Aldermen revise charter panel makeup
DERBY — The city’s Board of Aldermen appointed a new Charter Revision Commission during Thursday’s meeting but changed the makeup from what was first described.
The proposed nine-member panel recommended by the Democratic and Republican town committees became 10 in a matter of minutes and the members initially considered changed as well.
“I don’t think having an even number of members is going to create a problem,” said Mayor Richard Dziekan. “Everybody that was appointed to that commission, I believe, has the same goal, and that is moving the city forward. There are things in the charter that are no longer relevant and need to be upgraded.”
Walt Mayhew, who was elected the city’s treasurer and is a member of the Board of Apportionment and Taxation, had been considered for a position on the committee. The aldermen accepted his resignation from the tax board earlier in the meeting.
Alderman Barbara DeGennaro, a practicing lawyer, told her colleagues that because Mayhew receives a salary from the city for being treasurer, he needed a waiver with a unanimous vote to serve on the commission.
DeGennaro, Charles Sampson and James DiMartino voted against the waiver.
Mayhew did not take being cut from the committee quietly, saying in an email sent to Hearst Connecticut Media Friday that the vote against him was “politically motivated” and adding, “Such actions are why it is difficult to find good people who are willing to get involved to help make the community the best it can be.”
DiMartino, when contacted Friday, chose not to respond to Mayhew’s comments. Neither Sampson nor DeGennaro immediately responded to a request for comment.
Late Friday afternoon, Mayhew sent a letter to Corporation Counsel Vincent Marino asking for a written opinion on whether waivers are needed to serve in a voluntary capacity.
Mayhew’s vacancy on the tax board was filled when the Democratic aldermen appointed Brian Coppolo, the city resident and Bridgeport firefighter who narrowly lost the mayoral election in November.
Two aldermen were added to the Charter Revision commission after Thomas Donofrio, a first ward aldermen, suggested that it would be good to have at least one of his colleagues on the board. He recommended Rob Hyder, a third ward aldermen. Camille GrandeKurtyka, a second ward alderman, also asked to be placed on the commission. Both requests were accepted.
Among the questions the charter revision committee will consider is making the mayor a full-time position and changing the term from two to four years.
Making the position fulltime also would require boosting the mayor’s salary, which starts at $40,000 and increases during each elected term.
“This may be a part-time position on paper but in reality it’s a full-time job,” said Dziekan, who often attends community events at night and on weekends.
Ron Sill, a second ward alderman, said there are at least 50 items in the charter that are “antiquated and need to be updated. They’ll probably have time to look at three or four. But we are going to need to do this every so often.”
The commission will be called to a special meeting of the aldermen at 7 p.m. Feb. 27.
Whatever changes the commission decides would be presented during a public hearing. At that point, the commission could review their recommendations. Any charter changes must be approved in a referendum by the city’s voters.
In addition to Hyder and Grande-Kurtyka, the Charter Revision Commission consists of Sam Pollastro, the Republican Town Chairman and a member of the Board of Apportionment and Taxation; Aniello Malerba, the Democratic Town Chairman; Charley Stankye, a Democrat; Chris LaRoque, a Democrat; and unaffiliated voters Carl McCluster, Ralph Capiello, Jim Smey and Gina McKay.