Council,
please come to order. We'll be joined in
prayer by Alderman Nestrom.
Almighty God, we ask for your blessing
upon the members of this council as we
assemble here in this chamber to conduct
the ongoing business of our city. With
your guidance, we will strive to ensure
that all our decisions are for the
common good, and your inspiration will
instill respect, compassion, and
thoughtfulness in all our deliberations.
Give us the strength and wisdom to lead
by example as the people's
representatives, and their peace and
harmony will mark all our proceedings,
and keep us faithful to the trust placed
on us by the citizens of your community.
Amen.
>> Amen.
>> Thank you very much,
>> Orderman Hayes. Order woman news.
>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
» Thank you very much.
Petition and communication number one,
commission on the city plan referral
response, an ordinance appropriating $55
million for the city of Norwich police
headquarters facility project located at
300 Main Street downtown and authorizing
the issue of $55 million bonds for the
city to meet said appropriation
impending the issuance thereof the
making of temporary borrowings for such
purpose. Would you like me to read the
letter in entirety?
» Sure.
>> August 13, 2026. the honorable mayor,
alder persons of the council in the city
of Norwich, an ordinance appropriating
55 million for the city of Norwich
police headquarters facility project
located at 300 Main Street downtown and
authorizing the issue of $55 million
bonds for the city to meet said
appropriation and pending the issuance
thereof the making of temporary
borrowings for such purpose. At the
August 13, 2026 hybrid special meeting
of the city of Norwich Commission on the
city plan and the commi the commission
reviewed and dis discussed the above
reference referral.
Seated were Dean Nason, Dennis Jenkins,
Jason Bugby, and Ella Miles. After
careful consideration, Jason Bugby made
a motion to forward a favorable
recommendation to the city council to
approve the ordinance and it is as it is
consistent with the envision 06360
plan of conservation and development.
Live Norwich goal number three strategy
L3.1
provide and maintain highquality
community facilities and public
services. specifically continue to
provide and maintain community
facilities. Dennis Jenkins seconded the
motion. In favor, Dean Nason, Dennis
Jenkins, Jason Bugby, and Ella Miles.
Against none, abstain none. Dean Nason,
vice chairman.
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a motion
to accept this favorable recommendation?
>> So moved.
>> Okay.
Motion by Alderman Nestrom, second by
Alderwoman Hayes.
Any discussion?
If not, roll call, please.
>> Alderman Nash,
>> yes.
>> Alderwoman Hayes,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Katabaya,
>> yes.
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Nestrom,
>> yes.
>> President Prom Deluchia,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Singh,
>> yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you
very much.
Mission and communication. Number two,
various recently pro recently
proclamations. Recently issued
proclamations.
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a motion
to accept these?
>> So moved.
>> Thank you. Alderman Nestrom. Can I have
a second?
>> Second.
>> Alderwoman
Zucardi.
Any discussions?
Hearing none. Roll call, please.
>> Alderman Nash.
>> Yes.
>> Alderwoman Hayes. Yes.
>> Alderman Canabaya.
>> Yes.
>> Alderwoman Zucardi.
>> Yes.
>> Alderman Nestrom.
>> Yes.
>> President Prom Deluchia.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Singh.
>> Yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you
very much.
Public hearing number one, an ordinance
appropriating 55 million for the city of
Norwich headquarters facility pro
project located at 300 Main Street
downtown and authorizing the issue of
$55 million bonds of the city to set to meet said appropriation and pending
the issuance thereof and making the
temporary borrowings for such purpose.
>> Thank you very much. So at this point I
declare public hearing open.
uh please come forward, state your name
and uh first we'll have uh anybody who's
in favor of this
>> can come forward. Thank you.
My name is Charles Tyrie. I'm a resident
of Norwich for 20 years. I live at 107
Newton Street. I'm the pastor of a local
congregation here in Norwich and I have
been a unpaid volunteer police chaplain
for the last 12 years.
Ladies and gentlemen of the council, Mr.
Mayor, it's a pleasure to speak to you
today. Uh the views that I'll express
are my own. I I even as I tell you what
I believe officers believe, one of the
duties of chaplain is officer wellness
and morale. Uh we also do some things
for the department uh ministering to the
community and and helping with uh some
duties is there as well. Norris Police
Department needs your immediate support.
We're approaching a crisis. Officers are
retiring, leaving police work, and
transferring to other agencies.
Simply put, I believe that our officers
do not believe the city government
actually supports them.
They have several concrete reasons for
this belief and no amount of verbal
denial or comforting words will dissuade
that. We have an opportunity now to take
a first step to meaningfully address
that need by actually supporting our
officers. So, I recommend to you that
you please put the new police station on
the ballot in November.
For more than 14 years, we've weakly
supported this critical need as a city.
I urge council members and the citizens
to vigorous vigorously support this is a
vital need for public safety in Norwich.
I've spent about 500 hours uh doing ride
alongs with Norwich police officers.
Countless hours uh in meetings, private
conversations. Uh this is the backdrop
for my conversation.
So, why should we approve this? Imagine
moving all of city government in city
hall here, all of our divisions,
offices, officers, and um files, by the
way, to the first floor and basement of
this meeting. I would love to see us try
this. And then trying to efficiently
administer and govern our citizens
crammed into half the space you need to
do your work.
That's the current situation in the
Norwich Police Headquarters. The
building's falling apart, as we've
heard. Constant failures of heat, air
conditioning, plumbing, a leaking roof.
We share spaces, have files everywhere.
We lack room for training, physical
development, community engagement.
We are trying to recruit and retain the
highest quality police officers to work
in this dilapidated structure. Imagine
offering a new city hall employee a spot
in the basement next to the boiler room
that used to be a broom closet.
The building is cold in the winter and
hot in the summer and and the wonderful
ladies locker room occasionally has a
backup and sewage smells in their locker
room. The dispatch center, as we
mentioned, is still in a room with a
water damaged ceiling being cooled by
Walmart fans.
female officers uh even after have some
have transferred out share lockers due
to inadequate space. The burden to
change this poor working condition which
has existed for decades
lies here with this governing body and
then with the citizens of Norwich. Other
vital changes need to be made.
But we have the opportunity now to show
the officers who remain who actually we
actually care about their working
conditions, their mandatory overtimes,
and their sacrifices to protect and
serve us and our citizens.
They are paying a high price in stress,
in low morale for our budget priorities
and our lack of strong support for a new
police station. Every police department
in Connecticut is hiring.
[clears throat] Officers serve in
Norwich by choice, not by necessity. Our
response to this need will send a clear
signal as our past responses have sent.
So, I'll conclude by saying as leaders,
citizens, we need to show that we care.
An updated, adequate police headquarters
on the ballot will show your support and
not doing that will show no support.
Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.
[applause]
» On the sheet, we have two names, Susan
Toppins and Joanne.
Whoever wants to come first.
>> Okay.
» Good evening. My name is Joanne
Philbrick. Um, I'm going to speak
in a
limited favorable
response to this. Uh I it's interesting
because I was very aware of when the
light went on for the gentleman
previously, but um that's a discussion
for another day. Uh I was very impressed
by Lieutenant Rankin's presentation.
Uh he brought home a lot of good points.
We had a nice conversation beforehand.
My problem with this endeavor is like so
many of the other endeavors in the city
of Norwich. It was done under cover of
darkness
just under the $800,000 threshold.
When this was made public, I immediately
did a a foyer asking for any and all
minutes correspondence
applying to this endeavor and I was told
there weren't any. Of course there were.
You had to have conversations with the
Chelsea Graten Bank.
Where are those minutes?
The best way to turn people off is by
I'll go back to my three criteria.
Truth, trust, and transparency.
If we can't trust you, we will not
support you. And as a result, our police
officers who are leaving at a remarkable
rate
will continue to leave. Perhaps you
should ask your HR department why there
why they're leaving. There's a bigger
problem here.
I'm afraid that this will turn out like
so many other Norwich projects.
Lieutenant Ranken talked about that
Raiden Hughes. We still don't have a
commercial tenant. So you owe me lunch.
I can't even get a smile out of you,
Joe. Not even a not even a smile.
Oh my god. And you wonder what the
problem is here. So I will support the
police department, but I will not
support you.
>> Thank you very much.
[applause]
[snorts]
>> Yes, please.
» Good evening. Susan Topping, 39 Holland
Road. First of all, I'd like to thank
you for having the information sessions
and for initiating the what is it
called? New Norwichpd.com. Do I have
that correct? Correctly. Um I actually
think it's a brilliant idea to put this
downtown for all the reasons that were
we're given. Um I also having looked at
the plans think that putting up front
the way the building is organized is
just lovely with all the community
services right as you walk in through
the building. I think that really
reframes how many of us feel about sorry
how uh some people feel about the police
in general. Um I do have a quick
question. I do think the female locker
rooms shouldn't be smaller than those of
the men. Just would like to put that on
the table. Um I would also really like
to thank you for having the information
sessions and for initiating the new the
website.
I'm totally in support of putting this
ordinance for the new police department
HQ down at 300 Main Street for
referendum in November. And um because I
truly believe that this will only
continue to build our confidence and our
trust in our city government and council
who it seems to me have been doing such
a brilliant job. So I would like to
thank you for that. That's it. very
much.
Yes, please.
Uh,
>> good evening. My name is Reverend David
Host. I live at 5 Joseph Perkins Road
with my family, member of Norwich
Interfaith and Indivisible Norwich. I
support this ordinance and the uh
upcoming uh referendum. Um, I think it's
very positive initi initiative both for
public safety and for the revitalization
of downtown. I think that is a very
convincing argument. Uh it's necessary
but also a bold move uh for our
community and I would urge the council
and our leaders uh to continue to have
conversations and dialogue uh as this
process moves forward. Um I am curious
and this is an area of I have no
expertise. My understanding is the
city's bond raising rating is uh uh
currently double A. Um, and I'd like to
know more information about that. I also
understand the city is not at its
bonding limit, and I think that would be
in important information uh to share
with us all. Um, and again, I want to
thank the lieutenant for a really good
presentation. I think he said the tax
burden would be a dollar a day.
Count on me. I'll happily put in a
dollar a day to uh support this
initiative. Thank you all.
>> Thank you very much.
Yes, please.
