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Council,

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please come to order. We'll be joined in

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prayer by Alderman Nestrom.

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Almighty God, we ask for your blessing

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upon the members of this council as we

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assemble here in this chamber to conduct

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the ongoing business of our city. With

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your guidance, we will strive to ensure

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that all our decisions are for the

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common good, and your inspiration will

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instill respect, compassion, and

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thoughtfulness in all our deliberations.

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Give us the strength and wisdom to lead

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by example as the people's

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representatives, and their peace and

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harmony will mark all our proceedings,

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and keep us faithful to the trust placed

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on us by the citizens of your community.

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Amen.

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>> Amen.

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>> Thank you very much,

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>> Orderman Hayes. Order woman news.

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>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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» Thank you very much.

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Petition and communication number one,

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commission on the city plan referral

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response, an ordinance appropriating $55

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million for the city of Norwich police

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headquarters facility project located at

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300 Main Street downtown and authorizing

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the issue of $55 million bonds for the

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city to meet said appropriation

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impending the issuance thereof the

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making of temporary borrowings for such

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purpose. Would you like me to read the

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letter in entirety?

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» Sure.

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>> August 13, 2026. the honorable mayor,

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alder persons of the council in the city

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of Norwich, an ordinance appropriating

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55 million for the city of Norwich

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police headquarters facility project

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located at 300 Main Street downtown and

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authorizing the issue of $55 million

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bonds for the city to meet said

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appropriation and pending the issuance

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thereof the making of temporary

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borrowings for such purpose. At the

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August 13, 2026 hybrid special meeting

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of the city of Norwich Commission on the

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city plan and the commi the commission

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reviewed and dis discussed the above

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reference referral.

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Seated were Dean Nason, Dennis Jenkins,

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Jason Bugby, and Ella Miles. After

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careful consideration, Jason Bugby made

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a motion to forward a favorable

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recommendation to the city council to

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approve the ordinance and it is as it is

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consistent with the envision 06360

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plan of conservation and development.

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Live Norwich goal number three strategy

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L3.1

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provide and maintain highquality

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community facilities and public

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services. specifically continue to

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provide and maintain community

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facilities. Dennis Jenkins seconded the

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motion. In favor, Dean Nason, Dennis

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Jenkins, Jason Bugby, and Ella Miles.

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Against none, abstain none. Dean Nason,

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vice chairman.

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>> Thank you very much. Can I have a motion

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to accept this favorable recommendation?

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>> So moved.

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>> Okay.

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Motion by Alderman Nestrom, second by

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Alderwoman Hayes.

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Any discussion?

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If not, roll call, please.

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>> Alderman Nash,

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>> yes.

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>> Alderwoman Hayes,

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>> yes.

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>> Alderman Katabaya,

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>> yes.

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>> Alderwoman Zucardi,

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>> yes.

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>> Alderman Nestrom,

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>> yes.

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>> President Prom Deluchia,

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>> yes.

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>> Mayor Singh,

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>> yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you

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very much.

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Mission and communication. Number two,

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various recently pro recently

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proclamations. Recently issued

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proclamations.

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>> Thank you very much. Can I have a motion

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to accept these?

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>> So moved.

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>> Thank you. Alderman Nestrom. Can I have

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a second?

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>> Second.

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>> Alderwoman

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Zucardi.

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Any discussions?

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Hearing none. Roll call, please.

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>> Alderman Nash.

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>> Yes.

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>> Alderwoman Hayes. Yes.

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>> Alderman Canabaya.

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>> Yes.

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>> Alderwoman Zucardi.

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>> Yes.

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>> Alderman Nestrom.

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>> Yes.

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>> President Prom Deluchia.

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>> Yes.

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>> Mayor Singh.

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>> Yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you

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very much.

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Public hearing number one, an ordinance

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appropriating 55 million for the city of

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Norwich headquarters facility pro

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project located at 300 Main Street

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downtown and authorizing the issue of

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$55 million bonds of the city to set to meet said appropriation and pending

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the issuance thereof and making the

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temporary borrowings for such purpose.

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>> Thank you very much. So at this point I

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declare public hearing open.

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uh please come forward, state your name

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and uh first we'll have uh anybody who's

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in favor of this

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>> can come forward. Thank you.

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My name is Charles Tyrie. I'm a resident

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of Norwich for 20 years. I live at 107

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Newton Street. I'm the pastor of a local

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congregation here in Norwich and I have

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been a unpaid volunteer police chaplain

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for the last 12 years.

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Ladies and gentlemen of the council, Mr.

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Mayor, it's a pleasure to speak to you

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today. Uh the views that I'll express

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are my own. I I even as I tell you what

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I believe officers believe, one of the

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duties of chaplain is officer wellness

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and morale. Uh we also do some things

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for the department uh ministering to the

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community and and helping with uh some

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duties is there as well. Norris Police

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Department needs your immediate support.

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We're approaching a crisis. Officers are

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retiring, leaving police work, and

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transferring to other agencies.

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Simply put, I believe that our officers

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do not believe the city government

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actually supports them.

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They have several concrete reasons for

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this belief and no amount of verbal

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denial or comforting words will dissuade

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that. We have an opportunity now to take

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a first step to meaningfully address

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that need by actually supporting our

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officers. So, I recommend to you that

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you please put the new police station on

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the ballot in November.

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For more than 14 years, we've weakly

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supported this critical need as a city.

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I urge council members and the citizens

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to vigorous vigorously support this is a

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vital need for public safety in Norwich.

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I've spent about 500 hours uh doing ride

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alongs with Norwich police officers.

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Countless hours uh in meetings, private

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conversations. Uh this is the backdrop

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for my conversation.

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So, why should we approve this? Imagine

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moving all of city government in city

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hall here, all of our divisions,

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offices, officers, and um files, by the

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way, to the first floor and basement of

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this meeting. I would love to see us try

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this. And then trying to efficiently

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administer and govern our citizens

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crammed into half the space you need to

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do your work.

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That's the current situation in the

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Norwich Police Headquarters. The

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building's falling apart, as we've

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heard. Constant failures of heat, air

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conditioning, plumbing, a leaking roof.

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We share spaces, have files everywhere.

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We lack room for training, physical

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development, community engagement.

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We are trying to recruit and retain the

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highest quality police officers to work

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in this dilapidated structure. Imagine

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offering a new city hall employee a spot

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in the basement next to the boiler room

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that used to be a broom closet.

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The building is cold in the winter and

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hot in the summer and and the wonderful

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ladies locker room occasionally has a

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backup and sewage smells in their locker

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room. The dispatch center, as we

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mentioned, is still in a room with a

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water damaged ceiling being cooled by

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Walmart fans.

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female officers uh even after have some

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have transferred out share lockers due

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to inadequate space. The burden to

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change this poor working condition which

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has existed for decades

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lies here with this governing body and

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then with the citizens of Norwich. Other

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vital changes need to be made.

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But we have the opportunity now to show

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the officers who remain who actually we

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actually care about their working

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conditions, their mandatory overtimes,

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and their sacrifices to protect and

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serve us and our citizens.

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They are paying a high price in stress,

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in low morale for our budget priorities

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and our lack of strong support for a new

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police station. Every police department

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in Connecticut is hiring.

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[clears throat] Officers serve in

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Norwich by choice, not by necessity. Our

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response to this need will send a clear

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signal as our past responses have sent.

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So, I'll conclude by saying as leaders,

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citizens, we need to show that we care.

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An updated, adequate police headquarters

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on the ballot will show your support and

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not doing that will show no support.

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Thank you.

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>> Thank you very much.

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[applause]

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» On the sheet, we have two names, Susan

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Toppins and Joanne.

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Whoever wants to come first.

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>> Okay.

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» Good evening. My name is Joanne

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Philbrick. Um, I'm going to speak

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in a

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limited favorable

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response to this. Uh I it's interesting

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because I was very aware of when the

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light went on for the gentleman

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previously, but um that's a discussion

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for another day. Uh I was very impressed

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by Lieutenant Rankin's presentation.

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Uh he brought home a lot of good points.

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We had a nice conversation beforehand.

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My problem with this endeavor is like so

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many of the other endeavors in the city

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of Norwich. It was done under cover of

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darkness

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just under the $800,000 threshold.

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When this was made public, I immediately

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did a a foyer asking for any and all

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minutes correspondence

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applying to this endeavor and I was told

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there weren't any. Of course there were.

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You had to have conversations with the

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Chelsea Graten Bank.

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Where are those minutes?

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The best way to turn people off is by

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I'll go back to my three criteria.

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Truth, trust, and transparency.

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If we can't trust you, we will not

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support you. And as a result, our police

281
00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,600
officers who are leaving at a remarkable

282
00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,160
rate

283
00:11:56,160 --> 00:11:58,480
will continue to leave. Perhaps you

284
00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:02,640
should ask your HR department why there

285
00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:05,200
why they're leaving. There's a bigger

286
00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:08,079
problem here.

287
00:12:08,079 --> 00:12:12,320
I'm afraid that this will turn out like

288
00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:15,760
so many other Norwich projects.

289
00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:17,360
Lieutenant Ranken talked about that

290
00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,680
Raiden Hughes. We still don't have a

291
00:12:19,680 --> 00:12:23,360
commercial tenant. So you owe me lunch.

292
00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,040
I can't even get a smile out of you,

293
00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:29,279
Joe. Not even a not even a smile.

294
00:12:29,279 --> 00:12:31,680
Oh my god. And you wonder what the

295
00:12:31,680 --> 00:12:34,639
problem is here. So I will support the

296
00:12:34,639 --> 00:12:37,120
police department, but I will not

297
00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,920
support you.

298
00:12:39,920 --> 00:12:43,083
>> Thank you very much.

299
00:12:43,083 --> 00:12:45,693
[applause]

300
00:12:45,703 --> 00:12:45,839
[snorts]

301
00:12:45,839 --> 00:12:50,150
>> Yes, please.

302
00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:52,800
» Good evening. Susan Topping, 39 Holland

303
00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:55,360
Road. First of all, I'd like to thank

304
00:12:55,360 --> 00:12:57,360
you for having the information sessions

305
00:12:57,360 --> 00:12:59,920
and for initiating the what is it

306
00:12:59,920 --> 00:13:02,160
called? New Norwichpd.com. Do I have

307
00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:05,279
that correct? Correctly. Um I actually

308
00:13:05,279 --> 00:13:07,360
think it's a brilliant idea to put this

309
00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,200
downtown for all the reasons that were

310
00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,240
we're given. Um I also having looked at

311
00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,720
the plans think that putting up front

312
00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:16,800
the way the building is organized is

313
00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:19,200
just lovely with all the community

314
00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,680
services right as you walk in through

315
00:13:21,680 --> 00:13:23,279
the building. I think that really

316
00:13:23,279 --> 00:13:27,360
reframes how many of us feel about sorry

317
00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:30,160
how uh some people feel about the police

318
00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,639
in general. Um I do have a quick

319
00:13:32,639 --> 00:13:34,399
question. I do think the female locker

320
00:13:34,399 --> 00:13:36,639
rooms shouldn't be smaller than those of

321
00:13:36,639 --> 00:13:38,959
the men. Just would like to put that on

322
00:13:38,959 --> 00:13:42,240
the table. Um I would also really like

323
00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,720
to thank you for having the information

324
00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:49,120
sessions and for initiating the new the

325
00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:51,040
website.

326
00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,120
I'm totally in support of putting this

327
00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:56,399
ordinance for the new police department

328
00:13:56,399 --> 00:13:59,760
HQ down at 300 Main Street for

329
00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:04,480
referendum in November. And um because I

330
00:14:04,480 --> 00:14:06,399
truly believe that this will only

331
00:14:06,399 --> 00:14:08,800
continue to build our confidence and our

332
00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,320
trust in our city government and council

333
00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,320
who it seems to me have been doing such

334
00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,720
a brilliant job. So I would like to

335
00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,800
thank you for that. That's it. very

336
00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:22,639
much.

337
00:14:22,639 --> 00:14:27,350
Yes, please.

338
00:14:27,360 --> 00:14:27,600
Uh,

339
00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:28,959
>> good evening. My name is Reverend David

340
00:14:28,959 --> 00:14:31,680
Host. I live at 5 Joseph Perkins Road

341
00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,920
with my family, member of Norwich

342
00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:36,320
Interfaith and Indivisible Norwich. I

343
00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,880
support this ordinance and the uh

344
00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:42,399
upcoming uh referendum. Um, I think it's

345
00:14:42,399 --> 00:14:44,959
very positive initi initiative both for

346
00:14:44,959 --> 00:14:47,440
public safety and for the revitalization

347
00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:49,360
of downtown. I think that is a very

348
00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,160
convincing argument. Uh it's necessary

349
00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:55,040
but also a bold move uh for our

350
00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:57,440
community and I would urge the council

351
00:14:57,440 --> 00:15:00,959
and our leaders uh to continue to have

352
00:15:00,959 --> 00:15:04,000
conversations and dialogue uh as this

353
00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:08,240
process moves forward. Um I am curious

354
00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:10,079
and this is an area of I have no

355
00:15:10,079 --> 00:15:12,320
expertise. My understanding is the

356
00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:15,680
city's bond raising rating is uh uh

357
00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,480
currently double A. Um, and I'd like to

358
00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,320
know more information about that. I also

359
00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:22,000
understand the city is not at its

360
00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:23,760
bonding limit, and I think that would be

361
00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:26,880
in important information uh to share

362
00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:30,320
with us all. Um, and again, I want to

363
00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:31,920
thank the lieutenant for a really good

364
00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:34,240
presentation. I think he said the tax

365
00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,360
burden would be a dollar a day.

366
00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,600
Count on me. I'll happily put in a

367
00:15:39,600 --> 00:15:41,839
dollar a day to uh support this

368
00:15:41,839 --> 00:15:43,279
initiative. Thank you all.

369
00:15:43,279 --> 00:15:47,750
>> Thank you very much.

370
00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:55,030
Yes, please.

371
00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,120
» Good evening. Uh, Robert Denanishia,

372
00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,800
Whipple Avenue, Norwich. Um,

373
00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:02,880
yeah, thanks for that presentation. It

374
00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:04,800
was enlightening and answered a lot of

375
00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:06,720
questions.

376
00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:10,399
We're at this juncture because as I

377
00:16:10,399 --> 00:16:13,600
understand it, back in 1979,

378
00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:17,519
the current building was a compromise.

379
00:16:17,519 --> 00:16:21,600
Underfunded, under architect,

380
00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:24,880
just let's get it done. This is what we

381
00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,759
can get through. So, they passed it down

382
00:16:27,759 --> 00:16:30,079
to us.

383
00:16:30,079 --> 00:16:33,279
We can't afford to do that again.

384
00:16:33,279 --> 00:16:36,160
We need this facility. It's been proven

385
00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,399
we need this facility

386
00:16:38,399 --> 00:16:42,959
and I think it's a fantastic location

387
00:16:42,959 --> 00:16:45,040
and it will bring back help bring back

388
00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:46,560
downtown.

389
00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:48,959
And as far as the building itself, it's

390
00:16:48,959 --> 00:16:51,920
an architectural marvel. I doubt if

391
00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:53,519
there's five people in the whole world

392
00:16:53,519 --> 00:16:56,399
that could build that building today.

393
00:16:56,399 --> 00:17:01,199
So, uh, we'll be preserving that also.

394
00:17:01,199 --> 00:17:02,800
But

395
00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,120
as I mentioned,

396
00:17:05,120 --> 00:17:08,079
we have to do something now.

397
00:17:08,079 --> 00:17:09,760
Or if [clears throat] we don't, we're

398
00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,880
just going to keep passing this along at

399
00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:19,600
60 million, 65 million, 70 million.

400
00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:22,640
It's not going to go down. If anybody

401
00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,720
looked into building a simple house,

402
00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,440
that's why houses are going for 400,500.

403
00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:32,720
My $70,000 house is worth $200,000. It's

404
00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:34,799
ridiculous.

405
00:17:34,799 --> 00:17:37,120
But I am in favor of this. I thank you

406
00:17:37,120 --> 00:17:38,799
and I look forward to more public

407
00:17:38,799 --> 00:17:41,520
meetings and I hope it does get on the

408
00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:45,679
ballot as a referendum and uh I will if

409
00:17:45,679 --> 00:17:48,400
it is there I will do what I can to have

410
00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:50,320
people come out and vote to support it.

411
00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:52,160
So thank you all.

412
00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:55,512
>> Thank you.

413
00:17:55,522 --> 00:18:06,470
[applause]

414
00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,120
Good evening. My name is Rocky.

415
00:18:09,120 --> 00:18:13,360
I was in before you on August 3rd

416
00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:16,720
before we were kindly escorted out under

417
00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:18,640
threat of arrest

418
00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,679
without breaking any laws. We do I

419
00:18:21,679 --> 00:18:23,520
personally support the police

420
00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:27,280
department. always have, always will.

421
00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,240
But the mistrust that we the citizens

422
00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:35,919
have is re regarding you guys.

423
00:18:35,919 --> 00:18:40,559
Mr. Joseph Deluchia on August 3rd lied

424
00:18:40,559 --> 00:18:44,080
knowingly that the reason why you have

425
00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:47,679
to spend $535,000

426
00:18:47,679 --> 00:18:51,280
was because J Yantic just excuse me

427
00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,120
public hearing his own ordinance.

428
00:18:53,120 --> 00:18:55,280
>> Yes, I'm getting there. spending money,

429
00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:57,200
right, to buy a police station to,

430
00:18:57,200 --> 00:18:59,679
right? Can you please give me the chance

431
00:18:59,679 --> 00:19:00,640
to speak?

432
00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,039
>> Sure.

433
00:19:03,039 --> 00:19:08,240
>> So he stated, "Yantik, since since 1847,

434
00:19:08,240 --> 00:19:10,559
ALL OF A SUDDEN, WELL, THEY DIDN'T WANT

435
00:19:10,559 --> 00:19:13,039
TO GO ON A TRUCKS. WHAT ARE we going to

436
00:19:13,039 --> 00:19:16,640
do? IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY JUST

437
00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:18,880
DECIDED

438
00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,640
NOT TO SHOW UP. IT'S A LIE.

439
00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,160
YOU LIED publicly knowing that the

440
00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,480
REASON WHY YANTIC DIDN'T SHOW UP.

441
00:19:28,480 --> 00:19:29,520
>> WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO with the

442
00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:29,919
ordinary?

443
00:19:29,919 --> 00:19:32,160
>> Let's move to the ordinary spot. Mr.

444
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,320
Mayor, I have the right to speak my

445
00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:36,960
mind. You You can speak that when we

446
00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:37,440
have

447
00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,679
>> No, no, no, no. This is this is

448
00:19:39,679 --> 00:19:40,880
regarding the ordinary.

449
00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:43,200
>> Please don't make a scene. I have lot I

450
00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,200
have public hearing today. Then I have

451
00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:47,919
public comments on the resolution. Then

452
00:19:47,919 --> 00:19:51,120
I have public comment on the general. I

453
00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:52,320
>> I'll get to the point. I'll get to the

454
00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:53,200
point he's due. Thank you.

455
00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:56,080
>> I'll go to the point. $535,000 wasted.

456
00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,280
Now you come BACK TO US $55 MILLION. BY

457
00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:01,440
THE WAY, BY DECEMBER, IT'S GOING TO BE

458
00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,480
ANOTHER $535,000 CUZ THE VOLUNTEERS are

459
00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,400
still not open. THE REASON WHY they're

460
00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:09,840
not OPEN IS BECAUSE YOU AND YOU MADE

461
00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:13,360
DEMANDS THAT ARE NOT PROPER. OPEN. You

462
00:20:13,360 --> 00:20:15,520
want us to vote FOR THE POLICE STATION?

463
00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:17,840
WE'RE IN FAVOR. BUT WAIT a minute. Open

464
00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,559
Yantic. OPEN TAFFIL. THEN WE SPEAK.

465
00:20:20,559 --> 00:20:21,679
Thank you.

466
00:20:21,679 --> 00:20:23,360
Anyone else who would like to come

467
00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:25,520
forward in favor of the ordinance,

468
00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:31,909
please? Thank you.

469
00:20:31,919 --> 00:20:34,000
» I'm Mark Kalinowski, 5 Dupont Lane in

470
00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,720
Norwich. Uh been a resident 65 years

471
00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:39,919
plus a little hiatus. Spent 21 years, 6

472
00:20:39,919 --> 00:20:42,400
months, and 22 days working at 70 Fame

473
00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:44,480
Street along with a couple of you guys.

474
00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:46,799
Um unfortunately, it was stuck in a

475
00:20:46,799 --> 00:20:48,320
wedge of property that you can't do

476
00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,080
anything with. You can't expand it. You

477
00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:51,679
can't do anything. it was shortsighted.

478
00:20:51,679 --> 00:20:53,840
That's not your fault. The opportunity

479
00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,320
to expand it and to do what's uh

480
00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,679
proposed um in front of you here today,

481
00:20:59,679 --> 00:21:01,840
I believe is a good move forward for the

482
00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,000
city. I think that it's a good move not

483
00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:05,760
just for the police, but it's good move

484
00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:07,919
for the community. I think the funding

485
00:21:07,919 --> 00:21:10,320
for it. I think the the way that it was

486
00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,480
presented helps bring a lot more to it.

487
00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,880
And the biggest fear that I have is that

488
00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:17,120
people are not going to vote for this

489
00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:18,480
because they're stuck on the fire

490
00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:20,880
department. They are two completely

491
00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,039
separate things and it's good to have

492
00:21:23,039 --> 00:21:25,200
more than one ball in the air if you

493
00:21:25,200 --> 00:21:27,120
want to move Norwich forward and right

494
00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:29,200
now you're juggling a bunch. So, thank

495
00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:30,480
you for listening to me. I appreciate

496
00:21:30,480 --> 00:21:30,720
it.

497
00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,679
>> Thank you very much. [applause]

498
00:21:33,679 --> 00:21:35,200
Anyone else who would like to come in

499
00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:46,310
favor of the ordinance? Uh, yes, please.

500
00:21:46,320 --> 00:21:48,400
» Good evening, council members. Mr.

501
00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:51,120
Mayor, my name is Charles Nicholson. I

502
00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:54,320
own properties at 72747680

503
00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,200
Union Street. I came to Connecticut from

504
00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,360
Brooklyn, New York in 1980 to start a

505
00:21:59,360 --> 00:22:02,720
family here. I started building my home

506
00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,520
right around the corner here. I had a

507
00:22:05,520 --> 00:22:07,280
son.

508
00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,520
He was born here.

509
00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:12,080
He's no longer with us.

510
00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,440
But I don't for a moment

511
00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:16,960
diminish the love that I have for

512
00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:18,400
knowledge.

513
00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,799
What I have witnessed compared to bigger

514
00:22:20,799 --> 00:22:22,880
cities in the city of Norwich, we have

515
00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:24,559
the police department that is

516
00:22:24,559 --> 00:22:27,760
exceptional. The men and women of the

517
00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:30,000
Norwich Police Department, the job

518
00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,120
they're executing day in day out around

519
00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:35,440
us downtown. Do you know what this place

520
00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:37,280
would look like? It looked like it'd be

521
00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:38,960
1992.

522
00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,400
Cracks, addicts all around, gunshots all

523
00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:44,080
around.

524
00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,240
These men and women are coming around

525
00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,400
downtown and cleaning it up. It's

526
00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:51,039
cleaned up. Problems still exist, but

527
00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:53,679
it's a place that I would want to have

528
00:22:53,679 --> 00:22:57,200
my son call us home

529
00:22:57,200 --> 00:22:59,919
because of the work that the men and

530
00:22:59,919 --> 00:23:01,600
women

531
00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:03,679
more recently

532
00:23:03,679 --> 00:23:05,440
more women have accomplished in the city

533
00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:07,360
of Norwich.

534
00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:12,400
We have many knowledge police chiefs

535
00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:14,320
that have

536
00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:16,880
exemplified the type of behavior that's

537
00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:20,320
expected of normal people

538
00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:21,840
>> under the heading of the Norwich Police

539
00:23:21,840 --> 00:23:24,480
Department.

540
00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:28,070
We have

541
00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:33,520
Corey Poor Nash, Dearly,

542
00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:36,960
Peter Camp,

543
00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,080
many, many more have put their hard work

544
00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:42,320
into the city of Norwich and their

545
00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,679
dedication and it shows. For the last 30

546
00:23:45,679 --> 00:23:47,360
years, I'm watching on the street every

547
00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:50,400
day, every night,

548
00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:53,440
our officers chasing cars around. And

549
00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:55,760
I'd like to commend you also on the

550
00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:57,600
adoption of speed cameras. That's

551
00:23:57,600 --> 00:24:01,039
critical, a critical tool that the

552
00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:04,000
Norwich Police Department can use.

553
00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:05,440
But getting back to the new

554
00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:07,120
headquarters,

555
00:24:07,120 --> 00:24:08,799
that's a beautiful building. I wouldn't

556
00:24:08,799 --> 00:24:11,840
sell it. Yoohoo. My property is on Union

557
00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:13,279
Street. I wouldn't sell that. I've been

558
00:24:13,279 --> 00:24:15,520
there more than 30 years. I'm going to

559
00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:17,279
keep digging and digging to try to make

560
00:24:17,279 --> 00:24:20,159
Norwich a better place. My son is not

561
00:24:20,159 --> 00:24:23,039
here, but his love for Norwich, he came

562
00:24:23,039 --> 00:24:26,950
to a lot of these meetings.

563
00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:28,640
He loved the city and I loved it even

564
00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:30,159
more.

565
00:24:30,159 --> 00:24:33,039
The cost,

566
00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:34,720
that's another issue because the cost

567
00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,799
for me to build three homes on Union

568
00:24:36,799 --> 00:24:38,880
Street has gotten astronomically out of

569
00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,080
hand. Doesn't mean I'm going to give up.

570
00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,880
I own the properties

571
00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,679
credit score over 800

572
00:24:47,679 --> 00:24:50,159
and I have the means by which to do what

573
00:24:50,159 --> 00:24:52,480
we can do in the city of Norwich just

574
00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:54,559
like the Norwich Police Department can

575
00:24:54,559 --> 00:24:57,440
do and making this city a more livable

576
00:24:57,440 --> 00:25:00,400
place. Give them the opportunity

577
00:25:00,400 --> 00:25:01,919
and I think some great things can

578
00:25:01,919 --> 00:25:04,480
happen. I know they will happen. So I

579
00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:07,840
support 100% the transition from the

580
00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:09,520
Norwich Police Department on theme

581
00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:12,640
street to the dime saving bike. 100%.

