The crowd gathers, some pictures for your enjoyment:

The concert Hall, where the hearing is being held is filling up. Emails apparently were flying as different groups rallied the troops in the final effort to preserve or increase the funding to be allocated.

7:29 PM

Mike Coffey: Commends all the BET and finance members. Cap set at 3.8% mirrors rate of inflation. Clear up, missconpcetions, the cap passed includes a 6% increase for Board of Ed including debt service. There has been an unprecedented capital spending process. The end result of the cap is that the tax increase will be about a 4.5% tax increase for residents.

“I do not think we should force working families to leave our beloved city.”

Gets a nice round of applause following speech.

Matt Miklave: Speaks a citizen of Norwalk, taxpayer and father, not as a common council member. Talks about science awards, “we are proud of the work we have done in Norwalk to make out education program as best it can be” “I understand the philosophical reasons where the cap is et, I disagree with that. I don’t think we are doing enough for our education system.” There probably is fat in the BOE. We have to be careful that in our effort to cut away fat, that we don’t cut away bones and vital organs of the system. “I am calling for compromise, let the BET tell us where the fat is.

[Miklave is basically saying what everyone is saying, the BOE must come to table to compromise. But he’s trying to imply that the BET is not compromising when it’s the BOE that is not.

Nice Round of applause.

Wilms:
Budget represents an increase of what we have, the discussion is how much of an increase it will be. The bulk of the increase will got to BOE, about 60% of the budget when you include the bonds for capital spending.

Diane Lauracella: Asks for an increase zoning enforcement, speaks as member of Village Creek. Starts a laundry list of items that should be funded. Diane is you are reading this, why don’t you send in your lists, you had some good points, but the laundry list approach was tough to follow.

Update

Contignecy line question, Tom Hamilton answers that all of the city labor contracts are up, but that the pension plans are fully funded. (didn’t get name of speaker)

Diane CeCe: “I’m here’ so often that the security guard knows my name. I fear missing one meeting one vote that pertains to flooding. I’m here because [lists people} haven’t given up. 2-6 feet of standing water and sewage in our living rooms, dens and bedrooms. We live in a state of emotional terror. We must plan dinners and movies around weather forecasts. This emotional roller coaster is exhausting. Please help us and please fix the flooding first.”

Larry Rottenberg: Full funding of storm drainage system. We flooded homes, not leaky basements. Labor day 2002, first flood, last year 3 times. Entire bottom floor. Flooded most recently March 2, more frequently with greater severity.
“We need you to fix the flooding now”

Laurel Lindstrom: “Some of the reductions you recommend are legitimate. But some are based on unspent funds, with three months to go that is premature. I urge you to reconsider the cap, this unrealistic ceiling that was placed on city departments. I know that 5 members of the council voted for the original cap but the others voted for the lower cap with considering the implications.”

Appears to not support having a long term capital spending planning. Wants to see ECS formula adjustments, and alternative power generation.

Update: 8:19
Moccia addresses why unspent funds were reallocated, “I don’t see how we are going to spend $550,00 in the next three months”

Jodi Wallace: Recounts flooding history and losses. Put in a full perimeter drainage system. The city replaced a drain, city came out with a vacuum truck. The vacuum truck stopped coming. The water in yard was 4 feet high, the city. The weather is getting worse, just ask Al Gore. [laughter and applause] 9 East Locust street, it’s where east Norwalk drains before it hits the sound. The pipes are getting older, just as Hal Alvord. Fully fund the flood initiative this year, next year and the next 10 years.. The man on Ivy has sewage in his living room. “I can’t see my house or go on vacation. We are flood victims” Soon they’ll be calling Norwalk the New Orleans of Fairfield County. Fix the flooding first.”

Update: 8:29

Donna Ristocki: … (missed part and she speaks really fast so sorry I missed it) Our living area has been cut by almost half, Please help us. Thank you.

Margaret Peterson: (daughter holds sign, the picture of the sign is above). I have lived in Norwalk 3 years, I have been flooded 8 times. The health department has tested water with e-coli counts in the millions. If they predict more than 2 inches of rain, I expect flooding. The stress involved watching the water get higher and higher outside your house. The storm water is not the only problem on Gwendolyn street, the serwer line also overflows. If the storm drains are overflowing at the same time, the raw sewage comes into my house. Feet and feet of water that is toxic. Since 2004 it has been more frequent and more impactful each year. We need you to fully fund DPW budget as it pertains to storm drain, sewage and maintenance.

Willam Landsberg: There 8 homes o Williams street, 5 have been flooded on different days. Most sever was August 27th of last year. Water in driveway was over 2 feet, flowed in to lower living quarters. Imagine standing on the stairs watching the water coming and there’s noting you can do about it.

Update: 8:56

Missed Name: 41 year tax payer, …. Ok I spaced out on caching what he was saying. As I look around the room, there are people standing in the aisles.

D. Arnold: Flood, sweat and tears sign. 39 olmstead place, resident since 1963. Retired firefighter, fixed income, can’t afford to continue the way I’m going now. A lot of this was inherited over many years that nothing was done. I’m asking you to please help us, we need it now.

[I probably should state that the format here, was to start with people speaking about the DPW budget. The BOE stuff hasn’t happened yet.