» Good evening. Uh, Robert Denanishia,
Whipple Avenue, Norwich. Um,
yeah, thanks for that presentation. It
was enlightening and answered a lot of
questions.
We're at this juncture because as I
understand it, back in 1979,
the current building was a compromise.
Underfunded, under architect,
just let's get it done. This is what we
can get through. So, they passed it down
to us.
We can't afford to do that again.
We need this facility. It's been proven
we need this facility
and I think it's a fantastic location
and it will bring back help bring back
downtown.
And as far as the building itself, it's
an architectural marvel. I doubt if
there's five people in the whole world
that could build that building today.
So, uh, we'll be preserving that also.
But
as I mentioned,
we have to do something now.
Or if [clears throat] we don't, we're
just going to keep passing this along at
60 million, 65 million, 70 million.
It's not going to go down. If anybody
looked into building a simple house,
that's why houses are going for 400,500.
My $70,000 house is worth $200,000. It's
ridiculous.
But I am in favor of this. I thank you
and I look forward to more public
meetings and I hope it does get on the
ballot as a referendum and uh I will if
it is there I will do what I can to have
people come out and vote to support it.
So thank you all.
>> Thank you.
[applause]
Good evening. My name is Rocky.
I was in before you on August 3rd
before we were kindly escorted out under
threat of arrest
without breaking any laws. We do I
personally support the police
department. always have, always will.
But the mistrust that we the citizens
have is re regarding you guys.
Mr. Joseph Deluchia on August 3rd lied
knowingly that the reason why you have
to spend $535,000
was because J Yantic just excuse me
public hearing his own ordinance.
>> Yes, I'm getting there. spending money,
right, to buy a police station to,
right? Can you please give me the chance
to speak?
>> Sure.
>> So he stated, "Yantik, since since 1847,
ALL OF A SUDDEN, WELL, THEY DIDN'T WANT
TO GO ON A TRUCKS. WHAT ARE we going to
do? IT'S PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY JUST
DECIDED
NOT TO SHOW UP. IT'S A LIE.
YOU LIED publicly knowing that the
REASON WHY YANTIC DIDN'T SHOW UP.
>> WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO with the
ordinary?
>> Let's move to the ordinary spot. Mr.
Mayor, I have the right to speak my
mind. You You can speak that when we
have
>> No, no, no, no. This is this is
regarding the ordinary.
>> Please don't make a scene. I have lot I
have public hearing today. Then I have
public comments on the resolution. Then
I have public comment on the general. I
>> I'll get to the point. I'll get to the
point he's due. Thank you.
>> I'll go to the point. $535,000 wasted.
Now you come BACK TO US $55 MILLION. BY
THE WAY, BY DECEMBER, IT'S GOING TO BE
ANOTHER $535,000 CUZ THE VOLUNTEERS are
still not open. THE REASON WHY they're
not OPEN IS BECAUSE YOU AND YOU MADE
DEMANDS THAT ARE NOT PROPER. OPEN. You
want us to vote FOR THE POLICE STATION?
WE'RE IN FAVOR. BUT WAIT a minute. Open
Yantic. OPEN TAFFIL. THEN WE SPEAK.
Thank you.
Anyone else who would like to come
forward in favor of the ordinance,
please? Thank you.
» I'm Mark Kalinowski, 5 Dupont Lane in
Norwich. Uh been a resident 65 years
plus a little hiatus. Spent 21 years, 6
months, and 22 days working at 70 Fame
Street along with a couple of you guys.
Um unfortunately, it was stuck in a
wedge of property that you can't do
anything with. You can't expand it. You
can't do anything. it was shortsighted.
That's not your fault. The opportunity
to expand it and to do what's uh
proposed um in front of you here today,
I believe is a good move forward for the
city. I think that it's a good move not
just for the police, but it's good move
for the community. I think the funding
for it. I think the the way that it was
presented helps bring a lot more to it.
And the biggest fear that I have is that
people are not going to vote for this
because they're stuck on the fire
department. They are two completely
separate things and it's good to have
more than one ball in the air if you
want to move Norwich forward and right
now you're juggling a bunch. So, thank
you for listening to me. I appreciate
it.
>> Thank you very much. [applause]
Anyone else who would like to come in
favor of the ordinance? Uh, yes, please.
» Good evening, council members. Mr.
Mayor, my name is Charles Nicholson. I
own properties at 72747680
Union Street. I came to Connecticut from
Brooklyn, New York in 1980 to start a
family here. I started building my home
right around the corner here. I had a
son.
He was born here.
He's no longer with us.
But I don't for a moment
diminish the love that I have for
knowledge.
What I have witnessed compared to bigger
cities in the city of Norwich, we have
the police department that is
exceptional. The men and women of the
Norwich Police Department, the job
they're executing day in day out around
us downtown. Do you know what this place
would look like? It looked like it'd be
1992.
Cracks, addicts all around, gunshots all
around.
These men and women are coming around
downtown and cleaning it up. It's
cleaned up. Problems still exist, but
it's a place that I would want to have
my son call us home
because of the work that the men and
women
more recently
more women have accomplished in the city
of Norwich.
We have many knowledge police chiefs
that have
exemplified the type of behavior that's
expected of normal people
>> under the heading of the Norwich Police
Department.
We have
Corey Poor Nash, Dearly,
Peter Camp,
many, many more have put their hard work
into the city of Norwich and their
dedication and it shows. For the last 30
years, I'm watching on the street every
day, every night,
our officers chasing cars around. And
I'd like to commend you also on the
adoption of speed cameras. That's
critical, a critical tool that the
Norwich Police Department can use.
But getting back to the new
headquarters,
that's a beautiful building. I wouldn't
sell it. Yoohoo. My property is on Union
Street. I wouldn't sell that. I've been
there more than 30 years. I'm going to
keep digging and digging to try to make
Norwich a better place. My son is not
here, but his love for Norwich, he came
to a lot of these meetings.
He loved the city and I loved it even
more.
The cost,
that's another issue because the cost
for me to build three homes on Union
Street has gotten astronomically out of
hand. Doesn't mean I'm going to give up.
I own the properties
credit score over 800
and I have the means by which to do what
we can do in the city of Norwich just
like the Norwich Police Department can
do and making this city a more livable
place. Give them the opportunity
and I think some great things can
happen. I know they will happen. So I
support 100% the transition from the
Norwich Police Department on theme
street to the dime saving bike. 100%.
>> Thank you.
Anyone
else in support of the ordinance,
[snorts]
» Roberta Payroll and listening to the
presentation, it seems like we have an
opportunity to uh put the new police
station in a location that probably just
about everyone is going to support. Um,
we have deplorable working conditions
right now and we have the opportunity to
make that go 180 degrees to like
probably some state-of-the-art police
station that everybody can be proud of
and that the people who are doing the
work deserve to have. So given that and
the fact that the costs are not going to
come down, I think we should take
advantage of this opportunity and I'd
like to see the ordinance get passed and
go forward.
>> Thank you.
Yes, please.
» Hi, Maryanne Victoria Mcnalen. I live on
Washington Place in Norwich. Um,
just to add one more thing. I think the
um having a police station downtown is
an excellent idea. I was standing uh
over by the library
last week and there was a drunk woman
with her dog urinating at at a
storefront
in the cubby right up there on Main
Street. And she's she's not homeless.
She I was talking to another gentleman
who knew the street people. She's not
homeless. She has a home. She's just a
drunk. The the police had to be called.
It took time. Imagine Chelsea Graten
Bank. It's right there. Perfect.
I don't I think this would really help
the city. Thanks. Thank you.
Anyone else who would like to speak in
favor? Yes. both
Barl Fishbone, Bliss Place.
Um, I'm in favor of a new police
department, uh, a new police station,
one that moves Norwich towards a future.
And I haven't heard a lot about that,
although it was a great presentation,
but I'm not hearing about Norwich moving
into the future and what the plan is
[snorts] for something that would make
us
feel safer 10 years down the road, 20
years down the road. And this building
would do that because there's room to
expand,
not just have our present housing for
the police, but future housing because
things are changing very rapidly and we
know that. It's not a surprise. It's not
a secret. We all know it's coming and
more room is going to be needed.
And this building has the room for
expansion.
And I haven't heard any other place that
does.
And Norwich needs to be looking at that,
not just at our needs today, but our
needs for tomorrow. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much.
Anyone else who would like to speak in
favor of this ordinance?
Yes, please.
Hi, my name is Marcia Wilbur and
obviously I support the police and I
think they deserve to have a uh
a a better police station. I've heard
stories and you know um they do need
something. But before you, this council
asks the public, the taxpayers to decide
or consider the $55 million debt. Uh I
think more transparency regarding the
lawsuit about the adjacent uh properties
or parking debate that is currently
under litigation should be disclosed.
And uh I believe that's the uh
the situation. So if it if I'm wrong
then great. But I believe we are under
some type of litigation regarding the
parking lot and um I think people need
to be more aware that this is happening
and uh you know
transparency trust right okay that's all
I have to say except I did like that
someone mentioned Corey uh where's Corey
No I'm joking I know he retired so thank
you
>> thank Anyone else who would like to
speak in favor of this ordinance?
Anyone else who would like to speak in
favor of this ordinance?
Anyone else who would like to speak in
favor of this ordinance?
Anyone who would like to speak in
opposition of this ordinance?
Yes, please.
[snorts]
So first of all, the very first speaker
spoke for 4 minutes and 25 seconds and
you made no comment to ask him to stop.
I would like 4 minutes and 25 seconds
right now and 4 minutes 25 seconds for
my second speech. Thank you. I'm not
going to use it all, but you did allow
him 4 minutes and 25 seconds. Check the
record, please.
So, I'm going to repeat myself. This is
the same speech at the public safety
meeting. I apologize for the ones have
heard it, but it wasn't televised. This
is for everyone else who hasn't heard
it.
>> Please state your name for the record.
>> Good evening, council members. My name
is Joe McMahon, a lifelong resident of
Taff and a longtime member of the
Taffill Volunteer Fire Department. So,
it appears I become a regular speaker
for good or bad,
by choice, but by necessity. I want to
speak tonight regarding the new police
HQ proposition because in its current
form, this behemoth will never get
built. As I have stated in the past, I
have a long and strong background in
residential and commercial construction.