582
00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:15,440
>> Thank you.

583
00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:17,679
Anyone

584
00:25:17,679 --> 00:25:23,537
else in support of the ordinance,

585
00:25:23,547 --> 00:25:29,110
[snorts]

586
00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:32,400
» Roberta Payroll and listening to the

587
00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,320
presentation, it seems like we have an

588
00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:37,760
opportunity to uh put the new police

589
00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,080
station in a location that probably just

590
00:25:40,080 --> 00:25:44,240
about everyone is going to support. Um,

591
00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:46,400
we have deplorable working conditions

592
00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,279
right now and we have the opportunity to

593
00:25:49,279 --> 00:25:51,600
make that go 180 degrees to like

594
00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:53,279
probably some state-of-the-art police

595
00:25:53,279 --> 00:25:55,760
station that everybody can be proud of

596
00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:57,520
and that the people who are doing the

597
00:25:57,520 --> 00:26:00,799
work deserve to have. So given that and

598
00:26:00,799 --> 00:26:03,120
the fact that the costs are not going to

599
00:26:03,120 --> 00:26:05,120
come down, I think we should take

600
00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:07,120
advantage of this opportunity and I'd

601
00:26:07,120 --> 00:26:09,200
like to see the ordinance get passed and

602
00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:10,640
go forward.

603
00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:14,470
>> Thank you.

604
00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:21,029
Yes, please.

605
00:26:21,039 --> 00:26:24,559
» Hi, Maryanne Victoria Mcnalen. I live on

606
00:26:24,559 --> 00:26:28,400
Washington Place in Norwich. Um,

607
00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:31,279
just to add one more thing. I think the

608
00:26:31,279 --> 00:26:33,600
um having a police station downtown is

609
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:36,480
an excellent idea. I was standing uh

610
00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,960
over by the library

611
00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:42,320
last week and there was a drunk woman

612
00:26:42,320 --> 00:26:46,320
with her dog urinating at at a

613
00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,000
storefront

614
00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:50,320
in the cubby right up there on Main

615
00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:54,320
Street. And she's she's not homeless.

616
00:26:54,320 --> 00:26:56,400
She I was talking to another gentleman

617
00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:58,640
who knew the street people. She's not

618
00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:00,480
homeless. She has a home. She's just a

619
00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,600
drunk. The the police had to be called.

620
00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:06,080
It took time. Imagine Chelsea Graten

621
00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,520
Bank. It's right there. Perfect.

622
00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,440
I don't I think this would really help

623
00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:15,039
the city. Thanks. Thank you.

624
00:27:15,039 --> 00:27:16,720
Anyone else who would like to speak in

625
00:27:16,720 --> 00:27:33,669
favor? Yes. both

626
00:27:33,679 --> 00:27:36,799
Barl Fishbone, Bliss Place.

627
00:27:36,799 --> 00:27:40,240
Um, I'm in favor of a new police

628
00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:43,200
department, uh, a new police station,

629
00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:47,200
one that moves Norwich towards a future.

630
00:27:47,200 --> 00:27:48,880
And I haven't heard a lot about that,

631
00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:51,360
although it was a great presentation,

632
00:27:51,360 --> 00:27:54,240
but I'm not hearing about Norwich moving

633
00:27:54,240 --> 00:27:58,129
into the future and what the plan is

634
00:27:58,129 --> 00:28:00,480
[snorts] for something that would make

635
00:28:00,480 --> 00:28:03,039
us

636
00:28:03,039 --> 00:28:06,399
feel safer 10 years down the road, 20

637
00:28:06,399 --> 00:28:09,120
years down the road. And this building

638
00:28:09,120 --> 00:28:11,200
would do that because there's room to

639
00:28:11,200 --> 00:28:13,039
expand,

640
00:28:13,039 --> 00:28:16,320
not just have our present housing for

641
00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:20,000
the police, but future housing because

642
00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:23,600
things are changing very rapidly and we

643
00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:26,960
know that. It's not a surprise. It's not

644
00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:31,039
a secret. We all know it's coming and

645
00:28:31,039 --> 00:28:34,000
more room is going to be needed.

646
00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:36,480
And this building has the room for

647
00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,320
expansion.

648
00:28:38,320 --> 00:28:40,640
And I haven't heard any other place that

649
00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:42,399
does.

650
00:28:42,399 --> 00:28:45,200
And Norwich needs to be looking at that,

651
00:28:45,200 --> 00:28:48,240
not just at our needs today, but our

652
00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:50,960
needs for tomorrow. Thank you.

653
00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,600
>> Thank you very much.

654
00:28:53,600 --> 00:28:55,279
Anyone else who would like to speak in

655
00:28:55,279 --> 00:28:58,640
favor of this ordinance?

656
00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:06,310
Yes, please.

657
00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:09,279
Hi, my name is Marcia Wilbur and

658
00:29:09,279 --> 00:29:12,080
obviously I support the police and I

659
00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:16,159
think they deserve to have a uh

660
00:29:16,159 --> 00:29:18,880
a a better police station. I've heard

661
00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:24,159
stories and you know um they do need

662
00:29:24,159 --> 00:29:27,520
something. But before you, this council

663
00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:33,039
asks the public, the taxpayers to decide

664
00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:39,600
or consider the $55 million debt. Uh I

665
00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:42,080
think more transparency regarding the

666
00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,440
lawsuit about the adjacent uh properties

667
00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:48,960
or parking debate that is currently

668
00:29:48,960 --> 00:29:52,320
under litigation should be disclosed.

669
00:29:52,320 --> 00:29:56,240
And uh I believe that's the uh

670
00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:59,679
the situation. So if it if I'm wrong

671
00:29:59,679 --> 00:30:02,960
then great. But I believe we are under

672
00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:05,440
some type of litigation regarding the

673
00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:09,360
parking lot and um I think people need

674
00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:11,919
to be more aware that this is happening

675
00:30:11,919 --> 00:30:15,760
and uh you know

676
00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:19,520
transparency trust right okay that's all

677
00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:22,320
I have to say except I did like that

678
00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:26,000
someone mentioned Corey uh where's Corey

679
00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,039
No I'm joking I know he retired so thank

680
00:30:29,039 --> 00:30:29,520
you

681
00:30:29,520 --> 00:30:31,919
>> thank Anyone else who would like to

682
00:30:31,919 --> 00:30:35,760
speak in favor of this ordinance?

683
00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:37,440
Anyone else who would like to speak in

684
00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:41,269
favor of this ordinance?

685
00:30:41,279 --> 00:30:43,039
Anyone else who would like to speak in

686
00:30:43,039 --> 00:30:46,240
favor of this ordinance?

687
00:30:46,240 --> 00:30:48,159
Anyone who would like to speak in

688
00:30:48,159 --> 00:30:52,470
opposition of this ordinance?

689
00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:54,981
Yes, please.

690
00:30:54,981 --> 00:31:05,990
[snorts]

691
00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:09,360
So first of all, the very first speaker

692
00:31:09,360 --> 00:31:13,039
spoke for 4 minutes and 25 seconds and

693
00:31:13,039 --> 00:31:15,760
you made no comment to ask him to stop.

694
00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:17,840
I would like 4 minutes and 25 seconds

695
00:31:17,840 --> 00:31:20,159
right now and 4 minutes 25 seconds for

696
00:31:20,159 --> 00:31:22,320
my second speech. Thank you. I'm not

697
00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:24,240
going to use it all, but you did allow

698
00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,399
him 4 minutes and 25 seconds. Check the

699
00:31:26,399 --> 00:31:29,360
record, please.

700
00:31:29,360 --> 00:31:32,080
So, I'm going to repeat myself. This is

701
00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:33,760
the same speech at the public safety

702
00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:35,840
meeting. I apologize for the ones have

703
00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:38,080
heard it, but it wasn't televised. This

704
00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:39,360
is for everyone else who hasn't heard

705
00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:40,399
it.

706
00:31:40,399 --> 00:31:42,000
>> Please state your name for the record.

707
00:31:42,000 --> 00:31:43,600
>> Good evening, council members. My name

708
00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:45,760
is Joe McMahon, a lifelong resident of

709
00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:47,120
Taff and a longtime member of the

710
00:31:47,120 --> 00:31:50,240
Taffill Volunteer Fire Department. So,

711
00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,640
it appears I become a regular speaker

712
00:31:52,640 --> 00:31:55,360
for good or bad,

713
00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:58,399
by choice, but by necessity. I want to

714
00:31:58,399 --> 00:32:00,159
speak tonight regarding the new police

715
00:32:00,159 --> 00:32:03,120
HQ proposition because in its current

716
00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,360
form, this behemoth will never get

717
00:32:05,360 --> 00:32:07,919
built. As I have stated in the past, I

718
00:32:07,919 --> 00:32:10,159
have a long and strong background in

719
00:32:10,159 --> 00:32:12,559
residential and commercial construction.

720
00:32:12,559 --> 00:32:15,039
So tonight, instead of complaining,

721
00:32:15,039 --> 00:32:18,159
whining, pleading, calling you names, I

722
00:32:18,159 --> 00:32:21,600
come here with vision, forthought, a

723
00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,559
little common sense, throw in a dash of

724
00:32:24,559 --> 00:32:26,399
construction management and the voice of

725
00:32:26,399 --> 00:32:29,360
the people. So it is often said, if

726
00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:31,120
you're not part of the solution, you're

727
00:32:31,120 --> 00:32:34,799
part of the problem. Thus, the problem,

728
00:32:34,799 --> 00:32:37,840
the proposed new police HQ, is far too

729
00:32:37,840 --> 00:32:40,159
expensive. And I believe I can offer a

730
00:32:40,159 --> 00:32:41,760
solution.

731
00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:44,799
So here's my plan. I would write a new

732
00:32:44,799 --> 00:32:48,240
RFP request for proposal

733
00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:50,559
and start with a clean slate and have

734
00:32:50,559 --> 00:32:54,399
the new RFP state seeking design build

735
00:32:54,399 --> 00:32:57,279
proposals to build a new police HQ

736
00:32:57,279 --> 00:32:59,440
accounting for the needs of the

737
00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:03,279
department, not the wants. This new HQ

738
00:33:03,279 --> 00:33:05,120
does not need to be a glitzy country

739
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:07,440
club. It needs to be efficient and built

740
00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:10,240
for a great value. I would set the

741
00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:13,279
criteria to meet the square foot needs.

742
00:33:13,279 --> 00:33:15,679
No gym, no cafeteria, no lounge, no

743
00:33:15,679 --> 00:33:18,320
shooting range will write the RFP to be

744
00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:22,000
exact and to the point. These design

745
00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:24,159
build proposals should have a budget not

746
00:33:24,159 --> 00:33:27,440
to exceed $25 million

747
00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:31,360
and a very limited FFNA budget.

748
00:33:31,360 --> 00:33:34,320
Stop all these blank check projects. So,

749
00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:37,360
here's the brilliance, the vision. The

750
00:33:37,360 --> 00:33:39,760
firm with the award-winning design

751
00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:41,840
concept for their work in achieving

752
00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:45,039
these massive savings would be awarded a

753
00:33:45,039 --> 00:33:49,440
bonus of $1 million to save $29 million.

754
00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:52,960
So, please slow down. Let's start over.

755
00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:57,200
It's never too late to save $30 million.

756
00:33:57,200 --> 00:33:58,720
Don't even get me going on how I could

757
00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:00,880
have saved you 200 million on the new

758
00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:02,960
schools being built.

759
00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:06,080
This new current $60 million post HQ

760
00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:07,919
will never get past the voters. With my

761
00:34:07,919 --> 00:34:10,720
plan, we spend 1 million and save 29

762
00:34:10,720 --> 00:34:12,480
million. Sounds like a pretty good

763
00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:14,960
investment. In light of our current

764
00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:18,480
disposition, I eagerly offer that if

765
00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:21,040
there is any seat on any building

766
00:34:21,040 --> 00:34:23,839
oversight committee or board that

767
00:34:23,839 --> 00:34:26,159
oversees construction or construction

768
00:34:26,159 --> 00:34:28,879
accounts. I would like to be an unpaid

769
00:34:28,879 --> 00:34:32,320
appointed member. As a TAFLIL volunteer

770
00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:34,800
firefighter, I have some extra time on

771
00:34:34,800 --> 00:34:37,119
my hands.

772
00:34:37,119 --> 00:34:39,280
And if you were to do something like

773
00:34:39,280 --> 00:34:43,040
this and reopen Yanick and Taff

774
00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:45,919
firehouses, you definitely would not

775
00:34:45,919 --> 00:34:48,879
suck at your jobs. We might actually

776
00:34:48,879 --> 00:34:52,560
applaud you. We honestly wish we thought

777
00:34:52,560 --> 00:34:55,599
you were great. Other towns have great

778
00:34:55,599 --> 00:34:57,760
leaders. Maybe there's still time.

779
00:34:57,760 --> 00:34:59,520
>> Please conclude yourself around.

780
00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:00,079
>> Thank you.

781
00:35:00,079 --> 00:35:05,270
[applause]

782
00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:09,520
» In opposition of this ordinance.

783
00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,320
Anyone else in opposition of this

784
00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:25,190
ordinance? Yes, please.

785
00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:28,160
Rodney Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt

786
00:35:28,160 --> 00:35:31,119
Avenue, Norwich, Connecticut.

787
00:35:31,119 --> 00:35:33,200
I've been a resident of Norwich for the

788
00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:36,480
past 60ome years.

789
00:35:36,480 --> 00:35:40,000
I've seen this police station move from

790
00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:44,079
Union Street to the street and now to

791
00:35:44,079 --> 00:35:46,320
the bank.

792
00:35:46,320 --> 00:35:50,550
I think it's too expensive

793
00:35:50,560 --> 00:35:52,079
and I don't think the citizens of

794
00:35:52,079 --> 00:35:54,560
Norwich understand they're going to have

795
00:35:54,560 --> 00:35:57,440
to pay for it.

796
00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,800
Now 55 million.

797
00:36:00,800 --> 00:36:03,839
Wow. Now I know something about

798
00:36:03,839 --> 00:36:06,400
buildings and I don't know why you

799
00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:08,640
bought this thing.

800
00:36:08,640 --> 00:36:10,960
It's hard to heat.

801
00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:14,400
I own a building like that

802
00:36:14,400 --> 00:36:17,750
now.

803
00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:21,760
55 million is a lot of money and the

804
00:36:21,760 --> 00:36:23,599
citizens of Norwich don't seem to

805
00:36:23,599 --> 00:36:27,359
understand. They're going to pay for it.

806
00:36:27,359 --> 00:36:30,880
They passed the school bond

807
00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:33,119
and they think the state is going to pay

808
00:36:33,119 --> 00:36:35,440
80% of that.

809
00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:39,760
Well, I got news. 20% of that is about

810
00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:42,400
uh 37 million.

811
00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:46,480
Now, if you want to add that together,

812
00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:49,680
well, let's see. We're we're up to uh

813
00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:52,800
what's that? $62 million

814
00:36:52,800 --> 00:36:54,560
the citizens of knowledge are going to

815
00:36:54,560 --> 00:36:58,960
have to pay. Now, there's 38,000 people

816
00:36:58,960 --> 00:37:02,880
in this city. Divide that out and put it

817
00:37:02,880 --> 00:37:06,480
in the millions against the 33,000.

818
00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:08,960
And what do you come up with?

819
00:37:08,960 --> 00:37:13,760
I'm an old man. I'm 85 years old

820
00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:16,400
and I don't particularly like paying

821
00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:18,800
taxes like this.

822
00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:21,599
Now, sooner or later,

823
00:37:21,599 --> 00:37:24,320
maybe next year, you're going to start

824
00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:26,640
paying for this.

825
00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:28,640
And the citizens of Norwich don't seem

826
00:37:28,640 --> 00:37:30,960
to understand that they actually have to

827
00:37:30,960 --> 00:37:33,680
pay for these things. They think it

828
00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:38,480
comes like a a check or credit card.

829
00:37:38,480 --> 00:37:41,040
I use both.

830
00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:45,040
And this is too expensive.

831
00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:47,599
Now, I don't know where anyone got the

832
00:37:47,599 --> 00:37:50,160
idea of putting a police station in a

833
00:37:50,160 --> 00:37:52,160
bank,

834
00:37:52,160 --> 00:37:53,760
but

835
00:37:53,760 --> 00:37:57,040
at least buy a building that is harder

836
00:37:57,040 --> 00:37:59,359
to uh

837
00:37:59,359 --> 00:38:02,640
it's a little easier to heat.

838
00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,320
I don't think most people think about

839
00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:06,800
that now. Thank you.

840
00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:09,200
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else in

841
00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:11,280
opposition?

842
00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:13,839
Third and

843
00:38:13,839 --> 00:38:20,710
last. Anyone else in opposition?

844
00:38:20,720 --> 00:38:24,079
Rob Demsky, 68 White Plains Road.

845
00:38:24,079 --> 00:38:26,720
We've heard a lot of things uh in the

846
00:38:26,720 --> 00:38:29,680
public safety meeting and tonight. Some

847
00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:32,720
of them thoughtful, a lot of them not.

848
00:38:32,720 --> 00:38:35,839
Um, I don't think it's a proper

849
00:38:35,839 --> 00:38:39,520
equivalency to compare a spot in the

850
00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:43,040
basement next to the broom closet

851
00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:45,680
to the current conditions that Norwich

852
00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:48,400
PD operates under.

853
00:38:48,400 --> 00:38:50,720
But leave all of that aside. One of the

854
00:38:50,720 --> 00:38:52,560
things that we discussed in the public

855
00:38:52,560 --> 00:38:56,079
safety meeting on Wednesday was the fact

856
00:38:56,079 --> 00:38:58,800
that in New England projects of this

857
00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:02,320
type have a pretty wide range of

858
00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:05,280
expense. It went from somewhere around 6

859
00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:09,119
million to 38.6. That was the top end.

860
00:39:09,119 --> 00:39:12,800
That was the most that was spent for

861
00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:14,320
police station construction. I believe

862
00:39:14,320 --> 00:39:15,760
it was a public safety building

863
00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:18,400
construction. Wasn't just police.

864
00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:22,079
We already own the building.

865
00:39:22,079 --> 00:39:25,040
Did the municipality who built a $ 38.6

866
00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:27,200
million

867
00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:29,359
police station owned the I kind of doubt

868
00:39:29,359 --> 00:39:34,400
it. But even if they did, the 30% more

869
00:39:34,400 --> 00:39:36,400
than the most that was spent in New

870
00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:38,400
England,

871
00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:41,119
that's not acceptable really for any

872
00:39:41,119 --> 00:39:43,599
type of city, but particularly

873
00:39:43,599 --> 00:39:46,960
one that I am constantly reminded is a

874
00:39:46,960 --> 00:39:50,079
poor city. So whether it's a dollar a

875
00:39:50,079 --> 00:39:53,680
day, 50 cents a day, you're adding on to

876
00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:56,720
the tax burden of everyone in the city

877
00:39:56,720 --> 00:39:59,520
who has seen that burden rise year over

878
00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:04,000
year. It's it's not acceptable and it's

879
00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:06,800
jumping the gun. You should not be

880
00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:08,480
sending this to a referendum before

881
00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:10,400
there's quite a bit more robust

882
00:40:10,400 --> 00:40:14,079
discussion about varying options other

883
00:40:14,079 --> 00:40:17,839
than this. It's not. We're being given a

884
00:40:17,839 --> 00:40:21,920
false choice. It's not 55 million for a

885
00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:24,400
building we already own

886
00:40:24,400 --> 00:40:26,720
or keep it the way it is. People have

887
00:40:26,720 --> 00:40:29,520
had discussions in the past

888
00:40:29,520 --> 00:40:31,440
about the possibility of a substation.

889
00:40:31,440 --> 00:40:33,280
There's there's very little that is not

890
00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:37,280
accomplished with a substation downtown.

891
00:40:37,280 --> 00:40:38,079
Again, [clears throat]

892
00:40:38,079 --> 00:40:39,839
with a structure I own, and I'm not a

893
00:40:39,839 --> 00:40:43,119
contractor, but I've done my share of

894
00:40:43,119 --> 00:40:45,359
remodeling. I can only imagine what you

895
00:40:45,359 --> 00:40:47,359
could do with a million or two the

896
00:40:47,359 --> 00:40:49,520
interior of that building. You have a

897
00:40:49,520 --> 00:40:52,240
very nice, very large substation. Take

898
00:40:52,240 --> 00:40:54,000
some of the pressure off of the existing

899
00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:57,359
building. And you could even have plenty

900
00:40:57,359 --> 00:41:00,000
of money to build another substation

901
00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:02,480
maybe down in Greenville or elsewhere.

902
00:41:02,480 --> 00:41:05,119
Spread the police force out. Give them

903
00:41:05,119 --> 00:41:06,720
room inside the building. Give them

904
00:41:06,720 --> 00:41:09,760
better accommodations as you do so. And

905
00:41:09,760 --> 00:41:11,520
do it for a hell of a lot less money.

906
00:41:11,520 --> 00:41:12,720
These are things that should be

907
00:41:12,720 --> 00:41:16,000
discussed now rather than rushing to a

908
00:41:16,000 --> 00:41:17,760
referendum that's probably going to get

909
00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:20,240
beaten. You think the public when they

910
00:41:20,240 --> 00:41:23,839
hear it's 30 it's 30% over the top end

911
00:41:23,839 --> 00:41:25,599
in New England in recent history,

912
00:41:25,599 --> 00:41:27,440
they're not going to go for it. Just be

913
00:41:27,440 --> 00:41:32,240
smart. Take some time. Talk it out. Get there's plenty of smart people out

914
00:41:32,240 --> 00:41:35,599
here. Get ideas from them. discuss those

915
00:41:35,599 --> 00:41:38,400
ideas and at least have some options to

916
00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:42,000
compare rather than A or B.

917
00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:45,200
>> Thank you very much. [applause]

918
00:41:45,200 --> 00:41:48,319
Any anyone else at this point?

919
00:41:48,319 --> 00:41:53,589
Yes, please.

920
00:41:53,599 --> 00:41:56,640
» Thank you, uh, Matt Simpson. Um, I'm not

921
00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:59,359
necessarily opposed, but like I said at

922
00:41:59,359 --> 00:42:01,680
the the council meeting, um, I very much

923
00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:03,920
support the police

924
00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:07,599
um, in their comfort level. Um, but you

925
00:42:07,599 --> 00:42:10,240
mentioned 300 or a dollar a day. That's

926
00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:15,040
$356 a year. On average, that's between

927
00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:17,520
3.7 and 4.2%

928
00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:19,839
assuming we foot the whole bill, which

929
00:42:19,839 --> 00:42:21,280
is what we're being asked to do up

930
00:42:21,280 --> 00:42:24,160
front. Um, we can't count on additional

931
00:42:24,160 --> 00:42:26,720
funding to come before it's here. So,

932
00:42:26,720 --> 00:42:29,359
let's be honest. We're being asked to

933
00:42:29,359 --> 00:42:31,839
increase Norwich's tax bill by close to

934
00:42:31,839 --> 00:42:35,280
4% on average.

935
00:42:35,280 --> 00:42:38,800
Who got a 4% raise last year?

936
00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:40,800
The cost of goods and everything else. I

937
00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:43,119
mean, it's tough. Um, I want to

938
00:42:43,119 --> 00:42:45,520
piggyback on what Rob said as well.

939
00:42:45,520 --> 00:42:47,599
We're not being given any options. It's

940
00:42:47,599 --> 00:42:50,400
55 million or start back at square one.

941
00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:52,640
Why is that where we're at? Why aren't

942
00:42:52,640 --> 00:42:54,319
we given

943
00:42:54,319 --> 00:42:57,200
three solid options to choose from all

944
00:42:57,200 --> 00:43:00,319
at once? Um, so I don't really agree

945
00:43:00,319 --> 00:43:02,720
with that. There could be other options.

946
00:43:02,720 --> 00:43:03,839
There could be something that comes in

947
00:43:03,839 --> 00:43:05,359
at 45 million. There could be something

948
00:43:05,359 --> 00:43:08,160
that comes in at 35, 20, 25. I don't

949
00:43:08,160 --> 00:43:12,160
know. But why are we only being asked 55

950
00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:15,040
million or else? That's that doesn't

951
00:43:15,040 --> 00:43:18,800
seem that's that's not a fair process to

952
00:43:18,800 --> 00:43:21,200
ask the the taxpayers.

953
00:43:21,200 --> 00:43:23,200
Um I think there should be a set of two

954
00:43:23,200 --> 00:43:24,640
or three options that should be

955
00:43:24,640 --> 00:43:27,599
presented before us. Um and that's all I

956
00:43:27,599 --> 00:43:30,859
have. Thank you. Thank you very much.

957
00:43:30,859 --> 00:43:32,720
[applause]

958
00:43:32,720 --> 00:43:34,960
Point. Anyone else who would like to

959
00:43:34,960 --> 00:43:39,040
speak in favor or opposition?

960
00:43:39,040 --> 00:43:41,280
Anyone else?

961
00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:52,630
Yes, please.

962
00:43:52,640 --> 00:43:54,560
hometown

963
00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:56,800
gave at us original hometown Bronx, New

964
00:43:56,800 --> 00:44:00,160
York. You don't like it? Too bad.

965
00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:02,079
This isn't making any sense at all. It

966
00:44:02,079 --> 00:44:03,520
does not add up. That's like using

967
00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:06,880
Chinese math on your income tax. That

968
00:44:06,880 --> 00:44:08,319
doesn't work either. And you will get

969
00:44:08,319 --> 00:44:12,550
busted for it.

970
00:44:12,560 --> 00:44:14,160
Where are you people getting this

971
00:44:14,160 --> 00:44:16,960
ridiculous amount from? Where is it

972
00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:19,359
coming from? I know it won't be coming

973
00:44:19,359 --> 00:44:21,200
out of my pocket. You have to ask

974
00:44:21,200 --> 00:44:24,000
everybody here if they want this or not.

975
00:44:24,000 --> 00:44:25,520
And the most likely answer you're going

976
00:44:25,520 --> 00:44:29,119
to get is a resounding no.

977
00:44:29,119 --> 00:44:31,119
You are stretching our budgets to the

978
00:44:31,119 --> 00:44:34,720
limit and beyond the

979
00:44:34,720 --> 00:44:36,720
beyond basic common sense, which none of

980
00:44:36,720 --> 00:44:38,960
you have anyway.

981
00:44:38,960 --> 00:44:42,480
So, there's that.

