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Record of Proceedings

Danbury City Council Committee of the Whole Reviews Charter Revision – July 17, 2026

Meeting Portal — Friday, July 17, 2026
BodyDanbury, Connecticut
SessionMeeting Portal
DateFriday, July 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:36:51

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

I happen to be the president of the city council, and I'm calling the July 16th, 2026 Committee of the Whole, to order at approximately 636 p.m.

0:14

As president of the council, it falls to me to be chairman of this committee of the whole.

0:18

So let us begin by saying the uh Pledge of Allegiance, please rise.

0:23

Uh Councilman McGallister, could you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

0:27

Thank you, Mr.

0:28

President.

0:30

To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:36

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

0:42

Please remain standing.

0:44

I do have a request.

1:01

And he lost his life tragically very recently.

1:05

So just a moment of silence for him, please.

1:08

Thank you.

1:22

Right.

1:22

Thank you.

1:23

You may be seated.

1:29

So for the first time this evening, I'm going to take attendance.

1:32

Councilman Coello.

1:34

Councilman Flanagan.

1:37

Councilman Hawley.

1:39

Councilwoman Lepine.

1:41

Councilman Salvatore.

1:43

Councilman Vizade.

1:45

Councilwoman Gardner.

1:48

Councilwoman Faye.

1:50

Councilman Henry.

1:51

Councilwoman Wallace Smith.

1:54

Councilman.

1:55

Councilwoman Spain Reichel.

1:57

Councilman Giordano.

2:00

Councilwoman Jabbar.

2:02

Councilman Rotello.

2:04

Councilman Chinese.

2:06

Councilman Dwayne Perkins.

2:09

Councilman Britton.

2:11

Councilman McGallister.

2:13

Councilwoman Robinson.

2:15

Councilman Laughinghouse.

2:18

Councilman Dennis Perkins.

2:21

We have 20 members present, one absent.

2:25

I expect her to arrive late.

2:34

I'll read the notice of tonight's meeting.

2:37

There'll be a meeting of the Committee of the Whole for all members of the City Council, commencing at 6 30 p.m.

2:46

on July the 16th.

2:50

Shortly thereafter, there'll be a recess to commence a public hearing at 7 p.m.

2:56

After which the Committee of the Whole will continue.

3:00

The purpose of tonight's Committee of the Whole is a discussion of the charter revision draft report, which was returned to the council.

3:10

I expect us to recess for the public hearing at 6 55 to allow time for the uh videographer to be prepared for the public hearing.

3:23

And we'll commence promptly at 7 p.m.

3:27

with the public hearing portion.

3:31

Tonight, we we will examine the draft report of proposed changes to the charter by the charter revision commission.

3:44

This is an unusual task for the council.

3:46

It doesn't happen that frequently.

4:19

And we'd move on to chapter two.

4:21

It's my expectation there are certain chapters that we're going to spend a lot of time on, and there'll be other chapters where less time will be spent.

4:38

At the end of the debate on a particular chapter, it's my plan we'll take a vote to approve the chapter or not approve the chapter, or amend the or amend the chapter.

4:49

That would be my expectation as we go through this.

4:52

There are eight chapters to the charter.

5:02

Councilman Salvatore, I'll recognize you for motion.

5:06

So for purposes uh ordering the evening, I make a motion to approve your outline of the agenda to handle the Charter Revision Commission recommendations chapter by chapter.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Miscellaneous█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Procedural██████████████17%
Pending Litigation█████████████16%
Personnel Matters█████████11%
Community Engagement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Danbury City Council Committee of the Whole Reviews Charter Revision – July 17, 2026

On July 17, 2026, the Danbury City Council Committee of the Whole convened (beginning July 16 at 6:36 p.m.) to discuss the Charter Revision Commission’s draft report. After a recess for a public hearing at 7 p.m., the council examined proposed changes to the preamble, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2 of the city charter. Multiple amendments were debated and voted on, with recommendations to be forwarded to the commission. The meeting was continued to July 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Discussion Items

  • Preamble and Chapter 1 (City Identity & Purpose)
    Council members debated the addition of “resident” and “taxpayer” to the preamble’s aspirational language. Councilman Henry moved to add “taxpayer,” which passed 12‑9. The main motion to approve the preamble and Chapter 1 as amended then carried.

