Selectmen approve flag policy overhaul and revised crane schedule
Board of Selectmen · Meeting of July 23, 2026
Greenwich Selectmen approve flag policy rewrite, revised tower crane schedule and historic study of Riverside Avenue house. The board, First Selectman Fred Camillo and Selectwomen Lauren Rabin and Rachel Khanna, voted 3-0 on four second-read items, including shifting a Benedict Place municipal lot closure for a tower crane from a weekend to Oct. 5-7 and appointing the Historic District Commission to study whether the 186-year-old Hendrie House at 299 Riverside Avenue merits local historic designation. Khanna warned Eversource is seeking a rate hike "of nearly $700 million" that could raise average bills about 18 percent, with a PURA decision due July 29.
Camillo said utility capacity limits have already cost one family $70,000 in unplanned sewer work and pledged a press conference urging the state to "immediately halt all of these zoning mandates from Hartford." Capt. Patrick Smyth of the Greenwich Police Department introduced a first-read ordinance allowing seizure of vehicles used in illegal street takeovers, calling it a deterrent since "a lot of times it's a ticket that they don't care."
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,938 words
Source: the Board of Selectmen meeting of July 23, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
The Full Article
Approval of Minutes
The board opened by unanimously approving the minutes of both the regular and special Board of Selectmen meetings held July 9, 2026, on motions by Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, seconded by Selectwoman Rachel Khanna. Neither vote drew discussion.
First Selectman's Updates: 2 Greenwich Avenue and the Zoning Mandate Fight
Background and stakes: The proposed teardown and redevelopment of 2 Greenwich Avenue has become a flashpoint after a Planning and Zoning Commission pre-application hearing drew significant public testimony. Camillo has framed the building's fate as connected to a broader dispute with the state over housing and zoning mandates he argues Greenwich's infrastructure cannot support.
The question before the body: This was an informational update, not a vote, but it set the tone for much of the meeting's substantive discussion.
Substantive content: Camillo said he has spoken with Governor Ned Lamont's office, Attorney General William Tong and state Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Dan O'Keefe, and has sent letters to Tong and to Todd Levine, an architectural historian at the State Historic Office's Preservation Office, asking the state to intervene to help save the building. He recalled growing up hearing about the demolition of the Pickwick Arms Hotel, where his grandfather once worked as a bellhop, and said 2 Greenwich Avenue carries similar irreplaceable history. He said he would hold a press conference the following day, July 24, "to call on the state legislature and the governor to immediately halt all of these zoning mandates from Hartford."
Camillo tied that fight to a utility capacity problem he said he discovered after two neighboring families told him their gas provider could not serve their renovated, larger homes. He said he convened a meeting with the utility, which acknowledged a capacity issue and told him no other Connecticut municipality had raised the concern. He said the town instructed department heads to check utility capacity before approving building applications, and that two utilities have committed to a public forum in early September to explain the situation to residents. He connected the capacity issue to Greenwich Communities' affordable-housing pipeline, including 52 planned units at McKinney Terrace and additional units planned for Armstrong Court, saying "I don't even know if we can do that now."
The deliberation: Camillo's remarks ran uninterrupted for several minutes, framing the issue as a statewide failure of coordination between the legislature, municipalities and utilities. He argued the state should have consulted local sewer departments and utilities before imposing mandates. "It's a waste of time if you require mandates, these, all these mandates to be adhered to and then you find out you can't do it," he said. He also credited the Department of Public Works, Parks and Recreation and first responders, including Emergency Management Director Joe Laucella, for the town's response to a storm that brought a brief tornado touchdown in Glenville the prior week.
Camillo also announced the appointment of Frederick Lee as Greenwich's representative to a new regional water authority citizen board, said the Cultural Arts Advisory Committee is continuing to evaluate sites for a planned statue of President George H.W. Bush, and previewed a string of upcoming civic events: an Aug. 6 swearing-in ceremony for a new firefighter, a July 29 Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary proclamation at Arch Street and Greenwich Avenue, and a Sunday concert at Binney Park where he will serve as guest conductor.
Procedural steps and outcome: No vote was taken; this was a first selectman's report.