982
00:44:42,480 --> 00:44:43,680
You're going to need to come up with a

983
00:44:43,680 --> 00:44:45,040
better con scheme to think that you're

984
00:44:45,040 --> 00:44:47,680
going to sucker people like me.

985
00:44:47,680 --> 00:44:50,319
People are leaving this town.

986
00:44:50,319 --> 00:44:53,200
It's because of all of you.

987
00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:55,760
Now, that sign back there says, "This

988
00:44:55,760 --> 00:44:57,920
council sucks." Well, you know what?

989
00:44:57,920 --> 00:45:01,680
That's your problem. You created it.

990
00:45:01,680 --> 00:45:03,520
I don't take up anybody's butt hurt. If

991
00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:05,119
your feelings are hurt, I could care

992
00:45:05,119 --> 00:45:07,520
less. Just like you could care less

993
00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:11,200
before you tell a lie.

994
00:45:11,200 --> 00:45:16,710
Nobody's asking you sheep.

995
00:45:16,720 --> 00:45:19,200
This place is going to fail one way or

996
00:45:19,200 --> 00:45:22,640
the other. You can't stop failure.

997
00:45:22,640 --> 00:45:25,359
It's going to look like a freaking town

998
00:45:25,359 --> 00:45:28,240
in a Mad Max movie.

999
00:45:28,240 --> 00:45:30,960
>> To fight for survival.

1000
00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:34,319
You won't be part of it. I assure you.

1001
00:45:34,319 --> 00:45:38,000
Thank you very much. Anyone else?

1002
00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:46,150
Yes, please.

1003
00:45:46,160 --> 00:45:48,240
» Caleb, [gasps]

1004
00:45:48,240 --> 00:45:49,760
I have thought about this a lot

1005
00:45:49,760 --> 00:45:51,680
throughout um the moment it was brought

1006
00:45:51,680 --> 00:45:55,280
up. I am not opposed to a new building,

1007
00:45:55,280 --> 00:45:58,960
but I'm also not in favor of it. I work

1008
00:45:58,960 --> 00:46:00,800
seven days a week between two different

1009
00:46:00,800 --> 00:46:03,200
jobs. It is hard to keep up with

1010
00:46:03,200 --> 00:46:05,839
everyday bills. And I would just advise

1011
00:46:05,839 --> 00:46:09,440
you guys to please think of the people,

1012
00:46:09,440 --> 00:46:12,880
new generation and older generation that

1013
00:46:12,880 --> 00:46:15,040
we are struggling enough with everyday

1014
00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:17,760
bills. I guarantee a good portion of

1015
00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:20,560
city is living paycheck to paycheck. And

1016
00:46:20,560 --> 00:46:21,760
think about it, if we could really

1017
00:46:21,760 --> 00:46:23,920
afford what you guys are putting forward

1018
00:46:23,920 --> 00:46:28,480
in front of us, that is my concern. I uh

1019
00:46:28,480 --> 00:46:30,000
have had the police department at my

1020
00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:31,599
house at multiple occasions for multiple

1021
00:46:31,599 --> 00:46:33,440
different things. They do an awesome

1022
00:46:33,440 --> 00:46:36,880
job. I support them. Uh

1023
00:46:36,880 --> 00:46:37,920
I [clears throat] have not had one

1024
00:46:37,920 --> 00:46:39,839
negative interaction with them. They're

1025
00:46:39,839 --> 00:46:41,680
professional. They're they do their job

1026
00:46:41,680 --> 00:46:44,079
and day in day out. But please just

1027
00:46:44,079 --> 00:46:46,400
think for people like me who work 7 days

1028
00:46:46,400 --> 00:46:49,990
a week.

1029
00:46:50,000 --> 00:46:53,440
Somebody got a call. um if we can really

1030
00:46:53,440 --> 00:46:55,920
afford this because I live paycheck to

1031
00:46:55,920 --> 00:46:59,520
paycheck and sometimes I can't afford

1032
00:46:59,520 --> 00:47:02,079
basic things. So please just think about

1033
00:47:02,079 --> 00:47:04,319
how it can affect the everyday person

1034
00:47:04,319 --> 00:47:06,400
when it comes to these subjects. That's

1035
00:47:06,400 --> 00:47:08,000
all I have to say. Thank you.

1036
00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:11,990
>> Thank you so much

1037
00:47:12,000 --> 00:47:14,400
at this point.

1038
00:47:14,400 --> 00:47:16,800
Anyone else?

1039
00:47:16,800 --> 00:47:26,950
Third and last. Anyone else? Yes.

1040
00:47:26,960 --> 00:47:30,560
Put that goddamn sign down. Speak your

1041
00:47:30,560 --> 00:47:33,359
name in the podium.

1042
00:47:33,359 --> 00:47:35,040
I identify as Elvis Presley, King of

1043
00:47:35,040 --> 00:47:36,480
Rock and Roll. Thank you. Thank you very

1044
00:47:36,480 --> 00:47:38,453
much.

1045
00:47:38,453 --> 00:47:39,839
[clears throat]

1046
00:47:39,839 --> 00:47:41,920
The one thing that you imbecile have not

1047
00:47:41,920 --> 00:47:43,520
taken into account with regard to this

1048
00:47:43,520 --> 00:47:45,359
project is how it's affecting the

1049
00:47:45,359 --> 00:47:47,040
seniors.

1050
00:47:47,040 --> 00:47:49,839
who can least afford this

1051
00:47:49,839 --> 00:47:52,160
farce, let alone their bills, let alone

1052
00:47:52,160 --> 00:47:53,920
their mortgages,

1053
00:47:53,920 --> 00:47:56,319
and let alone their medications and

1054
00:47:56,319 --> 00:47:59,119
whatever expenses they've got.

1055
00:47:59,119 --> 00:48:01,599
This is going to make at least 10 to 20%

1056
00:48:01,599 --> 00:48:04,480
of the seniors say to hell with Norwich

1057
00:48:04,480 --> 00:48:06,800
and go over to places like Florida,

1058
00:48:06,800 --> 00:48:09,760
Texas, even Nashville, Tennessee.

1059
00:48:09,760 --> 00:48:11,280
These three states do not have income

1060
00:48:11,280 --> 00:48:14,720
taxes. And unlike you, they have

1061
00:48:14,720 --> 00:48:17,359
reasonable means. If they want to put up

1062
00:48:17,359 --> 00:48:18,640
another station, they have reasonable

1063
00:48:18,640 --> 00:48:20,480
means, something that you clearly have

1064
00:48:20,480 --> 00:48:23,280
no knowledge of.

1065
00:48:23,280 --> 00:48:24,880
Just this past week, I've seen five

1066
00:48:24,880 --> 00:48:28,960
houses that bear uh for sale signs, and

1067
00:48:28,960 --> 00:48:30,240
I talked to the owners and they're

1068
00:48:30,240 --> 00:48:33,280
saying the living here is unacceptable,

1069
00:48:33,280 --> 00:48:35,359
especially the city council that we're

1070
00:48:35,359 --> 00:48:37,440
getting the hell out of here. Three of

1071
00:48:37,440 --> 00:48:38,559
them I talked to, they're planning to go

1072
00:48:38,559 --> 00:48:42,319
to Florida, one to Tennessee, and one to

1073
00:48:42,319 --> 00:48:44,800
Texas.

1074
00:48:44,800 --> 00:48:46,400
These three these three states they're

1075
00:48:46,400 --> 00:48:49,359
moving to have no income tax. They have

1076
00:48:49,359 --> 00:48:51,839
better living for the seniors,

1077
00:48:51,839 --> 00:48:53,359
and they sure as hell don't plan on

1078
00:48:53,359 --> 00:48:55,440
robbing them with fossil projects such

1079
00:48:55,440 --> 00:48:58,240
as this one.

1080
00:48:58,240 --> 00:49:00,880
You're getting the seniors in their

1081
00:49:00,880 --> 00:49:02,960
wallets.

1082
00:49:02,960 --> 00:49:05,359
They can barely afford their mortgages,

1083
00:49:05,359 --> 00:49:08,319
their bills, and in some cases their

1084
00:49:08,319 --> 00:49:12,549
medications.

1085
00:49:12,559 --> 00:49:14,559
Unlike you, I talked to these seniors

1086
00:49:14,559 --> 00:49:16,400
and I took that factor into account. I'm

1087
00:49:16,400 --> 00:49:18,240
quite sure you didn't because you're

1088
00:49:18,240 --> 00:49:19,839
only seeing dollar signs and you're

1089
00:49:19,839 --> 00:49:21,040
seeing how much money is left over to

1090
00:49:21,040 --> 00:49:23,440
put in your pockets. That's what this is

1091
00:49:23,440 --> 00:49:27,174
about.

1092
00:49:27,184 --> 00:49:29,270
[clears throat]

1093
00:49:29,280 --> 00:49:30,640
And then you're going to complain. And

1094
00:49:30,640 --> 00:49:31,839
then when the seniors get the hell out

1095
00:49:31,839 --> 00:49:33,119
of here, you're going to start

1096
00:49:33,119 --> 00:49:34,559
complaining like a bunch of $2 hookers

1097
00:49:34,559 --> 00:49:37,119
on nickel night. Why don't you ask

1098
00:49:37,119 --> 00:49:38,640
yourselves,

1099
00:49:38,640 --> 00:49:40,079
if you actually have any balls, once you

1100
00:49:40,079 --> 00:49:42,160
ask yourselves, what are we doing wrong?

1101
00:49:42,160 --> 00:49:44,160
And why are they leaving? No, you won't

1102
00:49:44,160 --> 00:49:46,559
do that. Because I said the dollar signs

1103
00:49:46,559 --> 00:49:48,079
are more in your eyes. That's more

1104
00:49:48,079 --> 00:49:50,319
important to you than the needs of the

1105
00:49:50,319 --> 00:49:55,349
people in this town.

1106
00:49:55,359 --> 00:49:56,880
As for the seniors leaving, hey, I

1107
00:49:56,880 --> 00:49:58,880
applaud them. I applaud them because

1108
00:49:58,880 --> 00:50:00,720
they're showing how smart they are that

1109
00:50:00,720 --> 00:50:04,079
they are compared to you.

1110
00:50:04,079 --> 00:50:05,599
only have to concern you only got

1111
00:50:05,599 --> 00:50:08,960
the smartness of a chick.

1112
00:50:08,960 --> 00:50:12,160
Thank you. Anyone else who would like to

1113
00:50:12,160 --> 00:50:15,920
speak for this ordinance?

1114
00:50:15,920 --> 00:50:17,599
Anyone else?

1115
00:50:17,599 --> 00:50:26,069
>> Third and last. Yes, please.

1116
00:50:26,079 --> 00:50:28,079
Hello, my name is Jason Guidedong. I'm

1117
00:50:28,079 --> 00:50:30,480
actually a resident of Hebrin. Um there

1118
00:50:30,480 --> 00:50:33,119
were some decent ideas tossed around

1119
00:50:33,119 --> 00:50:35,839
here and and the one or the other does

1120
00:50:35,839 --> 00:50:39,359
seem to be a um not a great choice for

1121
00:50:39,359 --> 00:50:43,599
the citizens and the options set forth.

1122
00:50:43,599 --> 00:50:45,440
Perhaps we'd be better to consider a

1123
00:50:45,440 --> 00:50:48,960
substation downtown and perhaps three or

1124
00:50:48,960 --> 00:50:51,599
four more perhaps five. We have five had

1125
00:50:51,599 --> 00:50:54,400
five volunteer fire stations and there

1126
00:50:54,400 --> 00:50:57,920
is a potential for a circle around this

1127
00:50:57,920 --> 00:51:02,400
city of substations that would serve

1128
00:51:02,400 --> 00:51:04,559
in my opinion a very good service for

1129
00:51:04,559 --> 00:51:06,640
public safety. And this is in the name

1130
00:51:06,640 --> 00:51:09,839
of public safety. Um is a bit in

1131
00:51:09,839 --> 00:51:12,240
contrast to shutting down volunteer fire

1132
00:51:12,240 --> 00:51:13,839
departments. It doesn't seem like a

1133
00:51:13,839 --> 00:51:16,960
public safety move, but to insert police

1134
00:51:16,960 --> 00:51:19,440
officers into the downtown makes perfect

1135
00:51:19,440 --> 00:51:22,000
sense. Fully agree with that. Our police

1136
00:51:22,000 --> 00:51:24,559
officers in Norwich do need relief from

1137
00:51:24,559 --> 00:51:26,480
the constraints and the conditions that

1138
00:51:26,480 --> 00:51:28,079
they're currently living in and working

1139
00:51:28,079 --> 00:51:31,680
in. Uh so I think multiple substations

1140
00:51:31,680 --> 00:51:34,720
around the city in strategic locations

1141
00:51:34,720 --> 00:51:36,880
uh if it hasn't already been considered

1142
00:51:36,880 --> 00:51:39,280
uh should be.

1143
00:51:39,280 --> 00:51:42,720
I think that would offer the presence

1144
00:51:42,720 --> 00:51:45,520
in concentrated locations where it's

1145
00:51:45,520 --> 00:51:48,559
necessary, where there are issues, um,

1146
00:51:48,559 --> 00:51:51,839
and relief in the staffing pressures in

1147
00:51:51,839 --> 00:51:53,599
the current police station. And perhaps

1148
00:51:53,599 --> 00:51:55,520
that would offer an opportunity to make

1149
00:51:55,520 --> 00:51:57,119
renovations that are necessary in the

1150
00:51:57,119 --> 00:51:59,520
police station currently. Those are the

1151
00:51:59,520 --> 00:52:01,520
thoughts that I had as I observe the

1152
00:52:01,520 --> 00:52:03,040
operations here in the comments. Thank

1153
00:52:03,040 --> 00:52:03,920
you very much.

1154
00:52:03,920 --> 00:52:06,160
>> Thank you.

1155
00:52:06,160 --> 00:52:09,359
Anyone else? [applause]

1156
00:52:09,359 --> 00:52:13,349
Anyone else at this point?

1157
00:52:13,359 --> 00:52:15,359
Third and last. Anyone else who would

1158
00:52:15,359 --> 00:52:18,796
like to speak in favor or in opposition?

1159
00:52:18,796 --> 00:52:19,920
[snorts]

1160
00:52:19,920 --> 00:52:21,760
Hearing none, I declare this public

1161
00:52:21,760 --> 00:52:25,910
hearing close.

1162
00:52:25,920 --> 00:52:27,760
Seeing an action on the above ordinance

1163
00:52:27,760 --> 00:52:30,079
previously presented. Number one, an

1164
00:52:30,079 --> 00:52:32,720
ordinance appropriating 55 million for

1165
00:52:32,720 --> 00:52:34,640
the city of Norwich Police Headquarters

1166
00:52:34,640 --> 00:52:37,200
facility project located at 300 Main

1167
00:52:37,200 --> 00:52:39,520
Street downtown and authorizing the

1168
00:52:39,520 --> 00:52:42,640
issue of $55 million bonds of the city

1169
00:52:42,640 --> 00:52:44,720
to set appropriation and pending the

1170
00:52:44,720 --> 00:52:47,280
issuance thereof the making of temporary

1171
00:52:47,280 --> 00:52:49,760
borrowings for such purpose.

1172
00:52:49,760 --> 00:52:51,520
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a motion

1173
00:52:51,520 --> 00:52:55,510
to bring this forward?

1174
00:52:55,520 --> 00:52:58,240
All right, Alman Zucardi, can I have a

1175
00:52:58,240 --> 00:53:02,160
second, please? President Prom,

1176
00:53:02,160 --> 00:53:07,349
any discussion at this time?

1177
00:53:07,359 --> 00:53:11,760
Any discussion? Any comments?

1178
00:53:11,760 --> 00:53:15,680
Okay, hearing none, I'll just uh make uh

1179
00:53:15,680 --> 00:53:19,599
one small comment that uh this need is

1180
00:53:19,599 --> 00:53:24,160
not new. It existed for decades

1181
00:53:24,160 --> 00:53:27,839
and prices keep going up from 33 million

1182
00:53:27,839 --> 00:53:31,280
to 44 million to 55 million

1183
00:53:31,280 --> 00:53:36,400
and they're not coming down. You know, I do construction for a living so I do

1184
00:53:36,400 --> 00:53:39,440
know and I feel like it fits the overall

1185
00:53:39,440 --> 00:53:41,920
vision of creating

1186
00:53:41,920 --> 00:53:45,119
better public safety for our people. And

1187
00:53:45,119 --> 00:53:47,440
as we are growing downtown, this is

1188
00:53:47,440 --> 00:53:50,240
becoming need as well.

1189
00:53:50,240 --> 00:53:52,480
Uh we all know there are 58 units going

1190
00:53:52,480 --> 00:53:55,839
at 101 Water Street, 21 at Fair Haven,

1191
00:53:55,839 --> 00:53:58,640
eight are going at to 345 crossings

1192
00:53:58,640 --> 00:54:01,200
which was old YMCA.

1193
00:54:01,200 --> 00:54:04,240
Potential of 172 units of workforce

1194
00:54:04,240 --> 00:54:08,559
housing at Chester Street Mill and uh 42

1195
00:54:08,559 --> 00:54:10,640
has already been up and running on Main

1196
00:54:10,640 --> 00:54:13,359
Street, 17 at Reed and Hughes. So more

1197
00:54:13,359 --> 00:54:15,839
people are coming and we can see the

1198
00:54:15,839 --> 00:54:18,480
clientele has been created. Bookstores

1199
00:54:18,480 --> 00:54:20,960
are opening, coffee shops are opening,

1200
00:54:20,960 --> 00:54:25,829
grocery stores are opening in downtown.

1201
00:54:25,839 --> 00:54:29,040
So I definitely think there is need but

1202
00:54:29,040 --> 00:54:31,280
uh we as a council can only make

1203
00:54:31,280 --> 00:54:33,839
decision to either put it forward to

1204
00:54:33,839 --> 00:54:37,280
referendum or not. I do think uh I want

1205
00:54:37,280 --> 00:54:41,520
to support uh in that way we can again

1206
00:54:41,520 --> 00:54:44,640
see where people stand but uh I think

1207
00:54:44,640 --> 00:54:47,040
this is time to bring downtown back to

1208
00:54:47,040 --> 00:54:49,920
the life make it safer make it more

1209
00:54:49,920 --> 00:54:53,200
inviting and move our city forward. So I

1210
00:54:53,200 --> 00:54:55,359
will be supporting this ordinance. Thank

1211
00:54:55,359 --> 00:54:56,880
you.

1212
00:54:56,880 --> 00:54:58,559
>> Roll call please.

1213
00:54:58,559 --> 00:54:59,680
>> Alderman Nash.

1214
00:54:59,680 --> 00:55:00,400
>> Yes.

1215
00:55:00,400 --> 00:55:01,680
>> Alderwoman Hayes.

1216
00:55:01,680 --> 00:55:02,319
>> Yes.

1217
00:55:02,319 --> 00:55:03,760
>> Alderman Katabaya.

1218
00:55:03,760 --> 00:55:05,839
>> Yes. Alderwoman Zucardi.

1219
00:55:05,839 --> 00:55:06,400
>> Yes.

1220
00:55:06,400 --> 00:55:08,000
>> Alderman Nestrom.

1221
00:55:08,000 --> 00:55:08,720
>> Yes.

1222
00:55:08,720 --> 00:55:10,400
>> President Prom Deluchia.

1223
00:55:10,400 --> 00:55:10,880
>> Yes.

1224
00:55:10,880 --> 00:55:12,000
>> Mayor Singh,

1225
00:55:12,000 --> 00:55:14,319
>> yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you

1226
00:55:14,319 --> 00:55:17,280
very much.

1227
00:55:17,280 --> 00:55:28,069
>> City manager report.

1228
00:55:28,079 --> 00:55:31,280
Uh this is the city manager report for

1229
00:55:31,280 --> 00:55:34,400
August 17, 2026.

1230
00:55:34,400 --> 00:55:35,839
uh meetings and professional

1231
00:55:35,839 --> 00:55:38,240
engagements. During the reporting

1232
00:55:38,240 --> 00:55:40,000
period, I represented the city of

1233
00:55:40,000 --> 00:55:41,839
Norwich at the following meetings and

1234
00:55:41,839 --> 00:55:45,040
events. uh city coordination meeting,

1235
00:55:45,040 --> 00:55:47,839
district 5 quarterly status meeting,

1236
00:55:47,839 --> 00:55:50,160
Norwich waterfront engineering design,

1237
00:55:50,160 --> 00:55:53,280
community investment fund, tour of NPU

1238
00:55:53,280 --> 00:55:55,920
wastewater treatment plant upgrades,

1239
00:55:55,920 --> 00:55:58,720
housing allocation policy committee,

1240
00:55:58,720 --> 00:56:00,240
Norwich Community Development

1241
00:56:00,240 --> 00:56:03,280
Corporation executive committee meeting

1242
00:56:03,280 --> 00:56:06,640
assessor. The board of assessments

1243
00:56:06,640 --> 00:56:07,520
appeals [snorts]

1244
00:56:07,520 --> 00:56:10,000
for the city of Norwich has been

1245
00:56:10,000 --> 00:56:12,480
scheduled has scheduled a meeting for

1246
00:56:12,480 --> 00:56:15,359
the sole purpose of hearing appeals

1247
00:56:15,359 --> 00:56:17,359
related to the assessment of motor

1248
00:56:17,359 --> 00:56:21,760
vehicles on October 1st, 2025

1249
00:56:21,760 --> 00:56:24,880
grand list. The meeting will be held on

1250
00:56:24,880 --> 00:56:29,359
Thursday, September 10th, 2026 from 4:30

1251
00:56:29,359 --> 00:56:33,920
to 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Broadway,

1252
00:56:33,920 --> 00:56:36,640
room 321.

1253
00:56:36,640 --> 00:56:39,520
Appointments are required and completed.

1254
00:56:39,520 --> 00:56:42,240
Applications must be submitted to the

1255
00:56:42,240 --> 00:56:44,799
assessor's office by 4:30 on September

1256
00:56:44,799 --> 00:56:48,240
9th, 2026.

1257
00:56:48,240 --> 00:56:51,440
Application forms are available online

1258
00:56:51,440 --> 00:56:53,760
by email or through the assessor's

1259
00:56:53,760 --> 00:56:56,000
office.

1260
00:56:56,000 --> 00:56:58,480
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes

1261
00:56:58,480 --> 00:57:00,640
12-4,

1262
00:57:00,640 --> 00:57:02,880
all individuals and businesses with

1263
00:57:02,880 --> 00:57:05,040
tangible personal property located

1264
00:57:05,040 --> 00:57:08,319
within the city of Norwich as of October

1265
00:57:08,319 --> 00:57:10,400
1st, 2026

1266
00:57:10,400 --> 00:57:13,680
are required to submit a complete and

1267
00:57:13,680 --> 00:57:16,240
accurate declaration to the assessor no

1268
00:57:16,240 --> 00:57:20,880
later than November 2nd, 2026.

1269
00:57:20,880 --> 00:57:23,119
Taxable property includes but is not

1270
00:57:23,119 --> 00:57:26,880
limited to non-registered vehicles,

1271
00:57:26,880 --> 00:57:30,640
machinery, equipment, computers,

1272
00:57:30,640 --> 00:57:35,119
furniture, tools, signs, supplies, and

1273
00:57:35,119 --> 00:57:37,599
other business uh business related

1274
00:57:37,599 --> 00:57:40,640
personal property. Declaration forms

1275
00:57:40,640 --> 00:57:43,760
will be mailed to existing filers and

1276
00:57:43,760 --> 00:57:45,520
are available through the assessor's

1277
00:57:45,520 --> 00:57:50,079
office and the city website. late uh

1278
00:57:50,079 --> 00:57:53,200
incomplete or non-filed declarations

1279
00:57:53,200 --> 00:57:56,720
are subject to a 25% penalty in

1280
00:57:56,720 --> 00:57:59,440
accordance with state law.

1281
00:57:59,440 --> 00:58:02,079
Youth, family, and recreation.

1282
00:58:02,079 --> 00:58:03,839
The youth, family, and recreation

1283
00:58:03,839 --> 00:58:06,000
department concluded its summer camp

1284
00:58:06,000 --> 00:58:09,440
season serving approximately

1285
00:58:09,440 --> 00:58:12,480
150 children per week over a 7-week

1286
00:58:12,480 --> 00:58:14,000
period.

1287
00:58:14,000 --> 00:58:16,880
Specialty camps including soccer and

1288
00:58:16,880 --> 00:58:20,000
basketball programs continue through the

1289
00:58:20,000 --> 00:58:23,359
current week. Through the support of

1290
00:58:23,359 --> 00:58:27,119
IDIS equipment locker, a youth

1291
00:58:27,119 --> 00:58:29,760
participant received the necessary

1292
00:58:29,760 --> 00:58:33,200
soccer cleat to enable participation in

1293
00:58:33,200 --> 00:58:35,119
camp activities.

1294
00:58:35,119 --> 00:58:38,000
The department is also exploring

1295
00:58:38,000 --> 00:58:40,160
the expansion of the morning care

1296
00:58:40,160 --> 00:58:43,839
program to include Huntingtonus

1297
00:58:43,839 --> 00:58:46,640
Stanton schools. In addition, Spalding

1298
00:58:46,640 --> 00:58:48,799
Pond is scheduled to close for the

1299
00:58:48,799 --> 00:58:54,000
summer season on August 25th. And uh

1300
00:58:54,000 --> 00:58:56,079
that concludes my report for this

1301
00:58:56,079 --> 00:58:56,880
evening.

1302
00:58:56,880 --> 00:58:58,799
>> Thank you very much. Uh any questions

1303
00:58:58,799 --> 00:59:03,270
for city manager at this time?

1304
00:59:03,280 --> 00:59:05,440
Okay. No questions.

1305
00:59:05,440 --> 00:59:07,920
>> Citizen comment on new new business

1306
00:59:07,920 --> 00:59:09,599
resolutions.

1307
00:59:09,599 --> 00:59:11,280
>> All right. So at this point I declare

1308
00:59:11,280 --> 00:59:14,559
citizen comment on resolution items only

1309
00:59:14,559 --> 00:59:17,359
open. We have five resolutions in front

1310
00:59:17,359 --> 00:59:21,280
of us. Anyone who would like to speak on

1311
00:59:21,280 --> 00:59:24,079
those five resolutions can come forward.

