Just so we are all clear about this, there will be other offices on the ballot in November in addition to the Office of the President of the United States. Most of the other offices YOU will have the opportunity to vote on will have more of a direct impact on your life, opportunities, taxes and general welfare.

One of the offices you will have the opportunity to vote on is for your State Representative.  In the Connecticut State House we have 151 members representing 169 towns. The term of office is two years and the base pay is $28,000 plus an additional $4,500 for undocumented expenses.  

A State Representative listens to the concerns of constituents and works to reduce their challenges through legislative action, and finds resources to support the success of their district. A large part of the Representatives job is to address persistent problems, such as lack of employment opportunities in an area.

The Representative and staff are responsible for doing the research for proposed changes to existing laws and for new initiatives (these are often called bills.) Attendance at many committee, local, county, and specific meetings is required. Some meetings are face-to-face and others are electronic.

Social events are often attended to create or reinforce contacts with discretionary funding resources or contacts that may be useful for different projects. Significant improvement projects and initiatives need funding and may need convincing others the project is beneficial to all.

Prior to voting there may be a lengthy hearing and debate cycle as the Representatives listen to arguments that attack or support the bill, depending on how each representative perceives the bill will affect the people being represented. In addition, Representatives may also voice the opinions and perspectives of business leaders, lobbyists and every day constituents and not their own.

The State of Connecticut budget cycle encompasses two years. The budget cycle sequence is

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in July.
2. State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in September.
3. Agency hearings are held in January.
4. Public hearings are held from February through June.
5. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature in February.
6. The legislature adopts a budget in May or June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.

Now you know what part of the job of your State Representative is, find out who is running for the office in your district and be sure to vote for your candidate of choice on Tuesday, November 8, 2016.

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172  and please read the daily 225^th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

In Norwich, CT the response to recent violence in America is to hold “Vigils.”  A vigil service is a time for family and friends to offer stories, reflections, and eulogies on the life of the deceased but when it’s held in communities where the deceased are not known it morphs into long drawn out affairs where religious and political officials lecture those gathered on how they should behave and how it’s ok to be angry but not ok to be violent. Very appropriate lectures for six year olds and very common lectures for those in anger management and substance recovery.  

The speakers have completely forgotten to whom they are speaking. They are speaking to the very people who have come together in peace for a communal moment of prayer for the people injured or dead in whatever the recent catastrophe was. No doubt the people in attendance have already gotten the message of peace and solidarity. Our city was not where the violence occurred.

Every speaker says the names of the dead and how they should not have died, but there is not a second spent on how we can honor their memory. Honor their families, friends, loved ones, and communities. Norwich residents are very big on etching another brick, or putting another plaque on a rock but not very big on saying and demonstrating how to work together.

Our city has fiefdoms with rulers who choose not to share their assets, wisdom or experience with others because if they did they might not be seen as the biggest fish in the pond but as a minnow in a puddle and heaven forbid all the puddles should come together to form a pond and increase the water supply and a place for the fish to grow larger and explore more.

Instead of having another prayer group or vigil to pray for the memories; can’t it be time to honor those who carry on today, to those who have been injured or died by a demonstration of how we can work together for the greater cause of our community. Isn’t it about time we make the conscious choice to honor the past, through the actions of today for a better tomorrow?

Commit now to spend ten minutes every week doing something for your community. Wave to your neighbors, pick up trash and throw it away, smile at a stranger, say thank you to the store clerk, join a committee. It is all up to you.

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172  and please read the daily 225^th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

When you are looking for answers in issues of public policy there is usually a thread that will lead to money and expenditures. It has always been that way and probably always will be. A friend was kind enough to send me this bit from the January 1, 1923 Norwich Bulletin.  –

In 1922 over 74 miles of road was improved by the State Highway Department  for $2,796,728.80 and that included building the Bascule Bridge in Mystic for $289,179.33.