Implications and what is next: Camillo's press conference and the planned September utility forum are the next concrete steps. Residents planning renovations or new construction may face utility-capacity reviews before permits are approved.
Selectmen's Updates: Committees, Vacancies and the Eversource Rate Case
Background and stakes: Both selectwomen used their time to report on committee work and flag open volunteer seats, while Khanna raised a live rate case before state utility regulators with direct financial consequences for residents.
The question before the body: Informational updates; no board action was required.
Substantive content: Rabin reported the town has received 15 applications for the new GHS Natatorium, Tennis Court and Access Roadway Building Committee, with five interviews scheduled that day and a goal of sending committee nominees to the Representative Town Meeting for approval in September. She also reported on a Sustainability Committee retreat she and Khanna attended, describing an "overdevelopment" tension between green-space goals and mandate-driven density. Khanna listed current committee vacancies — two on the Commission on Aging and one on the Energy Management and Advisory Committee (EMAC) — and detailed a slate of forest-themed community events, including a July 27 Environmental Book Club discussion of "How to Love a Forest" by Ethan Tapper at Perrot Library, and an August lecture and forest walk led by Dr. Neil Peterson on old-growth forests.
Khanna reported touring the Grass Island wastewater treatment plant with staff members Rich Feminella and Alyssa Beck, describing an activated-sludge process capable of handling about 12.5 million gallons of waste per day against a current flow of 7 million to 8 million gallons. She also flagged that Eversource is seeking a rate increase of nearly $700 million, which she said could raise the average residential customer's bill by about 18 percent. "You may have also read that Eversource is seeking a rate hike increase of nearly $700 million," Khanna said, urging residents to email PURA's executive secretary referencing docket number 26-05-10 before the agency's scheduled July 29 decision.
Rabin and Khanna both discussed the town's pursuit of Sustainable CT gold certification, following a 2024 silver certification; Rabin said the town previously balked at a required "town-wide equity statement" as "over the top" but would revisit it. Rabin also connected infrastructure strain to specific projects, citing a cistern installed at Central Middle School because of insufficient water pressure for firefighting, and a resident who halted a home renovation after being told sewer pipe lining would cost an additional $70,000.
The deliberation: Camillo, Rabin and Khanna built on each other's infrastructure concerns rather than disagreeing; the exchange functioned as a shared warning to residents and the state rather than a debate.
Procedural steps and outcome: No votes were taken.
Implications and what is next: The PURA decision on the Eversource rate request was expected July 29. The building committee nomination process continues toward RTM consideration in September.
Old Business: St. Roch's Feast Road Closure (Second Read)
Background and stakes: The board had already heard a first read of this annual request at its July 9 meeting, when the church's paperwork was still in process.
The question before the body: Whether to approve a temporary closure of St. Roch's Avenue for the St. Roch's Feast.
Substantive content: Frank Cortese, a member of the church's feast committee, told the board via Zoom that organizers were "almost at the finish line" on remaining permits and insurance documentation for the Aug. 12-15 event, which the board and Cortese both described as a Greenwich tradition of more than a century.
The deliberation: Khanna asked Cortese to confirm that all approvals had been finalized. Camillo said the board does not typically condition its own approval on completion of every other permit, noting the church was "99 percent of the way there." Rabin said she had no concerns.
Procedural steps and outcome: Rabin moved to approve the road closure from Aug. 12 to Aug. 15, 2026; Khanna seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 3-0.
Implications and what is next: The feast proceeds as planned; no further board action is required.
Old Business: Amendment to the Town of Greenwich Flag Policy (Second Read)
Background and stakes: Khanna had introduced the amendment at an earlier meeting after fielding a growing number of flag-raising requests since taking office, and deferred the second read from July 9 to consult further with Assistant Town Attorney Laura McGeachy.
The question before the body: Whether to adopt revisions to the town's flag display policy.
Substantive content: Khanna said the revisions do not preclude residents from requesting flag raisings but instead codify the process and require demonstrated community support before requests are considered. She clarified the rationale for designating American Legion Post 29 — chartered in Greenwich in 1920, part of the nation's largest veteran service organization, chartered by Congress in 1919 — as the default organizer of military and veteran flag raisings. A new provision added since the first read requires the first selectman to report to the full board if another organization is designated for such a raising instead. The policy also specifies who supplies each flag and its care, custody and control, and reiterates that flag displays remain government speech under the board's control rather than a public forum.