Missed Name: Look on youtube.com for Buckingham floods, there’s a video there. I don’t what we can do in the interim while the flooding gets fixed. The drains need to be fixed first.

James Hamilton: Speaking about power plant study. A public power authority would offer lower rates. Goes on about feability of the public power authority. You know there’s a good diea here, but the flooding and seere system and drainage is just more pressing. I’m sorry I didn’t catch all that he was saying, but it lacked punch.

Missed Name: Detail about flooding, backyard of 38 buckingham place, the cover blows off a manhole cover with geyser, several feet high, can flood 2 feet of area about 15 minutes. This is not a flood zone, nor the banks of the Mississippi. We flood because of a failing infrastructure.

Betsy Ward: 22 Lockwood lane. Lived here since 2001, experienced 5 floods. August last year. was the worse one. The flooding happens more and more frequently, there’s a veritable river that starts down Buckingham street. Neighbor is convinced that we are pumping water in her yard. Other people in the area can’t take care of the clean up of the flooding. … Implore you to fix the flooding first, fully find it.

Randall Avery: This in a nutshell in facing taxes. The reason that taxes have to be kept lower, is that people can get taxed out of town. The resulting tax increase is 5%. Every year, every dollar is put towards of children. Those of you who are here to speak to the BOE budget. After hearing these stories, “what sacrifice are you going to make” We don’t have to cut sports and academic programs, the BOE start looking at the budget more closely, spend the money on the kids.” Lot’s of applause and cheering. Moccia asks for decorum. Also mentions that SCU basketball win.

David Brown: My request pales in contrast to what you have been hearing. Here to talk about save money and make money. 3rd taxing district has co-generation program that saves money, $80k / month. CL & P to raise the electricity rates 20%, Former Mayor Bill Collins came and asked for feasibility study. $100k needed, only $50k need. Moccia: the districts could chip in the difference. [Ha great idea]

David Davidson: Applaud the common council and BET. Supports the tax increase even though its 4.5%, hope that’s the BOE recognizes that their lack of financial controls led to this situation ….

Update: 9:15

Former Mayor Bill Collins: makes joke about the Richard A Moccia Power Generation plant … says that the $50k isn’t enough. Is asking for $75k but thinks that the potential consultant think we are serious. Asking board to raise the line item to $75k. Second district is going to be taken off the grid, MOCCIA: if the two districts chip in the $25k, we might be able to find the the $25k…. COLLINS: They got their power generator.

Dr. Cafero (retired superintendent) Spoke 27 years ago, shall we eliminate the 6th grade foreign language program, the BET and BOE decided to reinstate the 140k to keep 6th grade foreign language program. Tonight we are faced with another problem. The superintendent that without funds … can you imagine a reala estate agent telling people that the freshmean program is eliminated. Grandown made the baseball program … If the BOE does not receive the amount of money for their programs, it will detonate their reputation as a third rate system, please don’t let that happen.

Michael Geak: 39 elmwood ave. yes we are rebuilding our powerplant. Will be run 100% on renewable energy. I want to you to fully find the feasibility study. A municipal electrical authority is like what Mike Coffey spoke of tat the begging, a creative way to solve out city problems. The second district power is price 30% below what CL &P charges. The city doesn’t have to cut the rates 30%, they could cut the rates 10%, and use the additional 20% to fund things like storm drains. Its sad that we don’t have that today, but if we had that but you could a power authority really quickly that could general funds. MOCCIA, how about $12.5k? Geake: missed total

Crowd gets restless: Someone wants to speak about BOE, Moccia reminds them that the DPW speakers were to speak to first. T=Some guy int eh crowd says children need to leave. Moccia says this not an open debate and the procedure was outlined in the beginning.

Bob Wegman: More empathetic to the folks with flooding problems, because of the great flood in 1955. Remembers the stench. It took days to clean up.

Update: 9:33 We are nearing the end of batter life over here … so updates might be delayed.

BOE speakers start:

Missed Name: Student athlete. Speaks about cuts to the athletic departments how he worked hard as a swimmer, and is a substitute teacher in the system. [of course why not address this to Corda] MOCCIA clarifies: BOE is not cut. It has been increased. Neither the council or board makes the decision the board of ed got $5 million more. GUY: What would you say to the freshmen athletes: MOCCIA: Talk to the Board of Ed.

Missed Names 2 girls from swim team: Outlined achievements and speak against taking away sports of student athletes. Will take away leadership opportunities. When Mayor Moccia campaigned for extracurricular programs to keep children off the streets. (lots of applause)

Kim Zackar: These cuts will affect our cheerleading program (varsity) Just completed a successful competitive season. Talked about importance of sports team.

Patrick Shields: I’m here of the increase requested by the BOE. A rhetorical question, how do you measure success and value in programs. Speaking to support not cutting the high school swim team. High school swim teams build good skills. For any budget responsible sitting here tonight, if you build it they will come, if you take it way the smarter students will have a reason to leave.

Jane Wilkins: Elementary school teacher, and tax payer. I see a greater need to invest in our kids. Sees special needs increases, need increased services not a cut in services. 1/3 or ½ of class requires special needs staffing. My children are the average type that does well when teachers have time to devote to them. New teachers are burning out, because of lack of resources. Our students will be at a disadvantage in competing for college placement. Core curriculum is not enough