Is the Democratic Council Holding Up City Business?
By Robin Vinci | Editor at February 22, 2024 | 2:15 pm | Print
When the Democratic majority led Council delayed moving forward with debt restructuring and then delayed the Beehive Bridge Project, some Republican Council members said they began to fear the Council was halting City business under Mayor Erin Stewart.
“I believe it to be true,” said Alderman Robert Smedley, who first brought up the issue at a Council meeting last week. “We have had scheduled meetings that they chose not to attend, canceled at the last minute or found ways to adjourn the meeting to avoid voting.”
Alderman Daniel Salerno, a Democrat who caucuses with the Republicans, said “the bridge is an example that anything good for city raised by administration they will counter.”
Salerno said he is deeply concerned about the Council not voting on debt restructuring.
“I called every Democratic member, except Manny Sanchez, and not one called me back. I wanted to give my position and have a conversation. They have not met with financial advisers. Why?,” said Salerno. “In reality there are three options – restructure, increase taxes or massive layoffs (almost impossible with existing long term labor contracts), forcing considerable diminishing public services. Pick one. Sooner than later this existing Council will have to actually show up, take a vote and choose one of the above.”
The matter of debt restructuring has caused several problems between the two political parties.
It started on Jan. 10 during a Special Council meeting the Democrats requested sending restructuring of City bonding to the standing subcommittee on bonding the next Wednesday in order to discuss various debt options rather than vote at that time. Republicans agreed to wait a week.
The proposed restructuring plan would have authorized the mayor to appropriate and bond $115 million to pay, fund or refund any of the city’s existing general obligation bonds. The city’s general obligation long-term net debt is $270 million.
On Jan. 17, with just one hour before the scheduled meeting, Democrat Richard Reyes sent Mayor Stewart and Council members a message saying the Democrats were canceling the meeting.
Stewart said, because the item was timely, she chose not to cancel it. It was held without Democrats in attendance outraging Democrats.
The next debt restructuring meeting was scheduled on Jan. 25. Instead of discussing debt restructuring, Alderman Carlo Carlozzi, Democrat, argued with Corporation Counsel on whether or not the last meeting was legal. Carlozzi claimed Alderman Smedley should not have led the meeting and that finance board members were allowed to vote and were not approved to do so by this Council.
Gennaro Bizzaro, of the Corporation Counsel, disagreed with Carlozzi. Carlozzi then promptly adjourned the meeting without discussing or voting on debt restructuring.
Then, at the Feb. 14 meeting, the Council sent the Beehive Bridge Project back to Admin, Finance and Law Committee in March rather than sending it out to bid.
This project had previously been approved by the Council and money has already been bonded for the project.
When this took place, several Republican Council members said they became concerned.
Democrat Eva Magnaszewski, the Mayor Pro-Tempore said, “The Democrats on the council and myself continue to work on the issues that the people of New Britain elected us to work on. Good schools, safe streets and affordable housing are all things that the residents of the city can and should expect from their government.”
She said the Democratic caucus feels strongly that anything that gets in the way of those goals should be looked at carefully.
“We have seven new Council members. They do not want to vote for a $7 million bridge that have never been briefed on and that residents are saying costs too much money,” Magnaszewski said. “We do not believe that spending millions of dollars of the taxpayers money on debt restructuring, for the third or fourth time under this administration, is the correct course of action. We also do not want to add 3 more years and $70 million more to our debt burdens.”
Republican Jamie Giantonio said he does not know what the Democrats are doing, but understands why people feel they are stopping City business.
“There have been many opportunities to ask questions and get the answers they need on things like refinancing & the beehive bridge project, but instead those items have not advanced,” said Giantonio.
No new date has been set for debt restructuring.
“The Democrats will continue to ask tough questions. We take our responsibility seriously and we will continue to ask the tough questions before we vote. If that means that something gets tabled in order to get that information, then that is what we are going to do,” Magnaszewski added. “We look forward to working with the Mayor and Department heads and receiving all information needed prior to a city council vote.”