So tonight, instead of complaining,
whining, pleading, calling you names, I
come here with vision, forthought, a
little common sense, throw in a dash of
construction management and the voice of
the people. So it is often said, if
you're not part of the solution, you're
part of the problem. Thus, the problem,
the proposed new police HQ, is far too
expensive. And I believe I can offer a
solution.
So here's my plan. I would write a new
RFP request for proposal
and start with a clean slate and have
the new RFP state seeking design build
proposals to build a new police HQ
accounting for the needs of the
department, not the wants. This new HQ
does not need to be a glitzy country
club. It needs to be efficient and built
for a great value. I would set the
criteria to meet the square foot needs.
No gym, no cafeteria, no lounge, no
shooting range will write the RFP to be
exact and to the point. These design
build proposals should have a budget not
to exceed $25 million
and a very limited FFNA budget.
Stop all these blank check projects. So,
here's the brilliance, the vision. The
firm with the award-winning design
concept for their work in achieving
these massive savings would be awarded a
bonus of $1 million to save $29 million.
So, please slow down. Let's start over.
It's never too late to save $30 million.
Don't even get me going on how I could
have saved you 200 million on the new
schools being built.
This new current $60 million post HQ
will never get past the voters. With my
plan, we spend 1 million and save 29
million. Sounds like a pretty good
investment. In light of our current
disposition, I eagerly offer that if
there is any seat on any building
oversight committee or board that
oversees construction or construction
accounts. I would like to be an unpaid
appointed member. As a TAFLIL volunteer
firefighter, I have some extra time on
my hands.
And if you were to do something like
this and reopen Yanick and Taff
firehouses, you definitely would not
suck at your jobs. We might actually
applaud you. We honestly wish we thought
you were great. Other towns have great
leaders. Maybe there's still time.
>> Please conclude yourself around.
>> Thank you.
[applause]
» In opposition of this ordinance.
Anyone else in opposition of this
ordinance? Yes, please.
Rodney Rodney Bowie, 62 Roosevelt
Avenue, Norwich, Connecticut.
I've been a resident of Norwich for the
past 60ome years.
I've seen this police station move from
Union Street to the street and now to
the bank.
I think it's too expensive
and I don't think the citizens of
Norwich understand they're going to have
to pay for it.
Now 55 million.
Wow. Now I know something about
buildings and I don't know why you
bought this thing.
It's hard to heat.
I own a building like that
now.
55 million is a lot of money and the
citizens of Norwich don't seem to
understand. They're going to pay for it.
They passed the school bond
and they think the state is going to pay
80% of that.
Well, I got news. 20% of that is about
uh 37 million.
Now, if you want to add that together,
well, let's see. We're we're up to uh
what's that? $62 million
the citizens of knowledge are going to
have to pay. Now, there's 38,000 people
in this city. Divide that out and put it
in the millions against the 33,000.
And what do you come up with?
I'm an old man. I'm 85 years old
and I don't particularly like paying
taxes like this.
Now, sooner or later,
maybe next year, you're going to start
paying for this.
And the citizens of Norwich don't seem
to understand that they actually have to
pay for these things. They think it
comes like a a check or credit card.
I use both.
And this is too expensive.
Now, I don't know where anyone got the
idea of putting a police station in a
bank,
but
at least buy a building that is harder
to uh
it's a little easier to heat.
I don't think most people think about
that now. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else in
opposition?
Third and
last. Anyone else in opposition?
Rob Demsky, 68 White Plains Road.
We've heard a lot of things uh in the
public safety meeting and tonight. Some
of them thoughtful, a lot of them not.
Um, I don't think it's a proper
equivalency to compare a spot in the
basement next to the broom closet
to the current conditions that Norwich
PD operates under.
But leave all of that aside. One of the
things that we discussed in the public
safety meeting on Wednesday was the fact
that in New England projects of this
type have a pretty wide range of
expense. It went from somewhere around 6
million to 38.6. That was the top end.
That was the most that was spent for
police station construction. I believe
it was a public safety building
construction. Wasn't just police.
We already own the building.
Did the municipality who built a $ 38.6
million
police station owned the I kind of doubt
it. But even if they did, the 30% more
than the most that was spent in New
England,
that's not acceptable really for any
type of city, but particularly
one that I am constantly reminded is a
poor city. So whether it's a dollar a
day, 50 cents a day, you're adding on to
the tax burden of everyone in the city
who has seen that burden rise year over
year. It's it's not acceptable and it's
jumping the gun. You should not be
sending this to a referendum before
there's quite a bit more robust
discussion about varying options other
than this. It's not. We're being given a
false choice. It's not 55 million for a
building we already own
or keep it the way it is. People have
had discussions in the past
about the possibility of a substation.
There's there's very little that is not
accomplished with a substation downtown.
Again, [clears throat]
with a structure I own, and I'm not a
contractor, but I've done my share of
remodeling. I can only imagine what you
could do with a million or two the
interior of that building. You have a
very nice, very large substation. Take
some of the pressure off of the existing
building. And you could even have plenty
of money to build another substation
maybe down in Greenville or elsewhere.
Spread the police force out. Give them
room inside the building. Give them
better accommodations as you do so. And
do it for a hell of a lot less money.
These are things that should be
discussed now rather than rushing to a
referendum that's probably going to get
beaten. You think the public when they
hear it's 30 it's 30% over the top end
in New England in recent history,
they're not going to go for it. Just be
smart. Take some time. Talk it out. Get there's plenty of smart people out
here. Get ideas from them. discuss those
ideas and at least have some options to
compare rather than A or B.
>> Thank you very much. [applause]
Any anyone else at this point?
Yes, please.
» Thank you, uh, Matt Simpson. Um, I'm not
necessarily opposed, but like I said at
the the council meeting, um, I very much
support the police
um, in their comfort level. Um, but you
mentioned 300 or a dollar a day. That's
$356 a year. On average, that's between
3.7 and 4.2%
assuming we foot the whole bill, which
is what we're being asked to do up
front. Um, we can't count on additional
funding to come before it's here. So,
let's be honest. We're being asked to
increase Norwich's tax bill by close to
4% on average.
Who got a 4% raise last year?
The cost of goods and everything else. I
mean, it's tough. Um, I want to
piggyback on what Rob said as well.
We're not being given any options. It's
55 million or start back at square one.
Why is that where we're at? Why aren't
we given
three solid options to choose from all
at once? Um, so I don't really agree
with that. There could be other options.
There could be something that comes in
at 45 million. There could be something
that comes in at 35, 20, 25. I don't
know. But why are we only being asked 55
million or else? That's that doesn't
seem that's that's not a fair process to
ask the the taxpayers.
Um I think there should be a set of two
or three options that should be
presented before us. Um and that's all I
have. Thank you. Thank you very much.
[applause]
Point. Anyone else who would like to
speak in favor or opposition?
Anyone else?
Yes, please.
hometown
gave at us original hometown Bronx, New
York. You don't like it? Too bad.
This isn't making any sense at all. It
does not add up. That's like using
Chinese math on your income tax. That
doesn't work either. And you will get
busted for it.
Where are you people getting this
ridiculous amount from? Where is it
coming from? I know it won't be coming
out of my pocket. You have to ask
everybody here if they want this or not.
And the most likely answer you're going
to get is a resounding no.
You are stretching our budgets to the
limit and beyond the
beyond basic common sense, which none of
you have anyway.
So, there's that.
You're going to need to come up with a
better con scheme to think that you're
going to sucker people like me.
People are leaving this town.
It's because of all of you.
Now, that sign back there says, "This
council sucks." Well, you know what?
That's your problem. You created it.
I don't take up anybody's butt hurt. If
your feelings are hurt, I could care
less. Just like you could care less
before you tell a lie.
Nobody's asking you sheep.
This place is going to fail one way or
the other. You can't stop failure.
It's going to look like a freaking town
in a Mad Max movie.
>> To fight for survival.
You won't be part of it. I assure you.
Thank you very much. Anyone else?
Yes, please.
» Caleb, [gasps]
I have thought about this a lot
throughout um the moment it was brought
up. I am not opposed to a new building,
but I'm also not in favor of it. I work
seven days a week between two different
jobs. It is hard to keep up with
everyday bills. And I would just advise
you guys to please think of the people,
new generation and older generation that
we are struggling enough with everyday
bills. I guarantee a good portion of
city is living paycheck to paycheck. And
think about it, if we could really
afford what you guys are putting forward
in front of us, that is my concern. I uh
have had the police department at my
house at multiple occasions for multiple
different things. They do an awesome
job. I support them. Uh
I [clears throat] have not had one
negative interaction with them. They're
professional. They're they do their job
and day in day out. But please just
think for people like me who work 7 days
a week.
Somebody got a call. um if we can really
afford this because I live paycheck to
paycheck and sometimes I can't afford
basic things. So please just think about
how it can affect the everyday person
when it comes to these subjects. That's
all I have to say. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much
at this point.
Anyone else?
Third and last. Anyone else? Yes.
Put that goddamn sign down. Speak your
name in the podium.
I identify as Elvis Presley, King of
Rock and Roll. Thank you. Thank you very
much.
[clears throat]
The one thing that you imbecile have not
taken into account with regard to this
project is how it's affecting the
seniors.
who can least afford this
farce, let alone their bills, let alone
their mortgages,
and let alone their medications and
whatever expenses they've got.
This is going to make at least 10 to 20%
of the seniors say to hell with Norwich
and go over to places like Florida,
Texas, even Nashville, Tennessee.
These three states do not have income
taxes. And unlike you, they have
reasonable means. If they want to put up
another station, they have reasonable
means, something that you clearly have
no knowledge of.
Just this past week, I've seen five
houses that bear uh for sale signs, and
I talked to the owners and they're
saying the living here is unacceptable,
especially the city council that we're
getting the hell out of here. Three of
them I talked to, they're planning to go
to Florida, one to Tennessee, and one to
Texas.
These three these three states they're
moving to have no income tax. They have
better living for the seniors,
and they sure as hell don't plan on
robbing them with fossil projects such
as this one.
You're getting the seniors in their
wallets.
They can barely afford their mortgages,
their bills, and in some cases their
medications.
Unlike you, I talked to these seniors
and I took that factor into account. I'm
quite sure you didn't because you're
only seeing dollar signs and you're
seeing how much money is left over to
put in your pockets. That's what this is
about.