 A. W. Bushnell was the division engineer in Norwich supervising the laying in New London County of 59.45 miles of concrete, trap rock, native stone, and bituminous macadam that were used in the laying of the Norwich-Westerly bituminous macadam road, and the Hartford-New London concrete road and some other smaller road projects all improved for $2,215,914.69.

There was such obvious pride in the reporting of the projects, developments and completions. How transparent a project appears to the public than when a spread sheet   is published in the newspaper listing by County the town, the road, the surface kind, the length in feet and the cost.

For example in New London County, gravel for the 1,708 feet of Newent Road, between Norwich and Lisbon cost $4,616.06.

The bituminous macadam used for the 22,436 feet of the Norwich-Westerly road shared between Norwich, Preston and Ledyard was partially completed for $132,771.25.

The abutments of the Occum Bridge between Norwich and Sprague cost $3,236.47.

200 feet of concrete at the Taftville Grade Crossing cost $2,827.91

The rest of the $2,505,094.02 and 313,900 feet  was shared among the other towns  of New London County. $35,674.20 was used for 12,863 feet in Tolland County and $265,960.58 for 64,844 feet  in Windham County.

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172  and please read the daily 225^th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

The Norwich CT City budget has been set in stone for the next year or more but the financial education of the elected officials is now only just beginning. Public finance is not the same as private and corporate finances.  The public cannot sit in on the financial training sessions that I hope are taking place for our elected officials here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

*Balancing the budget with a one- time only fix offers a temporary solution for one year but makes the following year even more difficult to budget and balance.

*Borrowing money for operating costs adds to the public’s long-term debt without creating any related future public benefit.

*Transferring costs from one fund to another only creates the illusion of finances being in balance but the financial facts have not been changed and the financial problem is still there.

*It is important to recognize the long-term consequences of financial deals made in the heat of the moment. What seems like a great deal at the moment is nothing more than a payday loan in the future for someone else to have to deal with. Elected officials have to understand that they are stewards not only of the present but of the future as well.

*Funding development projects with bonds backfires when a projects tax revenues don’t  deliver and the government (taxpayers) have to pay out the difference to the bondholders from the general fund. There must be an open and honest discussion of what will occur by the government if the project does not go well. This is not being a nay sayer, this is merely a demonstration of good financial planning for all eventualities.

*Temporary windfalls are part of recurring economic cycles and should not be relied upon. They should be applied to single opportunity programs that will help to maintain expenses and debt as costs rise in the future.

*Shortchanging pension obligations increases the long-term liability and does not make it go away. Everyone involved has to understand the future effects of increasing the retirement age and paycheck deductions.

*Financial planners always have to begin with assumptions about interest rates and expected earnings on investments and portfolios. Because of the world economy it is better to assume a lower rate of return on the unfunded liabilities and to be happy if it is actually higher.

*It is easy to lose track of how much money is actually owed with all the special funds and circumstances. Norwich has an excellent auditing system that incorporates antifraud programs, ethics policy, performance measures, best practices and offers advice on the financial management of fixed assets, cash receipts and accounts receivable when needed. We need to allow them to do their job and to listen to what they have to say.

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172  and please read the daily 225^th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

How did your town learn of the War of Revolution? We celebrate the end but who agreed to start it ? Who promised that your towns residents would join in? May I humbly present the opening for Norwich, CT – THE OPENING OF THE REVOLUTION IN NORWICH.

The following documents are sufficiently explained in the text. They
form, connectedly, a good illustration of the state of feeling which
was prevalent in Eastern Connecticut at the opening of the war of
Independence.

CALL FOR A TOWN MEETING.
(The original is in the possession of Mr. Wm. C. Gilman, New York.)

