Larry Reefberg urges Danbury City Council to adopt new ward maps to meet one-person, one-vote standard

Peter Bizet, chair of the public hearing convened by the Danbury City Council, opened a session to collect public comment on proposed amendments to ordinance section 8-2, which governs the city's voting wards. "This council, has notice states regards, the adoption of amendments to ordinance section 8-2, the voting wards of the city of Danbury," Bizet said at the start of the meeting.

Danbury resident Larry Reefberg addressed the council in support of adopting the ordinance and the ward maps that accompany it. He told the council the decennial census triggers redistricting and said the city's charter requires a five-member committee (two Democrats, two Republicans and a fifth member) to help draw maps. "Our charter requires that a committee be established by the council, which was done to Democrats and to Republicans," Reefberg said.

Reefberg recounted what he described as past map changes that replaced traditional, "pie-shaped" wards with so-called "doughnut holes," which he said concentrated minority and urban populations into fewer districts. He said those earlier maps, in his view, "violated the United States constitution 14th amendment due process clause." He said council debate and public opposition followed those earlier plans.

He also described the more recent process: he said the council contracted a demographer who produced maps with no more than a 10% population deviation between wards, and that the city's corporation counsel issued an opinion those plans met the 10% standard. Reefberg told the council the ordinance and maps were drafted to take effect for the 2025 election and urged the current council to adopt them now so voters can be notified of their new wards. "I believe that the council should pass the maps that have been adopted by the previous council, adopt the ordinance, have the voters notified," he said.

The hearing record shows the public comment period closed after Reefberg's remarks. Chair Bizet called for a motion to close the hearing; a motion was made and seconded, a voice vote was taken and the chair announced that the motion carried. The council then moved to adjourn and the meeting ended.

The hearing did not include a formal vote on adopting ordinance section 8-2 itself; the record shows only the close of the public hearing and adjournment. The transcript includes references to the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment and to the city's charter and corporation counsel opinion as discussed by the public commenter. There was no recorded council debate or formal action adopting the ordinance during this session.