Long time, no newsletter. I’m sorry to say that a consistent Council newsletter replete with all the town happenings and recaps is just not in the cards for me. As I’ve gotten more familiar with my role as a Council Representative, I’ve also gotten a much clearer sense of what is realistic given the competing demands of public service, family, career, and some semblance of a personal life.

That said, I will maintain my commitment to focusing on our finances and any other issues that I, or my constituents, think are worth putting energy behind. So, expect sporadic updates and information.

Let’s go!

Audit Update

For more info on the current audit, please watch this meeting from August 13, 2026.

• Timeline: The 2023–2024 audit will likely not be done until the end of the year, or later. As of now, there is no timeline. Our auditor has either not been receiving accurate information or, in some cases, has not been receiving information at all. Our auditor cannot commit to a timeline because they literally do not have all the information needed to perform an audit.

• Numerous Discrepancies: The balances across a number of accounts are not tying back to 2022–2023. This is not one or two accounts. These accounts must be reconciled before the audit can be completed.

• External Support Extended: The Council recently approved an extension of CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) to provide accounting and support services to help complete the audit. Previous audits have identified significant deficiencies in the Town’s financial controls, and both the Deputy and interim Finance Directors have discussed those deficiencies publicly. CLA is also being tasked to review the needs of the Finance Department and to help establish some of these basic financial controls.

• Three Audits Are Currently Outstanding: We are behind on 2023–2024, while the 2024–2025 audit was due in December 2025. The 2025–2026 audit will be due this December.

• MUNIS Creates Another Problem: We’ve been told that we can only put three years of data into MUNIS, so we are now running the risk of reaching a point where we cannot capture future transactions in the system.

• The Council Is Creating an Audit Oversight Committee: This sounds like a good step, but I have to admit I’m wondering if this isn’t what the Finance Committee was intended to do all along. It has certainly felt like many of us have been out of the loop on what is happening with the audits. And not for lack of trying.

• For the First Time, This Actually Feels Like Progress: I feel like I am finally getting answers to some of these questions, and I want to thank Myron Hul and those who pushed the administration to bring CLA in. I know our Chief of Staff Bobbye Peterson was a strong proponent of bringing them in, and I appreciate that.

• FYI:

  • Clermont & Associates LLC completed Hamden’s audits from 2017-2023.

  • Last July, former Mayor Lauren Garrett hired our previous auditor, David Cappelletti of Clermont & Associates LLC, to assist with completing the 2023–2024 audit for the Town and Board of Education. His support ended a couple of months ago when the administration brought in CLA to assist with audit preparation.

  • There is an ongoing lawsuit involving the Groton Housing Authority, David Cappelletti, and Claremont & Associates LLC. The Groton Housing Authority alleges that Mr. Cappelletti was involved in conduct that caused substantial financial harm. The filing states that investigations are ongoing. These are allegations in an active case, not findings of wrongdoing. I’ll link the filings here for anyone who would like to read them for themselves.

  • To my knowledge, Mr. Cappelletti remains the auditor for our pension. There is a pension board that facilitates this process.

Submit A Question

I will try to address the most common questions in my upcoming newsletter.

Upcoming Newsletter Topics

• The Nightmare of the Whitney Avenue Road Diet (Sorry If We Disagree Here)

• Why Is My Water Still Brown: Spring Glen Residents Wonder Aloud

• Hey, Are We Ever Knocking Down the Old Middle School?

• “The Pit” Remains on Whitney; Landlords Buy Another Hamden Property as Town Says It Can’t Intervene

• Commission Applicants Await Long Overdue Reply to Vacancy Applications; Numerous Expired Appointments Remain

  ---

Resources

As a reminder, the town has some useful self-service tools for staying up to date with things you may care about in town.

• Town Calendar

• Town of Hamden Email Updates

• Notify Me (Updates on Boards & Commissions)

• Boards & Commissions Meeting Info & Agendas

Radical Transparency

Also, resident Daniel Dunn created this awesome resource for tracking our town meetings. In his words:

You can now view a summary of every Town of Hamden public meeting held via Zoom, along with every action and vote recorded for each councilperson during the meeting.

You can also filter by councilperson to see how they voted on each action.

I’ll continue to do my best to ask good questions and focus my energy on the things I think deserve our attention. Thanks for reading.

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio

It’s been a while. I owe you all a proper note, and I will do so soon. That said, I am conducting a brief survey for residents who have experienced brown water in town. It seems like the occurrences are more frequent than in years past, at least for some residents, especially in the Spring Glen neighborhood. I’d like to capture a broader sample to better understand the situation before sharing something with the RWA.

Thank you for your consideration.

Brown Water Survey

Warmly,

Councilwoman Teodosio

Councilwoman Maurine Crouch has been in touch with Hamden’s Partnership for Young Children and they asked us to send this survey out in hopes of garnering resident feedback. Please take a moment to read and if it applies to you, consider submitting feedback.

Hamden Families: Your Input Is Needed on Childcare and Early Childhood Support

Hamden families with children under age 9 are being asked to complete a brief survey that will help shape the future of childcare and early childhood services in our town.

The survey is part of Hamden’s Local Needs Assessment, a community-wide effort required by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood through the Early Start CT Grant. That grant currently helps fund more than 300 subsidized childcare slots for Hamden families, including infant, toddler, preschool, and school-age care.

So what is this assessment actually for?

It helps identify where Hamden families are struggling, what resources are working, and where there are gaps in support. That includes issues like:

• Access to affordable childcare

• Waitlists and availability of care

• Scheduling challenges for working families

• Transportation barriers

• Family support services and other unmet needs

The goal is to ensure future funding, programs, and policy decisions reflect the real experiences of parents and caregivers, not assumptions.

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete and is available in English and Spanish.

Responses will remain confidential and will be used to develop recommendations that will be shared with local providers, community partners, the Town of Hamden, and the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood.

Most importantly, this is a chance for families to directly influence what support looks like in Hamden moving forward.

As an added incentive, 20 participants will be selected to receive a $25 Amazon gift card if they complete the survey and provide an email address.

Links to Surveys:

• Survey (Spanish)  

• Survey (English)  

Learn more about Hamden’s Partnership for Young Children.

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio

I know it’s been a few weeks since my last newsletter. Admittedly, budget season was tougher than I expected. The past few weeks have pushed me to the brink in terms of capacity.

So this week’s newsletter is going to be a bit of a peek behind the curtain into what budget season is really like, what actually happened during this budget process, and where I think we realistically go from here.

Part I: A Peek Behind the Curtain

A Totally Normal & Sustainable Human-Person Lifestyle

Between working a full-time job, being a toddler mom, and spending upwards of 20+ hours a week in meetings and behind-the-scenes work for what is effectively a volunteer role, I am burnt out, y’all.

Here’s what the last three weeks of my life looked like:

5–7 a.m.
Toddler wakes up and I’m immediately in mom mode on very little sleep.

8 a.m.–5 p.m.
I work a very demanding full-time job and, during all of this, also had a new employee starting.

5:30 p.m. onward
There were about 3–4 meetings each week, many going until 10 p.m., 11 p.m., or even midnight. Most nights I showed up around 6:30 because it was the only real time I got to spend with my daughter outside of the morning.

I am usually the bedtime parent, so for weeks I had to give up most of our nighttime routine. #momguilt (IYKYK)

The “nights off”
Usually one, maybe two nights a week without meetings. Those nights became:

1. Toddler Bedtime Routine

2. Council Prep: budget analysis, reorganizing cuts, reading memos and ordinances, responding to residents (as best I could), etc.

3. Maybe 1 hour to myself.

Weekends
Toddler mom by day, Council freak by night.

I barely saw family and friends. My house was (is) in complete disarray. I was running on fumes.

And my situation is not unique.

I am not the only person putting in this kind of effort, regardless of what some people may think. Even if you only count the hours physically spent in meetings, it is still an enormous commitment.

The Emotional Reality of Public Service

To say I felt like a chicken with my head cut off would be an understatement. And on top of that, the frustration surrounding the pace, communication issues, and overall disorganization of the budget process pushed things to another level entirely.

It often feels like no matter how much work you put in, someone is still frustrated and, if I am being honest, the deeper I go into this process, the more I realize how difficult it is to create meaningful change within a system broken on so many levels.

I also do not think many residents fully realize that this is effectively a nearly unpaid position. None of us are in it for the money, trust me, as we make roughly $2,000 a year. Many of us really care and wish we could do more, but we have to prioritize our day jobs.

Then add in the public anger and scrutiny, which can be a lot to absorb emotionally. And look, if anyone understands that frustration, I do, because I was right there with many residents last year and, truthfully, I am still frustrated about a lot of these issues too. But I can now genuinely appreciate the amount of time, energy, and emotional bandwidth it takes just to consistently show up and do this work. And, I get why there are a lot of one-term public servants.

The System is Broken

We often say the council does not care. But what if that is not actually the problem?

What if many people genuinely do care, but the system itself is broken and we are asking essentially part-time volunteers to solve deeply structural problems without the staffing, tools, communication, access, or long-term planning needed to do it effectively?

Because if I have realized anything through this process, it is that no single person is going to “save” this town.

There are genuinely good people within local government and on this council trying to do good work. But there are also countless factors contributing to dysfunction: poor communication, fragmented processes, competing priorities, incompetence, competing interests, lack of adequate state funding, rising costs, an enormous debt burden, and residents who are increasingly being taxed to the brink.

In the Spirit of Preserving One’s Sanity

I need to recalibrate what I can realistically give to this role in a sustainable way. So below I’ve outlined what you can expect from me.

Resident Communication

I will continue responding to residents, but moving forward I will generally be handling texts, calls, and emails once weekly, typically on weekends. I am a bit behind due to budget season, so please allow me the “grace” to catch up.

I still plan to host public meetings, attend events, and have real conversations with residents, but I need to approach it in a more balanced and sustainable way.

Newsletter

I will commit to one newsletter at the beginning of each month with all meetings, updates, events, and important town information. Anything additional will be supplemental and shared as time and capacity allow.

Social Media

I cannot keep up with every tag, comment, or question online in real time. I will still monitor and respond to major themes, concerns, and urgent issues when possible.

PART II: The B Word

Now onto what you’re really here for — what actually happened with the budget?

The Council ultimately voted to lower the mill rate by .77 mills. Big whoop, I know.

For the record, I voted no to the budget (yes to the budget ordinance, more on that in a separate newsletter). Personally, I thought we probably could have cut a bit more. But as you will see below, even additional cuts would not have meaningfully changed the overall financial reality residents are facing.

We did fund the BOE with the additional state money, contrary to some concerns I have seen circulating, and collectively the Council spent roughly 65 hours in budget deliberations over the past three weeks alone.

It’s Bad, Bad

Hamden is carrying enormous long-term financial pressure while relying heavily on residents’ property taxes to keep the town operating. And the difficult reality is that much of the budget is not easily “cut,” even though I completely understand why residents want relief.

• Hamden ranks #1 statewide in debt per capita meaning that compared to our population size, we carry more debt than any other town in Connecticut.

• Property tax revenue increased roughly 15% this year, and local property taxes now fund ~82% of the town budget, meaning taxpayers are carrying the overwhelming majority of the financial burden.

• Residents are facing a 4.92% mill rate increase while still only entering Year 2 of a 4-year revaluation phase-in, meaning many homeowners will continue seeing significant tax increases, with some households facing increases of hundreds of dollars per month.

• Hamden ranks 132 out of 169 in per capita income and 147 out of 169 in taxable property wealth per resident, meaning we are asking a relatively less wealthy community to carry one of the highest tax and debt burdens in the state.

Debt-Be-Downer

The town also faces nearly half a billion dollars in long-term obligations, including pensions, healthcare costs, bonded debt, and other fixed commitments. #yay

Turning Over the Cushions

When people ask, “Why don’t you just cut the budget?” the difficult answer is that there is actually very little discretionary spending left to cut in a meaningful way.

Roughly 91% of the budget is effectively already committed before budget season even starts through union contracts, pensions, healthcare, debt payments, mandated services, and necessary operational costs like utilities.

