Residents and commissioners spar over council size; reapportionment language to be revised

During the May 20 Charter Revision Commission meeting, multiple residents and a commissioner pressed the panel to reconsider the City Council’s size and the language governing reapportionment of wards and voting districts.

Warren Levy, a resident, argued the city is underrepresented and proposed expanding the council by two wards and two at-large seats — growing the council from 21 to 27 members — and suggested adding authority for local campaign finance limits. Peter Buzaid, City Council president, and Ben Chianese, a City Council member, said they supported keeping 21 seats; Buzaid defended the prior drafting of Sec. 3-3 while Chianese noted some governance matters (including Board of Education terms) are governed by Connecticut state law.

Commissioner Michael Safranek called the term 'timely' in Sec. 2-4 vague and asked the Commission to specify a concrete deadline for reapportionment; Commissioner Glenda M. Armstrong questioned clarity regarding language about minority representation. The Commission asked legal counsel to prepare alternative wording that clarifies timing and minority-representation provisions and to correct an identified date error in the draft (Commissioner Isabel C. Almeida noted the section should read 2031, not 2021).

No vote was taken on council size at the meeting. The Commission directed legal counsel to return with draft options for reapportionment timing and modifications to minority-representation wording for consideration at a future meeting.

The Commission approved its May 13 minutes earlier in the session and continued review of Chapter 3 language.