The city council won’t appeal a judge’s decision that bars it from removing the registrars of voters, who came under fire after problems on Election Day caused some city polling places to open late. Council members voted unanimously Monday against seeking the appeal, saying the move would be expensive and time-consuming. The city was paying the attorneys fees for its three registrars of voters, and the council had hired Ross Garber to act as a prosecutor at hearings it planned to conduct before a judge ruled that it can’t oust the elected officials.
“The entire council felt that it was just in the city’s best interest to end the litigation,” Councilman Kenneth Kennedy said after Monday’s meeting at city hall. “We’re still very concerned about the judge’s ruling regarding the power of the council. We believe we have that power, and we would like the legislature to clarify our power in terms of removing someone for criminal conduct or for gross negligence.”
Council President Shawn Wooden said he and others plan to reach out to the city’s legislative delegation.
Full Article: Hartford Council Decides Not To Appeal Judge’s Registrars Ruling – Hartford Courant.