There was a good turnout and a decent discussion between and among the public and the Norwich City Council at the 7 January City Council meeting on the possibility/feasibility/advisability of hiring a lobbyist advocate for the city during the upcoming legislative session in Hartford (in conjunction with, in addition to, or in a parallel universe from, our elected officials, depending on whom is telling the story and to whom they are speaking).
It's not on the agenda for tonight's City Council meeting and in light of the story in only one of the local newspapers Friday, I'm not sure what, if anything, we as a city are doing with this topic. It appears we received four bids from lobbyists with prices to accomplish, well, that's my concern...
One of those who submitted a bid, according to the story, will work with the city to figure out what they should be lobbying for. Not sure we have that in the proper order and sequence. I'm not a big home improvement guy (I'm not even a little home improvement guy) but I don't think you go to the hardware store and buy lumber, shingles, nails and a hammer and then come home and decide what you're going to make. Something about 'plan your work and work your plan' comes to mind. Another of the lobbyists, whom the city has used in the past, has offered to assist (here's a surprise!) in getting funding for projects they have helped get funding for in previous sessions. Sounds a little bit like 'if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always gotten.'
With a full-time governor and state bureaucracy, but only a part-time legislative branch, I've developed a greater appreciation for how legislation gets written, introduced and passed even though it doesn't have much to do with those whom we elect to accomplish it. And, in fairness to our part-time legislators, when would they have the time to research the various issues we would like them to examine, much less draft the language of a bill that could then be passed by both state houses and signed by the governor?
As electorates go, we're pretty fickle, after all. Two years ago to shut us up, the state legislature passed 'hands free only cell phone' laws (because reading newspapers, drinking coffee, applying makeup, and shaving while driving aren't distractions) which don't seem to be enforced by anyone at anytime. And, hand on your heart, if you were to get pulled over by a police officer for talking on a cellphone in violation of state statutes, would you thank the officer for enforcing the law or curse your luck at being the one who was caught? I know, 'don't ask the question if you can't stand the answer.'
Which, in a way, brings me back to my question about a lobbyist for Norwich.
Cold-hearted ba$tard that I am, it's a matter of return on investment. If we, as a city, will get more 'back' from Hartford than it costs us to hire an (additional) advocate, I'm not unhappy about hiring somebody. I just don't know what the answer is supposed to look like, which is why I hope the City Manager, the Mayor and the members of the City Council will make, or find, the time to explain what they want to do, and why, before undertaking anything. And if our local elected representatives have anything they'd like to say, there are two public comment sessions at tonight's Council meeting (and at every Council meeting) and they should avail themselves of the opportunity to make their voices heard, too.
It's hard to have a conversation when only one of us is speaking, especially when sometimes the things we do speak so loudly I can't hear what you say.
-bill kenny
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