1312
00:59:24,079 --> 00:59:25,920
3 minutes will be given. Please state

1313
00:59:25,920 --> 00:59:29,920
your name. We do have list here on the

1314
00:59:29,920 --> 00:59:33,119
resolution sheet. Uh not sure if

1315
00:59:33,119 --> 00:59:34,799
somebody was trying to fill it up

1316
00:59:34,799 --> 00:59:38,400
somewhere else, but it says char Charles

1317
00:59:38,400 --> 00:59:41,760
tree uh Joe McMahon

1318
00:59:41,760 --> 00:59:43,440
Lewis

1319
00:59:43,440 --> 00:59:49,109
Presley James Carring Caringham.

1320
00:59:49,119 --> 00:59:52,400
» Okay, thank you. So anyone who would

1321
00:59:52,400 --> 00:59:55,040
like to speak on the resolution items

1322
00:59:55,040 --> 00:59:58,480
only can come forward at this time.

1323
00:59:58,480 --> 01:00:10,230
Yes, please.

1324
01:00:10,240 --> 01:00:12,079
Uh, my name is Joanne and I will tell

1325
01:00:12,079 --> 01:00:15,440
you quite frankly that I am almost

1326
01:00:15,440 --> 01:00:19,520
afraid to stand up and speak to you. The

1327
01:00:19,520 --> 01:00:23,040
way you treat me, some of you is by my

1328
01:00:23,040 --> 01:00:25,200
age alone,

1329
01:00:25,200 --> 01:00:29,750
you are so incredibly disrespectful.

1330
01:00:29,760 --> 01:00:32,000
I would like an explanation. I looked at

1331
01:00:32,000 --> 01:00:35,760
the agenda and it's resolution number

1332
01:00:35,760 --> 01:00:37,440
one,

1333
01:00:37,440 --> 01:00:39,839
the acquisition or of or the

1334
01:00:39,839 --> 01:00:42,400
relinquishing of the property at 256

1335
01:00:42,400 --> 01:00:44,000
Dunham.

1336
01:00:44,000 --> 01:00:47,200
So, I went to the assessor's MA

1337
01:00:47,200 --> 01:00:50,559
website and it says that

1338
01:00:50,559 --> 01:00:53,359
the fair market value of this property

1339
01:00:53,359 --> 01:00:56,960
is 118,300

1340
01:00:56,960 --> 01:01:01,839
and the appraised value is 169,000.

1341
01:01:01,839 --> 01:01:06,880
So, I'm curious and confused why

1342
01:01:06,880 --> 01:01:10,400
you are letting it go for

1343
01:01:10,400 --> 01:01:15,670
$7,835.

1344
01:01:15,680 --> 01:01:17,920
Um, in addition, according to the

1345
01:01:17,920 --> 01:01:20,559
assessor's map, which I assume is up to

1346
01:01:20,559 --> 01:01:22,480
date and correct because that would be

1347
01:01:22,480 --> 01:01:25,040
the way you would conduct your business,

1348
01:01:25,040 --> 01:01:29,440
it is also a commercial pumping station.

1349
01:01:29,440 --> 01:01:31,920
So, you're going to give it to they're

1350
01:01:31,920 --> 01:01:33,520
you're going to let them have it for

1351
01:01:33,520 --> 01:01:35,920
$7,000. You're so generous with our

1352
01:01:35,920 --> 01:01:39,119
money. You're also going to take out of

1353
01:01:39,119 --> 01:01:42,000
commission, I would assume, a commercial

1354
01:01:42,000 --> 01:01:44,640
pumping station.

1355
01:01:44,640 --> 01:01:46,720
And I have a hard time wrapping my head

1356
01:01:46,720 --> 01:01:49,920
around the whole plan.

1357
01:01:49,920 --> 01:01:53,440
Now, I do have my own very distinct

1358
01:01:53,440 --> 01:01:56,240
opinions and perceptions of how things

1359
01:01:56,240 --> 01:01:59,599
are done here. Um, but I think it's

1360
01:01:59,599 --> 01:02:01,280
important again to go back to that

1361
01:02:01,280 --> 01:02:04,400
truth, trust, and transparency.

1362
01:02:04,400 --> 01:02:07,520
And the last thing I will say, and

1363
01:02:07,520 --> 01:02:10,240
unfortunately I find myself in this

1364
01:02:10,240 --> 01:02:13,119
position, Mr. Deluchia, now that you

1365
01:02:13,119 --> 01:02:14,799
work for the Connecticut Department of

1366
01:02:14,799 --> 01:02:16,960
Transportation, would it be appropriate

1367
01:02:16,960 --> 01:02:19,760
for you to recuse yourself from any and

1368
01:02:19,760 --> 01:02:23,119
all Department of Transportation issues?

1369
01:02:23,119 --> 01:02:24,720
Thank you.

1370
01:02:24,720 --> 01:02:27,839
>> Thank you very much. [applause]

1371
01:02:27,839 --> 01:02:29,839
Anyone else who would like to speak on

1372
01:02:29,839 --> 01:02:33,829
resolution items only?

1373
01:02:33,839 --> 01:02:43,270
» Yes, please.

1374
01:02:43,280 --> 01:02:45,040
» Good evening. My name is Rocky. I would

1375
01:02:45,040 --> 01:02:47,200
like to address uh resolution number

1376
01:02:47,200 --> 01:02:48,960
four.

1377
01:02:48,960 --> 01:02:56,390
As stated before on August 3rd,

1378
01:02:56,400 --> 01:02:59,280
it was said here

1379
01:02:59,280 --> 01:03:01,920
that the reason why we had to spend

1380
01:03:01,920 --> 01:03:03,440
535,000,

1381
01:03:03,440 --> 01:03:04,960
which we're not done yet cuz we're going

1382
01:03:04,960 --> 01:03:07,359
to spend more.

1383
01:03:07,359 --> 01:03:11,839
And that goes to the to the mindset.

1384
01:03:11,839 --> 01:03:15,200
Unfortunately, actually correctly, I

1385
01:03:15,200 --> 01:03:17,280
addressed you as con artists and

1386
01:03:17,280 --> 01:03:20,240
grifters. It's my opinion and I have

1387
01:03:20,240 --> 01:03:22,960
freedom of speech not granted by you all

1388
01:03:22,960 --> 01:03:25,359
big shots, but by the United STATES

1389
01:03:25,359 --> 01:03:30,470
CONSTITUTION. THAT'S WHY I came here.

1390
01:03:30,480 --> 01:03:34,079
You did not. You still don't believe

1391
01:03:34,079 --> 01:03:38,240
that you must report to we the owners.

1392
01:03:38,240 --> 01:03:40,559
YOU STILL DON'T GET IT.

1393
01:03:40,559 --> 01:03:43,680
YOU ALREADY DECIDED IT'S 55 MILLION. YOU

1394
01:03:43,680 --> 01:03:46,319
ALREADY DECIDED Y down we spend more

1395
01:03:46,319 --> 01:03:48,880
money because

1396
01:03:48,880 --> 01:03:52,960
honestly you are a disgrace. I'M SAYING

1397
01:03:52,960 --> 01:03:55,200
IT IN GENERAL.

1398
01:03:55,200 --> 01:03:57,760
If you don't believe that we ARE THE

1399
01:03:57,760 --> 01:04:01,599
OWNERS, WE THE CITIZENS. DO YOU GO TO A

1400
01:04:01,599 --> 01:04:03,359
RESTAURANT AND JUST BOSS PEOPLE AROUND?

1401
01:04:03,359 --> 01:04:06,960
NO, there's an owner. We are the owners.

1402
01:04:06,960 --> 01:04:09,599
Do you believe it? DO YOU WANT TO SERVE

1403
01:04:09,599 --> 01:04:11,359
OR YOU DON'T WANT TO BE BOSS ME AROUND,

1404
01:04:11,359 --> 01:04:14,079
MR. DELUCHIA? YOU WANT TO BE A BOSS? YOU

1405
01:04:14,079 --> 01:04:16,880
AIN'T. AND YOU DON'T INTIMIDATE ME WITH

1406
01:04:16,880 --> 01:04:19,839
THAT LOOK AT ALL. [clears throat] I'VE

1407
01:04:19,839 --> 01:04:23,839
HAD MORE STRONGER disputes in my life.

1408
01:04:23,839 --> 01:04:26,160
71 years old. You ain't nothing.

1409
01:04:26,160 --> 01:04:28,000
>> Let's talk about resolution, Rocky.

1410
01:04:28,000 --> 01:04:29,920
>> The resolution.

1411
01:04:29,920 --> 01:04:33,200
is not worthy of our

1412
01:04:33,200 --> 01:04:36,240
consideration because you all

1413
01:04:36,240 --> 01:04:39,760
ARE NOT WORTHY. HONORABLE AND TRUTHFUL.

1414
01:04:39,760 --> 01:04:40,559
That's my

1415
01:04:40,559 --> 01:04:43,119
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else who

1416
01:04:43,119 --> 01:04:45,280
would like to

1417
01:04:45,280 --> 01:04:48,160
talk about We have five resolutions in

1418
01:04:48,160 --> 01:04:51,280
front of us.

1419
01:04:51,280 --> 01:04:53,039
Anyone else who would like to talk about

1420
01:04:53,039 --> 01:04:55,520
the resolutions in front of us. Third

1421
01:04:55,520 --> 01:04:57,920
and last. Anyone else who would like to

1422
01:04:57,920 --> 01:05:05,799
speak about resolutions in front of us?

1423
01:05:05,809 --> 01:05:07,119
» [clears throat]

1424
01:05:07,119 --> 01:05:09,200
>> Rob Demsky, White Plains Road. [snorts]

1425
01:05:09,200 --> 01:05:11,920
Uh, just going in order. Uh, actually,

1426
01:05:11,920 --> 01:05:13,599
I'm going to go reverse order so that I

1427
01:05:13,599 --> 01:05:16,000
get this out and don't run out of time

1428
01:05:16,000 --> 01:05:21,119
to do so. Uh, I strongly support

1429
01:05:21,119 --> 01:05:23,839
number five, uh, the city manager

1430
01:05:23,839 --> 01:05:25,359
authorizing

1431
01:05:25,359 --> 01:05:27,599
uh, the Italian Ladies Social Club uh,

1432
01:05:27,599 --> 01:05:29,680
to sell beer and wine at the Italian

1433
01:05:29,680 --> 01:05:31,359
festival. I think that that festival

1434
01:05:31,359 --> 01:05:34,079
coming back after a brief hiatus is a

1435
01:05:34,079 --> 01:05:36,319
great thing and the sh city should do

1436
01:05:36,319 --> 01:05:38,480
everything that it can uh to support

1437
01:05:38,480 --> 01:05:42,240
that effort. Going back up to one, it's

1438
01:05:42,240 --> 01:05:46,319
a great point about the council prom's

1439
01:05:46,319 --> 01:05:49,119
current occupation and the state of

1440
01:05:49,119 --> 01:05:50,350
Connecticut.

1441
01:05:50,350 --> 01:05:50,480
>> [snorts]

1442
01:05:50,480 --> 01:05:52,640
>> Quite possibly. I don't know for sure,

1443
01:05:52,640 --> 01:05:55,680
but it seems quite likely that Norch is

1444
01:05:55,680 --> 01:05:58,720
being used as a testing ground to have

1445
01:05:58,720 --> 01:06:01,760
roundabouts put in here and then over

1446
01:06:01,760 --> 01:06:04,400
there and then everywhere because boy,

1447
01:06:04,400 --> 01:06:09,599
isn't that job security for a very large

1448
01:06:09,599 --> 01:06:15,029
um state-run operation.

1449
01:06:15,039 --> 01:06:17,520
Seems like it works.

1450
01:06:17,520 --> 01:06:19,920
So maybe a recusal is in order. I don't

1451
01:06:19,920 --> 01:06:21,680
know maybe corporation council can look

1452
01:06:21,680 --> 01:06:29,510
into that

1453
01:06:29,520 --> 01:06:30,160
» relative

1454
01:06:30,160 --> 01:06:32,880
>> to

1455
01:06:32,880 --> 01:06:39,910
four

1456
01:06:39,920 --> 01:06:42,160
» optionality

1457
01:06:42,160 --> 01:06:47,760
is a great thing and to rush into a vote

1458
01:06:47,760 --> 01:06:49,359
without full discussion

1459
01:06:49,359 --> 01:06:51,760
of

1460
01:06:51,760 --> 01:06:55,119
all the possibilities that could be

1461
01:06:55,119 --> 01:06:57,920
discussed and eventually agreed upon as

1462
01:06:57,920 --> 01:07:01,440
a council, as a community.

1463
01:07:01,440 --> 01:07:03,039
That's what makes sense to me. It seems

1464
01:07:03,039 --> 01:07:04,720
to make sense to everyone who I've had

1465
01:07:04,720 --> 01:07:07,200
discussions with about this. Even if

1466
01:07:07,200 --> 01:07:11,119
they're in favor of broadly speaking the

1467
01:07:11,119 --> 01:07:14,720
$55 million project, they do tend to

1468
01:07:14,720 --> 01:07:18,000
seem to understand that you really

1469
01:07:18,000 --> 01:07:22,559
should ready aim uh figuratively ready

1470
01:07:22,559 --> 01:07:25,280
aim fire, not

1471
01:07:25,280 --> 01:07:27,839
inciting violence,

1472
01:07:27,839 --> 01:07:32,000
but go in the logical steps. You know,

1473
01:07:32,000 --> 01:07:34,079
it it just makes sense to do it that

1474
01:07:34,079 --> 01:07:38,000
way. And you quite probably

1475
01:07:38,000 --> 01:07:40,240
will end up

1476
01:07:40,240 --> 01:07:42,160
with a better solution at the end of

1477
01:07:42,160 --> 01:07:44,480
that process. One that is more

1478
01:07:44,480 --> 01:07:46,400
longlasting, one that does have broad

1479
01:07:46,400 --> 01:07:49,119
public support. And that ultimately

1480
01:07:49,119 --> 01:07:53,839
seems like it should be what you want.

1481
01:07:53,839 --> 01:07:56,079
The way that you have handled other

1482
01:07:56,079 --> 01:07:59,359
issues maybe gives me pause that not all

1483
01:07:59,359 --> 01:08:01,680
of you do want that. But those of you

1484
01:08:01,680 --> 01:08:05,359
who do, again, let's take a pause. Let's

1485
01:08:05,359 --> 01:08:08,000
discuss it as a community and then

1486
01:08:08,000 --> 01:08:09,440
decide. Thank you.

1487
01:08:09,440 --> 01:08:11,839
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else who

1488
01:08:11,839 --> 01:08:13,680
would like to speak on five resolution

1489
01:08:13,680 --> 01:08:24,950
items in front of us? Uh, yes, please.

1490
01:08:24,960 --> 01:08:29,120
» Rodney Boy, 62 Roosevelt Avenue.

1491
01:08:29,120 --> 01:08:33,440
What genius came up with a $55 million?

1492
01:08:33,440 --> 01:08:38,000
Name it. I want to know who did that.

1493
01:08:38,000 --> 01:08:40,960
>> Really? I used to write I used to write

1494
01:08:40,960 --> 01:08:43,679
work for the government

1495
01:08:43,679 --> 01:08:46,719
and I signed my name at the bottom. So,

1496
01:08:46,719 --> 01:08:48,560
what genius

1497
01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:52,960
figured out $55 million?

1498
01:08:52,960 --> 01:08:55,759
I'm not hearing any answers.

1499
01:08:55,759 --> 01:08:57,679
Nobody knows.

1500
01:08:57,679 --> 01:09:02,239
So, what do we got $55 million for?

1501
01:09:02,239 --> 01:09:05,839
I don't see anything contractually.

1502
01:09:05,839 --> 01:09:08,159
There's nothing here.

1503
01:09:08,159 --> 01:09:10,640
So, what are we spending $55 million

1504
01:09:10,640 --> 01:09:13,600
for? Why don't we turn it into a bank

1505
01:09:13,600 --> 01:09:15,520
again?

1506
01:09:15,520 --> 01:09:18,799
I like doing banking business there.

1507
01:09:18,799 --> 01:09:22,480
Now, I just don't understand.

1508
01:09:22,480 --> 01:09:26,560
If you don't have any money,

1509
01:09:26,560 --> 01:09:30,400
why buy something like this?

1510
01:09:30,400 --> 01:09:32,239
I don't I just don't understand this

1511
01:09:32,239 --> 01:09:34,400
business.

1512
01:09:34,400 --> 01:09:37,440
I understand bonds quite well. I've

1513
01:09:37,440 --> 01:09:39,759
invested in some.

1514
01:09:39,759 --> 01:09:44,239
But the idea of spending $55 million for

1515
01:09:44,239 --> 01:09:46,719
a police station,

1516
01:09:46,719 --> 01:09:49,199
uh, 60 years ago,

1517
01:09:49,199 --> 01:09:52,560
the police station started here on Union

1518
01:09:52,560 --> 01:09:54,320
Street,

1519
01:09:54,320 --> 01:09:57,360
and I remember that. Toughest section in

1520
01:09:57,360 --> 01:09:59,440
town.

1521
01:09:59,440 --> 01:10:01,199
Now,

1522
01:10:01,199 --> 01:10:03,280
someone spoke about spreading a police

1523
01:10:03,280 --> 01:10:06,560
station out. Fine,

1524
01:10:06,560 --> 01:10:08,320
that would be good.

1525
01:10:08,320 --> 01:10:11,360
I've been in this police station.

1526
01:10:11,360 --> 01:10:14,560
In fact, I've been in the cell.

1527
01:10:14,560 --> 01:10:16,400
They arrested me once for stealing

1528
01:10:16,400 --> 01:10:19,199
electricity.

1529
01:10:19,199 --> 01:10:22,960
I didn't think that was too damn funny.

1530
01:10:22,960 --> 01:10:25,760
>> I laughed about it a lot.

1531
01:10:25,760 --> 01:10:28,640
But I'm 85 years old. I don't have to

1532
01:10:28,640 --> 01:10:30,960
steal from anybody.

1533
01:10:30,960 --> 01:10:34,239
Thank you guys for nothing.

1534
01:10:34,239 --> 01:10:36,159
>> Thank you. Anyone else?

1535
01:10:36,159 --> 01:10:48,950
>> Yes, please.

1536
01:10:48,960 --> 01:10:51,360
Tracy Berto. I live on Watercross Avenue

1537
01:10:51,360 --> 01:10:54,320
here in Norwich. I'm here to support

1538
01:10:54,320 --> 01:10:56,159
resolution number five relative to the

1539
01:10:56,159 --> 01:10:59,040
city manager being authorized to grant

1540
01:10:59,040 --> 01:11:00,880
uh the Italian Lady Social Club

1541
01:11:00,880 --> 01:11:03,600
permission to sell beer and wine at our

1542
01:11:03,600 --> 01:11:05,840
Italian festival.

1543
01:11:05,840 --> 01:11:08,320
We encourage everybody to attend. It's

1544
01:11:08,320 --> 01:11:11,679
September 5th from noon to 9:00. We

1545
01:11:11,679 --> 01:11:13,920
encourage everybody to come celebrate

1546
01:11:13,920 --> 01:11:18,080
our culture and be Italian for the day.

1547
01:11:18,080 --> 01:11:20,480
We'll be having our first annual cook,

1548
01:11:20,480 --> 01:11:23,040
first annual cookoff. We'll have lots of

1549
01:11:23,040 --> 01:11:26,800
live music and just have a great time.

1550
01:11:26,800 --> 01:11:28,960
So again, I'm in support of resolution

1551
01:11:28,960 --> 01:11:32,239
number five. Please vote yes. And then I

1552
01:11:32,239 --> 01:11:35,440
have one other thing. Okay. So, I keep

1553
01:11:35,440 --> 01:11:36,960
hearing that you guys are a bunch of

1554
01:11:36,960 --> 01:11:39,600
bullies. From sitting back there, it

1555
01:11:39,600 --> 01:11:41,600
looks like this little corner over here

1556
01:11:41,600 --> 01:11:44,159
are the bullies. Okay. When you sit

1557
01:11:44,159 --> 01:11:46,960
there, scream and pick on people here in

1558
01:11:46,960 --> 01:11:49,120
city council. Okay. They have nothing to

1559
01:11:49,120 --> 01:11:51,440
do with the resolution. That's the pure

1560
01:11:51,440 --> 01:11:54,880
definition of bullying. So, maybe y'all

1561
01:11:54,880 --> 01:11:57,440
should take a look in the mirror first

1562
01:11:57,440 --> 01:11:59,040
before you start accusing people of

1563
01:11:59,040 --> 01:12:00,719
bullying.

1564
01:12:00,719 --> 01:12:02,800
like this sign says, have a letter of

1565
01:12:02,800 --> 01:12:04,800
respect because last I checked,

1566
01:12:04,800 --> 01:12:06,480
>> please, please talk to the council.

1567
01:12:06,480 --> 01:12:06,960
Thank you.

1568
01:12:06,960 --> 01:12:08,480
>> Because really, last I checked, I've

1569
01:12:08,480 --> 01:12:10,239
seen none of these people's yard signs

1570
01:12:10,239 --> 01:12:12,400
out there, but please support them for

1571
01:12:12,400 --> 01:12:15,040
city council cuz it takes a lot of guts

1572
01:12:15,040 --> 01:12:18,159
to run for office and I don't see any of

1573
01:12:18,159 --> 01:12:20,719
theirs. So, keep up the good work.

1574
01:12:20,719 --> 01:12:21,199
>> Thank you.

1575
01:12:21,199 --> 01:12:23,199
>> That's it. [applause]

1576
01:12:23,199 --> 01:12:24,960
>> Anyone else who would like to speak on

1577
01:12:24,960 --> 01:12:28,880
five resolution items we have on agenda?

1578
01:12:28,880 --> 01:12:33,170
>> Yes, please.

1579
01:12:33,180 --> 01:12:40,870
» [snorts]

1580
01:12:40,880 --> 01:12:43,679
» Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I

1581
01:12:43,679 --> 01:12:45,760
want to tell you how much I respect each

1582
01:12:45,760 --> 01:12:48,080
and every one of you. So many people in

1583
01:12:48,080 --> 01:12:50,080
our audience seem to think that you're

1584
01:12:50,080 --> 01:12:52,640
not citizens of our city and that you

1585
01:12:52,640 --> 01:12:55,920
also pay taxes. and you sit up there and

1586
01:12:55,920 --> 01:12:58,560
you collect a media immediate little

1587
01:12:58,560 --> 01:13:01,920
tiny bit to give us the privilege of

1588
01:13:01,920 --> 01:13:04,000
your knowledge and your expertise on

1589
01:13:04,000 --> 01:13:06,400
what's going on in this city. And maybe

1590
01:13:06,400 --> 01:13:09,120
I'm a little late for my comment and I

1591
01:13:09,120 --> 01:13:11,040
should have stood up maybe a little bit

1592
01:13:11,040 --> 01:13:14,239
earlier, but it number four,

1593
01:13:14,239 --> 01:13:15,760
>> please state your name for the record.

1594
01:13:15,760 --> 01:13:18,000
>> Oh, I am so sorry. Oh, how could I

1595
01:13:18,000 --> 01:13:20,640
forget that? Janice Wiki, 39, Andrea

1596
01:13:20,640 --> 01:13:23,199
Lane, Norwich, Connecticut. Uh,

1597
01:13:23,199 --> 01:13:25,760
referendum number four. I think that was

1598
01:13:25,760 --> 01:13:29,280
the number. Um, I don't think enough has

1599
01:13:29,280 --> 01:13:31,760
been said about the safety of the

1600
01:13:31,760 --> 01:13:34,960
placement of a new police station. And I

1601
01:13:34,960 --> 01:13:38,080
am all for the Chelsea Savings Bank

1602
01:13:38,080 --> 01:13:41,520
building. It is located in a prime area

1603
01:13:41,520 --> 01:13:45,199
of the city where it's just sort of the

1604
01:13:45,199 --> 01:13:49,040
hub of of a lot of crazy activity. There

1605
01:13:49,040 --> 01:13:50,480
are times that I don't even want to go

1606
01:13:50,480 --> 01:13:52,400
to the library in the evening once, you

1607
01:13:52,400 --> 01:13:54,560
know, it's dark after dinner. It's kind

1608
01:13:54,560 --> 01:13:57,600
of it's kind of creepy around there. And

1609
01:13:57,600 --> 01:14:00,560
I personally would feel a lot safer

1610
01:14:00,560 --> 01:14:02,480
knowing that the police station was

1611
01:14:02,480 --> 01:14:06,080
located right there in, as they say,

1612
01:14:06,080 --> 01:14:09,679
location, location, location. It is so

1613
01:14:09,679 --> 01:14:12,000
important to have a building, a police

1614
01:14:12,000 --> 01:14:15,120
station right in the middle

1615
01:14:15,120 --> 01:14:18,400
of possible crazy activity. and I would

1616
01:14:18,400 --> 01:14:20,800
feel a lot safer as well as I think a

1617
01:14:20,800 --> 01:14:23,760
lot of other people and sadly to say

1618
01:14:23,760 --> 01:14:25,840
especially women but it's not just women

1619
01:14:25,840 --> 01:14:27,360
anymore.

1620
01:14:27,360 --> 01:14:29,199
Okay, that's all I have to say. Thank

1621
01:14:29,199 --> 01:14:30,960
you and I thank you for your service all

1622
01:14:30,960 --> 01:14:31,199
of you.

1623
01:14:31,199 --> 01:14:33,840
>> Thank you. Anyone else who would like to

1624
01:14:33,840 --> 01:14:37,631
speak on five resolution items?

1625
01:14:37,631 --> 01:14:40,950
[snorts]

1626
01:14:40,960 --> 01:14:43,920
» Good evening. My name is Joe McMahon, a

1627
01:14:43,920 --> 01:14:46,880
lifelong resident of Taffill and a

1628
01:14:46,880 --> 01:14:49,040
longtime member of the Taffill Volunteer

1629
01:14:49,040 --> 01:14:52,080
Fire Department. So,

1630
01:14:52,080 --> 01:14:54,880
um, just to clarify a few things, the

1631
01:14:54,880 --> 01:14:56,960
national average to build a a police

1632
01:14:56,960 --> 01:15:01,040
station is $537 a square foot. You guys

1633
01:15:01,040 --> 01:15:04,239
want to spend $1,000 a square foot? I'm

1634
01:15:04,239 --> 01:15:08,159
good at math. 55,000 ft. 55 million is

1635
01:15:08,159 --> 01:15:11,840
$1,000 a square foot. Um, I think we can

1636
01:15:11,840 --> 01:15:13,760
come in a lot lower than that. Let's

1637
01:15:13,760 --> 01:15:15,440
shoot for 25 million. Let's shoot for

1638
01:15:15,440 --> 01:15:18,159
below the national average for a change.

