Bloomfield’s Civic Shake-Up
Who’s In, Who’s Out, and Why Institutional Knowledge Matters
Happy New Year, readers!
It’s the start of a new year in Bloomfield, and changes are underway. Jenny Mundell was sworn in November as the new Mayor, and two new Council members, Widney Polynice (at-Large) and Rosalee Gonzalez (1st Ward), were appointed to the Town Council in December of 2024. At Monday’s meeting (January 6th, 2025), the Council will vote on several appointments to Bloomfield’s boards and commissions—all volunteer positions—and will also reassign Council liaisons.
While the Mayor and Council have the authority to appoint people who share their perspectives, residents have expressed concern about the sweeping scale of these appointments. A quick review of board and commission rosters reveals many members’ terms had lapsed or expired, leaving numerous vacancies. In principle, the Council—particularly its liaisons—and previous mayors should have ensured that membership was up to date and that no seats were left unfilled. Still, the abrupt nature of these impending appointments raises questions: Why the rush, and why were so many long-serving members not reappointed?
Among Mayor Mundell’s first actions was the rejection of several long-serving commissioners, including members of the Civil and Human Rights Commission and the Juneteenth Commission. Notably, Kasey Dudley—co-founder of the Juneteenth Commission—was not reappointed, and additional longtime commissioners from the Historic Preservation and Environmental Commissions also faced rejection. As a result, Councilwoman Wartyna Davis lost the two commissions she had overseen for several years, and longtime environmental advocate Councilman Nick Joanow was removed from his liaison role with the Environmental Commission.
These moves, alongside the broader removal or rejection of other experienced committee members, appear to be a petty move less about improving community involvement and more focused on political retaliation. By sidelining individuals with deep institutional knowledge and established community trust, critics argue, the Council risks sacrificing continuity and expertise. Mayor Mundell, for her part, says her goal is to introduce new people—an idea some praise for its potential to infuse fresh perspectives, but which others fear could erode the committees’ collective know-how.
Compounding these concerns is the Council’s decision to reshuffle liaisons for multiple boards and commissions, creating a learning curve for everyone involved. While some council members—like Joanow (Environmental Commission) and Ted Gamble (former mayor and Councilman) (Animal Shelter Committee)— in the past, consistently participated in their assigned committees, others, such as Third Ward Councilwoman Sarah Cruz (who reportedly missed countless Rent Control Committee and Board of Education meetings), have been notably less active. This disparity raises questions about the depth of commitment among the newly assigned liaisons, particularly when boards may need extra support from more experienced council members.
All of this prompts a broader question: Is this sweeping overhaul genuinely intended to bring fresh perspectives to Bloomfield’s civic life, or does it risk weakening the very engagement that has sustained these commissions for years? Only time—and the performance of newly appointed members and liaisons—will tell.
We encourage anyone who was denied reappointment—or new appointment—to reach out to us and share their experiences and concerns.
Looking ahead, we plan to closely monitor the newly appointed members and, in particular, the participation of the newly assigned Council liaisons. Our goal is to gauge how committed the Mayor and Council are to fostering an active civic life in Bloomfield.