NORWICH – At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Common Council, a second public hearing was held to gather additional input on the proposed rental registration plan. If passed, landlords of all non-owner occupied rental dwellings would have to register with the city, providing their name, address and telephone number. A local agent would have to be named if the landlord was located out of the area.

The Norwich City Court was more than usually full, as people awaited their turn to address the council. Ed Morano of Miller Street encouraged the council not to lose sight of their purpose in regards to the rental registration: improving the quality of life in the City of Norwich. He encouraged the city to stop getting input and make a decision. “I ask the city to stop just doing things right, but do the right things,” Morano said.

Other city residents disagreed with Morano. Gordon Barkley of North Broad Street explained that communication between the city and the local rental property owners needed to be improved. He encouraged more input, telling the council he thought many landlords would be willing to be on an advisory panel. Barkley did not see the need for the registry. “With the city codes and the state mandates, it would just be redundant. If the codes officers go in and do what needs to be done, this wouldn’t be a problem,” Barkley said.