Lifelong Norwalker: Democrats, Republicans need to get along

By Nancy Guenther Chapman

NORWALK, Conn. – Jeffry Spahr’s recent comment about unprecedented “rancor” on the Common Council has gotten a lot of attention in Norwalk, but another one of his statements did not.

Spahr, a lifelong Norwalk resident and deputy corporation counsel, said Tuesday, Jan. 8, that one part of a lengthy nonbinding resolution was unnecessary, as a state statute spelled out what would happen if the feared result of a potential lawsuit against the city came to fruition.

While other speakers at the lengthy, emotional meeting called three recent, unrelated nonbinding resolutions presented by council Democrats “political stunts,” Norwalk Democratic Town Committee chairwoman Amanda Brown used Spahr’s statement to illustrate the point behind the resolutions.

“This resolution was submitted days ago,” Brown said. “No comment was given to our Common Council about this resolution, how it might be improper or how it could be fixed. That is the thing that our council has been facing on the minority side. There has been a lack of guidance, assistance and care, as regards to their ability to help govern and serve us.”

The latest was a Freedom of the Press resolution written by Councilman David Watts (D-At District A) and Councilwoman Anna Duleep (D-At Large) because of a criminal eavesdropping complaint filed against this reporter by Mayor Richard Moccia.

The non-binding resolution saga began last spring with an effort to urge the Board of Estimate and Taxation to authorize money for the Board of Education to help cover a $4 million deficit. This fall, Democrats authored a non-binding resolution urging the Police Commission to reinstate the rank of police captain.

All the non-binding resolutions have failed.

Brown said she had been ignorant of the resolution until it was put on the agenda, but was confident that the caucus wouldn’t put it out there to start a fight. “I believe that the intentions of these resolutions are an attempt to get conversation going,” the former council woman said. “… This is not a gimmick. This is a conversation and we are having a conversation here because there’s no other place to have it except in front of the public.”

Republicans who took the time to speak to the council didn’t see it that way.

“Well, there you go again,” Republican Town Committee Chairman Art Scialabba said, quoting Ronald Reagan as he said the resolution had “everything to do with partisan politics.”

He continued, “It is about another political stunt that you are lodging against Mayor Moccia. … It is not based in any real problem that is in search of any political solution, nor does it have any city or taxpayer relevance. It’s a political gimmick that is wasting taxpayer dollars by the of time spent on it and the the amount of paper generated.”

Scialabba said costs had added up as the four-page single spaced resolution was distributed to the 15 council members and mayor by city staff.

Victor Cavallo said something similar. “This is one of three resolutions that have absolutely no efficacy whatsoever,” he said. “They are a waste of time, put forth by the same council members with the idea of embarrassing, harassing and essentially preparing for the next mayoral election. The proper way to purse the issue at hand is to take it to the ethics committee.”

Democrats Anna Duleep (At Large), Warren Peña (At Large) and David Watts (District A) say they cannot get items onto the agendas of the Republican-chaired ethics committees.

An effort to send the resolution from the full council to the ordinance committee for revision failed. Michelle Maggio (R-District C) voted yes on that idea with Democrats Matt Miklave (District A), John Igneri (District E), Duleep, Watts and Peña. Fred Bondi (R-At Large) originally passed on the motion, then voted no with all the remaining council members – the Republicans, Democrats Carvin Hilliard (District B) and Bruce Kimmel (District A), and Michael Geake (U-District B).

Maggio later felt the need to explain her vote, saying she didn’t want to see this reporter go to jail. Some observers saw that as an apology to other Republicans. “They were mad,” one insider said.

The next morning, both The Hour newspaper and The Daily Voice website quoted Spahr’s comments during the public speaking section.

“I am going to ask you as a taxpayer if you could please decrease the uncivil discord and increase the civil discourse we as taxpayers would appreciate it,” he said. “I would like to not have Pennsylvania Avenue come to East Avenue.”

Spahr said he was there as a private citizen who has served Norwalk for 26 years, under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

“I’m not here to point any fingers,” he said, earning applause when he finished. “I’m asking that everybody plays well in the sandbox and understand that the sandbox is ours and we pay for the sand.”