New Norwalk app lets you make complaints fast, monitor your neighborhood

NORWALK, Conn. – The next time you smell an odor from Norwalk’s sewage treatment plant, you are encouraged to use your smartphone to tell the city right away. No need to make a phone call.

“Smell something, say something,” Water Pollution Control Authority member Jim Clark said Monday when discussing the new “Click & Request” web portal and app available for your iPhone, Android device or PC.

Not only can you use your phone to report something you see – or smell – but the app will note your location for you. And you can check on the status of the complaint via the web portal. And you can get updates for your neighborhood, to see what your neighbors are reporting.

“I know a lot of constituents and people have asked about odors at the plant. They can report them 24/7, you know, sewer backups, odors in the collection system,” Department of Public Works Operations Manager Lisa Burns said at Monday’s WPCA meeting. “Then you can kind of watch the status, and you can upload pictures.”

If it’s something as serious as a sewer backup, the app will provide an after-hours phone number to call, Burns said.

Although this was news to Clark and other people present, there are numerous progress reports noted on the city’s Click & Request page.

Listed as being in process:

• “The city snow plow ripped up the street curb this winter. There are now big chunks of asphalt by the stop sign at the corner of Spruce Street and Sention Ave. Please repair the street curb and remove the broken pieces of asphalt which is killing the grass. Thank you.” (April 28 complaint)
• “Fence been damage from Sandy Storm made several request to get fix and still pending. The fence is divides Flax Hill Park and my property the tree fell from the park. Please fix ASAP. Thank you.” (May 6 complaint)
• “Both street lights in front of main entrance of the Maritime Aquarium on N. Water Street are not working. They have been out of service for many months. South Norwalk Electric says its a city of Norwalk issue. Any help would be greatly appreciated.” (May 18 complaint)
• “There is illegal dumping, branches and garbage. We cleaned up two black bags of bottles/misc. garbage, hub cap, etc. We can’t get into the woods (across from Strawberry Hill Avenue Side – # 337) as well as back behind Aitoros 401 Westport Avenue. I believe the area is owned by one of the Phone Companies. This is the second time we are reporting this – as we reported it last year with the health department. Thank you.” (April 30 complaint concerning Willard Road)

Some closed complaints:

• “Please fill in pot holes at the end of Carriage Drive street and Lancaster between 2 stone columns,” an April 23 complaint. (Closed April 28)
• “The senior center main parking lot has several potholes in it,” an April 24 complaint. (Closed April 28)
• “At 5 pm on Sunday 5/17/15 I observed a fire truck on the Brien McMahon baseball field. A gentleman was using the truck to water down the baseball infield. I know that there is a sprinkler system installed on the baseball and practice fields. Why do we need to use a fire truck to water a baseball field? Shouldn’t the truck be available in the event someone reports a fire. Was this truck out of service? Is this a typical use of a fire truck?” A May 17 complaint. (Closed May 17, with the notation that it had been sent to the Board of Education)

“First I’ve heard about this,” Common Council President Jerry Petrini (R-District D) said of the app.

Mayor Harry Rilling said the Information Technology department is “putting some stuff out on that.”

To get the app, go to your device’s app store and input “Click & Request.”