This is why I spent so much time breaking down the budget and rebuilding it into a workable format because I wanted residents to be able to better understand the situation for themselves.

After spending countless hours analyzing it line by line, I ultimately found less than $1 million in realistic cuts. Even if every single one of those cuts had passed, with the reductions already made, it still would not have lowered the mill rate by even one full mill. And for context, a one mill reduction generally translates to roughly $100–$300 per year for many homeowners ($8-$25 a month).

During one budget meeting, a fellow council member called me “performative” for wanting to defend my proposed cuts. At the time, it really upset me. But honestly, the more I reflected on it, the more I realized there was some truth in it.

Not because I am doing this for attention, but because in some ways these budget seasons have become inherently performative. There is simply so little discretionary spending left that the range of realistic outcomes becomes incredibly narrow before discussions even begin. Why are we asking volunteers to spend upwards of 60+ hours discussing things we can’t do much about?

Continuing to repeat this same cycle every budget season while expecting dramatically different outcomes is not only unsustainable, it’s delusional.

We literally don’t even know what is real.

Hamden is behind on multiple audits meaning that we are working with best guesses, trusting a few departments with decent bookkeeping, and effectively relying on the honor system.

We needed help yesterday.

Our finance department has been operating with a very lean team, outdated and highly manual systems, years-behind reconciliations, staffing instability, and inconsistent long-term oversight. Those structural issues have created major inefficiencies and made an already difficult financial situation significantly harder to manage.

The administration bringing in an interim finance director and contracting with an accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen to help complete the missing audits and evaluate operations are positive steps. But these problems were years in the making and will not be solved overnight.

So, What Can We Do?

Personally, I believe we need serious outside expertise and intervention to help stabilize the town financially.

In fact, while looking at OPM’s website for the upcoming MFAC meeting agenda on June 24, 2026, I noticed Hamden appears scheduled for discussion regarding a potential Tier 1 MARB designation. I do not know who initiated that conversation, but it certainly caught my attention.

We Can No Longer Hold the Dam

Without meaningful intervention or support, another 4–5% increase each year through the remaining years of the phase-in is simply not sustainable. Some households will be facing increases of hundreds of dollars per month, if they aren’t already.

Frankly, I do not understand why we are not being far more aggressive at the state level about asking for help.

Why is our administration not at the Capitol with the data in hand, rallying hundreds of residents to march behind them, and applying every possible ounce of pressure via the media to make people understand what Hamden is facing? This is a gubernatorial election year, after all.

Why are we not begging for a bailout?

Hamden has a legitimate case to make. We are carrying enormous debt obligations, rising healthcare and pension costs, one of the highest tax burdens in the state relative to local wealth, and we are trying to solve all of it largely on the backs of local taxpayers.

Make It Make Sense

Honestly, this may be the one time I would actually appreciate people playing politics a little more aggressively on behalf of residents. For example, the Hamden DTC endorsed Josh Elliott against Ned Lamont during this financial crisis. Heck, they already endorsed him for State Rep on the same ballot. This isn’t about how I feel about Josh as a candidate, I just think this would have been the moment to leverage every possible relationship and ounce of political capital we had at the state level.

It seems I’ve already broken my rule by staying up late to send out this newsletter. I’ll be posting future updates on the budget ordinance which includes some great new measures, my regular monthly newsletter, and more. Hope everyone is doing well. And, please know, I truly wish we could have done more to provide relief this year.

Warmly,

Grace

In an effort to better reach residents with important information while also being mindful of my time and resources, I’m asking you to take a brief survey about this newsletter, social media, and other potential ways of sharing updates with the community.

One idea I’ve been considering is creating more short-form video content that would allow me to share information in a way that feels more personal, creative, and conversational. To be honest, written updates can sometimes feel a bit sterile, and I don’t think they fully reflect my personality or communication style.

The newsletter also takes a significant amount of time to put together each week. I’ve had some volunteers offer to help with pieces of it, which could make it more sustainable long-term. Before making any changes, though, I wanted to hear directly from residents about what formats you find most useful, engaging, and accessible.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE

Thank you,

Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

Sorry for the delay in this week’s newsletter, but yesterday was Mother’s Day, so I gave myself the day off.

Putting these together every week is honestly a lot of work, so I wanted to put this out there: if there are volunteers in the community who would like to come together to help build a newsletter team, I’d love the support. That could look like gathering local news articles, helping summarize upcoming meetings, writing brief recaps, or other small pieces that make this sustainable long term.

If you’d be interested in helping out, please reach out to me at gteodosio@hamden.com.

In the interest of saving time, this week’s newsletter is a bit more streamlined than usual.

❗️Important Info

The petition is taking off! As of this morning, we’re at 803 signatures.

I have plans to discuss Mayor Sendroff’s efforts directly with him, as well as with State Representative Laurie Sweet soon. I don’t know what may still be possible this year given that the state legislative session has ended, but we are actively asking for any variety of solutions that could help ease the burden on residents.

Showing strong public engagement around this issue, especially during an election year, is incredibly important. Public awareness and pressure matter. So please continue to sign, share, and talk about this with your friends and neighbors.

During our Council meeting tonight, I’ll be sharing more information about this issue and discussing some potential next steps, so tune in.

✍️ SIGN THE PETITION HERE

🗓️ Civic Meetings & Town Events

See the full calendar of meetings in Hamden this week, including links to agendas and location details, here:

Hamden Meetings Calendar

⏰ Earlier Start Time: The Legislative Council meeting starts a bit earlier this week at 6 PM with the Engineering, Development, and Municipal Planning Committee.

Hamden in the News

• Hamden To Receive Additional State Funding Under Connecticut Budget Package

• Hamden Schools Warn Of “Deeply Painful Cuts” Without Full Funding

• Hamden Business Villa Fleur Closing After Walmart Expansion Plans

• Connecticut Expands School Aid And Free Breakfast Program In Budget Deal

• Ross Dress for Less to open 2 new Connecticut stores in former Joann Fabrics spaces

• Wonder dining hall chain with menus from 28 restaurants is coming to Hamden Plaza

• Controversial plan to build 99 apartments on former Hamden-North Haven YMCA site is reworked

• Connecticut minister accused of abusing dogs now faces upgraded felony charges, records show

Have a great week!

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

Below is the email I sent to Governor Lamont, our state representatives, Council, and town administration regarding Hamden’s escalating financial crisis and the growing burden being placed on residents.

If this resonates with you, I am asking you to please:

• Sign and share the petition as widely as possible

• Call and email the Governor’s office

• Contact our state delegation and urge meaningful long-term intervention for Hamden

Governor Lamont’s Contact Information:

• Phone: 860-566-4840

• Toll Free: 800-406-1527

• Email Contact Form: Email Governor Lamont

Residents need to make it clear that this situation is no longer sustainable.

Summary of Concerns

Our ask: Meaningful long-term state intervention that helps stabilize Hamden, whether through increased recurring aid, debt relief assistance, structural funding changes, or other solutions, the goal is to reduce the unsustainable burden currently falling on local taxpayers.

• Hamden residents already carry the 2nd highest equalized property tax burden in Connecticut

• Hamden ranks #1 in debt per capita statewide

• Residents are facing a 4.92% mill rate increase while still only entering Year 2 of a 4-year revaluation phase-in

• Property tax revenue increased 15% this year

• Local property taxes now fund approximately 82% of the Town budget

• Taxpayers are funding not only the entire budget increase, but roughly 150% of it to offset declining revenues elsewhere

• Some homeowners are seeing increases of hundreds of dollars per month

• Hamden ranks:

  • 132/169 in per capita income

  • 147/169 in taxable property wealth per resident

• The Town faces nearly $500 million in long-term obligations

• Roughly 91% of the budget is effectively contractual or structurally committed

• Hamden is behind on multiple audits and continues facing major financial control concerns

• Residents are increasingly worried about:

  • foreclosure,

  • tax delinquency,

  • housing instability,

  • and the long-term sustainability of the Town itself

Read below for the full letter sent to our state and local leadership.

A Letter to Our Leaders

Dear Governor Lamont and Members of the Connecticut State Legislature,

I am aware that there have been ongoing conversations behind the scenes regarding Hamden’s financial situation, and I want to acknowledge the efforts of our state delegation, primarily Representative Laurie Sweet, who has been advocating for additional support for our town.

I also appreciate the State’s recent announcement of assistance for municipalities facing growing financial pressure. While we are grateful these conversations are happening, many of us are concerned that the level of support does not fully reflect the scale of what Hamden residents are facing.

So I want to offer a concise but honest picture from the perspective of someone who started as a frustrated resident and eventually became a Council member largely because of our rapidly escalating taxes and worsening financial trajectory.

Hamden spent decades deferring costs, underfunding long-term obligations, relying on temporary fixes, and avoiding structural problems until they became impossible to ignore. Now the consequences are arriving all at once.

The people paying the price today are not the people who made these decisions. They are seniors afraid of losing the homes they spent their lives paying for, working families already stretched thin, and residents facing rapidly escalating tax burdens in a town that already has one of the highest equalized mill rates and debt burdens in Connecticut.

History of Poor Financial Decisions

You are likely aware of Hamden’s past, so I’ll give the condensed version:

For decades, the Town failed to fully fund pensions and long-term obligations, while also approving benefit structures that ultimately became unsustainable. On top of that, budgets were repeatedly balanced using temporary or inflated revenue sources instead of structurally recurring revenue, while fund balance reserves that had been built up over time were gradually depleted to close ongoing gaps.

Eventually, the bill comes due. Unfortunately, many of the people now paying for those decisions had no role in making them.

A Governance and Credibility Crisis

As you likely know, Hamden is currently under MFAC oversight. But oversight alone does not force the difficult structural decisions needed to stabilize a town financially, and for years many of those decisions were delayed or avoided altogether.

Today, Hamden’s finance systems remain under significant strain:

• A severely understaffed finance department

• Extraordinary overtime costs tied to a very small number of employees carrying overwhelming workloads

• Major weaknesses in financial controls and reporting identified in prior audits

• Two audits currently behind schedule while approaching the end of yet another fiscal year

Many residents, employees, and even public officials no longer have full confidence in:

• the accuracy of financial reporting,

• budget projections,

• movement of funds between accounts,

• internal controls,

• or whether charter requirements are consistently being followed.

As a Council member, I can say firsthand that basic financial information is frequently questioned behind the scenes because confidence in the underlying systems has deteriorated so significantly.

Ultimately, Hamden is not facing only a financial crisis. It is facing a broader governance, systems, and credibility crisis that has built up over many years.

Hamden’s Current Reality and Trajectory

Hamden’s financial challenges cannot be viewed in isolation. The statewide data paints a much larger picture.

Hamden ranks:

• 132 out of 169 towns in per capita income,

• 147 out of 169 in taxable property wealth per resident,

• and #1 in Connecticut for debt per capita,

yet residents are simultaneously carrying the second highest equalized mill rate in the state, meaning one of the heaviest property tax burdens in Connecticut.

Hamden has a relatively weak tax base, lower resident wealth, and extraordinary long-term liabilities, yet residents are still being asked to sustain one of the highest local tax burdens in the state (much of it funded by homeowners) in the entire state.

Despite these conditions, Hamden receives only middle-of-the-pack state support relative to budget size.

The proposed FY 2026–2027 budget increases the mill rate from 51.88 to 54.43 mills, a 4.92% increase, while residents are only entering Year 2 of a 4-year revaluation phase-in. For many households, this means compounding pressure from:

• rising assessments,

• rising mill rates,

• inflation,

• rising healthcare and utility costs.

Additionally, the Town’s own budget documents acknowledge nearly half a billion dollars in long-term obligations tied to pension debt, healthcare liabilities, contracts, and debt service.

Very Little Wiggle Room

Based on my budget analysis, roughly 91% of Hamden’s budget is effectively contractual or structurally committed, tied to union contracts, pensions, healthcare, debt obligations, and essential operations. The remaining discretionary spending is comparatively small and much of it still funds basic necessities like electricity, fuel, and snow removal. In practical terms, there is no large pile of optional spending left to simply “cut away.”

