City Manager John delivered the Jan. 6 city manager report, describing emergency shelter operations, tax deadlines, planning work, and an upcoming Connecticut Department of Transportation public hearing.

John said the city's overnight warming shelter, operated by Thames Valley Council for Community Action (TVCCA), opened in response to Gov. Ned Lamont's cold-weather protocol and served a total of 39 people from Norwich during the nights covered; nightly counts reported in the update were 14, 10 and 15 for the referenced dates. Following the report's publication, the manager noted the governor extended the cold-weather protocol for an additional three nights, and the shelter was scheduled to be open the night of the Jan. 6 meeting.

The manager also announced the second installment for real estate, personal property and motor vehicle supplemental tax bills is due; payments can be made online at norwichct.org/taxes, by mail, in person at city hall (100 Broadway) and at Norwich branches of M&T Bank for current bills (M&T branches will not accept delinquent tax payments). The manager said, per Connecticut state statute, the last day to pay without penalty is Feb. 3, 2025.

Other items in the report: curbside Christmas tree collection has begun and trees may be dropped free of charge at the Rogers Road transfer station during regular hours; the Planning Department submitted five-year Community Rating System documentation (a voluntary program that can reduce flood insurance premiums for property owners) and a CIF grant application for a planning study on future uses of the Norwich portion of the former state hospital properties recently transferred to the Norwich Community Development Corporation (NCDC). Finally, the Connecticut Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on Jan. 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. in City Hall Room 335 as part of six statewide meetings on the active transportation plan.