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Nancy on Norwalk
Beth Israel Chabad presents informative music talk
An evening of solidarity with Israel will take place on Tuesday Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. when musicologist Gil Harel, Ph.D. speaks on Israeli music, plays piano, and presents a big-screen slide show in Music of Israel, Our People, Our Land at Beth Israel Chabad, 40 King St., Norwalk. Harel...
Q+A With Common Council Members By District
NancyOnNorwalk recently sent out questions to all candidates for Common Council. In the last of our 3-part series covering Board of Education and Common Council elections here are the responses from those seeking elections to represent specific districts in Norwalk. Questions were sent via email and the answers have not...
Rilling wins NPD union endorsement
Democratic Mayor Harry Rilling has once again been endorsed for reelection by the Norwalk Police Union, Local 1727. Rilling, former Norwalk Police Chief, has been endorsed by the union in each of his six campaigns for Mayor. Union President David O’Connor, in a news release, praised Rilling for his commitment to public safety and his responsiveness to the concerns of Norwalk police officers.
Common Council, District A: Nicol Ayers
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. I have 20 years in human services which has afforded me the opportunity to connected with people facing both social and economic barriers in the community. This gives me both insight and passion with my work on both Ad Hoc Sustainability and community Services Committee. As a person in executive leadership in a nonprofit I have partner with both the business community, and private and public sector and understanding the needs for strong policies aComnd procedures which guides my work in understanding the procedural requirements in Public Safety and General Government Concerns and Land Use Committees.
Common Council, District A: Jalin Sead
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. I have been working for Hocon Gas for 8 years, and I am currently the Sales Manager where we sell comfort solutions with fireplaces and other propane products. I have also served on the Fair Housing Commission for over six years, and I am currently the Chair; as well as serving on the First Taxing District Commission for over 5 years and I am also the current chair. I have a unique experience and set of skills that I believe will help me be effective from day one on the council. At Hocon I get to meet so many great Norwalk Residents, and I get to talk and learn about their lives every day. I believe that, that connection with the everyday person will help me in all of my decision making on the council. I would love to serve on the Economic and Community Development Committee, to help improve our permitting process and, I would also love to strengthen are efforts in attracting new businesses to our city with new and exciting ways. Lastly, my time on the Fair Housing and FTD commissions gives me experience of how the government works, from budgets to personal issues. With the work that I already have been doing in Fair Housing working towards a more equitable Norwalk, I would be honored to serve on the Ad-Hoc Affordable Housing Committee.
Common Council, District A: Tricia Massucco
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. As the Director of Elementary School Based Programs for The Carver, I possess a unique perspective into the everyday challenges that families face. This role has provided me with an understanding of the needs of the Norwalk community. As a council member, this understanding will be invaluable in ensuring that the decisions we make are grounded in the realities of our parents and students.
Common Council, District B: Donna Smirniotopoulos
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. I have dedicated my entire adult life to community service. I can think of no better preparation for public service than a three decade history as an unpaid community advocate with a track-record of success.
Common Council District B: Dajaun Wiggins
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. In my role as the Executive Director of the Youth Business Initiative (YBI), I am well-positioned to serve Norwalk in several impactful ways. YBI’s mission is centered on empowering underprivileged youth with essential workforce readiness and business development skills, aligning perfectly with the goals of the Community Service Committee I aspire to join. Specifically, I will actively engage in activities aimed at preparing young individuals for successful entry into the job market, facilitating community inclusion and engagement, and fostering small business growth to enhance Norwalk’s economic vitality. My commitment is to support and enrich the community through the implementation of practical initiatives and programs that benefit all residents, ensuring that every child in Norwalk has the opportunity to thrive.
Common Council, District C: Jenn McMurrer
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. As a communications professional, I feel my occupation has well suited me for the Council. I believe in transparency and clear communication between city government and constituents. I have been responsive to all constituents within the past two years when they have reached out to me. I have also implemented a monthly newsletter that I use to update neighbors on happenings around Norwalk and the work we are focusing on within the Council and City, and I also use social media to promote key items regularly going on around our area. I currently serve as chair of Public Safety and General Government, I also sit on the Adhoc Affordable Housing Committee, Finance and Claims Committee, and Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Affairs Committee.
Common Council, District C: Read Auerbach
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. As a retired fire captain of the Norwalk community, I’ve dedicated the best years of my life ensuring the safety and well-being of our families and homes. I believe that this rich history of public service equips me uniquely to serve our community in a broader capacity.
