Lacava v. Carfi

This case, seeking a declaratory judgment,
comes before us as a reservation from the
Superior Court. The following is a summary of the
stipulated facts: At a meeting on July 15, 1953,
the common council of the city of New Britain
passed a resolution authorizing the mayor to
appoint a committee of seven of its members to
make recommendations for an increase, not in
excess of twenty, in the number of wards or voting
districts. The committee was authorized to spend
$950 for technical and other assistance in
connection with its services and its report. The
resolution was approved by the mayor. The
committee thereafter appointed by him threatens to
recommend an increase in the number of wards of
the city, carrying with it an increase in the
number of aldermen, and the council threatens to
accept the recommendation. The plaintiff is a
resident taxpayer and elector of the city. By an
amendment to the stipulation for reservation, the
sole question upon which our advice is sought is
the following: "May the Common Council, as the
legislative body of the City of New Britain, under
Sec. 1052 of the [General Statutes], increase the
number of wards over the number established by
Sec. 1 of Senate Bill No. 621, of the Special Laws
of Connecticut, Session of 1941 [23 Special Laws
987]?" Under the New Britain charter as amended by
the General Assembly in 1941, ten wards were
established and the boundaries thereof were
fixed. 23 Spec. Laws 987. It was provided
that one alderman should be elected to the
common council from each ward. Id., 989. It
is undisputed that the established wards
have become unequal by reason of shifts in
[140 Conn. 519]