[clears throat]
And then you're going to complain. And
then when the seniors get the hell out
of here, you're going to start
complaining like a bunch of $2 hookers
on nickel night. Why don't you ask
yourselves,
if you actually have any balls, once you
ask yourselves, what are we doing wrong?
And why are they leaving? No, you won't
do that. Because I said the dollar signs
are more in your eyes. That's more
important to you than the needs of the
people in this town.
As for the seniors leaving, hey, I
applaud them. I applaud them because
they're showing how smart they are that
they are compared to you.
only have to concern you only got
the smartness of a chick.
Thank you. Anyone else who would like to
speak for this ordinance?
Anyone else?
>> Third and last. Yes, please.
Hello, my name is Jason Guidedong. I'm
actually a resident of Hebrin. Um there
were some decent ideas tossed around
here and and the one or the other does
seem to be a um not a great choice for
the citizens and the options set forth.
Perhaps we'd be better to consider a
substation downtown and perhaps three or
four more perhaps five. We have five had
five volunteer fire stations and there
is a potential for a circle around this
city of substations that would serve
in my opinion a very good service for
public safety. And this is in the name
of public safety. Um is a bit in
contrast to shutting down volunteer fire
departments. It doesn't seem like a
public safety move, but to insert police
officers into the downtown makes perfect
sense. Fully agree with that. Our police
officers in Norwich do need relief from
the constraints and the conditions that
they're currently living in and working
in. Uh so I think multiple substations
around the city in strategic locations
uh if it hasn't already been considered
uh should be.
I think that would offer the presence
in concentrated locations where it's
necessary, where there are issues, um,
and relief in the staffing pressures in
the current police station. And perhaps
that would offer an opportunity to make
renovations that are necessary in the
police station currently. Those are the
thoughts that I had as I observe the
operations here in the comments. Thank
you very much.
>> Thank you.
Anyone else? [applause]
Anyone else at this point?
Third and last. Anyone else who would
like to speak in favor or in opposition?
[snorts]
Hearing none, I declare this public
hearing close.
Seeing an action on the above ordinance
previously presented. Number one, an
ordinance appropriating 55 million for
the city of Norwich Police Headquarters
facility project located at 300 Main
Street downtown and authorizing the
issue of $55 million bonds of the city
to set appropriation and pending the
issuance thereof the making of temporary
borrowings for such purpose.
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a motion
to bring this forward?
All right, Alman Zucardi, can I have a
second, please? President Prom,
any discussion at this time?
Any discussion? Any comments?
Okay, hearing none, I'll just uh make uh
one small comment that uh this need is
not new. It existed for decades
and prices keep going up from 33 million
to 44 million to 55 million
and they're not coming down. You know, I do construction for a living so I do
know and I feel like it fits the overall
vision of creating
better public safety for our people. And
as we are growing downtown, this is
becoming need as well.
Uh we all know there are 58 units going
at 101 Water Street, 21 at Fair Haven,
eight are going at to 345 crossings
which was old YMCA.
Potential of 172 units of workforce
housing at Chester Street Mill and uh 42
has already been up and running on Main
Street, 17 at Reed and Hughes. So more
people are coming and we can see the
clientele has been created. Bookstores
are opening, coffee shops are opening,
grocery stores are opening in downtown.
So I definitely think there is need but
uh we as a council can only make
decision to either put it forward to
referendum or not. I do think uh I want
to support uh in that way we can again
see where people stand but uh I think
this is time to bring downtown back to
the life make it safer make it more
inviting and move our city forward. So I
will be supporting this ordinance. Thank
you.
>> Roll call please.
>> Alderman Nash.
>> Yes.
>> Alderwoman Hayes.
>> Yes.
>> Alderman Katabaya.
>> Yes. Alderwoman Zucardi.
>> Yes.
>> Alderman Nestrom.
>> Yes.
>> President Prom Deluchia.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Singh,
>> yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you
very much.
>> City manager report.
Uh this is the city manager report for
August 17, 2026.
uh meetings and professional
engagements. During the reporting
period, I represented the city of
Norwich at the following meetings and
events. uh city coordination meeting,
district 5 quarterly status meeting,
Norwich waterfront engineering design,
community investment fund, tour of NPU
wastewater treatment plant upgrades,
housing allocation policy committee,
Norwich Community Development
Corporation executive committee meeting
assessor. The board of assessments
appeals [snorts]
for the city of Norwich has been
scheduled has scheduled a meeting for
the sole purpose of hearing appeals
related to the assessment of motor
vehicles on October 1st, 2025
grand list. The meeting will be held on
Thursday, September 10th, 2026 from 4:30
to 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Broadway,
room 321.
Appointments are required and completed.
Applications must be submitted to the
assessor's office by 4:30 on September
9th, 2026.
Application forms are available online
by email or through the assessor's
office.
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes
12-4,
all individuals and businesses with
tangible personal property located
within the city of Norwich as of October
1st, 2026
are required to submit a complete and
accurate declaration to the assessor no
later than November 2nd, 2026.
Taxable property includes but is not
limited to non-registered vehicles,
machinery, equipment, computers,
furniture, tools, signs, supplies, and
other business uh business related
personal property. Declaration forms
will be mailed to existing filers and
are available through the assessor's
office and the city website. late uh
incomplete or non-filed declarations
are subject to a 25% penalty in
accordance with state law.
Youth, family, and recreation.
The youth, family, and recreation
department concluded its summer camp
season serving approximately
150 children per week over a 7-week
period.
Specialty camps including soccer and
basketball programs continue through the
current week. Through the support of
IDIS equipment locker, a youth
participant received the necessary
soccer cleat to enable participation in
camp activities.
The department is also exploring
the expansion of the morning care
program to include Huntingtonus
Stanton schools. In addition, Spalding
Pond is scheduled to close for the
summer season on August 25th. And uh
that concludes my report for this
evening.
>> Thank you very much. Uh any questions
for city manager at this time?
Okay. No questions.
>> Citizen comment on new new business
resolutions.
>> All right. So at this point I declare
citizen comment on resolution items only
open. We have five resolutions in front
of us. Anyone who would like to speak on
those five resolutions can come forward.
3 minutes will be given. Please state
your name. We do have list here on the
resolution sheet. Uh not sure if
somebody was trying to fill it up
somewhere else, but it says char Charles
tree uh Joe McMahon
Lewis
Presley James Carring Caringham.
» Okay, thank you. So anyone who would
like to speak on the resolution items
only can come forward at this time.
Yes, please.
Uh, my name is Joanne and I will tell
you quite frankly that I am almost
afraid to stand up and speak to you. The
way you treat me, some of you is by my
age alone,
you are so incredibly disrespectful.
I would like an explanation. I looked at
the agenda and it's resolution number
one,
the acquisition or of or the
relinquishing of the property at 256
Dunham.
So, I went to the assessor's MA
website and it says that
the fair market value of this property
is 118,300
and the appraised value is 169,000.
So, I'm curious and confused why
you are letting it go for
$7,835.
Um, in addition, according to the
assessor's map, which I assume is up to
date and correct because that would be
the way you would conduct your business,
it is also a commercial pumping station.
So, you're going to give it to they're
you're going to let them have it for
$7,000. You're so generous with our
money. You're also going to take out of
commission, I would assume, a commercial
pumping station.
And I have a hard time wrapping my head
around the whole plan.
Now, I do have my own very distinct
opinions and perceptions of how things
are done here. Um, but I think it's
important again to go back to that
truth, trust, and transparency.
And the last thing I will say, and
unfortunately I find myself in this
position, Mr. Deluchia, now that you
work for the Connecticut Department of
Transportation, would it be appropriate
for you to recuse yourself from any and
all Department of Transportation issues?
Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. [applause]
Anyone else who would like to speak on
resolution items only?
» Yes, please.
» Good evening. My name is Rocky. I would
like to address uh resolution number
four.
As stated before on August 3rd,
it was said here
that the reason why we had to spend
535,000,
which we're not done yet cuz we're going
to spend more.
And that goes to the to the mindset.
Unfortunately, actually correctly, I
addressed you as con artists and
grifters. It's my opinion and I have
freedom of speech not granted by you all
big shots, but by the United STATES
CONSTITUTION. THAT'S WHY I came here.
You did not. You still don't believe
that you must report to we the owners.
YOU STILL DON'T GET IT.
YOU ALREADY DECIDED IT'S 55 MILLION. YOU
ALREADY DECIDED Y down we spend more
money because
honestly you are a disgrace. I'M SAYING
IT IN GENERAL.
If you don't believe that we ARE THE
OWNERS, WE THE CITIZENS. DO YOU GO TO A
RESTAURANT AND JUST BOSS PEOPLE AROUND?
NO, there's an owner. We are the owners.
Do you believe it? DO YOU WANT TO SERVE
OR YOU DON'T WANT TO BE BOSS ME AROUND,
MR. DELUCHIA? YOU WANT TO BE A BOSS? YOU
AIN'T. AND YOU DON'T INTIMIDATE ME WITH
THAT LOOK AT ALL. [clears throat] I'VE
HAD MORE STRONGER disputes in my life.
71 years old. You ain't nothing.
>> Let's talk about resolution, Rocky.
>> The resolution.
is not worthy of our
consideration because you all
ARE NOT WORTHY. HONORABLE AND TRUTHFUL.
That's my
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else who
would like to
talk about We have five resolutions in
front of us.
Anyone else who would like to talk about
the resolutions in front of us. Third
and last. Anyone else who would like to
speak about resolutions in front of us?
» [clears throat]
>> Rob Demsky, White Plains Road. [snorts]
Uh, just going in order. Uh, actually,
I'm going to go reverse order so that I
get this out and don't run out of time
to do so. Uh, I strongly support
number five, uh, the city manager
authorizing
uh, the Italian Ladies Social Club uh,
to sell beer and wine at the Italian
festival. I think that that festival
coming back after a brief hiatus is a
great thing and the sh city should do
everything that it can uh to support
that effort. Going back up to one, it's
a great point about the council prom's
current occupation and the state of
Connecticut.
>> [snorts]
>> Quite possibly. I don't know for sure,
but it seems quite likely that Norch is
being used as a testing ground to have
roundabouts put in here and then over
there and then everywhere because boy,
isn't that job security for a very large
um state-run operation.
Seems like it works.
