City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 9, 2011 The second public hearing on the budget for the fiscal year 2011-2012 was held May 9, 2011 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Ald. Desaulniers, Braddock, Hinchey, Popovich, Nash and Mayor Nystrom. Absent: Ald. Caron. City Manager Bergren and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom presided. Mayor Nystrom opened the public hearing. Speaking in favor of not making any cuts to Youth and Family Services was Jodi Vara, 31 Fowler Ave., Deb Kievits, 252 Old Canterbury Tpke., Duncan Profitt, Diana Holzworth, Summer St., LeeAnn Gomes, 39 Tanglewood Dr., and Janice Thompson, 14 Great Plain Rd., also explained what Social Services does for the community and the people. Speaking for keeping extra police on patrol throughout different areas of the City of Norwich were Denise Relyea, 38 Hunters Ave., Jean Tardiff, 298 Prospect St., Sofee Noblick, 43 12th St., and Peter Procko, 27 Cooper St. Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt Ave., thinks a lot of work was put into this budget and hopes the council has the taxpayers in mind. Keep the budget as low as possible and he would like to see fiscal restraint. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., explained his hand out on the States growing population and on the oil and electric cost that is driving a search for alternatives. Norwich is heading in the wrong direction. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave., is saddened by how few people come to the budget hearings. Taxpayers are the ones who pay the bills. We all have to do more with less. She supports the Board of Ed 100% but does not support giving $50,000 to UCFS. Bob Farwell, director of the Otis Library, mentioned four departments that are critical to the library, the police, DPU, human services and building and ground department. He is grateful for the extra $50,000 in this years budget and stated a few changes he would like to see in the budget process. Brian Curtin, 148 Broad St., thinks the Council should never forget that municipalities are service organizations. The most important infrastructure is our people. Cut the people, cut the services. This city runs on its people. Keith Ripley, Meadow Lane, stated that this was the first time he has heard from people from the villages come to speak and the common theme seems to be safety. Please focus on this when making modifications to the budget. Andy Depta, 105 Vergason Ave., thanked the council for meeting with all the department heads. It is now the councils budget, you make the decisions. The final budget will be impose on the taxpayers. He recommends the council to do your due diligence for all citizens. John Blackburn, Alice St., doesn’t think this is a good year for this budget. Please keep it as low as possible. The police and fire need all the help they can get. There being no further speakers, Mayor Nystrom declared the public hearing closed at 8:30 PM. CITY CLERK 1