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RESOLUTION OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS APPROVING THE FINAL REPORT OF THE CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION, PURSUANT TO C.G.S. §7-191(d) INCLUDING APPROVING THE FINAL REPORT OF THE CHARTER REVISION COMMISSION AND ADOPTING THE BALLOT QUESTION FOR THE SUBMISSION TO THE ELECTORS ON NOVEMBER 7, 2023, AND AUTHORIZING PREPARATION OF EXPLANATORY TEXT SPECIFYING THE INTENT AND PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED REVISED CHARTER.
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WHEREAS, on December 4, 2022 the Board of Alders, pursuant to C.G.S. § 7-188(b), voted to initiate action to amend the Charter of the City of New Haven and, pursuant to C.G.S. § 7-190(a), appointed the following individuals to serve as members of the Commission: Carol Coles; Hon. Salvatore DeCola; Hon. Richard Furlow, Hon. John A. “Jack” Keyes; Patricia Melton; Serena Neal-Sanjurjo; Hon. Michael Smart; Anne Schwartz; and Sandra Trevino.
WHEREAS, the Commission conducted thirteen between January 30 2023 and July 26, 2023 including the first statutory public hearings, as required by C.G.S. §7-191(a), public meetings following the statutory hearing from February 9, 2023 through May 9, 2023 the second statutory public hearing, as required by C.G.S. §7-191(a); and
WHEREAS, on May 15, 2023, following the second statutory public hearing and final deliberations the Commission submitted to the City Clerk the draft report, including a proposed revised City Charter, which documents were transmitted by the Clerk to the Board of Alders; and,
WHEREAS, on June 7, 2023, and June 20, 2023, the Board of Alders, sitting as the Committee of the Whole, conducted public hearings, in accordance with C.G.S. §7-191(b), and June 29, 2023, deliberated and made recommendations for changes in the draft report as permitted pursuant to C.G.S. §7-191(c); and,
WHEREAS, on July 6, 2023, the Charter Revision Commission conferred with members of the Board of Alders and further met in public meetings on July 11, 2023, and July 26, 2023, in accordance with C.G.S. §7-191(c); and,
WHEREAS, following final deliberations on July 26, 2023, the Charter Revision Commission approved a Final Report to the Board of Alders acting in accordance with many of the recommendations of said Board; and,
WHEREAS, the Board of Alders received said Final Report on August 1, 2023, in accordance with C.G.S. §7-191(d); and,
WHEREAS, the Board of Alders is required to act upon the Final Report not later than fifteen days after receiving the Final Report.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That New Haven Board of Alders approves the Final Report of the Charter Revision Commission, dated July 26, 2023, in its entirety, including the responses to the Recommendations of the Board of Alders.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, pursuant to C.G.S. § 7-191 (f) the Board of Alders hereby prepares and authorizes for the ballot and submission to the Office of the Secretary of the State of Connecticut the following question:
“Shall Charter changes as recommended by the Charter Revision Commission and adopted by the Board of Alders be approved and adopted?”
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that the New Haven Board of Alders, in accordance with C.G.S. §7-191(e) and (f) hereby adopts the question to be placed on the ballot for a referendum to be held on the general election of November 7, 2023:
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Charter or such portions thereof as may be approved by the Electors of the City shall take effect on January 1, 2024, unless otherwise set forth in the Charter; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Board of Alders authorizes Director of Legislative Services and the City and Town Clerk to publish the proposed revised charter in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality with a notice that a complete copy of the charter is available in the City and Town Clerk’s office and that a copy shall be mailed to any person who request a copy, as required by C.G.S. §7-191(d) and, moreover, a copy of said charter shall be available on the website of the City; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Board of Alders authorizes the Corporation Counsel and Charter Counsel to continue their review of the document for errata and non-substantive editorial revisions through publication; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to C.G.S. §9-369b(a) the Board of Alders authorizes the City and Town Clerk, with the assistance of Charter Counsel, prepare an explanatory text specifying the intent and purpose of the Final Report of the Proposed Revised Charter that is the subject of the ballot question that will be voted upon on November 7, 2023.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, said explanatory text shall not advocate either the approval or disapproval of the proposed revised Charter or the ballot question relating thereto.