If the Town of Norwich merged with the city, “residents of the town will pay taxes for something they don’t receive,” contended Supervisor Dave Law Wednesday at an intermunicipal committee meeting.

“Do you really know that?” asked city Mayor Joe Maiurano.

“I know it in my heart,” Law shot back, connecting what was an unexpected knock-out punch from the ropes that immediately dropped any chance Maiurano had of winning that debate dead on the mat.

The debate: Whether or not the town should take part in a shared municipal services grant with the city to look at any number of ways the town and city could possibly become more efficient by combining costs.

Maiurano lost the fight before it even started. Because logic, practicality, rationality, and making sense don’t stand a chance against matters of the heart – and Dave Law says he knows in his heart what’s best for Town of Norwich taxpayers and their future. And it doesn’t involve spending $1,700 – at the most – to take part in a study that will audit highway operations, health benefits, administrative services, emergency services, and water and sewer infrastructure (just to name a few areas) to see where things may or may not improve cooperatively.