1639
01:15:18,159 --> 01:15:22,239
That'd be important. But, uh, so that's

1640
01:15:22,239 --> 01:15:23,120
all I have to say.

1641
01:15:23,120 --> 01:15:25,679
>> Thank you. Anyone else who would like to

1642
01:15:25,679 --> 01:15:27,920
speak on five resolution items in front

1643
01:15:27,920 --> 01:15:30,080
of us?

1644
01:15:30,080 --> 01:15:32,320
Anyone else who would like to speak on

1645
01:15:32,320 --> 01:15:34,480
five resolution items we have in front

1646
01:15:34,480 --> 01:15:37,679
of us? Third and last. Anyone else who

1647
01:15:37,679 --> 01:15:40,080
would like to speak on five resolution

1648
01:15:40,080 --> 01:15:42,719
items we have in front of us? Hearing

1649
01:15:42,719 --> 01:15:47,990
none, I declare citizen comment close.

1650
01:15:48,000 --> 01:15:50,640
» This is resolution number one relative.

1651
01:15:50,640 --> 01:15:52,400
>> Yes.

1652
01:15:52,400 --> 01:15:53,840
>> At this time, I'd like to ask for a

1653
01:15:53,840 --> 01:15:56,960
15minute recess so that I'm we may

1654
01:15:56,960 --> 01:16:01,440
caucus as a um team.

1655
01:16:01,440 --> 01:16:04,560
>> Okay. So, you're making a motion for

1656
01:16:04,560 --> 01:16:06,880
recess. Okay. Can I have a second?

1657
01:16:06,880 --> 01:16:09,679
Aldwoman Hayes. Roll call, please.

1658
01:16:09,679 --> 01:16:11,120
>> Alderman Nash,

1659
01:16:11,120 --> 01:16:11,760
>> yes.

1660
01:16:11,760 --> 01:16:12,880
>> Aldwoman Hayes,

1661
01:16:12,880 --> 01:16:13,440
>> yes.

1662
01:16:13,440 --> 01:16:14,719
>> Alderman Katabaya,

1663
01:16:14,719 --> 01:16:15,199
>> yes.

1664
01:16:15,199 --> 01:16:17,199
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,

1665
01:16:17,199 --> 01:16:18,000
>> yes.

1666
01:16:18,000 --> 01:16:19,520
>> Alderman Nestrom,

1667
01:16:19,520 --> 01:16:20,080
>> yes.

1668
01:16:20,080 --> 01:16:22,239
>> President Delusha,

1669
01:16:22,239 --> 01:16:22,719
>> yes.

1670
01:16:22,719 --> 01:16:23,520
>> Mayor Sing,

1671
01:16:23,520 --> 01:16:26,719
>> yes. Motion passes 720. We'll be

1672
01:16:26,719 --> 01:16:27,920
convening back at

1673
01:16:27,920 --> 01:16:30,320
>> meet. Can can we meet in your office,

1674
01:16:30,320 --> 01:16:30,640
please?

1675
01:16:30,640 --> 01:16:32,400
>> Yes. And thank you.

1676
01:16:32,400 --> 01:16:35,679
>> We'll be convening at 8:31. Thank you.

1677
01:16:35,679 --> 01:16:38,159
We'll

1678
01:16:38,159 --> 01:16:41,040
be reconvening the meeting. It's 8:33

1679
01:16:41,040 --> 01:16:47,750
p.m.

1680
01:16:47,760 --> 01:16:49,679
» Resolution number one relative to

1681
01:16:49,679 --> 01:16:51,600
Connecticut Department of Transportation

1682
01:16:51,600 --> 01:16:53,600
acquiring property for safety

1683
01:16:53,600 --> 01:16:57,120
improvements on Route 82 and 256 Dunham

1684
01:16:57,120 --> 01:16:58,880
Street from the city of Norwich.

1685
01:16:58,880 --> 01:17:00,080
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a

1686
01:17:00,080 --> 01:17:01,199
motion?

1687
01:17:01,199 --> 01:17:03,040
>> Yes, President Proam. Can I

1688
01:17:03,040 --> 01:17:04,640
>> just I I

1689
01:17:04,640 --> 01:17:07,120
>> I need a moment of personal privilege.

1690
01:17:07,120 --> 01:17:08,000
>> Sure.

1691
01:17:08,000 --> 01:17:09,760
>> Prior to the motion being put on the

1692
01:17:09,760 --> 01:17:10,800
floor.

1693
01:17:10,800 --> 01:17:14,719
>> Um so I would just like to say that this

1694
01:17:14,719 --> 01:17:17,679
the project that this resolution

1695
01:17:17,679 --> 01:17:21,840
is attached to predates my hire at

1696
01:17:21,840 --> 01:17:25,199
Connecticut DOT by more than 3 years.

1697
01:17:25,199 --> 01:17:28,400
Although I am currently a designer for

1698
01:17:28,400 --> 01:17:31,040
the Connecticut Department of

1699
01:17:31,040 --> 01:17:33,120
Transportation in their facilities

1700
01:17:33,120 --> 01:17:34,640
department,

1701
01:17:34,640 --> 01:17:38,080
my current assignment is not connected

1702
01:17:38,080 --> 01:17:41,040
to road and bridge bridge projects in

1703
01:17:41,040 --> 01:17:43,520
any way and I have been advised by

1704
01:17:43,520 --> 01:17:46,320
corporation council [clears throat] that

1705
01:17:46,320 --> 01:17:49,679
there is no conflict for me on this

1706
01:17:49,679 --> 01:17:52,168
issue.

1707
01:17:52,168 --> 01:17:56,950
[applause]

1708
01:17:56,960 --> 01:18:00,000
But the appearance of influence through

1709
01:18:00,000 --> 01:18:04,159
my employment, albeit far-fetched,

1710
01:18:04,159 --> 01:18:07,040
is not worth the political theater that

1711
01:18:07,040 --> 01:18:08,960
will occur.

1712
01:18:08,960 --> 01:18:11,600
Therefore, I would like to recuse myself

1713
01:18:11,600 --> 01:18:13,840
on this resolution. Mr. Mayor,

1714
01:18:13,840 --> 01:18:15,920
>> thank you very much.

1715
01:18:15,920 --> 01:18:18,400
>> Can I have a motion to bring this uh

1716
01:18:18,400 --> 01:18:19,920
forward?

1717
01:18:19,920 --> 01:18:23,040
Motion by Alderman Hayes. Can I have a

1718
01:18:23,040 --> 01:18:23,520
second?

1719
01:18:23,520 --> 01:18:26,719
>> Have to come to the floor.

1720
01:18:26,719 --> 01:18:30,390
>> Can I have a second?

1721
01:18:30,400 --> 01:18:32,080
» I'd like to make make a motion to

1722
01:18:32,080 --> 01:18:33,199
postpone.

1723
01:18:33,199 --> 01:18:34,800
>> It comes after it comes to the floor.

1724
01:18:34,800 --> 01:18:36,239
>> Yeah.

1725
01:18:36,239 --> 01:18:39,120
>> So, you are seconding.

1726
01:18:39,120 --> 01:18:39,679
>> Yes.

1727
01:18:39,679 --> 01:18:42,080
>> Cody. Okay.

1728
01:18:42,080 --> 01:18:44,000
Now we can have discussion and now you

1729
01:18:44,000 --> 01:18:44,320
can

1730
01:18:44,320 --> 01:18:47,600
>> I'd like to make a motion to um postpone

1731
01:18:47,600 --> 01:18:51,040
um voting on this resolution until our

1732
01:18:51,040 --> 01:18:54,239
next meeting. Um I have questions about

1733
01:18:54,239 --> 01:18:56,560
the way in which the state calculates

1734
01:18:56,560 --> 01:18:58,560
the fair value of the property. It's a

1735
01:18:58,560 --> 01:19:01,040
sliver of land, but I I do have some

1736
01:19:01,040 --> 01:19:04,560
questions and um like to be able to have

1737
01:19:04,560 --> 01:19:06,560
those answered. And um also what will

1738
01:19:06,560 --> 01:19:09,280
happen to the MPU pumpkin station.

1739
01:19:09,280 --> 01:19:10,800
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a

1740
01:19:10,800 --> 01:19:16,480
second? Yes. Alderman Zaru Kanumbaya.

1741
01:19:16,480 --> 01:19:19,440
Okay. Any further discussions at this

1742
01:19:19,440 --> 01:19:22,719
time? If not, roll call, please.

1743
01:19:22,719 --> 01:19:23,679
>> Alderman Nash,

1744
01:19:23,679 --> 01:19:24,560
>> yes.

1745
01:19:24,560 --> 01:19:25,679
>> Aldwoman Hayes,

1746
01:19:25,679 --> 01:19:26,400
>> yes.

1747
01:19:26,400 --> 01:19:27,679
>> Alderman Katabaya,

1748
01:19:27,679 --> 01:19:28,560
>> yes.

1749
01:19:28,560 --> 01:19:29,840
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,

1750
01:19:29,840 --> 01:19:30,640
>> yes.

1751
01:19:30,640 --> 01:19:32,080
>> Alderman Nestrom,

1752
01:19:32,080 --> 01:19:32,800
>> yes.

1753
01:19:32,800 --> 01:19:34,159
>> Mayor Singh,

1754
01:19:34,159 --> 01:19:38,480
>> yes. Motion passes 620.

1755
01:19:38,480 --> 01:19:40,480
It's been postponed for the next

1756
01:19:40,480 --> 01:19:48,470
meeting. Thank you.

1757
01:19:48,480 --> 01:19:50,480
Number two, relative to the acceptance

1758
01:19:50,480 --> 01:19:54,880
of a federal 2025 Edward Bryan Memorial

1759
01:19:54,880 --> 01:19:58,080
Justice Assistance Grant for the Norwich

1760
01:19:58,080 --> 01:19:59,600
Police Department.

1761
01:19:59,600 --> 01:20:01,199
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a motion

1762
01:20:01,199 --> 01:20:04,000
to bring this forward?

1763
01:20:04,000 --> 01:20:07,199
Motion by Alderman Nash. Can I have a

1764
01:20:07,199 --> 01:20:10,560
second? Older woman Zucati,

1765
01:20:10,560 --> 01:20:13,120
any discussion on this resolution number

1766
01:20:13,120 --> 01:20:16,390
two.

1767
01:20:16,400 --> 01:20:17,040
Okay.

1768
01:20:17,040 --> 01:20:18,560
>> Oh, yes.

1769
01:20:18,560 --> 01:20:20,320
>> We could have the police chief come to

1770
01:20:20,320 --> 01:20:21,440
the podium.

1771
01:20:21,440 --> 01:20:30,630
>> Sure.

1772
01:20:30,640 --> 01:20:32,239
» Good evening. Thank you for being here.

1773
01:20:32,239 --> 01:20:35,120
Could you just give us the

1774
01:20:35,120 --> 01:20:37,360
top three things that this grant will

1775
01:20:37,360 --> 01:20:38,880
facilitate for the department and for

1776
01:20:38,880 --> 01:20:39,520
the city?

1777
01:20:39,520 --> 01:20:41,360
>> The main thing we're uh using this grant

1778
01:20:41,360 --> 01:20:45,199
for is uh talk to text uh laws law law

1779
01:20:45,199 --> 01:20:47,040
enforcement specific software so the

1780
01:20:47,040 --> 01:20:50,560
officers can talk into the uh mobile

1781
01:20:50,560 --> 01:20:52,480
data terminals so they don't have to

1782
01:20:52,480 --> 01:20:54,159
hunch over and they keep their heads up

1783
01:20:54,159 --> 01:20:56,560
so they don't get shot uh you know

1784
01:20:56,560 --> 01:20:58,480
ambushed as they're sitting in a the

1785
01:20:58,480 --> 01:20:59,360
cruisers.

1786
01:20:59,360 --> 01:21:00,000
>> Speak up.

1787
01:21:00,000 --> 01:21:00,719
>> Mhm.

1788
01:21:00,719 --> 01:21:04,239
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Um they're looking to um

1789
01:21:04,239 --> 01:21:06,880
it's a talk to text dragon software for

1790
01:21:06,880 --> 01:21:09,120
law enforcement so they can dictate

1791
01:21:09,120 --> 01:21:11,120
their police reports to their computers

1792
01:21:11,120 --> 01:21:12,400
without having to type so they keep

1793
01:21:12,400 --> 01:21:14,159
their heads up. Uh because now they have

1794
01:21:14,159 --> 01:21:15,679
the computers in the car. They're typing

1795
01:21:15,679 --> 01:21:17,679
in the car not in back in the station.

1796
01:21:17,679 --> 01:21:19,520
So when they're out uh they're staying

1797
01:21:19,520 --> 01:21:21,520
on the road longer. But obviously it's a

1798
01:21:21,520 --> 01:21:23,360
safety concern to have them down both

1799
01:21:23,360 --> 01:21:26,159
ergonomically and then hostility. So

1800
01:21:26,159 --> 01:21:27,920
that's what we're using it for.

1801
01:21:27,920 --> 01:21:30,159
>> That's a that's the primary

1802
01:21:30,159 --> 01:21:32,239
>> Yes. item to be funded.

1803
01:21:32,239 --> 01:21:32,560
>> Yes.

1804
01:21:32,560 --> 01:21:34,080
>> Yeah. Thank you.

1805
01:21:34,080 --> 01:21:36,640
>> Thank you very much. Uh any other

1806
01:21:36,640 --> 01:21:39,840
question at this time?

1807
01:21:39,840 --> 01:21:42,159
Glad this is basically a dictation

1808
01:21:42,159 --> 01:21:46,239
software and uh we have 24 vehicle it

1809
01:21:46,239 --> 01:21:48,800
will be deployed you know it will be

1810
01:21:48,800 --> 01:21:51,199
employed in all those 24 vehicles and

1811
01:21:51,199 --> 01:21:53,199
that way we can officers can do

1812
01:21:53,199 --> 01:21:56,880
reporting uh by talking instead of

1813
01:21:56,880 --> 01:21:59,360
writing and that will you know increase

1814
01:21:59,360 --> 01:22:02,000
more efficiency as well. Thank you. Roll

1815
01:22:02,000 --> 01:22:03,040
call please.

1816
01:22:03,040 --> 01:22:04,080
>> Alderman Nash.

1817
01:22:04,080 --> 01:22:04,719
>> Yes. [clears throat]

1818
01:22:04,719 --> 01:22:05,920
>> Alderwoman Hayes.

1819
01:22:05,920 --> 01:22:06,400
>> Yes.

1820
01:22:06,400 --> 01:22:07,679
>> Alderman Katabaya.

1821
01:22:07,679 --> 01:22:09,360
>> Yes. Alderwoman Zucardi.

1822
01:22:09,360 --> 01:22:09,920
>> Yes.

1823
01:22:09,920 --> 01:22:11,440
>> Alderman Nestrom.

1824
01:22:11,440 --> 01:22:12,000
>> Yes.

1825
01:22:12,000 --> 01:22:13,600
>> President Prom Deluchia.

1826
01:22:13,600 --> 01:22:14,639
>> Yes.

1827
01:22:14,639 --> 01:22:15,440
>> Mayor Singh,

1828
01:22:15,440 --> 01:22:18,960
>> yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you.

1829
01:22:18,960 --> 01:22:21,280
>> Number three, relative to the reappoint

1830
01:22:21,280 --> 01:22:22,880
of a regular member to the Inland

1831
01:22:22,880 --> 01:22:24,880
Wetlands Water Course and Conservation

1832
01:22:24,880 --> 01:22:26,080
Commission.

1833
01:22:26,080 --> 01:22:27,760
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a

1834
01:22:27,760 --> 01:22:30,159
motion, please?

1835
01:22:30,159 --> 01:22:32,719
Alderwoman Hayes. Can I have a second?

1836
01:22:32,719 --> 01:22:35,120
Alderman Nash.

1837
01:22:35,120 --> 01:22:37,600
Any discussion?

1838
01:22:37,600 --> 01:22:41,920
Just for the uh purpose of record, the

1839
01:22:41,920 --> 01:22:44,639
person being uh appointed is Richard

1840
01:22:44,639 --> 01:22:46,480
Morell.

1841
01:22:46,480 --> 01:22:47,440
>> Roll call, please.

1842
01:22:47,440 --> 01:22:48,400
>> Alderman Nash,

1843
01:22:48,400 --> 01:22:48,960
>> yes.

1844
01:22:48,960 --> 01:22:50,159
>> Alderwoman Hayes,

1845
01:22:50,159 --> 01:22:50,639
>> yes.

1846
01:22:50,639 --> 01:22:51,920
>> Alderman Katabaya,

1847
01:22:51,920 --> 01:22:52,400
>> yes.

1848
01:22:52,400 --> 01:22:53,600
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,

1849
01:22:53,600 --> 01:22:54,239
>> yes.

1850
01:22:54,239 --> 01:22:55,440
>> Alderman Nestrom,

1851
01:22:55,440 --> 01:22:56,080
>> yes.

1852
01:22:56,080 --> 01:22:57,679
>> President Prom Deluchia,

1853
01:22:57,679 --> 01:22:58,159
>> yes.

1854
01:22:58,159 --> 01:22:59,120
>> Mayor Singh,

1855
01:22:59,120 --> 01:23:02,480
>> yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you.

1856
01:23:02,480 --> 01:23:04,639
Number four, relative to providing for

1857
01:23:04,639 --> 01:23:07,199
referendum vote to h to be held in

1858
01:23:07,199 --> 01:23:09,360
connection with the municipal election

1859
01:23:09,360 --> 01:23:12,080
on November 3rd, 2026 regarding the

1860
01:23:12,080 --> 01:23:14,159
ordinance entitled an ordinance

1861
01:23:14,159 --> 01:23:16,480
appropriating 55 million for the city of

1862
01:23:16,480 --> 01:23:18,320
Norwich police headquarters facility

1863
01:23:18,320 --> 01:23:21,040
project located at 300 Main Street

1864
01:23:21,040 --> 01:23:23,440
downtown and authorizing the issue of

1865
01:23:23,440 --> 01:23:25,920
$55 million bonds of the city to meet

1866
01:23:25,920 --> 01:23:27,920
set appropriations and pending the

1867
01:23:27,920 --> 01:23:30,080
issuance thereof and making of temporary

1868
01:23:30,080 --> 01:23:32,480
borrowings for such purpose. Thank you.

1869
01:23:32,480 --> 01:23:36,320
Can I have a motion, please?

1870
01:23:36,320 --> 01:23:40,639
President Prom, can I have a second?

1871
01:23:40,639 --> 01:23:43,920
Alderwoman Hayes. Any discussion? Uh,

1872
01:23:43,920 --> 01:23:46,239
yes. Alderman.

1873
01:23:46,239 --> 01:23:49,802
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um,

1874
01:23:49,802 --> 01:23:53,760
[snorts] my own involvement goes back um

1875
01:23:53,760 --> 01:23:56,800
a number of years. As a mayor, I led the

1876
01:23:56,800 --> 01:23:58,800
city's effort to place this police

1877
01:23:58,800 --> 01:24:01,199
department in the Sears building that

1878
01:24:01,199 --> 01:24:03,920
was rejected by the voters. I was the

1879
01:24:03,920 --> 01:24:06,080
mayor of record of the last referendum

1880
01:24:06,080 --> 01:24:08,080
as well, although I questioned whether

1881
01:24:08,080 --> 01:24:10,000
we should have taken that vote since we

1882
01:24:10,000 --> 01:24:12,000
didn't even have an address listed in

1883
01:24:12,000 --> 01:24:16,639
the bond. That failed. Um my concern

1884
01:24:16,639 --> 01:24:18,960
tonight with placing it on the ballot

1885
01:24:18,960 --> 01:24:20,880
this time

1886
01:24:20,880 --> 01:24:24,239
almost suddenly to some degree um I

1887
01:24:24,239 --> 01:24:26,239
don't think the city has done enough

1888
01:24:26,239 --> 01:24:30,000
public relations to promote this bond. I

1889
01:24:30,000 --> 01:24:32,239
still question the city's intent to do

1890
01:24:32,239 --> 01:24:35,440
public relations formally.

1891
01:24:35,440 --> 01:24:37,840
If this is placed on the ballot, I am

1892
01:24:37,840 --> 01:24:40,239
fully aware that the city may not expend

1893
01:24:40,239 --> 01:24:43,199
resources, may not use city facilities

1894
01:24:43,199 --> 01:24:46,239
whatsoever for the promotion and passage

1895
01:24:46,239 --> 01:24:49,440
of any question at referendum.

1896
01:24:49,440 --> 01:24:50,960
So, I'm not quite sure how we're going

1897
01:24:50,960 --> 01:24:52,880
to proceed further if this goes to

1898
01:24:52,880 --> 01:24:55,920
referendum. Um, and with that, I'd like

1899
01:24:55,920 --> 01:24:58,880
to ask to make a motion to change the

1900
01:24:58,880 --> 01:25:02,080
date from November 3rd, 2026 to November

1901
01:25:02,080 --> 01:25:06,719
2nd, 2027. I so move.

1902
01:25:06,719 --> 01:25:08,719
>> Thank you. So there's a motion on the

1903
01:25:08,719 --> 01:25:12,333
table. Is there any second? Second is

1904
01:25:12,333 --> 01:25:13,120
[sighs]

1905
01:25:13,120 --> 01:25:15,920
Alderman Nash. Okay.

1906
01:25:15,920 --> 01:25:17,600
>> If I may continue, mayor.

1907
01:25:17,600 --> 01:25:18,719
>> Yes.

1908
01:25:18,719 --> 01:25:21,280
>> Thank you. Um before coming to this

1909
01:25:21,280 --> 01:25:24,159
decision to make this request, I did

1910
01:25:24,159 --> 01:25:26,320
take the time to speak to Brian Humes,

1911
01:25:26,320 --> 01:25:28,159
who's the architect who's been working

1912
01:25:28,159 --> 01:25:31,199
with the city in all truthfulness

1913
01:25:31,199 --> 01:25:34,159
probably 16 years. Um, they even

1914
01:25:34,159 --> 01:25:36,639
investigated the old Chestnut Mill on

1915
01:25:36,639 --> 01:25:39,360
Chestnut Street at one point in time.

1916
01:25:39,360 --> 01:25:43,280
Um, I asked him specifically, is the $55

1917
01:25:43,280 --> 01:25:47,199
million estimate valid and how long is

1918
01:25:47,199 --> 01:25:49,199
that? And he told me it was valid

1919
01:25:49,199 --> 01:25:52,880
through 2028. I'm sorry that he left. It

1920
01:25:52,880 --> 01:25:54,560
would have been better to come from his

1921
01:25:54,560 --> 01:25:57,440
lips and not mine. But I assure you when

1922
01:25:57,440 --> 01:25:59,120
I spoke with him just outside the

1923
01:25:59,120 --> 01:26:01,760
building, that is what he told me. So,

1924
01:26:01,760 --> 01:26:04,880
if you consider this, and I do ask you

1925
01:26:04,880 --> 01:26:06,719
to consider this as a friendly

1926
01:26:06,719 --> 01:26:09,840
amendment, I'm very concerned with the

1927
01:26:09,840 --> 01:26:12,000
climate in this city right now and the

1928
01:26:12,000 --> 01:26:14,320
anger that I encounter as the former

1929
01:26:14,320 --> 01:26:16,639
mayor and as an alderman, and I don't

1930
01:26:16,639 --> 01:26:19,040
mean from some individuals in this room.

1931
01:26:19,040 --> 01:26:22,159
I mean out on the city streets, asking

1932
01:26:22,159 --> 01:26:24,880
them to trust this city with a $55

1933
01:26:24,880 --> 01:26:27,679
million bond offer in the current

1934
01:26:27,679 --> 01:26:30,719
climate. I I really think we're putting

1935
01:26:30,719 --> 01:26:32,800
a new police station at greater risk

1936
01:26:32,800 --> 01:26:35,840
than it's ever been in the past.

1937
01:26:35,840 --> 01:26:40,000
And I hate to expect, but I do expect a

1938
01:26:40,000 --> 01:26:43,360
third loss referendum from the voters at

1939
01:26:43,360 --> 01:26:47,600
this cost. I really do. And I don't want

1940
01:26:47,600 --> 01:26:50,800
my police department going through that.

1941
01:26:50,800 --> 01:26:53,840
If you consider this as it is offered,

1942
01:26:53,840 --> 01:26:57,040
it gives the city that much more time to

1943
01:26:57,040 --> 01:26:59,360
do the leg work that's necessary that I

1944
01:26:59,360 --> 01:27:02,320
don't think we've even begin to touch as

1945
01:27:02,320 --> 01:27:05,600
far as informing the public. And it's

1946
01:27:05,600 --> 01:27:08,639
going to take a very very detailed hard

1947
01:27:08,639 --> 01:27:13,520
cell to get the public to authorize $55

1948
01:27:13,520 --> 01:27:16,880
million in bonds when they consider what

1949
01:27:16,880 --> 01:27:19,440
we're already caring for the schools.

1950
01:27:19,440 --> 01:27:21,600
what we're carrying not through taxes

1951
01:27:21,600 --> 01:27:23,679
but through rates for the sewer

1952
01:27:23,679 --> 01:27:26,480
treatment expansion. That's another $200

1953
01:27:26,480 --> 01:27:28,480
million by the way. You take that in

1954
01:27:28,480 --> 01:27:30,800
schools. That's almost $600 million.

1955
01:27:30,800 --> 01:27:33,040
Someone asked what the bond limit is for

1956
01:27:33,040 --> 01:27:35,840
the city of Norwich.

1957
01:27:35,840 --> 01:27:37,760
The last time I had that question

1958
01:27:37,760 --> 01:27:39,600
answered was in my first term as mayor

1959
01:27:39,600 --> 01:27:42,159
and we were then told it was a quarter

1960
01:27:42,159 --> 01:27:43,760
of a million quarter of a billion

1961
01:27:43,760 --> 01:27:46,800
dollars. Now that is a number that's

1962
01:27:46,800 --> 01:27:49,440
probably 14 years old now. So certainly

1963
01:27:49,440 --> 01:27:52,639
it's gone up, but when you consider what

1964
01:27:52,639 --> 01:27:55,120
we are already on the hook for being

1965
01:27:55,120 --> 01:27:57,360
responsible for,

1966
01:27:57,360 --> 01:27:59,840
this is not going to be an easy offer to

1967
01:27:59,840 --> 01:28:02,400
get people to get behind.