At the End of Our Rope

There is not an endless ability to continue increasing taxes year after year in a town where incomes rank near the bottom quartile statewide, taxable wealth remains comparatively weak, debt burdens rank highest in the state, and many residents have not even fully absorbed prior revaluation increases yet.

At some point, the question stops being whether residents can survive “one more increase” and becomes whether the current trajectory itself is sustainable.

Residents Are Becoming Collateral Damage

This is not just a theoretical problem, it is already reality. As an elected official, I receive a constant stream of emails, calls, and messages from panicked residents who genuinely do not know how they are going to keep up.

Like every Connecticut municipality, Hamden recently underwent a property revaluation. But because Hamden already has a relatively weak commercial base, much of the tax burden shifted further onto homeowners, in some cases disproportionately impacting neighborhoods that were already struggling financially.

The prior Council implemented a 4-year phase-in to soften the blow, but that also means many residents were already facing automatic tax increases even if the Town kept spending completely flat. Instead, the proposed FY 2026–2027 budget still increases taxes another 4.92%. To put the impact on residents in perspective:

• Tax revenue increased 15% this year.

• Local property taxes now fund approximately 82% of the entire Town budget.

• Taxpayers are funding not only the entire budget increase, but roughly 150% of it to compensate for declining revenues elsewhere.

Some residents are now seeing increases of hundreds of dollars per month on top of increases they already absorbed last year, with additional phase-in increases still ahead.

And these are not wealthy residents sitting on endless reserves of disposable income.

In neighborhoods like Newhall, for example, many residents have spent decades dealing with environmental contamination concerns, foundation issues, declining property conditions, and difficulty selling their homes. Yet many of these same homeowners experienced some of the most dramatic assessment increases and are now facing substantial tax hikes despite already living under financial strain.

For families already living paycheck to paycheck, these increases are not theoretical. Many residents have mortgages, childcare costs, medical bills, utility bills, and rising insurance costs all hitting at once. At a certain point, people simply cannot absorb more. Residents are not refusing to contribute. Many simply do not have anything left to give.

And when residents cannot pay:

• tax delinquency rises,

• foreclosure risk rises,

• housing instability rises,

• and communities begin losing long-time residents who built their lives here through no fault of their own other than being unable to keep up with escalating taxes.

That is not just a human crisis. It also becomes a fiscal one.

If even a relatively small percentage of households begin delaying or defaulting on tax payments, the impact extends far beyond individual families. Since Hamden’s current budget is funded mostly by local property taxes, widespread tax strain directly threatens the Town’s ability to maintain stable revenue collection and meet its own obligations, further destabilizing an already fragile financial system.

This is why many residents feel the current trajectory is not merely difficult, but genuinely dangerous.

A Chance to Lead When It Matters Most

At the end of the day, Hamden does not need sympathy. It needs help.

I understand that stepping in to help a municipality with a long history of financial mistakes is politically complicated. But leadership is not measured by how we respond when situations are easy. It is measured by whether we are willing to act when the choices are difficult.

Governor Lamont has consistently spoken about fiscal responsibility, protecting working families, stability, and preventing communities from falling deeper into crisis. Hamden is now a real-world test of those values.

There is an opportunity here for Governor Lamont to show what actual leadership looks like by helping stabilize a community that is under enormous strain.

Because years from now, residents will remember who stepped in when families were struggling to keep their homes, when seniors were drowning under rising taxes, and when the future of the town felt increasingly unstable.

We are asking all elected officials, including Mayor Sendroff and Governor Lamont, to treat this situation with the urgency it now demands.

On behalf of both my constituents and myself, I sincerely thank you for your time and consideration. We hope to move forward toward real long-term solutions that meaningfully reduce the growing burden on Hamden residents, whether through sustained financial support, debt relief assistance, structural funding changes, or other creative solutions that help stabilize the Town before the situation worsens further.

We must ask ourselves: what is greater, the cost to step in or the cost of inaction?

With gratitude,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio, District 6, Hamden
gteodosio@hamden.com

Sign & Share the Petition

Sign here!

Sources: Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM); Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), Connecticut Data Collaborative; U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS); Municipal financial filings and state equalization data; Connecticut Data Collaborative municipal grand list database (Connecticut Data Collaborative); Connecticut State Department of Education explanation of Equalized Net Grand List (ENGL) and municipal wealth calculations (CT.gov); Public reporting summarizing Hamden’s rankings and financial advisor presentation (CT Examiner)

Image Credit: Quinn O’Neill, Quinnipiac Chronicle

Thank you for your patience as this has been worked through. I’ve been closely involved throughout the process, and the Engineering Department needed time to fully evaluate the data and options. I also want to thank everyone who came out to the April 18 meeting and shared their input.

In follow-up conversations with Director White, I’ve confirmed that the Town is also evaluating traffic impacts on surrounding streets, as well as ongoing speeding concerns on Haverford.

I will continue to keep everyone updated on next steps.

Update from Director Stephen White, Town Engineer

“Following up on the summary of our Public Outreach meeting on April 18, 2026 and the recommended steps we have from the Traffic Department.

During the meeting, we heard from dozens of residents in person. Qualitatively speaking, many of the voices in the room called for reopening High Meadow Rd. All wanted something done about the safety of the intersection. That observation generally agrees with the survey data you helped collect; over 40% ranked the closure as the least favored option. But a majority did not want to leave the intersection as is.

During the meeting, it did appear that a majority of the people in the room wanted to reopen High Meadow Rd and were quite vocal about this. I recall hearing that several residents are in favor of installing an all-way stop. Fewer residents vocally supported speed humps or speed tables.

The survey data collected showed that there was a mixture of public support, with speed tables and stop signs getting approximately the same level of support.

The Traffic Department is finalizing its intersection analysis and will include a write-up about the public meeting and survey results. The summary of the survey results you provided will be an appendix to that report.

Our recommendation will be to install an all-way stop at the intersection and open High Meadow Rd. The factors listed below are the primary drivers for this decision.

All Way Stop Sign

• All-way stop sign warrant is met under the updated MUTCD guidance adopted by the State of CT during our analysis. Accident data collected indicated there are a sufficient number of accidents that would have been prevented by an all-way stop.

• There are sight line issues from both Haverford and High Meadow Rd. These sight line issues are typically mitigated by vegetation trimming. However, these issues exist in the right of way and on private property. The Town can be proactive about the vegetation in the right of way, but can only be reactive about vegetation growing from private property and extending into the right of way. In either case, it creates a recurring operational cost that could be mitigated through an all-way stop (or speed table).

• Our data collection did not suggest a significant speed issue on Ridge Road at this intersection. That’s not to say people do not speed, just not enough to meet typical installation guidance for traffic calming measures.

Reopen High Meadow Rd

• Closing High Meadow Rd has resulted in an increase of vehicles traveling on Jesswig Drive. While our speed data collection did not show a significant speeding issue on Jesswig Drive during the closure of High Meadow Rd, there is a significant increase in the volume of vehicles.

• Jesswig Drive lacks sidewalk infrastructure and road shoulder. This road geometry does not allow pedestrians any safe pathway when facing higher volumes of vehicles.

• Prior to the road closure, Haverford has a history of speeding concerns, but has sidewalks on both sides of the street and provides a safer pedestrian experience.

• Haverford residents reported less traffic and fewer speeding issues following the closure of High Meadow Rd. However, this results in an unsafe pedestrian experience on Jesswig Drive.

Items 1 and 2 regarding High Meadow Rd are supported in the public feedback we heard from residents of Jesswig Dr. They reported a daily experience of unsafe pedestrian movements and concerns for their property that sits close to the roadway.”

— Director Stephen White | swhite@hamden.com

The next step is for the town to present this to the Traffic Authority for approval this month, and then can move forward. I will continue to keep you updated on next steps. Also, the stop sign will be installed before the roadblock is removed to maintain safety. I will continue to keep you updated on any progress.

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

Hope everyone’s week is off to a good start.

Here’s what to watch in this week’s newsletter:

• 😰 An important MFAC meeting on Wednesday, where the town reports to the state on our financial status

• 👩🏻‍⚖️ A Legislative Council budget meeting on Monday

• 🏦 An update on new state funding and what it means for Hamden

• 🛑 Decision on the Ridge/High Meadow intersection, with a four-way stop recommended by the Traffic Department

🗓️ TOWN MEETINGS THIS WEEK

For more information on agendas, location, and hybrid access (where applicable), visit the Hamden Civic Clerk website.

Monday, May 4

• ⭐️ 7 PM | Legislative Council Budget Presentation Meeting & All Committees

Tuesday, May 5

• 9 AM | Civil Service Commission Regular Meeting

• 7 PM | Farmington Canal Commission Regular Meeting

Wednesday, May 6

• ⭐️ 10 AM | Quarterly Meeting, CT Municipal Finance Advisory Commission

  • View Agenda & Back-up Documents

  • Meeting is in-person only; a YouTube recording is typically posted 24-48 hours after the meeting

• 5:30 PM | Veterans Commission Regular Meeting

• 7 PM | Arts Commission Regular Meeting

• 7 PM | Inland Wetlands Commission Regular Meeting

  • Discussing proposed development on the YMCA property on Shepard Ave

Thursday, May 7

• 6 PM | Fair Rent Commission Regular Meeting

• 6 PM | Finance Commission Regular Meeting

• 7 PM | Technology Commission Regular Meeting

• ⭐️ 7 PM | Spring Glen Civic Association Spring Meeting

  • Hosted at Spring Glen Church, across from Best Video on Whitney Ave.

  • I’ve been invited as the guest speaker to share budget updates and answer questions about town matters.

🎉 COMMUNITY EVENTS THIS WEEK

Monday, May 4

• 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Drop-In and Find Princess Leia | Whitneyville Branch Library

• 10 AM – 4:30 PM | May the Fourth Drop-In Rescue Mission | Brundage Community Branch

• 10:15 AM | Wonderful Ones Storytime (Ages 12–24 months) | Miller Memorial Library

• 11 AM – 12 PM | Kidding Around Yoga: Outer Space | Whitneyville Branch

• 3:45 PM | Sign Language for Kids | Miller Memorial Library

• 6 PM – 7:30 PM | Shelf Care Book Club | Miller Memorial Library

Tuesday, May 5

• 10:15 AM | Time for Twos Storytime | Miller Memorial Library

• 2:30 PM – 4 PM | Bobcat: Connecticut’s Secretive Wild Cat | Whitneyville Branch

Wednesday, May 6

• 1:30 PM – 3 PM | Drawing with Jan (Botanical Art) | Miller Memorial Library

• 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Drop-In Craft: Mini Pipe Cleaner Flower Bouquets | Miller Memorial Library

• 6 PM – 7 PM | Brundage Sprouts (Kids Gardening Program) | Brundage Community Branch

Thursday, May 7

• 10:45 AM | Preschool Storytime (Ages 3–5) | Miller Memorial Library

• 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Family Storytime: Unicorns | Whitneyville Branch

Friday, May 8

• 10 AM – 12 PM | Memoir Writing for Self Discovery | Miller Memorial Library

• 3 PM – 4 PM | Teen Yarn Vibes (Knitting & Crochet) | Miller Memorial Library

• 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM | French Conversation Group | Miller Memorial Library

Saturday, May 9

• 10 AM | Hamden/North Haven YMCA & New Haven YMCA Youth Center Color Run, Family Run, and 5K Trail Run | YMCA Camp Mountain Laurel, 2705 Downs Rd, Hamden, CT

• 1 PM| Matica: Family Circus | New Haven Green | 🎨💡 Part of the New Haven Arts & Ideas Festival which runs through June. Check out their calendar!

• 3 PM – 4 PM | Ranger Reads: Spring in the Air | Miller Memorial Library

ℹ️ IMPORTANT INFO

🏦 State Funding Update

Hamden is set to receive an additional $3.8 million in state funding under the adopted FY2027 state budget.

