discussion
on the sale or purchase of real property in accordance with CGS §1-200(6)(d) to discuss the
acquisition of property and secondly for a personnel matter in accordance with CGS §1-200(6)(a)
regarding the Town Manager performance and to invite to the first executive session Jennifer
Kaufman, Stephen Daly, and Steven Ferrigno. Motion passed unanimously.
The executive session for the purposes of a discussion on the sale or purchase of real property in
accordance with CGS §1-200(6)(d) to discuss the acquisition of property concluded and the
Council reconvened in open session.
Bruder moved and Kueffner seconded to schedule a public hearing to be held at the Town
Council's regularly scheduled meeting on September 14, 2026, to consider the proposed
Audrey P. Beck Building | 4 South Eagleville Road, Mansfield, CT 06268 | 860.429.3336 | mansfieldct.gov
August 10, 2026

expenditure of Affordable Housing Trust Fund monies in connection with the acquisition of certain
real property located on Depot Road for affordable housing, including a potential partnership with
a nonprofit affordable housing developer, and related municipal purposes. Motion passed
unanimously.
Council reentered executive session to discuss a personnel matter in accordance with CGS §1200(6)(a) regarding the Town Manager performance.
13. ADJOURNMENT
The executive session concluded and the Council reconvened in open session. Kueffner moved
and Bruder seconded to adjourn the meeting at 11:34 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.

Sara-Ann Chaine, Town Clerk

Audrey P. Beck Building | 4 South Eagleville Road, Mansfield, CT 06268 | 860.429.3336 | mansfieldct.gov
August 10, 2026