Long-serving Alderwoman Ellen Bey Honored After 10 Years of Service; Board Addresses Civility Concerns

MILFORD, CT – In an emotional meeting Wednesday night, the Milford Board of Aldermen said goodbye to four departing members while approving a $4.1 million police equipment contract and hearing pleas from residents about short-term rental problems plaguing local neighborhoods. The November 6, 2025 meeting marked the final session for Aldermen Ellen Bey, Scott Marlo, Jason Jenkins, and Ray Vitali, with particular attention paid to Dr. Ellen Russell Bey's decade of service representing both the first and fifth districts.

A Decade of Service Recognized In an unusual display of appreciation, multiple speakers during public comment praised Bey's contributions to the city. Karina and Eton Hirs presented her with flowers, while colleagues and residents lined up to honor her service.

"Ellen has served the people of Milford with unwavering honesty and integrity. Her commitment to understanding every issue thoroughly, exhaustively, and with intellectual rigor has always impressed me," said Charles Martorano, who described himself as a friend of Bey's for decades. "She is a formidable ally, and a tenacious opponent, always principled, always prepared." Tony Lombardi, who will be joining the board in the next term, called Bey "a trailblazer for women in Milford government and an example of what it means to serve with integrity." Bey, who holds both a master's degree and PhD from an Ivy League institution and previously served as a senior-level university administrator and dean at two universities, reflected on her time in Milford, saying she originally came from New York City 42 years ago after "chasing after a fireman."

Civility Concerns Raised The meeting began with pointed criticism from resident Mark Lofthouse about the board's handling of inflammatory comments made at the previous meeting.

"Last meeting I listened to the comments that we all heard with the derogatory comments towards certain aldermen of the word Nazi, Nazi bootlickers, racist, bigot, homophobe. Every word in the book was thrown at them," Lofthouse said. He criticized the board leadership for not stopping the speaker, identified as a member of the Democratic Town Committee.

"Somebody should have spoken up and shut that down or asked her to tone it down a little bit. I thought it was inappropriate," Lofthouse added, suggesting that board rules against derogatory statements should be enforced equally regardless of the speaker's political affiliation.

Short-Term Rental Crisis Two residents from the Wilber Beach area delivered urgent pleas for action on short-term rental regulations, describing a harrowing experience with an Airbnb guest. Janet Rivers of Broadway recounted how a guest "clearly in crisis" stayed at the property next door for a week in October, banging on her doors with a flashlight and causing such disturbance that police had to post a cruiser near her home.

"I contacted the property management company who is located in Kansas. It is a farmer who does this side hustle. The owner lives on the West Coast," Rivers explained, highlighting the lack of local accountability. "There was no one to call. There was no one local."

Felicia Shashinko, president of the Wilber Beach Association, called for the creation of a city-led task force to address the issue. "The real concern lies with frequent short-term rentals that operate more like businesses than homes, changing the very nature of our residential neighborhoods," she said.

Major Police Equipment Contract Approved The board unanimously approved a $4.1 million contract with Axon Corporation for police body cameras, dash cameras, tasers, and related equipment over approximately five years. The contract represents a renewal of the department's existing relationship with Axon since 2012. Police Chief Keith Melo emphasized that body cameras, dash cameras, and interview room recording systems are mandated by state law. The new contract includes significant technological upgrades, including real-time translation capabilities and live streaming features. "When an officer goes through a critical incident or an officer's in trouble at a traffic stop, we can not only see what the car sees, we can also see what the officers see," Melo explained. The contract, which doesn't take effect until July 1, 2026, was negotiated early to secure favorable pricing. Melo noted that comparable contracts in similarly-sized Connecticut municipalities cost $4.8 million and $7 million.

GPS Contract Also Approved The board also approved a $273,660 five-year contract with Samsara for GPS tracking systems for approximately 164 public works vehicles. The system will replace the current T-Mobile system and includes features such as driver alerts, camera systems with cloud storage, and integration with garage maintenance software.

The vote was 13-1, with Alderman Smith opposing due to concerns about the procurement process and contract terms.

Looking Ahead As the meeting concluded, departing members reflected on their service. Scott Marlo, who has served on various city boards since 1989, urged future board members to "put personalities and politics aside whenever possible" and "work together as best you can." Ray Vitali, who spent 44 years in education in Milford including 18 years as a school principal, expressed pride in seeing former students now serving in elected positions, including several current aldermen.

Mayor Jenniazio announced that the annual Veterans Day parade will take place Sunday, November 9 at 2:00 PM, with a wreath-laying ceremony on Tuesday, November 11 at 10:45 AM in front of City Hall. He also celebrated the Stow Barn's official recognition as a historic property by the state of Connecticut, opening doors for grant funding opportunities.