New Britain Common Council Regular Meeting – June 11, 2025
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New Britain Common Council Regular Meeting – June 11, 2025
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.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Frank Chase (24 Raxbury): Criticized Mayor Stewart for inadequate funding for the Allen Street project, claiming $6 million has been amassed but $8 million is still needed. He stated that sanitary backups and breaks continue, and that residents in the Belvet Air section of Ward 4 are neglected. He and his wife continue advocacy for full funding and construction.
- John Board: Urged adoption of Rule 14 (decorum rules) to prevent personal attacks and ensure respectful governance. He argued that the rule, modeled after Connecticut General Assembly rules, would prohibit clapping, booing, signs, and outbursts, and is a content-neutral restriction that preserves order. He stated that disagreement is welcome but disrespect is not.
- Kelly Noss (29th Cer Street): Recounted 28 years of volunteer work feeding the homeless and caring for children placed by DCF. He expressed disappointment that council members did not know him, given his long service. He also described a personal incident where he tracked down a perpetrator after police declined to act.
- Lisa Lu (63 Bassett Street): Thanked the council for their budget work and expressed support for funding homelessness, education, and the library. She stated she is in support of a good budget beneficial to everyone.
- Response from Council:
- Alderwoman Scott thanked speakers and noted the budget had been vetoed. She then commented on John Board's remarks, arguing that clapping is not the source of unsafety. She cited two incidents where individuals felt unsafe due to council members' behavior: a child hit by a car who was yelled at in April 2024, and a December meeting where an alderperson left their seat and physically confronted someone. She urged focus on those issues.
- Alderman Connors acknowledged Frank Chase's claims but noted the Claims Commission has limited authority. He mentioned a proposed resolution for preemptive remedial measures sponsored by Alderman McNamara.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 – Automated Traffic Enforcement Devices (Ordinance Amendment): Alderman McNamara moved adoption, stating the ordinance would allow use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices as part of the city's safety action plan. Alderwoman Sanchez offered an amendment to add "the common council and" before "the Connecticut Department of Transportation" in the approval process for device locations. The amendment passed unanimously. The resolution, as amended, was adopted unanimously.
- Item 4 – New Britain Downtown District Budget (FY 2025-2026): Alderwoman Beloin Savedra moved adoption of the tax levy of 2.75 mills (a decrease of 0.15 mills from the current year). Alderwoman Scott noted the district director was absent and expressed the need to support downtown businesses, requesting that meeting dates be shared so council members can attend. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
- Item 5 – Juneteenth Proclamation: Alderwoman Scott moved adoption, reading a resolution that recognizes June 19, 2025 as Juneteenth. She highlighted the historical significance, the ongoing struggle for equality, and the need to address uncomfortable truths about slavery. Alderman Hargraves spoke in support, calling slavery a dark stain on U.S. history and stressing the importance of celebrating freedom. Scott announced the Juneteenth Freedom Festival on June 19 from 5–8 PM in Central Park, with free food, face painting, and a live band. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- All 14 resolutions and the amendment were adopted unanimously (13-0, with 13 members present).
- Item 1: Ordinance amendment to Chapter 15 to allow automated traffic enforcement devices, with an added requirement that the location plan be approved by the Common Council and the Connecticut Department of Transportation.
- Item 2: Authorization for a permanent access road easement for Eversource Energy at 1085 Corbin Avenue for a one-time payment of $7,000.
- Item 3: Authorization for an electric distribution easement for Eversource Energy at 150 Deming Road.
- Item 4: Downtown District fiscal year 2025-2026 budget with a tax levy of 2.75 mills.
- Item 5: Proclamation recognizing June 19, 2025 as Juneteenth.
- Item 6: Proclamation recognizing June 14, 2025 as Flag Day.
- Item 7: Proclamation recognizing June as Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month.
- Item 8: Proclamation recognizing June as National Immigrant Heritage Month.
- Item 9: Contract authorization with Acrisure LLC for insurance and risk management consulting services at an annual price of $20,004 from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2028, with options for two one-year extensions.
- Item 10: Contract authorization with the Regional Water Authority for chemical and biological analysis services for one year from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, with options for two one-year extensions.
- Item 11: Approval of tax abatements, corrections, and refunds totaling just under $25,000 (real property and vehicles) for the month of May.
- Item 12: Budget appropriation of $16,593 from the Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhood grant for the New Britain Police Department to provide technical and sports equipment for a summer program (basketball and soccer) at the New Britain Pell League on Osgood Avenue, with a duration of May 28, 2025 to September 20, 2027.
- Item 13: Authorization of a purchase order of $18,635.35 to Traffic and Parking Control for two rectangular rapid flashing beacons to improve pedestrian safety.
- Item 14: Authorization of a purchase order of $19,306.46 to New England Traffic Solutions for a traffic signal cabinet for the Public Works Department (the previous cabinet was damaged by a hit-and-run).
Meeting Transcript
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.
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