[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6172183,"mediaKeyId","5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd","parentId",5391237,"title","Norwalk council debates splitting budget caps for BOE and city and giving council direct role in BET; no consensus reached","audioSeconds",603,"startMs",6704000,"endMs",6101000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd&start=6704&end=6101","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd/thumbnail_6704000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6172183/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/Norwalk-council-debates-splitting-budget-caps-for-BOE-and-city-and-giving-council-direct-role-in-BET-no-consensus-reached","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172183-bdcb3ff3a02a17a4db16453b84ad2ac8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172666&Signature=kOeCj7Q1QwhCXjOfycmxsXKZmRSNGmH7WSsajJjfePWVvs~mR8PW-sBetKet9gF3enNpgf7nGgtblf8FnHj0V54UiIebalPsjE-mzgKNBPKyPNXckEAMz~wXZDODBuQM7bxxnWSeVTEA1vvBO3apEYodZqt16LtoV~PdwL45RWbs4t7QPklpRzU4l9o9lnD0AhYUqP5hEjlCBChVqJ7NDJxUtjvHmInrC78znpjnSLuUqlR6OqYlBHbgLoBQ-gR0998CgpythWP5wzAI65NUFFHWg4Le-SLW1ZUxiscQCHtHM7yVuv5i4QySQrNMLEKISWLnE1Jf~wIMWkzHj1k8KQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Norwalk City, CT","date","2025-07-15T03:36:35Z","article","Council members reviewed proposed changes to the municipal budget process and the role of the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET). Nora and others proposed two related changes: (1) require the BET to review and present a cap‑compliant budget separately for the Board of Education and for the remainder of city functions, and (2) create a designated council representative to sit on the BET to increase council involvement in budget review.
On caps, Nora proposed language that would set two ceilings — one for the Board of Education and one for the rest of the city — and require the BET to work from budget proposals that do not exceed each cap. Legal counsel pointed out the draft wording should reflect that the BET may approve amounts up to (not necessarily equal to) the cap; staff agreed to update the language.
On council representation, the council debated whether the council’s designee to the BET should be a voting or nonvoting member. Some members argued a voting seat would be necessary given the time commitment required and the desire for meaningful voice; others said a nonvoting seat would avoid upsetting institutional balances and could be preferable because the council representative would otherwise be representing a majority council view rather than the whole body. Attorney Steve said models vary across Connecticut: some municipalities permit full voting council representatives on boards and commissions; others provide nonvoting representation.
The council also discussed changes to the post‑BET review process. Nora proposed that if the council overrides BET allocations by the existing two‑thirds procedure, the council’s override should become binding on the BET’s final appropriation and that the council be able to specify how any override is allocated at the line‑item level. Supporters said this gives elected officials an eventual check when the BET and council disagree; opponents warned that allowing line‑item overrides could disrupt revenue projections and the traditional checks between elected legislative bodies and the fiscal board.
No formal votes were taken. Leadership placed the BET‑related proposals and the cap‑split language on the list for further debate; the council indicated the items likely require further drafting and public discussion before any final recommendation to the Charter Revision Commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Common Council 07-14-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members debated proposed charter changes to the budget process: splitting spending caps between the Board of Education and the rest of the city, requiring cap‑compliant budgets, and adding a council representative to the BET — with disagreement over whether that representative should be a voting member.","taxTitle","Norwalk City, Fairfield, Connecticut","taxId",4245,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6172188,"Norwalk council debates modest pay increase tied to mayor’s salary and authority to hire council staff",917,4448000,5365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd&start=4448&end=5365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd/thumbnail_4448000.jpg","/articles/6172188/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/Norwalk-council-debates-modest-pay-increase-tied-to-mayors-salary-and-authority-to-hire-council-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172188-6611cd368691a41bc2eb266eb1186173/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172666&Signature=GLmkFMGKTfVKIE8TA0kk6i1zaDj8xkkJ8apWAZVYP1umELS774of-4zKKxx14Tu27PENBnMUyOJpcTMaEgm4Ybvv73ymBoQ2V51PdYz6b4MY5O8DCP4bWDGxUTAIwKJWpzbmcpnsD6zsxiGAjKXvGYY-g5khPkHOEK5LmLBaLawNm7KVq09VdmDLT3rR31II67CVfUU0NZd2hMvYQL05ZdUP-0fKStGrYa9AUHtkPkFh8XjELos9KIaU61n05BOCGbntfqiWyKOUGskjNqfpYoWNg7JqQYL377YQW8iHksKvjVVH8KvR9WPo445qMJ-JYWb815LASsCHqSwjzwxZ9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council member Nora proposed language to change council compensation from the longstanding $600 stipend to a formula tying council pay to a percentage of the mayor’s salary. “I put forward 1 example… which was to tie the council member's salary to a percentage of the mayor's salary,” she said, citing a 3% example that would yield roughly $5,000 per council member.
The proposal prompted a broad debate. Supporters said the current low stipend precludes participation by working‑class residents and limits the pool of candidates; Council member Nicole said compensation helps address an equity and access problem so people who cannot forego paid work can serve. Opponents said the timing was poor during fiscal uncertainty, and several members worried the increase would be perceived as tone‑deaf even if it were modest. Council member Greg asked whether a compensation increase could be a separate ballot question so voters decide.