This includes:

• $2.2 million in supplemental education aid

• $1.6 million in supplemental town aid

What this means for Hamden:

This is a relatively small increase, roughly equivalent to about half a mill. It may relieve some pressure, but only marginally. The $2.2 million in education aid nearly covers the Mayor’s proposed increase for the BOE, which should help offset some strain on the town budget.

While this is better than nothing, it is unlikely to fully close existing gaps or eliminate the need for difficult budget decisions, and it is not a long-term solution. Many towns are facing similar challenges, so it’s important to continue urging our state legislators and the Governor to reevaluate how municipalities like Hamden are funded.

🚙 Ridge / High Meadow / Haverford Intersection

Following the April 18 public outreach meeting and ongoing analysis by the Traffic Department, a recommendation is taking shape for changes at the Ridge, Haverford, and High Meadow intersection. Thank you for your patience as the Engineering department worked through the details.

What we heard from residents:
Dozens of residents attended the meeting and shared feedback. While opinions varied, two themes were clear:

• Residents want action to improve safety at the intersection

• The closure of High Meadow is not widely supported

Survey data aligned with this. Over 40% ranked the closure as the least favorable option, and most residents did not want to leave the intersection as-is. There was mixed support for solutions like stop signs and speed tables, with both receiving similar levels of support.

Traffic Department recommendation:
Based on crash data, site conditions, and public feedback, the current recommendation is to:

• 🛑 Install an all-way stop at the intersection

• 🚧 Reopen High Meadow Road

Why an all-way stop:

• The intersection meets state criteria for an all-way stop based on updated guidelines

• Crash data suggests several past accidents could have been prevented with a stop-controlled intersection

• There are ongoing sightline issues due to vegetation, including on private property, which are difficult to consistently manage

• Speed data did not show a significant speeding problem that would justify measures like speed humps or tables

Why reopen High Meadow:

• Closing High Meadow has shifted traffic onto Jesswig Drive

• Jesswig lacks sidewalks and shoulders, creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians with increased traffic volume

• While Haverford saw some traffic relief, it has sidewalks and is better equipped to handle vehicle flow safely

• Residents on Jesswig reported daily safety concerns, especially for pedestrians and homes close to the road

Additional considerations:
Side street traffic patterns and speeding concerns on Haverford Road will continue to be evaluated as part of a broader, area-wide approach to traffic safety.

What’s next:
The Traffic Department is finalizing its full report, which will include the survey results and a summary of public input. It will be presented to the Traffic Commission soon for approval.

🐉 Summer Camp Registration

Registration is open for Hamden Summer Camps, running June 29 - August 7.

• Early registration began April 1

• Late registration begins June 5

• Camp starts June 29

Register online or learn more.

For more information, contact the Hamden Recreation Department:
recreation@hamden.com | 203-287-2579

👷🏼 Small Business Façade Improvement Program

Grant funding is available for small businesses, with up to $30,000 for eligible exterior improvements. Eligible improvements include signage, doors and windows, lighting, landscaping, painting, and awnings.

Applications are now being accepted.

For more information or to apply visit www.hamdenedc.com.

Email or call 203-287-7030 for more info.

📰 HAMDEN IN THE NEWS

• Here’s How Much Hamden Received From ‘Nickel-Per-Nip’ Program

• Hamden Kicks Off 240th Anniversary Celebration

• HAMDEN SCOOP: Wonder coming soon to Hamden Plaza!

• Hamden police unveils ‘Comfort & Care Room’ in honor of teen killed in 2022

• Hamden Red Light, Speed Cameras Approved By State DOT: Report

• See town-by-town list of increased state funds going to every school district and municipality in CT

Have a great week!

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

Sorry there wasn’t a full newsletter this week, but I’m tired, y’all. It’s felt like a constant uphill battle behind the scenes between slow momentum, poor communication, and a lot of confusion and inconsistency.

Trying to get basic information so we can do our jobs effectively, including from Council leadership, has felt like pulling teeth. Progress is painfully slow, with little sense of urgency, even though I know many of us care. It’s been incredibly frustrating to watch ideas get raised and then go nowhere.

Over the past several weeks, I and other Council members repeatedly asked the administration and Finance Department, both on and off the record, for a working Excel version of the budget so we could actually analyze it and ask informed questions.

We were told that wasn’t possible.

That raises a pretty fundamental question: how are we supposed to analyze or approve a budget we can’t even properly work with? So I built my own.

I spent about 18 hours putting together a working version of the budget. It is not perfect and there may be errors, but I did the best I could with the information available.

In the document, I’ve:

• Tried to distinguish between contractual and non-contractual expenses

• Made informed estimates where needed (some of this would require confirmation from department heads and administration)

Download the Budget Excel Document

Share Suggestions & Feedback

I’m sharing this because I believe the public deserves to see what we are actually working with before forming opinions or making recommendations. I know that many of you have strong backgrounds in finance and I welcome your scrutiny, feedback, and corrections.

I highly encourage you to:

• Submit suggestions via public comment to the full Council at lcpublicinput@hamden.com

• Email your input to the full Council

Setting Expectations

The situation is more constrained than many people realize. Even in an optimistic scenario, we might be able to reduce the mill rate by around one mill (~$6MM). For most residents, that translates to relatively modest savings (we are talking…$50-$100 a year, maybe), and it would come with tradeoffs that need to be clearly understood.

Also, I’m still building context on some of these line items, so please read the analysis with that in mind.

Is a 5% cut even possible?

One more important point: the Mayor asked departments to cut 5% across the board. In practice, that’s not feasible in many departments.

Some are already operating very lean. For example, Public Works has already reduced non-contractual spending by about 6% this year and is still underfunded relative to actual operating needs. If we have another winter like this past one, things could get very tight, very quickly.

Summary of Budget Findings

As a reminder, I’m not a finance professional, just a data analyst and business strategist with moderately decent Excel skills. Again, I welcome insights and suggestions, especially from those with deeper expertise.

Let’s get into it.

Overview of Revenue

Tax revenue increased 15% this year, driven by higher budget needs (raising the mill rate) and the built-in impact of year two of the revaluation phase-in. Tax revenue covers ~82% of the budget and this year’s increase is entirely funded by taxpayers, with tax revenue covering ~150% of the total increase to make up for declines in other revenue sources.

Taxes are covering the entire $24M increase, and an extra ~$11.8M on top of that.

Overview of Expenditures

Our contractual obligations are consuming most of the budget, leaving very little room to maneuver. Non-contractual spending is about $20–40M, likely closer to the lower end, but much of that is tied to essential services like gas, water, electricity, and snow removal. In reality, these are not discretionary cuts.

Note: The total mill rate shown here differs from the Mayor’s proposed 54.43 because this breakdown does not include all funding sources. The goal is to illustrate the relative scale of each department in terms of mills, using “value” for comparison.

Breakdown of Contractual Spending

The largest cost drivers are the Board of Education, medical benefits, regular salaries, pensions and retirement, and debt obligations.

Breakdown of Non-contractual Spending

Looking at non-contractual spending, the only part of the budget we can meaningfully adjust, paints a bleak picture. This is not a structurally sound budget, with some departments materially underfunded, meaning they will need to come back for additional funding when bills come due.

More than 90% of new spending is concentrated in just two areas: Finance reserves and traffic infrastructure. Everything else combined accounts for less than $300,000.

Conservative Estimate (Expected Spend vs. Prior Year Actuals)

While individual line items show both over- and under-funding, this scenario assumes the Finance allocation is fully required for reserve-related obligations. Under that assumption, non-contractual spending is modestly overfunded by $194,145. If the Finance allocation is not ultimately needed, potential savings increase to approximately $2,171,655 (about 0.5 mills).

Aggressive Estimate (Run-Rate Reality Check)

Using current year-to-date spending, I projected full-year costs by annualizing each line item based on its current pace. When compared to the Mayor’s proposed budget, this analysis indicates a potential underfunding risk of $6,023,344 if current spending trends continue. The most likely outcome falls somewhere between these two scenarios.

We could make deep cuts (like flat-funding the BOE) and still not reach a one mill reduction, saving most residents only $5–$20 a month at the expense of core services.

At best, there’s a small amount of savings on the table; at worst, we’re looking at a multi-million dollar shortfall.

So, where do we go from here?

The fixes we need are both short- and long-term, and they’re not easy.

State Support

Right now, our clearest path forward is state support, through changes to the ECS formula and potential additional funding for Hamden (news flash, we are not fairly funded compared to other towns in less distress).

Governor Lamont Establishes Commission To Reevaluate Connecticut’s Education Funding Systems, Improve Student Outcomes (4/16/26)

I’m told our state reps and the Mayor are working on it, but that alone won’t be enough. I’m putting together a data-backed case to support these efforts, and I believe we should organize a petition and other ways to engage residents. A strong, collective voice can move this forward.

We need public pressure.

Addressing Our Medical Costs

Our medical obligations are ~$60 million a year, nearly one-fifth of the entire budget. I’ve asked Council leadership multiple times for the team managing these costs to come present to the Council. I’ve been told they are coming, but it’s been months and it hasn’t happened.

I’d like to see something similar to the presentation Mr. Bernabe gave on pensions and debt. It was incredibly helpful and gave us real context to work from.

We have many retirees and spouses on lifetime plans, and while there are legal constraints, there are also creative options worth exploring to manage these costs more sustainably.

Revisiting Union Contracts

Looking ahead, one of the biggest areas we need to address is our union contracts. Benefit and retirement obligations are a significant financial burden, and we need to ensure they are sustainable over time. There are many complexities here, and I’ll share a more detailed breakdown soon. I also want to be careful not to oversimplify or create issues with how this is discussed.

The reality is that the Council has limited oversight in this area. We are not part of the negotiation process, and contracts typically come to us for approval after terms have already been set.

Board of Education & Special Education Costs

We are constantly told that rising Board of Education costs are being driven by special education, and that is true, but it is only part of the story and it deserves a more thoughtful, creative response.

Across Connecticut, districts are underfunded, and special education is not really accounted for in the ECS funding formula. That means towns like Hamden are often left covering a disproportionate share of these costs.

At the same time, there are local dynamics we need to take a hard look at. I have spent time a lot of time talking to parents of children who have been placed outside of the district and heard their concerns. So, I looked into this a bit further.

Hamden’s outplacement rate, the number of students educated outside the district, is roughly twice the state average. These placements are among the most expensive services we provide and are a major driver of costs. Special education now accounts for about 35% of total district spending, compared to about 26% statewide, with nearly $20 million going toward tuition alone. I requested a detailed breakdown of schools where these students are being placed over a month and a half ago, and to date, I have not received it.

What’s particularly concerning is that we seem to be relying heavily on outplacement while underfunding the very supports that could help keep students in our schools.

Paraeducators are a key part of that. The district budgets about $4.4M for paras, but the budget itself notes that if all positions were fully staffed, more funding would be needed. In plain terms, we are building a budget that assumes we won’t fully fund or fill these roles.

That matters because paras are often what make it possible to serve higher-needs students in-district. When we don’t have enough support, more students end up being placed out of district, which is significantly more expensive.

To put it in perspective: the entire gap in para funding is roughly equivalent to the cost of just 5 to 15 outplaced students. In other words, a relatively small number of placements can cost as much as fully funding the staff who help prevent those placements in the first place.

If we can safely and appropriately serve more students within our own schools, we may be able to improve outcomes while also reducing long-term costs.

This is an area that deserves real attention, not just as a budget issue, but as both an educational and financial strategy.

Explore Additional Revenue Sources

What would it look like to take over operations of the ice rink, and could it be run profitably? How do we bring more business into town? Are there assets we could sell or better leverage, like The Vue or the BOE building on Putnam? We also have spaces that are underutilized or could potentially be consolidated.

These are the types of ideas we need to start seriously exploring. We need to get creative. I’m not suggesting these are the right answers or even viable options, but the point is we need to start putting ideas on the table and thinking differently.

Parting Thoughts

I’ll leave you with this: these decisions are tough, and I feel that pressure every day. I’m trying to balance keeping residents in their homes with maintaining basic, no-frills services for the people already paying for them. There are no easy answers here, and I know most of us take that responsibility seriously.

