Danbury City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Summary - July 22, 2026
Danbury City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Summary - July 22, 2026
The Danbury City Council Committee of the Whole met on July 22, 2026, to continue its review of the Charter Revision Commission's proposed amendments to the city charter. The meeting, a continuation from the previous Thursday, focused on chapters 2 through 8 and included extensive debate, motions to amend, and multiple roll-call votes. Nineteen council members were present, with two absent (Councilman Dennis Perkins due to a family bereavement and Councilman Salvatore).
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were noted. All items were discussed individually.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were heard during this session.
Discussion Items
- The committee proceeded section-by-section through the charter, beginning with Chapter 2 where several amendments were debated and voted on. Councilman Henry proposed amending Section 2-6 (vacancies) to add that appointments shall be "made by the mayor and approved by the city council." The motion failed on a roll-call vote of 13 opposed to 6 in favor.
- Councilwoman Faye moved to amend Section 2-2 to change four-year terms back to two-year terms for constables, zoning commission members, and alternates. The motion, which was expanded to cover all positions in Section 2-2 not yet decided, failed with 14 opposed and 3 in favor.
- Councilwoman Jabbar moved to replace the term "designate" with "appoint" in Section 2-4, paragraph 3. The motion carried on a voice vote.
- Councilman Chinese moved to recommend the commission reconsider Section 2-8 (oath of office) to either strike it or add language referencing the state statute (Sections 122-125) to allow alternative oaths. The motion carried on a voice vote.
- In Chapter 3, Councilman Henry moved to amend Section 3-3 (legislative assistant removal) to allow removal only by two-thirds vote of the council, removing the mayor's role. The motion failed on a roll-call vote of 14-3.
- Councilwoman Faye moved to recommend the commission revisit Sections 3-8 and 3-10 (public notice and hearing) to ensure they reference the current Connecticut statutes. The motion failed on a show-of-hands vote (6 in favor, 13 opposed).
- Councilwoman Lepine moved to amend Section 3-6 (quorum) to remove the word "elected," restoring the original language. The motion carried on a voice vote.
- Councilwoman Jabbar moved to change all references to state statutes throughout the charter to use the official term "General Statutes." The motion carried on a voice vote.
- Councilman Rotello moved to limit Section 3-13 to ad hoc committees only, striking the language for standing committees. The motion failed on a voice vote.
- Councilman Perkins moved to recommend two-year term limits for all chairmen of standing committees. The motion carried on a roll-call vote (9-7, with some abstentions).
- In Chapter 4, Councilwoman Faye moved to recommend the commission revisit Section 4-1, seeking to preserve the $1,000 gift acceptance limit (with no reporting required by the mayor). That motion failed on a voice vote. She then moved to require the mayor to report to the council on all gifts accepted. This motion carried on a roll-call vote (10-9).
- In Chapter 6, Councilman Hawley moved to strike the recommendation to convert the town clerk from an elected to an appointed position, requesting the commission reconsider the appointment model with safeguards. The motion carried on a roll-call vote (11-8).
- Councilwoman Lepine moved to recommend the commission add qualifications for the Director of Public Works in Section 6-8A. The motion failed on a show-of-hands vote (9-10).
- Councilman Henry moved to return Section 6-18 (Board of Education) to the commission for a full revisit. The motion carried on a voice vote. A subsequent motion to change "shall" to "may" in the requirement for the Board of Ed to submit financial reports, and to define "full access" with privacy protections, carried on a roll-call vote (11-8).
- Councilman Rotello moved to require the council confirm the appointment of the director of the new Department of Technology Services (Section 6-16). The motion failed on a roll-call vote (11-8).
- Councilman Hawley moved to require a two-thirds confirmation vote for all department heads under Section 6-4. The motion carried on a roll-call vote (9-8).
- Councilman Chinese moved to retain the name "Elderly Services" instead of "Aging." The motion failed on a roll-call vote (10-8).
- Councilman Chinese moved to retain the name "Parks and Recreation" as a separate department. The motion failed on a roll-call vote (11-9).
