The Republican caucus is busy these days, today the announcement that Kelly L. Straniti has been voted in as Minority Leader. Rick McQuaid served as Minority Leader this past year and had this to say, “Kelly has been a great team player during our bi-partisan council over the past two years and will be a great leader of our caucus. Her proven record of listening before she makes a decision will be a welcome approach to the council in the coming year. She will not be leading by her own agenda, but what is the best for the City of Norwalk. Councilwoman Straniti has been an able and strong advocate for her District. We are pleased that she is adding to her experience by stepping into a leadership role”

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The official swearing in of the Common Council is on Tuesday but Doug Hempstead is out of the gates early with a priority list for members to focus on.

From the Hour:

The Republican representative of District D said he supports an improved demolition delay ordinance, finishing the master plan and also a stronger focus on infrastructure issues.

“We have some serious unfinished business and hard economic decisions which we should immediately take up,” Hempstead said. “I am asking all members of the new Common Council to pull together and address the unfinished business of the past council. We need to work together and establish and act on our priorities in the first 120 days of this term.”

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The DOT has finally gotten around to addressing the Merritt/Route 7 interchange rock pile and as a bonus will also blast away the rock wall at the end of the Route 7 connector.

From the Hour:

The state transportation department has signed a $671,550 contract with M. Rondano Inc. of Norwalk to remove the rock wall, an often fatal fixture at the intersection of the expressway and Grist Mill Road, as well as the rock pile, an eyesore that has sat unmoved since the department halted its overhaul of the parkway in the wake of a lawsuit.

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