Correction, April 9: Library Board appointments require Council approval.
NORWALK, Conn. – Some political notes for you:
- Final city-wide master plan draft expected in May
- DTC’s Thomas chosen for Zoning
- Brinton’s latest tool: former RTC Facebook page
POCD final draft expected
The Planning Commission “spent the better part of two evenings” going over an executive summary of the drafted 10-year master plan for the City, otherwise called a Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD), and finished up their final recommendations and edits, Planning and Zoning Director Steven Kleppin told Council members Thursday.
“I think it’s more wordsmithing than it is substantive,” Kleppin said. “There’s three sections that required a little more work.”
The Commission also used “80%” of changes requested by the Harbor Management Commission, and the edits were sent to Stantec, the City’s consultant, the week of March 25, Kleppin said.
“I anticipate a few weeks to make the changes, he said. The resultant final draft will go to the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WCCOG) and the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM).
Council members should get the draft in May and perhaps be able to vote on it in June, according to Kleppin, who added that the Harbor Management Commission will have the opportunity to comment on the plan.
The City is required by law to update its master plan every 10 years. Norwalk’s last POCD was approved in 2008.
The Council could choose to hold a public hearing on the draft, Kleppin said, warning them that they don’t have the final say.
If the Council refuses the plan, the Planning Commission could approve it via a two-thirds majority vote per state statute, Kleppin said.
DTC officer Thomas headed for Zoning
Former District 143 State Representative candidate Stephanie Thomas has been chosen by Rilling to serve on the Zoning Commission.
The Council will vote on this appointment Tuesday.
Thomas is Democratic Town Committee deputy treasurer. She lost the State Rep contest to incumbent Republican Gail Lavielle, who got 51.55% of the vote, and is founder and president of Stetwin Consulting, which specializes in fundraising and event planning for non-profit organizations.
Also up for appointment Tuesday is Casey Fitzpatrick for the Human Relations Commission. Set to be reappointed to the Norwalk Public Library Board of Trustees are former Mayor Alex Knopp, Ralph Bloom and Tyrone McClain.
Parking Authority Chairman Dick Brescia and Water Pollution Control Authority members Darren Oustafine and Frederika Bikakis Hajian are also set for reappointment.
Facebook page changes name again
Unaffiliated Mayoral candidate Lisa Brinton is posting on a Facebook page titled “The Norwalk Resistance,” which is liked by 670 people and followed by 686 people.
A quick look at the About page for The Norwalk Resistance shows that it was formerly called Responsible Norwalk.
Responsible Norwalk started as the Republican Town Committee page; in mid-2016 it was renamed and was under the control of former Common Council member David McCarthy.
“I am not administering the page,” Brinton wrote Thursday. “I post from time to time.”
NancyOnNorwalk asked Brinton who gave her posting rights. She responded:
“The permission could have come from any of a number of people I know… In any event – My personal ‘Norwalk Resistance’ is pretty obvious and focused on just one individual – Harry Rilling. However, I mainly just post on my own FB page and Norwalk Zoning Matters. For example, I was very busy today – following the Chamber Dinner and the governor’s statement regarding his willingness to reconsider the Walk Bridge. It was very heartening.”
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