Norwich ― Wielding their newly won political majority, Norwich City Council Republicans on Monday took control of three council committees, including the Public Safety Committee that oversees controversial fire services issues.

Republican William Nash’s May 24 election to fill the council seat vacated by Democratic state Rep. Derell Wilson meant the Democrats’ 4-3 majority flipped to a 4-3 Republican majority headed by Mayor Peter Nystrom.

Nystrom last enjoyed a Republican majority in the 2017-19 council term.

On Monday, the Republicans amended the council rules to nullify the current committee appointments to the Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee, Public Safety and Appointments/Reappointments committees if a special election, such as the one held last month, changes the council majority.

Resolutions for new appointments were sponsored by Nystrom and Republican Alderwoman Stacy Gould, the council’s staunchest supporters of the city’s five volunteer fire departments in their ongoing issues with the central city paid fire department.

Democratic Council President Pro Tempore Joseph DeLucia, the strongest critic of the volunteer fire departments’ mantra of autonomy, retains his council leadership position, an appointment by charter that runs for his entire two-year council term through this year’s election.

But DeLucia was stripped of his chairmanship of the Public Safety Committee and nearly lost his seat on the committee entirely. The initial resolution call for Democrat Tracey Burto to join Republicans Nash, a retired Norwich police officer, and Gould, a volunteer firefighter with the East Great Plain department.

Burto announced at the start of the discussion that she is unable to serve on the Public Safety Committee and nominated DeLucia instead. The council voted 5-2 without comment to approve DeLucia’s appointment, with Gould and Nystrom opposing his appointment.

In exchange, Burto was reappointed to the Appointments/Reappointments Committee as its sole Democrat, instead of DeLucia, along with Republicans Gould and Alderman Grant Neuendorf.

The Public Works and Capital Improvements Committee membership now is comprised of Neuendorf, Gould and Democratic Alderman Swaranjit Singh Khalsa.

All new appointments run through Dec. 4. Aldermen elected in the November election this fall will be seated on Dec. 5. All six City Council seats are up for election, while Mayor Nystrom has two more years left in his term.

c.bessette@theday.com