The Common Council MTG of 03/11/08

Tonight was Girl Scout Appreciation week and the Brownies and Scouts led the pledge and the national anthem.

Attending: Krummel, Serasis, Brown, Sutton, Lindstrom, Geake, Bolden, Moccia, Bondi, Hilliard, Conroy, Moccia, Bonnefant, Kydes , ,Hempstead,

Public Participation:

Marija Bryant speaks in support of the Silvermine Village District. Asks that the issue remain open for public input.

Leigh Grant: Speaks in support of Silvermine Village District.

Lee Levy: Speaks in support of Silvermine Village District.

Diane Lauracella: Speaks as president of League of Woman Voters on the charter revision that it is held so that the public can speak to it. Wants to have the public have an open forum. Speaks on Common Council 20% Clean Energy By 2010 Resolution. Wants to make sure that LWV supports clean energy stuff. Wants council to pass the resolution before 2010.

Mayor’s Remarks:
Speaks about the 20% Clean Energy By 2010 Resolution. This resolution does not commit the city t spending any money but that illustrates goals that everyone can do. Surrounding towns have passed similar resolutions.

Maslan: Adds that there’s no financial commitment on the part of the city and that this I policy that would benefit the city to get a solar panel if 100 residential customers sign up for the program.

Moccia: This past week we lost a valuable member of the community in Bea Brown. He spoke briefly on her contributions to Norwalk.

Hempstead: Speaks about serving on the council with Bea and praises her admirable traits and commitment to issues.

Bondi: Also served with Bea on the council. Says a few words about Bea’s contributions and working with her.

Bolden: Speaks about working with Bea and Bea’s family.

Hilliard: Says a few words about Bea’s advocacy for civil rights, and that she always let people know what her opinions were.

Then they hold a brief moment of silence.

The Mayor mentions that Kelly Straniti’s father is still ill and she is still in Arizona.

Council Presidents Remarks

Bondi: Appoints Doug Sutton to public power committee.

Everything but the 20% Clean Energy By 2010 Resolution and the appointment of the charter revision committee is approved under consent and they vote unanimously on it. The charter revision committee item is actually tabled, but in reality this is a dead issue. A quick count of votes from the statements made by council members indicates that its not going to be voted on. Too bad, since a 4 year term for both the council and mayor is the smart thing to do.

Moccia: Speaks on the 20% Clean Energy By 2010 Resolution. Says its non binding.

Kydes: Says that the policy is a good one considering the energy markets and the price of oil recently.

Geake: Says that as a commissioner of 2nd taxing district he passed a similar resolution., but he has a problem with paragraph 7. He says that it says there’s a commitment to a goal, and he doesn’t see that its revenue neutral. He says that paragraph 8 talks about ways to meet the goal, which he doesn’t see it as revenue neutral.

Moccia: Explains that it is a commitment to a goal, that might not be reachable.

Geake: Prefers committing to the goal.

Moccia: Reminds the council that this doesn’t give the Mayor the authority to spend any money. He says that if we don’t start towards a goal then nothing will progress. Reminds Geake that it was passed by 7 other towns with only 1 making a financial commitment.

Maslan: Re-explains that this is a policy statement.

Krummel: He echoes Geake’s remarks and has been an early advocate of clean energy as a engineer. He thinks that there’s much to be discussed about this in committee. Talks about geothermal suggestion for Brien McMahon that was ultimately turned down. He is an upholder of due process, but didn’t know which council person brought this forward. He asks if the city’s electric bill will go up because he sees it on his bill.

Maslan: The program that Krummel is referring to is a residential program, so the program doesn’t apply. If 100 people sign up to it the city gets a solar panel.

Moccia: Reiterates that it is a volunteer program. The wording is based on a recommendation from a non profit, virtually the same as every other town has adopted. “I’m sorry that you are surprised that the mayor would have the audacity to submit a resolution to the city” Says he doesn’t want to have paralysis by analysis.

Lindstrom: Echoes a number of people who have spoken that this is a good initiative. Her concern is that there needs to be education prior to the approval. They should hold off a wait a couple of weeks and take it back to committee and says that its not a cookie cutter resolution and thinks that the council should have input into the wording of the resolution. Wants it to go to the subcommittee of the power committee. Makes a motion to refer to power authority.

Hempstead: Chastises Krummel for how resolutions come directly to the floor. Resolutions are always sense of commitment of where we are at the time. He was around when they first came out with a recycling committee resolution, its something to shoot for. Says that this is just committing to something the whole state has signed on, and that they item that committees that should be looking at stuff on the how to accomplish the goals.

