Freedom of Choice vs. Freedom from Choice

Remind me to come back to this note six months from now and see if I 'feel happy' as they used to say in an old Monty Python routine. Here in my adopted hometown of Norwich, Connecticut, (www.norwich.whyohwhyisitalwaysus.sad) we've been pretty busy in November what with leaf raking, pie baking and elections and all.

We had six vacancies on our City Council with two alderpersons choosing to not seek another term and we, the voters, deciding to not permit three of the other four to receive another term. Turbulence is a descriptive that comes to mind though at last night's 'lame duck' Council meeting (the last one of the current Council with the New Kids taking seats next month behind the GBMD, Great Big Mahogany Desks) the word often used was 'change'.

Many, though not all, from the front of the room and from the audience at the given time, had kind things to say about one another, those succeeding them and the challenge awaiting us all. One alderman correctly suggested it was possible to go from 'hero to zero' very quickly and all seemed to agree that service on the City Council can be very rewarding but comes with a price and a cost (hours devoted to assisting others are hours spouses and children give up, sometimes both knowingly and willingly but always reluctantly) that can become a burden.

The outgoing City Council made it official and, having started a chapter in the book by removing the previous City Manager, closed that chapter by offering the position to another person who has, it seems, accepted. Everyone settles in next month.

Norwich 2008 will see us with a new City Manager, the Chief Executive Officer according to our charter, and five (of seven) new members of the City Council. Vox Populi.
We said we wanted change. Whether we meant from our dollar or for ourselves and our children has yet to be established. Stay tuned.
-bill kenny