Council members and staff discussed alternatives and legal mechanics. Attorney Steve explained that the city could either put a compensation provision into the charter (which is approved by referendum) or manage it through the budget/ordinance process; council members noted that, under state law, legislative body compensation requires voter approval and placing it in the charter could set an automatic adjustment mechanism (for example, a percent of the mayor’s salary) rather than requiring repeated referenda.
A related amendment would let the council appoint additional staff. Nora and others said the council’s capacity to investigate budgets and respond to constituent requests is limited by staffing; she suggested authority to create and fill additional council positions by majority vote, with positions to be posted and approved via existing hiring processes and budget appropriation steps. Critics said the proposal risks incremental staff growth without clear job descriptions and costs; proponents replied that the authority would be exercised only if the council voted to create and fund positions, and several council members suggested starting with a lower‑cost communications assistant or an assistant for the assistant city clerk.
No formal votes were taken. Council members placed both the compensation language and the staff‑authority proposal on the list of items for debate and possible separate ballot presentation before the July 22 meeting.","Council members discussed a proposed charter change to tie council compensation to a percentage of the mayor’s salary (a drafted example used 3%, roughly $5,000) and a separate proposal giving the council authority to appoint additional staff beyond the assistant city clerk. The items drew disagreement over timing, equity and fiscal messaging.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6172193,"Council divided on four‑year terms; members consider separate ballot question",163,3846000,4009000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd&start=3846&end=4009","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd/thumbnail_3846000.jpg","/articles/6172193/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/Council-divided-on-fouryear-terms-members-consider-separate-ballot-question","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172193-7a17c2c3ddb5f08b1ae1bc68704cdbe2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172666&Signature=AXuTdEeH3KVx4M0jWN687YPjHFequv7yGej-ywQAwRV4ffwJHYPAHisVIdPq~mUtaw2YY1-107HTg33x2U1hS2JIvOoSIjLpQOsXJd2QZK6hxRkFApqvU9XNch4slq0YdHOQOLAntwiirs06LRk-Zqdp8JNTmOxb2Xd3DKbd9103~1YrbKVWMH0RRbVK7QBAVl~qcFKgl794IjTu9vsVteKO0mUebpwo1MuE-xlbauDzdrEwj~Ci6DZbkmP5aQqpuXb2VKKwFlBO0KGcRtRg6peqxXoHKKuGpmsvNcdZ4jsVQ0ApS2xDPOckM8w1JNEua-nGEfnuap13Ne1Yb8C5Fw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council resumed discussion of an item in the draft charter proposing staggered four‑year terms: for the mayor and town clerk beginning after the 2029 election and for council members beginning after the 2031 election.
Council members were split. Some said they were undecided and wanted more public input; others said they supported a separate ballot question so voters could consider the term‑length change on its own. Council member Anne said she “would support it being a separate question,” and Council member Nicole said separating the items would protect voters who feel strongly about the term length from rejecting unrelated charter items.
Attorney Steve explained the process: the council sends recommendations to the Charter Revision Commission, which will confer with council leadership. The final draft returned to the council will be subject to an up‑or‑down vote; the council also controls how the charter questions are presented to voters on the ballot and may split issues into multiple questions.
No formal motion or vote was taken. Council leaders recorded the item as unresolved and placed it on the list of items for further debate before the July 22 meeting.","Council members expressed no consensus on proposals to move mayor, town clerk and council terms from two to four years; several members said the four‑year term should be a stand‑alone question on the charter referendum.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6172198,"Norwalk council rejects Charter Revision Commission plan to expand council to 20; proposal to add two at‑large seats draws heated debate",223,1717000,1940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd&start=1717&end=1940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd/thumbnail_1717000.jpg","/articles/6172198/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/Norwalk-council-rejects-Charter-Revision-Commission-plan-to-expand-council-to-20-proposal-to-add-two-atlarge-seats-draws-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172198-c7fe12564b6b613da1f4fb7935b1cde6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172666&Signature=lNIIeNq4jib78uIKGQ9fdxJp4Rj2Xv~x5-oeYteZf7HN649lkqAcoGNFobEDjqzvmdC5YCKXvyiGfnA4-RAr7iuKrVG1jlwk1RjExBj82a1KjbnW7YvE62Yl1dLkbXZCNKlFRa~uu-5aQEAHRbCUYvyKm4424DX2OE9y6yNcK8XZ8DEbtbFjaZpEn6rH8ksMSYU0Azq9r7AWb-CsBaGqklFMMy3GHkG~CjwH~LY3YhgFxHGRsRUdixwJbdNa5-8WuAGQLHuP~Neac1HODX-cPWkwVy9x1r4HTqJohIwpDgEfP~iG7CGAr69AcQ4NVTynmJCVSDpfM6K7dnkWZLBu8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council leadership reviewed Article 3 of the Charter Revision Commission’s draft, which included a recommendation to increase the number of council members from 15 to 20 by adding one additional district member per district. Presiding council member Nora asked if anyone objected to the proposal; a majority of council members present opposed it.
