Norwalk Common Council holds public hearing on charter revisions; schedules workshop and vote

Norwalk City Common Council members met July 8 for a public hearing on proposed revisions to the city charter, and set a schedule for further review that includes a workshop on July 14 and a council vote on July 22 that will determine what language moves to a fall referendum.

Chris Dwyer, 47 Toilsome Avenue, told the council he supports a provision amended by the Charter Revision Commission to keep council compensation open to later revision so the position remains accessible. “So we cannot have a overly privileged position in government, needs to be accessible for all,” Dwyer said.

The hearing included procedural exchanges among council members about when and how to take amendments. Councilmember Nijalski Eichner asked to pause public participation to present several amendments she said were not covered previously; other members noted the agenda did not include a discussion item and suggested the matter be handled at the next workshop. The mayor confirmed that additional review would occur at a forthcoming workshop.

During the meeting the mayor summarized the timeline for the charter process: a charter revision workshop set for Monday, July 14, at 7:00 p.m., an expected council vote on recommendations at the regular meeting on July 22 that will be transmitted back to the Charter Revision Commission, and work to set ballot language for a public referendum in late August or early September. “The charter is our constitution and it, guides us in how to run the city,” the mayor said.

No ordinances, appointments or budget actions were taken during the public hearing. The only formal motion recorded in the minutes of the meeting was a motion to adjourn made by Councilmember Smith; the mayor declared the motion carried and adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.

The public hearing remained open briefly while staff monitored for additional online or in-person speakers; two individuals present in the chambers at the time (identified in the record as Mr. Shikitano and Mr. Levin) did not speak on the charter. The council reiterated that the July 14 workshop would be open-ended and offered as another opportunity for public participation before the July 22 vote.

The hearing and the scheduled workshop are steps in the charter amendment process: following the council vote, the Charter Revision Commission and council will finalize language for placement on a ballot for voter consideration later this summer or early fall.