OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Danbury Charter Revision Commission Organizational Meeting - April 15, 2026

Meeting Portal — Wednesday, April 15, 2026
BodyDanbury, Connecticut
SessionMeeting Portal
DateWednesday, April 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 39:18

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

So the um I'm Dan Castegrandi, I'm the corporation council.

0:05

This is my partner Joseph Morlini.

0:08

We're going to be counsel uh to the commission.

0:10

Before we start the meeting, I think the first order of business is to swear the members in.

0:15

So if all of you could stand and raise your right hand, and I'm gonna make this a one-step um oath.

0:24

Um Isabel Almeida, Glenda Armstrong, Joseph Britton, Wilson Hernandez, Daniel Jowdy, Deborah McCarey, Joseph Putnam, Gary Jean Ribero, and Michael Sefranek being hereby appointed as members of the Charter Revision Commission of the City to Danbury.

0:44

Do you solemnly swear that you officially discharge the duties of your office?

0:48

So I help you God.

0:50

Congratulations.

0:51

Thank you.

0:52

Councilor.

0:59

Okay.

1:00

Um my name is Michael Sefranic, and I'd like to call this uh meeting to order.

1:05

Uh let's do a roll call first.

1:07

If you'd be so kind.

1:08

Uh Isabel, if I pronounce your name wrong, please correct me.

1:11

I do apologize.

1:12

Uh Isabella Almeida.

1:14

It's pronounced D.

1:18

Um Glenda Armstrong.

1:20

Thank you.

1:21

Joseph Britton.

1:22

Present.

1:23

Uh Wilson Hernandez.

1:26

Daniel Jowdy.

1:27

Here.

1:28

Uh Deborah McCarry.

1:30

Here.

1:31

Joseph Putnam.

1:32

Here.

1:32

Mary Jean Riberio.

1:34

Here.

1:34

And Michael Sefranic is here.

1:36

Okay.

1:37

Roll call is done.

1:38

Next on the order of agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:41

I will ask us all to stand.

1:44

And to the mayor graciously will donate his flag for this.

1:49

Here we go.

1:50

There we go.

1:51

That's a handy one.

1:52

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

1:57

And to the Republic for which it stands.

2:00

One nation under God.

2:02

Indivisible.

2:03

With liberty and justice.

2:06

Thank you all.

2:06

Thank you.

2:10

Okay.

2:12

Item number four.

2:13

I am going to ask for counsel.

2:15

Is this a permanent chair or is this a temporary chair we're electing?

2:20

I mean, I'm we're gonna do so.

2:22

Just point of clear point of clarification for everybody on the commission.

2:27

We're gonna appoint an interim chair, just parliamentary, so they can preside over the election of the permanent chair.

2:32

So the for purposes of the interim chair, I would like to nominate Commissioner Michael Sefranick to be interim chair to preside over the election of permanent chair.

2:42

We need a second.

2:49

Um other nominations, any other nominations, any other nominations?

2:53

Seeing no nominations, I am here by closing nominations.

2:57

Now back to the main motion, electing Michael Safranic as the interim chair of this commission.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████98%
Public Engagement█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Danbury Charter Revision Commission Organizational Meeting - April 15, 2026

The newly formed Danbury Charter Revision Commission held its organizational meeting on April 15, 2026, at City Hall. The nine-member commission was sworn in, elected officers, heard a presentation on the charter revision process from Corporation Counsel, adopted a regular meeting schedule, approved rules of procedure, and set the date for its first public hearing. The commission aims to complete its work in time for the November 2026 election.

Discussion Items

  • Swearing In and Officer Elections: Corporation Counsel Dan Castegrandi administered the oath of office to all nine commissioners. Michael Sefranek was elected interim chair to preside over the election of permanent officers. The commission then unanimously elected Joseph Britton as permanent chair, Michael Sefranek as vice chair, and Isabel Almeida as secretary.
  • Presentation on Charter Revision Process: Attorney Castegrandi provided an overview of the statutory requirements, including the need for at least two public hearings (one before substantive work and one after a draft report), a 16-month deadline from the council's April 7 creation of the commission, and the process for council review and referendum. He distributed a proposed timeline aiming for a November 2026 referendum.
  • Adoption of Meeting Schedule: The commission voted to hold regular meetings on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for the months of May and June 2026, with the option for virtual or hybrid attendance. Meetings will be held in City Hall unless otherwise noted.
  • Adoption of Rules of Procedure: The commission adopted a set of nine procedural rules covering officer roles, meeting procedures, voting, and minutes, based on Robert's Rules of Order.
  • First Public Hearing: The commission set the first public hearing for Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers, to hear from the mayor and the public before beginning substantive charter revisions.
  • Chair's Remarks and Commissioner Introductions: Chair Britton outlined expectations for the commission, emphasizing the importance of the charter, the need for efficient work, and the values of being present, assuming positive intent, and leaving Danbury better. Commissioners introduced themselves, sharing their backgrounds and ties to the community.

Key Outcomes

  • The commission unanimously elected Joseph Britton as chair, Michael Sefranek as vice chair, and Isabel Almeida as secretary.
  • A regular meeting schedule was adopted: Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for May and June 2026.
  • Rules of procedure were adopted.
  • The first public hearing was scheduled for April 30, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
  • The commission will work toward a draft report to be submitted to the City Council in time for a November 2026 referendum.

Meeting Transcript

So the um I'm Dan Castegrandi, I'm the corporation council. This is my partner Joseph Morlini. We're going to be counsel uh to the commission. Before we start the meeting, I think the first order of business is to swear the members in. So if all of you could stand and raise your right hand, and I'm gonna make this a one-step um oath. Um Isabel Almeida, Glenda Armstrong, Joseph Britton, Wilson Hernandez, Daniel Jowdy, Deborah McCarey, Joseph Putnam, Gary Jean Ribero, and Michael Sefranek being hereby appointed as members of the Charter Revision Commission of the City to Danbury. Do you solemnly swear that you officially discharge the duties of your office? So I help you God. Congratulations. Thank you. Councilor. Okay. Um my name is Michael Sefranic, and I'd like to call this uh meeting to order. Uh let's do a roll call first. If you'd be so kind. Uh Isabel, if I pronounce your name wrong, please correct me. I do apologize. Uh Isabella Almeida. It's pronounced D. Um Glenda Armstrong. Thank you. Joseph Britton. Present. Uh Wilson Hernandez. Daniel Jowdy. Here. Uh Deborah McCarry. Here. Joseph Putnam. Here. Mary Jean Riberio. Here. And Michael Sefranic is here. Okay. Roll call is done. Next on the order of agenda is the Pledge of Allegiance. I will ask us all to stand. And to the mayor graciously will donate his flag for this. Here we go. There we go. That's a handy one. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Indivisible. With liberty and justice. Thank you all. Thank you. Okay. Item number four.

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