The New Britain City Council has censured Ald Robert Smedley (R-4) because of a series of online comments that the censure resolution calls, “divisive, harmful, and offensive to members of the community.:
The resolution was approved by vote of 8 to 3. Members of both parties had sponsored the censure resolution.
The act to “censure” is a formal rebuke, but is short of removing Smedley from the Council.
The Council had previously planned a hearing and meeting for March 12th on Council Resolution No. 37071, which provided for consideration of a range of disciplinary actions against Smedley “up to removal” from the Council. But yesterday, called for a special meeting to be held tonight, March 11th at 6:30pm, just before the regular Council meeting, specifically to consider a censure of Ald Smedley, rather than his removal from the Council.
The resolution approved by the Council tonight says that,
WHEREAS, on or about February 4, 2026, Alderman Robert Smedley, using the pseudonym “Colin Rober,” published statements on a public social media platform, attached hereto as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the statements disseminated by Alderman Smedley were divisive, harmful, and offensive to members of the community; and
WHEREAS, Alderman Smedley further engaged in inflammatory, vulgar, and escalating exchanges on social media with members of the public, including the use of profanity directed at his own constituents who attempted to encourage him to reconsider or retract his statements; and
WHEREAS, the publication of such inflammatory statements by an elected official undermines the standards of civility, responsibility, and judgment expected of those entrusted with public office and erodes public confidence in the Common Council and the municipal government of the City of New Britain; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council previously adopted, by unanimous vote in August 2024, a resolution calling for an end to “incendiary political rhetoric, name-calling, and fear-mongering, amplified by extreme partisanship from both traditional and social media, that stokes animosity toward those with whom we disagree on policy issues and makes personal attacks on candidates and their families, thereby demeaning individuals and dividing our citizenry”; and
WHEREAS, the conduct described herein is inconsistent with the spirit and intent of that resolution and with the standards of professionalism, integrity, and respect expected of members of this body; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council, while recognizing the constitutional protections afforded to individual speech, retains the authority and responsibility to express its institutional condemnation of conduct by one of its members that undermines the dignity of the Council and the trust placed in it by the public;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the New Britain Common Council hereby formally censures Alderman Robert Smedley for his actions which were inconsistent with the standards of civility and responsibility expected of an elected official; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council affirms its commitment to respectful public discourse and urges all public officials and members of the community to engage in constructive dialogue and conduct that promotes unity, mutual respect, and the restoration of public trust in our institutions.
At the February 18th Council meeting, Smedley admitted his comments were made in a state of “anger, emotional distress and in grief” and issued a formal apology to the city and the family of the late Ald Jerrell Hargraves. The controversy reportedly stems from online posts made under the name “Colin Rober”—an alias allegedly used by Smedley—which appeared to blame a member of the Mayor’s staff and her family for the passing of Ald Hargraves.
Ald Matthew Malinowski (R-5) said he was not voting for the resolution, questioning the legality of the notice for the special meeting.
While the special meeting of the Council originally called for tomorrow, March 12th, remains scheduled, the Council’s action tonight appeared to mean that tomorrow’s meeting with not proceed.
Editor’s note: The cover photo by is Dr Frank Gerratana.
