NORWICH
—
U.S.
Rep
Marc
Molinaro
sent
two
representatives
to
meet
with
local
residents
and
officials
on
Thursday
to
listen
to
concerns
including
but
not
exclusive
to:
social
security;
the
U.S.
debt
ceiling;
housing;
and
continued
funding
for
Greenway
bike
trails.
Office
Field
Representative
Nicole
Leonard,
Rep.
and
case
worker
Michelle
Speach
met
with
City
of
Norwich
Mayor
Brian
Doliver,
town
council
members
and
about
eight
other
constituents
that
shed
light
on
concerns
they
felt
important
for
the
representatives
to
take
back
to
Rep.
Molinaro.
Community
Development
Advocate
Todd
Dreyer
said,
“We’re
here
for
a
primarily
more
political
issue
but
it’s
kind
of
short
and
just
wanted
to
go
on
record.
Social
security;
republicans
have
the
perspective
that
it’s
primarily
a
spending
problem
and
I
think
the
democrats
think
it’s
more
of
a
revenue
problem
and
I
side
with
the
democrats.
I
am
a
democrat.
“I
think
the
evidence
is
in
changing
demographics
you
can’t
deny.
We
no
longer
have
a
population
pyramid;
we
have
more
of
a
population
cylinder.
Few
workers
are
paying
forward
social
security
benefits.
Part
of
that
has
been
an
actual
shift
in
population,”
he
added.
He
explained
that
increasing
the
revenue
side
of
it
would
be
the
best
first
step
and
that
it’s
not
an
investment
program;
that
it
is
a
security
program,
an
insurance
program,
and
that
some
people
are
going
to
benefit
more.
Those
benefiting
more
would
be
the
working
people
at
the
lower
end
and
not
so
much
at
the
higher
end.
Constituent
Karol
Kucinski
requested
information
on
the
reformed
legislation
of
a
specific
bill
for
social
security.
His
concerns
were
based
on
social
security
payouts
not
being
paid
in
full
to
those
that
have
double
retirement
accounts.
He
believes
people
with
double
retirement
accounts
can
receive
full
social
security.
Kucinski
said,
“We’d
like
to
see
social
security
reform
based
on
increasing
the
fica
tax,
increasing
the
age
(making
it
longer,
since
people
are
living
longer),
and
maybe
fiddling
with
the
formula
that
pays
back.”
“The
idea
is
you’ll
have
to
do
multiple
things;
as
increase
the
money
that
goes
into
it
and
the
age
you’re
eligible
should
be
raised.
What
you
get
back
depends
on
what
you
put
it,”
he
said.
Leonard
and
Speach
took
notes
and
at
times
asked
for
clarification.
Dreyer
also
believes
the
debt
ceiling
should
be
raised
without
strings.
He
explained
the
previous
administration
was
able
to
increase
it
on
three
different
occasions
and
also
stated
he
believes
the
place
for
negotiating
the
budget
is
during
the
budget
process
and
that
doing
it
during
the
debt
ceiling
is
sort
of
a
hostage
taking
position.
The
topic
of
new
sidewalks
came
into
discussion
as
there
is
funding
for
the
curb
access
for
the
handicap
yet
the
sidewalks
are
in
poor
condition
and
not
handicap
accessible.
The
idea
was
to
add
this
cost
to
the
CAP
funds
if
possible.
As
it
stands
now,
CAP
funds
are
only
for
the
handicap
ramps
at
the
ends
of
sidewalks.
City
of
Norwich
Community
Development
Director
Erik
Scrivener,
City
of
Norwich
Youth
Bureau
Director
Anthony
Testani
and
Chenango
County
Environmental
Health
Department
Technician
Matt
Gladstone
talked
about
the
City
of
Norwich
bike
park,
bike
trails
and
residential
housing.
Gladstone
said,
“We
have
a
local
high
school
mountain
biking
team
and
also
kids
from
surrounding
schools
can
participate
on
that
team.
Its
been
great.
I’ve
been
working
with
the
greenway
for
some
time
now.
I
want
to
create
a
stepping
stone
so
they
can
learn
the
skills
necessary
before
they
go
out
on
the
hills
and
mountains.
I’ve
pitched
the
idea
of
the
Park
to
Erik
and
the
County
and
they
loved
it
so
here
we
are.”
Scrivener
said,
“One
other
issue
we
have
in
the
city
is
the
north
area
where
we’re
lacking
infrastructure
up
there.
One
of
our
focus
areas
is
in
residential
development
in
that
area,
utilities,
paving,
some
are
finished
but
some
need
to
be
finished.
The
waste
water
side
of
it
is
the
focus.
There
is
existing
infrastructure
but
undersized
for
what
we
need.
We
have
about
twenty
parcels
that
are
undeveloped
that
could
be
pretty
beneficial
for
the
city.
He
explained
the
business
model
is
just
at
the
beginning
and
they
have
the
sight
for
the
park
now
they’re
just
looking
for
funding,
that
they’re
in
the
pre-application
stage.Their
hope
is
for
the
City
of
Norwich
to
become
a
recreational
tourism
destination
with
trails
for
all
skills
and
riders
connecting
to
downtown
and
the
rest
of
the
city.
Testani
disclosed
zoning
is
residential
in
R1
area
and
R2
has
more
flexibility.
Gladstone
also
shared
that
airport
community
date
is
June
10.
He
explained
that
a
World
War
II
plane
would
be
on
sight
and
giving
rides.
Last
year
they
gave
85
rides
to
youth
ages
8
through
17
and
there
will
also
be
drones
and
sky
diving.
“We
have
a
couple
of
businesses
at
the
airport
and
sold
about
$150,000
worth
of
fuel.
It
was
a
record
year
for
fuel
sales.
There
are
18
full
hangers
and
we’re
looking
for
grants
to
continue
growing,”
he
added.
Residents
still
wishing
to
share
issues
of
concern
but
weren’t
able
to
make
the
mobile
office
hours;
Rep.
Molinaro
maintains
offices
in
Broome
County
and
Greene
County,
which
are
open
from
9
a.m.
to
5
p.m.
Monday
through
Friday.