Absence Doesn't Make the Heart Grow Fonder

2010 is so fresh it still has that New Year smell and that may be a memory we need to hold on to because bright and shiny gets dulled and dark in rapid order in the best of times. And if you hadn't noticed, these aren't the best of times.

In Norwich, we had the first City Council meeting of 2010 Monday night and I'm still wondering where the lions are, so to speak, because in a perfect world, we should need to find a new venue for Council meetings, because so many of us are turning out to speak to those whom we elected, so they know our minds and hearts before making decisions on our behalf. And yet, that doesn't happen leaving me to wonder if the empty chairs are a separate problem or just a part of a larger Neverending Story.

We had an overflow house the evening this City Council and Mayor assumed office. You couldn't swing a cat and not hit a bag pipe player (tin eared lout that I am, much of the bagpipe music sounded a bit like we were hurting cats, though we weren't). But for the most part, a lot of us have put our engagement on cruise control which sounds like a critical ingredient in a recipe for civic unhappiness when decisions get made that you don't like.

The City Council, our Mayor and the City Manager are working within a current-year budget that may well change (and not in a positive way) as soon as our State Legislators get their feces amalgamated and craft a deal with our Governor. Whatever deal is struck could have a negative impact on Connecticut's cities and towns. Add to that challenge, the rapidly approaching formulation of the next fiscal year budget, and you could be forgiven for wondering why those in any elected office (in Norwich or anywhere else) ever wanted a seat at the grown-up table.

Short of all of us hitting the roadside this weekend (and every weekend through Labor Day) to gather discarded bottles and cans for redemption nickels, we should prepare now for even more belt-tightening. Meanwhile, there are decisions to be made about purchasing the (former) Norwich Hospital Site property, the road ahead for 337 Main Street as a community center, and the attempt to fund every public safety team member, every school teacher and program in the education budget, as well as all the overhead for the city's daily operation with very probably less State aid than last year, all while trying to keep any property tax or municipal fee increase to as small a figure as possible. Sounds like something out of "For My Next Trick, I'll Need a Volunteer" as we all dash for the exits.

All those on our City Council have home phones and email addresses listed on the municipal website and they want to hear from us (actually, they have no choice, so it's nice that they're good sports about it). Democracy is a contact sport--we're not going to get very much accomplished by sitting on the bench and watching from a distance. Phoning a call-in show on a local radio station is a good start, but not a full step in helping your neighbors help our city. Mayor Nystrom holds a question and answer session this Saturday from nine until noon (or until whenever the questions run out) at the Central Fire House. If he can find the time, can you? Will I ask him about those pony rides for my birthday? What do you think? I'll tell you what, if you don't show up with your question, he will have to live with mine (I have a saddle on layaway, if you were wondering how I'm leaning).

For too long, too many of us have left the daily decisions in Norwich to people who mean well, but who never hear from us until after the die has been cast. If we want, and it seems that we have, a pro-active City Council that there's for us, we need to be there for them. When you buy a ticket, you get the whole ride. So strap yourself in and keep your hands inside. You'll need them later to help.

-bill kenny