By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR Basing his decision on an opinion dating back to 1976, the city’s corporation counsel ruled that Councilor Calvin Brown won’t have to give up his seat when he moves to the other side of Bristol. At the Jan. 12 council meeting, Brown revealed – after prodding in the public comment portion of the meeting– that he would be moving out of district– but within Bristol. Initially, Brown said at the council meeting he would step down since he was moving out of the first district into the second. Subsequent to that public announcement, Brown issued a statement to the press that he did not think the charter required him to step down. The Democratic party chair, Dean Kilbourne, also echoed that view. Brown then submitted a request for an opinion from corporation council Ed Krawiecki to see what state law and the city charter had to say on the matter. On Tuesday, Krawiecki issued his opinion that Brown did not need to step down. “I have reviewed the 1949 legislative history (as it exists) and subsequent amendments, the records of the office of legislative research, the city of Bristol charter and the city of Bristol […]
By MIKE CHAIKEN EDITIONS EDITOR Basing his decision on an opinion dating back to 1976, the city’s corporation counsel ruled that Councilor Calvin Brown won’t have to give up his seat when he moves to the other side of Bristol. At the Jan. 12 council meeting, Brown revealed – after prodding in the public comment portion of the meeting– that he would be moving out of district– but within Bristol. Initially, Brown said at the council meeting he would step down since he was moving out of the first district into the second. Subsequent to that public announcement, Brown issued a statement to the press that he did not think the charter required him to step down. The Democratic party chair, Dean Kilbourne, also echoed that view. Brown then submitted a request for an opinion from corporation council Ed Krawiecki to see what state law and the city charter had to say on the matter. On Tuesday, Krawiecki issued his opinion that Brown did not need to step down. “I have reviewed the 1949 legislative history (as it exists) and subsequent amendments, the records of the office of legislative research, the city of Bristol charter and the city of Bristol […]