Democratic Council Members Announce 2006 Agenda

The Democratic Common Council majority today announced its priorities for the Council committees in 2006. While there will of course be much additional work in every committee, each committee chair has identified one specific objective which the committee should strive to achieve in the coming year. Together they constitute the Democratic Council members' "program" for their work in the coming year.

Ordinance Committee
In the Ordinance Committee, Chair Michael Coffey looks forward to the adoption of a new and strengthened Code of Ethics for Norwalk. "Our Code of Ethics hasn't been revisited since its adoption over 38 years ago," he noted. "It is of the most fundamental importance, and I intend to concentrate on it this year."

Public Works Committee
Public Works Committee Chair William Krummel announced that he will concentrate on the adoption of a workable five-year plan for the city's infrastructure. "Not only do we need to speed up the repaving of our roads, which everyone notices, but we also need to address the condition of our sewer system and other critically important but less visible parts of the infrastructure," he stated. "In the past four years, we have rebuilt our schools, which is a most important accomplishment. Now we must move on to the many unmet needs in public works."

Planning Committee
Planning Committee Chair Matthew Miklave wants to see the Council – together with the Planning Commission, the Zoning Commission, and the Redevelopment Agency – adopt a Citywide Housing Plan. "Housing for working families in the city is a priority on which most people agree, but we have to go beyond mere declarations. Without a practical overall plan," he continued, "we won't make much progress, and what we do on a piecemeal basis is not apt to be what it could be."

Recreation and Parks Committee
Recreation and Parks Chair Fred Bondi will push for first-stage planning of an amphitheater in Veterans Park. "I recognize that this is a project which will take many years for completion," he remarked, "but I want to start now. Veterans Park should be a showcase for Norwalk."

Personnel Committee
Personnel Committee Chair Herbert Grant expects his committee to develop objective review criteria for realistic personnel qualifications and evaluation. "Particularly in the area of compensation for managers on the Ordinance List, we have not had our act together in the past," he observed. "As a new member with a background in personnel policy, I hope to change that."

Land Use and Building Management Committee
Douglas Sutton, Chair of the Land Use and Building Management Committee, wants to focus on final decisions for the use of the Fodor Farm property. "This has been unresolved for too long," he stated. "It will be my first task. If we could also acquire the White Barn property for the public, that would be desirable, also."

Health, Welfare and Public Safety Committee
Jeanette Olmstead-Sawyer, Chair of the Health, Welfare and Public Safety Committee, has set as her committee's primary project a teen center program. "This is vitally important for dealing with many of the problems of the young people of our city," she explained. "It will not be an easy project, but I mean to address it."

Finance Committee
Finance Committee Chair Carvin Hilliard has set as his committee's Number One goal a new and more constructive approach to education funding. "I realize that we have only an indirect effect on the school budget," he noted, "but the Common Council has had a poor relationship with the Board of Education in recent years, and I want to be a part of changing that. I believe that the Board of Education does as well."

In summarizing the announcement, Mr. Coffey, who is also the Council President, said, "This is not about whether or not Norwalk has a so-called 'Strong Council' form of government. This is about our shared intention to be a 'Productive Council' which properly serves the citizens who put us here."

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