NORWICH – On the first day of the new year, the City of Norwich Common Council held an organizational meeting, appointing individuals to positions and adopting procedures.
Before the meeting began, Mayor Joseph Maiurano and Fifth Ward Alderman Paul Laughlin were sworn in. Council rules and procedures, the same used last year, were adopted.
Maiurano then appointed Second Ward Alderman Terry Bresina as Chair of the Public Safety and Public Works Committee – a post previously occupied by First Ward Alderman A. Anthony Abraham – and re-appointed Alderman Walter Shermerhorn as the Chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee. Bresina was also nominated to be President of the Council – meaning he would take on the duties of the mayor in his absence. The five aldermen present voted in favor.
Fourth Ward Alderman Robert Jeffrey was nominated for the position of Acting Mayor, meaning he would take on the duties of the mayor in the absence of the mayor and the president of the council. Neither the president of the council or the acting mayor has the authority to make any appointments or removals from office. Jeffrey was voted in with four of the five present aldermen voting in his favor. Abraham cast the opposing vote.
The council appointed Margaret Boice of 117 South Broad St. to a three-year term on the Traffic Commission, and re-appointed Robyn King, of 115 North Broad St.
Maiurano made the following appointments: James A. Haynes, Jr., of 5 Coomes St. was re-appointed to a six-year term on the Civil Service Commission. Charles Brooks, 518 Dan Main Road, was re-appointed to a three-year term on the Electrical Board. Donald Lawatsch, of 144 South Broad St. was appointed to the Housing Authority. He will finish the remainder of a five-year term, expiring in 2010, replacing Thomas Merrill. Three members were appointed to the planning board. John Bazarnik, of 36 Waite St. was re-appointed to a three-year term. Fred Goldby, 32 Mitchell St., was re-appointed as an alternate for a three-year term, and Elizabeth Bunce, of 14 Marshall St., was appointed to a three-year term. Dave Francis, of 7 Griffin St., was appointed to a three-year term on the plumbing board. Mary Rose Maiurano, of Grove Avenue, and Tom Revoir, of 5592 County Road 32. were appointed and Charleen Sastri, 77 Pleasant St., was re-appointed to three year terms on the Youth Board. Joseph Esposito, 20 Adelaide St., and John Heath, 44 Brown Ave., were re-appointed to three-year terms on the Zoning Board.
With the approval of the council, Maiurano re-appointed Stewart Chase, 24 Summit St., and Ellen Cleveland, 17 Colombia St., to three-year terms on the Parks Commission, and appointed Douglas Wilson, 202 Grayson Drive to a three-year term on the Water Board.
The Evening Sun was designated as the official newspaper, and NBT Bank, Partners Trust, JP Morgan Chase, Key Bank and Wilbur National were designated as official depositories of city funds.