RTM Action Parallels 2012 Lawsuit
- Laura Devlin
- Apr 30
- 6 min read
Dear Fairfielders,
In this update:
Fairfield Deserves Better: Democrats Double Down on Dysfunction
Fairfield residents have a right to expect their town government to operate with integrity, transparency, and accountability. Unfortunately, under the leadership of First Selectman Bill Gerber, that standard continues to be undermined. The latest controversy surrounding the Parking Authority restructuring, driven by Chief Operating Officer David Becker and enabled by a compliant Democratic super majority on the RTM, marks another troubling example of process being cast aside in favor of partisan maneuvering.
Lessons in History: How the Parking Authority Debacle is Reminiscent of a Past Lawsuit
The striking parallels between current missteps and the redistricting lawsuit of 2012, where David Becker played a central role, highlight how history is once again repeating itself under Bill Gerber’s administration. As multiple FOIA complaints mount and public confidence erodes, Fairfield Republicans are stepping up to do what’s right: demand transparency, restore public input, and bring our town back into compliance with the laws and procedures designed to protect it.
Liz Zezima (D-4), Democrat Majority Leader, Blocks Bipartisan Call for Transparency
The Democratic leadership had an opportunity to course-correct when Representatives Jeff Steele (R-3) and Meghan McCloat (R-2), introduced a motion to rescind the Parking Authority dissolution and restart the process with proper notice and review. Instead, the Democrat majority, led by Liz Zezima, rejected it outright, putting party over principle.
Read more in detail below
Fairfield Deserves Better: Democrats Double Down on Dysfunction
Once again, Fairfield finds itself at the center of controversy, and once again it’s the result of a town administration disregarding basic principles of transparent, accountable governance. Under First Selectman Bill Gerber, and with Chief Operating Officer David Becker overseeing the process, the recent Parking Authority restructuring has mirrored the same troubling pattern of overreach that landed Fairfield in legal trouble more than a decade ago.
Back in 2012, Becker was the RTM’s Republican majority leader when a redistricting plan was pushed through without following proper charter-mandated procedures. That plan was ultimately thrown out by a judge, who reminded town officials that no local body has the authority to bypass its own rules. Fast forward to 2025, and the current Democrat administration, with Becker as COO, has once again sidelined process and public input, this time in the name of restructuring the Parking Authority.
Multiple FOIA complaints have already been filed against the Town over failures to properly notice meetings, publish minutes, and engage all RTM committees. These are not minor oversights, they reflect a broader breakdown in basic governance under First Selectman Gerber’s leadership. Key decisions impacting parking enforcement, policy, and the very structure of the Parking Authority have been set in motion without transparency or accountability. The signs of poor process are clear, familiar, and directly tied to the administration’s disregard for the rules.
At least Republicans have learned from past mistakes, to correct course and restore public trust, the RTM Republican caucus recently introduced a motion to rescind the Parking Authority dissolution, restart the process with full transparency, and ensure compliance with both state FOIA laws and Fairfield’s own procedural rules. It was a reasonable, responsible step forward.
Unfortunately, the Democrat majority on the RTM, under the overtly partisan leadership of Liz Zezima (D-4), rejected that motion outright. Rather than reestablish public confidence and conduct Town business by the rules, Gerber and Zezima chose to dig in, ignoring mounting concerns and putting partisan loyalty ahead of good government.
Leadership and Accountability
While it’s First Selectman Gerber’s name at the top of the administration, it is Becker, his appointed COO, who has been the architect of both the strategy and the execution in this matter. For many residents, the question is not just about legality, but leadership: why is Fairfield once again finding itself in legal gray areas under the guidance of someone whose previous approach already landed the Town in court?
As FOIA complaints proceed and residents await further response from town officials, one thing is clear: the community deserves better than government by hindsight. Fairfield’s charter and FOIA laws exist not to slow down progress, but to ensure it happens with transparency, accountability, and public trust.
We wish to thank Representative Jeff Steele (R-3) and Representative Meghan McCloat (R-2) for their hard work, integrity, and genuine effort to do what’s right for all Fairfielders with their motion to rescind. Their commitment to a fair, transparent, and nonpartisan process reflects the spirit in which the RTM is meant to serve our community. At a time when politics too often gets in the way of good governance, their leadership is a reminder of how our town government should work, for everyone.