The Inhabitants of the Town of Norwich by Law (Qualified to Vote in
Town Meeting are hereby Warned to Meet at the Town house in Said Norwich
on this first Monday of June Next at two of the Clock in the Afternoon to take into Consideration the Melancholly Situation of our Civil
Constitutional Liberties Rights and Privileges which are Threatened with
Destruction by the Enemies of his Majesty’s Happy Reign & Government
over the American Colonies and to Do Whatsoever Shall be thought
Expedient to Manifest our Loyalty to the King and faithful Endeavors to
Promote the Hearty Affection which Every Good Subject hath for the
General Good of the British Empire which is in the Most Happy Condition
when Every Individual is Secure in the possession of his Person, Family,
Property & Privileges under the Paternal Protection of a Most Gracious &
Pious Prince, as also to take into Consideration some Memorials for High-
way, Paid for in Said Town and also to Act any Thing Else that may be
fairly offered.

Samuel Tracy,

Benj. Huntington, I Selectman

Barnabas Huntington, i Men.

Elijah Brewster, J

Norwich, May 30th, 1774.

RECORD OF THE TOWN MEETING, JUNE 6, 1774.
(From the Town Records.)

At a very full meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Norwich, legally
warned and convened in the Town house, in said Norwich, on the 6* day
of June, A. D. 1774, the Honorable Jabez Huntington, Esqr., Moderator,Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to the meeting house, and there immediately opened, that more convenient room may be had for the number of the people now assembled. The meeting was opened at the meeting  house accordingly, where the following resolves were passed almost unanimously :

Voted, That Samuel Huntington, Esq., Mr. Isaac Tracy, Capt. Jedediah Huntington, Christopher Leffingwell, Esq., Elisha Fitch, Esq., Simon Tracy, Jun., Esq., Capt. Joseph Trumbull, Benj. Huntington, Esq., and  Capt. Zabdiel Rogers, be a committee to draw up some sentiments proper
to be adopted and resolutions to be come into in this alarming crisis of  affairs, Relative to the Natural Rights & Privileges of the People, and to lay the same before this meeting.

On the same day, on receiving the report of the Committee —

Voted, That we will, to the utmost of our abilities, assert & defend the  Liberties and immunities of British America ; and that we will Co-operate with our Brethren in this and the other Colonies in such reasonable measures as shall in General Congress, or otherwise, be judged most proper to
Relieve us from Burthens we now feel, and secure us from greater evils we fear will follow from the Principles adopted by the British Parliament, Respecting the town of Boston.

Voted, That Capt. Jedediah Huntington, Christopher Leffingwell, Esq., Doct. Theophihis Rogers, Capt. “William Hubbard, and Capt. Joseph Trumbull, be a standing Committee for keeping up a Correspondence Avail the Towns in this and the neighboring Colonies, and that they transmit a Copy
of these Votes to the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Boston.

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172  and please read the daily 225^th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

Why can’t Norwich, CT attract nice restaurants? Nothing against fast food, burgers, pizza and Chinese but on occasion I enjoy a place where you are greeted with friendly servers, and not everything on the menu comes with fries. How about if we ask some of the successful towns, like Colchester, CT what the secret of attraction is? Granted they have a smaller population and the commercial areas are more concentrated but there just has to be something else.  Something that we are missing out on here in Norwich, CT.

What is it that Norwich, CT is doing that discourages new, interesting and down-right unusual businesses? Are we flagrantly discouraging businesses? Are we silently giving signals that we do not want a business here? What do we need to correct? Let’s find out where we are making our errors and fix them.

Norwich, CT has exits directly off  Interstate 395 and Route 2 & 32. Both of these highway systems are the major transportation routes of Eastern Connecticut, so how can we matter-of-factly accept that we do not have the traffic for any of the larger chain restaurants but we are perfect for another fried burger joint. We have a population in Norwich of 38,000 people, with access to the neighboring towns and we do not have the population required? Maybe we need to look at someone else? Why, are the taxpayers of Norwich so accepting of not being worthy of a place that sells food that is not quick or deep fried?

When a new to Norwich, CT restaurant does open up; it does not open up with its “A” game, but rather opens up with a sorry whimper and a plea to be forgiven for not being ready to open. What? That sounds utterly ridiculous. If you are not ready to open on time; DELAY THE OPENING UNTIL YOU ARE.

