The Common Council met on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall. Public participation began at 7:02 PM, and the regular meeting was called to order at 7:31 PM. The council unanimously approved all 14 resolutions, including an ordinance amendment for automated traffic enforcement, several proclamations, contracts, and purchase orders. Discussion occurred on the traffic enforcement amendment, the Downtown District budget, and the Juneteenth proclamation. The meeting adjourned at 7:57 PM.
Let me start again. Welcome everybody to the regular meeting of the Common Council for June eleventh, twenty twenty-five. As always, we begin hearing from the public. It is now seven oh two p.m. I have two names on a list, and then we'll check if there are others who want to speak. And uh the floor now belongs to Frank Chase. Frank Chase, twenty-four Raxbury. As all the persons of Drew recently noted, look at all the progress the city council has made thus far. We've amassed six million dollars for the Allen Street project. The reality is Stewart's regime is still eight million dollars short. Sevidra failed to mention that the updated final engineering plan with the required approvals are in place for the Allen Street project because of all the all the person McNamara and Director Moriarty's collective effort. Mayor Stewart has noted during her twelve-year reign that the Allen Street project is our most pressing need. Stewart's efforts with the Allen Street project have come up short, and we are still flooding with sanitary backups and breaks. Remember, when the flooding water recedes and that during dry spells, the residents and taxpayers in the Belvet Air section of Ward 4 are conveniently forgotten by our city officials. Sharon and I will continue with our advocacy campaign to prioritize fully fund and construct the construct the Allen Street project. Stewart's regime has decided to penalize Sharon and I because we have shined a bright light on our elected officials, including Aaron Stewart, and because we have chosen to mitigate our property from the compromised Allen Street system to avoid more losses, injury, and mental anguish. Aaron Stewart is responsible for this ongoing fiasco. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Chase. Next name on the list is John Board. Good evening, uh members of the council. Uh tonight I rise in strong support of adoption of Rule 14 of your common council rules. Uh, a necessary and overdue addition to the council's rules concerning public participation and decorum. Over the last several weeks, we have all witnessed how meetings quickly in this chamber can unravel, and how the absence of clear guidelines allow conversations to veer away from meaningful dialogue and towards personal attacks. What does it say about us as a community when members leave this room not feeling heard but feeling attacked? That's not the legacy that we want to build. And it's not the atmosphere that the people of New Britain had spent when they walk into a public meeting. Residents deserve a space where both elected officials and the public can listen, speak, and participate without the fear of being mocked, interrupted, or shamed. Rule 14 will not silence anyone. It actually protects everyone. It draws a clear and reasonable line. No clapping, booings, no signs, no outbursts. This is not a rally, it is a meeting of government. And a meeting in government we're here to govern, not to perform. Rule 14 is modeled after the Connecticut General Assembly rules, which govern public hearings at the state level. Those rules and long upheld traditions are respected that prohibit applause, personal attacks, signs, and disruptive behavior. They do not stifle speech, but they preserve the integrity of the process. Courts have repeatedly affirmed that legislature bodies can impose content neutral time, police, and manner restrictions on speech as it's limited to public forums like council meetings. Rule 14 meets that test, is reasonable, non-discriminatory, and serves a legitimate government interest. Preserving order and decorum so that the people's business can be conducted without fear or disruption. By adopting Rule 14, this council affirms a simple truth. Disagreement is welcome, but disrespect is not. Civility is not weakness, is the foundation of a functioning democracy. And at a time when public institutions are under mounting pressure, maintaining decorum is not only a responsibility, but it is essential. So tonight I urge you to adopt Rule 14, set a standard that we can be proud of so that our residents and this council is committed to respectful governance and that can that we can all affirm that democracy still works and that there is dignity still left in it. Thank you. Thank you, John. I have no other names on the list, but if somebody wishes to speak, yes, sir. Oh jeez, God.