The deliberation: Camillo called the changes "not a major overhaul" but a useful clarification, noting one addition requires a requesting resident to gather five other residents' signatures. Neither Rabin nor Camillo raised objections.
Procedural steps and outcome: Rabin moved to approve the flag policy amendment; Khanna seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 3-0.
Implications and what is next: The revised policy takes effect immediately and governs future flag-raising requests, including a scheduled Aug. 7 Ecuadorian Independence Day flag raising.
Old Business: Tower Crane Construction Variance at 19 Benedict Place (Second Read)
Background and stakes: A.P. Construction Company needs a tower crane to support an apartment project at 19 Benedict Place. At the July 9 first read, Rabin suggested avoiding a weekend closure of the Benedict South municipal lot because of Greenwich Avenue shopping traffic and nearby church services.
The question before the body: Whether to approve a construction hours variance and municipal parking lot closure to erect the crane.
Substantive content: Peter Radman of A.P. Construction presented a new "Schedule C" option, shifting the closure from the original Oct. 3-4 weekend to Oct. 5-7, a Monday-through-Wednesday window, in response to the board's earlier feedback. The closure affects the 78-space Benedict South lot; the company is separately negotiating with 19 West Elm Street Holdings LLC for use of a private lot during the closure, and coordinating with St. Mary's Church on parking impacts.
The deliberation: Rabin said the weekday schedule was her preference; Camillo agreed it would likely cause less disruption and said he had "absolutely no problem with that." Neither selectwoman raised further concerns, and Camillo noted no members of the public had contacted the office about the change.
Procedural steps and outcome: Rabin moved to approve the construction hours variance and parking lot use for Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, through Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, correcting an initial misstatement of the date; Khanna seconded. The motion carried unanimously, 3-0.
Implications and what is next: The Benedict South lot will close for three weekdays in early October rather than a weekend.
Old Business: Historic Study Committee for 299 Riverside Avenue (Second Read)
Background and stakes: Historic Properties of Greenwich, whose executive director Jackie Wetenhall was absent from this meeting, is seeking local historic designation for the Captain Charles Hendrie House, a Greek Revival structure built around 1840 that the organization's submission calls one of the town's earliest examples of the style.
The question before the body: Whether to appoint the Historic District Commission as a study committee to formally investigate the designation.
Substantive content: The property, at 0.67 acres on Riverside Avenue, once anchored an 80-acre parcel that was split by a rail line built in 1848; a town map from 1890 lists the parcel under owner Joshua Hendrie. HDC representative Anne Young appeared via Zoom to answer questions if needed but had none raised to her.
The deliberation: Camillo said preservation initiatives are broadly popular in town. Peter Alexander, a former HDC chairman and Greenwich resident, spoke in support, citing the neighborhood's history in Chickahominy and joking that his endorsement might jinx the outcome.
Procedural steps and outcome: Rabin moved to approve the Historic District Commission's appointment as study committee for 299 Riverside Avenue; the motion was seconded by Khanna, according to the meeting audio, and carried unanimously, 3-0. (The draft minutes list Rabin as both mover and seconder, an apparent clerical error.)
Implications and what is next: The Historic District Commission will now formally study whether the Hendrie House should be designated a local historic property, a process that will return to the board with findings.
New Business: Vehicle Use and Street Takeover Ordinance (First Read)
Background and stakes: The Connecticut legislature passed Public Act 25-80 in 2025, giving municipalities new authority to regulate off-road recreational vehicles and to address coordinated "street takeover" incidents. Greenwich has not experienced such incidents but is drafting an ordinance preemptively.
The question before the body: Whether to advance a proposed town ordinance authorizing enforcement against illegal recreational-vehicle use and street or parking-lot takeovers.
