September 8, 2010 5:04 pm

The Norwalk Common Council Wants to Hear From You

Now here’s a good idea. I know, surprising coming form this do-nothing common council. Taking a break from unraveling any economic activity that could be happening in Norwalk, the Common Council has issued a decree:

“Coffee with your Councilmen”

Council President Douglas Hempstead, Majority Leader Richard Bonenfant and Minority Leader Laurel Lindstrom along with the members of the Common Council will be hosting an open forum to listen to concerns from the citizens of Norwalkon September 14, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 125 East Avenue. The forum will give an opportunity for the citizens of Norwalk to ask questions to the Council.

Of course asking questions of your counicl representative should be an ongoing thing. Along the lines of maybe the Common Council having city email addresses, to comply with FOI (freedom of information) rules. And then maybe they could receive a copy of all complaints sent to Norwalk’s customer service department so that you know someone you elected is paying attention to something. Alas, that would be streamlined efficient and transparent, which as we know is not quite embraced by all the common council, including two of the three listed by name in the decree, er press release.

Now the really funny thing is, that I don’t think under the charter, they can hold a special meeting, like the one they are announcing, without having a vote on that action in a previous meeting. So just how is this now a meeting? Correct me if I’m wrong. But if I’m not, that does sort of open a whole line of inquiry into a bunch of actions that were never brought before the entire Council concerning the redevelopment agency. Delightful food for thought, eh? Enjoy the discussion.

Missing TG

Hey TG. Call home, your missed.

turfgrrl

See the latest post. Life, arts, family and really cool stuff intercedes.

N.P.D. Gets in Gear

Four bank robbery crooks caught in a month?

In Norwalk?

Way to go N.P.D.

Much improved teamwork and training certainly does help. The S.O.P. for communications remain an issue, but hey, we will critique poor performance in our public service’s but we also will give credit when due and appropiate. Manpower dispersal, rapid tatical deployment of perimeters, much, much improved. Command structure and accountability has significantly improved and rapidly.

Some nice work getting done at N.P.D. Hope it boosts morale. They all deserve some wins.

Three chases in a week, no injuries, no public threat, no damage to city property and arrests made in all. Excellent, absolutely excellent. But that first one with the girls, nearly killed our guys on the highway. Too, too close. Need traffic awareness class. The loss of one of our troopers last week and that close call on 95 in Westport with our guys screams for traffic awarness saftey training in high volume traffic senarios. Run back the states tape on the felony stop, see for yourself. Could have lost 3 officers and a trooper that night, out there with those intoxicated girls. A Truck driver saved all their lives by blocking the lane.

Training is crucial.

If they could just get that Shell assasin. That can’t slide. They will get Browns assasin/s sonner, rather than later but we need to snatch the Shell killer. Lets get it done. Much improved N.P.D. Keep up the good, Police work.

Now grab that guy who thinks he can indiscriminatly rob and kill working folks in our community. When ya get em, life is the only sentence before the court. Felony Agg. Murder 1. No deals. Life sentence, min. 25 served before parole considerations. Forensic’s will convict but intel will, capture. Now lets go get him off our streets.
Hespera

Sorry, but I don’t see anything deviant in this move. We’re in an economic slump so this council won’t be turning out the “sexy” stuff anytime soon. It may seem like nothing is going on, but if they are helping the city tread water financially, that’s good enough. Most people understand that this would be the focus these next two years.

turfgrrl

Actually, nothing is going on progressively. That would mean, before all the liberal minded peeps get all excited, that the Common Council would be proactive rather than reactive. I think I’ve established a good groundwork that says that the COmmon Council should be ahead of the issues as a legislative body. Some on the council don’t get that, too bad. I like to pave my own way on any issue, and a legislative body should be on that page too.

Unfortunately, there’s some pretty archaic thinking on that board. I could be wrong, Norwalk might prefer being reactive rather than proactive. The majority of Norwalk might like to deliberate more than I do. I’m just not of that generation. Never have been, never will be. I like new, cutting edge with a healthy respect to history. I also like facts, data and real assessment of sentiment. That makes me who I am.

When I criticize a legislative body, I do so because it as body doesn’t exhibit the behaviors that I think it should be exhibiting. Some would take that personally. Behaviours and the person can be different. I have always recognized that therefore the following motto applies: Don’t look at what I say, look at what I do. Which is the old proverb– Do as I say.

When those don’t jive, well, another proverb, let the chips fall where they may.

OLD TIMER

Dominic Sandolo, arrested in Norwalk as a drug dealer and reported here in a story Jan 28th, is now a defendent in Federal court. In addition to the million dollar bond he already posted in state court, he has posted $500,000 in Federal colurt in New Haven. The Stamford advocate has the story.