If you were looking for sexy stuff to reform the Bridgeport City Charter, for voter sign off, what seemed promising has wilted like a weed in this horrific heat.
One of the big issues leading members of the Charter Revision Commission floated for City Council approval to present to voters in November was minor-party representation on the legislative body currently consisting of 20 members, all Democrats, covering 10 districts.
The idea was to open up the gene pool to allow Republicans, Working Families, Bridgeport Independent Party and petitioning candidates chances at minor-party slots. New personalities, different ideas, people not wedded to the Democratic reservation. Other communities do this.
Some council members even declared previously that would serve as a refreshing measure.
So the 13-member panel kicked around some ideas for minor-party inclusion to commence in 2031 providing two more council cycles as a transition. Some discussion centered on reducing the council to 15 at-large (city wide) members providing a few automatic slots for minor party candidates.
When council members received word of this several attended the last meeting of the charter commission as it noodled the final details of what it planned to send to the council for final say to voters.
This commission is not comprised of party hacks, mostly regular folk largely disconnected from the political apparatus. But when they heard the vehement protests from council members, they capitulated and reversed course. If we send these proposals on to them, they will just blowtorch the suggestions anyway, was the rationale for defenestration. The council has final say on what is presented to voters for consideration.
This charter examination was initiated by the City Council, per power invested by Connecticut state statute.
Another item many council members privately desire is compensation for the growing constituent work they do rather than the current $11,000 stipend system reimbursing them for expenses. Technically they serve as volunteers. What’s reasonable compensation to start, $20K a year?
This issue too was jettisoned, many councilors fearing such a question for voter consideration would serve as a cudgel opponents could use against them, particularly in September Democratic primaries.
So, for the most part, the role of the legislative body and its makeup remains the same, except for a few key nuggets if signed off by the council for presentation to electors.
Example, effective December 1, 2031, the City Council president, not the mayor, will preside over council meetings, something current council president Aidee Nieves supports. See draft language for council consideration.
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Effective December 1, 2031, at the beginning of each term of office, the city council shall elect a majority leader and minority leader. As used in this chapter the term majority leader shall refer to the leader selected by the council members from the party having the largest number of members on the city council and minority leader shall mean the leader selected by the council members from the party or parties other than the one having the largest number of members on the city council. In addition to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the majority leader and minority leaders set forth in this chapter at section 5– Office of Legislative Services, additional powers, duties, and responsibilities may be established by ordinance or by the city council rules of order. The City Council President shall preside at the meetings of the City Council and shall have one vote. In the absence of the president of the city council at any meeting, the city council may choose one of its members to act as president for the occasion who, when so presiding, shall have a casting vote in case of a tie in addition to his/her vote as council member. In the event of the death, resignation or inability to act of the president of the city council, the council shall elect another president in his place.
Note the reference above to the majority and minority leaders. This presumes someone will eventually be elected to the council who’s not a Democratic.
City Council leadership has sought for a long time more independence from the executive branch including its own staff. The language below buoys that preference.
Section 5. Office of Legislative Services.
There shall be a non-partisan Office of Legislative Services, with full-time professional and clerical staff, to provide assistance to the City Council. The Office of Legislative Services shall be provided adequate space for its operation and shall be supplied with all equipment and incidentals necessary for the proper discharge of its duties, to be paid from the general fund, as appropriated. The role of the Office of Legislative Services is to support and implement the goals and the mission of the City Council.
The Office of Legislative Services shall be solely a part of the Legislative Branch and serve the functions and needs of the Bridgeport City Council.
- Personnel Committee
There shall be a personnel committee composed of the President of the city council, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader. The personnel committee shall appoint a Director for the Office of Legislative Services, and shall advise the Director on staffing within the Office.
- Director of Legislative Services
The Director of Legislative Services shall be in the unclassified civil service and serve a term of four (4) years, commencing January 1, 2026. The Director of Legislative Services shall be responsible for the day-to-day management and functions of the Office of Legislative Services, including the expenditure of funds appropriated for the office, subject to consent of the City Council President.
Some other notable items before the council for voter consideration: The phasing out of town clerk and city clerk as elected positions in 2031.