Being Realistic

But we have to be honest about the difference between what we want to do and what we can do. That needs to be at the center of this conversation. When an organization can’t meet its obligations, it has to make hard choices. It has to cut back, prioritize, and, yes, make sacrifices. If we don’t, we risk pushing more families out of their homes over the next few years.

Limited Internal Capacity

If I’m being honest, I have concerns about whether we have the internal capacity to fully turn this around on our own. It may be time to consider bringing in external expertise or exploring additional state support. Too many decisions over time have been driven by short-term thinking rather than long-term strategy, and we’re seeing the consequences of that now.

So what can you do?

Stay informed. Review the budget. Understand what’s happening. Stay tuned for ways to get involved, including the petition I mentioned. And make your voice heard, not just with local officials, but with members of the General Assembly and the Governor’s office.

How to Contact State Officials (and why it matters):

If you want to weigh in on school funding or support for Hamden, here’s how to reach the people who can actually make changes:

Contact your State Legislators:
Head to the Connecticut General Assembly website and use the “Find Your Legislator” tool. It will show you your State Representative and State Senator, along with their contact information. I recommend reaching out not just to your own representatives, but to the broader General Assembly as well, since they all ultimately vote on these decisions.

Contact the Governor’s Office:
You can reach Office of Governor Ned Lamont online or by phone at (860) 566-4840.

What makes a difference:

• Volume matters. Multiple residents reaching out gets attention.

• Keep it simple and specific. Mention Hamden, school funding, and the impact on residents.

• Personal stories help. Share how this affects you or your family.

We need help, and we need it to be heard loudly and clearly.

I’m sharing this in the hope that it creates some urgency. Behind the scenes, the pace and communication challenges have made it difficult to move forward in the way this moment requires.

We need to take action and we need to take it now.

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio

Hope you’re all having a good week. I’m certainly glad that Spring has made its debut!

Below is a quick recap of last week, along with upcoming town meetings and events, community updates, survey requests, and recent news coverage.

⏮️ REWIND: LAST WEEK IN REVIEW

🌷 Spring Break Observed

No major meetings this week while the Town observed spring break.

🚧 Ridge Road Traffic Calming: Community Meeting Recap

On Saturday, I hosted a community meeting with Town Engineer Stephen White to discuss the Ridge/Haverford/High Meadow intersection and the temporary closure of High Meadow Road at Ridge.

We talked through the history of traffic issues in this area, why action is needed, and the range of potential options. We also reviewed the results of the resident survey. It was a candid, eye-opening conversation, and both Director White and I walked away with a lot of learnings.

A decision is expected soon. Any changes will take a comprehensive approach, recognizing that this intersection is part of a broader traffic network affecting nearby streets. Addressing it alone is not sufficient, and additional measures will be considered to manage traffic in surrounding areas.

Impacted residents will receive direct communication by mail, and I will continue to share updates here and on social media as more information becomes available.

🚦Whitney Avenue “Road Diet” (DOT Proposal)

Director White also briefly touched on the proposed Whitney Avenue road diet from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, including some background on how the proposal developed. A public meeting with DOT is expected in mid-May, where residents will be able to review plans and provide feedback. I will share details as soon as they are available.

Learn more about the plan here.

🗓️ TOWN MEETINGS THIS WEEK

For more information on agendas, details, and hybrid access (where applicable), visit the Hamden Civic Clerk website.

• Monday, April 20:

  • 5:30 PM: Regional Water Authority Consumer Affairs Committee (RPB) Regular Meeting, 90 Sargent Drive, New Haven

  • 7:00 PM: Historic Properties Commission Regular Meeting, Virtual (Zoom)

  • 7:00 PM: Energy Use & Climate Change Special Meeting, Hamden Government Center, 3rd Floor Conference Room, 2750 Dixwell Avenue

  • 7:30 PM: Legislative Council 2nd Regular Monthly Meeting with all Committees, Memorial Town Hall, 2372 Whitney Avenue

• Tuesday, April 21:

  • 9:00 AM: Civil Service Commission Regular Meeting, Hamden Government Center, 1st Floor Conference Room, 2750 Dixwell Avenue

  • 5:30 PM: Traffic Authority Commission, 2750 Dixwell Avenue

• Wednesday, April 22:

  • 10:00 AM: SCRCOG Board & Executive Committee Regular Meeting, 127 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor West, North Haven

• Thursday, April 23:

  • 12:30 PM: Regional Water Authority Regular Meeting with Committees, 90 Sargent Drive, New Haven

  • 6:30 PM: Newhall Foundations Repair & Former Middle School Demolition Community Meeting, Keefe Community Center (see below)

    • ‼️ Please take the Newhall Foundations Repair & Former Middle School Demolition community survey.

🗓️ UPCOMING EVENTS

📢 COMMUNITY UPDATES

🦺 Community Input Requested: High Meadow Properties

Economic Development Commissioner Petra Peter Gardella asked that I share the following survey that was created to raise alternatives and seek consensus on potential uses for two vacant properties in Hamden. Residents are encouraged to share ideas and add their own suggestions in the space provided.

Deadline: Saturday, April 25th

Please share your input on:

1. The former High Meadows School

2. The former YMCA

When you submit the form, it will not automatically collect your name or email unless you choose to provide it.

Take the survey here.

🎨 Call for Artists Hamden Art League

Visit for more info.

🔔 FRIENDLY REMINDERS

📰 HAMDEN IN THE NEWS

• Hamden Firefighters Launch T-Shirt Fundraiser To Help Family Coping With Cancer

• Hamden Police Sued Over Alleged Raid on Wrong Apartment

• Hamden Project to Bring ‘Deeply Affordable’ Housing to State Street

• Hamden Sergeant Who Filed Discrimination Claim Passed Over Again for Promotion

• Hamden schools leader says district may face ‘deeply painful cuts’ if it does not get fully funded

• Black Bear Sightings Reported In Hamden — Here’s How Many So Far In 2026

• Hamden Home Prices Are Climbing — See Where They Stand Now

• Crash Knocks Out Traffic Control Signal In Hamden: Officials

Have a great week!

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

A quick reminder for those in District 6 (or anyone who regularly travels Ridge Road) that we’re holding a community meeting this Saturday, April 18 at 10:30 AM at Best Video to discuss traffic concerns and potential solutions for the Ridge / Haverford / High Meadow intersection with Town Engineer, Director Stephen White.

This will be the final step in gathering community input before the Town moves forward with a decision. The meeting will include a presentation covering the history, traffic data, current options on the table, and resident survey results (we received over 250 responses), followed by Q&A and open discussion.

If you’re planning to attend and want to make sure your question is addressed, please submit it in advance here: https://forms.office.com/g/pfpw3cDR5f
Deadline: Friday, April 17 at 3 PM

Residents will also be able to submit written questions at the meeting. Submitting them beforehand just allows us more time to prepare. If you’ve already submitted a question through the survey, it’s been included.

Please feel free to share this with neighbors, especially those who may not be online, so everyone has a chance to participate.

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

Right now, I am in the process of building a comprehensive, fact-based presentation that will lay out our full financial picture in a way that is clear and accessible—for both residents and key decision-makers. This will take some time, so bear with me.

This will include:

• How we got here

• Where we stand today

• What the current trajectory means for residents and for our town’s solvency

• What the financial reality looks like moving forward

• Request to the State to be appropriately funded

Planned Analysis (Pending Data Access)

A key part of this effort is scenario modeling.

The goal is to show how different budget decisions would impact taxes, including how the phase-in factors into those outcomes—so we can move beyond general statements and actually understand the tradeoffs. That said, there is likely little we can do by way of cuts to make a meaningful impact, which is why I’m persuing state support.

However, I want to be transparent:

This level of analysis is not currently possible without the proper data.

We need a working budget file that allows for real modeling and scenario testing. That has been requested multiple times. Until that is provided, any analysis is limited.

That said, this is still the direction I am working toward.

Plan for Moving This Forward

Once this work is in a strong place, my plan is to move it forward in stages:

1. Share Locally

• Present to the Council

• Share with the administration

• Use it to inform better decision-making at the local level

2. Bring It to the State

• Develop a formal presentation to the State of Connecticut

• Clearly outline our financial position and structural challenges

• Show the real impact on residents and the town

I do not know what is already being worked on (if anything) at the state level. I hope it is. But I will be making them aware and asking for support.

3. Engage Residents

This cannot be solved without public awareness and involvement.

Next steps I am exploring:

• Sharing materials in a more digestible format for residents to see the full scope of our financial reality

• Organizing a coordinated effort for residents to advocate at the state level with a public petition as a piece of that effort

I will communicate clearly as these steps take shape and provide ways for residents to get involved.

Why This Matters

There is real merit to this approach. At this point, it may be one of the only meaningful ways to influence our trajectory in a significant way.

I’m sharing this because I want you to know that I am not sitting back and accepting this. There is work happening behind the scenes, and I am continuing to push for solutions.

The Reality

At the same time, I believe in being honest about what is at stake.

If we are not able to:

• Increase funding

• Address long-term cost drivers like contractual obligations and retiree benefits

• And get spending under control

The financial pressure on residents will continue to grow.

These are structural challenges. They are not easily solved, and they will not be resolved in a single budget cycle.

I am going to continue doing everything I can to pursue solutions and advocate for a path that keeps this town affordable.

But if those solutions do not materialize, some residents may be forced to make difficult financial decisions about whether they can afford to stay.

I do not say that lightly.

I say it because you deserve a clear and honest understanding of where things stand—and because I will continue to be transparent with you every step of the way.

More to come. Stay tuned.

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio

Sorry I didn’t send out a newsletter last week. I had a lot going on and needed a bit of a break. That said, I’ve also felt a bit defeated, as despite a real effort to collaborate, there are still major barriers to getting basic information and moving things forward.

TL;DR

• We still don’t have the financial data we’re legally supposed to have. Key reports are missing, incomplete, or quietly changed after being posted.

• The proposed budget will raise taxes meaningfully, and for many households, that means real monthly increases that could be destabilizing.

• We are operating without a safety net. Past budgets relied on one-time funds and surplus. That cushion is gone.

• Council is being asked to review a $300M+ budget without a usable digital file. We literally cannot run scenarios or properly analyze it.

• We are now two audits behind. There is no clear timeline, limited access to the auditor, and a concerning reliance on the Town’s former auditor to fill gaps.

• We are being asked to approve a budget without fully verified financials while simultaneously asking residents to pay over $20M more.

This process is not functioning the way it should. There are real transparency and oversight issues, and they directly impact what residents are being asked to pay.

More detail below if you want the full picture.

Ongoing Lack of Financial Transparency

The Council is still not receiving most of the financial reporting required by the Charter, and what is posted to the Town’s Finance page is inconsistent, not communicated to the Council, and at times silently changed after the fact.

Recent examples include:

• Missing February YTD Expense & Revenue Reports: A partial March report (through March 16) was posted and was presumably used to build the budget, but the February year-to-date report was never added. I flagged this on March 9 and was told February should be there. It still isn’t, nearly a month later.

• Overtime Reporting (Required by Charter): For at least the past two years, the Council has not received Finance Department overtime reports, despite them being required. I formally requested them multiple times starting March 5, and only received partial data last week. Even then, it did not include the standard reporting that departments like Police, Fire, and Public Works routinely provide.

• Missing Reconciliation Bridge: I have been requesting a reconciliation bridge since February 23 to understand how we arrived at the current projected fund balance analysis. The request has been acknowledged, but the document has still not been provided.

Yes, we now have a budget liaison and a finance director, and I’m hopeful that will improve things—some of it already has. But the reality is, this process is still fundamentally broken, and it’s a serious issue.

That said, there is no reason it should be this hard to access basic financial information we are legally entitled to review.

Real Costs, Real People

Mayor Adam Sendroff has proposed a $328.7 million town budget that would raise the property tax rate by 4.92%, from 51.88 to 54.43 mills. While some of these increases are driven by contractual obligations, it does not change what this actually means for residents. That said, I want to make sure that residents fully understand what this is going to look like in real dollars at a household level.