  • Chapter 2 – Reapportionment of Wards (Section 2‑4)
    Councilman Henry moved to remove the mayor’s appointment of a fifth reapportionment member when the four-member commission deadlocks, instead having the council appoint that member. After extensive debate about political dynamics and past deadlocks, the amendment failed 13‑8. Councilwoman Jabbar then moved to change “appointed” to “nominated” in the same section, which passed by voice vote.

  • Chapter 2 – Municipal Elections (Section 2‑2)
    Councilwoman Faye moved to keep the mayor’s term at two years rather than the proposed four years. Supporters argued two-year terms ensure accountability and voter engagement; opponents cited the need for long-term planning and voter fatigue. The motion failed 14‑7. Councilman Rotello moved to keep city council terms at two years; that amendment also failed (12 no votes).

  • Chapter 2 – Board of Education Terms
    Councilman Chinese moved to retain staggered four-year terms for Board of Education members, arguing it preserves institutional knowledge and gives voters more frequent input. The motion carried on a roll-call vote.

  • Chapter 2 – Vacancies in Elected Offices (Section 2‑6)
    Councilman Chinese moved to strike the proposed language allowing the mayor to fill a vacancy if the council fails to act within 60 days. Opponents noted that without a deadline the council could delay indefinitely; the motion failed 13‑8.

Key Outcomes

  • Amendment to add “taxpayer” to preamble: Passed 12‑9.
  • Main motion for preamble and Chapter 1 (as amended): Approved (voice vote, ayes prevail).
  • Amendment to remove mayoral appointment of fifth reapportionment member: Failed 13‑8.
  • Amendment to change “appointed” to “nominated” in Section 2‑4: Passed.
  • Amendment to keep mayor’s term at two years: Failed 14‑7.
  • Amendment to keep council term at two years: Failed (12 no votes).
  • Motion to retain staggered BOE terms: Passed (roll call – majority in favor).
  • Amendment to strike vacancy deadline language: Failed 13‑8.
  • Motion to continue the meeting to July 21 at 6:30 p.m.: Passed (one opposed).

The council’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Charter Revision Commission for further consideration.

Meeting Transcript

I happen to be the president of the city council, and I'm calling the July 16th, 2026 Committee of the Whole, to order at approximately 636 p.m. As president of the council, it falls to me to be chairman of this committee of the whole. So let us begin by saying the uh Pledge of Allegiance, please rise. Uh Councilman McGallister, could you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance? Thank you, Mr. President. 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 for all. Please remain standing. I do have a request. And he lost his life tragically very recently. So just a moment of silence for him, please. Thank you. Right. Thank you. You may be seated. So for the first time this evening, I'm going to take attendance. Councilman Coello. Councilman Flanagan. Councilman Hawley. Councilwoman Lepine. Councilman Salvatore. Councilman Vizade. Councilwoman Gardner. Councilwoman Faye. Councilman Henry. Councilwoman Wallace Smith. Councilman. Councilwoman Spain Reichel. Councilman Giordano. Councilwoman Jabbar. Councilman Rotello. Councilman Chinese. Councilman Dwayne Perkins. Councilman Britton. Councilman McGallister. Councilwoman Robinson. Councilman Laughinghouse. Councilman Dennis Perkins. We have 20 members present, one absent. I expect her to arrive late. I'll read the notice of tonight's meeting. There'll be a meeting of the Committee of the Whole for all members of the City Council, commencing at 6 30 p.m. on July the 16th. Shortly thereafter, there'll be a recess to commence a public hearing at 7 p.m. After which the Committee of the Whole will continue. The purpose of tonight's Committee of the Whole is a discussion of the charter revision draft report, which was returned to the council. I expect us to recess for the public hearing at 6 55 to allow time for the uh videographer to be prepared for the public hearing. And we'll commence promptly at 7 p.m. with the public hearing portion.

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