Remote Public Participation Resumes At Common Council Meetings 2/22

Staff Reports

NEW BRITAIN – The opportunity for residents to raise issues at the start of Common Council meetings remotely resumes at the regular bi-monthly meeting on Wednesday, February 22nd.

City Hall Watch

Remote participation was available at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but was ended by city officials for both Council members and the public, City officials cited the limited capacity of City Hall’s information technology system at the time. In August 2021, the Republican majority abruptly ended the remote call in option. Last February members of the Democratic Council caucus requested remote public participation be restored because of continuing public health concerns and for greater access to the public.

Acting Director of Support Services John Delgadillo, who is due to be appointed permanent director at the February 22nd meeting, informed the Council that remote public participation will be available one year after the Council requested it.

The Common Council meetings begin at 7:05 PM in Council Chambers, City Hall, 2nd Floor, 27 West Main Street. Public Participation will begin prior to the regular meeting at 7:00 pm. Individuals seeking to join public participation remotely may join the queue beginning at 6:45 pm by calling 1 (339) 209-6176. Members of the public may attend meetings in person or view a live broadcast of the meeting online via
the livestream link: https://www.newbritainct.gov/meetings