Some Are the Tune and Some Are the Words

Are you off today in honor of Millard Fillmore (Bill Graham lasst gruessen) or James Buchanan (not Rory's dad, sadly)? For all of them and/or for none of them. That's fine. Instead of taking a day free from work I wonder if we might all better honor those who held our nation's highest elected office if we worked harder this week to make where we live more of the ideal of which they (and we) dream? Worth a try, I think, how about you?

Tomorrow afternoon at 5:30 on the Norwich Free Academy campus, in the Latham Science Center, it's a regular meeting of the NFA Board of Trustees, says the municipal calendar though the school's page for the BOT suggests the February meeting was last week with their next one in March.

At six, in Room 319 of City Hall, it's a regular meeting of the Personnel and Pension Board (and also includes an investment portion of the meeting). Based on the on-line records, this will be their first meeting of 2012.

At seven, next door to City Hall, in the Planning Department conference room at 23 Union Street, it's a regular meeting of the Commission on the City Plan, including an update on the Capital Improvements Plan (not to be confused with the ongoing hearings about the revisions for the Plan of Conservation and Development).

Also at seven in Council chambers in City Hall, it's an informational meeting by the Department of Environmental Protection on "on the movement of fish from the Greeneville Dam and some of the other species of fish in the Yantic and Shetucket rivers for sport fishing." I think John Prine would be pleased.

Especially if he sticks around because at seven thirty, there's a regular meeting of the City Council.I didn't see anything about a city holiday in honor of an alderperson's birthday on Monday but that kind of self-effacement is sort of a trademark. Actually the agenda promises to be quite interesting, especially in light of recent headlines, which may or may not be addressed in the course of the presentation (though that won't stop many of us from throwing folks under the bus in online commentaries. Sure hope that ITC has wide lanes.)

Wednesday afternoon at four in Kelly Middle School (no idea where; maybe the library) is a regular meeting of the Norwich Public School's Board of Education Budget Expenditure Committee, who are well into their work for the next fiscal year's budget request and whose meetings give you a chance to preview the concerns and the discussion. Sadly you'll learn nothing by visiting the school's website.

At five, that's when the reception and the tour of the atrium start with the meeting scheduled at six, in theNorwich Free Academy, it's the second meeting of the Vibrant Communities Initiative (VCI). Here's a know before you go visual aid that provides a snapshot of the discussion and direction so far.

At five thirty in the Planning Department's conference room at 23 Union Street, it's a regular meeting of the Dangerous Buildings Board of Review followed at six (very logically in my mind) in the same location (and many of the same members) with a meeting of the Reid and Hughes Committee proving we're not very good at letting go of the past, even if it impedes progress to our future.Perhaps another reason why we've earned the Ian Anderson Seal of Approval.

Also at six, in Room 210 of City Hall, it's a regular meeting of the Emancipation Proclamation Commemorative Committee, whose appearance on the calendar is their entire presence on the city's website, in terms of membership, meetings or minutes.  

And at seven, in the conference room at the Golf Course on the New London Turnpike, it's a regular meeting of the Golf Course Authority who, according to the records NOT on the city's website haven't yet met this year.

Thursday morning at seven thirty in their offices at 77 Main Street, it's a regular meeting of the Norwich Community Development Corporation Board of Directors. Their meeting minutes are available through their website-you get on the mailing list and they show up electronically in your in-basket. Even I can do it.  

And Saturday morning, at nine in the East Great Plains Volunteer Fire Department, it's the long-delayed by the threat of inclement weather, second installment of this year's One City Forum meetings with a report and recommendation from a special volunteer committee on defining goals, objective and measurements of progress as we work to restate and enhance our plan of development.

You can stay home and do nothing or you can lend a hand and grab an oar as we row towards shore. Now might be the time to put your back into it.
-bill kenny