Peter's Place

BLOOMFIELD, Connecticut  — Town Manager Alvin D. Schwapp, Jr. has officially returned to his post following a period of medical leave. Mr. Schwapp confirmed his active status in an email to The Bloomfield Dispatch on Tuesday afternoon. "I have returned to my duties as Town Manager, that should be understood by all," Schwapp wrote, noting that he is no longer utilizing an automated "Out of Office" response. He emphasized that he has resumed his role as the "CEO for the Town of Bloomfield." The Town Manager had been on Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) since late autumn, during which time Deputy Town Manager Sharron Howe served as Acting Town Manager. The confirmation of his return came during a correspondence regarding The Dispatch’s ongoing investigation into data discrepancies found on the Town’s "Open Finance" portal. Mr. Schwapp intervened in the exchange to clarify that the administration would treat the inquiry as a standard media request ra...

  A Case Study in Contradictions When "Transparency" Means "Opacity." The Facts Behind the Mayor's Fact Check. By Peter C. Frank The Bloomfield Dispatch  (Read Part 4 ) 🗄️ Key Documents Reviewed This report is based on the following primary source documents obtained via FOIA and public record: OPM Warning Letter (July 18, 2025): Identifying "Tier I" eligibility. Finance Status Report (Aug 4, 2025): Admission of 15-month "offline" tracking. S&P Global Correspondence: Clarifying OPEB liability reduction. Town Council Minutes (Aug '24 - Dec '25): Documenting meeting cancellations. Download Mayor's Speech Transcript (PDF) » BLOOMFIELD, Connecticut, December 12, 2025 — On Monday night, December 8th, Mayor Anthony Harrington delivered a 15-minute address to the Town Council and the viewing public. He labeled recent reporting on t...

The Cover-Up By Peter C. Frank ,   The Bloomfield Dispatch BLOOMFIELD, Conn. , December 4, 2025 — In Part 3 , we exposed the financial chaos: the "Material Weakness," the phantom OPM savings, and the exploding legal bills. But there was one question we couldn't answer: Why is the Administration hiding the truth about the delay? Today, The Bloomfield Dispatch is releasing documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act that the Town hoped you would never see. These documents prove that while Town officials were telling the public that everything was under control, the State of Connecticut was preparing to intervene. And most damning of all: The leadership knew. 📄 DOWNLOAD THE OPM "TIER I" WARNING DOCUMENTS (PDF) 1. The "Tier I" Warning (The Receipt) On July 18, 2025 , Kimberly Kennison of the Connecticut State Office of Policy and Management (OPM) sent a formal letter warning that Bloomfield now meets the eligib...

The Audit Scandal & The $21 Million "Ghost" By Peter C. Frank ,   The Bloomfield Dispatch  (Read Part 2.5 ) BLOOMFIELD, Connecticut , December 3, 2025 – In Part 2.5 , we discussed how the tax phase-in is a mathematical trap. But taxes are only half the equation. The other half is how the Town manages the money it already has. And right now, nobody seems to know exactly where that money stands. As of today, the Town of Bloomfield is effectively operating blind. The Fiscal Year 2024 Audit , which covers the period ending June 30, 2024, is effectively 11 months overdue (it was due December 31, 2024). Without this audit, the Town Council cannot accurately budget, the bond rating agencies cannot accurately assess the town's risk, and taxpayers cannot know if their money is safe. Why is the audit late? (Again?) While the Administration remains silent (despite repeated attempts to obtain comment), a review of the previous year’s audit reports (FY2023) uncov...

The Tax Reality Check – Why Your Bill Will Likely Rise By Peter C. Frank, The Bloomfield Dispatch  (Read Part 2 ) BLOOMFIELD, Connecticut, November 30, 2025 – Following the publication of Part 2 of this investigative series, a debate emerged in a private Facebook group about the town's property tax phase-in. Some suggested that, as assessments rise during the four-year phase-in, the mill rate will "naturally drop" to keep tax bills stable. This is a comforting theory. Unfortunately, historical data and math strongly suggest it is a common misconception. To clear the air, I have analyzed the past decade of budget data for Bloomfield and our peer communities. The numbers tell a clear story: Budgets do not  stay the same. The "Static Budget" Misconception: The theory your tax bill will stay the same is founded on a single assumption: the Town Budget will remain "Revenue Neutral" ( i.e. ...