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3 hours ago

Norwich council hearing leaves most department budgets unchanged; NCDC, marketing and veterans support see small boosts City staff described a largely status‑quo set of departmental budgets, with increases tied to Norwich Community Development grants, a modest $2,000 marketing line, and a $4,000 veterans observance offset; council members urged a fairer system for community event support.

Norwich City Council's budget hearing revealed a largely status quo financial plan, but with notable increases for community development and marketing—what's next for this evolving city?

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #VeteransServices #CommunitySupport

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1 week ago

Norwich council probes fire budget as city pushes unified command and plans alerting upgrade Councilors pressed city leaders on a consolidated volunteer-fire funding line, a lawsuit with four volunteer companies and a planned station alerting system the city estimates could cost $400,000–$500,000 while the capital plan currently shows a $100,000 placeholder.

Norwich City Council is grappling with a pressing fire budget crisis that could reshape volunteer services and fix a failing alert system, with costs soaring up to $500,000.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #VolunteerFirefighters #CitizenPortal #PublicSafetyBudget #EmergencyServices

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1 week ago

Norwich Public Schools proposes 5.9% budget increase as special-education costs climb Superintendent told the council the proposed $101.0 million schools budget (about a 5.9% increase) assumes volatile state reimbursements while district programs such as Rose City School and Resilience aim to reduce expensive outplacements that have risen about 11% for the top ten cases.

Norwich Public Schools is proposing a $101 million budget to tackle soaring special education costs and revamp school facilities—could this be the turning point for district funding?

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CommunityEngagement #SpecialEducationCosts #NorwichPublicSchools

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2 weeks ago

Committee authorizes purchase orders for Stanton Elementary furniture and technology after vendors quote higher tech cost The committee authorized purchase orders for Stanton Elementary’s mission-critical furniture and technology packages. The fully quoted technology package rose to $746,888.30, about $93,836.97 above the earlier estimate; committee approved issuing POs for the time-sensitive items and asked staff to return with remaining quotes.

The Norwich Building Committee has approved critical purchases for Stanton Elementary, as technology costs surged by nearly $94,000—are they making the right call?

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #CommunityInvestment #SchoolFunding #EducationTechnology

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2 weeks ago

Norwich updates: Stanton and Greenville projects report major progress and revised schedules Staff and contractors reported masonry completion, rooftop mechanical installations, switchgear shipping, and adjusted start dates for some packages; Stanton and Greenville expenditures were reported and tours and public updates were scheduled.

Exciting updates from Norwich: major milestones reached in school construction projects, with new schedules and public outreach plans in motion!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CommunityEngagement #NorwichSchools #CitizenPortal #PublicOutreach

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2 weeks ago

Norwich building committee approves grouped change orders as projects move toward construction The Norwich Building Committee approved packaged change orders for multiple school projects and consent items after staff outlined assorted credits, coordination-driven cost additions and schedule-driven premium-time charges. Votes were taken by roll call and motions passed.

The Norwich Building Committee has officially green-lighted significant changes to school construction projects, balancing credits with necessary cost adjustments for a smoother build process.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #NorwichSchools #CitizenPortal #CommunityInvestment

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2 weeks ago

Planning commission approves conversion of vacant Norwich nursing home into 53 apartments The Norwich Planning Commission unanimously approved a site plan to convert the shuttered nursing home at 60 Crouch Avenue into 53 multifamily apartments, with conditions that allow staff to approve limited additional lighting if needed; the developer said it hopes to close next month and begin renovations this year.

The Norwich Planning Commission has given the green light to transform a vacant nursing home into 53 modern apartments, breathing new life into a space that has remained dormant since a tragic COVID-19 outbreak.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #AdaptiveReuse #NorwichHousing

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2 weeks ago

Commission approves Norwich site changes to cap contaminated soils, add parking at Panema South Mill The commission approved a site modification at 555 Norwich Avenue that adds a 320-foot retaining wall, paved parking above an engineered control to cap contaminated soils from a former manufactured gas plant, and raised planter boxes; DEP approval and an environmental use restriction on the deed were discussed.

The Norwich Planning Commission just approved a major modification at the Panema South Mill site, adding a 320-foot retaining wall and paving over contaminated soils to make way for more parking spaces!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #UrbanPlanning #PublicSafety

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1 month ago

America's 250 Norwich Committee details monuments, programs and $50,000 Sachem Fund support The America's 250 Norwich Committee outlined plans for monuments, interpretive markers, a Primus mural, tree plantings and community events to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, and said it has received $50,000 from the Sachem Fund to support installations and programming.

Norwich is gearing up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with exciting monuments, murals, and community events aimed at honoring its rich history and diverse stories.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #InclusiveHistory #PublicArt

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1 month ago

Norwich council amends BUILD grant request, approves reduced federal ask for Occam Industrial Center access Council voted to authorize the city manager to file a U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD grant application, approving an amendment that reduced the requested federal share from 10,040,453 to $8,366,000.597, citing a narrowed project scope and available local match.

