Observations -City of Bridgeport-Website 7/29/26 (John Marshall Lee)

The site reports 24 Board and Commissions but includes the City Council, which is elected, the Charter Revision Commission that no longer is active, the School Building

Committee that is not open to volunteers, and ARPA the American Rescue

Plan, which is likely no longer open for citizen volunteer service. Are there

other B&C or were there, not listed today, EX Citizens Union, Fair Housing

Commission?

• Vacancies are reported for 20 B&C including Public Purchases, Police,

Water Pollution Authority, Airport, Fire, Walk of Honor Citizen Review and

Civil Service Commissions but that is a communication mistake. No

vacancy.

• This leaves 13 B&C with a total of 46 unfilled positions restricting the

opportunity to serve by volunteers who become more informed and

dedicated.

• Perhaps the Library Commission is unlisted for a good reason as it finds

folks to serve and under good leadership they all sign annually at the Town

Clerk office reporting their home address as Ordinance required of all

elected and appointed officials. Why are seven Board of Education and 5

City Council members still not attentive to this obligation six months later?

Are ordinances constructed without “checks and balances” provisions for

oversight and enforcement?

• Where is any training about Boards and Commissions provided by the

city? Who is responsible for CIVICS training or education if the BOE cannot

fund a CIVICS curriculum supervisor to be planner, engager of resources,

and accountable official? What are the CT laws applying to CIVICS

instruction and who is accountable?

• When a resident citizen indicates interest, without compensation in a

public service capacity, receives a nod from the mayor, survives the

process of investigation, and review by Council Miscellaneous Matters,

when is an update of their value to the B&C annually thereafter? What

encouragement for further education and training of such volunteers is

deemed practical?

• What process is in development to place an accountable City employee to

assure a smoother, quality, and educated corps of citizens with fewer

vacancies and fewer folks serving terms beyond the expiry of multiple

terms?

• What is the process when a mayor or the City Council alternate appointing

officials, deem the city no longer needs a specific Board or Commission? (Currently we

merely let them expire in plain sight. Is this fair and equal governance?)

Time will tell.