Norwich - The City Council will host a public hearing March 30 on the proposed changes to the city charter submitted Monday by the Charter Revision Commission.

The commission made several recommended changes to city government but avoided proposed changes on the most controversial issue the commission was asked to review: whether to spread the central city fire tax citywide to ease the tax burden in the urban center.

The commission also voted to retain the current $800,000 city bonding limit without needing a referendum, but later rejected an idea to extend the limit to city leases as well.

Another financial recommendation would change the annual amount the city spends for capital improvement from 1 mill of taxes to 2 percent of the city's operating budget.

The City Council Monday accepted the full charter revision report without comment and scheduled the hearing for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30 in Council Chambers.

Several charter revision recommendations involve Norwich Public Utilities. The commission recommended exempting Norwich Public Utilities bonding from the $800,000 limit as long as the bonds would be covered by utility revenues, such as the $9.5 million natural gas line expansion that will be paid through gas line tie-ins.

The charter commission also voted to keep the charter provision that NPU must pay 10 percent of its gross revenues to the city for tax relief, and broadened NPU's reach in other areas.

The commission recommended NPU be allowed to enter into long-term contracts for up to 20 years instead of the current 10 years, also would allow NPU to expand its gas and electricity franchises outside Norwich and Preston and to market its newly installed fiber optic network to residents and businesses.

The commission recommended no changes to the structure of the City Council, other than changing the title of council president pro tempore to deputy mayor with the highest council vote-getter receiving the position rather than a council vote.

The nine-member Board of Education would change from two-year terms to four-year staggered terms.

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