Bridgeport, CT – On Monday, April 3, Commissioner Elliott Calderon, Commissioner Jerome Roberts, and Commissioner Brenda Dye were reappointed to the Commission for People with Disabilities by Mayor Ganim and Bridgeport’s City Council and were officially sworn in on April 10. The three members have been in service with great distinction over the past few years, particularly during the pandemic, as they coordinated efforts with the Department of Health and Social Services. Commissioners Calderon and Commissioner Roberts have both served on the Commission since 2014, while Commissioner Calderon has served as Chair of the Commission for the past three years. Commissioner Dye was also among those recently appointed to the Commission and has been serving since 2020.

Mayor Ganim stated, “I’m very honored to be able to have Elliott Calderon, Jerome Roberts, and Brenda Dye as our new Commissioners in service for the Commission for People with Disabilities. The three Commissioners have previously worked to ensure critical services reached our most vulnerable population and I’m confident that with these new additions to the Commission, our disabled community will continue to receive access to plenty of beneficial services throughout Bridgeport.”

The Commission for People with Disabilities primarily advises the Mayor and the director of Health and Social Services and may request the Department of Health and Social Services and other appropriate agencies’ studies of information regarding the needs of the individuals with disabilities in the community concerning to housing, employment, transportation, economics, health, recreation, and other relevant matters. The Commission may also make recommendations to the Mayor and city administrators, commissions, boards and departments. All recommendations made by the Commission are then to be forwarded to the Mayor and Department of Health and Social Services.

The Commission is comprised of 12 members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council; with five members currently serving and seven vacancies available to be filled. Any of those who may be interested in serving on the Commission can contact Andy Toledo, Director of Community Relations, at Andy.Toledo@Bridgeportct.gov for an application.