- In Chapter 7 (borrowing), Councilman Chinese moved to return Section 7-10 to the commission for review of internal controls and eligible project types. The motion failed on a roll-call vote (13-8).
- In Chapter 8 (ethics), Councilwoman Faye moved to broaden Section 8-2 to include non-monetary conflicts. The motion failed on a roll-call vote (13-5).
- Councilman Chinese moved to reinstate Section 8-2 (present employees retain positions) to protect current city employees during departmental changes. The motion carried on a roll-call vote (10-7).
Key Outcomes
- The committee passed several motions directing the Charter Revision Commission to reconsider specific sections, including: rewording of Section 2-8 (oath of office), clarification of Section 3-6 (quorum), uniform reference to "General Statutes" throughout the charter, term limits for standing committee chairs, reporting of gifts by the mayor (Section 4-1), retaining the elected town clerk (Section 6-2), full revisit of Section 6-18 (Board of Education) with specific recommendations, requiring council confirmation of most department heads (Section 6-4), and reinstating employee protections (Section 8-2).
- The committee voted to transmit all approved recommended changes (including amendments) to the Charter Revision Commission and to convene a joint meeting to confer on the final language before presentation to the full City Council.
- The committee adjourned after authorizing the process to move forward. No follow-up meeting date was specified.
Meeting Transcript
Continuation of the committee of the whole that was commenced last Thursday and and we're continuing afield. Um before we start, uh Councilman Dennis Perkins lost his mother very very recently, and I would just uh her name is Robin. Thank you, Dwayne. Robin McCorley, and I would just ask that we, his colleagues here on the council, just take a minute of silence uh for Dennis and for his mother, Robin McCauley. Thank you. So to just to pick up where we left off, or try to pick up where we left off in chapter two of the charter and the revisions made by the charter revision commission. Excuse me, Mr. President. Are we gonna have the pledge? We we're just continuing the existing meeting that already started with the pledge. Would you feel more comfortable? Fine. We do that on the city on the zoning commission. That'd be my pleasure. Please stand 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. Thank you, Councilman McQuelly. So as I said, we are in chapter two. Um we we made uh there were by my count three successful amendments that were voted on and approved in chapter two, and um we are proceeding again through chapter two in and continuing our debate. Uh we were deep in the weeds of section two-four of chapter two, and there are other sections. Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you. I've been reminded to call attendance at the continued meeting. Councilman Coello. Here, Councilman Flanagan present, councilman Hawley, Councilwoman Lepine here, Councilman Salvatore is not present, Councilman Bazade present, Councilwoman Gartner, uh present, councilwoman Faye, Councilman Henry, Councilwoman Wallace Smith, Councilwoman Spain Reichel, Councilman Giordano, Councilman Jabor, Councilman Rotello, Councilman Chinese, Councilman Dwayne Perkins, Councilman Britton, Councilman McAllister, Councilwoman Robinson, Councilman Laffinghouse, and as I explained, uh Councilman Dennis Perkins' mom passed away, so he is not here. Councilman Jabor is present. Councilwoman Jabor is present. So we I believe have seven 17 present, or rather 19 present and two absent. That said, um we were discussing chapter two. I believe we had gotten all the way through section two-six as we make our way through chapter two, and um we are going through for people to have discussion. I believe we are still at the lower dais, going from my right to left. There are any motions by anybody or any comments or remarks by anyone on the remaining sections of chapter two on the lower dais. Seeing none, we'll return to the upper dais for round two on the upper dais to my left. Is there any further comments or or conversation regarding chapter two? Councilman Henry. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Section two-six vacancies on the red line. I would like to add in at the end of 60 days, the last sentence, such appointments shall be made by the mayor and approved by the city council to incorporate new language. Okay. And that's a motion yes, Mr. Chairman. I would like to recommend that language we added to that. Okay. Red line. Thank you. Is there a second to that motion? That motion has been seconded by Councilwoman Faye. Are there any is there any remarks and discussions about that motion? Would the councilman repeat the motion?
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