Recently the Norwich City Council passed ordinance 1832 along party lines by the Democratic majority on the council after being vehemently opposed by numerous taxpayers and Mayor Peter Nystrom at a hearing. One particular councilperson was very vocal and went out of his way to be sure this ordinance was passed despite the opposition by numerous taxpayers.

I do not question the need to maintain adequate fire protection for our city by our paid fire department and volunteer fire departments. I do question the need to pass unnecessary Ordinance 1832 to modify the current section 8-17 of the Norwich Code of Ordinances when the current policy of fire protection has served the public well.

Ordinance 1832 puts the chiefs of volunteer fire departments in a subordinate position to the paid fire department chief for all calls and basically gives the paid fire chief complete autonomy for all fire calls. The real question is: Was the McGrath Consulting Group's findings, which triggered the origin of this Ordinance 1832, hired by the city under appropriate bidding process or the result of "Backroom Politics" by a select group of city officials?

Robert H. Strick

Norwich