1968
01:28:02,400 --> 01:28:04,880
I really am concerned that the voters

1969
01:28:04,880 --> 01:28:06,719
are going to vote it down simply on

1970
01:28:06,719 --> 01:28:10,320
cost. Uh the position that officer

1971
01:28:10,320 --> 01:28:12,480
Ranken gave tonight was a beautiful

1972
01:28:12,480 --> 01:28:14,159
presentation.

1973
01:28:14,159 --> 01:28:16,639
his grandfather who was Deputy Chief

1974
01:28:16,639 --> 01:28:18,320
Broadickan of the Norwich Police

1975
01:28:18,320 --> 01:28:19,920
Department. If he had been here have

1976
01:28:19,920 --> 01:28:21,840
been very proud of his grandson's

1977
01:28:21,840 --> 01:28:24,639
presentation and for all the reasons why

1978
01:28:24,639 --> 01:28:27,120
it's the right thing to do, and I still

1979
01:28:27,120 --> 01:28:29,920
believe that, I worked with the city

1980
01:28:29,920 --> 01:28:31,920
manager and others and negotiated a

1981
01:28:31,920 --> 01:28:34,560
halfp price purchase for that building.

1982
01:28:34,560 --> 01:28:37,280
It was 1.6 million listed. We got it for

1983
01:28:37,280 --> 01:28:40,239
half price. Uh it was the right thing to

1984
01:28:40,239 --> 01:28:42,320
do. was the right location but I think

1985
01:28:42,320 --> 01:28:44,239
the timing of this is extremely

1986
01:28:44,239 --> 01:28:46,960
dangerous for success. Thank you.

1987
01:28:46,960 --> 01:28:48,719
>> Thank you very much. Any other

1988
01:28:48,719 --> 01:28:50,239
discussion? Uh yes.

1989
01:28:50,239 --> 01:28:51,280
>> I just have a quick

1990
01:28:51,280 --> 01:28:53,600
>> motion on the floor.

1991
01:28:53,600 --> 01:28:54,080
>> Yes.

1992
01:28:54,080 --> 01:28:56,560
We have motion and we have second

1993
01:28:56,560 --> 01:28:58,639
and then there's discussion happening.

1994
01:28:58,639 --> 01:29:00,639
>> I I just have a quick question because

1995
01:29:00,639 --> 01:29:02,480
we failed twice before. If we fail

1996
01:29:02,480 --> 01:29:04,560
again, is there any kind of specific

1997
01:29:04,560 --> 01:29:06,719
time frame that we can't bring it back

1998
01:29:06,719 --> 01:29:08,560
or can bring it back? Like if it fails

1999
01:29:08,560 --> 01:29:10,159
this year, can we bring it back next

2000
01:29:10,159 --> 01:29:14,560
year? Arguably at more money. But so I'm

2001
01:29:14,560 --> 01:29:16,960
just asking, so if we if we send it to

2002
01:29:16,960 --> 01:29:18,800
referendum and it fails, is there some

2003
01:29:18,800 --> 01:29:21,120
restriction for next year?

2004
01:29:21,120 --> 01:29:24,159
>> I I don't think so, Bill. But uh we can

2005
01:29:24,159 --> 01:29:25,840
have corporate council or

2006
01:29:25,840 --> 01:29:26,960
>> I can I can answer that now.

2007
01:29:26,960 --> 01:29:27,600
>> Okay. Sure.

2008
01:29:27,600 --> 01:29:31,040
>> No, there is there is none other than um

2009
01:29:31,040 --> 01:29:32,560
logistics. You know, if you're going

2010
01:29:32,560 --> 01:29:36,080
new, you've got to do a new uh concept,

2011
01:29:36,080 --> 01:29:38,159
design, etc.

2012
01:29:38,159 --> 01:29:40,320
which could limit how fair should you

2013
01:29:40,320 --> 01:29:41,760
turn it around.

2014
01:29:41,760 --> 01:29:43,360
>> So, we're we're discussing the

2015
01:29:43,360 --> 01:29:43,920
amendment.

2016
01:29:43,920 --> 01:29:45,199
>> Amendment.

2017
01:29:45,199 --> 01:29:46,239
>> Yes.

2018
01:29:46,239 --> 01:29:47,600
>> Please go ahead.

2019
01:29:47,600 --> 01:29:50,320
>> So, timing is important and time costs

2020
01:29:50,320 --> 01:29:53,040
money and right now escalation in the

2021
01:29:53,040 --> 01:29:54,560
construction industry, especially in

2022
01:29:54,560 --> 01:29:56,320
specialized construction like a police

2023
01:29:56,320 --> 01:29:59,199
department is running about 3%, makes

2024
01:29:59,199 --> 01:30:00,639
actually a little bit more, but let's

2025
01:30:00,639 --> 01:30:05,840
call it 3%. That's so so that this stall

2026
01:30:05,840 --> 01:30:10,320
would cost the city a minimum $1.65

2027
01:30:10,320 --> 01:30:14,480
million. $1,650,000

2028
01:30:14,480 --> 01:30:16,000
because

2029
01:30:16,000 --> 01:30:18,800
people are angry.

2030
01:30:18,800 --> 01:30:21,360
Well,

2031
01:30:21,360 --> 01:30:24,080
>> people are angry, but people need to get

2032
01:30:24,080 --> 01:30:26,800
past the motion and take the issues as

2033
01:30:26,800 --> 01:30:31,360
they come. This one is $1.65 65 million

2034
01:30:31,360 --> 01:30:34,560
to get over your your anger. Justified

2035
01:30:34,560 --> 01:30:36,800
whe whether it doesn't matter whether I

2036
01:30:36,800 --> 01:30:38,800
believe it's justified or not. Actually,

2037
01:30:38,800 --> 01:30:40,800
I understand why a lot of people are are

2038
01:30:40,800 --> 01:30:42,239
angry. That's got nothing to do with

2039
01:30:42,239 --> 01:30:45,520
anything. This is about money. One year

2040
01:30:45,520 --> 01:30:50,639
costs us minimum $1.65 million. Period.

2041
01:30:50,639 --> 01:30:52,480
So, you want to be back here a year from

2042
01:30:52,480 --> 01:30:56,000
now saying, "Oh, it's going to be $57

2043
01:30:56,000 --> 01:30:58,159
million." No, I don't want to be here

2044
01:30:58,159 --> 01:31:01,920
having that conversation with you.

2045
01:31:01,920 --> 01:31:03,679
>> That's that there's my point. I don't

2046
01:31:03,679 --> 01:31:05,040
believe that we should

2047
01:31:05,040 --> 01:31:07,440
>> we should postpone.

2048
01:31:07,440 --> 01:31:10,400
>> Thank you. Uh if no further discussion,

2049
01:31:10,400 --> 01:31:13,040
roll call on Yes.

2050
01:31:13,040 --> 01:31:15,679
>> Just a brief response. In talking with

2051
01:31:15,679 --> 01:31:17,840
Brian again, the architect who came up

2052
01:31:17,840 --> 01:31:20,719
with this estimate, he stated that the

2053
01:31:20,719 --> 01:31:24,080
55 million was in fact the high end and

2054
01:31:24,080 --> 01:31:26,560
that it already included cost

2055
01:31:26,560 --> 01:31:31,040
adjustments and cost escalation within.

2056
01:31:31,040 --> 01:31:33,280
In some respects, that's good news

2057
01:31:33,280 --> 01:31:35,440
because what he's trying to say without

2058
01:31:35,440 --> 01:31:37,760
guaranteeing is that's the worst case

2059
01:31:37,760 --> 01:31:40,080
scenario.

2060
01:31:40,080 --> 01:31:44,000
So, I believe Joe's concern is valid,

2061
01:31:44,000 --> 01:31:47,040
but I believe the $55 million figure

2062
01:31:47,040 --> 01:31:51,199
already accommodates those concerns. Um,

2063
01:31:51,199 --> 01:31:54,000
even if this fails and it goes to

2064
01:31:54,000 --> 01:31:57,440
referendum and it's passed, we more than

2065
01:31:57,440 --> 01:32:00,880
likely won't be breaking ground until

2066
01:32:00,880 --> 01:32:04,080
2028. There are so many different stages

2067
01:32:04,080 --> 01:32:06,159
of approvals that have to take place

2068
01:32:06,159 --> 01:32:08,080
prior to

2069
01:32:08,080 --> 01:32:12,000
um but the 55 includes those kinds of

2070
01:32:12,000 --> 01:32:14,960
concerns that the present prom did talk

2071
01:32:14,960 --> 01:32:17,440
about and they're valid. They are valid.

2072
01:32:17,440 --> 01:32:21,360
I just don't want to be sitting here and

2073
01:32:21,360 --> 01:32:24,239
watching a third referendum fail on

2074
01:32:24,239 --> 01:32:26,239
something that is so badly needed in

2075
01:32:26,239 --> 01:32:28,880
this community. And I think the way it's

2076
01:32:28,880 --> 01:32:30,880
being presented

2077
01:32:30,880 --> 01:32:33,199
somewhat last minute, we could have been

2078
01:32:33,199 --> 01:32:35,360
talking about this back in January.

2079
01:32:35,360 --> 01:32:38,080
People could have been told then, but we

2080
01:32:38,080 --> 01:32:39,840
didn't

2081
01:32:39,840 --> 01:32:41,840
talk about notice provisions. We haven't

2082
01:32:41,840 --> 01:32:46,560
had any to really hang our hat on. And I

2083
01:32:46,560 --> 01:32:48,800
still question the city's ability to

2084
01:32:48,800 --> 01:32:51,360
handle that responsibility if it goes to

2085
01:32:51,360 --> 01:32:53,520
referendum because I know damn well

2086
01:32:53,520 --> 01:32:55,679
state law prohibits you using city

2087
01:32:55,679 --> 01:32:59,199
facilities, city resources to do that.

2088
01:32:59,199 --> 01:33:01,760
You cannot do that.

2089
01:33:01,760 --> 01:33:04,639
Thank you.

2090
01:33:04,639 --> 01:33:07,120
Any other further discussions? If not,

2091
01:33:07,120 --> 01:33:10,800
we'll vote on the amendment piece now.

2092
01:33:10,800 --> 01:33:12,960
Roll call on the amendment, please.

2093
01:33:12,960 --> 01:33:13,920
>> Alderman Nash,

2094
01:33:13,920 --> 01:33:16,000
>> yes. Aldwoman Hayes,

2095
01:33:16,000 --> 01:33:17,199
>> no.

2096
01:33:17,199 --> 01:33:18,560
>> Alderman Katabaya,

2097
01:33:18,560 --> 01:33:19,679
>> no.

2098
01:33:19,679 --> 01:33:21,120
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,

2099
01:33:21,120 --> 01:33:21,920
>> no.

2100
01:33:21,920 --> 01:33:23,120
>> Alderman Nestrom,

2101
01:33:23,120 --> 01:33:24,639
>> yes.

2102
01:33:24,639 --> 01:33:26,239
>> President Prom Deluchia,

2103
01:33:26,239 --> 01:33:27,199
>> no.

2104
01:33:27,199 --> 01:33:28,400
>> Mayor Singh, [clears throat]

2105
01:33:28,400 --> 01:33:32,159
>> uh, no. Motion

2106
01:33:32,159 --> 01:33:34,320
fails.

2107
01:33:34,320 --> 01:33:37,920
Um, sorry. Five is to two. Thank you.

2108
01:33:37,920 --> 01:33:40,159
And now we're going to go back on the

2109
01:33:40,159 --> 01:33:41,840
original

2110
01:33:41,840 --> 01:33:44,400
uh motion that was in front of us at

2111
01:33:44,400 --> 01:33:47,040
this point.

2112
01:33:47,040 --> 01:33:49,679
Any discussion on the original motion?

2113
01:33:49,679 --> 01:33:50,639
Yes, please.

2114
01:33:50,639 --> 01:33:52,800
>> I just want to make it clear. My my

2115
01:33:52,800 --> 01:33:55,360
position is simple here. I bleed the

2116
01:33:55,360 --> 01:33:57,120
Norwich Police Department. I served

2117
01:33:57,120 --> 01:33:59,760
there, served our community. The need is

2118
01:33:59,760 --> 01:34:02,560
very real. I got hired in ' 85 and the

2119
01:34:02,560 --> 01:34:05,040
building was built in 679 and it was

2120
01:34:05,040 --> 01:34:07,120
already too small not even 10 years down

2121
01:34:07,120 --> 01:34:09,840
the road. So I support building the new

2122
01:34:09,840 --> 01:34:12,320
police station. The challenge is making

2123
01:34:12,320 --> 01:34:14,159
sure that we pursue it in the right

2124
01:34:14,159 --> 01:34:16,320
time. Don't know if this is necessarily

2125
01:34:16,320 --> 01:34:19,679
the right time in that way. Uh the plan

2126
01:34:19,679 --> 01:34:21,520
is for the taxpayers to make the

2127
01:34:21,520 --> 01:34:23,520
decision. You want transparency, you

2128
01:34:23,520 --> 01:34:25,520
want honesty, you want trust. Here it

2129
01:34:25,520 --> 01:34:28,080
is. It's in your hands. If this passes

2130
01:34:28,080 --> 01:34:31,040
tonight, it goes to referendum. You make

2131
01:34:31,040 --> 01:34:33,600
the decision, not us. So, you can't sit

2132
01:34:33,600 --> 01:34:36,880
there and say, "You chose $55 million.

2133
01:34:36,880 --> 01:34:39,679
You stuck us with the tax bill." No.

2134
01:34:39,679 --> 01:34:42,239
Here's what we offered. We did. This is

2135
01:34:42,239 --> 01:34:44,639
what was done. The the proposal was

2136
01:34:44,639 --> 01:34:46,719
made. Now, it's your turn. Now, it's

2137
01:34:46,719 --> 01:34:48,560
your turn. If you don't want it, vote it

2138
01:34:48,560 --> 01:34:51,520
down. Understand the need is real. These

2139
01:34:51,520 --> 01:34:53,840
people are going to get uh uh hurt at

2140
01:34:53,840 --> 01:34:55,360
some point. Someone's going to get some

2141
01:34:55,360 --> 01:34:57,120
kind of respiratory issue from the mold

2142
01:34:57,120 --> 01:34:59,120
in the in the locker rooms or the

2143
01:34:59,120 --> 01:35:00,880
asbestous or whatever else is running

2144
01:35:00,880 --> 01:35:02,639
around that building. Someone's going to

2145
01:35:02,639 --> 01:35:04,480
get hurt. Someone's going to get sick

2146
01:35:04,480 --> 01:35:05,679
and someone's going to sue the city of

2147
01:35:05,679 --> 01:35:08,320
Norwich for millions of dollars. Okay?

2148
01:35:08,320 --> 01:35:10,400
So, it's in your ballpark now. It's in

2149
01:35:10,400 --> 01:35:12,639
your ball. The ball's in your court. You

2150
01:35:12,639 --> 01:35:15,760
make the decision now. Thank you.

2151
01:35:15,760 --> 01:35:18,080
>> Thank you. Any other comments at this

2152
01:35:18,080 --> 01:35:19,679
time?

2153
01:35:19,679 --> 01:35:23,520
Uh, yes. Alder Roman Cardi,

2154
01:35:23,520 --> 01:35:26,159
>> this is a very difficult issue and I

2155
01:35:26,159 --> 01:35:29,120
both um Alderman Nestrom and Alder

2156
01:35:29,120 --> 01:35:31,520
Alderman Deluchia make excellent points

2157
01:35:31,520 --> 01:35:35,600
on both sides of whether to do it now or delay it. But every time I think

2158
01:35:35,600 --> 01:35:38,159
about delaying it, I think about my tour

2159
01:35:38,159 --> 01:35:40,880
of the current police station where at

2160
01:35:40,880 --> 01:35:44,719
every stop, I I just went, "What?" I

2161
01:35:44,719 --> 01:35:47,679
mean, to see the water coming down in

2162
01:35:47,679 --> 01:35:51,360
the servers with with sheets to to hold

2163
01:35:51,360 --> 01:35:54,560
it up and and to see the the locker room

2164
01:35:54,560 --> 01:36:00,960
being doubled as where a crime victim of rape or burglary or assault is is

2165
01:36:00,960 --> 01:36:02,639
sitting in there with all the boots all

2166
01:36:02,639 --> 01:36:04,560
around it. It's that's what I keep

2167
01:36:04,560 --> 01:36:07,040
coming back to and I hope that people

2168
01:36:07,040 --> 01:36:11,920
will use the website. I I just I haven't perused it yet, but I hope

2169
01:36:11,920 --> 01:36:14,000
people will educate themselves. Um

2170
01:36:14,000 --> 01:36:16,239
reasonable people can disagree, but I

2171
01:36:16,239 --> 01:36:19,280
hope that it's based on information. Um

2172
01:36:19,280 --> 01:36:21,120
and I hope that people thoughtfully

2173
01:36:21,120 --> 01:36:23,280
struggle with the decision however they

2174
01:36:23,280 --> 01:36:24,560
come down, but that they do it

2175
01:36:24,560 --> 01:36:26,880
thoughtfully. Thank you.

2176
01:36:26,880 --> 01:36:30,880
>> Thank you. Any other comments?

2177
01:36:30,880 --> 01:36:33,040
hearing none. Now we're going to have a

2178
01:36:33,040 --> 01:36:35,679
vote on the original resolution which is

2179
01:36:35,679 --> 01:36:37,360
in front of us.

2180
01:36:37,360 --> 01:36:39,440
>> Alderman Nash,

2181
01:36:39,440 --> 01:36:40,480
>> yes.

2182
01:36:40,480 --> 01:36:41,679
>> Aldwoman Hayes,

2183
01:36:41,679 --> 01:36:42,480
>> yes.

2184
01:36:42,480 --> 01:36:43,840
>> Alderman Katabaya,

2185
01:36:43,840 --> 01:36:44,480
>> yes.

2186
01:36:44,480 --> 01:36:45,760
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,

2187
01:36:45,760 --> 01:36:46,400
>> yes.

2188
01:36:46,400 --> 01:36:47,440
>> Alderman Nestrom,

2189
01:36:47,440 --> 01:36:48,480
>> no.

2190
01:36:48,480 --> 01:36:50,000
>> President Prom Deluchia,

2191
01:36:50,000 --> 01:36:50,560
>> yes.

2192
01:36:50,560 --> 01:36:51,920
>> Mayor Singh,

2193
01:36:51,920 --> 01:36:55,199
>> yes. Motion passes 621. Thank you very

2194
01:36:55,199 --> 01:36:57,122
much.

2195
01:36:57,122 --> 01:36:57,520
>> [snorts]

2196
01:36:57,520 --> 01:36:59,199
>> Number five, relative to the city

2197
01:36:59,199 --> 01:37:01,040
manager being authorized to grant the

2198
01:37:01,040 --> 01:37:03,520
Italian Ladies Social Club permission to

2199
01:37:03,520 --> 01:37:05,360
sell beer and wine in its Italian

2200
01:37:05,360 --> 01:37:06,639
festival.

2201
01:37:06,639 --> 01:37:09,119
>> Thank you. Can I have a motion, please?

2202
01:37:09,119 --> 01:37:09,920
>> Motion.

2203
01:37:09,920 --> 01:37:13,360
>> Alderman Nash, can I have a second?

2204
01:37:13,360 --> 01:37:17,119
Alderman Zakari. Any discussion?

2205
01:37:17,119 --> 01:37:19,040
Hearing none. Roll call, please.

2206
01:37:19,040 --> 01:37:20,000
>> Alderman Nash,

2207
01:37:20,000 --> 01:37:20,560
>> yes.

2208
01:37:20,560 --> 01:37:21,679
>> Alderwoman Hayes,

2209
01:37:21,679 --> 01:37:22,159
>> yes.

2210
01:37:22,159 --> 01:37:23,520
>> Alderman Katabaya,

2211
01:37:23,520 --> 01:37:24,080
>> yes.

2212
01:37:24,080 --> 01:37:25,440
>> Alderwoman Zukardi,

2213
01:37:25,440 --> 01:37:27,199
>> yes. Alderman Nestrom.

2214
01:37:27,199 --> 01:37:27,840
>> Yes.

2215
01:37:27,840 --> 01:37:29,360
>> President Prom Deluchia.

2216
01:37:29,360 --> 01:37:29,920
>> Yes.

2217
01:37:29,920 --> 01:37:30,800
>> Mayor Singh.

2218
01:37:30,800 --> 01:37:34,960
>> Yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you.

2219
01:37:34,960 --> 01:37:37,040
>> Citizen comment general 30 minutes on

2220
01:37:37,040 --> 01:37:38,719
non-aggenda items.

2221
01:37:38,719 --> 01:37:41,040
>> Thank you very much. So at this point uh

2222
01:37:41,040 --> 01:37:44,080
I open the citizen comment general for

2223
01:37:44,080 --> 01:37:46,159
30 minutes.

2224
01:37:46,159 --> 01:37:49,280
Please come forward. State your name. I

2225
01:37:49,280 --> 01:37:52,159
have two names on non-aggenda items. Joe

2226
01:37:52,159 --> 01:38:01,109
McMman and David Horse. at this point.

2227
01:38:01,119 --> 01:38:04,239
So again, I believe I'm allowed 4

2228
01:38:04,239 --> 01:38:08,709
minutes and 25 seconds.

2229
01:38:08,719 --> 01:38:10,560
My name is Joe McMahon, a lifelong

2230
01:38:10,560 --> 01:38:12,400
resident of Taffel and a longtime member

2231
01:38:12,400 --> 01:38:14,880
of the Taffel Volunteer Fire Department.

2232
01:38:14,880 --> 01:38:18,480
So where did I leave off? Oh yeah, what

2233
01:38:18,480 --> 01:38:23,679
now? What's next? What's the plan? So, I

2234
01:38:23,679 --> 01:38:25,920
wonder if you were all thinking like

2235
01:38:25,920 --> 01:38:29,040
Donald Trump that this little excursion

2236
01:38:29,040 --> 01:38:31,280
would be over in a few weeks, that the

2237
01:38:31,280 --> 01:38:33,840
volunteer departments being provoked and

2238
01:38:33,840 --> 01:38:36,320
displaced would just lay down their arms

2239
01:38:36,320 --> 01:38:39,199
and succumb. Did you ever really have a

2240
01:38:39,199 --> 01:38:41,600
complete tactical plan? Or again, did

2241
01:38:41,600 --> 01:38:43,280
you think that these volunteered

2242
01:38:43,280 --> 01:38:45,040
departments after serving hundreds of

2243
01:38:45,040 --> 01:38:47,040
combined years would just go away

2244
01:38:47,040 --> 01:38:50,560
quietly, back down, and kneel to King

2245
01:38:50,560 --> 01:38:54,400
Wilson? Wow. Did you misjudge?

2246
01:38:54,400 --> 01:38:56,800
So, did you plan on having your

2247
01:38:56,800 --> 01:39:00,400
authority checked? Lawsuit filed. Did

2248
01:39:00,400 --> 01:39:02,320
you plan on the volunteer departments

2249
01:39:02,320 --> 01:39:05,280
being stoic and steadfast?

2250
01:39:05,280 --> 01:39:08,080
Did you plan for how to cover these

2251
01:39:08,080 --> 01:39:10,560
additional costs to cover what these

2252
01:39:10,560 --> 01:39:14,000
volunteers did for you for free?

2253
01:39:14,000 --> 01:39:17,280
Did you really plan on the resistance?

2254
01:39:17,280 --> 01:39:19,679
By the way, I just had another hundred

2255
01:39:19,679 --> 01:39:22,800
signs made and half of these now say you

2256
01:39:22,800 --> 01:39:27,040
should all be fired in my opinion.

2257
01:39:27,040 --> 01:39:29,440
Do you plan on the fortitude of these

2258
01:39:29,440 --> 01:39:31,920
volunteer departments?

2259
01:39:31,920 --> 01:39:34,560
So, what's the bleeping plan?

2260
01:39:34,560 --> 01:39:37,119
As we heard last week, you continue to

2261
01:39:37,119 --> 01:39:39,119
treat the note city charter as a

2262
01:39:39,119 --> 01:39:42,159
suggestion card. Last month you were

2263
01:39:42,159 --> 01:39:44,320
warned that the paid department could

2264
01:39:44,320 --> 01:39:47,119
only receive funds from the CCD and you

2265
01:39:47,119 --> 01:39:49,520
completely disregarded. Lawsuit to

2266
01:39:49,520 --> 01:39:52,080
follow. Last month you were warned that

2267
01:39:52,080 --> 01:39:54,159
the city charter is clear that pay

2268
01:39:54,159 --> 01:39:57,119
department stays in a CCD unless for

2269
01:39:57,119 --> 01:40:01,280
extreme emergencies. Lawsuit ongoing.

2270
01:40:01,280 --> 01:40:03,199
The Taffel volunteer firehouse is being

2271
01:40:03,199 --> 01:40:06,560
staffed 24/7 with three people. If

2272
01:40:06,560 --> 01:40:09,360
there's a fire, they leave on one rig,

2273
01:40:09,360 --> 01:40:11,360
and all the other millions of dollars of

2274
01:40:11,360 --> 01:40:14,800
equipment remain at the firehouse unused

2275
01:40:14,800 --> 01:40:17,440
due to lack of personnel.

2276
01:40:17,440 --> 01:40:19,760
Whoever came up with that plan should be

2277
01:40:19,760 --> 01:40:23,439
fired.

2278
01:40:23,449 --> 01:40:25,440
[sighs]

2279
01:40:25,440 --> 01:40:28,480
So again, I have a short little story

2280
01:40:28,480 --> 01:40:31,199
ending very funny.

2281
01:40:31,199 --> 01:40:34,639
Last week, I emailed the city manager to

2282
01:40:34,639 --> 01:40:37,440
ask permission to go to my firehouse.

2283
01:40:37,440 --> 01:40:39,440
You see, I'm in charge of the sign out

2284
01:40:39,440 --> 01:40:43,040
front. The sign that says Taffel loves

2285
01:40:43,040 --> 01:40:45,679
their volunteer firefighters. Does Does

2286
01:40:45,679 --> 01:40:48,639
everyone here know that some scumbag

2287
01:40:48,639 --> 01:40:51,520
removed the word volunteer from that

2288
01:40:51,520 --> 01:40:54,639
sign so it would then say Taffo loves

2289
01:40:54,639 --> 01:40:56,800
their firefighters? I guess just while

2290
01:40:56,800 --> 01:40:59,600
the paid guys are there. Trust me when I

2291
01:40:59,600 --> 01:41:02,560
tell you I let Mike does does Avette

2292
01:41:02,560 --> 01:41:04,639
know my true feelings.

