Danbury residents will once again be able to make remarks during the public speaking portion of Danbury City Council meetings on items included in the Department reports.  Mayor Dean Esposito stopped residents at every meeting since his election in November, saying that the City Charter only allowed comments on items specifically on the agenda, and last month the Department Reports no longer were a numbered item on the agenda. 

Esposito says he is a rookie and went by the rules, but has been advised by council leadership on both sides of the aisle that it would be a better practice to allow input from the community. 

Residents tried to ask questions about homeless services, public works items and police information among other topics.  The new rule at City Council meetings is that if there's time during the 30 minutes of public speaking, after everyone who wants to speak on numbered items, will be able to discuss things included in department reports.