Bloomfield council authorizes town manager to recruit prioritized FY2027 roles after debate over hiring freeze

The Bloomfield Town Council voted June 30 to authorize the town manager to recruit and fill a group of FY2027 positions despite an existing hiring freeze, after extended debate over right‑sizing and whether to approve hires position‑by‑position.

Town Manager (unnamed) told the council he needed permission to advertise and recruit immediately to allow time for application, vetting and transition: “I need permission to be able to go … every day that we don't put this job on the street is another day wasted to possibly get the best candidate in here.”

Several councilors urged a more deliberate approach. Councilor Dean Brown said she supported hiring only where previously approved in the budget and asked for a work plan before broad recruitment. “I would love to see a work plan,” she said, arguing the council should consider reassigning staff or using interim arrangements to avoid needless hires.

Opposition members and others pressed for a study to determine whether current and proposed staffing levels were appropriate. Deputy Mayor Lloyd and Councilor Mahan recommended unbatching hires and deciding by priority; Councilor Merritt emphasized immediate operational needs, notably the approved senior/assistant town accountant.

To bridge the divide, Councilor Cooper offered a friendly amendment that cleared recruiting for a prioritized subset of positions immediately — including the assistant town accountant, maintainer 2 and a custodian — while deferring some higher‑level roles to a later quarter and permitting the town manager to recruit but not complete hires until the agreed quarter. The amendment passed and the underlying authorization ultimately carried.

The council completed an individual roll‑call vote after discussion. After one member changed an abstention to a yes, the motion passed and the manager was authorized to proceed with recruitment consistent with the priorities and timing agreed by the council.

The council did not vote to fill every position under discussion; for multiple roles members requested additional information, prioritized hiring, and asked that a consultant’s workforce analysis guide future decisions. The town manager said his office is seeking a consultant to perform a staffing assessment.

The council’s action authorizes recruitment activity; specific hires and start dates will follow additional administrative steps and any required council approvals per established hiring procedures.