Council members stated reasons for opposing an across‑the‑board expansion, including concerns about the council becoming “unwieldy” and the potential cost and administrative complexity of adding seats. “I don't support it,” said several members in succession, including Council members Lisa, Dwan and Nicole; the conversation ended with staff direction to draft a recommendation to the commission to retain the current 15‑member standard and two council members per district.
Council member Jalen Saeed offered an alternative amendment as a compromise: add two additional at‑large seats (bringing the total to 17), and cap party nominations so no party could nominate more than five at‑large candidates. Under Saeed’s plan the seven highest vote‑getters in at‑large balloting would win seats, which he said would increase the likelihood of minority‑party representation without changing district seats.
That amendment produced an extended debate. Proponents said the change would preserve voter choice while improving political diversity and response to public comments asking for greater minority‑party presence. Opponents argued it would “engineer” an outcome, create opportunities for game‑playing by third parties and make the council harder to manage. Some council members suggested alternatives such as eliminating at‑large seats and moving to three‑member districts with party caps.
No formal motion was passed on Saeed’s proposal at this meeting. For drafting purposes staff noted there appeared to be a consensus to recommend that the commission retain the 15‑member structure with two district members per district. Saeed and others said they would continue to pursue compromise language before the council’s July 22 meeting.
","Council members in a special meeting signaled they will recommend retaining the current 15-member structure after the Charter Revision Commission proposed increasing membership to 20. A separate amendment to add two at‑large seats to improve minority‑party representation drew lengthy debate and no consensus.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6172203,"Norwalk council signals support to rename 'Common Council' to 'City Council' and ask administration to estimate costs",763,748000,1511000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd&start=748&end=1511","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5391237-5752f00508307dd04cd27871f031d2bd/thumbnail_748000.jpg","/articles/6172203/Norwalk-City/Fairfield/Connecticut/Norwalk-council-signals-support-to-rename-Common-Council-to-City-Council-and-ask-administration-to-estimate-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6172203-d2d759597ecf3e87a7c029992b26b5c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172666&Signature=CtBH8pQ~PxTtjOqmjlVZI9XVuWr4NzNxXeccXewbZ1JmA00ElcHy-XmuNbuQluCTF5i1rG3TNulSy5F0uGjVynPUD0SqT0kC3H6u~X78IefqrphHsCJ0~uLEljfR49JHWQgyQ8jrty3ED3mnWp6YU3YdJNUCzvG2XlJ6b-6sHGXdPNgtb0CM9TV~JFhA~ynaKKwOLWpAFSFuIsHxWUZb~6FoQhn0lKTbdAcAa0~NlQta55i~xTnro2vtQdycu3fMedqvMnKa7Mmb2wGn7fY-jUtduc~rnnED8pi1cRcudte77gGkjAe4Yo~MpuSDua4Qy01d~aOoYPjmPEOcCweXHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Presiding council member Nora opened a discussion of the Charter Revision Commission’s draft charter and, when the council turned to Article I, asked whether anyone objected to changing the body’s name from Norwalk Common Council to Norwalk City Council.
A majority of council members present expressed no objection to the change, and several members asked the administration to estimate any direct costs before a final vote. “If anyone has any objection to changing the name from the Norwalk Common Council to the Norwalk City Council, make your voice heard,” Nora said as the floor opened for discussion.
The council asked city staff to review potential expenses such as signage, nameplates, templates and business cards and report back. Council member Greg asked the administration to provide an assessment of financial implications; city staff member Jared said it was “fine, kind of pending our doing a little more research.” Irene, who conducted roll call, noted that most charter text is maintained online and that stationery and templates are usually updated digitally.
Members discussed timing for an effective date. Council members suggested making the change effective after the 2025 municipal election so that campaigns and incumbents would have clarity; other members preferred an earlier effective date. Jared asked for 24 hours to check for any items the council might have missed before the council gives final direction.
The discussion did not produce a formal motion or roll-call vote; meeting participants agreed to ask staff for a short cost estimate and to include a name-change recommendation in the draft resolution the council will send back to the Charter Revision Commission for conferral.
For planning purposes, staff and several council members noted the likely one‑time tangible costs would be small — replacing signage at the council chambers, updating nameplates and business-card templates and updating the online charter text — but they asked administration to provide a formal estimate.
The council deferred a formal vote until its July 22 meeting, when council leadership expects to provide a draft resolution for the commission and the public.
","Members of the Norwalk Common Council signaled support during a special Zoom meeting to recommend changing the charter language from “Common Council” to “City Council,” and asked staff to return an estimate of any administrative costs for implementation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Norwalk council debates splitting budget caps for BOE and city and giving council direct role in BET; no consensus reached

Norwalk council debates modest pay increase tied to mayor’s salary and authority to hire council staff

Council divided on four‑year terms; members consider separate ballot question

Norwalk council rejects Charter Revision Commission plan to expand council to 20; proposal to add two at‑large seats draws heated debate

Norwalk council signals support to rename 'Common Council' to 'City Council' and ask administration to estimate costs