Danbury City Council Committee of the Whole Charter Revision Deliberations - July 23, 2026
Danbury City Council Committee of the Whole Charter Revision Deliberations - July 23, 2026
The Danbury City Council Committee of the Whole continued its review of proposed charter revisions from the Charter Revision Commission on July 23, 2026, with 19 members present. The meeting covered chapters 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8, during which the council debated and voted on numerous amendments and recommendations to send back to the commission. Key outcomes included votes on the town clerk appointment, committee structure, board of education oversight, and employee protections.
Discussion Items & Key Outcomes
Chapter 2
- Motion by Councilman Henry (Section 2-6) to add "and approved by the city council" after appointments: failed (13 opposed).
- Motion by Councilwoman Faye (Section 2-2) to reduce terms from 4 to 2 years for constables, zoning commission, and alternates: failed (14 opposed).
- Motion by Councilwoman Jabbar (Section 2-4) to replace "designate" with "appoint": passed (voice vote).
- Motion by Councilman Chinese (Section 2-8) to recommend the commission revisit the oath of office and align with state statutes: passed (voice vote).
Chapter 3
- Motion by Councilman Henry (Section 3-3) to remove the mayor from the removal process of the legislative assistant and require two-thirds council vote: failed (14 opposed).
- Motion by Councilwoman Faye (Sections 3-8 & 3-10) to ensure public notice language reflects current state statutes: failed (13 opposed).
- Motion by Councilwoman LePine (Section 3-6) to change quorum language to "a majority of the entire city council membership": passed (voice vote).
- Motion by Councilwoman Jabbar (Section 3) to standardize references to "General Statutes" throughout the charter: passed (voice vote).
- Motion by Councilwoman Jabbar (Section 3-13) to define committees as ad hoc, standing, or committees of the whole: passed (voice vote).
- Motion by Councilman Rotello (Section 3-13) to strike standing committees language: failed (voice vote).
- Motion by Councilman Chinese (Section 3-13) to require two-thirds vote to establish standing committees: failed.
- Motion by Councilman Perkins (Section 3-13) to impose two-year term limits on standing committee chairs: failed (3 yes, presumably 16 no).
Chapter 4
- Motion by Councilwoman Faye (Section 4-1) to lower the gift acceptance limit from $5,000 back to $1,000: failed (nays).
- Motion by Councilwoman Faye (Section 4-1) to require the mayor to report any gift acceptance over $5,000 to the council: passed (roll call, 13 yes? The president stated "the ayes have it" with 7? but roll call indicated 13 yes; motion carried).
Chapter 6
- Motion by Councilman Hawley (Section 6-2) to strike the change making the town clerk appointed and keep it elected: passed (11-8).
- Motion by Councilman Henry (Section 6-18) to return the entire Board of Education section to the commission for revision: passed (voice vote).
- Motion by Councilman Henry (Section 6-18) to change "shall" to "may" and define "full access" with protections: passed (roll call, 11 yes).
- Motion by Councilman Rotello (Section 6-16) to require council confirmation for the IT director: failed (11 no, 8 yes).
- Motion by Councilman Hawley (Section 6-4) to require two-thirds council vote for all department heads: passed (roll call, 11 yes).
- Motion by Councilman Chinese (Section 6-3 and 6-13) to retain "Department of Parks and Recreation": failed (11 no).
- Motion by Councilman Chinese (Section 6-3 and 6-14) to retain "Elderly" instead of "Aging": failed (10 no).
Chapter 7
- Motion by Councilman Chinese (Section 7-10) to refer the bonding limit issue to the commission for review of internal controls: failed (13 no).
Chapter 8
- Motion by Councilwoman Faye (Section 8-2) to expand the ethics section beyond monetary conflicts: failed (13 no).
- Motion by Councilman Chinese (Section 8-2) to reinstate the provision protecting present employees' positions: passed (10 yes).
- Motion by Councilwoman Faye (Section 8-8) to review the 1963 ordinance reference: failed (11 no).
Final Actions
- Motion by Councilwoman Gardner to transmit all approved recommendations to the Charter Revision Commission and convene a joint conference to confer on the changes: passed (voice vote, with 3 opposed).
The meeting was adjourned after a motion to close the committee of the whole.
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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