Substantive content: Capt. Patrick Smyth of the Greenwich Police Department, presenting in place of the absent Deputy Chief Mark Zuccerella, said the ordinance targets two categories of unlawful activity: unauthorized use of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and mini-motorcycles on public property, and coordinated street or parking-lot takeovers tied to illegal drag racing or stunt driving. Under the draft ordinance, penalties escalate from $500 for a first offense of unauthorized vehicle use to $1,500 for a third or subsequent offense, with seizure and forfeiture of the vehicle; street-takeover penalties follow the same fine structure with vehicle impoundment until fines are paid. Vehicles unclaimed or unpaid for after specified periods can be sold at public auction or destroyed, with proceeds returned to the town's general fund.
The deliberation: Camillo called the ordinance a proactive step even though Greenwich has not seen such incidents, saying "it's good to have something on the books here for us to be able to respond right away." Rabin asked what neighboring New York communities, particularly Port Chester, are doing, and Smyth said the ability to seize and destroy or sell vehicles serves as a stronger deterrent than a citation: "A lot of times it's a ticket that they don't care." Rabin also raised concerns about electric bikes gathering in underground parking areas, citing the CVS lot on West Putnam Avenue; Smyth said existing state law already restricts electric bikes that functionally cross into motorcycle classification, and that police can respond to violations under current law.
Procedural steps and outcome: Because the item was not time-sensitive, the board held it for a second read rather than voting, to allow public comment.
Implications and what is next: The ordinance is expected to return for a vote at a future meeting once the public has had an opportunity to weigh in.
Appointments/Nominations
No appointments or nominations were made at this meeting.
Adjournment
The board adjourned at 11:15 a.m. on a motion by Rabin, seconded by Khanna, approved unanimously.
First Selectman Fred Camillo — present, presiding. Selectwoman Lauren Rabin — present. Selectwoman Rachel Khanna — present. Ken Borsuk, Board of Selectmen Recording Secretary — present, made a procedural note limiting further public comment on two second-read items.
Public commenters and outside parties: Frank Cortese, member of St. Roch Church's feast committee — appeared via Zoom on the road-closure request. Peter Radman, A.P. Construction Company — presented the tower crane variance request for 19 Benedict Place. Anne Young, Historic District Commission — appeared via Zoom on the 299 Riverside Avenue study committee request. Peter Alexander, Greenwich resident and former HDC chairman — spoke in support of the historic study committee. Capt. Patrick Smyth, Greenwich Police Department — presented the vehicle-use and street-takeover ordinance in place of Deputy Chief Mark Zuccerella.
Absent or not present at this meeting: Jackie Wetenhall, executive director of Historic Properties of Greenwich (originator of the 299 Riverside Avenue request, listed on the agenda but not present); Deputy Chief of Police Mark Zuccerella (listed on the agenda as presenter, represented instead by Capt. Smyth).
State Historic Preservation Office — cited by First Selectman Camillo as the state office he asked, via architectural historian Todd Levine, to help intervene on 2 Greenwich Avenue. Office of Attorney General William Tong — cited as a recipient of Camillo's letter seeking state intervention on 2 Greenwich Avenue. Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development — Commissioner Dan O'Keefe cited as a contact in Camillo's outreach on zoning mandates. Aquarian Water Company — cited by Camillo as one of the utilities that told the town it lacks capacity for large construction projects. Eversource — cited by Selectwoman Khanna regarding its pending rate increase request of nearly $700 million. Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) — the state agency scheduled to rule July 29 on the Eversource rate case, docket number 26-05-10. A.P. Construction Company — the contractor requesting the Benedict Place tower crane variance for its project at 19 Benedict Place. 19 West Elm Street Holdings LLC — private property owner A.P. Construction is negotiating with for supplemental parking during the crane erection. Historic Properties of Greenwich — the organization that submitted the 299 Riverside Avenue local historic designation request. Greenwich Historic District Commission — appointed as study committee for the 299 Riverside Avenue designation request. American Legion Post 29 (Greenwich) — designated under the revised flag policy as the default organizer of military and veteran flag-raising ceremonies. Public Act 25-80 — the 2025 Connecticut law cited by Capt. Smyth as the basis for the proposed town ordinance on illegal vehicle use and street takeovers. Greenwich Communities — cited by Camillo regarding affordable-housing units planned at McKinney Terrace and Armstrong Court that he said are affected by utility capacity concerns. Sustainable CT — the certification program cited by Rabin and Khanna; Greenwich holds a 2024 silver certification and is pursuing gold.