Council adopts four resolutions unanimously and sends panhandling ordinance to public hearing

The Norwich City Council adopted four resolutions unanimously and moved an ordinance to a public hearing during its Jan. 21 meeting. All recorded roll-call votes were 7–0 in favor.

Resolutions and votes at a glance

1) Appointment of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP to perform the regular general audit. Motion to bring to the floor: Alderman Gold; second: Alderman Hayes. Roll-call: Alderman Nash—Yes; Alderman Hayes—Yes; Alderman Betancourt—Yes; Alderman Gold—Yes; Alderman Singh—Yes; President Pro Tem Joseph DeLucia—Yes; Mayor Peter Albert Nystrom—Yes. Outcome: adopted (7–0).

2) Appointment of Bernard Caulfield as non‑voting chairman emeritus of the Norwich Golf Course Authority. Motion to bring to the floor: Alderman Lagull; second: Alderman Nash. Council members spoke in support, noting Caulfield's longtime service to the golf course. Roll-call: unanimous. Outcome: adopted (7–0).

3) Resolution supporting U.S. Department of Transportation grant funding to rebuild Exit 18 in the Oakhum/Artham area (application to federal grant program). Motion to bring to the floor: Alderman Gold; second: Alderman Singh. Alderman Singh urged residents to contact federal representatives in support of the application. Roll-call: unanimous. Outcome: adopted (7–0).

4) Dissolution of the Mohegan Park advisory committee and transfer of oversight responsibilities to the Public Works and Capital Improvement Subcommittee. Motion to bring to the floor: Alderman Gold; second: Alderman Hayes. The council discussed difficulty maintaining a quorum for the advisory committee, remarks included objections from resident Beryl Fishbone and acknowledgment of the committee’s past service. Roll-call: unanimous. Outcome: adopted (7–0).

5) New business — Ordinance regarding prohibition of panhandling, solicitation and other activities from locations deemed unsafe: Motion to raise for a full public hearing and to waive text and reading at this meeting: Alderman Betancourt; second: Alderman Nash. Roll-call: unanimous. The council scheduled the public hearing for its next meeting.

Nut graf: The session produced unanimous votes on routine appointments and policy-direction items and moved a contested ordinance to the public hearing stage; the Mohegan Park action followed a substantive discussion about committee quorums and the best venue for public input.

Ending: The council adjourned after the actions were recorded; no contested roll-call votes were recorded.