Norwich health equity committee unanimously adopts final report, will present to city manager and council

The City of Norwich Health Equity Committee voted unanimously to accept its final health equity report and directed committee members to meet with the city manager to prepare a presentation to city council.

Committee Chair (name not specified) opened discussion by asking whether members had final edits and then formally asked for a motion "to accept the city of Norwich health equity report as is for a final draft to be presented to the town manager and to the city council." Dr. McLean moved the motion and Chief Daley seconded it; the roll-call vote recorded aye votes from Melissa Myers, Kathy Special, Dr. Qureshi, Laura Dietrich, Dr. McLean, Chief Daley, Sheila Hayes, Kate Milledie, Rob Scalise and Joe Zuzel. The motion carried unanimously.

The report consolidates the committee's mission and vision, documents meeting dates and quorum history, summarizes a health equity survey distributed to committee members, and offers a draft health equity plan that members had reviewed for final revisions. "The report is done. We will move forward with presenting it. Great work, everyone," the committee chair said after the vote.

Committee members noted a few editorial and terminology clarifications during discussion. Kathy Special summarized one change she had suggested: "I thought the report was great. I just made a suggestion in a couple places where it listed DEI to replace that with health equity." Committee staff and members confirmed those edits had been made or were minor formatting updates.

For next steps, the committee agreed that Rob Scalise and Kate Milledie — together with other internal stakeholders identified by staff — would meet with City Manager John to present the report and arrange a council presentation. Committee members discussed timing: because the city is in budget season, they expect it may be difficult to get on a council agenda before June. Participants described the usual informational slot before council meetings as about 7:00–7:20 p.m.; the committee said it would aim to present before the June council meeting if possible.

The committee also agreed to cancel regular meetings until the presentation to the manager and council is scheduled. Members noted that formally ending or disbanding the committee would be an action taken by city council: the council would accept the report and could adopt a resolution to close the committee or assign implementation tasks to departments. The committee recorded that it will continue informal communications by email and may reconvene sooner if substantive topics arise before the planned presentation.

The vote and the directions to meet with the city manager conclude the committee's active work on this report; final administrative steps — including agenda scheduling with the mayor's office and the clerk — were left to staff and members who handle agenda setting. The committee adjourned after the vote.