Date: Mon 30-Nov-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Council-Rochman-Chamber

Full Text:

Council Wants A Chamber Of Its Own

BY STEVE BIGHAM

If a new municipal building is constructed in Newtown, Pierre Rochman wants to

make sure it includes a chamber for the Legislative Council.

It only make sense, says the council chairman. The council, arguably the

town's most influential board, has been moved around for years. It has never

truly had a home of its own.

"All the various town agencies, including the council, have been bouncing

around from building to building," he said. "Records are being kept in

people's private homes and that's crazy."

As Mr Rochman points out, it could simply be a meeting room, with the council

having first dibs on its use.

"It would be a definite place to meet. The selectmen could meet there, too,"

said council vice chair Melissa Pilchard.

Over the years, the council has met in just about every place there was to

meet -- from the Alexandria Room and the middle school library to the Board of

Education conference room and the senior center. The council has also met in

the Cyrenius Booth Library and the middle school faculty lounge. Many of these

meeting places were deemed not accessible to handicapped persons.

Mrs Pilchard said the council used to have a small office, but lost that to

the human services department. Currently, there is no place to store records.

"I have a lot of records in my basement," Mrs Pilchard said.

Mr Rochman said a council chamber could have an adjoining room for committee

meetings.