So maybe a recusal is in order. I don't
know maybe corporation council can look
into that
» relative
>> to
four
» optionality
is a great thing and to rush into a vote
without full discussion
of
all the possibilities that could be
discussed and eventually agreed upon as
a council, as a community.
That's what makes sense to me. It seems
to make sense to everyone who I've had
discussions with about this. Even if
they're in favor of broadly speaking the
$55 million project, they do tend to
seem to understand that you really
should ready aim uh figuratively ready
aim fire, not
inciting violence,
but go in the logical steps. You know,
it it just makes sense to do it that
way. And you quite probably
will end up
with a better solution at the end of
that process. One that is more
longlasting, one that does have broad
public support. And that ultimately
seems like it should be what you want.
The way that you have handled other
issues maybe gives me pause that not all
of you do want that. But those of you
who do, again, let's take a pause. Let's
discuss it as a community and then
decide. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else who
would like to speak on five resolution
items in front of us? Uh, yes, please.
» Rodney Boy, 62 Roosevelt Avenue.
What genius came up with a $55 million?
Name it. I want to know who did that.
>> Really? I used to write I used to write
work for the government
and I signed my name at the bottom. So,
what genius
figured out $55 million?
I'm not hearing any answers.
Nobody knows.
So, what do we got $55 million for?
I don't see anything contractually.
There's nothing here.
So, what are we spending $55 million
for? Why don't we turn it into a bank
again?
I like doing banking business there.
Now, I just don't understand.
If you don't have any money,
why buy something like this?
I don't I just don't understand this
business.
I understand bonds quite well. I've
invested in some.
But the idea of spending $55 million for
a police station,
uh, 60 years ago,
the police station started here on Union
Street,
and I remember that. Toughest section in
town.
Now,
someone spoke about spreading a police
station out. Fine,
that would be good.
I've been in this police station.
In fact, I've been in the cell.
They arrested me once for stealing
electricity.
I didn't think that was too damn funny.
>> I laughed about it a lot.
But I'm 85 years old. I don't have to
steal from anybody.
Thank you guys for nothing.
>> Thank you. Anyone else?
>> Yes, please.
Tracy Berto. I live on Watercross Avenue
here in Norwich. I'm here to support
resolution number five relative to the
city manager being authorized to grant
uh the Italian Lady Social Club
permission to sell beer and wine at our
Italian festival.
We encourage everybody to attend. It's
September 5th from noon to 9:00. We
encourage everybody to come celebrate
our culture and be Italian for the day.
We'll be having our first annual cook,
first annual cookoff. We'll have lots of
live music and just have a great time.
So again, I'm in support of resolution
number five. Please vote yes. And then I
have one other thing. Okay. So, I keep
hearing that you guys are a bunch of
bullies. From sitting back there, it
looks like this little corner over here
are the bullies. Okay. When you sit
there, scream and pick on people here in
city council. Okay. They have nothing to
do with the resolution. That's the pure
definition of bullying. So, maybe y'all
should take a look in the mirror first
before you start accusing people of
bullying.
like this sign says, have a letter of
respect because last I checked,
>> please, please talk to the council.
Thank you.
>> Because really, last I checked, I've
seen none of these people's yard signs
out there, but please support them for
city council cuz it takes a lot of guts
to run for office and I don't see any of
theirs. So, keep up the good work.
>> Thank you.
>> That's it. [applause]
>> Anyone else who would like to speak on
five resolution items we have on agenda?
>> Yes, please.
» [snorts]
» Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I
want to tell you how much I respect each
and every one of you. So many people in
our audience seem to think that you're
not citizens of our city and that you
also pay taxes. and you sit up there and
you collect a media immediate little
tiny bit to give us the privilege of
your knowledge and your expertise on
what's going on in this city. And maybe
I'm a little late for my comment and I
should have stood up maybe a little bit
earlier, but it number four,
>> please state your name for the record.
>> Oh, I am so sorry. Oh, how could I
forget that? Janice Wiki, 39, Andrea
Lane, Norwich, Connecticut. Uh,
referendum number four. I think that was
the number. Um, I don't think enough has
been said about the safety of the
placement of a new police station. And I
am all for the Chelsea Savings Bank
building. It is located in a prime area
of the city where it's just sort of the
hub of of a lot of crazy activity. There
are times that I don't even want to go
to the library in the evening once, you
know, it's dark after dinner. It's kind
of it's kind of creepy around there. And
I personally would feel a lot safer
knowing that the police station was
located right there in, as they say,
location, location, location. It is so
important to have a building, a police
station right in the middle
of possible crazy activity. and I would
feel a lot safer as well as I think a
lot of other people and sadly to say
especially women but it's not just women
anymore.
Okay, that's all I have to say. Thank
you and I thank you for your service all
of you.
>> Thank you. Anyone else who would like to
speak on five resolution items?
[snorts]
» Good evening. My name is Joe McMahon, a
lifelong resident of Taffill and a
longtime member of the Taffill Volunteer
Fire Department. So,
um, just to clarify a few things, the
national average to build a a police
station is $537 a square foot. You guys
want to spend $1,000 a square foot? I'm
good at math. 55,000 ft. 55 million is
$1,000 a square foot. Um, I think we can
come in a lot lower than that. Let's
shoot for 25 million. Let's shoot for
below the national average for a change.
That'd be important. But, uh, so that's
all I have to say.
>> Thank you. Anyone else who would like to
speak on five resolution items in front
of us?
Anyone else who would like to speak on
five resolution items we have in front
of us? Third and last. Anyone else who
would like to speak on five resolution
items we have in front of us? Hearing
none, I declare citizen comment close.
» This is resolution number one relative.
>> Yes.
>> At this time, I'd like to ask for a
15minute recess so that I'm we may
caucus as a um team.
>> Okay. So, you're making a motion for
recess. Okay. Can I have a second?
Aldwoman Hayes. Roll call, please.
>> Alderman Nash,
>> yes.
>> Aldwoman Hayes,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Katabaya,
>> yes.
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Nestrom,
>> yes.
>> President Delusha,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Sing,
>> yes. Motion passes 720. We'll be
convening back at
>> meet. Can can we meet in your office,
please?
>> Yes. And thank you.
>> We'll be convening at 8:31. Thank you.
We'll
be reconvening the meeting. It's 8:33
p.m.
» Resolution number one relative to
Connecticut Department of Transportation
acquiring property for safety
improvements on Route 82 and 256 Dunham
Street from the city of Norwich.
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a
motion?
>> Yes, President Proam. Can I
>> just I I
>> I need a moment of personal privilege.
>> Sure.
>> Prior to the motion being put on the
floor.
>> Um so I would just like to say that this
the project that this resolution
is attached to predates my hire at
Connecticut DOT by more than 3 years.
Although I am currently a designer for
the Connecticut Department of
Transportation in their facilities
department,
my current assignment is not connected
to road and bridge bridge projects in
any way and I have been advised by
corporation council [clears throat] that
there is no conflict for me on this
issue.
[applause]
But the appearance of influence through
my employment, albeit far-fetched,
is not worth the political theater that
will occur.
Therefore, I would like to recuse myself
on this resolution. Mr. Mayor,
>> thank you very much.
>> Can I have a motion to bring this uh
forward?
Motion by Alderman Hayes. Can I have a
second?
>> Have to come to the floor.
>> Can I have a second?
» I'd like to make make a motion to
postpone.
>> It comes after it comes to the floor.
>> Yeah.
>> So, you are seconding.
>> Yes.
>> Cody. Okay.
Now we can have discussion and now you
can
>> I'd like to make a motion to um postpone
um voting on this resolution until our
next meeting. Um I have questions about
the way in which the state calculates
the fair value of the property. It's a
sliver of land, but I I do have some
questions and um like to be able to have
those answered. And um also what will
happen to the MPU pumpkin station.
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a
second? Yes. Alderman Zaru Kanumbaya.
Okay. Any further discussions at this
time? If not, roll call, please.
>> Alderman Nash,
>> yes.
>> Aldwoman Hayes,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Katabaya,
>> yes.
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Nestrom,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Singh,
>> yes. Motion passes 620.
It's been postponed for the next
meeting. Thank you.
Number two, relative to the acceptance
of a federal 2025 Edward Bryan Memorial
Justice Assistance Grant for the Norwich
Police Department.
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a motion
to bring this forward?
Motion by Alderman Nash. Can I have a
second? Older woman Zucati,
any discussion on this resolution number
two.
Okay.
>> Oh, yes.
>> We could have the police chief come to
the podium.
>> Sure.
» Good evening. Thank you for being here.
Could you just give us the
top three things that this grant will
facilitate for the department and for
the city?
>> The main thing we're uh using this grant
for is uh talk to text uh laws law law
enforcement specific software so the
officers can talk into the uh mobile
data terminals so they don't have to
hunch over and they keep their heads up
so they don't get shot uh you know
ambushed as they're sitting in a the
cruisers.
>> Speak up.
>> Mhm.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. Um they're looking to um
it's a talk to text dragon software for
law enforcement so they can dictate
their police reports to their computers
without having to type so they keep
their heads up. Uh because now they have
the computers in the car. They're typing
in the car not in back in the station.
So when they're out uh they're staying
on the road longer. But obviously it's a
safety concern to have them down both
ergonomically and then hostility. So
that's what we're using it for.
>> That's a that's the primary
>> Yes. item to be funded.
>> Yes.
>> Yeah. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. Uh any other
question at this time?
Glad this is basically a dictation
software and uh we have 24 vehicle it
will be deployed you know it will be
employed in all those 24 vehicles and
that way we can officers can do
reporting uh by talking instead of
writing and that will you know increase
more efficiency as well. Thank you. Roll
call please.
>> Alderman Nash.
>> Yes. [clears throat]
>> Alderwoman Hayes.
>> Yes.
>> Alderman Katabaya.
>> Yes. Alderwoman Zucardi.
>> Yes.
>> Alderman Nestrom.
>> Yes.
>> President Prom Deluchia.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Singh,
>> yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you.
>> Number three, relative to the reappoint
of a regular member to the Inland
Wetlands Water Course and Conservation
Commission.
>> Thank you very much. Can I have a
motion, please?
Alderwoman Hayes. Can I have a second?
Alderman Nash.
Any discussion?
Just for the uh purpose of record, the
person being uh appointed is Richard
Morell.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Alderman Nash,
>> yes.
