Ansonia Aldermen meet Aug. 13, 2018.
ANSONIA — Republicans dominate the Board of Aldermen and the mayor’s office. A few years back Democrats were the ruling party. Now the city, through its charter revision commission, is considering whether to share the power a little bit.
At a public meeting last week Mayor David Cassetti suggested the city’s charter revision commission consider adding minority representation to the city’s boards and commission, specifically the Board of Aldermen, the city’s legislative body.
“Political divisions seem to be the order of the day, both locally and nationally, and I believe much of this is due to those who don’t think their voice is being heard, those who don’t feel their perspective is being represented by this government,” Cassetti said in making the suggestion.
“It is important to ensure representation of a political minority,” the mayor said. “It makes for a healthier, balanced government for all.”
A city charter is essentially its constitution, a set of rules dictating how local government should function.
Periodically, municipalities make changes to the documents. Changes have to be accepted by the Board of Aldermen and then put to the public for a vote.
Currently, there are 14 Republican Aldermen, after the mayor led his party to a landslide victory in last November’s elections.
But less than a decade ago, Democrats dominated the board.
John Marini, the city’s corporation counsel, and at one point the only Republican on the Board of Aldermen, said the idea has merit.
“When one perspective is completely shut out, even when it occurs as the result of a vote, you still have tensions that develop that are difficult to resolve,” Marini said. “The idea isn’t it better to keep that dialogue going, to protect that minority perspective to keep that minority presence on the board?”
Tarek Raslan, the head of the Democratic Town Committee and Cassetti’s opponent in the 2017 mayoral race, agreed.
“I think it’s a good proposal and would help ensure some long term balance,” he said.
After the meeting, Cassetti said he brought up the idea to his staff and advisers as a way to promote transparency.
“I got some pushback from some people but I told them ‘No, I’m the mayor, this is the way it’s going to be, we’re going to have minority representation on the Board of Aldermen,’” he said.
The charter revision commission — a group of appointees — was formed in April, but Aug. 1 was only its second meeting.
The commission faced complaints from members of the public about whether enough had been done to let the public know about the meetings.
Beth Lynch, a former town clerk, pointed out Aug. 1 the commission’s makeup violated state law. Click here for a previous story.
So Cassetti nominated a new commission Aug. 13.
The following members were unanimously approved:
- Aldermen Lorie Vaccaro and Domenico Filippone, both Republicans;
- Republicans Patrick Henri and Kristopher Milardo;
- Democrats Robert Knott, Sharon Voroschak, Jason St. Jacques, and Beth Lynch;
- Unaffiliated voters William Luneski and Robert MacDowell.
Cassetti said his nominations of Lynch and St. Jacques to the Charter Revision Commission — Democrats who have criticized him in the past — was an effort to extend an olive branch.
“Let’s bring them in and let’s work with them,” he said. “I plan on being here a long time and I want to help the people.”
The mayor said he was thinking mandating at least three or four members of a minority party on the Board of Aldermen.
But all the details have not yet been hashed out.
As Lynch pointed out after the meeting, the Aldermen are elected by ward.
In a town like Seymour, which has minority representation on its Board of Selectmen, the board’s membership is at-large, not specific to certain wards.
Marini said the commission could decide to recommend the same thing in Ansonia, or go by whichever candidates in a certain party have the lowest vote totals.
Ultimately, he said, it will be up to the commission members to study — and, if they do recommend a change, voters to decide at referendum.
