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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

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
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█████████████████████████████████████████████69%
Charter Revision███████████████████29%
Ethics█2%
Summary of Proceedings

Danbury Charter Revision Commission Organizational Meeting - April 15, 2026

The Charter Revision Commission held its organizational meeting on April 15, 2026, at City Hall. The meeting included the swearing-in of members, election of officers, a presentation from corporation counsel on the charter revision process and proposed timeline, adoption of a regular meeting schedule and rules of procedure, and scheduling of the first public hearing. No substantive charter discussions occurred, as state statute requires a public hearing before beginning substantive work.

Election of Officers

  • Interim Chair: Commissioner Michael Sefranik was elected interim chair by unanimous voice vote to preside over the election of permanent officers.
  • Permanent Chair: Joseph Britton was nominated and elected permanent chair by unanimous voice vote.
  • Permanent Vice Chair: Michael Sefranik was nominated and elected permanent vice chair by unanimous voice vote.
  • Permanent Secretary: Isabel Almeida was nominated and elected permanent secretary by unanimous voice vote.

Presentation by Corporation Counsel

  • Attorney Dan Casagrandi outlined the basic steps for revising the municipal charter, noting the commission was created by the City Council on April 7, 2026, with nine members (no more than one-third holding other public office and no more than a bare majority from the same party).
  • The final report must be submitted to the appointing authority (City Council) within 16 months of the commission's creation.
  • At least two public hearings are required: one before beginning substantive work and one after the draft report is completed.
  • A proposed accelerated timetable was presented aiming to complete the process in time for the November 2026 election:
    • Weekly meetings from May 4 through June 18.
    • Draft report submission to the council by June 19.
    • Second public hearing on July 1.
    • Council public hearing within 45 days of report submission (by August 28).
    • Joint meeting between commission and council proposed for July 30.
    • Final report to council by August 10, with council action on referendum by August 11.
  • Attorney Casagrandi explained the council may recommend changes to the draft report, after which the commission may amend or reject those recommendations before submitting a final report.

Adoption of Commission Meeting Schedule

  • The commission adopted a regular meeting schedule for May and June 2026: Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., at City Hall (in-person, with possibility of hybrid or virtual meetings). The motion was made by Commissioner Sefranik, seconded, and carried by voice vote with no opposition.

Adoption of Rules of Procedure

  • The commission adopted draft rules of procedure presented by the chair, covering officer roles, quorum, motions, voting, minutes, and use of Robert's Rules of Order. The motion was made, seconded, and carried by voice vote with no opposition.

Scheduling of First Public Hearing

  • The commission set the first public hearing for Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall. The motion was made, seconded, and carried by voice vote with no opposition.

Chair's Remarks and Housekeeping

  • Chair Joseph Britton emphasized the importance of being present, assuming positive intent, and leaving Danbury better than found.
  • Expectations: deliver a draft to the city council with finalized language in time for the November election.
  • Attendance: commissioners are asked to notify the chair and legislative assistant Elisa at least two days in advance if unable to attend.
  • Email communications: cautioned that emails to a majority of members discussing commission business could constitute an improperly noticed meeting under FOIA. Commissioners should use city-provided email accounts (to be set up) and assume all emails are subject to disclosure.
  • Legal questions should be funneled through the chair to corporation counsel to avoid duplication.

Commissioner Introductions

  • Each commissioner introduced themselves, providing background and length of residence in Danbury. Backgrounds included small business ownership, nonprofit leadership, education, real estate, law, and military service.

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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