Norwich City Council has taken a significant step towards enhancing access to the Occam Industrial Center by amending their BUILD grant request to better align with project needs and local funding capabilities.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #NorwichIndustrial #TrafficSafety

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1 month ago

Norwich commission clears Towne Street storytelling mural and cemetery interpretive panel The Norwich Historic District Commission approved a mural at 55 Town Street and an accompanying interpretive panel for the Norwich burying ground. Presenters tied the project to a local slave narrative about Primus Arms; organizers committed to maintenance and community involvement.

A powerful new mural honoring Primus Arms, an enslaved Norwich resident, will tell his family's story of resilience and service, bridging history and community engagement.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CommunityInvolvement #CitizenPortal #PublicArt #CulturalEducation

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1 month ago

Norwich residents denounce shutdown of Yantic volunteer fire company, demand restoration and transparency Dozens of residents urged Norwich City Council to restore the Yantic Fire Engine Company and criticized city managers and the paid fire chief for removing apparatus without clear public justification; speakers cited safety, training, petitions and costs tied to overtime.

Norwich residents are rallying to restore the Yantic Fire Engine Company after city officials abruptly removed critical apparatus, sparking fears for community safety and igniting a petition with over 2,000 signatures.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #VolunteerFirefighters

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3 months ago

Norwich council approves higher bonds, grants to repair two water-storage tanks The Norwich City Council approved two ordinances increasing revenue bond authorizations for upgrades to two city water tanks — the Stanley Israelite and Antigua tanks — citing inspection findings, inflation and the opportunity to capture 50% state grants. Norwich Public Utilities said worst-case homeowner impact is minimal and both measures passed unanimously.

Norwich City Council has unanimously approved significant funding to upgrade aging water tanks, promising minimal cost impact for residents while tapping into state grants for crucial repairs.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CommunityFunding #NorwichWater #EnvironmentalSafety

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3 months ago

Greenville, Stanton and Moriarty projects advance; Greenville blasting and foundation work complete Project managers reported steady progress across multiple school construction sites: Stanton interior finishes are advancing, Greenville completed blasting (93 blasts) and perimeter footings, and masonry and steel work are scheduled for early January; schedule targets remain conditional on winter work and permitting.

Despite winter challenges, major school construction projects in Norwich are making significant strides with blasting complete and essential groundwork underway!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CommunityProgress #PublicSafety #CitizenPortal

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3 months ago

Historic District Commission approves demolition of fire-damaged Otis Street property The Norwich Historic District Commission unanimously approved COA 59937 to demolish a structurally unsound, fire-damaged building at Otis Street after the applicant and contractors described extensive damage and a structural memo and fire-marshal safety directive supported removal.

The Norwich Historic District Commission has approved the demolition of a dangerous fire-damaged property on Otis Street, paving the way for a fresh start in the historic neighborhood.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #HistoricPreservation #PublicSafety #CitizenPortal

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3 months ago

State denies reimbursement for central-office plan; committee to seek legislative fix The Norwich Building Committee was told the state rejected a grant for the proposed central-office/Adult Ed component because including adult education within a central-office facility makes the whole project ineligible for reimbursement. Staff said they will pursue a legislative remedy while continuing procurement work and assessing budget options.

The Norwich Building Committee faces a major setback as the state denies funding for their central-office facility due to its adult-education component, leaving them to navigate costly options ahead.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CommunityEngagement #LegislativeReform

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4 months ago

Norwich planning commission previews sweeping zoning rewrite, files draft for public review The Norwich Commission on the City Plan reviewed a comprehensive draft of new zoning regulations that would reintroduce R-10/R-15 residential zones, create a government-facilities district, set new parking, landscaping and signage rules, and add a Medical Mixed-Use District; staff said the draft will be filed with the clerk on Dec. 8 for council referral and public hearing.

Big changes are coming to Norwich's zoning laws with a comprehensive draft set to improve residential zones, streamline regulations, and enhance public spaces!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CommunityDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #NorwichZoning #PublicPolicy #CitizenPortal

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5 months ago

State requests force revisions to Norwich grant applications; teachers’ middle-school enrollment report and adult-education eligibility stall approvals Norwich staff told the committee that state reviewers asked for additional enrollment documentation and clarified that adult education spaces are not reimbursable in the central office grant application, leaving that application rejected and the Teachers Middle School grant awaiting a revised enrollment report and possibly legislative remedies.

