NORWALK, Conn. Norwalk musician James Clark will serve a third term on the Board of Estimate and Taxation, making decisions regarding residents' pocketbooks, and construction of a new fire headquarters will continue as planned.
Those were some of the highlights of actions taken by the Common Council during a congenial meeting Tuesday night. Points of order and recesses for Democratic caucuses marked the public session, during which appointments were confirmed and money was approved for traffic signal upgrades and the repair of the Calf Pasture Beach pier, jetty and sea wall.
In summary:
Clark was named to serve another term on the Board of Estimate and Taxation in a 12-3 vote. The nomination failed at the previous council meeting because Clark did not get the 10 votes needed as a board member who has served two terms. Mayor Richard Moccia nominated him again. Anna Duleep, who says she is a close friend of Clark's, did not vote for him. "Some commissions affect our pocketbooks more directly than others," she said, referring to the BET's setting of a budget cap for the city.
A land transaction that is key to building a new Norwalk Fire Department headquarters on Connecticut Avenue (where the Volk station is now) was approved and changes were made to the construction contract for the new facility. The city will accept a grant of up to $1 million for a new emergency operations center in the headquarters. Matching funds are available in the city's coffers. "The project is simply amazing," said Democrat David Watts. "The current station is a dump ... I could not believe our firefighters were living in conditions like that."
Sidewalks will be constructed and maintained along Connecticut Avenue from the vicinity of I-95's exit 14 southbound to the Fairfield Avenue/Clinton Avenue intersection as part of the widening of I-95. Moccia has been authorized to execute a maintenance agreement between the state and the city.
More than $2 million was authorized for Phase 2 of Norwalk's traffic signal upgrade.
Up to $70,000 will be transferred from the contingency fund to the Recreation and Parks Department to pay for engineering services to repair damage to the pier, sea wall and jetty at Calf Pasture Beach from Hurricane Irene.
Moccia announced that he will appoint Democrat David Jaeger, former Common Councilman, to the Southwestern Regional Planning Agency to replace Duleep.
Gay McLeod was appointed to the Tree Advisory Committee.
David Watts, John Igneri, Anna Duleep and Andy Conroy were named to the Maritime Authority.
The next meeting of the Common Council is Jan. 10.
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