Fairfield Charter Revision Commission Votes To Keep RTM At 40

FAIRFIELD, CT — Admitting that the town does not appear ready for such a change, the Fairfield Charter Revision Commission on Monday decided not to recommend a reduction in the size of the Representative Town Meeting.

The RTM, which is the town's legislative body, is currently 40 members, but according to the Town Charter, it can be as large as 56 members.

Before Monday's meeting, the commission was recommending the RTM downsize to 30 members, a number that had received sharp criticism from a host of residents for being too small.

Commission Chair Bryan Cafferelli made the motion to recommend keeping the RTM at 40 members.

"I think that a lot of good work has been done, and a lot of good arguments were made on both sides of the issue, but at this point, I think we're better served with the RTM remaining at 40 members," Cafferelli said.

Commissioner Christopher Brogan served on the RTM when it was 50 members, which he said he believes was too big. He supported the move to 30 members, but admitted that the difference between 30 and 40 was not a big difference. He ended up backing the decision to keep it at 40 members.

"I hope the town looks at the structure of our government, to make sure we're meeting the needs of the future," Brogan said.

Selectpersons Tom Flynn and Nancy Lefkowitz thanked the commission for its hard work revising the charter, a sentiment that First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick echoed by also thanking the commission. The group worked on revising the document for nearly a year.

Kupchick, and Commissioners Pamela Iacono and John Wynne, advocated for the reduction to 30 members, but realized that public sentiment did not appear to be in favor of such a move.

"This may be a hill too high for our community to climb," Kupchick said.

"The public has spoken out on the topic, in both directions," Lefkowitz said. "But we're going where the public is going at this time."

Iacono and Wynne voted against the decision to keep the RTM at 40 members; Cafferelli, Brogan, and Commissioners John Mitola and Marlene Battista voted in favor of it.

"I'm disappointed this became such a hot-button political issue," Iacono said. "I'm voting no, but I understand this decision."

Wynne agreed with Iacono, and said while he believes the number should be 30, a lot of good came out of the debate.

"The public is paying attention, and they want better governance," Wynne said.

The commission's recommendations will go back to the Board of Selectpersons for review, and if approved, ballot questions will be formulated to go before voters in the fall.

For more information on the commission and its recommendations, click here.