Remote Access Still Denied Council Members

Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3) says that he and other Council members are being excluded from another City Council meeting because Republican Mayor Erin Stewart and Council Republicans have ended remote access to meetings.

“I am very upset that I can’t participate in the Common Council meeting right now,” Ayalon said, “because the mayor and the Republicans are refusing to make the necessary accommodations to make it safe for me and my colleagues.”

Ayalon said that the city’s Information Technology Department delivered the message that, “all Alderpersons are expected to be in chambers so there are no remote accommodations being made. Social distancing provisions can be taken in chambers for members to sit away from their station if desired.”

At July 9, 2020 Council meeting, as John McNamara reported on NB Politicus and in the New Britain Progressive, “Four Democratic City Councillors, expecting teleconference access because of the state-mandated COVID 19 social distancing order for public meetings, were shut out of participating and voting.”

Ald. Ayalon reports that, again, at the August 12th meeting, three Council members are also unable to participate because remote access is being withheld – Ayalon, fellow Third Ward Council member, Ald. Iris Sanchez (D-3) and Ald. Richard Reyes (D-AL).

“I see this move as discriminatory against older Alderpersons and those who have medical issues as well as those with close relatives who are medically vulnerable,” said Ayalon. “This city action especially affects our Alderpersons of color.”

Ald. Ayalon points out that,

The city has the technology to continue offering online voting and participation and has not explained what compelling conditions require in-person participation in council meetings. Note that Connecticut legislators and most other businesses and local governments continue conducting business online as much as possible.

Gov. Ned Lamont issued an Executive Order under his emergency public health emergency powers that said that,

any public agency to meet and take such actions authorized by the law without permitting or requiring in-person, public access to such meetings, and to hold such meetings or proceedings remotely by conference call, videoconference or other technology,

The Executive Order requires that certain public notification requirements be met and that “the public has the ability to view or listen to each meeting.”

Ald. Ayalon says that he has a complaint pending about the denial of access to members of the Council with the state Freedom of Information Commission. The Freedom of Information has the power to, “declare null and void any action taken at any meeting which a person was denied the right to attend.”

Ayalon says he is hoping for action on the matter as soon as possible.