The agenda for the March 24, 2021 Council meeting was held up for days longer than normal, posted less than an hour before the Council meeting may not have been legal.
The reason for the delay from the norm by Council Republicans, who post the agenda, was not immediately clear, but Ald. Chris Anderson (D-AL) said online that it was, “presumably because they are unhappy with a proposal submitted by Alderman Francisco Santiago to create a policy to allow children in the workplace.”
“This decision reduces transparency to the public and gives the Democratic Minority less time to review each item,” Anderson said.
Republicans control the Council and the Republicans’ leader, Ald. Kristian Rosado (R-2), typically assembles the agenda. The agenda for each Council meeting is generally posted by the Friday before the meeting which is held the following Wednesday.
But the March 24th meeting agenda was not posted until the evening March 22nd, two days before the meeting. The agenda was still not posted until after 6:00pm that evening.
Since Council meeting begins at 7:05pm on Wednesday, it appears that the later-than-usual posting of the agenda almost made the legality of holding the meeting at all questionable.
City ordinances require that for all regular city meetings, including Council meetings, the agenda,
shall be available to the public and shall be filed, not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the meetings to which they refer, in such agency’s regular office or place of business, if there is such an office or place of business, and in the office of the town and city clerk.
Forty-eight hours before the Wednesday meeting was 7:05pm on Monday, March 22nd. Posting less than an hour before that might have come close to forcing the Council to cancel Wednesday’s meeting.
While state laws allow agendas to be posted up to twenty-four hours before a meeting, New Britain city ordinances have, for decades, had a longer public notice period than state law requires.
If the reason for the delay was a dispute over a Democratic proposal in the Republican controlled Council, it would not be the first time in the current Council term. In April of 2020, Rosado apparently held up two proposal offered by Council Democrats related to the COVID-19 crisis, apparently because Republicans wanted them rewritten in a way that took less action and were more deferential to Republican Mayor Erin Stewart’s policies.
Council rules allow any Council member to submit any proposal they wish, whether or not the majority agrees with it. The majority then have the option to amend it or vote it down, entirely.
Republicans hold a 9 to 6 Council majority after Republicans switched a seat that had been held by Rep. Manny Sanchez (D-24) to their own partisan caucus. Rep. Sanchez left the Council after being elected as a State Representative. The Council elected by the voters in 2019 had seven members elected as Democrats.
Resolution #2 on the March 24th Council agenda, introduced by Ald. Francisco Santiago (D-5), would provide that the city recognizes the family obligations of city employees, an obligation, the proposed resolution says, “is so greatly esteemed and plays a significant role in the wellbeing of society,” that, the proposed resolution says, the city should,
actively and vigorously support its workforce by creating and establishing a “Children in the Workplace” policy which would enable parents or guardian the ability to take their minor children to the workplace when necessary,
The proposed resolution would resolve that, “the City of New Britain establish a policy for allowing children in the workplace to support and encourage all City employees and to help alleviate obstacles.”
The resolution is not clear on how the policy would be established, but calls for Council input in that process.
The March 24th Council meeting begins at 7:05pm. The agenda for the meeting says that, “Due to the current public health concerns, this meeting will not be open to the public. Members of the public may view a live broadcast via the live stream link: http://www.newbritainct.gov/meetings,” adding that, “Individuals seeking public participation may join the queue beginning at 6:45 pm by calling 1 (609) 663-5783.”