Using Ed Lee’s free updated tax calculator, here are just a few examples from random addresses I pulled across different parts of town:

• Spring Glen: Increases from $156 to $251 per month.

• Pine Rock Area: Increases from $126 to $222 per month.

• Newhall: Increases from $98 to $165 per month.

• Bear Path Area: Increases from $90s to $153 per month.

These are real, recurring monthly increases. For some, they may be manageable, but for others they will be destabilizing, forcing real tradeoffs and, in some cases, real decisions about whether they can afford to stay. That’s especially concerning in the context of a statewide housing shortage, where average rents in New Haven County already run about $1,750 to $2,100 for a one-bedroom and $1,950 to $2,400 for a two-bedroom, according to the New Haven Independent.

The severity of this reality for hundreds of households must be central to this conversation.

Our Fiscal Reality is Bleak

Last year, the Council approved the phase-in to help blunt the immediate impact, especially given how little notice residents had of the tax increase. To soften that hit, the town relied on available resources like fund balance and current-year cuts that could be carried forward (to be determined if those still exist).

In prior years, fund balance, external funding sources, and surplus were also used to absorb what would have otherwise been a much more severe increase.

This year, there is no cushion left to offset the impact. So what you’re seeing now is much closer to the full reality of the town’s cost structure.

Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

This also ties into the frustration many residents have about things like roads and sidewalks. Those improvements typically require capital funding, which means taking on additional debt. And we already carry a significant debt burden. So while those needs are real, funding them is not as simple as just deciding to do the work. It’s a difficult balance. This budget involves real tradeoffs, and your input matters.

The Budget Binder from 1982.

I have several issues with this budget, but one of the biggest is that the Council is being asked to analyze and make decisions without the tools to do so properly.

Right now, the only working document that we have is a 1980s-era-style budget in a large, hard-to-lug-around binder. Yes, a physical document—hole-punched and everything.

A Digital Copy of a Printed Copy of a Digital File

Now, to be fair, a “digital” version was shared publicly…but it is merely a scanned copy of another printed document (a PDF of a physical binder) that is such poor quality it’s difficult to read and completely unusable for any real analysis.

What’s most perplexing is that if this budget was clearly created using a computer, why can’t a digital file be shared?

Myself and several other Council members have repeatedly requested a working file so we can actually run scenarios, test options, and understand tradeoffs in a real way.

As of now, that still has not been provided, which is especially concerning given we are already halfway through budget season.

Coming from a corporate environment, this is truly beyond my comprehension.

What’s even more concerning is that this request is treated like an act of defiance, rather than a completely normal part of the budget process.

Missing Info, Errors, and Inconsistencies

Missing Critical Info: The document we do have also doesn’t include basic calculations like year-over-year changes by line item or department. To understand the true significance of anything, we have to manually calculate it by hand and cross-reference entirely separate documents. It’s painstaking and makes it nearly impossible to evaluate the budget as a whole or make informed recommendations. From a practical standpoint, this is not a serious way to review a budget of this size.

Errors & Inconsistencies: For example, there are lines where projected spending is already lower than what has actually been spent year-to-date. One of the more concerning ones is the Finance Department overtime line, which projects around $300,000 for the year, while Munis reports showed over $319,000 already spent as of March 16, with several months still left in the fiscal year.

Holding Out Hope: We have another budget meeting tomorrow to review the Mayor’s Office. Since materials are often provided last minute, maybe we’ll finally receive the Excel file needed to do this properly.

Let’s Talk About the Phase-in

Now here is the part about our budget that should really make you pause.

We are now in year two of the phase-in. The entire purpose of the phase-in is to gradually adjust how much residents are paying over time based on updated property values, so the impact of revaluation isn’t felt all at once. It doesn’t reduce taxes, it just spreads the change out over multiple years.

In simple terms, every year of the phase-in, many residents are already paying more based on those updated values, even if the tax rate stays exactly the same. So in year two, the town is already collecting more money from residents than it did last year.

And yet, on top of that built-in increase, the proposed budget is still raising the mill rate. That means residents are getting hit twice: once from the phase-in, and again from the mill rate increase.

Even if the phase-in were eliminated today, taxes would still be going up significantly because of rising costs.

In fact, without the phase-in, many residents would likely see even sharper increases right now, because the full impact of updated property values would hit all at once instead of being spread out over time. Even if the phase-in softens the initial jump, it does not change the underlying trajectory.

The only way to meaningfully blunt these increases is to stop spending money we don’t have and that taxpayers can’t afford. We are often told that’s not possible due to contractual obligations and inflation, and to some extent, that’s true. In any case, if we are not able to stabilize spending, residents will keep seeing increases year after year.

Over the full four-year phase-in, some households could be facing increases of hundreds of dollars per month. Again, those increases are not being caused by the phase-in itself—they are being driven by our underlying spending.

The Audit: Two Years Later…

I also have serious concerns about what is happening with the audit.

At a basic level, the process lacks clarity and transparency. The audit continues to be delayed, and we still do not have a clearly explained root cause. Communication to the Council has been inconsistent and incomplete, and there is no clear timeline or comprehensive update on where things stand. At this point, we are now two audits behind. That is a serious breakdown in basic fiscal governance.

We are being asked to build and approve a budget without fully verified financials.

And yet, at the same time, we are justifying asking residents to pay over $20 million more this year. That alone should give everyone pause, but the structure of this process raises even more questions.

Limited Access & Fragmented Communication

Right now, there is no single, reliable source for detailed, meaningful audit updates or a clear understanding of outstanding issues.

Most Council members do not have direct access to the auditor and cannot reach out to him. Instead, updates appear to be limited to a small group. The rest of the Council is left relying on secondhand, filtered information.

That is not how oversight is supposed to work, especially given that the Charter makes the full Council responsible for overseeing the audit.

Questionable Reliance on the Former Auditor

At the same time, the Town’s former auditor continues to play a central role in reconciliation and audit-related work, including acting as the primary intermediary between the Board of Education and the current auditor. This means the Council does not have direct access to this information—not even the small group that typically interfaces with the auditor.

Instead of information flowing directly, it is being routed through a third party that previously served as the Town and BOE’s auditor.

Our current auditor, CBIZ, appears focused on obtaining the information needed to complete the audit and is willing to accept it through this structure. But acceptance does not equal appropriateness from an oversight standpoint.

Contract Questions & Ongoing Involvement

Given that the contract for this work with our former auditor began in July 2025 at approximately $18,000, and considering the level of involvement since then, it is reasonable to assume those funds have likely been exhausted.

That raises an obvious question: under what arrangement is this work continuing? And more importantly, why is it being accepted?

If the Town and BOE Finance Departments are unable to provide information directly to the current auditor in a timely or complete manner, that is an issue that needs to be addressed at its source, not worked around by continuing to rely on our former auditor to fill the gap.

This concern is further heightened by the fact that the firm is currently involved in ongoing civil litigation in Connecticut’s Complex Litigation Docket, with allegations related to approximately $2.2 million in improper financial transfers. While those matters are unresolved, and the firm denies wrongdoing, it raises legitimate questions about whether continued reliance on this firm in such a central role is appropriate.

Proposed Changes to the Process

This does not have to be this complicated.

I have suggested that we implement regular, public-facing audit updates, including monthly meetings with the auditor where clear, detailed progress updates are provided to the full Council and the public. There should be a defined timeline, transparency around the details of outstanding issues, and direct access to information so that the oversight outlined in our Charter can actually occur.

Legislative Council Update

We have a budget workshop tomorrow, April 6 at 7:00 PM at Memorial Town Hall (with a virtual option). I hope to see you there!

On the agenda:

• Mayor’s Budget Presentation: The administration will present its proposed budget and priorities.

• Budget Process Going Forward: This remains unclear, which is concerning given where we are in the process.

• Audit Update: Another “update” on the audit.

I’ll keep pushing for answers. More soon.

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio

Trying a slightly different format this week. Between my full-time job and Council responsibilities, time has been tight. I usually spend around three hours on this each weekend, which just isn’t sustainable, so I’m giving myself a 30-minute limit and seeing how it goes.

Update: This newsletter took me one hour to write, but I still think that’s a win!

The Tax Calculator is LIVE

Thanks to resident Ed Lee for updating last year’s tax calculator using Mayor Sendroff’s proposed budget numbers (including the phase-in calculation). Enter your address to see the estimated monthly and annual impact on your tax bill.

Keep in mind this will change based on the final budget, but it can give you a sense of what’s at stake and how closely you may want to follow along this budget season.

Tax Calculator

Legislative Council News

THIS WEEK’S MEETING

LC Budget Workshop | Monday, March 23 | 7 PM
Memorial Town Hall, 2372 Whitney Ave. | Zoom | View the Agenda

Budget presentation from the Board of Education and finishing prior the first budget presentation’s discussion with Mayor Sendroff.

View the BOE Budget Presentation.

MEETING RECAPS

Last Wednesday, March 18, we heard from Mayor Sendroff on his proposed FY26–27 budget. Watch the full presentation and review the proposal.

On Saturday, March 21, we heard presentations from Public Works and the Police Department. A few notable takeaways:

• I asked whether we could explore ending our current waste management contract and moving to a system where residents pay directly for trash pickup. It may sound surprising, but this model could actually lower costs for residents, who are currently paying more through taxes, while also saving the Town roughly $2.5 million annually. The town of Stonington implemented a similar approach with success. I was told our current contract runs through 2029, but I feel it is something worth considering long term.

• I also asked about bulk leaf pickup, which costs about $250,000 annually, and whether there are opportunities to reduce that expense if some residents opted to handle disposal themselves. I was told that when the Town transitioned away from managing its own trash pickup, there was an agreement to allow the town to provide leaf pickup indefinitely, meaning this is not something that will change.

• We learned that much of Public Works equipment is aging and in poor condition, with limited plans for replacement due to funding constraints. There was also discussion about approving capital funding for pothole repairs, but the capital budget has not yet been fully reviewed, so more to come on that.

• The Police Department discussed overtime spending and the challenges of making reductions. They did propose some cuts, including removing a $120,000 youth services line item, but that item was added back into the Mayor’s proposed budget. There were several follow-up questions that will be reflected in the meeting minutes.

It was a long meeting, but if you want to dig into the details, you can watch the full recording here.

Town Meetings

View all town meetings, agendas, and location info here.

Hamden in the News

• Hamden, with highest debt per capita in CT, urged by adviser to seek state aid, refinancing

• Hamden Budget Plan Includes Tax Hike as Town Faces $38M Deficit

• Hamden council OKs using $100K from HUD for affordable developments, despite some detractors (🙋🏻‍♀️ I was a detractor)

• Former Bank Building To Become Coffee Shop In Hamden

I’m getting a lot of messages about lowering taxes, and I hear you. But we need to be honest about where we are. We have real obligations and debt to address, and while we’ll look for responsible cuts, they alone won’t significantly reduce the tax burden. We need broader solutions.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll share a clearer breakdown of what’s going on and what to expect. That said, our financial advisor, Barry Bernabe, recently advised that Hamden is not getting its fair share of state funding. This is a problem, but offers a potential glimmer of hope! My focus will be on pushing for fair state funding and getting residents involved in advocating for what Hamden should be receiving. More to come on that later.

Please stay engaged in whatever way you can. Even just watching makes a difference. It helps you stay informed, and it shows that residents are paying attention. We can see who’s on Zoom, how many people are watching on Facebook LIVE, and (obviously) who shows up in person. I know it’s a lot to ask, but any level of participation matters. Tomorrow’s meeting is especially important!

Hope to see you there!

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

FIRST PUBLIC HEARING & BUDGET DELIBERATIONS

Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 9 AM - 4 PM
Memorial Town Hall, 2372 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT
Join Online: Zoom | Facebook Stream
Join by Phone: (646) 558-8656

Hello neighbors,

Sorry for the delay in sending this out, I’ve been traveling for work this week.

Tomorrow marks the start of budget season, and I’m asking you to show up, if you can. We’ll be hearing presentations from Public Works and the Police Department.

The decisions that follow will have a real impact on your tax bill and on the services your family depends on. It is also important to begin facing our debt more responsibly, which means the conversations ahead won’t be easy ones.

