West Haven council sends charter recommendations to commission after votes on terms, mayoral vacancy and library protections

The West Haven City Council voted unanimously June 18 to send its recommended revisions to the Charter Revision Commission, concluding more than two months of review and several substantive amendments.

The special meeting centered on technical and policy changes to the proposed charter package and the schedule for conferral meetings with the CRC. "Before we dive into, wrapping up our work on the charter and having our final series of votes," Chair Christopher Vargo said, the council agreed to joint meetings with the CRC on June 23 and June 24 and set August 5 as a fallback date for final consideration of ballot questions.

Why it matters: the council's recommendations shape what the CRC will place on the ballot and set the procedural timeline for both bodies. The council also gave direction on drafting details that could affect city operations — from department head terms to library funding language and how to handle a mayoral vacancy.

Key actions and outcomes

- Request that the CRC review terms of office for department heads: Councilmember Anne Heffernan moved and Nancy Tagliatelle seconded a request that the CRC evaluate whether department heads should have a common term structure or retain differing legal protections (for example, for police or fire chiefs). The motion passed by voice vote. The council asked the CRC to consider a uniform standard but to respect statutory protections.

- Consolidation of health officer/director language: The council approved a motion to merge the current 'health officers' and 'health director' clauses into a single health director provision that tracks the statutory qualifications (CGS 19a‑200b), a change proponents said clarified the charter text.

- Mayoral vacancy language amended: Councilman Ronald Quagliani proposed alternative language to replace a prescriptive, days‑based trigger for special elections with wording tying a replacement election to the next general election where mayoral candidates can qualify. Counsel added a carve‑out allowing the council, by vote of nine, to declare a freestanding special election. That amended language passed (one member opposed: Melly Garthwaite).

- Library funding protections discussed, not resolved: Several council members aired concerns about past budget cuts to the West Haven Public Library and debated whether the charter should guarantee minimum funding or limit year‑to‑year cuts. Court counsel presented draft ‘‘protective’’ language that would require the council to appropriate “at least the amount necessary to maintain the staffing level as approved in the previous annual budget unless the library requests a lesser amount.” Members expressed reluctance to embed rigid minimums in the charter and asked attorneys to pursue negotiations with library counsel and the CRC.

- Water Pollution Control naming and administration clarified: Counsel and members identified inconsistent references across charter text, ordinances and the budget book (WPCA vs. WPCC vs. 'facility' and 'administrator'). Counsel recommended treating the position as an administrator in the charter (consistent with ordinances) and leaving budget/ordinance name alignment for later work.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to request CRC review of department‑head terms: moved by Anne Heffernan; seconded by Nancy Tagliatelle; voice vote — motion carries.

- Motion to consolidate health officer/director sections into a single "health director" clause: moved by Gary Donovan; seconded by Nancy Tagliatelle; voice vote — motion carries.

- Motion to adopt alternate mayoral‑vacancy language and allow the council, by vote of nine, to call a standalone special election: moved by Ronald Quagliani; seconded by Peter Rivera; vote: recorded opposition from Melly Garthwaite; motion carries.

- Final motion to send the council's recommended revisions to the Charter Revision Commission: moved by Edward McMillan; seconded by Nancy Tagliatelle; roll‑call recorded (see provenance). Motion carried unanimously in roll call.

What council members and counsel said

Court counsel praised the council's work, saying, "The deliberations of this council has been very, very impressive," and encouraged members to let attorneys make editorial, non‑substantive corrections before Monday's filing.

On the library, counsel argued the draft protective text would "guarantee funding enough to make sure that they don't have to lay off anybody," while several members warned that minimum funding requirements in the charter could tie the council's hands in future budget crises.

Next steps

Council staff and counsel will incorporate the last edits and transmit the recommended package to the CRC, which will have 30 days to respond. The council then has 15 days after receipt to accept or reject the CRC's final report. The chair said the clerk will post notices for the June 23 and June 24 conferral meetings and attorneys will meet with library counsel Monday to continue that discussion.

The council adjourned shortly before 9 p.m.