As we edge closer to the holidays, more and more aspects of our lives more stridently compete for our attention. Add to that the uncertainties many of us have right now in terms of employment, and the enjoyment level seems to plummet.
Meetings this week in Norwich aren't a competing item-but a complementary aspect of living here. Between scouring the city's website and tracking items in the local newspapers, you can have a good idea of the shape of things to come without a lot of effort. I mention that, because on more than one occasion I've encountered fellow residents who are not cognizant of a decision or a meeting about a decision in which they have an interest and the default position seems to be blame 'them'. The problem, to my way of thinking, is that we are them, in much the same way as I am he and you are he and you are me and we are all together.
If knowledge is power, here's some bonus chin ups and sit ups in terms of what's going on this week in the Rose City (the difference between being exorcised and exercised is what you do with the information, I suppose):
The agenda for tonight's City Council meeting is here. It starts at 7:30 PM. The first Council meeting of the month must start at 7:30 and must be in City Council chambers, by charter. I mention that as this Council, when it convened a year ago, had expressed a desire to have a meeting each quarter beyond the walls of City Hall. After a couple of months, and some pretty lively outreach opportunities, that idea sort of went away (they weren't actual Council meetings just a chance for different neighborhoods to check under the hood).
You can decide for yourself what is of interest and importance on the agenda (trick observation: everything is important to someone) and if you feel strongly about any of the issues, for or against, you'll have the opportunity during one of the two public comment periods to share your thoughts with the alderpersons.
But...before the City Council meeting, starting at six, is a public hearing down the hall in room 335 by the CT Office of Policy and Management on the proposed change of land designation on Scotland and Hanson Roads. You remember this one, right? The hearing in Hartford in July where no one from the City was present and in the absence of any objections, a zoning change was granted to allow development of an 'active adult' community that provoked large numbers of adults already living in that area to become active? Yeah, and then there was a lot of shouting and pointing and mea culpaing (I'm not sure the Pope would appreciate my making that into a gerund, but it's Christmas, right?) and now the discussion will continue, or not. Pity the OPM website offers NO clues as to the agenda or even the existence of the meeting.
On Tuesday, for those who were discomfited last week by the absence of participation by anyone from the Board of Education at the Budget and Finance workshop, there's a meeting of the Board of Education Budget Expenditure Committee at 5 PM in the Central Office, which I understand is across from the Norwichtown Green. I should point out, I guess, that I don't have this meeting information from the Board's website which is inadequate and outdated in every sense of the word.
Also Tuesday, at 5:30, this time in Council Chambers at City Hall, is a meeting of the Sachem Fund Committee whose job is not getting easier as financial situations tighten within and without the City, as you can surmise by looking at their agenda which I suspect is all about refining and redefining what they do and how they do it.
At six PM, at 16 Golden Street, there's a special meeting of the Board of Public Utilities.
On Thursday night at seven in Council Chambers at City Hall is a meeting of the Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission. I imagine the meeting agenda will be available to the public at the meeting. Here's a draft of their meeting minutes from the 19th of November, so you have some idea of what they've been working on.
Not a quiet week by any means, but as I said at the top, we have enough on our plates to suffice this time, until next time. "This old town's been home long as I remember/This town's gonna be here long after I'm gone/East side, West side--give up, or surrender--been down, But I still rock on."
-bill kenny
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