The City Council’s Contracts Committee Tuesday night will meet at 6 p.m. to take up a change in the lobbying firm that represents the state’s largest city at the seat of state government in Hartford.

The proposal – added suddenly to the committee’s agenda Monday night by the full council – is to replace Gaffney, Bennett and Associates with the Reynolds Strategy Group.

Reynolds would earn $55,000 to lobby for the Finch administration during the 2013 legislative session, which begins Wednesday and adjourns June 5.

Mayor Bill Finch wasn’t all that eager to discuss the switch, although I’m sure there are all sorts of inside baseball reasons given Hartford politics and Bridgeport politics.

“We tend to move business around in all kinds of different consultancies,” the mayor said following the council meeting.

Councilman Sue Brannelly, D-130, a Contracts Committee chairman, said she just learned of the proposal to go with Reynolds Monday night.

“This is literally all news to me,” she said.

Looks like Gaffney, Bennett will soon have to update the client list on its website…

Following is a representative, alphabetized list of Gaffney, Bennett and Associates’ clients, including links to many of their websites.

• 3M
• AT&T Wireless LLC
• Boys and Girls Village, Inc.
• Blum Shapiro
• Charter Oak Communities
• City of Bridgeport
• City of Stamford
• Covidien

City Councilman Robert Curwen, D-138, Monday night broke the news to his colleagues that after 17 years he is resigning his seat to address an unspecified family health crisis.

“I have met a lot of wonderful people who have the city’s best interest at heart but I am compelled to inform you that I will be retiring from politics very soon due to a family illness that requires immediate attention,” Curwen read from a hand-written speech.

Although his emotional comments were light on the details behind the decision, Mayor Bill Finch indicated Curwen is heading to Virginia with his family.

In a brief interview after the meeting Curwen said he had hoped to remain in Bridgeport but circumstances changed.

“I have to relocate. I don’t know if it’s going to be short term or long term,” Curwen said.

Curwen thanked the voters and various mayors and council presidents “who have placed their trust in my decision-making over the years.”

“To my colleagues, we are truly the workhorse engine that moves this city forward,” Curwen said. “All of you possess unique leadership qualities that address district, ethnic and city issues for the betterment of this great city.”

Curwen received a standing ovation and a warm embrace from Finch.