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Council appoints Alberto Barrero to Ward 3 seat after debate over nomination process
Summary
The New Britain Common Council voted to appoint Alberto Barrero to fill the Ward 3 vacancy left by Iris Sanchez, prompting comments from colleagues who praised Barrero’s community work and others who criticized the role of the Democratic Town Committee in the selection process.
The New Britain Common Council voted Feb. 11 to appoint Alberto Barrero to the Ward 3 alderman seat vacated by State Representative Iris Sanchez.
The council adopted a resolution that cited a nomination from the New Britain Democratic Town Committee and moved to approve Barrero’s appointment. Supporters described Barrero as a longtime community volunteer and coach with professional experience at the Housing Authority of the City of New Britain. “He is a family man and he is passionate about his work,” Alderman Smmedley said in supporting the nomination.
Several council members raised concerns about the selection process. Samantha Walker, a resident who had sought the seat, said she missed a filing deadline because of technical issues and criticized the committee-driven interview process. “According to our city charter, the council is the one who votes in these circumstances,” Walker told the council during public comment. Alderwoman Scott and Alderman Simpson, both council members, echoed procedural concerns on the floor, saying the town committee’s role and uneven communications to applicants created perceptions of a flawed process and that the charter should be reviewed.
Despite the objections, the council moved and approved the resolution; Barrero was sworn in during the same meeting. The resolution and the council’s roll-call process were recorded in meeting minutes; the public record shows the motion carried after the voice vote.
What happened next: The council completed the swearing-in and welcomed Barrero to his seat. Several members urged a review of appointment procedures so future vacancies are more transparent and uniformly publicized.
Why it matters: Ward appointments change local representation and can affect constituent access to council members. The debate highlighted tension between the council’s formal authority under the city charter and the recommendations of party organizations regarding interim appointments.
Details and next steps: Council members said they plan to revisit charter language and internal procedures to clarify how applicants are notified and how interviews are conducted for future vacancies. The transcript records public comment urging broader participation and council statements calling for procedural review.
