A public hearing has been held in Danbury on the proposed bond package.  It was followed by a Committee-of-the-whole meeting where members tied on a recommendation of whether to send the proposal to the City Council next month.  Because of the tie, the motion on the 62 million dollars failed. 

The City Council is scheduled to take up the matter at its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 4th at 7:30 pm

Council Minority Leader Paul Rotello proposed splitting the bond into two questions, one for the schools and one for everything else.  That also tied, resulting in the committee considering the bond package as a whole.  A freshman member-at-large, Roberto Lopes Alves, said he understands a list of roads to be paved can't be included in the bond package in case weather doesn't allow for a lot of work or money runs out.  But he says a list of priority roads should be outlined for residents.

Mayor Mark Boughton says all of the items in the package are urgent.  He doesn't have a problem separating the two questions and believes both will pass.  Boughton urged the Council not to push this off to November.  As for the road paving, Boughton says the reason the City was able to get ahead on some roads this season was because surplus money was allocated ahead of the budget being approved.  He doesn't want to see that progress backslide through a missed opportunity.

Council Democrats says there was a lack of detail and transparency. 

Town Committee Chairwoman Andrea Gartner says the Administration not only owes the Board of Education a more transparent method of governance, but also, the people of Danbury.  That prompted a response from the Republican Town Committee.  Officials said, in a post on social media, that put politics over people and sacrifices City children's future for cheap political points. 

There's been a workshop, public hearing, and Council Committee meeting about the proposed bond package.