2293
01:41:04,639 --> 01:41:05,600
>> Please conclude.

2294
01:41:05,600 --> 01:41:08,320
>> I will on someone removing the word

2295
01:41:08,320 --> 01:41:11,119
volunteer from that sign board.

2296
01:41:11,119 --> 01:41:13,119
And I reminded him that they are

2297
01:41:13,119 --> 01:41:15,840
temporary tenants at the Taffl volunteer

2298
01:41:15,840 --> 01:41:19,360
firehouse. I'm done. Anyways,

2299
01:41:19,360 --> 01:41:21,119
I had to change the sign because the

2300
01:41:21,119 --> 01:41:23,440
Tathl and Yanick volunteer fire

2301
01:41:23,440 --> 01:41:26,080
departments are hosting an American Red

2302
01:41:26,080 --> 01:41:28,400
Cross blood drive.

2303
01:41:28,400 --> 01:41:32,239
Tuesday, September 8th from 8:00 a.m. to

2304
01:41:32,239 --> 01:41:35,840
6 pm at the Yanick Volunteer Firehouse.

2305
01:41:35,840 --> 01:41:37,199
I'll be serving free breakfast

2306
01:41:37,199 --> 01:41:38,960
sandwiches, free hot dogs, and

2307
01:41:38,960 --> 01:41:41,920
hamburgers all day long. Please come if

2308
01:41:41,920 --> 01:41:44,000
you can. And I am personally inviting

2309
01:41:44,000 --> 01:41:47,440
the council to participate if they are

2310
01:41:47,440 --> 01:41:50,800
physically able to do so. So, here's the

2311
01:41:50,800 --> 01:41:54,480
funny part. As I was changing the sign,

2312
01:41:54,480 --> 01:41:57,119
the three guys at the firehouse watching

2313
01:41:57,119 --> 01:42:00,480
over me, I may have expressed my concern

2314
01:42:00,480 --> 01:42:02,719
about the cost of this whole firefighter

2315
01:42:02,719 --> 01:42:05,119
takeover debacle. And I told the three

2316
01:42:05,119 --> 01:42:07,600
guys, "Look, it ain't just you. The

2317
01:42:07,600 --> 01:42:11,199
police department is next on my radar.

2318
01:42:11,199 --> 01:42:13,760
$60 million ain't going to fly." And

2319
01:42:13,760 --> 01:42:15,600
that's when one of the guys said, "Hey,

2320
01:42:15,600 --> 01:42:18,480
Joe, you ought to run for mayor." That's

2321
01:42:18,480 --> 01:42:20,560
the funny part. Thank you very much.

2322
01:42:20,560 --> 01:42:27,235
>> Thank you. [applause]

2323
01:42:27,245 --> 01:42:30,790
» [snorts]

2324
01:42:30,800 --> 01:42:32,639
» Good evening, [clears throat] Rocky. Let

2325
01:42:32,639 --> 01:42:35,280
me remind you

2326
01:42:35,280 --> 01:42:38,000
of some words that are written very

2327
01:42:38,000 --> 01:42:41,040
clearly in the Holy Scriptures. Since

2328
01:42:41,040 --> 01:42:43,600
I'm a born again Christian, I'll share

2329
01:42:43,600 --> 01:42:45,840
with you in case you don't know or

2330
01:42:45,840 --> 01:42:48,000
somebody in the public. My Lord and

2331
01:42:48,000 --> 01:42:51,440
Savior Jesus Christ with righteous

2332
01:42:51,440 --> 01:42:53,360
indignation

2333
01:42:53,360 --> 01:42:56,560
overthrew the money changers.

2334
01:42:56,560 --> 01:42:58,800
He addresses the Pharisee WITH THE BIG

2335
01:42:58,800 --> 01:43:01,600
SHOTS at that time and he called them

2336
01:43:01,600 --> 01:43:04,320
you hypocrites.

2337
01:43:04,320 --> 01:43:07,199
YOU SEEK TO KILL ME BECAUSE YOU are of

2338
01:43:07,199 --> 01:43:10,320
your father the devil. So please don't

2339
01:43:10,320 --> 01:43:15,840
teach me or don't express THAT I CAN'T

2340
01:43:15,840 --> 01:43:18,960
HAVE righteous indignation. This guy

2341
01:43:18,960 --> 01:43:23,679
Joseph Deluchia lies WITHOUT

2342
01:43:23,679 --> 01:43:26,560
A HINT OF REMORSE AND WE'RE GOING TO

2343
01:43:26,560 --> 01:43:28,480
WASTE HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT WASTING

2344
01:43:28,480 --> 01:43:30,159
ANOTHER MILLION. He's not concerned

2345
01:43:30,159 --> 01:43:32,480
about stop spending the money on the on

2346
01:43:32,480 --> 01:43:34,960
a on a paid firefighter. IT'S NOT

2347
01:43:34,960 --> 01:43:38,080
CONCERNED BECAUSE YOU SEE WITHIN 6

2348
01:43:38,080 --> 01:43:39,520
MONTHS WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK

2349
01:43:39,520 --> 01:43:42,800
authorizing another $500,000.

2350
01:43:42,800 --> 01:43:45,840
So my righteous indignation as A UNITED

2351
01:43:45,840 --> 01:43:50,639
STATES CITIZEN MUST BE RESPECTED.

2352
01:43:50,639 --> 01:43:53,040
And to all of you that BELIEVE IN JESUS

2353
01:43:53,040 --> 01:43:56,320
CHRIST, PLEASE UNDERSTAND

2354
01:43:56,320 --> 01:44:00,000
WE ARE FREE PEOPLE.

2355
01:44:00,000 --> 01:44:04,080
WE THE PEOPLE OWN THE COUNTRY, THE STATE

2356
01:44:04,080 --> 01:44:07,840
and the city. You're merely

2357
01:44:07,840 --> 01:44:11,920
given a a chance to administer. And if I

2358
01:44:11,920 --> 01:44:14,560
may say so something very clearly,

2359
01:44:14,560 --> 01:44:17,600
you're doing a very poor job. Even you,

2360
01:44:17,600 --> 01:44:20,400
Mr. Solomon, and I SAID ON THE AIR, 190

2361
01:44:20,400 --> 01:44:23,600
GRAND A YEAR WASTED.

2362
01:44:23,600 --> 01:44:25,280
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else who

2363
01:44:25,280 --> 01:44:29,590
would like to address the council?

2364
01:44:29,600 --> 01:44:31,440
Mayor, members of the council, my name

2365
01:44:31,440 --> 01:44:33,360
is David Horse. I live on Joseph Perkins

2366
01:44:33,360 --> 01:44:36,000
Road. I with many here want to thank you

2367
01:44:36,000 --> 01:44:38,719
for your service. You are, as we well

2368
01:44:38,719 --> 01:44:41,840
know, popularly democratically elected

2369
01:44:41,840 --> 01:44:44,480
to lead this city and we appreciate uh

2370
01:44:44,480 --> 01:44:48,790
your service

2371
01:44:48,800 --> 01:44:53,440
particularly now um when there's

2372
01:44:53,440 --> 01:44:55,760
such significant issues here that you

2373
01:44:55,760 --> 01:44:59,119
are uh meeting this moment. Um my family

2374
01:44:59,119 --> 01:45:02,320
and I arrived in Norwich 7 years ago.

2375
01:45:02,320 --> 01:45:05,360
the city where we chose to live because

2376
01:45:05,360 --> 01:45:08,880
of its diversity, its arts, its human

2377
01:45:08,880 --> 01:45:12,000
services, but most of all its people.

2378
01:45:12,000 --> 01:45:14,400
And we remain committed to this city. I

2379
01:45:14,400 --> 01:45:16,320
love the history of Norwich, but I love

2380
01:45:16,320 --> 01:45:20,320
the potential of this city more. And one

2381
01:45:20,320 --> 01:45:23,920
final word to my neighbors here, please,

2382
01:45:23,920 --> 01:45:27,520
I beg you, I pray, stop the shouting,

2383
01:45:27,520 --> 01:45:30,080
stop the name calling, stop the

2384
01:45:30,080 --> 01:45:33,280
bullying. Let's move the city forward.

2385
01:45:33,280 --> 01:45:36,629
>> Thank you.

2386
01:45:36,639 --> 01:45:38,159
Anyone else who would like to address

2387
01:45:38,159 --> 01:45:41,119
the council?

2388
01:45:41,119 --> 01:45:42,639
>> Anyone else who would like to address

2389
01:45:42,639 --> 01:45:45,119
the council? Yes, please.

2390
01:45:45,119 --> 01:45:53,563
>> Yes.

2391
01:45:53,573 --> 01:45:55,199
[snorts and sighs]

2392
01:45:55,199 --> 01:45:57,520
So, here we are again and I hope that I

2393
01:45:57,520 --> 01:46:00,159
get four minutes. Um,

2394
01:46:00,159 --> 01:46:04,000
it causes me great sadness

2395
01:46:04,000 --> 01:46:06,800
to come before you.

2396
01:46:06,800 --> 01:46:08,560
I've been coming to these meetings

2397
01:46:08,560 --> 01:46:12,960
religiously for 22 years without fail.

2398
01:46:12,960 --> 01:46:18,560
I know a lot about a lot. I have my

2399
01:46:18,560 --> 01:46:22,790
supporters and my detractors.

2400
01:46:22,800 --> 01:46:27,600
So my question to you is

2401
01:46:27,600 --> 01:46:30,239
why? How are we supposed to approach

2402
01:46:30,239 --> 01:46:33,990
you?

2403
01:46:34,000 --> 01:46:38,400
you you look right through us.

2404
01:46:38,400 --> 01:46:40,719
You don't want to hear what we have to

2405
01:46:40,719 --> 01:46:42,560
say.

2406
01:46:42,560 --> 01:46:44,880
You don't want You can't look me in the

2407
01:46:44,880 --> 01:46:47,600
face.

2408
01:46:47,600 --> 01:46:50,320
I make

2409
01:46:50,320 --> 01:46:52,800
I don't get it. I've been on this planet

2410
01:46:52,800 --> 01:46:55,119
83 years. And what I wanted to talk

2411
01:46:55,119 --> 01:46:56,800
about tonight was the replacement

2412
01:46:56,800 --> 01:46:59,040
theory. I don't know if you're familiar

2413
01:46:59,040 --> 01:47:01,679
with that, but I've decided not to talk

2414
01:47:01,679 --> 01:47:03,679
about that.

2415
01:47:03,679 --> 01:47:07,600
I took down my volunteer save lives

2416
01:47:07,600 --> 01:47:10,719
sign. I took down my Norwich City

2417
01:47:10,719 --> 01:47:13,520
Council sign. Sucks

2418
01:47:13,520 --> 01:47:15,119
because I live in a historic

2419
01:47:15,119 --> 01:47:18,149
neighborhood.

2420
01:47:18,159 --> 01:47:20,800
But you don't give a crap about that.

2421
01:47:20,800 --> 01:47:24,080
Mr. Singh, I want to know your story. I

2422
01:47:24,080 --> 01:47:25,600
want to know when you came to this

2423
01:47:25,600 --> 01:47:28,239
country, how you came to this country,

2424
01:47:28,239 --> 01:47:31,280
and how you made your fortune. Perhaps

2425
01:47:31,280 --> 01:47:33,520
that would have me give me a better

2426
01:47:33,520 --> 01:47:36,239
understanding of why you have this

2427
01:47:36,239 --> 01:47:37,840
elitist

2428
01:47:37,840 --> 01:47:40,080
attitude.

2429
01:47:40,080 --> 01:47:41,920
You want to raise the flag for the

2430
01:47:41,920 --> 01:47:44,159
Peruvians. You want to raise the flag

2431
01:47:44,159 --> 01:47:47,760
for the Jamaicans. You want to raise the

2432
01:47:47,760 --> 01:47:50,000
seek awareness.

2433
01:47:50,000 --> 01:47:51,760
I have yet to hear you say anything

2434
01:47:51,760 --> 01:47:54,719
about the Jews.

2435
01:47:54,719 --> 01:47:56,719
I have yet to hear you say anything

2436
01:47:56,719 --> 01:47:58,880
about Norwich Town, the birthplace of

2437
01:47:58,880 --> 01:48:03,840
Norwich, which by the way has become a

2438
01:48:03,840 --> 01:48:05,679
slum.

2439
01:48:05,679 --> 01:48:08,960
One only has to look at nor at Town

2440
01:48:08,960 --> 01:48:12,480
Street to see it.

2441
01:48:12,480 --> 01:48:15,360
I don't need to be admonished by Mr.

2442
01:48:15,360 --> 01:48:19,040
Deluchia or anyone else.

2443
01:48:19,040 --> 01:48:21,440
I have paid my dues. I have lived

2444
01:48:21,440 --> 01:48:24,719
through many ideations, abortions, civil

2445
01:48:24,719 --> 01:48:27,360
rights, the Bay of Pigs, the Vietnam

2446
01:48:27,360 --> 01:48:30,239
War,

2447
01:48:30,239 --> 01:48:34,880
personal and private and very public

2448
01:48:34,880 --> 01:48:37,600
scandals,

2449
01:48:37,600 --> 01:48:40,159
and I'm still standing here with my head

2450
01:48:40,159 --> 01:48:42,560
held high.

2451
01:48:42,560 --> 01:48:44,719
And I will go back to the same thing I

2452
01:48:44,719 --> 01:48:47,040
said earlier.

2453
01:48:47,040 --> 01:48:50,480
by virtue of my age alone,

2454
01:48:50,480 --> 01:48:53,440
first and foremost. Secondly, by my

2455
01:48:53,440 --> 01:48:56,000
gender, because it's obvious that you

2456
01:48:56,000 --> 01:48:59,119
treat men different than women at the

2457
01:48:59,119 --> 01:49:03,199
podium. It's blatantly obvious.

2458
01:49:03,199 --> 01:49:05,520
I don't have the energy anymore to file

2459
01:49:05,520 --> 01:49:09,679
complaints with the ethics commission.

2460
01:49:09,679 --> 01:49:10,960
But I'm just going to leave you with

2461
01:49:10,960 --> 01:49:14,560
this. You give what you get and you get

2462
01:49:14,560 --> 01:49:19,040
what you give. And you, some of you are

2463
01:49:19,040 --> 01:49:22,080
not meeting the level. You are public

2464
01:49:22,080 --> 01:49:23,920
servants.

2465
01:49:23,920 --> 01:49:28,790
You are our voice.

2466
01:49:28,800 --> 01:49:31,119
It's sad. This city is going to

2467
01:49:31,119 --> 01:49:33,600
self-employ. Look at your watch. That's

2468
01:49:33,600 --> 01:49:34,159
rude.

2469
01:49:34,159 --> 01:49:35,760
>> Thank you. Please conclude. We have

2470
01:49:35,760 --> 01:49:37,119
other people as well. We want to give

2471
01:49:37,119 --> 01:49:37,520
them a

2472
01:49:37,520 --> 01:49:39,520
>> Mr. Singh. How what is the best way to

2473
01:49:39,520 --> 01:49:41,440
approach you?

2474
01:49:41,440 --> 01:49:44,159
What is the what is the most fertuitous

2475
01:49:44,159 --> 01:49:50,629
way to to speak with you?

2476
01:49:50,639 --> 01:49:51,440
» I did.

2477
01:49:51,440 --> 01:49:53,280
>> You're not going to answer, which speaks

2478
01:49:53,280 --> 01:49:54,800
volumes.

2479
01:49:54,800 --> 01:49:55,679
>> Thank you very much.

2480
01:49:55,679 --> 01:49:56,239
>> Yes.

2481
01:49:56,239 --> 01:49:57,520
>> Anyone else who would like to come

2482
01:49:57,520 --> 01:50:03,270
forward and address the council?

2483
01:50:03,280 --> 01:50:06,400
My name is Linda Theodoru and I am here

2484
01:50:06,400 --> 01:50:09,600
just to apologize to all of you for the

2485
01:50:09,600 --> 01:50:12,880
hatred and the racism that I'm hearing

2486
01:50:12,880 --> 01:50:15,440
coming from these people. It's so

2487
01:50:15,440 --> 01:50:18,480
shameful. They do not represent the

2488
01:50:18,480 --> 01:50:21,679
majority of Norwich. Norwich is better

2489
01:50:21,679 --> 01:50:26,629
than this. Thank you.

2490
01:50:26,639 --> 01:50:28,320
» Anyone else who like to address the

2491
01:50:28,320 --> 01:50:35,430
council? Yes, please.

2492
01:50:35,440 --> 01:50:38,639
» Excuse me. I signed up for this.

2493
01:50:38,639 --> 01:50:40,000
>> Please state your name.

2494
01:50:40,000 --> 01:50:41,760
>> Yes. Excuse me, mayor. I signed up

2495
01:50:41,760 --> 01:50:43,280
somewhere around there. My name is James

2496
01:50:43,280 --> 01:50:43,840
Carrian.

2497
01:50:43,840 --> 01:50:45,600
>> Okay. Clean water.

2498
01:50:45,600 --> 01:50:47,520
>> The gentleman in the black coat needs to

2499
01:50:47,520 --> 01:50:49,360
take a seat.

2500
01:50:49,360 --> 01:50:51,679
>> Let's everybody else take a seat. One

2501
01:50:51,679 --> 01:50:54,560
person at a time at the podium, please.

2502
01:50:54,560 --> 01:50:58,149
Thank you.

2503
01:50:58,159 --> 01:51:00,480
As I stated, my name is James Carrian. I

2504
01:51:00,480 --> 01:51:02,400
signed up I wasn't sure what I signed up

2505
01:51:02,400 --> 01:51:03,360
for. This was the

2506
01:51:03,360 --> 01:51:04,639
>> probably did in a different one.

2507
01:51:04,639 --> 01:51:06,400
>> The non-aggenda is where I wanted to

2508
01:51:06,400 --> 01:51:07,760
speak. Okay.

2509
01:51:07,760 --> 01:51:10,800
>> And I want to speak to you this evening

2510
01:51:10,800 --> 01:51:13,520
um ladies and gentlemen and bullies on

2511
01:51:13,520 --> 01:51:15,520
both sides

2512
01:51:15,520 --> 01:51:16,719
that I want to talk about a little

2513
01:51:16,719 --> 01:51:18,320
different subject, change the tone a

2514
01:51:18,320 --> 01:51:20,719
little bit. I understand from the news

2515
01:51:20,719 --> 01:51:24,320
that the city has received $250,000

2516
01:51:24,320 --> 01:51:27,520
to uh request input from different

2517
01:51:27,520 --> 01:51:29,440
organizations about how to use the land

2518
01:51:29,440 --> 01:51:32,719
that is the former uh state hospital

2519
01:51:32,719 --> 01:51:35,679
here in Norwich.

2520
01:51:35,679 --> 01:51:37,760
>> Somebody mentioned earlier that there's

2521
01:51:37,760 --> 01:51:42,320
been decades of neglect.

2522
01:51:42,320 --> 01:51:43,599
I think they were referring to the

2523
01:51:43,599 --> 01:51:45,199
police department. I'd like to refer to

2524
01:51:45,199 --> 01:51:47,119
that land over on the other side of the

2525
01:51:47,119 --> 01:51:48,880
river.

2526
01:51:48,880 --> 01:51:51,599
and the people that were there. Excuse

2527
01:51:51,599 --> 01:51:54,159
me, I get emotional, but those people

2528
01:51:54,159 --> 01:51:56,719
haven't been served for many, many

2529
01:51:56,719 --> 01:51:59,199
years. The intention was to save money

2530
01:51:59,199 --> 01:52:01,920
by shutting down that met that hospital,

2531
01:52:01,920 --> 01:52:04,480
which served a great purpose as we see

2532
01:52:04,480 --> 01:52:06,400
now because all of the shootings and

2533
01:52:06,400 --> 01:52:08,400
stuff that's going on in our world,

2534
01:52:08,400 --> 01:52:10,639
those people should be some of them

2535
01:52:10,639 --> 01:52:13,119
institutionalized to protect themselves

2536
01:52:13,119 --> 01:52:15,679
in our society. So, what I'd like to

2537
01:52:15,679 --> 01:52:18,080
recommend to you for free, you don't

2538
01:52:18,080 --> 01:52:21,840
have to give me any of that 250,000

2539
01:52:21,840 --> 01:52:24,239
that you negotiate with the state of

2540
01:52:24,239 --> 01:52:27,920
Connecticut to replace that mental

2541
01:52:27,920 --> 01:52:29,760
hospital on the other side of the river

2542
01:52:29,760 --> 01:52:31,920
that the land is still there, still

2543
01:52:31,920 --> 01:52:34,719
available. And I think our soon to be

2544
01:52:34,719 --> 01:52:38,159
elected uh state senator is going maybe

2545
01:52:38,159 --> 01:52:40,480
can help you from the state side as how

2546
01:52:40,480 --> 01:52:42,560
to negotiate bringing a mental hospital

2547
01:52:42,560 --> 01:52:45,280
back to our properties.

2548
01:52:45,280 --> 01:52:48,320
That's it. Thank you. Oh, one last

2549
01:52:48,320 --> 01:52:51,520
thing. I want to compliment Rocky cuz uh

2550
01:52:51,520 --> 01:52:53,520
like him, I believe our Lord and Savior

2551
01:52:53,520 --> 01:52:55,520
is not going to be deceived. So you're

2552
01:52:55,520 --> 01:52:57,040
only fooling yourselves if you're trying

2553
01:52:57,040 --> 01:53:00,159
to deceive anybody. Me neither. Okay.

2554
01:53:00,159 --> 01:53:01,599
Thank you.

2555
01:53:01,599 --> 01:53:03,760
>> Thank you.

2556
01:53:03,760 --> 01:53:05,119
I think

2557
01:53:05,119 --> 01:53:08,000
>> make sit down.

2558
01:53:08,000 --> 01:53:10,639
>> Everybody else, please sit down. Please

2559
01:53:10,639 --> 01:53:14,709
have a seat.

2560
01:53:14,719 --> 01:53:16,800
» Thank you.

2561
01:53:16,800 --> 01:53:19,199
>> Yes, please. Go ahead.

2562
01:53:19,199 --> 01:53:21,520
>> Joanne Marola Martin to West Ledge

2563
01:53:21,520 --> 01:53:23,760
Drive. So, I don't come up here very

2564
01:53:23,760 --> 01:53:25,760
often. I don't like to make my political

2565
01:53:25,760 --> 01:53:28,239
views no um public because I'm the

2566
01:53:28,239 --> 01:53:30,080
registar of voters and I don't think

2567
01:53:30,080 --> 01:53:31,920
it's appropriate.

2568
01:53:31,920 --> 01:53:34,080
Um so I'm not going to talk about that.

2569
01:53:34,080 --> 01:53:36,400
I want to say that I have known every

2570
01:53:36,400 --> 01:53:39,440
single one of you for a very long time.

2571
01:53:39,440 --> 01:53:41,599
Uh two of the people that I have known

2572
01:53:41,599 --> 01:53:43,920
the longest are the people that are on

2573
01:53:43,920 --> 01:53:50,480
the opposite uh side from my party. And

2574
01:53:50,480 --> 01:53:52,960
from what I hear, the invective and the

2575
01:53:52,960 --> 01:53:56,080
eyeire that is thrown at you at every

2576
01:53:56,080 --> 01:53:57,679
meeting,

2577
01:53:57,679 --> 01:54:03,679
um I I know you all and I know that you

2578
01:54:03,679 --> 01:54:06,719
do what you think is right for this city

2579
01:54:06,719 --> 01:54:08,480
and I just want to say thank you as

2580
01:54:08,480 --> 01:54:10,159
well.

2581
01:54:10,159 --> 01:54:13,988
>> Thank you very much.

2582
01:54:13,998 --> 01:54:17,669
[applause]

2583
01:54:17,679 --> 01:54:21,119
Good evening, Matt Simpson.

2584
01:54:21,119 --> 01:54:25,599
At the last meeting, Mr. Deluchia,

2585
01:54:25,599 --> 01:54:28,800
you said nobody here, nobody who spoke

2586
01:54:28,800 --> 01:54:32,560
is a lawyer or a charter scholar.

2587
01:54:32,560 --> 01:54:34,719
That objection goes to the speaker, Mr.

2588
01:54:34,719 --> 01:54:37,599
Deluchia, not the substance. In legal

2589
01:54:37,599 --> 01:54:40,400
terms, it's nonresponsive.

2590
01:54:40,400 --> 01:54:43,760
Even assuming arguendo that you were

2591
01:54:43,760 --> 01:54:46,320
right, the charter's meeting does not

2592
01:54:46,320 --> 01:54:49,199
turn on the reader's resume. Citizens

2593
01:54:49,199 --> 01:54:51,760
did not need a law degree to read the

2594
01:54:51,760 --> 01:54:54,239
law governing their own city. Government

2595
01:54:54,239 --> 01:54:58,480
does not answer chapter and section by

2596
01:54:58,480 --> 01:55:02,239
questioning a reader's credentials.

2597
01:55:02,239 --> 01:55:04,639
I began where Connecticut law says

2598
01:55:04,639 --> 01:55:06,960
interpretation begins with the text

2599
01:55:06,960 --> 01:55:09,760
itself and its relationship to other

2600
01:55:09,760 --> 01:55:12,400
law. I read the charter as a whole,

2601
01:55:12,400 --> 01:55:15,040
harmonized its related provisions, gave

2602
01:55:15,040 --> 01:55:17,119
effect to its words, traced its

2603
01:55:17,119 --> 01:55:19,760
amendments, tested my construction

2604
01:55:19,760 --> 01:55:22,560
against ordinances, state statutes,

2605
01:55:22,560 --> 01:55:25,280
judiciary authority, and public record.

2606
01:55:25,280 --> 01:55:27,599
I don't claim infallibility. I claim

2607
01:55:27,599 --> 01:55:30,560
I've done the work.

2608
01:55:30,560 --> 01:55:33,599
Mr. Deluchia, a scholar is somebody who

2609
01:55:33,599 --> 01:55:37,520
does the work. A scholar is somebody who

2610
01:55:37,520 --> 01:55:42,880
applies a method to study a subject

2611
01:55:42,880 --> 01:55:45,280
with incredible accuracy and

2612
01:55:45,280 --> 01:55:47,520
determination.

2613
01:55:47,520 --> 01:55:50,239
I served on the work. You are no scholar

2614
01:55:50,239 --> 01:55:54,400
of the word scholar. Thank you.