We also wish to thank the members of the public who took the time to speak during public comment on Monday. You can hear those poignant comments here.
LESSONS IN HISTORY
Fairfield’s Governance Under Fire Again: From Redistricting Court Case to Parking Authority Turmoil
FAIRFIELD, CT — April 30, 2025 — More than a decade after Fairfield was embroiled in a bitter legal battle over an illegally passed redistricting plan, the Town finds itself once again at the center of controversy, this time over the operations of its Parking Authority. The common thread? David Becker.
In 2012, Becker served as the Republican majority leader on Fairfield’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM) when the RTM pushed through a redistricting plan that ultimately triggered a lawsuit and a stern rebuke from the court. Now, in 2025, Becker is back in the spotlight, this time as Fairfield's Chief Operating Officer (COO), over his role in launching what has become a legally fraught and unpopular reorganization of the Parking Authority, a process that has already triggered multiple FOIA complaints and allegations of procedural misconduct.
A Familiar Pattern of Overreach
The parallels between the two crises are striking. In both cases, the RTM bypassed critical procedural safeguards enshrined in Fairfield’s governing documents. Back in 2012, as redistricting talks stalled along partisan lines, then-majority leader Becker pushed to bypass the stalemate by sending multiple redistricting maps directly to the RTM floor, sidestepping the required committee process. The RTM ultimately approved a redistricting plan that had not been recommended by the Redistricting Committee. The required publication of revisions never took place, and the ordinance itself was filled with errors.
The plan was immediately challenged in court by former Democratic RTM Moderator Jack Slane. In a scathing 41-page decision, Superior Court Judge Mary Sommer issued a temporary injunction and ruled the vote illegal. Sommer emphasized that the Town Charter could not be sidestepped, even under the guise of complying with state law. “Towns cannot be permitted to use state law as a pretext to ignore their charters,” she wrote.
In a 2013 Op-ed in the Fairfield Patch, then Chair of the Fairfield Democratic Committee Ellery Plotkin said, “This wasn’t just a technical error, it was a deliberate subversion of the process.” Similar concerns have been echoed by members of the public about the way the Parking Authority was dissolved.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Fairfield residents are facing déjà vu. Under Becker’s direction, the Parking Authority has undergone significant changes, many of which appear to have been implemented without the proper public notice or committee review required under Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Fairfield’s own rules for municipal action.
FOIA Complaints
Residents have filed multiple FOIA complaints against town officials, alleging failures to publish proper agendas and meeting minutes, refer the matter to the appropriate committees, and provide the usual length of time for public participation in decisions related to ordinance changes. Critics argue that the decision to dissolve the Parking Authority was made without consulting the Authority’s board and presented to the public as a done deal after projected revenues from the change appeared in the Town budget proposal before the RTM voted on the dissolution.
It’s the same playbook from 2012: ignore the rules, act unilaterally, and deal with the consequences later, only now it’s the democrats who have the majority.
Time for Accountability?
Town officials have not yet provided a substantive response to the pending FOIA complaints, and no lawsuit has been filed to date. At a recent meeting, having clearly recognized the importance of not repeating the 2012 errors, the RTM Republican caucus introduced a motion to rescind the Parking Authority dissolution, restart the process without suspending any rules, and ensure proper public notice going forward. The motion was immediately rejected by the RTM’s Democratic majority.
As Fairfield continues to grapple with the fallout, one thing is clear: history may not be repeating itself exactly, but it’s rhyming in deeply troubling ways with one common denominator.
Want to Make a Difference in Fairfield?
Now is the time to get involved. The Fairfield Republican Town Committee is actively welcoming passionate volunteers who want to help bring accountability, transparency, and common sense back to our local government. Whether you want to knock doors, make calls, or lend your skills behind the scenes, there's a place for you on our team.
Thinking about running for office?
We’re currently meeting with prospective candidates for this fall’s municipal elections. If you care about Fairfield’s future, we want to hear from you.
Let’s work together to restore good governance and build a better Fairfield.
We hope you find this information helpful. Please contact us at rtc@fairfieldrtc.com with any questions, we always welcome hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Laura M. Devlin
RTC Chair
Mike Grant
RTC Vice Chair
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