A City Council committee struck out a proposal for remote meeting participation for Council members, but approved telephone call-in for members of the public.
In January, three Democratic members of the Council, Ald. Aram Ayalon (D-3), Ald. Angel Segarra (D-2) and Ald. Iris Sanchez (D-3), proposed that members of the public and the Council be again be permitted to participate in meetings remotely.
The proposed resolution would have provided,
that the City of New Britain allow for remote participation for members of the Common Council as well as the public to ensure the safety of those participating and to maintain access for members and the public to engage in all Common Council related meetings.
The proposal would reverse policies put in place by majority Council Republicans in 2021 that took away remote participation in Council meetings and hearings.
Those systems, put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, allowed members of the public to speak remotely in Council committee hearings and public participation sessions and members of the Council to speak and vote in meetings remotely.
But, at the meeting of the Council’s Committee on Administration, Finance and Law on February 2, 2022, the newly elected Republican majority decided to favor bringing back remote public participation, even while they voted not to allow remote participation for Council members.
Republicans proposed an amendment to remove the parts of the resolution that would have allowed for Council members to participate in meetings remotely. That amendment was approved by the Committee, with only Ald. Ayalon voting in opposition.
The Committee then voted unanimously to return the resolution to the full Council with a neutral recommendation. The amended resolution would require,
that the City of New Britain allow for remote participation by members of the public via telephone to ensure equity, safety and inclusivity for members of the public.
The resolution will likely appear on the agenda of the full Council at its meeting on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.
