Addition by Subtraction (this week's Norwich municipal meetings)

With ten days until Christmas, unless you're an automaker from Detroit, the municipal calendar thins out for the holidays as more meetings are rescheduled because of time constraints, and (I suspect) some of the agendas of meetings that are scheduled are slenderized if not tenderized-more on that in a moment.

This afternoon at four, the Design Review Board meets at 23 Union Street (that's next door to City Hall) but the City's website has no agenda (not required by public law) or minutes of previous meetings (very much required by public law). When I point this stuff out, I'm not punking anyone at City Hall-but obliquely (well, not so much now, of course) those on these citizen committees that they have a responsibility and requirement to report in a timely manner. And NOT doing so lets everyone down. And--WHAT?!?--oh. It seems we need to pack some of our scruples and values here at Tilting so I'll step down from my soapbox and let the movers use it. Sorry.

This evening at six thirty is an informational session by the Norwich Semiseptecentennial Committee before the City Council meeting. I attended one of these on this event some months ago and came away disquieted by how little money had been raised and how much still needed to be done (and how few of those questions came from the City Council). Based on everything I've read in the meantime, I see no reason to not be as concerned as I was at that time.

I applaud those who've volunteered their time and talents and wish them well, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't have a Plan B, Plan C and as many more letters in the alphabet as needed. This was a big, challenging project when economic times were good a year ago (though a year ago we didn't think times were so good, funny how that worked out) and now seven months away where are we?

Actually, that's a question, in a much larger sense, I have for the City Council, who meets at seven PM in City Hall. I was troubled, to say the least, when I reviewed their meeting agenda and saw NO mention of a report by the committee of five attorneys created at their 18 August Council meeting, (page 16) to review the Charter of the City of Norwich. This despite, per that same August ordinance creating the committee: "the Council requests that said report be submitted to it by the first (my emphasis) council meeting of December 2008."

It's already two weeks overdue, gentlemen of the City Council. Will Charter Review and Revision (such a hot topic in the Council elections last November) join ethics review, the implementation of city-based business contracting preferences, and noise ordinances as issues you started to work on and then, well, lost interest in or did you just lose your way?

I'd suggest you pull your socks up and buckle down this coming year (and that way those of us in the cheap seats won't have as many potshot opportunities). The budget formulation will, no doubt, be brutal, but there are so many other issues of import that you haven't affected in any meaningful way. I'm not angry with you--though it probably reads that way. I am disappointed.

Tuesday at 7 PM is a public hearing in Council chambers by the Commission on the City Plan, and this should be an interesting evening though hopefully not just for the commissioners.
There are, in reviewing the agenda, what seem to be three topics: a proposed 90-unit active-adult community development between Hunters Road and Merchants Avenue. The Ponemah Villa development is to be built in a heavily settled area with municipal utilities and includes units in size from single- to four-bedrooms, a community center, parking, and recreational trails through the heavily wooded property. This project has already been approved by the wetlands commission.

The actual first agenda item, a somewhat controversial (there's an understatement!) - and similar - project on Scotland Road was rejected by the Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission, and could be withdrawn--but that will have to be done once the hearing is called to order. Right now it's on the agenda.

There's also an application for a sober house on Bentley Avenue. There have been a lot of headlines on this house in recent months; actually on the way it opened and the methods used by those who own it to operate it. Our 21st Century Well-Meaning has created a not-so-cottage industry generating billions of dollars supposedly 'caring for those in need' who never seem to get better and whose numbers never diminish.

I'm not sure when we're helping them or helping ourselves. The owners of the property at Bentley had a similar operation, opened in much the same surreptitious manner not that far from where I live. And when found out, after their lawyers did some sabre rattling of briefs and writs, they closed up and defaulted on the loan they used to buy the house. And those whom they were supposedly helping were left to own devices. Same shirt, different day at Bentley.

There are other, important, meetings slated for this week--and I'd encourage you to seek them out at the City's fine website, though you may need to do some calling around (the site lists a Board of Education meeting for Tuesday in Room 210 of City Hall that may not be happening).

Yes, it's hectic at the holiday season but for those among us who have volunteered to serve on the countless advisories, boards, commissions and committees that make wherever we live a better place for all of us, we owe each and every volunteer a 'thank you' for their efforts on our behalf, not just because it's Christmas time, but all the year through.
-bill kenny