Common Council, District C: Melissa Murray
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. I am a former marketing communications professional. I believe regular outreach to our constituents is an essential component of the Council Member’s role. I have years of expertise in Training & Development, website creation, e-newsletters, and digital promotion. I will regularly report on Council updates through an e-newsletter with my running mate, Jenn McMurrer. Norwalk also has some incredible city services our busy constituents may not know about yet. I will help spotlight those important initiatives and services when needed. My communication training also makes me an adept negotiator, and I have years of experience managing budgets and rolling-out projects on time.
Common Council, District D: Jan Degenshein
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. From 1975 through 2017, I lived and worked in nearby Rockland County, NY. The lessons learned there translate to a solid experience base I bring to Norwalk. My “day job” is as an architect-planner. As the principal of my firm for the past 48 years, responsible for the firm’s financial and spiritual survival through the best and worst of economic times, I have developed a clear understanding of fiscal responsibility.
Common Council, District D: Douglas Sutton
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. I, Douglas W. Sutton, am a Retired Science Teacher from the New Canaan Public School System. My wife, Edna, and I have resided in Norwalk for 40+ years and have raised three (3) Adult-Offsprings: Karen, Craig, and Brian. As a Public School Teacher, I was a Civil/Public Servant for 35-years and sought to educate and inspire America’s Scholars and America’s future Citizen-Leaders. Fundamentally, ALL Elected Officials are, also, Public Servants who are “granted the trust of service” by the Citizen-Voters in Norwalk’s Representative Democracy. Thus, my legacy of Public/Community Service will continue.
Common Council, District D: Bryan Meek
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. 1. A. Being a CPA has prepared me well with the ability to comprehend balance sheets, fund positions, the implications of long term debt, and their operational impact. Our debt service is climbing to $45 million next year and will skyrocket in the years to come due to this administration’s spend thrift lack of concern for taxpayers money. It means we will be paving fewer streets, fixing fewer schools, and always behind the eight ball on making the sewer system sound. While WPCA is a separate legal entity, the city still has to underwrite their bonding for projects.
Common Council, District E: Denise Brown
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. My background with 20 years of Bookkeeping and working to organize youth programs has helped me pay attention to detail. I currently serve on the OHPA as Treasurer and head of the tennis committee, and I would like to serve on the Common Council.
Common Council, District E: Ernie DesRochers
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. I am a real estate finance professional with decades of experience in reviewing balance sheets, operating statements, budgets, and debt exposures. Coupled with my previous experience as Chair of the Zoning Commission and as Chair of the Oak Hills Park Authority I will bring a collective knowledge of finance and the inner workings of City Hall to the Common Council. Our debt and debt service will increase in the coming years due to capital commitments that the City has made to fund construction of new schools, sewage infrastructure, and other on-going public improvements like road paving. My experience will be important over the coming years as the days of cheap debt are over due to changing demographics (among other things). The city also needs to look at more efficient ways to manage and streamline government incorporating technology where possible and better staff positions for ordinance and code enforcement, as those last two issues are important to many constituents.
Common Council, District E: James Frayer
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. Early in my business career, I was the founder and principal of a waterfront consulting company that advised shorefront property and marina owners on permitting, environmentally responsible development, and financing opportunities. I was also the founder of the Rowayton Yacht Club which preserved an historic waterfront building in the village of Rowayton. Most of my business experience was in financial management of several large corporations and consulting companies. Prior to my retirement in 2016, I served as Senior Vice President, at Citigroup where I was responsible for managing a budget of nearly $8 billion. In 2018, I was appointed to the Board of Estimate and Taxation and participated in the reviewing the Norwalk’s operational departments and the Board of Education budgets and setting of the Mill Rate for the residential tax levy. I was appointed to fill the seat of Tom Livingston in June and have participated on the Land Use & Building, Ordinance, Economic and Community Development, and Public Works Committees.
Common Council, District E: Jay Parisi
Describe how your occupation will assist you in serving Norwalk and give three brief but specific examples, including what committees on which you hope to serve. As a past volunteer firefighter for 25 years having earned several certifications, I would like to be considered to be on the Fire Commision. Having an office on River St and seeing the chaos that has ensured in the Wall St area after reversed angled parking has been instituted I would also like to serve on the parking authority. Having had a family in the construction business and growing up and actually have worked with Norwalk’s DPW in the past, I would also like to be considered for the public works committee.
BMHS students dismissed early due to threat
Brien McMahon High School students were sent home early Thursday due to a threat, Norwalk Police said. On Thursday morning, NPD “received a report of a threatening nature being made towards students and staff of Brien McMahon High School,” a news release said. “School Resources Officers were immediately notified, and additional Officers were sent to the school to bolster security. Notification was made to the Public Safety Director of Norwalk Public Schools who placed the school into secure mode as officers checked the facility.”
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