Once Around the City: Time to get back to work

Updated 12:45 p.m. with DTC District B caucus site

NORWALK, Conn. – The weather forecast for Tuesday calls for more frigid temperatures – single digits again – but things should be considerably warmer at the Board of Education meeting.

Much of the BOE meeting will be devoted to Superintendent Manny Rivera’s 2014-2017 budget presentation. The operating budget calls for a 3.6 percent hike in 2014-2015 – in dollars, $168,118,385, a $5,846,521 increase over the current year. The capital budget request is for $5,797,450, including $2,358,200 for Common Core implementation and $1,725,000 for enhancements to school security.

The operating budget reflects union salary increases mandated in the 2012 arbitration settlement that froze wages in the current contract.

The public comment period precedes the presentation. The meeting starts at 7:45 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall, 125 East Ave.

Stepping out with the mayor

Mayor Harry W. Rilling will host his second Mayor’s Night Out at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the East Norwalk Library, 51 Van Zant St. Department heads will be in attendance. The first such meeting in December also brought out some Common Council members.

The monthly events are intended to provide a forum for members of the public to have access to the city’s leaders where then can ask questions and make comments – civilly, of course.

Brown bagging with The Man

Earlier Wednesday, those citizens interested in hearing from and giving feedback to the Norwalk Police Department can attend the monthly Brown Bag Luncheon with the chief and his deputies. The luncheon is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Police Headquarters Community Room, 1 Monroe St.

Party time!

What? In the middle of the week?

That’s right, complete with party hats and favors, except that “hats” are either red or blue and the favors are of the political variety. The Norwalk Republican Town Committee will hold its nominating caucus at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday  at the Norwalk Inn. It’s open to all registered Norwalk Republican voters, who can cast their vote for their district representatives to the RTC.

Then, Thursday night, it’s the Democrats’ turn. Rather than centralize things, the Dems will caucus in each district:

• A: Kendall Elementary School, 57 Fillow St.

• B: Grace Baptist Church, 17 West Ave.

• C: Nathan Hale Middle School, 176 Strawberry Hill Road

• D: Norwalk Senior Center, 11 Allen Road

• E: Fox Run Elementary School, 28 Fillow St.

Starting time is 7:30 p.m.

There is a list of candidates who will be on the ballot (The-2014-DTC-candidates), but Democrats may become candidates at the caucus. New caucus-night candidates become write-in candidates on the ballot. Any Democrat in the district may participate in the caucus. They will be checked in on an official “Checker List” just as in a general election or primary.

Post-election meet and greet

The League of Women Voters of Norwalk is hosting an event that will give members of the public a chance to meet Norwalk’s elected officials. All are invited to attend from 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, in the parish hall behind the First Congregational Church on the Green on Park Street. There’s parking behind the church on Lewis Street, near the entrance to the parish hall.

The event is free and light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the League at [email protected] or 203-394-1710.