My hope is that we can push for state-level interventions (we are NOT getting our fair share of funding, as pointed out during a recent presentation by our financial advisor, Barry Bernabe).

There’s no substitute for being in the room, hearing the facts directly, and forming your own opinion.

Paying attention is one of the most important political actions anyone can take.

Resident awareness and feedback are critical right now. We have a lot to discuss, and your voice matters in shaping where we go from here!

MEETING DETAILS

FIRST PUBLIC HEARING & BUDGET DELIBERATIONS
Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 9 AM - 4 PM

• In-person Location: Memorial Town Hall, 2372 Whitney Avenue, Hamden

• Virtual Option: Zoom link | Meeting ID: 960-3221-0583 or Stream on Facebook

• Join by Telephone: (646) 558-8656

Resources: View the Full Agenda | View the Mayor’s Proposed Budget

From the Legislative Council Facebook page:

“Hello Hamden! We wanted to take a moment to provide some answers and information on upcoming budget deliberations…

- As required by charter and our standing rules, all legislative council meetings will include a public input section. Members of the public will be allowed three (3) minutes per person to provide input on the agenda items of the meeting. These public input sessions will be limited to thirty (30) minutes at each meeting to ensure that the council has time to hear presentations, ask questions, and conduct deliberations. This includes the upcoming budget meetings on Saturday, March 21st (9am) and Monday, March 23rd (7pm).

- During the process, there will be Two (2) Public Hearings on the budget. The first Public Hearing will take place during the budget meeting set to occur on Monday, March 30th. Each Public Hearing will be Forty-Five (45) minutes in duration. Members of the community are encouraged to attend and provide input on the budget and priorities that are important for the council to consider.”

I will be 30 minutes late, due to a prior commitment. I will be signing in during my commute, so I don’t anticipate I will miss much.

Please come. Pack the house. I hope to see you there!

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

Here is this week’s update with Legislative Council news, upcoming civic meetings, and community events around Hamden. As we move closer to budget season, there are several meetings and opportunities for residents to stay informed and get involved.

Legislative Council Updates

This week the Legislative Council approved several key appointments.

Myron Hul was approved as Hamden’s Finance Director through the end of June and will serve during the upcoming budget season while the Town conducts a search for a long term director. Mr. Hul has already expressed a strong commitment to transparency and to ensuring the Council has the information we need to conduct proper financial oversight. I look forward to working with him.

We also approved Stephen Fontana as the Town’s new Economic Development Director. I was impressed by both his experience and the ideas he shared for Hamden during our recent meeting, and I look forward to seeing the work ahead.

Congratulations as well to Chief of Staff Bobbye Knoll Peterson, whose appointment was formally approved Monday. Chief of Staff Peterson has been responsive to Council members and very present over the past few months and it is clear she is committed to supporting the Town’s work.

‼️ SPECIAL MEETING: IMPORTANT, MUST-SEE PRESENTATION

Also this week, the Legislative Council held a Special Meeting that included a presentation from our financial advisor, Barry Bernabe, on Hamden’s bond rating and financial outlook. If you rewatch the meeting this week, I strongly recommend this presentation. It provides important context as we head into budget season.

Watch the presentation via the Council Facebook. The Zoom recording has not yet been uploaded to Civic Clerk. Once it is, I will share it out.

His presentation is linked below.

Town Council Debt & Credit Presentation March 2026 By Phoenix Advisors (3)

5.19MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Civic Meetings

Monday, March 16, 2026

5:30 PM | Regional Water Authority Consumer Affairs Committee (RPB)
7 PM | Historic Properties Commission
7 PM | Legislative Council Regular Meeting

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

9 AM | Civil Service Commission Regular Meeting
5:30 PM | Tree Commission Regular Meeting

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

6 PM | Fire Commission Regular Meeting
7 PM | Human Services Commission Regular Meeting
‼️ 7:30 PM | Mayor Sendroff’s Budget Presentation to the Hamden Legislative Council

Thursday, March 19, 2026

7 PM | Zoning Board of Appeals Regular Meeting

Saturday, March 21, 2026

‼️ 9 AM | First Saturday Public Hearing & Budget Deliberations

Visit Civic Clerk for agendas, location information, and online participation options.

Community Meetings & Events

🌱 DTC Event: Environmental Rights

Tuesday, March 17 | 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Thornton Wilder Auditorium, 2901 Dixwell Ave, Hamden

The Hamden Democratic Town Committee will host a presentation by Dr. Kimberly Stoner on the proposed Connecticut Environmental Rights Amendment currently under consideration in the state legislature. The talk will include an overview of the proposal followed by a Q&A.

Learn more and view the livestream on the Hamden Democrats Facebook page.

🛠️ Community Development Block Grant Meeting

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Keefe Community Center, 11 Pine St., Hamden

Residents are invited to review and provide feedback on the FY 2026–2027 Draft Annual Action Plan for the Town’s Community Development Block Grant program. The meeting will provide an overview of the program and the planning process, and residents will have the opportunity to provide comments.

With the Draft plan here. Submit feedback or comments to cdbg@hamden.com.

🎶 Groovin’ in the Glen

Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 5:30 - 8 PM
Best Video Film & Cultural Center

Join the community for an evening of live music, BBQ, and good company. The event will also include opportunities to support local organizations working to protect immigrant families and strengthen community safety.

☀️ Hamden Summer Kick-Off Night

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Thornton Wilder Hall, 2901 Dixwell Ave., Hamden

A free evening of family fun highlighting summer programs available throughout Hamden. Meet staff, visit program tables, and learn about camps, enrichment programs, youth sports, and Hamden Library activities.

🪷 Get Well Down Dixwell – A Week of Wellness

A week of community wellness programming hosted by the Town of Hamden.

April 6 | Trek the Trail with the Mayor | 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Farmington Canal Trail (leaving from Treadwell)

April 7 | Know Your Numbers & Healthy Eating | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Hamden Senior Center

April 8 | Find Your Calm: Reset for Mind and Body | 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Thornton Wilder Hall

April 9 | Youth Expression: Art, Spoken Word & Wellness | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Keefe Community Center

April 11 | Community Health Fair | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Keefe Community Center

For more information email culturalaffairs@hamden.com or call (203) 672-2070.

🚦 Traffic Safety Community Meeting

Ridge Rd / Haverford St / High Meadow Rd Intersection

Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 10:30 AM
Best Video Film & Cultural Center, 1842 Whitney Ave., Hamden

I will be hosting a community meeting with Town Engineer Stephen White, to discuss potential traffic safety solutions for the intersection of Ridge Road, Haverford Street, and High Meadow Road. Residents will review possible options, hear results from the resident survey, and have the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback directly with the Town’s Engineering Department as they consider next steps. This meeting represents the final step in gathering community input before the Town moves forward with a decision.

✅ Resident Survey (deadline April 11):
https://forms.office.com/g/DXi2vM8xH3

🗳️ Paper surveys and submission boxes available starting on Tuesday, March 17 at:
• Best Video Film & Cultural Center (front desk)
• Hamden Traffic & Engineering Department, 2750 Dixwell Ave.

Share the Patch listing with your neighbors or RSVP to the Facebook event.

🪪 Library Card Design Contest

Submissions Due: April 16, 2026

Design the next Hamden library card. The contest is open to children, teens, and adults. Selected designs may be featured on official Hamden Library cards.

Visit the Hamden Library website for submission guidelines and contest details.

🌎 Hamden Earth Day Celebration

Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Town Center Park, 2761 Dixwell Ave., Hamden

Celebrate Earth Day with educational activities, exhibitors, and interactive environmental programming for all ages.

Important Info

🏛️ Join a Board or Commission

Many Hamden Boards and Commissions currently have openings and are a great way to get involved in the community. Most require only a small time commitment and offer an opportunity to learn more about local government and contribute your voice.

💼 Town of Hamden Employment Opportunity

Human Resource Officer
Salary Range: $80,000 – $85,000 (commensurate with experience)

Responsibilities include recruitment and staffing, new employee orientation, identifying training opportunities, advising departments, and administering personnel policies.

☔️ Stormwater Management Plan — Weigh in!

The Town of Hamden’s 2025 Stormwater Management Plan (MS4 Annual Report) is available for public review and comment. Comments are open through April 12, 2026 and can be submitted to engineering@hamden.com.

⛺️ Summer Camp Early Registration — April 1:

Hamden Summer Camps will run from June 29 through August 7, 2026. Early registration opens April 1, with late registration beginning June 5. Registration is available online at hamdenct.myrec.com. For more information, contact the Hamden Recreation Department at recreation@hamden.com or 203-287-2579, or visit hamden.com/summercamp.

Hamden in the News

• Review Finds Hamden Among State’s Most Indebted, Tax-Burdened Towns

• Hamden Democrats Caucus for Local Party Seats

• Former Bank Building To Become Coffee Shop In Hamden

• State Funding Approved For 2 Projects In Hamden

• Hamden Awarded State Grant For Tree Project

• Hamden traffic light at Dixwell Avenue and Route 15 ramps disabled, police say

• Hamden’s mayor finally appoints interim finance director, but council delays vote to approve

Everyone stay safe and have a great week!

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

Event Flyers

Sorry for the delay, I had guests this weekend. Here is a run down of everything you need to stay engaged in Hamden civic life this week.

Civic Meetings

Monday, March 9, 2026

5 PM | Regional Water Authority Finance Committee (RPB)
5:30 PM | Traffic Authority Commission
7 PM | Energy Use & Climate Change Commission
7 PM | Legislative Council — Order of Committees: Administration and Settlement Committee; Public Works, Facilities & Sustainability Committee; Engineering, Development & Municipal Planning Committee; Human Services Committee; Finance Committee; Public Safety Committee; Full Council Business

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

4 PM | Hamden Plains Cemetery Committee
5:30 PM | Economic Development Commission
6 PM | Library Board
7 PM | Board of Education: ‼️Final Budget Meeting — The Board will vote on the proposed 2026–27 budget and First Student has been invited to address the increase in busing costs.
7 PM | Board of Ethics
7 PM | Parks & Recreation Commission
7 PM | Planning & Zoning Commission

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

10 AM | Greater New Haven Transit District Executive Meeting
12 PM | SCRCOG Transportation Committee
3 PM | Retirement Board
5:30 PM | Police Commission
5:30 PM | Regional Water Authority Land Use Committee (RPB)
6 PM | Greater New Haven Water Pollution Control Authority
6:30 PM | Community Development Advisory Commission
7 PM | Legislative Council Special Meeting — ‼️ Presentation by the Town’s financial adviser, Barry Bernabe, on a debt restructuring update.

Thursday, March 12, 2026

12 PM | Hamden Housing Authority
5:15 PM | SCRCOG Regional Planning Commission
7 PM | Human Rights & Relations Commission

Visit Civic Clerk for agendas, location information, and online participation options.

Community Meetings & Events

DTC Meeting — Swearing In & Voting On Officers & District Chairs

Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 7 PM | Miller Memorial Library

At this meeting, members will be sworn in for the start of the new HDTC term. The committee will vote on a proposed rules change to add the following positions: Voter Enrollment Coordinator, Events Coordinator, Fundraising Coordinator, Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator, and Media Coordinator. The HDTC will also elect its officers and district chairs. All Hamden Democrats are welcome to attend.

Housing Community Conversation Event

Thursday, March 12th from 5:30 PM | Spring Glen Church located at 1825 Whitney Ave | Hosted by CONECT Hamden Affordable Housing Team and Partnership for Strong Communities | Registration Required

Emma! A Pop Musical — Hamden High School

March 12-15, 2026, 7 PM | Hamden High School | Emma! A Pop Musical

Important Info

Stormwater Management Plan — Weigh in!

The Town of Hamden’s 2025 Stormwater Management Plan (MS4 Annual Report) is available for public review and comment. Comments are open through April 12, 2026 and can be submitted to engineering@hamden.com.

