City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH May 13, 2013 The second Public Hearing for the 2013-2014 fiscal year was held May 13, 2013 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 opened the public hearing. Flora Phillip, 36 Convent Ave. stated that she came to Norwich from Haiti where she received her education and is very sad that the city does not want to support education. Kevlaine Baptiste, 59 McKinley Ave., commented that she has been in America for 2 years and America has the reputation of having the best education in the world. She feels that Norwich has a good education system and wants it to stay the same. Gina Demetrius, 32 Prospect St., stated that she has been in Norwich for 7 months from Haiti where she worked as a teacher. She plans on attending Norwich adult education and wishes to become a Social Worker. She wants the education level to remain. Harlan Hyde Jr., 422 Plain Hill Rd., commented that it takes a village to raise a child and in this case the City of Norwich. The Council has a role in this equation not just the Board of Ed. NFA is a good school at a good deal, but the younger children should not suffer for the expense of NFA. Robin Vilchez, 33 Pratt St., provided “food for thought” as an angry parent of children in the Norwich Public schools. She explained that many smaller surrounding towns and St. Patricks School (Norwich) provide sports, music/band and foreign language programs that Norwich does not and feels this is not right. Bob Farewell, Otis Library, stated that the library has used many outside resources to sustain since the re-opening of the new library despite the continual strained budget issues. He stated that the library has received 3 awards beating out Fairfield County and requested the library’s budget requests be honored. Peter Procko, 27 Cooper St., spoke in support of the Greenville community policing. He said, if it’s not broke don’t fix it. He praised NCDC’s, Jason Vincent, as being a tremendous help in the effort to have the Shetucket River Greenway Co-op included in the Last Green Valley. He requested that the police and NCDC not be cut and hold the Board of Education accountable. Nancy Procko, 27 Cooper St., echoed the sentiments of the previous speaker in support of the police and NCDC. Also, emphasizing that the Greenville section through NCDC/Jason Vincent has improved. The streets and the community are safer thanks to the police. Coralee Boulware, 385 New London Tpke. spoke in disappointment of the way things are going. She feels that you must pay to win. She stated that we are all part of the same team and we don’t have to like each other but we need each other. She commended the school superintendant and the Board of Education for going beyond to make things work. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH May 13, 2013 Jen Stillman, Moriarty School, requested that the Council help the Board of Ed help the children. Every child deserves to be exceptional without exception. Closing the achievement gap is our goal. Joyce Werden, 13 Lost Acres Rd., quoted CNN “We cannot cut our way to prosperity”. Schools are key to economic growth. Deb Kievits, 252 Old Canterbury Tpke, doesn’t want to see the senior nutrition program cut. She wants the city to invest in the schools and the library. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave., stated that she has a vested interest in this city. A 5% tax increase would be devastating. She feels there should be a different approach to the budget by creating a Finance and Advisory Committee. It would be a good way of solving these budget problems. Mary Pollard, 44 Oakwood Knoll, has lived in Norwich since she was 7 years old and remembers the level of education was much better then. She wants foreign languages and physical education brought back. Jessica Ballaro, 40 Hunters Ave., stated that education is the primary responsibility of the city. She suggested it may be time for Norwich to build our own high school. Stephanie Swindell, 15 Country Fair Rd., stated that elementary school education is the foundation of education. Barb Zegarzewski, 109 Old Canterbury Tpke., commented that she is not sure that the Norwich school system is challenging enough. She stated that schools are graded in the state with and “A” being the best and “I” being the worst. Norwich scored an “H” second to the bottom. Jay Cure, 3 Banas Court, offered his help to support the schools. Marcia Marien, 51 White Plains Rd., advised that from a financial standpoint that it costs the city less to keep NCDC and its services than for the city to takeover their responsibilities. Maria Miranda, 65 E Town St., spoke in support of NCDC. NCDC helped her business receive a grant and with matching funds her own business she is still able to sustain. Yvette Jacaruso, 192 Wightman Ave., explained that the Board of Education are not fiduciaries, therefore the Board of education prepares a budget that the Council has the authority to increase or decrease. She stated that the Board of Education is the largest department in the city. We need to educate our students for the future through what they call a “STEM” program. Foreign languages are important. Gale Ennis, Preston, stated her daughter was a teacher in Norwich for 3 years and recently got a pink slip. She doesn’t want the education budget cut. Keith Ripley, Meadow Lane, happy to know that Council members are being contacted concerning the budget but encouraged people to contact the State Representatives on the same subjects. