Second Thoughts and Updates

Looking back to the beginning of the month, Plaintalker recalls that there was a City Council legal notice claiming the library for budget meetings on Oct. 3, 4, 17 and 31. Never mind that Oct. 3 was already an agenda session, the council did have dibs on the premises for last night's meeting. The Oct. 4 date was on the Board of Adjustment's regular calendar for 2006, but the Oct. 17 special meeting was only announced at the Oct. 4 meeting - after the council's legal notice. Thus the unfortunate relocation to the second floor landing.

As for tonight, a budget hearing is scheduled for 8 p.m. in Municipal Court. But since the council has just barely begun its scrutiny of the FY 2007 budget, the public can only comment on what departments requested and any modifications made by the administration. At this point, an 8.2 percent tax increase is projected. There will be another hearing after the council amends the budget.

The council will also vote tonight on a resolution to give conditional approval to Capodagli Property Company as developer of the East Third/Richmond site. The company is proposing 352 condos in five buildings, with 700 parking spaces.

Tomorrow night at 8 p.m., the Planning Board meets in City Hall Library. Several road improvement projects are up for review. And on Halloween, the next budget session will take place from 6 to 9 p.m.

--Bernice Paglia