The Norwalk Ordinance Committee on Oct. 21 voted to send revisions to two pension-related ordinances — Chapter 84 (post-employment benefit trust) and Chapter 126 (pension plan) — to the Common Council. Committee members said the changes are largely technical and intended to align the city code with the controlling pension documents.

Committee Chair Lisa Shanahan opened the public hearings and said there were no public speakers on the pension and OPEB items. Staff and committee members described the changes as minor. "We're just trying to make the ordinance mimic, and mirror what's already in the controlling document, the pension document," staff member Brian Lutz said during the meeting.

Why it matters: The changes affect how the city’s pension and post-employment benefit rules are written in the municipal code, and staff said the revisions will clarify references and make the code match underlying pension plan documents. Committee members also noted the amendments will allow a former board member whose term had expired to serve again, helping the pension board reach full membership.

What the committee heard and decided: After opening and closing the public hearings with no speakers, Committee member Jalen Seed moved to forward both Chapter 84 and Chapter 126 to the Common Council. The motion carried; the committee summary at the end of the meeting notes both items were sent to the Common Council with no changes.

Process notes and next steps: Because the amendments were described as conforming language to existing pension documents, committee members said the edits are non-substantive. The items will now appear on the Common Council agenda for final consideration.

Ending note: The committee recorded the ordinance numbers and sections under review (Chapter 84: sections 84-2 and 84-3; Chapter 126: sections 126-1 through 126-6) and closed the public hearings after no residents testified.