Bolden: Asks about how many buildings qualify for the solar panels.

Moccia: Responds that juust about every building qualifies and mentinos a few.

Bolden: Happy to see that this is a starting point. Suggests that the revenue issue should be a continuing dialog but is in support of the resolution.

Krummel: Asks why hasn’t the city signed up for the clean energy option.

Hempstead: The city of Norwalk gets its energy under a bidding process and that the program requires that you sign up for the program that is a renewable energy company and that the current electrical contract for 4 years, 2 years ago. That would be something to look into when the contract comes up again.

Bondi: Says we’ve exhausted a lot of the issue. Says that this is a simple thing, it was brought up in previous years and never reached the council. This

Moccia: Never thought that a Republican would have to fight so hard to be green.

Brown: Says that Democrats re not opposed to it but that they don’t have enough information to vote on the issue. Asks how much it costs to install solar panels.

Various people answer that it costs nothing.

Brown: Asks about how dirty our air is.

Moccia: Says we don’t know.

Brown: Asks then how can we get to a 20% reduction? Says that its ok for council people are asking for more information that they are not trying to offend the mayor and that they need more time and more information.

Moccia: Reiterates how resolutions come to the floor, and that the resolution is simple and that this is a concept and feeling.

Lindstrom: Makes motion to refer the resolution to the power committees.

Okay, so let me set up what’s really going on here. Resolutions like this one are mostly feel good statements that have no impact on the day to day governing of the city. It really looks like the Democrats are playing political games here, a non binding policy resolution that is so inoffensive is being stalled either because they want to show some relevance in the political process or that they don’t want the Republicans to usurp an issue normally aligned with Democratic initiatives. I guess since they haven’t been able to accomplish anything else but delay tactics this is what we get. Maybe they do have some additional energy conservation things they want to pass, but they could put forth yet another resolution, or some valid direction to departments to employ. They are not doing that, all they seem to do is react to whatever the Republicans are doing. It’s somewhat ironic that the same people who gravitate to Barack Obama’s message of bipartisan politics can’t seem to execute the new way of doing things at the local level.

Now they vote on the motion to table the resolution. This is ridiculous

Krummel Y
Serasis Y
Brown N
Sutton Y
Lindstrom Y
Bolden N
Geake Y
Bondi N
Hillaird N
Conroy N
Bonnefant N
Kydes N
Hempstead N

The motion to table fails, so now Kydes motions to adopt resolution

Krummel Y
Serasis N
Brown N
Sutton N
Lindstrom Y
Bolden Y
Geake Y
Bondi Y
Hillaird Y
ConroyY
Bonnefant Y
Kydes Y
Hempstead Y

And now they adjourn. As for the resolution? It’s below:

A Resolution of the City of Norwalk’s Common Council in Support of 20% Clean Energy by 2010

WHEREAS, electricity production is the leading cause of industrial air pollution in the United States which can result in a variety of health risks to Norwalk residents including cases of asthma especially in children; and
WHEREAS, by meeting the goals of 20% by 2010, Norwalk can begin to address the problems resulting from the above; and
WHEREAS, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced in a cost-effective manner that enhances economic development by applying currently available energy efficiency technologies, an energy audit and such renewable energy programs as Norwalk and many towns have implemented that save money, create jobs and strengthen local economies; and
WHEREAS, clean energy resources – such as wind and solar energy – constantly replenish themselves, do not cause the buildup of global warming gases and health damaging pollutants, and if properly managed, will be available to serve our energy needs forever; and
WHEREAS, the 20% by 2010 campaign is a Connecticut not-for-profit initiative that has undertaken efforts to encourage community action in support of putting Connecticut’s customers on a path to having 20% of their electricity supply come from clean, renewable energy sources by the year 2010.
WHEREAS, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund has agreed to provide Norwalk a solar Photo-voltaic energy system, for every 100 residential homes signing up for CL&P’s CT Clean Energy Options SM program. The units will be received and installed at no cost to the municipality and allow for direct reductions in conventional electric supply at a site to be determined by the town.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the town of Norwalk commits to the goal of making at least 20% of its municipal energy purchases come from clean energy resources by the year 2010.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the City of Norwalk will investigate options for meeting that goal, including purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and/or on-site renewable energy installations, recommendations for energy efficiency opportunities and will research additional funding opportunities.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Common Council of the City of Norwalk encourages all businesses, institutions and households within Norwalk to adopt the goal of making at least 20% of their energy purchases come from renewable energy sources by the year 2010.