Wallingford Politico

Lacrosse backers focus on one goal

2012-02-02T08:30:00.000-05:00

High school team proposal in hands of school board, Mayor Dickinson

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday January 28, 2012

By Stephanie O’Connell
Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD — The lacrosse community is thrilled that this year’s school budget includes money to add junior varsity lacrosse teams at both Sheehan and Lyman Hall high schools.

School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo’s proposed budget would set aside $81,058 in the first year for two teams and $66,932 in the second year. The budget is still being discussed by the Board of Education and will be passed along to Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. for final approval.

“Right now it’s not a done deal, the mayor still has the final say but being included in the initial budget is a big step for us,” said Tim Taylor, the Wallingford Youth Boys Lacrosse coordinator. “Right now we have about 200 kids between boys and girls that are playing in the youth leagues. It is the right time to be adding the teams.”

At a public budget forum in November, Menzo said that he was approached about adding the sport in his first year as superintendent, but was concerned because there wasn’t a club program for girls on both sides of town. There was a high school-age girls club only on the Sheehan side. This past spring was the first year that the youth league fielded teams for both sexes on both sides of town. The town’s youth program began about six years ago with 20 boys and 20 girls. The program has grown to 55 boys and more than 60 girls in grades 9 through 12.

Taylor has three children who have been playing lacrosse for years. They play in the youth program that travels to play teams in Madison, North Haven, Cheshire, Guilford and Clinton.

Sheehan and Lyman Hall are the last two schools in the Southern Connecticut Conference without lacrosse teams. The school plays in the Housatonic division with Amity, Shelton and Cheshire.

“In our conference we are the only schools who do not provide lacrosse so I think that it’s time we consider it and add it to the budget and to the schools,” said Roxane McKay, chairwoman of the Board of Education. “We are talking about a lot of kids who are interested and when you look at those numbers you can tell it is an up-and-coming sport.”

McKay has been in contact with Taylor, Wallingford Lacrosse President Michelle Milslagle, coaches and players for over a year. They have had open conversations about the pros and cons of adding the sport.

“I have been very upfront with the lacrosse folks as they have with me,” said McKay. “They know that even though we put it in the budget today it doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. We have a very long way to go.”

McKay has been impressed with the support shown by Wallingford Lacrosse parents, coaches and players at meetings. She said that she understood their level of dedication after a group of teenage players showed up at an 8 a.m. meeting on a snowy Saturday morning.

“The board has been on our side since we first brought this up years ago, so we find it necessary to show up at meetings when it is going to be discussed to show our dedication,” Milslagle said.

McGuire’s letter to Holy Trinity

2012-02-01T08:45:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal on Saturday January 28, 2012

Editor’s note: This is the text of a letter sent by Ferguson & McGuire to Holy Trinity School:

January 4, 2012 We regret to advise you that as of this date, we will no longer be able to allow your parishioners, faculty and parents to use our parking lot located behind TD Bank at 6-28 North Main Street.

Because of the town referendum, this property is considered private and no longer a municipal parking lot. Accordingly, our insurance company does not want us to assume liability for any accidents that may occur on the parking lot property. When the lot was considered public, the Town of Wallingford assumed all responsibility for accidents and agreed to hold Ferguson & McGuire harmless for accidents that happened on it. This is not the case at this time.

When the lot was considered municipal, it worked well for all of us, and we were in favor of it remaining that way and being expanded by the town. Unfortunately, that cannot happen at this time. Also, the Town was supposed to maintain the lot, and as you know, other than plowing it, they have not done so.

We hope that you will advise the Mayor and Town Council about your need for parking in the Simpson Court area and request that they reinstate our lot as a municipal facility.

Yours very truly, Ferguson & McGuire, Inc.

Jack McGuire, Chairman John McGuire, President Christopher McGuire, Vice-President

No parking, McGuire tells Holy Trinity

2012-02-01T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal on Saturday January 28, 2012

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — In a letter to Holy Trinity School officials earlier this month, Jack McGuire wrote that he would no longer let the church use the portion of his parking lot behind the businesses on Simpson Court. “We regret to advise you that as of this date, we will no longer be able to allow your parishioners, faculty and parents to use our parking lot located behind TD Bank at 6-28 North Main Street,” McGuire wrote in the Jan. 4 letter.

McGuire, who is in Florida, did not respond to a request for comment.

A November referendum overturned the Town Council’s decision to spend up to $500,000 to improve the parking lot behind the businesses on Simpson Court in exchange for keeping the lot public.

When the new lease agreement with owners of the four properties abutting the lot was reversed in the town-wide vote, the town and the property owners reverted to a year-to-year agreement already in place that offered public parking in exchange for plowing and other maintenance by the town.

McGuire, CEO of local insurance company Ferguson & McGuire, owns two of the four properties on Simpson Court through a limited liability company, one at 2 N. Main St. and another at 26 N. Main St. He filed his notice to quit the year-to-year agreement in 2009. Shortly after that, he withdrew his notice orally, but not in writing.

“Because of the town’s referendum, this property is considered private and no longer a municipal parking lot,” McGuire wrote. “Accordingly, our insurance company does not want us to assume liability for any accidents that may occur on the parking lot property.”

Christine Mansfield, chairwoman of the Holy Trinity School board, said the loss of parking has had an impact on the school.

