Residents press Norwich council on taxes, housing affordability, sidewalks and civility
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Summary
During public comment at the Nov. 17 meeting, multiple residents urged the council to address property taxes and housing affordability, expand sidewalk access for mobility‑impaired residents, and foster more civil public discourse following a contentious election period.
Several Norwich residents used the open comment period at the Nov. 17 city council meeting to press officials on taxes and housing affordability, call for a larger sidewalk program to improve pedestrian accessibility, and urge elected leaders to moderate their rhetoric after a heated election.
David Addis opened with a blistering critique of the election results, calling recent contests “a farce” and saying he did not trust the council. The chair reminded speakers to avoid personal attacks and asked commenters to focus on city issues. Dr. Heller Campos, a family physician, urged unity and civility after the election and thanked outgoing and incoming officials for public service, saying elected leaders should “approach [differences] with civility.”
Multiple residents raised affordability and taxation concerns. Robert Denisha described seniors on fixed incomes being taxed out of their homes and asked the council to consider a commission or program to protect residents from escalating property tax burdens. Joanne Filbrick, an 82‑year‑old resident, said Norwich is “not affordable now” and urged the council to develop a plan to bring the community together and address housing stress.
Sidewalks and accessibility were recurring themes. Heather McKinley urged the council to expand the sidewalk cost‑sharing program and stressed accessibility for people who use walkers, rollers and electric wheelchairs: “I really hope that you all vote for giving us as many sidewalks as possible because the measure of a sidewalk is the measure of a society’s well‑being.” Rodney Boys, a resident who had previously participated in the program, supported continuing it but asked for consistent installation standards after describing a problematic step that caused a fall.
Other public‑comment speakers raised procedural concerns about requiring name and address for public comment and criticized the tone of previous meetings; Pietro Rocque Camardella described the requirement as an infringement on liberties and asked the mayor to review it.
The public comment period closed after multiple speakers and the council moved to scheduled agenda business, including the sidewalk program public hearing later in the meeting. The council subsequently adopted a resolution to participate in the sidewalk cost‑sharing program and scheduled related ordinance hearings for Dec. 15.
The council did not adopt any policy changes in response to the calls for tax relief at this meeting; several commenters asked the council to study or recommend state‑level options for senior tax relief and to consider local programming to reduce blight and support cost‑burdened homeowners.
The council adjourned after routine business.
