Good evening everyone.

I call to order this October first, twenty twenty-five public hearing and regular meeting of the committee on administration, finance, and law and public services.

The time is now 630 PM.

Ms.

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Alderman Connors?

Present.

Alderman Barbosa.

Alderman McNamara?

Here.

Alderman Santiago.

Alderman Simpson?

Present.

Alderman Gibson.

Alderman Pabone?

Alderman Smedley?

Alderman Savedra?

You have a quorum also seated our Alderman Russell.

And Alderman Malinowski.

Sorry.

Thank you, Ms.

Clerk.

Thank you.

And when you get to your desk, will you please read into the record the notice of public hearing?

Oh, there's a little feedback.

Yeah, we got a little echo.

Unless someone wants to make a motion.

Alder Woman's uh Bullets of Aedra.

I make a motion that we um wave the reading.

All uh motion to waive the reading made by Alderman Bolins of Edra, seconded by Alderman uh Simpson.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

All opposed, nay.

Motion carries, we didn't everything is waived.

Having been properly noticed, we will begin the public hearing.

Please remember to state your name and address for the record and limit your speaking time to three minutes.

The item for public hearing is three, six nine five five to amend chapter two of the code of ordinances to create a uniform term of office for department heads.

I have two uh speakers on the sign-up list.

Uh uh Donald Malinowski.

Good evening, state your name and address for the record.

You have three minutes.

Thank you.

Good evening, everybody.

After attending the council meeting on Wednesday, I felt compelled to come and speak tonight.

Um concerning uh this proposed ordinance.

I think it's appropriate at this point for me to read uh from our city charter, uh section eight two, except otherwise provided by state law or the charter, all department heads shall be appointed and subject to the authority of the mayor following the consent of the common council and may not be removed from office except for cause which shall not be political.

Uh the other section is terms of the department heads.

Common council discretion.

The common council may in its discretion establish by ordinance a uniform term of office for all department heads, which term shall be for a period no less than four years.

One should not necessarily do a thing.

The city of New Britain will be interviewing them.

The mayor will be interviewing them.

There is a process.

However, they will also be interviewing us.

And they will be trying to decide, especially for a position that requires them moving to the city, such as fire chief or police chief.

They will be trying to decide if they're going to move their established family to the city.

If they're going to sell their home somewhere else, whether it be local or whether it be somewhere else in the country.

And by the way, why should somebody decide they're going to move if we have a national search for a position?

Why should somebody decide to move across the country when in a four-year position, they don't even qualify for the retirement package that the city provides?

You need to be have five years to be vested.