Four-year-old Nicholas Gogani spent a day at the Norwich Police Department, where he met officers, toured the building, and participated in a mock traffic stop and pulled over City of Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver. The mayor was released with a warning. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH — At Tuesday's common council meeting, Ward One Alderman Matthew Caldwell and City of Norwich Mayor Brian Doliver recognized a notable city resident: four-year-old Nicholas Gogani.

Every year Caldwell selects a community member to be recognized at the December common council meeting for their contributions and dedication to the City of Norwich. However, Caldwell has announced he will be resigning from his position effective August 13, and decided to give this award to one last resident before leaving the common council.

"The past three Decembers I have identified somebody in the community and the city — two have been business owners, one has been a private citizen — just to provide some public recognition for all the contributions they have made to the city," said Caldwell.

"This particular individual selected tonight is a young man. He’s four years old, he lives across the street from me. He’s like the little mayor of our neighborhood. He waves to everybody on the front porch, he knows them by name, he always asks how they’re doing," he continued. "I was quite impressed the first time he waved from across the street and said, ‘Hi Matt!’ I thought, wow! I quickly learned he doesn’t just know me, he knows everybody."

Gogani is especially interested in the law enforcement field, and recently spent a day at the City of Norwich Police Department. He spent his time at the department meeting officers, touring the building, and he participated in a mock traffic stop in which he pulled over Mayor Doliver. The mayor was released with a warning.

"He has taken an interest in our city police department. He lives next door to the parents of Officer Nick Mooney, and so he’s interacted with Officer Mooney in his official capacity, and he likes the car and the different things the police do," said Caldwell. "So last month he came over to the Norwich PD, and he did a tour, and he has a uniform, and he’s very supportive of the Norwich Police Department. So I’m just recognizing him tonight as a private citizen who is supportive of our law enforcement in the City of Norwich."

At Tuesday's meeting, Gogani attended in his police officer's uniform, and Caldwell presented him with a certificate of appreciation that also recognizes him as an honorary police officer with the City of Norwich Police Department.

Caldwell also read a proclamation to recognize Gogani's support of the department.

"Expressing appreciation for law enforcement and law enforcement officers can and should be practiced by all members of every community; and whereas no act of appreciation for law enforcement is too great and too small to have a positive impact; and whereas Nicholas Gogani has expressed his great appreciation for the City of Norwich Police Department and law enforcement officers by supporting their cause and dedication," he read.

"Now therefore as Mayor of the City of Norwich, New York, along with the common council, do hereby deem it an honor and a pleasure to extend this proclamation to Mr. Nicholas Gogani on the occasion of his sincere support of the City of Norwich, New York Police Department," said Doliver.

Although Caldwell usually recognizes adults in the community, he said he wanted to involve young community members as well, not only to recognize their contributions to the community, but also inspire other young citizens.

"As I’ve said we’ve recognized adults and business owners, and that’s been great and I think it’s important. But this was a chance to get a young person involved in our community and get them interested," said Caldwell. "Hopefully a story like this will inspire other young people to say, ‘Hey, I’m interested in this. Hey, I’m interested and I see what was done here, and I’m interested in getting involved.’ Maybe they like the fire department, maybe they like DPW and construction, maybe they’d like to see what happens in city hall."

"There’s so much that goes on in the city that, honestly, until you get involved and you get connected, you don’t even realize it happens. I was very much that way until I came onto the common council," he added. "Until you get in there and go, oh my gosh, all this goes on in here. I mean there’s parks commissions and different commissions, traffic, youth bureau commission, and they do this really important work, and a lot of times it’s almost thankless. And until you can experience it a little bit you don’t realize how important it is, how important it makes this community."