Norwalk pension board tables food‑service pension applications pending separate notice and counsel guidance

The Norwalk City Pension Board on a voice vote agreed to table a food‑service pension application until December and to place food‑service pension items on a separately noticed agenda so affected workers and the union can be notified.

Board member and attorney (Speaker 3) told the panel he had asked corporate counsel for a formal opinion and warned that approving a food‑service pension without a clear, separate notice could expose the board to legal challenge. “There’s nothing on our agenda that says we’re gonna consider anything to do with food services,” he said, urging a written opinion and public notice so affected employees would have an opportunity to object. Board leadership (Speaker 6) said the corporation counsel had given a verbal informal opinion that current practice was not illegal but that it would be “better and cleaner” to hold separately noticed meetings going forward. HR director Sharon (Speaker 5) said waiting until December was administratively feasible but cautioned repeated delays could postpone benefit payments for applicants.

The chair (Speaker 2) moved to table the item and bring it back on a separate food‑service agenda in December. The motion passed by voice vote; the transcript records only an affirmative voice vote and does not include a roll‑call tally. Board members directed staff to notify the union and to prepare a clear, separately noticed agenda for the food‑service pension meeting.

The board also approved the Oct. 8 minutes with a correction removing a line that incorrectly listed a member as absent. The meeting then moved on to the investment performance review and later to executive session for manager matters.