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Common Council members Doug Hempstead, Richard Bonenfant, Andy Conroy, Kelly Straniti and others found themselves in a much different environment Monday night, as they met casually in the West Rocks Middle School library instead of the formal Common Council Chambers at City Hall.
Council president Hempstead said he called the second "Coffee with the Common Council" in part to introduce members to the public. "Also the purpose is to get feedback from them, negative and positive," he said. "Complaints are good. We need to understand what's happening in our city to make decisions."
Bob Grundman, one of about 20 residents in attendance, had a suggestion.
"I would like to see the city take action to control the cost of government and the property taxes," he said, suggesting new contracts for new employees, with changes in pension plans and medical benefits. "I'd like to see us try to reduce the employees by 10 percent," Grundman said.
Council members explained that salaries have been capped, that new employees don't get the same contracts as their predecessors and that the unions are cooperating with cost-cutting measures. "As far as cutting 10 percent of the city's workforce, it's kind of been done already," Bonenfant said.
"The next step would be to cut services," Conroy said.
Hempstead said Norwalk is doing well, given the economic climate. "Overall, the city of Norwalk, compared to other communities, is in damn good financial position," he said. "Other cities are going bankrupt. Our bonding is still great."
Grundman promised to bring the topic up again. "I feel that if enough people bring up the subject of taxes and changes, it increases the possibility something might be done," he said.
Hempstead said he hopes to hold more informal meetings after the holidays. "We're trying to get people engaged in government," he said. "People need to be re-engaged in a local level."
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