After the common council meeting I spoke briefly to the Mayor about several issues. He has heard from many citizens concerns about the the backlog of ordinance violations that in in the court system, which include items that range from illegal apartments to noise violations. He hopes to work with the ordinance committee on new ordinances that will enable the city to file tax liens immediately upon issuing a violation. Putting teeth into enforcement is always a good thing.

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Common Council Meeting 5/22/07

Bipartisan meeting had a presentation from Hal Alvord about the transfer station and waste disposal.
Although I was late to the bipartisan meeting, others were not in attendence. Kevin Poruban sat outside, Matt Miklave and Don Sutton arrived in time for the common council meeting.

Walter Briggs asked about moving the existing transfer station, Hal Alvord, Director of DPW said it can’t be moved.

This discussion must have orginated with the fact that the contract with the wheelabrator is up and decisions need to be made about what to do with Norwalk’s garbage.

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Today’s Matt “Mad Max” Breslow article in the Norwalk Advocate presented the usual quotes of local politicians hoping to distract the wheels of  government being held accountable for its actions.

In the past 15 years there has been only one ethics complaint filed. That was against Anne Carbone, the chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals. It was filed by her former client and prompted an ethics investigation.

Other investigations were just routine ones to examine the problems arising out of conduct in various city departments. Apparently, some, would like to see such investigations stifled. Unless of course its about a city department that is doing something they don’t like, at which point (see Vets Park) all sorts of hearings and investigations are demanded.

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With gas at an all time high, even in the mathematical 1970’s dollar, Governor Jodi Rell and 21 other Governors sent a letter to Congress demanding an explanation. Oil companies are simply taking advantage of market conditions, which driven by how much gas we use, dictates that the demand is outstripping the supply.

Critics point to the capacity at current refineries, which output is cited as being in the high 80’s instead of full capacity. But that is the beauty of a free market system, there is nothing that says a producer has to produce the maximum output of a product.

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