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

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.