City Council

JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 14, 2018 The second Public Hearing for the 2018-2019 fiscal year was held May 14, 2018 at 7:30 PM in Council Chambers. Present: Mayor Nystrom, President Pro Tem Nash, Alderman Gould, DeLucia, Browning, and Burnham. City Manager Salomone and Corporation Counsel Michael Driscoll were also in attendance. Mayor Nystrom stated that Ald. Philbrick was viewing from Norwichtown Rehabilitation Center. Mayor Nystrom opened the public hearing. William Eyberse, 44 Fitchville Rd, Past Chief Yantic Vol. Fire Department, asked for all the self- contained breathing apparatus/air packs requested to be restored. Frank Blanchard, Chief Yantic Vol. Fire Dept., 151 Yantic Rd, talked about how safety is impaired with the loss of fire equipment and capital items and asked for them to be restored. Ron Stolz, 5 Sunnyside West Rd, Past Chief Yantic Vol. Fire Dept., stated a cut in the Capital budget will effect safety in the department. Angelo Callis, 486 Chappell Hill Rd, Oakdale, President City Hall Union, asked to maintain city services and personnel so there is no loss in quality of services. Christopher Colonair, 7B plumtree Dr., Captain Yantic Vol. Fire Dept., spoke on how thermal imagers save lives and asked to reconsider cutting this department budget. Linda Theodoru, 37 Taftville Occum Rd, asked to stop making cuts on this year’s budget that will cause damages and start working on cost saving ideas for next year. Gregory Stott, 284 Plain Hill Rd, requested to shift all the NPU contributions back to the General Fund for all to benefit, restore all five fire departments budgets and increase the Otis Library budget. Tim Jencks, Chief Taftville Vol. Fire Dept., 32 Providence St, asked to restore the Taftville capital budget items and restore all of the cuts made to the volunteer fire departments in Norwich. Steve Caisse, 31 South A St, Past Chief Taftville Vol. Fire Dept., asked to restore the cuts to the Taftville Fire Department. Dianne Stone, Harland Rd, asked to stop cutting the budget because it will damage the City. She asked to work on the budget all year long. Kathleen Wieland, 495 Laurel Hill Rd, 11-J, Genealogist Otis Library, requested to maintain level funding to the Library for it is a great community outreach. John Andriso, 49 Cedar St, asked not to cut the Otis Library it has countless resources and great community outreach. Yvette Jacaruso, 192 Wightman Ave, spoke in favor of an increase in the Education budget to meet goals. 1 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 14, 2018 Rich Huntley, 29 Great Plains Rd, Deputy Chief East Great Plain Vol. Fire Dept, asked to restore the capital improvements projects for the East Great Plain Fire Station. Joseph Ander, 35 Green Briar Rd, East Great Plain Vol. Fire Dept, asked to fund the needed improvements for the department. Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt Ave, suggested cutting taxes to keep and entice businesses to stay in Norwich. Amethyst Dube, 12 Quarry St, Secretary for the City Union, finished Mr. Callis statement and she talked about how city staff does save money for the city and with layoff notices we could lose these people to someplace else. Bernie Herz, 29 Bog Meadow Rd, Deputy Chief Yantic Vol. Fire Co., spoke in opposition to the budget cut in the fire line items. Mike Dziavit, 248 Browning Rd, Fire Fighter & Union President, spoke in support of the Administrative Assistants stating cuts would send the wrong message. He explained how these cuts would impact the departments operation and citizens. David Crabb, 47 Prospect St, talked about in 1970 the mil rate was 80 and Norwich was booming he talked about the efficient use of tax dollars and services and electric rates. He also talked about privatizing some services. Harvey Palazzo, 6 Harvard Terrace, talked about his 60 years here and asked to control the taxes. Sherry Ostrout, Harland Rd, expressed agreement with other speakers with their objection to the budget cuts and asked to restore the salary of the Human Services Director. Beryl Fishbone, 19 Bliss Place, asked how the cuts can be used to grow and build this City. Nick Delucia, 11 Calkins Rd, stated the Council ran on lowering the taxes and asked them to fulfill that promise. He asked the Council to think of different ways not to raise taxes. Patrick Daley, Police Chief, stated if four police officers positions are cut it could put the city grant programs at risk. He stated these cuts will have enormous impacts. Brian Kobylarz, 16 Hobart Ave, stated that the taxpayers are getting hit harder and harder and there needs to be a change in attitude and direction. He stated there needs to be a plan to increase the tax base. John Blackburn, 15 Alice St, stated Norwich isn’t given enough money from the State to run the City. Rob Dempsky, 37 River Ave, talked about the reductions in the budget not being too deep. Guy Palazzo, 6 Harvard Terrace, talked about bringing more income to the City and tightening the belt. 2 JOURNAL OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWICH MAY 14, 2018 David Crabb, 47 Prospect St, finished his previous statement about utilities costs. Gregory Stott, 284 Plain Hill Rd, asked not to cut the Library budget, that the 10% from NPU (Charter Requirement) should be spread over all of Norwich and the CCD needs to pay for its own fire department services. Mayor Nystrom closed the public hearing. Mayor Nystrom adjourned the meeting at 8:35 pm. City Clerk 3