Horton Hears a Who...

...in this version, the part of "Horton" is played by the Norwich City Council and the part of the "who" is played by the residents of Norwich (and as a rock and roll kid, I'd like to say it's a thrill to share the stage with Pete Townsend! What? Oh, not that Who....nevermind.)

The Norwich City Council had its first regular meeting under its new rules last night, approved at its last meeting, and I think once we get used to the differences in rhythm and cadence, we'll all be fine. Traditionally, citizens have had two opportunities to speak to, though not ask questions and gain information from, the members of the Mayor, City Council, the city manager and/or corporation counsel. The first opportunity, early in the meeting was always confined to comments on unfinished or new business on the agenda.
Under the improved rules, as happened last night, citizens can speak about, and to, whatever issues are of concern to them and not have to wait, as was formerly the case, for nearly the end of the meeting, when the hour is late and attention is flagging, to talk to broader issues and topics. Nine people spoke during the first comment period, which, to my memory, is about the same number we had, total, for the last three or four months under the previous business rules.

Thus for the first time in a long time, we had a forum for a neighbor to tell his City Council he is concerned about public safety on Route 2 as it wends its way through Norwich neighborhoods. And the citizen insisted, very politely but forcibly (I thought), his elected officials and others, to include the fire and the police chief, work to develop a plan to enforce the existing speed limits and enhance safety. He was a little nervous, confessing as he started that he'd never spoken to the City Council before, but he did a fine job and seemed so encouraged at the ease of the process that he said he'd return again, and often, to talk to the Council (which I think was part of the impetus behind modifying the business rules). I'm looking for an ally to get pony rides for my birthday, and I think I may have found my guy. Stay tuned.

The difference between a rut and a grave is the depth of the habit, and sometimes habits are harder to break than first thought as another resident, who speaks to the Council on a variety of subjects on a regular basis seemed momentarily confused if this were, indeed, a comment period to address concerns about resolutions on the council's agenda. Assured this was the time and space to do that, he did so with his usual sincerity and directness.

Another citizen shared with the Council he had watched the previous meeting on cable in his living room (what I like to call public excess TV) and advised them frequently the comment podium's microphone malfunctioned and, additionally, one of the alderman's microphones didn't seem to be on at all, so he couldn't be clearly heard. He encouraged the council to remedy the audio situation. It can be hard to consider someone else's point of view when you can't hear him.

Another speaker thanked the council for an action it was to take later in the evening (how did he know they would do that, I wondered. Perhaps, in addition to ESPN and ESPN2, his cable system also has ESP?) supporting a variance request of a client, adding the client is a small business. He reminded the council continued support of small business in Norwich was key to economic growth.
From where I sat, the speaker bore a resemblance to someone in June who'd advocated to create a retail space for two national chain stores and a regional bank in the middle of a traditional neighborhood. I suspect the lighting in council chambers was responsible for this doppelganger effect, but, speaking of lighting, in response to another citizen's remarks, I learned that 44 of the 48 light bulbs in the fixtures in council chambers are CFL (not, as I first thought, Canadian Football League, but Compact Fluorescent Lamps). Go Hamilton Tiger Cats! (What? Again?)

Another speaker encouraged the City Council to request increase funding from the state legislature for various arts programs and operations in the city while yet another citizen shared with the council his plans to have a one-man No Child Left Indoors initiative. He's working with mentoring groups in the city to take four young people and hopefully share his hobby, fishing, and make it their hobby as well. He didn't really need anything from the Council last night except, he suggested, perhaps their help at a later date, in assuring that whatever bureaucracies need to be plugged into such a project are a help and not an obstacle.

What went on wasn't West Wing, or even C-Span. It was a process that's still evolving and will get better and smoother as we go along-though smoothness isn't necessarily something we need to strive for (too much). Bit by bit, we need to reassure ourselves that 'we the people' are indeed the folks for whom this city government is working (and remember we hired these people and they want to do their best for us). Actions speak louder than words. And sometimes the things we do speak so loudly I can't hear what we're saying.
-bill kenny