Votes at a glance: Norwich council adopts vehicle depreciation ordinance, Reed & Hughes tax abatement and a slate of budget- and fee-related resolutions

The Norwich City Council on Monday approved a series of ordinances and resolutions, including a modified schedule of depreciation for motor‑vehicle assessments, a tax‑abatement ordinance for the Reed & Hughes historic redevelopment, appropriations for opioid‑settlement and cannabis gross‑receipts revenues, and multiple appointments. Most measures passed unanimously; a fee increase for Mohegan Park picnic‑area permits passed 6–1.

Why it matters: The depreciation schedule and tax‑abatement ordinance affect municipal revenues and development incentives; the appropriations allocate one‑time or restricted revenues (opioid settlement, cannabis receipts) to city programs. The adopted changes and scheduled public hearings set the next steps for budget and code amendments.

Key outcomes (roll calls and outcomes as recorded):

- Modified motor‑vehicle depreciation schedule (Second reading and action): Adopted, vote 7–0. Motion to bring to the floor by Alderman Hayes, second Alderman Nash. This ordinance changes how motor vehicles are depreciated for property‑tax assessment for assessment years commencing on or after Oct. 1, 2024; city manager had described it as a compromise to phase in the state’s new depreciation schedule.

- Reed & Hughes property tax abatement (historic redevelopment): Adopted, vote 7–0. Motion by Alderman Singh, second by Alderman Gould (transcript spelling). Council members noted the project received a state $550,000 grant and Community Investment Fund support; members described it as bringing a long‑stalled historic property back into productive use and onto the tax rolls.

- Adoption of minutes (Mar. 3 and Mar. 17, 2025): Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Resolution: set first and second public hearings on the FY 2025–26 budget (dates announced): Adopted, vote 7–0. Council announced public hearings for April 16 and May 12 and a tentative adoption date in June.

- Resolution to appropriate unexpended/unencumbered opioid settlement funds: Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Resolution to appropriate unexpended/unencumbered cannabis gross‑receipt tax revenues: Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Mohegan Park picnic‑area and lakeside pavilion permit fee increase: Adopted, vote 6–1. Alderman Singh asked that fees be reviewed periodically; the council adopted the fee change with one no vote (roll‑call registered as 6–1).

- Authorization to accept deed in lieu of foreclosure from Molly Dogland LLC: Adopted, vote 7–0.

- City manager authorized to work with planning director to execute and return an assistance agreement to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP): Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Authorization to enter into duplicate assistant agreement for a municipal brownfield grant with the state: Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Reappointment of the city historian: Adopted, vote 7–0 (name not specified in the resolution text during roll call).

- Appointment to the Inland Wetlands, Watercourses and Conservation Commission (Annabelle Caswell): Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Appointment of an alternate member to the Historic District Commission (Sean Edgecomb): Adopted, vote 7–0.

- Resolution appointing a regular member to the Board of Public Utilities Commissioners and Sewer Authority: Council approved an amendment to insert the word “and” between the Public Utilities Commissioners and Sewer Authority in the resolution text; the amendment passed 7–0 and the resolution as amended passed 7–0.

- Ordinance filings advanced and public hearings scheduled for several code changes: ordinances on tax levies (10/01/2024 grand list), commercial‑hauler disposal fees (Norwich Code sec. 9‑28), building permit and demolition permit fees (Norwich Code ch. 4), and fire marshal plan‑review and inspection fees (Norwich Code ch. 8) were raised for public hearing and scheduled in April (dates listed in the meeting).

Votes and procedure notes: Most roll calls were recorded with votes of 7–0 on adopted items. The Mohegan Park permit fee resolution was recorded as adopted 6–1. Where roll-call names were read, council members recorded as voting yes included Aldermen Nash, Hayes, Betancourt, Gold (or Gould in a few lines), Singh, President Pro Tem DeLucia, and Mayor Nystrom; exact name spellings vary in the transcript at a few points and are quoted as read during the roll calls.

Ending: Several ordinances were advanced to public hearings; the council’s actions set the schedule for hearings and follow‑up votes on budget and code changes.