Public debate stalls action at city council meeting
NORWICH – Following three public hearings that resulted in little public support for city action, one proposed ordinance was turned down by city legislators on Thursday while another passed, and a third was tabled until a 2014 city budget is presented.
In light of what some city residents called an unfair shift of the tax burden, council members deliberated before passing a resolution to provide a partial tax exemption for residents age 65 and older. The new law will allow elderly residents below a certain income threshold to be exempt of a percentage of property taxes; but residents argued other tax payers will be strained to make up the difference.
According to City Treasurer Bill Roberts, only 72 of a total 2,375 taxable parcels in the city are eligible for the exemption, resulting in a loss of approximately $6,500 annually. The tax levy increase will be distributed to residents city-wide, meaning each taxpayer can expect to pay an additional $2.84 over the course of the year.
Despite the nominal tax increase, “It’s not a good time to give away tax breaks,” argued city resident Jason Miller. “I know many seniors are on a fixed income and have a lot of challenges, but you are really shifting the tax burden ... I would encourage the council to not agree with this ordinance.”
“I understand that you’re trying to help the community’s senior citizens,” added resident Rich Barnes, “but we can not give tax break after tax break. We can not afford it ... We can’t keep pushing the burden on smaller tax payers.”
Ward Three Alderman John Deierlein commented prior to a vote that although “the intent of the law is good,” he agrees there’s no merit in putting more liability on the majority of city taxpayers to help a few. Conversely, Ward Two Alderman Terry Bresina said, the city “should take care of the elderly community who have been here for years and years.”
The resolution was passed on a three to three vote from the council and a tie-breaking approval from Mayor Joseph Maiurano.
While the motion to provide a tax exemption for seniors was contested among officials, the Common Council unanimously agreed to table a second resolution to adopt a local law to override the state mandated two percent property tax cap, pending completion of the 2014 city budget which city officials hope to have by the end of November.
“It’s absurd to pass a law in anticipation that the budget will exceed the tax cap,” Miller said during a separate public comment session, further urging law makers to look at the budget before passing a motion to override the cap.
City Mayor Maiurano stated adoption of a law to override the tax cap is merely a measure of caution. “It doesn’t mean we are going to have a budget that exceeds the tax cap,” he said. “It’s just procedural to try to protect ourselves.”
A third resolution brought before the council was also debated. Council members ultimately denied a resolution to change local traffic laws that would allow the move of a public transit bus stop from its current location on East Park Place to a new location on West Main Street.
Debate over the location of the bus stop for the First Transit Bus Service has been ongoing since 2010. Its current location outside Park Place Restaurant has been contested by the restaurant owner who says it is a disruption to business.
However, moving the bus stop to West Main Street, while plausible for First Transit, was met with objection from the Guernsey Memorial Library Board who said it presents a safety issue near a key street crossing near the library.
Paul Brewer, general manager of the First Transit Bus Services in Norwich, said the company would like to keep its bus stops near East and West parks.
“We have had several meetings with the city to find an alternative,” Brewer said, recalling a past option to move the bus stop to Broad Street that did not come to fruition. “The most recent (meeting) was to move the stop to West Main, alongside the light.”
Brewer also noted another alternative of having the bus stop at the Tops Plaza that wouldn’t work because it removes the transit busses from the hub of the city. Likewise, an option to put the stop on West Park Place, where a separate bus stop currently exists, wouldn’t work because due to limited space. Busses would surpass the corner of West Park Place and interfere with traffic on North Broad Street, he said.
Without a clear solution, council members voted down the resolution in a five to one vote.
In light of what some city residents called an unfair shift of the tax burden, council members deliberated before passing a resolution to provide a partial tax exemption for residents age 65 and older. The new law will allow elderly residents below a certain income threshold to be exempt of a percentage of property taxes; but residents argued other tax payers will be strained to make up the difference.
According to City Treasurer Bill Roberts, only 72 of a total 2,375 taxable parcels in the city are eligible for the exemption, resulting in a loss of approximately $6,500 annually. The tax levy increase will be distributed to residents city-wide, meaning each taxpayer can expect to pay an additional $2.84 over the course of the year.
Despite the nominal tax increase, “It’s not a good time to give away tax breaks,” argued city resident Jason Miller. “I know many seniors are on a fixed income and have a lot of challenges, but you are really shifting the tax burden ... I would encourage the council to not agree with this ordinance.”
“I understand that you’re trying to help the community’s senior citizens,” added resident Rich Barnes, “but we can not give tax break after tax break. We can not afford it ... We can’t keep pushing the burden on smaller tax payers.”
Ward Three Alderman John Deierlein commented prior to a vote that although “the intent of the law is good,” he agrees there’s no merit in putting more liability on the majority of city taxpayers to help a few. Conversely, Ward Two Alderman Terry Bresina said, the city “should take care of the elderly community who have been here for years and years.”
The resolution was passed on a three to three vote from the council and a tie-breaking approval from Mayor Joseph Maiurano.
While the motion to provide a tax exemption for seniors was contested among officials, the Common Council unanimously agreed to table a second resolution to adopt a local law to override the state mandated two percent property tax cap, pending completion of the 2014 city budget which city officials hope to have by the end of November.
“It’s absurd to pass a law in anticipation that the budget will exceed the tax cap,” Miller said during a separate public comment session, further urging law makers to look at the budget before passing a motion to override the cap.
City Mayor Maiurano stated adoption of a law to override the tax cap is merely a measure of caution. “It doesn’t mean we are going to have a budget that exceeds the tax cap,” he said. “It’s just procedural to try to protect ourselves.”
A third resolution brought before the council was also debated. Council members ultimately denied a resolution to change local traffic laws that would allow the move of a public transit bus stop from its current location on East Park Place to a new location on West Main Street.
Debate over the location of the bus stop for the First Transit Bus Service has been ongoing since 2010. Its current location outside Park Place Restaurant has been contested by the restaurant owner who says it is a disruption to business.
However, moving the bus stop to West Main Street, while plausible for First Transit, was met with objection from the Guernsey Memorial Library Board who said it presents a safety issue near a key street crossing near the library.
Paul Brewer, general manager of the First Transit Bus Services in Norwich, said the company would like to keep its bus stops near East and West parks.
“We have had several meetings with the city to find an alternative,” Brewer said, recalling a past option to move the bus stop to Broad Street that did not come to fruition. “The most recent (meeting) was to move the stop to West Main, alongside the light.”
Brewer also noted another alternative of having the bus stop at the Tops Plaza that wouldn’t work because it removes the transit busses from the hub of the city. Likewise, an option to put the stop on West Park Place, where a separate bus stop currently exists, wouldn’t work because due to limited space. Busses would surpass the corner of West Park Place and interfere with traffic on North Broad Street, he said.
Without a clear solution, council members voted down the resolution in a five to one vote.
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