  |
|---|
| HOME | ABOUT US... | CITY HALL NEWS | LOCAL NEWS | MEETINGS - FUNCTIONS | VOTERS INFORMATION | CONTACT US | CONTRIBUTIONS | LINKS |
|
DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ~B~ COMMITTEE SOUTH NORWALK OFFICIAL SITE Robert Burgess, Chairman Sylvester Maultsby, Vice-Chair Al Ayme, Secretary Mary R. Geake, Corresponding Secretary Yvonne Rodriguez, Treasurer We appreciate your contributions. Please send contributions payable to: DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT ~B~ COMMITTEE ~click here~ STATE OF THE CITY | '2005 - '2007 STATE OF THE CITY | '2007 - Present CT. STATE NEWS | ISSUES NATIONAL NEWS | ISSUES MAILING LIST EVENTS | PICTURES VIEW | POST - BLOG STREET MAP OF SOUTH NORWALK |
|
PRESS RELEASES VOLUNTEER to join our team of members and government officials. You can make a difference. We are glad to hear from Norwalk residents with their ideas, suggestions and/or concerns, and those who recognize the importance of engaging dynamic participation in the political process. |
|
SOUTH NORWALK BUSINESS OWNERS AT "WITS END" WITH PARKING PROBLEMS IN "SONO" AREA. IS THERE ANYONE WATCHING
THE "STORE" IN THE CITY OF NORWALK? Friday, August 15, 2008. On Thursday morning, white bags reading “No Parking, City of Norwalk” went over parking meters that street, ushering in a weekend, valet service aimed at alleviating parking pressures during work on the nearby Haviland Deck. By late afternoon, the bags had been removed. “We pulled the plug. Basically, (the plan) was sabotaged. Everybody pulled the bags off the meters we needed. Obviously, if removing the bags is any (indication of the) level of interest in the program, I think the answer (about its future) is quite evident,” said Frank Del Monaco, director of municipal services for LAZ Parking. “No good deed goes unpunished. As far as I’m concerned, we’re doing everything we can. We lowered the (evening) rate at Maritime Garage by 66 percent.” Under the valet plan, now apparently defunct, four parking meters in front of Ocean Drive and six meters on the opposite side of Washington Street were to be bagged Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons to create a pick-up area for valet service after 5 p.m. For $10, motorists could have their vehicles taken by valet service and parked at the nearby North Water Street parking lot. After 5 p.m. on those days, the North Water Street facility, a nearby 43-space municipal lot, would be used for valet parking and self-parking would be prohibited. The plan was part of an effort to alleviate parking pressures during the overhaul of the Haviland Deck, a 280-space municipal parking facility on Haviland Street. At the Maritime Garage, for instance, the after-5 p.m. rate has been lowered from $3 to $1 — a 66-percent reduction. Several SoNo merchants, however, weren’t pleased with the plan for valet parking on the weekends, which they said would take away on-street parking during the afternoon since the “No Parking” bags must be placed over the meters at least two hours before the 5 p.m. start time for the valet service. Further, the valet service was to cost $10 and eliminate use of the North Water Street lot for first-come, first-served parking after 5 p.m. on the three days. “It’s $10 a pop every time. My customers will pay, but it’s wrong. We’re advising customers not to use it.” said Joe Bruno, owner of Pasta Nostra at 116 Washington St., early Thursday afternoon, before LAZ Parking canned the plan. And, “They’re taking 43 spaces of inventory (away).” Bruno was one of a number of SoNo business owners to receive an e-mail from LAZ Parking Ltd. announcing the introduction of the valet service for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, starting at 5 p.m. According to Del Monaco, the plan was to go before the city’s Traffic Authority next week. Bruno was not the only SoNo merchant torqued over the plan. Joining him Thursday afternoon on Washington Street were Neil Monaster-sky, manager of the Bulldog Bar & Grill; Haszen Khalil of And Company, Inc.; Dick Peffenbach of the Higgins Group Real Estate; Larry Pellegrini of Pellegrini Jewelers; and Gina Mon-tanaro, owner of Hair Shop SoNo. “My clientele comes in for a haircut and color,” said Montanaro, referring to afternoon customers who park on the street at the meters that were to be bagged. “Sometimes they’re here for more than two hours.” Last week, Bruno and owners of two other Washington Street businesses met in SoNo with Del Monaco and Kathryn R. Hebert, administrative services manager at the Public Works Department. Bruno and Del Monaco gave differing accounts of the outcome of that meeting. Bruno said business owners offered to hire a valet service and run buses, at their expense, from Washington Street to various parking facilities, including the Maritime Garage. “We restaurants who are running it would have paid for it. We shouldn’t be taking the (metered and North Water Street lot) spaces away,” Bruno said. Instead “a unilateral decision was made by the city.” Del Monaco, however, said hiring a private firm would pose liability issues and hurdles for the city. LAZ Parking continued next column..... |
|
already offers valet services, such as at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk during special events, he said. “We believe that by offering a valet service for the benefit of the entire Washington Street district, it will be to everyone’s benefit,” said Del Monaco earlier Thursday, before the plan was yanked. “Now of course, you don’t have to valet your car. If you want to park it yourself at the Maritime Garage for $1 (after 5 p.m.), it’s two-tenths of a mile from Washington Street.” According to Del Monaco, the North Water lot has little turnover after 5 p.m. and was best suited for valet parking, which will allow cars to be stacked — double-parked by valets and attendants, increasing lot capacity. Del Monaco acknowledged that LAZ Parking erred Thursday morning in placing “No Parking” bags over all Washington Street meters Thursday — the bags on the west end of the street were later removed. Arnie D’Angelo, owner of Bacchus at 120 Washington St., described the valet parking plan as a “little overzealous” in that it would eliminate the North Street lot for general parking during valet services. At the same time, D’Angelo offered that he was willing to see how it worked. “We’re all