Committee notes tentative agreement with Local 1716 is already in effect; sends favorable recommendation to full council

Councilman Amir Carr Hernandez, chair of the Operations Management, Budget and Government Accountability Committee, opened discussion of item 2.2, a resolution from Mayor Alan Poland to approve a tentative collective bargaining agreement with Local 1716.

Deb Caravillo, deputy director of human resources and labor relations, told the committee that under general Connecticut statutes the council has 44 days to act on a tentative agreement from the date of signing. Caravillo said the 44-day period expired May 2 and that “the contract is the TA is in full force in effect as of May 4.”

Committee corporate counsel explained that, given the timing, the committee could discharge the item without recommendation or could move to send it back to the full council with a favorable recommendation as an expression of support even though the council’s legal window for formal action had passed. The chair asked for a motion to send the measure back with a favorable recommendation; a motion was made and seconded. The committee voted to send the tentative agreement to the full Court of Common Council with a favorable recommendation, and the chair asked staff to note the statutory technicality in committee communications so the full council understands no action is required.

No amendments or substantive debate about contract terms were recorded at this meeting. The committee’s action was procedural—the committee recorded its view favorably while acknowledging the tentative agreement is already in effect under state statute.