Even as the Wheels Turn (Norwich Meetings 2-6 November)

One of the things I always find fascinating, possibly because I have close to no mechanical ability, is how much more motion in the turning of a wheel is devoted to the outermost part, the rim, as opposed to the center or the hub. Considering that tomorrow, not just in Norwich, but across these United States, is Election Day, which means many new beginnings and endings and an awful lot of 'to be continued's, this might be a good moment to devote a thought to our neighbors who volunteer to serve on all those advisories, board, commissions and committees that all towns and cities seem to have and whose functions continue no matter who comes or goes in our City Halls.

There are two important meetings today in Norwich, one for what may be to come and the other for what may never come to be. The Board of Education meets at 5 in their central office the (former John Mason School, across from the Norwichtown Green) to consider the road(s) ahead should they need to replace their Superintendent of Schools, Dr Pamela Aubin, who, according to some reports may be leaving to head the Montville CT Schools.

Then at seven thirty in a quite rare Election Eve meeting, the Norwich City Council, seated two years ago with such high hopes no one could have met them, will hold its final active meeting (there'll be a lame duck meeting on the 16th), with a possible decision on acquiring the Norwich Hospital site property (postponed for a number of years) on the agenda. Some have suggested this City Council is in danger of being remembered as Hollow Men, as their tenure ends, not with a bang but a whimper. I hadn't realized there was a chapter of the T. S. Eliot fan club anywhere near here--gives me hope for Ezra Pound.

Tuesday is, of course, Election Day with polls in Norwich opening at six in the morning and closing at eight. You don't get to call the local radio show or write letters to the editors of the two newspapers, griping about what's wrong in your town, unless you go and vote. For those of us in Norwich, we have many choices and many voices and the luxury of choice is a marvelous thing. Thank you to the friends and neighbors who've offered of themselves to seek elected office. You will not all triumph at the polls, but we have all gained because of your generosity.

To start Wednesday's schedule, the (Kelly Middle) School Building Committee meeting at 5:30 in the central office has been cancelled (actually postponed until the 18th) while elsewhere at at six in their offices at 16 South Golden Street is a two fer, so to speak: special meetings of the Board of Public Utilities' Commissioners as well as the Sewer Authority. And at seven, slated for Room 335 of City Hall is a regular meeting of the Republican Town Committee.

Thursday morning at 9:30 , says a local newspaper, is a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)Workshop in Room 335 of City Hall, but there's no mention of that workshop anywhere on the city's website which underscores the importance of the workshop, I think.

At 5:30 in the Stanley Frank Media Arts Center on the campus of the Norwich Free Academy is the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees, basically their business meeting to elect officers and new members before getting down to the serious business facing all of them (and us as parents and taxpayers).

And Thursday night at seven in the basement conference room of 23 Union Street is a regular meeting of the Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission, whose meeting minutes from their 1 October meeting still aren't posted to the city's website. I guess that means their members will all be in City Hall Thursday morning for the FOIA workshop. Hope they bring notebooks and pens.

And that's this week in Norwich. Remember:
Vote on Tuesday, because it's important (it's always important) and
The Wheel in the sky keeps on turnin'.
-bill kenny