Why?
The reality is the people who put in the hard work in the offices of the town clerk and city clerk are the assistants and general staff. (Paging Assistant Town Clerk Christina Resto and Assistant City Clerk Frances Ortiz, both superb public officials.)
Except for a few outliers (hello Alma Maya), the elected town clerks and city clerks have basically showed up for a few hours a week and collected a paycheck.
The city clerk maintains and processes the records, as well as serving as support, for the City Council while the town clerk supervises land records, permits, absentee ballots and more.
In addition, the charter panel also recommends the phasing out of six city sheriff slots that process legal papers. This gives them time to segue into the state marshal system that does the same.
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At the municipal election held in November 2027 a City Clerk shall be elected to serve a four-year term ending on November 30, 2031. Effective December 1, 2031, the position of City Clerk shall be incorporated into the classified civil service in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 17 of this charter. The procedures governing the duties of the City Clerk are set forth in Chapter 4 of this charter. there shall be elected a City Clerk, who shall hold office for the term of four years from the first day of December next succeeding.
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At the municipal election held in November 2027 a Town Clerk shall be elected to serve a four-year term ending on November 30, 2031. Effective December 1, 2031, the position of Town Clerk shall be incorporated into the classified civil service in accordance with Chapter 17 of this charter. The procedures governing the duties of the Town Clerk are set forth in Chapter 4 of this charter.
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At the municipal election held in November 2027 six sheriffs shall be elected, who shall be officers of the city and shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years ending on November 30, 2031. Upon the expiration of their terms, the city shall cease to elect city sheriffs. .
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At the municipal election held in November 2026 and quadrennially thereafter two Registrar of Voters shall be elected, who shall hold office for the term of four years and pursuant to Chapter 9 of the general statutes.
More updates to come on potential charter changes.
Well, this is something…They are smart enuff to come up with an idea that would attract a lot of disillusioned group of voters but not functional to let it go forth! Wow 👏. Now ur left to wonder why NOONE wants to be involved with the politics here! They should stop the harsh culture they are creating because voters will react even dems dont like bullies! This is horrible for the city ! The ]l have to wake up and create their own council or leaders they cud vote in the local elections will be soon ppl should be looking for candidates or voting “on code” right now center republicans look the best bit most are afraid to vote them in cause oops…look who is republican chief here …Bport has to create better leaders to vote for to vote these guys out! Whoever they choose they have to protect because it won’t be easy …
Mr. Smith,
Thank you for your ‘post-game commentary’. Were you aware that a Charter Review group of citizens had been commissioned to review and modernize our Charter? Did you attend either of the public hearings? Did you submit comments or suggestions? “Politics” as such was not the order of the day in our many discussions, in detail. Governance, how the Charter structures an elected and appointed leadership with rules and perhaps less oversight and enforcement than necessary, is the detail that those who would serve must attend to.
I was likely the last nominated, at the 11th hour by Jorge Cruz who is a Council person I have collaborated with on housing self-governance for locations where HUD supported citizens are residing without claiming self-governing rights to gather, petition for issues that are common to the group, with By-Laws, officers, and meetings. It is a struggle to get to the goal. Likely it is easier to rest from the toil and wonder why “they” ignore the obvious, and find others to blame. Remember Walter Kelly of Pogo cartoon fame: “We have met the enemy, and they are us.”
Four years ago if there were 72,000 active registered voters at the time of the identical off-year election where Council persons were on the ballot, 90% did not cast a ballot at the polls or by absentee procedure. Many have no idea who their Council people are. But they have ears and voices that can join in lifetime learning and conversations with questions that find answers. As a ‘centrist’, personally, ignored by a local Democratic Town Committee that does no activity, year in and year out, that carries a CIVICS message to the large number of folks affiliated and registered, I have created CASUAL CIVICS CONVERSATIONS, an action plan based in all ten City Districts to welcome neighbor to neighbor conversations and questions, to find answers that are present, and to actually use the vote, November 2025 to increase the voice of the people. Will you join us and sponsor a CCC session or two? Interested, call 203-259-9642 for a response. Time will tell.