optimistic; we hope it works. Let’s hope it doesn’t take six months to get this (Haviland Deck) project done,” D’Angelo said. RAM Construction Services, the city’s approved contractor for the Haviland Deck overhaul, has 120 days to complete the project or face penalties, according to public works officials. During the construction, Haviland Deck permit holders are able to park at the Maritime Garage using access cards. DISTRICT ~B~ DEMS SEEK ALL DOCUMENTS ON TRASH HAULING CONTROVERSY Norwalk By Robert Koch, Hour Staff Writer District B Democrats have requested "all sent and received information" regarding the municipal trash hauling debate from .Mayor Richard A. Moccia, Common Council members and more than a dozen City Hall employees. "This in connection with trash management. trash hauling, trash disposal. public works, health and safety for the city of Norwalk. Including, but not limited to: City Carting and Recycling, Inc and Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority (CRRA) and including, but not limited to, Meadow Street Transfer Station Facility Crescent Street Transfer Station Facl1itv and Silvermine Transfer Station Facility," reads the introduction to the five-page request filed under the Freedom of Information Act and written on District B Democrat.' letterhead. The request. dated Aug. 8 and addressed to Assistant Corporation Counsel Linda Guliuzza stemmed from a special meeting of District B Democrats, according to Distinct B chairman Bobby Burgess. Burgess otherwise limited his comments about the information request. "(Republicans) opened the barn, s0 I think we have a right to look into the barn and see what's in there Burgess said. "We're going to wait to see what they find out." The information request comes two weeks after the Common Council approved a five year, $13-million contract with City Carting to handle solid· waste disposal for the city using the Crescent Street transfer station. Seven of nine council Democrats voted against the contract arguing that it and alternatives hadn't been adequately studied. Moccia, a Republican who cast the tie-breaking \'ote to adopt the City Carting proposal, labeled the District B Democrats' information request overly broad and political retaliation. “The Corporation Counsel is reviewing (the District B Democrats' request). I understand openness in 'government but this is abuse of the Freedom of Information Act. We're checking with our law department whether this is too broad. We're talking about thousands of pages and hundreds of man hours:" Moccia said. "This is retaliation for the (Republican) Freedom of Information Act request. But we will comply with the law." On July 24, two days after the council approved the contract. the Republican Town Committee requested from Democratic Councilwoman Amanda M. continued next column..... |
|
Brown. under the information act, "all correspondence, documents and communications" regarding the city's waste-hauling contracts and selection of transfer stations.
Republicans charged that Brown had "inappropriate communications" with CRRA. The·firm holds the city's current trash·hauling contract through Dec. 31 and did not bid for the successor contract. The District B Democrats' request seeks letters. e-mails and other correspondence about the trash~hauling matter from Moccia, council members, members of the council's public works and health committees employees of the city, law department. the director' of finance. director of health. director of public works, director of purchasing, city clerk and "all consultants and/or any independent contractors hired on behalf of the city of Norwalk." Councilman Carvin J. Hilliard, a District B Democrat, said he supports the information request and its inclusion of numerous people. "We need to know as much about what happened as possible. I think the public has a right. in this instance, because I think the powers that be could have been more forthright." Hilliard said. "I think the idea is to include everybody so that way it doesn't look political." Councilman Michael K. Geake. another District B Democrat and one of two council members to vote for the City Carting contract July 22, said he learned about the information request from his wife. Mary Geake. also a District B Democrat. attended a Special meeting of District B Democrats last Wednesday at which the matter was discussed. he said. Michael Geake said he spent the weekend gathering the requested information. "Whole bunches of e· mails, constituents contacting me and different members of the council. everything that I had. related to the trash contract," said Geake describing the information he has. '"I cannot imagine them finding anything. I know I have nothing that (District B Democrats) be real interested in." On July :31. Brown met with Deputy corporation Counsel M. Jeffry Spahr to discuss the information request filed by the Republican Town Committee; Brown submitted. among other items, e·mails between herself and state Rep, Bruce Morris, D-140. In a press conference outside City Hall afterward, Brown said she got CRRA quotes for trash hauling through Morris and Claimed she was being "slapped around" by the Republican administration for speaking up against the (City Carting) trash-hauling contract. Hour Staff Writer Steve Kobak contributed to this story MAYOR MOCCIA DELAYING TACTICS TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY IN CITY GOVERNMENT. IT DEFIES THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CONNECTICUT (1-220 OPEN GOVERNMENT) August 20, 2008 M. Jeffry Spahr Assistant Corporation Counsel City Hall 125 East Avenue Norwalk CT 06851-5125 Dear Mr. Spahr: We hereby acknowledge receipt of the letter from Robert F. Maslan. Esq. Corporation Counsel for the city of Norwalk dated August 12, 2008 where Mr. Maslan indicated that you will be out of the office for a period of two weeks, though you may appear in the office sporadically. This letter will serve as our response to your letter dated August 18, 2008. In the spirit of cooperation we are glad to offer a suggestion in order to achieve a smooth and expeditious transition and progress for a prompt delivery of the requested documents under the FOI letter dated August 8, 2008. continued page 10.....  «««PREVIOUS NEXT»»» |
| NORWALK'S REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION IS FAILING TOO MANY OF ITS CITIZENS |
|---|