Don't be too hard on City Councilor John Connolly for missing the Bunker Hill Day parade this year.

"Unfortunately I was sick on parade day (of course on the nicest day of the year!) and was unable to march," the councilor at large told a Charletown Patch reader during a live chat Thursday.

Connolly answered questions for a solid hour between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., with two of them coming from Charlestown.

Townie Allen Reitz tucked the above jab into a larger question about neighborhood schools.

"During the latest challenges of creating more positions for our kindergartners in Charlestown and North End, there was discussion about opening an additional public school in Back Bay or Beacon Hill, which would help open more slots in surrounding schools," Reitz wrote. "How close is this to becoming a reality?"

Connolly told the audience that supports creating a downtown elementary school, and that he and Councilor Mike Ross "remain committed to making this a reality."

Connolly also took a question from Debbie Evans, who asked how Charlestown's youth sports could get more field space.

"I am always looking for ways to provide more activities for our young people, including increased access to youth sports," Connolly said. "I look forward to being a part of this process and supporting the work of the Charlestown Sports Collaborative."

For the full transcript, click here.