Norwich's grant applications face delays as the state demands crucial enrollment reports and clarifies funding rules for adult education, leaving the future of both projects in jeopardy.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #NorwichEducation #GrantApprovals

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5 months ago

Norwich committee hears construction progress; beam-raising moved up after accelerated steel work Construction managers reported steady progress at Greenville and Stanton schools, including a poured suspended second-floor slab at Stanton and accelerated steel erection at Greenville that prompted the committee to move up a ceremonial beam-raising. Schedule impacts from additional pre-blast surveys and late electrical equipment delivery were also

Exciting progress at Greenville and Stanton schools as the beam-raising ceremony gets moved up due to accelerated construction—find out how this impacts the timeline!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #NorwichSchools #CommunitySafety #EducationInnovation

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5 months ago

Norwich Board of Education votes 9–1 to hire DRA for middle school and central office projects After an executive session to review RFP scores, the Norwich Board of Education voted 9–1 to hire DRA Architects to design a new Teachers Middle School and renovate the Huntington Central Office. The superintendent and several board members cited DRA's prior work on district projects, familiarity with the Huntington building and involvement with a[

The Norwich Board of Education has made a significant move by hiring DRA Architects for the exciting new Teachers Middle School and the renovation of the Huntington Central Office, following a decisive 9–1 vote.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #NorwichEducation

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5 months ago

Norwich commission approves seasonal evening‑hour extension for Saint Vincent de Paul Place to bridge gap before warming centers The Commission on the City Plan approved a modification to Saint Vincent de Paul Place’s special permit to allow extended evening hours seasonally (Dec. 1–Mar. 15) and on days when the governor activates the cold‑weather emergency protocol. The change is limited to the specific activities listed in the recorded permit and was approved with standard

Norwich's Commission on the City Plan has just approved extended evening hours for Saint Vincent de Paul Place, ensuring warmth and safety for those in need during the coldest months of the year!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CommunitySupport

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6 months ago

Fettis Engineering Presents Revised Site Plans for Wetland Development in Connecticut Fettis Engineering addresses town engineer's comments on wetland site plans for residential lots.

A pivotal meeting in Norwich revealed a detailed blueprint for sustainable development that aims to protect the city's precious wetlands while accommodating growth.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #SustainableDevelopment #NorwichEnvironment #CommunityTransparency

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6 months ago

Historic District Commission Approves Deck Replacement at Mediterranean Lane Commission unanimously approves deck replacement application at Mediterranean Lane during public hearing.

The Historic District Commission in Norwich just approved a deck replacement at Mediterranean Lane, showcasing their commitment to community involvement and transparency in local decision-making.

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6 months ago

DL Companies proposes 29,000 square foot parking lot for beverage delivery at Wisconsin Avenue BL Companies presents plans for a parking lot to support beverage delivery operations.

Norwich City Council has approved an ambitious plan for a 29,000 square foot parking lot, set to boost local business operations and enhance community accessibility.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CommunityAccessibility #CitizenPortal #NorwichEconomicDevelopment

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6 months ago

Project Team Advances Early Electrical Prepurchase Package and Construction Document Updates Team distributes reports and schedules as they refine early electrical packages for construction.

Norwich's School Building Committee is making strides in the construction of new school facilities, focusing on crucial electrical components to keep the project on track!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #NorwichSchools #CommunityProgress #EducationInnovation

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6 months ago

Design Team Discusses Security Features and Materials for School Construction Projects Team outlines aluminum materials and bullet-resilient glass for new school buildings.

Norwich's School Building Committee is revolutionizing safety and design in education with innovative materials and bullet-resilient glass for new schools!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #NorwichSchools #CommunityResources #EducationReform

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6 months ago

Construction Update: Downs Construction Accelerates Blasting Schedule in Greenville Project Downs Construction speeds up blasting activities and prepares for modular wall installation in Greenville.

Downs Construction is ramping up blasting operations at the Greenville site, a crucial step that could reshape the timeline for Norwich's school improvements!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #NorwichSchools #CommunityCommunication #EducationInvestment

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6 months ago

Construction Teams Review Utility Connections and Material Choices for UNKUS and Moriarty Projects Teams evaluate utility connections and exterior materials for UNKUS and Moriarty construction projects.

Exciting developments are underway at Norwich City Hall as the School Building Committee reviews crucial construction projects that will redefine local education!

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #NorwichEducation #CommunityPlanning #EducationalFacilities

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6 months ago

Committee Approves Final Plans for Moriarty Elementary Project Bidding Process Committee finalizes specifications and approvals to advance Moriarty Elementary construction project bidding.

Norwich is on the brink of a transformative educational upgrade as the City Council greenlights the final plans for the new Moriarty Elementary School project.

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6 months ago

Building Committee Approves Elementary School Phase Plans and Addresses Public Concerns Committee unanimously approves plans for two elementary schools and discusses public property issues.

Tensions rise in Norwich as residents voice concerns over city accountability and a new committee member brings fresh expertise to school infrastructure discussions.

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#NorwichNewLondonCounty #CT #CitizenPortal #NorwichSchools #EducationSafety #CommunityAccountability