>> Alderwoman Hayes,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Katabaya,
>> yes.
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Nestrom,
>> yes.
>> President Prom Deluchia,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Singh,
>> yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you.
Number four, relative to providing for
referendum vote to h to be held in
connection with the municipal election
on November 3rd, 2026 regarding the
ordinance entitled an ordinance
appropriating 55 million for the city of
Norwich police headquarters facility
project located at 300 Main Street
downtown and authorizing the issue of
$55 million bonds of the city to meet
set appropriations and pending the
issuance thereof and making of temporary
borrowings for such purpose. Thank you.
Can I have a motion, please?
President Prom, can I have a second?
Alderwoman Hayes. Any discussion? Uh,
yes. Alderman.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Um,
[snorts] my own involvement goes back um
a number of years. As a mayor, I led the
city's effort to place this police
department in the Sears building that
was rejected by the voters. I was the
mayor of record of the last referendum
as well, although I questioned whether
we should have taken that vote since we
didn't even have an address listed in
the bond. That failed. Um my concern
tonight with placing it on the ballot
this time
almost suddenly to some degree um I
don't think the city has done enough
public relations to promote this bond. I
still question the city's intent to do
public relations formally.
If this is placed on the ballot, I am
fully aware that the city may not expend
resources, may not use city facilities
whatsoever for the promotion and passage
of any question at referendum.
So, I'm not quite sure how we're going
to proceed further if this goes to
referendum. Um, and with that, I'd like
to ask to make a motion to change the
date from November 3rd, 2026 to November
2nd, 2027. I so move.
>> Thank you. So there's a motion on the
table. Is there any second? Second is
[sighs]
Alderman Nash. Okay.
>> If I may continue, mayor.
>> Yes.
>> Thank you. Um before coming to this
decision to make this request, I did
take the time to speak to Brian Humes,
who's the architect who's been working
with the city in all truthfulness
probably 16 years. Um, they even
investigated the old Chestnut Mill on
Chestnut Street at one point in time.
Um, I asked him specifically, is the $55
million estimate valid and how long is
that? And he told me it was valid
through 2028. I'm sorry that he left. It
would have been better to come from his
lips and not mine. But I assure you when
I spoke with him just outside the
building, that is what he told me. So,
if you consider this, and I do ask you
to consider this as a friendly
amendment, I'm very concerned with the
climate in this city right now and the
anger that I encounter as the former
mayor and as an alderman, and I don't
mean from some individuals in this room.
I mean out on the city streets, asking
them to trust this city with a $55
million bond offer in the current
climate. I I really think we're putting
a new police station at greater risk
than it's ever been in the past.
And I hate to expect, but I do expect a
third loss referendum from the voters at
this cost. I really do. And I don't want
my police department going through that.
If you consider this as it is offered,
it gives the city that much more time to
do the leg work that's necessary that I
don't think we've even begin to touch as
far as informing the public. And it's
going to take a very very detailed hard
cell to get the public to authorize $55
million in bonds when they consider what
we're already caring for the schools.
what we're carrying not through taxes
but through rates for the sewer
treatment expansion. That's another $200
million by the way. You take that in
schools. That's almost $600 million.
Someone asked what the bond limit is for
the city of Norwich.
The last time I had that question
answered was in my first term as mayor
and we were then told it was a quarter
of a million quarter of a billion
dollars. Now that is a number that's
probably 14 years old now. So certainly
it's gone up, but when you consider what
we are already on the hook for being
responsible for,
this is not going to be an easy offer to
get people to get behind.
I really am concerned that the voters
are going to vote it down simply on
cost. Uh the position that officer
Ranken gave tonight was a beautiful
presentation.
his grandfather who was Deputy Chief
Broadickan of the Norwich Police
Department. If he had been here have
been very proud of his grandson's
presentation and for all the reasons why
it's the right thing to do, and I still
believe that, I worked with the city
manager and others and negotiated a
halfp price purchase for that building.
It was 1.6 million listed. We got it for
half price. Uh it was the right thing to
do. was the right location but I think
the timing of this is extremely
dangerous for success. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. Any other
discussion? Uh yes.
>> I just have a quick
>> motion on the floor.
>> Yes.
We have motion and we have second
and then there's discussion happening.
>> I I just have a quick question because
we failed twice before. If we fail
again, is there any kind of specific
time frame that we can't bring it back
or can bring it back? Like if it fails
this year, can we bring it back next
year? Arguably at more money. But so I'm
just asking, so if we if we send it to
referendum and it fails, is there some
restriction for next year?
>> I I don't think so, Bill. But uh we can
have corporate council or
>> I can I can answer that now.
>> Okay. Sure.
>> No, there is there is none other than um
logistics. You know, if you're going
new, you've got to do a new uh concept,
design, etc.
which could limit how fair should you
turn it around.
>> So, we're we're discussing the
amendment.
>> Amendment.
>> Yes.
>> Please go ahead.
>> So, timing is important and time costs
money and right now escalation in the
construction industry, especially in
specialized construction like a police
department is running about 3%, makes
actually a little bit more, but let's
call it 3%. That's so so that this stall
would cost the city a minimum $1.65
million. $1,650,000
because
people are angry.
Well,
>> people are angry, but people need to get
past the motion and take the issues as
they come. This one is $1.65 65 million
to get over your your anger. Justified
whe whether it doesn't matter whether I
believe it's justified or not. Actually,
I understand why a lot of people are are
angry. That's got nothing to do with
anything. This is about money. One year
costs us minimum $1.65 million. Period.
So, you want to be back here a year from
now saying, "Oh, it's going to be $57
million." No, I don't want to be here
having that conversation with you.
>> That's that there's my point. I don't
believe that we should
>> we should postpone.
>> Thank you. Uh if no further discussion,
roll call on Yes.
>> Just a brief response. In talking with
Brian again, the architect who came up
with this estimate, he stated that the
55 million was in fact the high end and
that it already included cost
adjustments and cost escalation within.
In some respects, that's good news
because what he's trying to say without
guaranteeing is that's the worst case
scenario.
So, I believe Joe's concern is valid,
but I believe the $55 million figure
already accommodates those concerns. Um,
even if this fails and it goes to
referendum and it's passed, we more than
likely won't be breaking ground until
2028. There are so many different stages
of approvals that have to take place
prior to
um but the 55 includes those kinds of
concerns that the present prom did talk
about and they're valid. They are valid.
I just don't want to be sitting here and
watching a third referendum fail on
something that is so badly needed in
this community. And I think the way it's
being presented
somewhat last minute, we could have been
talking about this back in January.
People could have been told then, but we
didn't
talk about notice provisions. We haven't
had any to really hang our hat on. And I
still question the city's ability to
handle that responsibility if it goes to
referendum because I know damn well
state law prohibits you using city
facilities, city resources to do that.
You cannot do that.
Thank you.
Any other further discussions? If not,
we'll vote on the amendment piece now.
Roll call on the amendment, please.
>> Alderman Nash,
>> yes. Aldwoman Hayes,
>> no.
>> Alderman Katabaya,
>> no.
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,
>> no.
>> Alderman Nestrom,
>> yes.
>> President Prom Deluchia,
>> no.
>> Mayor Singh, [clears throat]
>> uh, no. Motion
fails.
Um, sorry. Five is to two. Thank you.
And now we're going to go back on the
original
uh motion that was in front of us at
this point.
Any discussion on the original motion?
Yes, please.
>> I just want to make it clear. My my
position is simple here. I bleed the
Norwich Police Department. I served
there, served our community. The need is
very real. I got hired in ' 85 and the
building was built in 679 and it was
already too small not even 10 years down
the road. So I support building the new
police station. The challenge is making
sure that we pursue it in the right
time. Don't know if this is necessarily
the right time in that way. Uh the plan
is for the taxpayers to make the
decision. You want transparency, you
want honesty, you want trust. Here it
is. It's in your hands. If this passes
tonight, it goes to referendum. You make
the decision, not us. So, you can't sit
there and say, "You chose $55 million.
You stuck us with the tax bill." No.
Here's what we offered. We did. This is
what was done. The the proposal was
made. Now, it's your turn. Now, it's
your turn. If you don't want it, vote it
down. Understand the need is real. These
people are going to get uh uh hurt at
some point. Someone's going to get some
kind of respiratory issue from the mold
in the in the locker rooms or the
asbestous or whatever else is running
around that building. Someone's going to
get hurt. Someone's going to get sick
and someone's going to sue the city of
Norwich for millions of dollars. Okay?
So, it's in your ballpark now. It's in
your ball. The ball's in your court. You
make the decision now. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other comments at this
time?
Uh, yes. Alder Roman Cardi,
>> this is a very difficult issue and I
both um Alderman Nestrom and Alder
Alderman Deluchia make excellent points
on both sides of whether to do it now or delay it. But every time I think
about delaying it, I think about my tour
of the current police station where at
every stop, I I just went, "What?" I
mean, to see the water coming down in
the servers with with sheets to to hold
it up and and to see the the locker room
being doubled as where a crime victim of rape or burglary or assault is is
sitting in there with all the boots all
around it. It's that's what I keep
coming back to and I hope that people
will use the website. I I just I haven't perused it yet, but I hope
people will educate themselves. Um
reasonable people can disagree, but I
hope that it's based on information. Um
and I hope that people thoughtfully
struggle with the decision however they
come down, but that they do it
thoughtfully. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other comments?
hearing none. Now we're going to have a
vote on the original resolution which is
in front of us.
>> Alderman Nash,
>> yes.
>> Aldwoman Hayes,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Katabaya,
>> yes.
>> Alderwoman Zucardi,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Nestrom,
>> no.
>> President Prom Deluchia,
>> yes.
>> Mayor Singh,
>> yes. Motion passes 621. Thank you very
much.
>> [snorts]
>> Number five, relative to the city
manager being authorized to grant the
Italian Ladies Social Club permission to
sell beer and wine in its Italian
festival.
>> Thank you. Can I have a motion, please?
>> Motion.
>> Alderman Nash, can I have a second?
Alderman Zakari. Any discussion?
Hearing none. Roll call, please.
>> Alderman Nash,
>> yes.
>> Alderwoman Hayes,
>> yes.
>> Alderman Katabaya,
>> yes.
>> Alderwoman Zukardi,
>> yes. Alderman Nestrom.
