Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves final Sachem Fund payouts, including support for fireworks and community events
Summary
Norwich City Council approved the Sachem Fund board’s final payout recommendations on May 19, allocating funds to the Norwich Police Department, Planning and Neighborhood Services, Norwich Events Organization (NEO) and the Greenville Neighborhood Revitalization Zone; council members discussed fireworks costs and measures to reduce expense.
The Norwich City Council on May 19 adopted a resolution approving final payouts recommended by the Sachem Fund Board, directing remaining fund balances to community groups and events.
The resolution lists allocations: Norwich Police Department — $8,900; Neighborhood Services — $6,100; Norwich Events Organization (NEO) — $28,000; and the Greenville Neighborhood Revitalization Zone — $14,228.44 (including interest). The council record shows the payout exhausts the Sachem Fund and leaves an estimated remainder of about $14,500.
Alderman Singh asked about the police coverage cost for the city’s fireworks. Police Chief Pat Taylor told the council, “Last year, we were a little over 15,000 for police coverage; this year ... we've told we're going to be under 15,000.” The administration noted that this year's fireworks will be launched from land rather than a barge, a change estimated to save roughly $17,000 compared with barge rental costs.
Council members and staff emphasized that most applicants submitted complete applications for multiple events and services, not fireworks alone, and that the Sachem Fund historically supplemented community programming through outside partner funding (Alderman Nash thanked the Mohegan Tribe for earlier contributions to the fund). The resolution passed by roll call, 6-0.
The council directed that recipients proceed with their events and programming; specific disbursement timing and any reporting requirements were not detailed in the meeting record.
