Common Council Meeting 11/24/09
Common Council MTG 11/24/09
Attending: Romano, Mount, Bonenfant, Tobin, Kydes, Straniti, Moccia, Beltz-Jacobsen, Hempstead, Bondi, , Conroy, Jaeger, King, Simms, Lindstrom
Approval of the minutes November 10: They approve after Lindtrom’s comments are corrected to the minutes. Tobin abstains on the corrections.
Approval of the minutes November 17: They approve after Lindstrom’s comments are corrected to the minutes. There’s some discussion about whether the minutes should reflect what the recess purpose was. Then there’s some discussion on whether there should be a summary or verbatim on what words. They finally make a motion to accept the minutes as corrected with a review to the tape for what Lindstrom had said. The Mayor says that revised minutes will be available for Lindstrom to review. Romano makes a correction. Vote is unanimous.
Public Participation:
none
Resignations & Appointments & Reappointments:
Appointments :
Johnnie Mae Weldon to Fair Rent Commission
They vote unanimously.
Timothy Carney-Fair Housing Advisory Commission
They vote unanimously.
Reappointments:
Michael Kolman to Board of Estimate & Taxation
They vote unanimously.
Michael Lyons to Board of Estimate & Taxation
Hempstead, Conroy and Kydes say nice things about Lyons.
They vote unanimously.
Friedrich Wilms to Board of Estimate & Taxation
Straniti, Kydes, and Hempstead say nice things about Wilms.
They vote unanimously.
The Mayor says some nice things about the BET reappointments.
Emil Albanese to Redevelopment Agency
Hempstead and Kydes say nice things about Albanese.
They vote unanimously.
Felix Serrano- to Redevelopment Agency
The Mayor thanks Serrano for his service.
They vote unanimously.
Mayors Remarks:
Says he attended St. Mathews Governor’s proclamation of Thanksgiving Day. He wishes all the families of Norwalk a Happy Thanksgiving. Makes a plea for people to help the food pantires this holiday season. Says that ECS grant to Norwalk is being cut by $500k. The Governor released a list that the Mayor will be looking at. There are some unfunded mandates that the legislature has passed along to the city, and that the state has to do a better job of cutting back the bureaucracy. Says that the early retirements with full pensions and rehires are a backdoor property tax raise to residents. Says that mayors across the state have made more cuts than Hartford.
Council President Remarks:
Hempstead: A little housekeeping that they have to vote on.
Two changes to land use and two changes to ordinance committee.
Lindstrom is moving from ordinance to land use and building management
King is moving to ordinance from land use and building management.
Wishes everyone happy Thanksgiving and encourages people to help people who are less fortunate.
Parks and Rec
The only item up was the authorization to sign the paperwork for a grant to the Norwalk Arts Commission of $7950.
There’s a couple of questions posed by Laurel Lindstrom concerning the grant’s purpose and proposed allocations and the Chair of the Norwalk Arts Commission, Jackie Lightfield, answered them.[ For the record that would be me.]
They approve it unanimously.
They move to adjourn.
