Committee on Administration, Finance and Law and Public Services Meeting – September 2, 2026

The Committee on Administration, Finance and Law and Public Services of the New Britain Common Council held a public hearing and regular meeting on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 6:34 PM in Council Chambers. Seven members were present, constituting a quorum. The public hearing had no participants and was closed at 6:37 PM. The sole agenda item was a resolution to amend Section 1-17 of the Code of Ordinances to replace the existing hearing committee with hearing officers, consistent with Connecticut General Statutes §7-152c.

Discussion Items

• ITEM NO. 37234 – Amend Sec. 1-17 of Chapter 1 of the Code of Ordinances
  Corporation counsel explained that the amendment aligns the ordinance with state law, which authorizes municipalities to appoint hearing officers for appeals of citations and ordinance violations. The current language requires a committee; changing to hearing officers provides flexibility and efficiency, as multiple officers can share the workload and avoid quorum issues. Counsel noted that a backlog already exists for parking ticket appeals because only one hearing officer is available, and the city anticipates additional appeals from upcoming automated traffic safety devices. The amendment also updates outdated terms (e.g., "policeman" to "police officer") and clarifies that hearing officers cannot be police officers or employees who issue citations.
• Discussion of Concerns and Amendment
  Alderman Santiago raised concerns that the phrase “one or more hearing officers” could allow the appointment of a single officer, potentially creating a new backlog. He also proposed clarifying that hearing officers cannot be employees of the department that issued the citation, not just those who personally issued it. After discussion, the committee approved an amendment adding the language: “or employees or persons employed by departments that issue citations.” Alderman Santiago made the motion, which was seconded and passed unanimously.
• Further Questions
  Alderman Luna asked about the current backlog: when a committee lacks a quorum, hearings must be postponed, causing delays. The amendment allows a single hearing officer to proceed, reducing wait times. Alderman Natal asked whether additional hearing officers could be appointed later; counsel confirmed the mayor can appoint more as needed. Alderman Barreto questioned whether postponements due to staffing would violate statutory timeframes for hearings; counsel acknowledged that having multiple hearing officers helps avoid that issue. Alderman Santiago and others discussed the need for training on jurisdiction (e.g., ATV/UTV citations), support personnel at hearings, and the option to appeal hearing officer decisions to superior court.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to Waive Reading of Legal Notice – Passed unanimously.
• Public Hearing – No participants; closed at 6:37 PM.
• Amendment Adopted: Resolution amended to add “or employees or persons employed by departments that issue citations” to the disqualification clause.
• Motion to Refer to Full Council: Alderman Santiago moved to refer the amended resolution to the Common Council with a neutral recommendation. The motion was seconded by Alderman Barreto and passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned thereafter.