HEAVY RAINS PROMPTED FLOODING
Heavy rains moved into the reÂgion TuesÂday evening, with some parts of New LonÂdon County getÂting more than 6 inches of rainÂfall, and more overnight. GroÂton picked up just an inch and a half of rain at the airÂport, while LeÂbanon reÂported 6.79 inches, the highÂest in New LonÂdon County. Norwich got a little over six inches and that caused the Yantic River to flood, closing West Town Street and the Norwichtown Commons until mid-morning. The city’s Emergency Operations Center opened for about two hours to deal with flooding. It closed about 6:30 as the Yantic started to recede. Flash flood warnÂings were issued until late last night in NorÂwich, LedÂyard, GrisÂwold, East HadÂdam, LeÂbanon and Waterford. In Lebanon, several water rescues were performed and Route 207 was closed as were local schools. School districts in Norwich, Franklin, Bozrah, Voluntown and Preston delayed opening for two hours.
SUGGESTIONS FOR A BETTER HARBOR TAKEN
About 15 local residents attended last night’s public hearing by the Norwich Harbor Management Commission. The theme was – frustration! The commission was looking for ideas and suggestions from the public for ways to enhance the city’s waterfront. Resident John Blanchette said something needs to be done to beautify the harbor. He said they it needs hotels and restaurants to bring people down there. Officials hope to find another boat launch outside Brown Park and to improve the docks there.
BURGER KING HEARING POSTPONED
Last night’s Norwich planÂning comÂmisÂsion meetÂing and pubÂlic hearÂing on a conÂtroÂverÂsial proÂposed Burger King on Town Street was postponed until tomorrow. City ofÂfiÂcials said the noÂtice of the speÂcial meetÂing of the ComÂmisÂsion on the City Plan was not propÂerly adÂverÂtised. The drive-thru porÂtion of the proÂposed Burger King on Town St. is the only maÂjor item on the agenda but the comÂmisÂsion will not act on the apÂpliÂcaÂtion unÂtil the Oct. 16th meetÂing.
CRYSTAL AVE IDEAS SURFACE
With the City of New London in the process of buying the 12-acre parcel of the former Thames River Apartments property on Crystal Avenue from the New London Housing Authority, a couple of ideas were suggested with what to do with the formerly tax-exempt property. Two proposals were submitted. One was for demolishing the apartment buildings and using the land primarily for bulk shipping and storage facilities. Mayor Michael Passero declined comment on the proposals but said the high-rises on the site remain a liability for the city.
“THE DAY” LAYS OFFÂ REPORTERS
A revÂenue deÂcline and sharp inÂcreases in the cost of newsprint are blamed for The Day PubÂlishÂing Co. laying off nine emÂployÂees.  Four of the layÂoffs are in “The Day’s” newsÂroom, with othÂers comÂing in the paÂper’s adÂverÂtisÂing deÂpartÂment. RemainÂing emÂployÂees are beÂing asked to take five unÂpaid days off by the end of the year. Two unÂfilled poÂsiÂtions, one of them in the newsÂroom, also were elimÂiÂnated. Day officials said the cost of newsprint jumped monthly durÂing the first six months of the year and was up 26 perÂcent over the same peÂriod the preÂviÂous year.
UNION COMPLAINS ABOUT BILDA
The union repÂreÂsentÂing suÂperÂviÂsory workÂers at NorÂwich PubÂlic UtilÂiÂties has filed three comÂplaints against NPU and GenÂeral ManÂager John Bilda. The alÂlegÂations are that Bilda atÂtempted to creÂate a new high-level poÂsiÂtion and apÂpoint someÂone to it withÂout folÂlowÂing conÂtracÂtual proÂceÂdures. A complaint also says he threatÂened union leadÂers. One comÂplaint quoted Bilda as sayÂing he would make union PresÂiÂdent Rob HarÂris’ life “hell” and would make “the union’s life hell” if the union did not alÂlow him to forego the postÂing and name someÂone to the poÂsiÂtion. Bilda said he hopes to meet with union ofÂfiÂcials to reÂsolve the isÂsues.
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