 Norwich, CT has a tremendous variety of multi-cultural fast foods that all have the same bland taste and differ little in preparation.  We count Caribbean, Indian, Chinese, American,  Italian and Greek restaurants among fast burger and chicken joints and I have eaten in most of them but I can’t talk about taste, texture, presentation or even smell of any of them.  I refuse to accept that I am the only person in Norwich who wants a multi-sensory experience in my meal. When I prepare a meal in my home it has taste, texture, smell, so why shouldn’t I expect that when I eat out?

Let’s start talking about what we, the residents and taxpayers want in our restaurants. Let’s stop being so accepting of whatever crumb we are given and start raising our expectations and demanding better.

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172  and please read the daily 225^th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.

There is always a lot of chatter about past parades so I would like to present  from the June 29, 1842 Norwich Courier, The Order of Arrangements for the Norwich  Washingtonian Temperance Celebration.

All participants shall meet at their designated place at half-past eight A.M. to be escorted to their position on Franklin Square.

At nine o’clock precisely, the procession will move from Franklin Square, under the direction of Col. Charles Clarke, Chief Marshal of the day.

THE ORDER OF PROCESSION WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

Norwich Brass Band.

Military

Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council

Civil Authorities of the Town of Norwich

Fire Department

Committee of Arrangements

Reverend Clergy

Norwich Washington Total Abstinent Society

Washington Societies from neighboring towns

Temperance Societies of the Town and City of Norwich.

Friends of Temperance, and Citizens generally.

The Cold Water Army. 

From   Franklin Square the Procession will move onto Shetucket street, into Water Street, passing west through Water Street, will enter Main Street, pass through Main Street, into Union street to the “Park” or Little Plain.  

At the Park the procession will halt for three-quarters of an hour, where there will be a GENERAL MEETING, at which a few short Addresses will be delivered . A portion of the Park will be expressly reserved for the ladies and children.  

After the exercises at the “Park” are closed, the procession will move up Broadway, through Broad Street into Washington Street, and passing down Washington Street, will enter Church Street. As the procession moves through Church Street , the Cold Water Army will file off and enter Rev. Mr. Bond’s Church, where A MEETING OF THE COLD-WATER ARMY will be held. This meeting is designed for the Cold Water and Sabbath Schools. The teachers and all members of all neighboring Sabbath Schools are requested to attend this meeting. Several interesting addresses to the children may be expected.  

From Church Street the procession will move down Union street to the new Baptist Church where a meeting of the WASHINGTONIANS will be held. Addresses from Mr. Nagle a member of the New York City Howard Auxiliary Washingtonian society, and from others will be delivered at this meeting.  

The doors of the Baptist and Congregational churches will not be opened until the meeting in the Park is over, and the procession has commenced moving up Broadway.  

Ladies and children from the Park will have ample time to reach either of the churches before the arrival of the procession.  

All the friends of temperance are requested to join in the procession.  

No gentlemen admitted into either of the churches until after arrival and entrance of the procession.  

H.D. Ripley,

Chas. Clark,         } Executive Committee 

E. R. May,

J.D. Thatcher, 

The greatest difference between then and today is that then, the more people in the parade the merrier. The Cold Water Society and the Sabbath Schools were children’s groups against alcohol and the Sabbath schools were early public education. Today parade organizers are tireless in their effort to find reasons to exclude groups, organizations and people. If you want to see parades like they used to be, back in the day, then it is up to you, to take on the responsibilities and to create the vision you wish to see. It’s not only about the costs and the insurance; it’s about taking the time, making the effort, being accepting and being encouraging to others.  It is your choice to be a part of the solution to make Norwich a better place.  

View my past columns at http://www.norwichbulletin.com/section/blogs01?taxid=1172  and please read the daily 225^th Bulletin Anniversary Nuggets in the newspaper daily.