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH May 13, 2013 Mark Cook, 62 Gulliver Circle, spoke against any education cuts asking for the expansion of foreign language classes and music reinstated in Norwich schools. He compared Norwich to the smaller surrounding towns and feels Norwich is lacking in many areas of education. Abby Dolliver, 6 Deepwood Dr. thanked all of the previous speakers. She noted that the support of education is needed to close the achievement gap. She asked that the students be considered for the future as the Council allocates funds. Tom Marien, 51 White Plains Rd., spoke as 15 year volunteer in various city sponsored committees with a focus of economic development. He warned that the budget woes we are experiencing will not go away as the economy gets better. The only way things will get better is through economic development. The city needs to spend more not less on economic development. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St., suggested that if a pay as you go plan had been adopted a long time ago this proposed 5% tax hike would not have happened. He suggested that the Council revisit past City Manager, William Tallmans budget. Cheryl Egan, 82 Wightman Ave., echoed the City Managers article from the Norwich Journal Quarterly that stated our city provides a number of important services that are critical to lives of all that reside in the Rose City. Education, infrastructure, public safety, and social and recreational services are important factors for a livable community. Based on that article the message is, the city provides important services that are critical to our citizens, and education being the first word in the sentence making education very important. Walter Way, 165 Sheraton Lane, requested that when he wants something done in the city he wants to talk to the Council our elected body not an appointed group (NCDC) it’s wrong. He feels that people need to deal with Council directly to become a city again. He also feels the need for NCDC to be promised 5 years of existence when the Council only gets 2 to 4 years per term unfair and he does not want NCDC to handle any of the city’s affairs. Fran Leta, 96 Sherwood Lane, stated that the Otis is the aortic valve of the city and is keep the city at a steady pulse. Without the library funding, people would not have an opportunity for all of the services that are given. Kathleen Murphy, 265 Boswell Ave., stated that you cannot compare Norwich to smaller surrounding towns. She feels although education is important, it is time to hold the line. Taxes need to come down the Council needs to make common sense cuts. She suggests that the way the city taxes people needs to be revamped and feels if the tax rates were evenly distributed (CCD) the city would have more money. Kathy Warzecha, 47 high Meadows Lane, favors spending on the education budget. Her experience with Kelly Middle School having only part time hours is not right. She feels the school budget cannot be cut anymore. Giselle Goupille, 47 Grant Ct., supports Norwich Public Schools, as a past student and a parent of two children in Norwich Public Schools, she wants the Council to consider people like herself when making the tough budget decisions. 3 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH May 13, 2013 John Lavangie, 85 Lawler Lane, explained that the City Managers report has some misinformation. He wants the 1.5 mil funding brought back to education. He also reminds the Council that many people are leaving the city because they know what other surrounding towns the can live in and still be able to send their children to NFA. He also warned, that what is cut will never come back. Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt Ave., felt that the school budget is the locomotive driving the city. He does not want higher taxes. He feels that higher taxes in this town will run everybody out of town. Andy Depta, 105 Vergason Ave., questioned several line items on the budget. He would like to see the people vote on the budget. Mike Marion, 7 Aborn St., a prior military man with 2 children in Norwich Public Schools has observed a noticeable difference in the level of education between the children’s education with a 4 year difference in age. He feels the city needs to operate from a business man’s perspective which is without investment no company can survive. He doesn’t want to see the state running our schools he would rather pay the city. John Blackburn, 15 Alice St., wants education flat funded because we don’t know what is coming out of Hartford and we cannot afford higher taxes. We all need a little help. Jerry Browning, 106 Chestnut St., stated that everyone had said everything that needs to be said and after having gone through his own personal hardships he feels there is a way to get through these hard budget times. He feels we should not take away, but give back if we all work together it can happen. Janis Sawicki, 39 Andrea Lane, stated we can pay now or pay later. Good schools are the foundation in any community and the Otis Library is a gem in this town. Consider seriously where the money should go. Christy Gillully, 39 East Town St., spoke about an assessment that was done showing that in the last 10 years about 31% of students in Norwich schools have come and gone. This is a huge indicator that there are problems and something different needs to be done to change this and close the achievement gap. Joanne Philbrick, 10 Elm Ave., reminded the Council that this is not the end we have many projects that need to be addressed in the future like the Reid & Hughes, Police Station and 54.5 mil waterfront projects. This is not the end this is just the beginning. Aaron Daniels, 89 Union St., feels the answer is simple. It is revenue. As we look into the future we must make Norwich an attractive place in order to survive. We must attract business to survive and make in the future. There being no further speakers Mayor Nystrom adjourned the meeting at 10:15 pm. ASSISTANT CITY CLERK 4