>> Yes.
>> President Prom Deluchia.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Singh.
>> Yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you.
>> Citizen comment general 30 minutes on
non-aggenda items.
>> Thank you very much. So at this point uh
I open the citizen comment general for
30 minutes.
Please come forward. State your name. I
have two names on non-aggenda items. Joe
McMman and David Horse. at this point.
So again, I believe I'm allowed 4
minutes and 25 seconds.
My name is Joe McMahon, a lifelong
resident of Taffel and a longtime member
of the Taffel Volunteer Fire Department.
So where did I leave off? Oh yeah, what
now? What's next? What's the plan? So, I
wonder if you were all thinking like
Donald Trump that this little excursion
would be over in a few weeks, that the
volunteer departments being provoked and
displaced would just lay down their arms
and succumb. Did you ever really have a
complete tactical plan? Or again, did
you think that these volunteered
departments after serving hundreds of
combined years would just go away
quietly, back down, and kneel to King
Wilson? Wow. Did you misjudge?
So, did you plan on having your
authority checked? Lawsuit filed. Did
you plan on the volunteer departments
being stoic and steadfast?
Did you plan for how to cover these
additional costs to cover what these
volunteers did for you for free?
Did you really plan on the resistance?
By the way, I just had another hundred
signs made and half of these now say you
should all be fired in my opinion.
Do you plan on the fortitude of these
volunteer departments?
So, what's the bleeping plan?
As we heard last week, you continue to
treat the note city charter as a
suggestion card. Last month you were
warned that the paid department could
only receive funds from the CCD and you
completely disregarded. Lawsuit to
follow. Last month you were warned that
the city charter is clear that pay
department stays in a CCD unless for
extreme emergencies. Lawsuit ongoing.
The Taffel volunteer firehouse is being
staffed 24/7 with three people. If
there's a fire, they leave on one rig,
and all the other millions of dollars of
equipment remain at the firehouse unused
due to lack of personnel.
Whoever came up with that plan should be
fired.
[sighs]
So again, I have a short little story
ending very funny.
Last week, I emailed the city manager to
ask permission to go to my firehouse.
You see, I'm in charge of the sign out
front. The sign that says Taffel loves
their volunteer firefighters. Does Does
everyone here know that some scumbag
removed the word volunteer from that
sign so it would then say Taffo loves
their firefighters? I guess just while
the paid guys are there. Trust me when I
tell you I let Mike does does Avette
know my true feelings.
>> Please conclude.
>> I will on someone removing the word
volunteer from that sign board.
And I reminded him that they are
temporary tenants at the Taffl volunteer
firehouse. I'm done. Anyways,
I had to change the sign because the
Tathl and Yanick volunteer fire
departments are hosting an American Red
Cross blood drive.
Tuesday, September 8th from 8:00 a.m. to
6 pm at the Yanick Volunteer Firehouse.
I'll be serving free breakfast
sandwiches, free hot dogs, and
hamburgers all day long. Please come if
you can. And I am personally inviting
the council to participate if they are
physically able to do so. So, here's the
funny part. As I was changing the sign,
the three guys at the firehouse watching
over me, I may have expressed my concern
about the cost of this whole firefighter
takeover debacle. And I told the three
guys, "Look, it ain't just you. The
police department is next on my radar.
$60 million ain't going to fly." And
that's when one of the guys said, "Hey,
Joe, you ought to run for mayor." That's
the funny part. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you. [applause]
» [snorts]
» Good evening, [clears throat] Rocky. Let
me remind you
of some words that are written very
clearly in the Holy Scriptures. Since
I'm a born again Christian, I'll share
with you in case you don't know or
somebody in the public. My Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ with righteous
indignation
overthrew the money changers.
He addresses the Pharisee WITH THE BIG
SHOTS at that time and he called them
you hypocrites.
YOU SEEK TO KILL ME BECAUSE YOU are of
your father the devil. So please don't
teach me or don't express THAT I CAN'T
HAVE righteous indignation. This guy
Joseph Deluchia lies WITHOUT
A HINT OF REMORSE AND WE'RE GOING TO
WASTE HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT WASTING
ANOTHER MILLION. He's not concerned
about stop spending the money on the on
a on a paid firefighter. IT'S NOT
CONCERNED BECAUSE YOU SEE WITHIN 6
MONTHS WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK
authorizing another $500,000.
So my righteous indignation as A UNITED
STATES CITIZEN MUST BE RESPECTED.
And to all of you that BELIEVE IN JESUS
CHRIST, PLEASE UNDERSTAND
WE ARE FREE PEOPLE.
WE THE PEOPLE OWN THE COUNTRY, THE STATE
and the city. You're merely
given a a chance to administer. And if I
may say so something very clearly,
you're doing a very poor job. Even you,
Mr. Solomon, and I SAID ON THE AIR, 190
GRAND A YEAR WASTED.
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else who
would like to address the council?
Mayor, members of the council, my name
is David Horse. I live on Joseph Perkins
Road. I with many here want to thank you
for your service. You are, as we well
know, popularly democratically elected
to lead this city and we appreciate uh
your service
particularly now um when there's
such significant issues here that you
are uh meeting this moment. Um my family
and I arrived in Norwich 7 years ago.
the city where we chose to live because
of its diversity, its arts, its human
services, but most of all its people.
And we remain committed to this city. I
love the history of Norwich, but I love
the potential of this city more. And one
final word to my neighbors here, please,
I beg you, I pray, stop the shouting,
stop the name calling, stop the
bullying. Let's move the city forward.
>> Thank you.
Anyone else who would like to address
the council?
>> Anyone else who would like to address
the council? Yes, please.
>> Yes.
[snorts and sighs]
So, here we are again and I hope that I
get four minutes. Um,
it causes me great sadness
to come before you.
I've been coming to these meetings
religiously for 22 years without fail.
I know a lot about a lot. I have my
supporters and my detractors.
So my question to you is
why? How are we supposed to approach
you?
you you look right through us.
You don't want to hear what we have to
say.
You don't want You can't look me in the
face.
I make
I don't get it. I've been on this planet
83 years. And what I wanted to talk
about tonight was the replacement
theory. I don't know if you're familiar
with that, but I've decided not to talk
about that.
I took down my volunteer save lives
sign. I took down my Norwich City
Council sign. Sucks
because I live in a historic
neighborhood.
But you don't give a crap about that.
Mr. Singh, I want to know your story. I
want to know when you came to this
country, how you came to this country,
and how you made your fortune. Perhaps
that would have me give me a better
understanding of why you have this
elitist
attitude.
You want to raise the flag for the
Peruvians. You want to raise the flag
for the Jamaicans. You want to raise the
seek awareness.
I have yet to hear you say anything
about the Jews.
I have yet to hear you say anything
about Norwich Town, the birthplace of
Norwich, which by the way has become a
slum.
One only has to look at nor at Town
Street to see it.
I don't need to be admonished by Mr.
Deluchia or anyone else.
I have paid my dues. I have lived
through many ideations, abortions, civil
rights, the Bay of Pigs, the Vietnam
War,
personal and private and very public
scandals,
and I'm still standing here with my head
held high.
And I will go back to the same thing I
said earlier.
by virtue of my age alone,
first and foremost. Secondly, by my
gender, because it's obvious that you
treat men different than women at the
podium. It's blatantly obvious.
I don't have the energy anymore to file
complaints with the ethics commission.
But I'm just going to leave you with
this. You give what you get and you get
what you give. And you, some of you are
not meeting the level. You are public
servants.
You are our voice.
It's sad. This city is going to
self-employ. Look at your watch. That's
rude.
>> Thank you. Please conclude. We have
other people as well. We want to give
them a
>> Mr. Singh. How what is the best way to
approach you?
What is the what is the most fertuitous
way to to speak with you?
» I did.
>> You're not going to answer, which speaks
volumes.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Yes.
>> Anyone else who would like to come
forward and address the council?
My name is Linda Theodoru and I am here
just to apologize to all of you for the
hatred and the racism that I'm hearing
coming from these people. It's so
shameful. They do not represent the
majority of Norwich. Norwich is better
than this. Thank you.
» Anyone else who like to address the
council? Yes, please.
» Excuse me. I signed up for this.
>> Please state your name.
>> Yes. Excuse me, mayor. I signed up
somewhere around there. My name is James
Carrian.
>> Okay. Clean water.
>> The gentleman in the black coat needs to
take a seat.
>> Let's everybody else take a seat. One
person at a time at the podium, please.
Thank you.
As I stated, my name is James Carrian. I
signed up I wasn't sure what I signed up
for. This was the
>> probably did in a different one.
>> The non-aggenda is where I wanted to
speak. Okay.
>> And I want to speak to you this evening
um ladies and gentlemen and bullies on
both sides
that I want to talk about a little
different subject, change the tone a
little bit. I understand from the news
that the city has received $250,000
to uh request input from different
organizations about how to use the land
that is the former uh state hospital
here in Norwich.
>> Somebody mentioned earlier that there's
been decades of neglect.
I think they were referring to the
police department. I'd like to refer to
that land over on the other side of the
river.
and the people that were there. Excuse
me, I get emotional, but those people
haven't been served for many, many
years. The intention was to save money
by shutting down that met that hospital,
which served a great purpose as we see
now because all of the shootings and
stuff that's going on in our world,
those people should be some of them
institutionalized to protect themselves
in our society. So, what I'd like to
recommend to you for free, you don't
have to give me any of that 250,000
that you negotiate with the state of
Connecticut to replace that mental
hospital on the other side of the river
that the land is still there, still
available. And I think our soon to be
elected uh state senator is going maybe
can help you from the state side as how
to negotiate bringing a mental hospital
back to our properties.
That's it. Thank you. Oh, one last
thing. I want to compliment Rocky cuz uh
like him, I believe our Lord and Savior
is not going to be deceived. So you're
only fooling yourselves if you're trying
to deceive anybody. Me neither. Okay.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
I think
>> make sit down.
>> Everybody else, please sit down. Please
have a seat.
» Thank you.
>> Yes, please. Go ahead.
>> Joanne Marola Martin to West Ledge
Drive. So, I don't come up here very
often. I don't like to make my political
views no um public because I'm the
registar of voters and I don't think
it's appropriate.
Um so I'm not going to talk about that.
I want to say that I have known every
single one of you for a very long time.
