City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH APRIL 9, 2012 The first Public Hearing for the 2012-2013 fiscal year was held April 9, 2012 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Aldermen Desaulniers, Braddock, Hinchey, Noblick, Bettencourt, Jaskiewicz and Mayor Nystrom. City Manager Bergren and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom noted that Kathy Warzecha submitted a written testimony for the record. Mayor Nystrom opened the public hearing. Jean Tardiff, 298 Prospect St., asked for the consideration of the tax payers pockets and would like safety to be first in terms of the budget. Keep the Police and Fire Departments well staffed and well equipped. Celeste Champeau, 106 Chestnut St., as a taxpayer and no children in the public schools she feels the proposed budget cuts to education are not acceptable. The children are the future and deserve more than what is being proposed by the City Manager. She would like at least the 2.82 percent that the Bd of Ed has requested reinstated. Jerry Browning, Chairman of the Thames River Governance Council, stated he is very disappointed by the proposed budget on education. Through his own personal struggles he has found ways to stay in Norwich for his children and has personally contributed to the students of Thames River Academy. He feels that this proposal is a complete disservice to the children in the Norwich Public Schools. Keith Ripley, Meadow Lane, reflected on other projects that have been completed and are still in the process to prove that it takes long term planning to make positive things happen. He looks at the investments we make now in terms of how they will have an impact in 10 to 13 years from now. His quote from the past was, “Pay me now or you will have to pay me later”, the time for later is now. Abby Dolliver, Superintendent of Schools, stated that when they sit down to do a budget they look at it in terms of a “must have budget” and arrived at a 2.82 percent increase. They were met with great opposition by parents, faculty and school governance councils stating that it wasn’t enough that and the students are losing out. So they came up with a “should have budget” of 5.01 percent. We are all here to build a better Norwich and we must start with the schools as the children are our future. Timothy Rykowski, Norwich Police Office, offered his support for the Otis Library as a frequent patron of the library. He also stated that his family uses the library and feels that the library is a wonderful and important asset to Norwich and the library deserves the support they are asking for. Bob Farwell, Director of the Otis Library, reiterated that the budget for our school system is on the low side. He also commented on the Community Policing Initiative that has been introduced into the budget this year. It has made a demonstrative impact in and around the library and he is very happy with the responsiveness and positive outcome of all the issues that have taken place. The downtown has become a much safer place. He also would like to see the modest increase of $50,000 be considered as this money would be for necessities not amenities. As a side note the library has taken advantage all of the grant money available. The is their way of doing their part of helping to close the gap to meet the library’s operating needs. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH APRIL 9, 2012 David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., stated the City Manager did a heroic job assembling this budget. Will tax increases affect downtown investment? Why haven’t the additional residents increased economic development in Norwich? Let the Bd of Ed convince the state that they can come up with a curriculum that improves education. The new Recreation Director has fresh ideas find a way to incorporate the Ice Rink into the Recreation budget you will improve accountability. He requested holding the line to a flat or a tax cut budget. Denise Kelly, 6 Goldberg Ave., agreed with Bd of Ed budget request. She spends 3 days a week as a volunteer tutor and feels the students are being short changed because the budgets have been getting cut year after year. The schools are failing and this didn’t happen over night. What we need is the personnel, programs and the time and effort put back into our schools to bring it back to where it was 12 years ago. She agrees that the economy is out of whack. Our children are the future and a good school system is what will bring people into Norwich. We need a reason for people to move into this town and that’s what is lacking. Michelle Dunlap, 9 Germania Ave, a mother of a fourth grader she supports the schools, library and the police department. We need to find a way to increase our tax base without draining the families that we have living here already. We are looking at choosing between education, literacy and safety and that is just a really difficult place to be because they are all very important. Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt Ave., stated that as a taxpayer we have too many taxes. If the taxes keep going up everyone is going to be run out of town just like you have in many other towns in this country. You will have businesses leaving faster than you can bring them in. He values a good education but if we don’t do something about bringing in or keeping businesses here we won’t have any jobs for the children we are educating. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave., stated that we are all accountable for our actions. She is amazed and appalled that in today’s economy that Norwich is proposing a tax hike. It has been noted that Norwich has one of the lowest per capita incomes in Connecticut. We are a poor community. As you raise taxes you are discouraging people from moving here. The budget should be spending better not more. Sheila Hayes, 8 Pin Oak Terrace, submitted a written testimony. She suggests that the school resource officers be put back into the schools and have them included in the Police budget not the school budget. She also would like to see the elimination of the duplication of fire services within the CDC and non-CDC. She would also like to see the Human Resources Assistant position to be structured to include an Affirmative Action/Contract Compliance Officer. Andy Depta, 105 Vergason Ave., analyzed the budget and has concerns with the 21% increase in the Recreation Budget. He feels that need to be looked at closer. He also would like the budget to be examined through the object codes. The Council needs to take a different approach and look at what it is costing us in the budget not what they want to increase/decrease. Jane Sawicki, Uncas School Principal, stated pay now or pay later education or incarceration not for all but for many. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH APRIL 9, 2012 John Blackburn, 15 Alice St., the economy is not good maybe even worse. We have not received a cost of living raise in 2 years which is disgusting and depressing. The Bd of Ed has mandates put on by the state that they fund for a while then they back off and leave the towns holding the bag. It’s high time the state kicks in and puts in their due because the taxpayers can’t afford anymore. There being no further speakers Mayor Nystrom declared the public hearing closed at 8:35 PM. ASSISTANT CITY CLERK 3