Summer Camp Early Registration — April 1:

Hamden Summer Camps will run from June 29 through August 7, 2026. Early registration opens April 1, with late registration beginning June 5. Registration is available online at hamdenct.myrec.com. For more information, contact the Hamden Recreation Department at recreation@hamden.com or 203-287-2579, or visit hamden.com/summercamp.

Hamden in the News

I share whatever news coverage I come across related to Hamden each week (aside from sports). If I miss a story or you think something should be included, feel free to send it my way.

• Hamden Awarded State Grant For Tree Project (Patch)

• Hamden Deputy Chief’s Career Marked by Awards, Suspensions, New Allegations (CT Examiner)

• Hamden Finance Director Presses to Speak, as Town Faces Budgetary Mess (CT Examiner)

• Scottish Country Dancing in Hamden, Hartford, Middletown and Mystic (CT Examiner)

• Hamden advances high school tennis court resurfacing, without pickleball stripes (New Haven Register)

• Hamden police chief says new SUV was not purchased with taxpayer dollars (New Haven Register)

• Hamden teen scores two BroadwayWorld awards for her work on music for a play (New Haven Register)

• Hamden school superintendent proposes $107.49M budget: ‘What we need’ (New Haven Register)

Quick shout out to the CT Examiner for continuing to cover important topics in Hamden. This isn’t sponsored, I just genuinely appreciate independent media, especially in today’s corporate news environment. I’m not a journalist, but I do know how much time, effort, and frankly courage it takes to write things that hold institutions accountable and aren’t shaped by larger corporate interests. That kind of reporting only exists when readers support it. If you care about what’s happening locally, it’s worth considering a subscription.

I’ve also included a few other nonprofit and specialized Connecticut news outlets below that are doing good work and are worth supporting, as well. Help keep accountability at the forefront of civic engagement and support independent journalism, if you can!

• CT Examiner

• CT Mirror

• New Haven Independent

• Connecticut Public (WNPR/CPTV)

• CTNewsJunkie

Stay safe and have a great week!

Warmly,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

Hope everyone is doing well! In this week’s newsletter, I cover some important updates and upcoming events.

Quick Skim

• $9M Finance Discussion: What happened at the February 20 meeting, why the year-end numbers changed, and what I’m requesting to ensure full transparency around the $13.26M close-out figure.

• CDBG Recap: Summary of the February 25 Community Development Block Grant meeting, clarification on the date confusion, and a potential additional public session if there is interest.

• Traffic Updates – District 6: Santa Fe Avenue speed study underway and next steps for Ridge Road / High Meadow intersection community input.

• Civic Meetings This Week: Full list of town boards and commissions meeting this week.

• Upcoming Events: District 1 DTC Primary, housing conversation, environmental rights discussion, and more.

• Hamden in the News: Recent media coverage relevant to our community.

Important Updates

💰 Clarifying the $9M Discussion from February 20

The Underlying Confusion: At the Legislative Council Special Finance Committee meeting on February 20, 2026, there was a confusing exchange regarding approximately $9 million in FY24-25 operating savings.

Historical Context: For context, on May 31, 2025, the Legislative Council voted to incorporate roughly $9 million in unspent FY24-25 operating savings into the FY25-26 budget framework. Year-end reports on the Hamden Finance site and those sent to MFAC in September showed a remaining balance of approximately $9.67 million. This information is what prompted me to request the meeting in the first place, because it was not reflected in the Deputy Finance Director’s fund balance analysis.

Post-meeting Email: After that meeting, I emailed Mr. Galarza on February 23 to acknowledge that I may have misunderstood the presentation and to ask whether the approximately $13 million estimated need to close out FY24-25 was intended to represent a net figure. In other words, I asked whether the $9 million had already been accounted for in the calculation but simply was not shown explicitly on the sheet.

Discovery of New Reports: On February 25, while reviewing the year-end reports again in order to respond to his reply stating that he was unsure which $9 million I was referring to, I noticed something that raised serious concern. Updated FY24-25 reports had been generated and uploaded to the town website on February 24, 2026, and the totals were materially different from the versions previously referenced. The updated reports reflect a remaining balance closer to $1.03 million and include significant appropriated fund balance entries. That shift is substantial. I only noticed the updated run date because I was trying to figure out why the numbers were different, and I saw that the timestamp in the lower left corner of the last page had changed. Based on those updated figures, Finance’s position is that the town does not, and never did, have the $9 million available, which is why it was not reflected in the analysis.

Council was not notified that revised reports had replaced prior versions, even though they were uploaded under the same report headings on the website.

Concerns Regarding Fiscal Transparency: The issue is no longer simply whether the $9 million exists. The more serious concern is that we moved from one reported position to another without a clear reconciliation explaining the change, and we still do not have a detailed breakdown of why approximately $13 million was needed to close out the fiscal year, how that figure was calculated, or how the other numbers and projections in the fund balance analysis were derived. That level of context is fundamental for a fiscal oversight body to properly perform its responsibilities.

Outstanding Request: I have asked for what is called a reconciliation bridge. In simple terms, that means I am asking for a clear explanation, step by step, showing how we moved from last year’s ending balance to the $13.26 million “estimated need to close out” and then to the projected fund balance shown in the analysis.

Right now, we have summary numbers on a sheet, including the $13.26 million close-out figure and a projected fund balance, but we do not have the detailed explanation showing how one number leads to the next. I have requested that breakdown three times. I first asked Finance directly, twice, and have now been instructed to direct the request to the Mayor’s office.

Moving Forward: The Council cannot govern from isolated figures. We cannot blindly accept numbers on a page without documentation that explains how they were derived. We need to understand why money is needed, how liabilities are calculated, and what adjustments were made to get from one set of totals to another.

Coming Together for the Town: Given the town’s financial condition, alignment and transparency between the Council, Finance, and the administration are essential. My hope is that we can move past whatever is causing these communication gaps and work together to ensure we are operating from the same information. I will provide updates as additional documentation is shared.

🏛️ CDBG Recap: Possible Additional Meeting

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public meeting was held on February 25, and there was some confusion due to an earlier flyer that listed the meeting as February 26. During the meeting, Director Carol Hazen acknowledged the advertising issue and stated that the department is open to holding an additional session to walk through the options and answer questions from the community.

CDBG is a federal program administered through HUD that provides annual funding to municipalities like Hamden. The funds must primarily benefit low- and moderate-income residents and can be used for:

• Housing rehabilitation and accessibility improvements

• Public facility improvements

• Infrastructure upgrades in eligible areas

• Community services and nonprofit programs

• Economic development initiatives

Each year, the town develops a spending plan for how these funds will be allocated. Community input is an important part of that process, which is why participation in these meetings matters.

If you were unable to attend and would be interested in another meeting, please take the poll below. I will share the results directly with Director Hazen.

🚙 Traffic Calming - District 6

🏁 Santa Fe Avenue Speed Study

The traffic counters were installed on February 19. These radar devices measure vehicle volume and speed so we can understand how many cars are traveling through the area and how fast they are going.

At least one week of data will be collected. If results appear abnormal or weather impacts traffic patterns, the collection period may be extended to ensure accuracy.

The data will be used to determine whether any traffic mitigation measures are warranted and, if so, what options make the most sense. I will keep everyone up to date as things move forward.

🛑 Ridge Road / High Meadow / Haverford Intersection

While I fielded the survey in January, the Spring Glen Civic Association recently asked if they could share it. I am leaving it open for one more week to capture any additional feedback.

I have already sent a preliminary report to Director Stephen White. Once I receive any remaining input from SGCA, I will compile the final results and share them publicly.

Director White and I will then schedule a community meeting to review the data, discuss options, and gather additional public input. Stay tuned for details.

👨🏻‍⚖️ Civic Meetings This Week

• Legislative Council Meeting | Monday, March 2 | 7 PM

• Civil Service Commission Regular Meeting | Tuesday, March 3 | 9 AM

• Farmington Canal Commission Regular Meeting | Tuesday, March 3 | 7 PM

• Veterans Commission Regular Meeting | Wednesday, March 4 | 5:30 PM

• Inland Wetlands Commission Regular Meeting | Wednesday, March 4 | 7 PM

• Arts Commission Regular Meeting | Wednesday, March 4 | 7 PM

• Fair Rent Commission Regular Meeting | Thursday, March 5 | 6 PM

• Finance Commission Regular Meeting | Thursday, March 5 | 6 PM

• Technology Commission Regular Meeting | Thursday, March 5 | 7 PM

View all meeting agendas with location info here.

🗓️ Upcoming Events

🗳️ District 1 DTC Primary

There will be a Democratic primary this Tuesday, March 3 from 6 AM-8 PM at the Miller Memorial Library for the First District Democratic Town Committee (DTC) seats. If you are a registered Democrat in the First District, you are eligible to vote in this primary. Voters will see two slates on the ballot. More info in the images below.

🇺🇸 Community Meeting with State Senator Jorge Cabrera

Saturday, March 7 | 12 PM | Ibiza Restaurant, 1832 Dixwell Ave, Hamden

Join State Senator Jorge Cabrera for an important community conversation. Senator Cabrera will provide legislative updates and discuss how current policies may impact Hamden residents. This is an opportunity to share concerns, ask questions, and stay informed about decisions affecting our neighborhoods. Please register here.

🏘️ Community Conversation on Housing

Thursday, March 12 | 5:30 PM–7 PM | Spring Glen Church, 1825 Whitney Ave

Hosted by CONECT Hamden Affordable Housing Team and Partnership for Strong Communities. Dinner provided and $50 gift for participants. RSVP here or contact Kayla Giordano at kayla@pschousing.org.

🌱 How We Can Put Powerful Environmental Rights in the CT Constitution

Tuesday, March 17 | 7 PM–8:30 PM | Thornton Wilder Auditorium, 2901 Dixwell Ave

Presented by Dr. Kimberly Stoner, Ph.D. Hosted by the Hamden Democratic Town Committee. Live streamed and recorded on Facebook at facebook.com/HamdenDems. Donations requested for the Keefe Community Center Food Bank.

Read more here: How We Can Put Powerful Environmental Rights in Connecticut’s Constitution

📰 Hamden in the News

• Woman charged with five counts of animal cruelty after investigation in Hamden

❄️ Thank You to Public Works

Last but not least, thank you to our incredible Public Works team. That storm was brutal. The snow was heavy, trucks were getting stuck and taking a beating, and crews were out there working double and triple shifts to keep roads open.

After speaking directly with Director Colello, I can say they were actively managing issues in real time and doing everything they could under tough conditions. When storms hit like that, it is not perfect, but the effort was absolutely there. I am grateful to this dedicated team!

Everyone stay warm and hope to see you out in the community soon!

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio
gteodosio@hamden.com

I wanted to share a quick update after speaking directly with Director of Public Works Joe Colello just now.

First, I want to say thank you to Joe and the entire Public Works team. They are working incredibly hard under very tough conditions, and the level of effort right now really cannot be overstated. Crews are running double and even triple shifts, many working 36 to 48 hours straight. Supervisors, and even Joe himself, are getting behind the wheel of trucks to help keep operations moving. They are exhausted but continuing to push forward for our community.

The biggest challenge is the snow itself. This storm brought extremely heavy, wet snow that is beating up the equipment. About half of the fleet has been getting stuck throughout the day and night. When trucks are carrying up to 10 tons of sand and salt, even turning a corner can cause them to get stuck. While there have not been major catastrophic breakdowns, crews are dealing with constant smaller mechanical issues, which slows everything down.

Right now, the focus has been on opening roads townwide. Most roads are technically open, but many remain sloppy because the snow is so dense that it packs down quickly and cannot be pushed very far.

Today’s goal is to continue opening side streets and improving access where roads are still tight, then to go through these areas again to clean them up. The next phase, once conditions allow, will be snow removal, where crews haul snow away to create more space.

Unfortunately, another round of snow is expected between roughly 4 and 7 AM tomorrow, which will make the work even more challenging.

I understand the concerns shared by residents. Safety and access to streets is imperative. That said, our crews are doing their best to improve the roads under the circumstances. We appreciate all their efforts! I’ll keep you informed if there are any other major updates.

Thank you,

Councilwoman Grace Teodosio