Uh two of the people that I have known
the longest are the people that are on
the opposite uh side from my party. And
from what I hear, the invective and the
eyeire that is thrown at you at every
meeting,
um I I know you all and I know that you
do what you think is right for this city
and I just want to say thank you as
well.
>> Thank you very much.
[applause]
Good evening, Matt Simpson.
At the last meeting, Mr. Deluchia,
you said nobody here, nobody who spoke
is a lawyer or a charter scholar.
That objection goes to the speaker, Mr.
Deluchia, not the substance. In legal
terms, it's nonresponsive.
Even assuming arguendo that you were
right, the charter's meeting does not
turn on the reader's resume. Citizens
did not need a law degree to read the
law governing their own city. Government
does not answer chapter and section by
questioning a reader's credentials.
I began where Connecticut law says
interpretation begins with the text
itself and its relationship to other
law. I read the charter as a whole,
harmonized its related provisions, gave
effect to its words, traced its
amendments, tested my construction
against ordinances, state statutes,
judiciary authority, and public record.
I don't claim infallibility. I claim
I've done the work.
Mr. Deluchia, a scholar is somebody who
does the work. A scholar is somebody who
applies a method to study a subject
with incredible accuracy and
determination.
I served on the work. You are no scholar
of the word scholar. Thank you.
Anybody else who would like
to address the council?
Anyone else who would like to ask? Yes,
please.
» Rod Rodney Boy, Roosevelt Avenue,
Norwich.
Um, Mark Twain had something to say a
long time ago.
When you're old, when you're in a hole,
stop digging.
Now,
you're thinking of uh passing on $55
million to your kids,
and I'm not particular about that.
Now,
in the past, I haven't spoken about the
uh um bill to um redo some of the sewer
lines in this city.
But
I don't like the idea of just spending, and spending. When you spend
more than you make,
that is the
way to dig yourself a big hole.
And I I don't do that.
I don't owe anybody anything anywhere,
anytime.
If I want to buy something, I go out and
do that.
I'm 85 years old
and financially competent.
Now, you folks can fool around with figs
and everything else, and I'm glad to
find out someone somewhere decided $55
million for a police station. Why? The
building over there
is 300 ft long, at least,
four decks high, and could have been
bought for less than that.
It's been vacant for as long as I can
remember in this city. And I've been
here for 60
62 years.
Now, if you can't handle the finances in
a city,
how do you handle them at home?
Now, I just don't understand that
really.
Now, I've been handling finances
since I was 10 years old.
I learned when my father went broke,
they came away and took our took our 39
Ford out of the driveway. He was dead
broke. I tell my I tell my kids, I
bought my first house when I was 10
years old. My father borrowed money from
me.
When I went in the Navy, he borrowed
money from me to pay off his car. So,
folks, [clears throat]
I was a lone shark in the Navy and they
liked it.
I really they liked it because I was
kind about it. If someone needed needed
$200 for an airplane ticket because
their dad was sick, I gave it to him
free. [snorts] You guys have a good
evening.
>> Thank you very much.
Anyone else would like to address the
council? Yes, please.
Name's Caleb. I've done uh a lot of
looking into cameras. I know it's not on
the agenda today, but I want to voice my
opinion on the subject. So, good good
evening everyone. I'm here tonight
because I don't believe that flock
cameras are appropriate for the city of
Norwich. I understand the argument for
them. Uh law enforcement needs tools to
investigate crimes and uh locate stolen
vehicles and to keep our community safe,
but I believe that we also have
considered the uh privacy of innocent
people who are simply driving throughout
our city. Flock cameras.
Flock [snorts] cameras can create a
searchable record of where vehicles have
been even when those people aren't
subject uh suspected of committing a
crime that power can be honestly
misused.
For example, just this month, a South
Carolina police officer was fired after
allegedly using flock cameras to search
her former partner's license plate 166
times. Another example occurred in San
uh San Francisco
[gasps]
when an adult uh when a audit found a
flock uh camera database have been
improperly associated nearly
300 times by outside agencies. These
examples don't mean every officer will
misuse the technology, but they prove
that safeguards can fa fail. My concern
isn't about being against law
enforcement.
It's about making sure that power
powerful surveillance technologies have
strict limits, transparency, and
independent oversight before we put them
throughout our city. Once a system like
this is installed, expanding it is used
much it is much easier
to be used uh taken away. So before
Norwich moves forward with more flock
cameras than what we already have, I
believe we need to ask ourselves, are we
making Norwich a safer or are we
creating a surveillance system that
could eventually be used in ways that
were never intended? [snorts] Thank you.
[applause]
Anyone else who would like to address
the council?
Anyone else like to address the council?
PS.
» Okay, I've got something here on this on
my phone. That is if any of you actually
know how to read.
It says here, according to Brandon
Richard Sab, who's uh running for the uh
third district, seven out of 10 states
do not have car taxes. Those states are
as follows. Vermont, New Hampshire,
Rhode Island,
New York State,
New Jersey, and Delaware.
These states do not have a car tax. And
yet, financially, they're doing better
than this dump has ever done. But I
can't remember when was the last time
this dump ever did anything right in
their lives. Anyway, but I know what
this tells me
that these seven states are the reasons
why people are leaving this dump and are
going to other states, including
Florida, um Tennessee, and Texas. They
don't have income tax. They do not have
car tax.
So, why aren't you asking yourselves
what it is that you're doing wrong? You
know why? Because you don't have the
guts.
You're too busy with your wallets open
and with dollar signs in your eyes.
And then when people leave, you sit
there and look stupid and you ask
yourself, why are they leaving? Do you
have an answer for that? No, of course
you don't. You don't care. You just want the the old Walton and D
dollar signs routine.
That 55 million albatross is sitting on
this town is going to turn into a bane.
It's going to turn into a bane full of
people who can least afford to uh afford
to pay for that sort of thing.
The only thing that they're going to be
paying for is U-Haul to come rent their
trucks, pack their stuff, and say bye.
And they're not going to look back.
And when they go outside to these
affforementioned states, they're going
to tell the people don't move to North.
Nor is a joke. They're pathetic.
Tax wise, they suck. And they suck at
everything else.
I mean, just recently I heard that coal
manufacturing left here for Texas
because of a because of a little Hitler
Ned Lamont. He was one who drove them
out of here and a couple of other
businesses if I'm right. Stanley Black &
Decker, they packed them and they left
on New Britain and I think they went to
Texas.
You should be asking yourself, what is
it that Texas is doing better that we're
not?
I can even ask Governor Greg Abbott
because I'm considering moving down
there myself.
But like I said, you won't have a gut to
ask yourself that question.
Well, listen what you're going to say.
When this dump turns into a ghost town
and nobody comes here and nobody comes
to this downtown area, period, you're
going to have nothing but bacon stores
in them. We'll be the cockroaches and
the rats.
>> Thank you very much. Anyone else who
would like to come forward? Yes, Bill.
please.
» Barrel Fishbone, Bliss [clears throat]
Place.
And on occasion, some of you have had
phone calls from me, you've had emails
from me,
you've had um uh texts from me, and
you've always been very kind enough to
respond. And I just wanted people to
know that if that's how they you need to
be contacted, you can also go to the
city website and you can write
individually to each of the the uh city
members of the city council and the
mayor. Or you can uh write to them all
at one time. Although you'll still only
get one response,
but I've always gotten a response and I
thank you for that.
Have a nice evening.
>> Thank you very much.
Yes, please.
Rob Demsky, White Plains Road. Uh first
and foremost for anybody in the room
tonight or people watching at home now
or later who was who were uh incorrectly
tossed out of this chamber,
there is an opportunity to seek
accountability for that misaction.
You can get in touch with me after the
meeting or you can text me 86084483.
It's a very simple process and I'll take
you through it and if you need it, give
you a hand with it. So, on to some
things we're talked about tonight. A
leaking roof and mold on the police
station. Why is this not addressed? You
did it for 892. As soon as they took
over Taffil, Taffil's complaining about
mold in there, nothing got done about
it, but 892 shuffles in there. Bam.
Serve pros there remediating.
Why is basic maintenance on the police
station? If we care about our police
officers, and we do,
why is this an issue? Why is this not
done already?
And frankly, why since everybody seems
to believe that this is a plan that
should have been enacted years ago, why
has there not been some sort of savings
plan set up? Then if it's that
important, start putting a down payment
away just like you would for a home or
anything else.
Just an off-the cuff idea
as far as far as the timing
of your hiring at the DOT
president prom who cares. You work there
now.
is when it matters.
And political theater recusing yourself
for [clears throat] a vote that you
already knew was going to go in your
favor. That's that's the definition of
political theater.
Now, one of our previous speakers did a
very good job detailing,
pardon me,
detailing the fallacy of a charter
scholar.
Who Who's heard of a charter scholar?
And even if it were such a thing,
is that something that is compatible
with a government of the people, by the
people, for the people? I need to be a
charter scholar
in order to understand the rules by
which I am governed. Do you realize what
a ridiculous notion that is? As is
saying to this room, I was going to be
gentle.
Who speaks that way? I was going to be
gentle, but now let me just take my belt
off. What? It's It's ridiculous. It's a
ridiculous way to speak to the people
who elected you and whether or not they
elected you whom you serve.
And I don't have time to get into it,
but city manager Salomon sitting up
there saying, "Oh, we have a bunch of
lawyers out here tonight." You don't
need to be a lawyer to read words and
understand what they mean.
Just like Mr. Simpson understands the
meaning
of the process by which you clear a
room.
You have to vote on it. You don't get a
vote. You seven vote on it if you want
to clear the room. But there's steps
that need to be taken before clearing
the room. And so again folks 86084483
if you want to figure out how to get
some accountability for that.
>> Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank
you. So we have used our 30 minute I
declare citizen comment close at this
time. Thank you. Thank you for all being
here.
>> Motion to adjurnn.
>> Motion to adjourn.
>> Second.
>> A motion. We got a second.
>> Roll call, please.
>> Alderman Nash.
>> Yes.
>> Alderman Katabaya.
>> Yes.
>> Aldwoman Zucardi.
>> Yes.
>> Alderman Nestrom.
>> Yes.
>> President Prom Deluchia.
>> Yes.
>> Mayor Singh.
>> Yes. Motion passes 7 to zero. Thank you
very much. Thank you for