Council approves amended charter revision recommendations, sends package back to commission with instructions

The Bridgeport City Council approved a substituted and then further-amended package of charter revision recommendations and sent the package back to the Charter Revision Commission for additional consideration.

Council members publicly thanked the Charter Revision Commission for its work. Several members raised procedural concerns about the compressed timeline — one councilor said the commission would have about 15 days to act on certain items — and questioned the proposal to eliminate three agencies and other significant changes to purchasing rules and boards. One speaker urged caution, saying the schedule and the volume of change made the deadline "not reasonable." Another council member emphasized the need to engage residents before the changes appear on a ballot.

The council approved motions to substitute and further amend the resolution, and then voted to approve the amended package by roll call. The council instructed the commission to "consider, amend, and revise any charter provision not specifically mentioned in this resolution that it deems necessary and appropriate for the efficient and effective operation of city government." Members said they expected continued collaboration as the commission and council complete the process.

Why it matters: Charter revisions can change the structure and rules of city government, affecting appointments, boards, and procurement processes. Council debate highlighted trade-offs between timely action and thorough stakeholder engagement.

What happens next: The council sent the amended package back to the Charter Revision Commission with direction to consider additional revisions; the commission and council will coordinate next steps and timelines.