By Jack Krampitz
The Bristol City Council met for the first time Tuesday night at its temporary meeting site in the Board of Education auditorium.
No Public Comments
For the first time in the tenure of the Caggiano administration, no one came forward to speak during the public participation segment of the proceedings.
State Champions honored
The first item on the agenda was a salute to the State Champion Bristol Central boys basketball team. Coach Tim Barrette, an expert on giving speeches about the season, thanked his players and coaches and praised them for their dedication and sportsmanship for the team’s remarkable run over the past two years.
New voting districts notices coming in the mail
The council also voted to publish the changes in city voting precincts due to the state’s redistricting initiative. Registrar of Voters Sharon Krawiecki announced that all voters who will be voting in a new precinct will be notified by mail, and the Registrar’s Office is sending each voter affected a magnet reminding them of their new polling place.
Public hearing on new flag ordinance
The council also voted to set the date and time of Tuesday, June 7, at 5 p.m. for a public hearing on the new proposed ordinance regarding the flying of flags on Bristol public buildings and spaces. The hearing is set for the lower conference room at the Bristol Public Library. Mayor Caggiano explained that the new ordinance will allow the city to fly a U.S. flag, the Connecticut state flag, and the City of Bristol flag. Councilperson Cheryl Thibeault also added that military flags honoring veterans and the armed services will be allowed on Memorial Boulevard. And the police department and fire department will be allowed to fly their flags on their properties. All other flags will be prohibited.
All Bristol residents who want to share their thoughts on the flag ordinance are invited to do so at the June 7 meeting.
Magnet school update
Councilperson Jacqueline Olsen announced that work was proceeding on schedule for the Memorial Boulevard Arts Magnet School, and that the allotted high school seats are full, while as of last weekend there were still 24 seats available in the middle school section.
Meeting Trivia
The meeting ended before 8 p.m., allowing elder attendees to arrive home before bedtime.
City Economic Development director Justin Malley told this reporter that both Carrier Construction and Wheeler Clinic are in the final stage of developing site plans and all work at Centre Square and work will commence soon after.
The next scheduled event for the BC basketball team is a breakfast meeting at McDonalds on Farmington Ave., May 18, 8 a.m., with Bob Montgomery, Art Wallace, and their breakfast group. Each member of the team will receive a free hash-brown.
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