2615
01:55:54,400 --> 01:55:56,080
Anybody else who would like

2616
01:55:56,080 --> 01:55:59,520
to address the council?

2617
01:55:59,520 --> 01:56:01,679
Anyone else who would like to ask? Yes,

2618
01:56:01,679 --> 01:56:12,790
please.

2619
01:56:12,800 --> 01:56:15,360
» Rod Rodney Boy, Roosevelt Avenue,

2620
01:56:15,360 --> 01:56:17,119
Norwich.

2621
01:56:17,119 --> 01:56:19,920
Um, Mark Twain had something to say a

2622
01:56:19,920 --> 01:56:22,080
long time ago.

2623
01:56:22,080 --> 01:56:24,560
When you're old, when you're in a hole,

2624
01:56:24,560 --> 01:56:27,119
stop digging.

2625
01:56:27,119 --> 01:56:28,800
Now,

2626
01:56:28,800 --> 01:56:33,280
you're thinking of uh passing on $55

2627
01:56:33,280 --> 01:56:37,119
million to your kids,

2628
01:56:37,119 --> 01:56:40,639
and I'm not particular about that.

2629
01:56:40,639 --> 01:56:42,560
Now,

2630
01:56:42,560 --> 01:56:45,040
in the past, I haven't spoken about the

2631
01:56:45,040 --> 01:56:50,960
uh um bill to um redo some of the sewer

2632
01:56:50,960 --> 01:56:53,840
lines in this city.

2633
01:56:53,840 --> 01:56:56,320
But

2634
01:56:56,320 --> 01:57:01,840
I don't like the idea of just spending, and spending. When you spend

2635
01:57:01,840 --> 01:57:05,360
more than you make,

2636
01:57:05,360 --> 01:57:08,400
that is the

2637
01:57:08,400 --> 01:57:11,520
way to dig yourself a big hole.

2638
01:57:11,520 --> 01:57:14,639
And I I don't do that.

2639
01:57:14,639 --> 01:57:18,080
I don't owe anybody anything anywhere,

2640
01:57:18,080 --> 01:57:19,679
anytime.

2641
01:57:19,679 --> 01:57:21,520
If I want to buy something, I go out and

2642
01:57:21,520 --> 01:57:23,840
do that.

2643
01:57:23,840 --> 01:57:26,400
I'm 85 years old

2644
01:57:26,400 --> 01:57:30,480
and financially competent.

2645
01:57:30,480 --> 01:57:34,960
Now, you folks can fool around with figs

2646
01:57:34,960 --> 01:57:37,920
and everything else, and I'm glad to

2647
01:57:37,920 --> 01:57:43,040
find out someone somewhere decided $55

2648
01:57:43,040 --> 01:57:46,480
million for a police station. Why? The

2649
01:57:46,480 --> 01:57:49,280
building over there

2650
01:57:49,280 --> 01:57:53,520
is 300 ft long, at least,

2651
01:57:53,520 --> 01:57:56,239
four decks high, and could have been

2652
01:57:56,239 --> 01:57:58,800
bought for less than that.

2653
01:57:58,800 --> 01:58:01,679
It's been vacant for as long as I can

2654
01:58:01,679 --> 01:58:04,800
remember in this city. And I've been

2655
01:58:04,800 --> 01:58:07,760
here for 60

2656
01:58:07,760 --> 01:58:10,880
62 years.

2657
01:58:10,880 --> 01:58:13,679
Now, if you can't handle the finances in

2658
01:58:13,679 --> 01:58:16,239
a city,

2659
01:58:16,239 --> 01:58:19,280
how do you handle them at home?

2660
01:58:19,280 --> 01:58:21,760
Now, I just don't understand that

2661
01:58:21,760 --> 01:58:23,920
really.

2662
01:58:23,920 --> 01:58:26,560
Now, I've been handling finances

2663
01:58:26,560 --> 01:58:29,199
since I was 10 years old.

2664
01:58:29,199 --> 01:58:32,880
I learned when my father went broke,

2665
01:58:32,880 --> 01:58:36,000
they came away and took our took our 39

2666
01:58:36,000 --> 01:58:39,119
Ford out of the driveway. He was dead

2667
01:58:39,119 --> 01:58:43,280
broke. I tell my I tell my kids, I

2668
01:58:43,280 --> 01:58:45,119
bought my first house when I was 10

2669
01:58:45,119 --> 01:58:48,000
years old. My father borrowed money from

2670
01:58:48,000 --> 01:58:49,599
me.

2671
01:58:49,599 --> 01:58:52,880
When I went in the Navy, he borrowed

2672
01:58:52,880 --> 01:58:56,239
money from me to pay off his car. So,

2673
01:58:56,239 --> 01:58:59,280
folks, [clears throat]

2674
01:58:59,280 --> 01:59:02,320
I was a lone shark in the Navy and they

2675
01:59:02,320 --> 01:59:04,239
liked it.

2676
01:59:04,239 --> 01:59:08,159
I really they liked it because I was

2677
01:59:08,159 --> 01:59:11,520
kind about it. If someone needed needed

2678
01:59:11,520 --> 01:59:14,080
$200 for an airplane ticket because

2679
01:59:14,080 --> 01:59:17,280
their dad was sick, I gave it to him

2680
01:59:17,280 --> 01:59:20,000
free. [snorts] You guys have a good

2681
01:59:20,000 --> 01:59:21,119
evening.

2682
01:59:21,119 --> 01:59:24,320
>> Thank you very much.

2683
01:59:24,320 --> 01:59:26,639
Anyone else would like to address the

2684
01:59:26,639 --> 01:59:33,109
council? Yes, please.

2685
01:59:33,119 --> 01:59:36,480
Name's Caleb. I've done uh a lot of

2686
01:59:36,480 --> 01:59:38,960
looking into cameras. I know it's not on

2687
01:59:38,960 --> 01:59:41,280
the agenda today, but I want to voice my

2688
01:59:41,280 --> 01:59:43,840
opinion on the subject. So, good good

2689
01:59:43,840 --> 01:59:45,599
evening everyone. I'm here tonight

2690
01:59:45,599 --> 01:59:46,960
because I don't believe that flock

2691
01:59:46,960 --> 01:59:48,560
cameras are appropriate for the city of

2692
01:59:48,560 --> 01:59:51,199
Norwich. I understand the argument for

2693
01:59:51,199 --> 01:59:55,360
them. Uh law enforcement needs tools to

2694
01:59:55,360 --> 01:59:58,960
investigate crimes and uh locate stolen

2695
01:59:58,960 --> 02:00:01,679
vehicles and to keep our community safe,

2696
02:00:01,679 --> 02:00:03,679
but I believe that we also have

2697
02:00:03,679 --> 02:00:07,360
considered the uh privacy of innocent

2698
02:00:07,360 --> 02:00:09,280
people who are simply driving throughout

2699
02:00:09,280 --> 02:00:12,880
our city. Flock cameras.

2700
02:00:12,880 --> 02:00:15,119
Flock [snorts] cameras can create a

2701
02:00:15,119 --> 02:00:17,520
searchable record of where vehicles have

2702
02:00:17,520 --> 02:00:20,239
been even when those people aren't

2703
02:00:20,239 --> 02:00:24,159
subject uh suspected of committing a

2704
02:00:24,159 --> 02:00:27,760
crime that power can be honestly

2705
02:00:27,760 --> 02:00:29,360
misused.

2706
02:00:29,360 --> 02:00:31,840
For example, just this month, a South

2707
02:00:31,840 --> 02:00:34,159
Carolina police officer was fired after

2708
02:00:34,159 --> 02:00:38,239
allegedly using flock cameras to search

2709
02:00:38,239 --> 02:00:42,480
her former partner's license plate 166

2710
02:00:42,480 --> 02:00:46,080
times. Another example occurred in San

2711
02:00:46,080 --> 02:00:48,313
uh San Francisco

2712
02:00:48,313 --> 02:00:49,280
[gasps]

2713
02:00:49,280 --> 02:00:53,119
when an adult uh when a audit found a

2714
02:00:53,119 --> 02:00:55,440
flock uh camera database have been

2715
02:00:55,440 --> 02:00:58,800
improperly associated nearly

2716
02:00:58,800 --> 02:01:01,920
300 times by outside agencies. These

2717
02:01:01,920 --> 02:01:04,400
examples don't mean every officer will

2718
02:01:04,400 --> 02:01:07,920
misuse the technology, but they prove

2719
02:01:07,920 --> 02:01:11,920
that safeguards can fa fail. My concern

2720
02:01:11,920 --> 02:01:13,840
isn't about being against law

2721
02:01:13,840 --> 02:01:15,360
enforcement.

2722
02:01:15,360 --> 02:01:17,199
It's about making sure that power

2723
02:01:17,199 --> 02:01:19,280
powerful surveillance technologies have

2724
02:01:19,280 --> 02:01:21,840
strict limits, transparency, and

2725
02:01:21,840 --> 02:01:24,560
independent oversight before we put them

2726
02:01:24,560 --> 02:01:27,040
throughout our city. Once a system like

2727
02:01:27,040 --> 02:01:30,719
this is installed, expanding it is used

2728
02:01:30,719 --> 02:01:34,400
much it is much easier

2729
02:01:34,400 --> 02:01:38,320
to be used uh taken away. So before

2730
02:01:38,320 --> 02:01:40,560
Norwich moves forward with more flock

2731
02:01:40,560 --> 02:01:42,000
cameras than what we already have, I

2732
02:01:42,000 --> 02:01:44,719
believe we need to ask ourselves, are we

2733
02:01:44,719 --> 02:01:48,080
making Norwich a safer or are we

2734
02:01:48,080 --> 02:01:50,080
creating a surveillance system that

2735
02:01:50,080 --> 02:01:52,480
could eventually be used in ways that

2736
02:01:52,480 --> 02:01:56,434
were never intended? [snorts] Thank you.

2737
02:01:56,434 --> 02:01:58,709
[applause]

2738
02:01:58,719 --> 02:02:00,159
Anyone else who would like to address

2739
02:02:00,159 --> 02:02:03,430
the council?

2740
02:02:03,440 --> 02:02:06,560
Anyone else like to address the council?

2741
02:02:06,560 --> 02:02:12,870
PS.

2742
02:02:12,880 --> 02:02:15,119
» Okay, I've got something here on this on

2743
02:02:15,119 --> 02:02:16,480
my phone. That is if any of you actually

2744
02:02:16,480 --> 02:02:18,639
know how to read.

2745
02:02:18,639 --> 02:02:20,080
It says here, according to Brandon

2746
02:02:20,080 --> 02:02:23,520
Richard Sab, who's uh running for the uh

2747
02:02:23,520 --> 02:02:26,639
third district, seven out of 10 states

2748
02:02:26,639 --> 02:02:29,679
do not have car taxes. Those states are

2749
02:02:29,679 --> 02:02:34,400
as follows. Vermont, New Hampshire,

2750
02:02:34,400 --> 02:02:36,239
Rhode Island,

2751
02:02:36,239 --> 02:02:38,080
New York State,

2752
02:02:38,080 --> 02:02:42,000
New Jersey, and Delaware.

2753
02:02:42,000 --> 02:02:43,920
These states do not have a car tax. And

2754
02:02:43,920 --> 02:02:46,159
yet, financially, they're doing better

2755
02:02:46,159 --> 02:02:48,400
than this dump has ever done. But I

2756
02:02:48,400 --> 02:02:49,440
can't remember when was the last time

2757
02:02:49,440 --> 02:02:50,800
this dump ever did anything right in

2758
02:02:50,800 --> 02:02:52,800
their lives. Anyway, but I know what

2759
02:02:52,800 --> 02:02:54,800
this tells me

2760
02:02:54,800 --> 02:02:56,239
that these seven states are the reasons

2761
02:02:56,239 --> 02:02:57,920
why people are leaving this dump and are

2762
02:02:57,920 --> 02:02:59,199
going to other states, including

2763
02:02:59,199 --> 02:03:03,119
Florida, um Tennessee, and Texas. They

2764
02:03:03,119 --> 02:03:04,960
don't have income tax. They do not have

2765
02:03:04,960 --> 02:03:07,119
car tax.

2766
02:03:07,119 --> 02:03:08,320
So, why aren't you asking yourselves

2767
02:03:08,320 --> 02:03:09,840
what it is that you're doing wrong? You

2768
02:03:09,840 --> 02:03:10,800
know why? Because you don't have the

2769
02:03:10,800 --> 02:03:12,400
guts.

2770
02:03:12,400 --> 02:03:14,000
You're too busy with your wallets open

2771
02:03:14,000 --> 02:03:19,189
and with dollar signs in your eyes.

2772
02:03:19,199 --> 02:03:21,199
And then when people leave, you sit

2773
02:03:21,199 --> 02:03:22,480
there and look stupid and you ask

2774
02:03:22,480 --> 02:03:25,280
yourself, why are they leaving? Do you

2775
02:03:25,280 --> 02:03:26,560
have an answer for that? No, of course

2776
02:03:26,560 --> 02:03:31,199
you don't. You don't care. You just want the the old Walton and D

2777
02:03:31,199 --> 02:03:34,950
dollar signs routine.

2778
02:03:34,960 --> 02:03:37,360
That 55 million albatross is sitting on

2779
02:03:37,360 --> 02:03:40,880
this town is going to turn into a bane.

2780
02:03:40,880 --> 02:03:42,239
It's going to turn into a bane full of

2781
02:03:42,239 --> 02:03:45,199
people who can least afford to uh afford

2782
02:03:45,199 --> 02:03:47,520
to pay for that sort of thing.

2783
02:03:47,520 --> 02:03:48,480
The only thing that they're going to be

2784
02:03:48,480 --> 02:03:51,599
paying for is U-Haul to come rent their

2785
02:03:51,599 --> 02:03:54,320
trucks, pack their stuff, and say bye.

2786
02:03:54,320 --> 02:03:56,719
And they're not going to look back.

2787
02:03:56,719 --> 02:03:58,239
And when they go outside to these

2788
02:03:58,239 --> 02:04:00,080
affforementioned states, they're going

2789
02:04:00,080 --> 02:04:01,360
to tell the people don't move to North.

2790
02:04:01,360 --> 02:04:04,480
Nor is a joke. They're pathetic.

2791
02:04:04,480 --> 02:04:06,639
Tax wise, they suck. And they suck at

2792
02:04:06,639 --> 02:04:09,199
everything else.

2793
02:04:09,199 --> 02:04:11,840
I mean, just recently I heard that coal

2794
02:04:11,840 --> 02:04:14,719
manufacturing left here for Texas

2795
02:04:14,719 --> 02:04:17,440
because of a because of a little Hitler

2796
02:04:17,440 --> 02:04:19,520
Ned Lamont. He was one who drove them

2797
02:04:19,520 --> 02:04:21,040
out of here and a couple of other

2798
02:04:21,040 --> 02:04:23,679
businesses if I'm right. Stanley Black &

2799
02:04:23,679 --> 02:04:25,840
Decker, they packed them and they left

2800
02:04:25,840 --> 02:04:28,080
on New Britain and I think they went to

2801
02:04:28,080 --> 02:04:29,679
Texas.

2802
02:04:29,679 --> 02:04:30,960
You should be asking yourself, what is

2803
02:04:30,960 --> 02:04:32,480
it that Texas is doing better that we're

2804
02:04:32,480 --> 02:04:34,639
not?

2805
02:04:34,639 --> 02:04:36,639
I can even ask Governor Greg Abbott

2806
02:04:36,639 --> 02:04:37,840
because I'm considering moving down

2807
02:04:37,840 --> 02:04:44,229
there myself.

2808
02:04:44,239 --> 02:04:46,560
But like I said, you won't have a gut to

2809
02:04:46,560 --> 02:04:50,470
ask yourself that question.

2810
02:04:50,480 --> 02:04:52,000
Well, listen what you're going to say.

2811
02:04:52,000 --> 02:04:54,400
When this dump turns into a ghost town

2812
02:04:54,400 --> 02:04:56,880
and nobody comes here and nobody comes

2813
02:04:56,880 --> 02:04:58,080
to this downtown area, period, you're

2814
02:04:58,080 --> 02:05:02,229
going to have nothing but bacon stores

2815
02:05:02,239 --> 02:05:04,239
in them. We'll be the cockroaches and

2816
02:05:04,239 --> 02:05:06,960
the rats.

2817
02:05:06,960 --> 02:05:08,719
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else who

2818
02:05:08,719 --> 02:05:10,960
would like to come forward? Yes, Bill.

2819
02:05:10,960 --> 02:05:22,550
please.

2820
02:05:22,560 --> 02:05:24,159
» Barrel Fishbone, Bliss [clears throat]

2821
02:05:24,159 --> 02:05:26,000
Place.

2822
02:05:26,000 --> 02:05:28,320
And on occasion, some of you have had

2823
02:05:28,320 --> 02:05:30,719
phone calls from me, you've had emails

2824
02:05:30,719 --> 02:05:32,480
from me,

2825
02:05:32,480 --> 02:05:36,320
you've had um uh texts from me, and

2826
02:05:36,320 --> 02:05:38,080
you've always been very kind enough to

2827
02:05:38,080 --> 02:05:40,159
respond. And I just wanted people to

2828
02:05:40,159 --> 02:05:43,520
know that if that's how they you need to

2829
02:05:43,520 --> 02:05:46,000
be contacted, you can also go to the

2830
02:05:46,000 --> 02:05:49,920
city website and you can write

2831
02:05:49,920 --> 02:05:54,880
individually to each of the the uh city

2832
02:05:54,880 --> 02:05:56,719
members of the city council and the

2833
02:05:56,719 --> 02:05:59,920
mayor. Or you can uh write to them all

2834
02:05:59,920 --> 02:06:02,320
at one time. Although you'll still only

2835
02:06:02,320 --> 02:06:04,480
get one response,

2836
02:06:04,480 --> 02:06:06,800
but I've always gotten a response and I

2837
02:06:06,800 --> 02:06:08,560
thank you for that.

2838
02:06:08,560 --> 02:06:09,920
Have a nice evening.

2839
02:06:09,920 --> 02:06:12,880
>> Thank you very much.

2840
02:06:12,880 --> 02:06:18,550
Yes, please.

2841
02:06:18,560 --> 02:06:21,520
Rob Demsky, White Plains Road. Uh first

2842
02:06:21,520 --> 02:06:23,440
and foremost for anybody in the room

2843
02:06:23,440 --> 02:06:25,920
tonight or people watching at home now

2844
02:06:25,920 --> 02:06:31,840
or later who was who were uh incorrectly

2845
02:06:31,840 --> 02:06:34,639
tossed out of this chamber,

2846
02:06:34,639 --> 02:06:36,480
there is an opportunity to seek

2847
02:06:36,480 --> 02:06:39,920
accountability for that misaction.

2848
02:06:39,920 --> 02:06:41,440
You can get in touch with me after the

2849
02:06:41,440 --> 02:06:46,560
meeting or you can text me 86084483.

2850
02:06:46,560 --> 02:06:49,520
It's a very simple process and I'll take

2851
02:06:49,520 --> 02:06:50,960
you through it and if you need it, give

2852
02:06:50,960 --> 02:06:53,280
you a hand with it. So, on to some

2853
02:06:53,280 --> 02:06:55,119
things we're talked about tonight. A

2854
02:06:55,119 --> 02:06:56,800
leaking roof and mold on the police

2855
02:06:56,800 --> 02:06:59,199
station. Why is this not addressed? You

2856
02:06:59,199 --> 02:07:01,760
did it for 892. As soon as they took

2857
02:07:01,760 --> 02:07:03,920
over Taffil, Taffil's complaining about

2858
02:07:03,920 --> 02:07:05,920
mold in there, nothing got done about

2859
02:07:05,920 --> 02:07:09,199
it, but 892 shuffles in there. Bam.

2860
02:07:09,199 --> 02:07:12,400
Serve pros there remediating.

2861
02:07:12,400 --> 02:07:14,639
Why is basic maintenance on the police

2862
02:07:14,639 --> 02:07:17,119
station? If we care about our police

2863
02:07:17,119 --> 02:07:19,920
officers, and we do,

2864
02:07:19,920 --> 02:07:21,760
why is this an issue? Why is this not

2865
02:07:21,760 --> 02:07:23,760
done already?

2866
02:07:23,760 --> 02:07:27,360
And frankly, why since everybody seems

2867
02:07:27,360 --> 02:07:30,079
to believe that this is a plan that

2868
02:07:30,079 --> 02:07:31,840
should have been enacted years ago, why

2869
02:07:31,840 --> 02:07:33,599
has there not been some sort of savings

2870
02:07:33,599 --> 02:07:35,920
plan set up? Then if it's that

2871
02:07:35,920 --> 02:07:38,480
important, start putting a down payment

2872
02:07:38,480 --> 02:07:40,560
away just like you would for a home or

2873
02:07:40,560 --> 02:07:42,480
anything else.

2874
02:07:42,480 --> 02:07:46,629
Just an off-the cuff idea

2875
02:07:46,639 --> 02:07:50,880
as far as far as the timing

2876
02:07:50,880 --> 02:07:54,000
of your hiring at the DOT

2877
02:07:54,000 --> 02:07:57,280
president prom who cares. You work there

2878
02:07:57,280 --> 02:07:59,520
now.

2879
02:07:59,520 --> 02:08:02,320
is when it matters.

2880
02:08:02,320 --> 02:08:05,119
And political theater recusing yourself

2881
02:08:05,119 --> 02:08:06,639
for [clears throat] a vote that you

2882
02:08:06,639 --> 02:08:09,360
already knew was going to go in your

2883
02:08:09,360 --> 02:08:12,079
favor. That's that's the definition of

2884
02:08:12,079 --> 02:08:14,239
political theater.

2885
02:08:14,239 --> 02:08:16,400
Now, one of our previous speakers did a

2886
02:08:16,400 --> 02:08:19,280
very good job detailing,

2887
02:08:19,280 --> 02:08:21,920
pardon me,

2888
02:08:21,920 --> 02:08:25,599
detailing the fallacy of a charter

2889
02:08:25,599 --> 02:08:27,760
scholar.

2890
02:08:27,760 --> 02:08:30,800
Who Who's heard of a charter scholar?

2891
02:08:30,800 --> 02:08:34,079
And even if it were such a thing,

2892
02:08:34,079 --> 02:08:36,239
is that something that is compatible

2893
02:08:36,239 --> 02:08:38,079
with a government of the people, by the

2894
02:08:38,079 --> 02:08:40,079
people, for the people? I need to be a

2895
02:08:40,079 --> 02:08:42,320
charter scholar

2896
02:08:42,320 --> 02:08:45,360
in order to understand the rules by

2897
02:08:45,360 --> 02:08:48,000
which I am governed. Do you realize what

2898
02:08:48,000 --> 02:08:50,960
a ridiculous notion that is? As is

2899
02:08:50,960 --> 02:08:53,360
saying to this room, I was going to be

2900
02:08:53,360 --> 02:08:55,360
gentle.

2901
02:08:55,360 --> 02:08:57,520
Who speaks that way? I was going to be

2902
02:08:57,520 --> 02:09:00,960
gentle, but now let me just take my belt

2903
02:09:00,960 --> 02:09:03,679
off. What? It's It's ridiculous. It's a

2904
02:09:03,679 --> 02:09:07,360
ridiculous way to speak to the people

2905
02:09:07,360 --> 02:09:09,360
who elected you and whether or not they

2906
02:09:09,360 --> 02:09:12,719
elected you whom you serve.

2907
02:09:12,719 --> 02:09:14,880
And I don't have time to get into it,

2908
02:09:14,880 --> 02:09:17,760
but city manager Salomon sitting up

2909
02:09:17,760 --> 02:09:19,119
there saying, "Oh, we have a bunch of

2910
02:09:19,119 --> 02:09:21,440
lawyers out here tonight." You don't

2911
02:09:21,440 --> 02:09:24,560
need to be a lawyer to read words and

2912
02:09:24,560 --> 02:09:27,840
understand what they mean.

2913
02:09:27,840 --> 02:09:31,199
Just like Mr. Simpson understands the

2914
02:09:31,199 --> 02:09:32,880
meaning

2915
02:09:32,880 --> 02:09:35,199
of the process by which you clear a

2916
02:09:35,199 --> 02:09:38,229
room.

2917
02:09:38,239 --> 02:09:40,719
You have to vote on it. You don't get a

2918
02:09:40,719 --> 02:09:44,480
vote. You seven vote on it if you want

2919
02:09:44,480 --> 02:09:46,159
to clear the room. But there's steps

2920
02:09:46,159 --> 02:09:48,400
that need to be taken before clearing

2921
02:09:48,400 --> 02:09:52,320
the room. And so again folks 86084483

2922
02:09:52,320 --> 02:09:54,320
if you want to figure out how to get

2923
02:09:54,320 --> 02:09:56,159
some accountability for that.

2924
02:09:56,159 --> 02:09:58,239
>> Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank

2925
02:09:58,239 --> 02:10:00,480
you. So we have used our 30 minute I

2926
02:10:00,480 --> 02:10:02,239
declare citizen comment close at this

2927
02:10:02,239 --> 02:10:04,239
time. Thank you. Thank you for all being

2928
02:10:04,239 --> 02:10:06,239
here.

2929
02:10:06,239 --> 02:10:07,280
>> Motion to adjurnn.

2930
02:10:07,280 --> 02:10:08,719
>> Motion to adjourn.

2931
02:10:08,719 --> 02:10:10,320
>> Second.

2932
02:10:10,320 --> 02:10:12,800
>> A motion. We got a second.

2933
02:10:12,800 --> 02:10:13,760
>> Roll call, please.

2934
02:10:13,760 --> 02:10:15,360
>> Alderman Nash.

2935
02:10:15,360 --> 02:10:17,599
>> Yes.

2936
02:10:17,599 --> 02:10:19,040
>> Alderman Katabaya.

2937
02:10:19,040 --> 02:10:19,440
>> Yes.

2938
02:10:19,440 --> 02:10:20,719
>> Aldwoman Zucardi.

2939
02:10:20,719 --> 02:10:21,199
>> Yes.

2940
02:10:21,199 --> 02:10:22,400
>> Alderman Nestrom.

2941
02:10:22,400 --> 02:10:22,880
>> Yes.

2942
02:10:22,880 --> 02:10:24,560
>> President Prom Deluchia.

2943
02:10:24,560 --> 02:10:25,040
>> Yes.

2944
02:10:25,040 --> 02:10:25,920
>> Mayor Singh.

2945
02:10:25,920 --> 02:10:28,000
>> Yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you

2946
02:10:28,000 --> 02:10:31,040
very much. Thank you for