“I think the effect has been tragic and disappointing,” said Mansfield, also a member of the Board of Education. “A winter scenario can only exasperate the problem. Until a solution is in place, we’re putting the kids at risk.”

An article in the Record-Journal last week said that McGuire had closed his lot to municipal parking. But John Le-Tourneau, a Republican town councilor who owns Wallingford Lamp & Shade on Center Street, has said he’s still seen people parked there when the businesses are closed. “I expect people to continue to park there because they have for years,” LeTourneau said. “It’s posted, but the lot is not shut down.”

McGuire wrote that he was in favor of the new lease agreement, and wanted to see the parking lot improvements go through.

“When the lot was considered municipal, it worked well for all of us, and we were in favor of it remaining that way and being expanded by the town,” McGuire wrote. “Unfortunately, that cannot happen at this time. Also, the town was supposed to maintain the lot, and as you know, other than plowing it, they have not done so.” McGuire said school officials should “advise the mayor and Town Council about your need for parking in the Simpson Court area and request that they reinstate our lot as a municipal facility.” Mansfield said that the church has been adjusting by having members park farther down in the public portion of the lot, or by trying to find parking on the street. But on-street parking is limited to two hours, she said.

A line has been drawn in the lot by the town and signs have been moved to demarcate the lot, but some people Friday were continuing to park in McGuire’s portion of the lot — behind TD Bank and the Body and Soul Day Spa. There is no physical barrier to keep parkers from using McGuire’s lot.

McGuire has said before he would consider restrictions on his portion of the parking area. “My response would be to treat my property as private property and restrict it to people who use my buildings, period,” McGuire said in August, when asked of his plans if the parking lot deal fell through. “Why should I be maintaining the property for other people? If the town is not going to come in and maintain it as a public parking lot, then I’m going to treat it as a private parking lot.”

The remainder of the municipal parking lot is behind Gaetano’s Tavern, the Masonic Temple building and the old library building at 60 N. Main St. Corporation Counsel Janis Small said no other property owners have filed the required one-year notice to quit the year-to-year agreement.

Wallingford official admits wood disposal mistake

2012-01-31T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Friday January 27, 2012

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — Responding to a town councilor’s concerns, Public Works Director Henry McCully admitted Thursday that some wood cut from town parks has been disposed of improperly.

McCully said it was due to a misreading of a contract with Randy Mangino, a public works employee. The wood has since been returned.

“The wood has been brought back to Garden Road (the Public Works yard),” McCully said. “We corrected that. It was an error on my side.”

Town Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos, a Democrat, had sent a memo to McCully asking him to look into a report from someone who saw town trucks making several trips with cut wood to a site the wood was not usually taken to. McCully replied several days later that he had “investigated your ‘missing wood’ complaint.”

The wood was cut from Jan. 3 to Jan. 9 and included the cleanup of several town parks after a late October snowstorm. Wood was removed from Pire Park, Marcus Cooke Park, Lufberry Park, Bertini Park, Wallace Park and Kendrick Park.

McCully said that the wood was delivered to Garden Road, the Public Works yard on Town Farm Road and a disposal site owned by Mangino.

Mangino has a contract with the town which allows it to use his disposal site for clean fill and debris. But McCully wrote in a Jan. 23 letter responding to Economopoulos, “Randy Mangino’s contract does not allow him to receive wood generated from our parks cleanup.”

Corporation Counsel Janis Small said that the Town Charter doesn’t prevent town employees from bidding on a contract.

“No officer or employee shall enter into any contract with the Town other than a contract of employment, unless the contract has been awarded through an open and public process,” the charter reads.

McCully also said that the practice of town employees taking wood home from the Public Works yard has been stopped. Some of the excess wood the town cut had been stored in the yard in the past, and employees would take small amounts home to help clean up the yard.

Reached Thursday, Economopoulos said he was still looking into the matter, and wouldn’t comment further until he had “all the information.”

The October snowstorm resulted in an abnormally large amount of debris, McCully said. Once the town finishes cleaning out its parks and other properties, the disposal of the wood will likely go out to bid. McCully said that with so much wood already available, having the town sell it back isn’t a viable option.

“The market is already so saturated,” he said.

Keeping jobs unfilled yields town surplus

2012-01-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Thursday January 26, 2012

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — The town ended the 2010-11 fiscal year with a surplus largely due to town employee positions’ remaining unfilled, a practice that has become more common in tough fiscal times. According to an audit of Wallingford’s finances released in December, the town ended the fiscal year $671,000 in the black. But a large amount of the surplus can be attributed to the retirement of 10 town employees who weren’t replaced.

“No amounts were budgeted for 10 open positions in the General Government: three in Public Works, three in the Comptroller’s office and four police officers,” the audit said. “These positions were vacated by retired employees and will probably remain unfilled until the economy recovers.”

In the current fiscal year, the Police Department’s salaries budget was cut by $170,106. Police Chief Douglas Dortenzio said Wednesday he wouldn’t be asking for additional officers in next year’s budget. The request has been denied in the past. The department has 71 sworn officers, including Dortenzio, and a total of 91 positions including clerical staff.

Dortenzio said that when a position remains vacant for a year, it is generally eliminated from the budget. Staffing is down about 6 percent from a couple of years ago, he said.

The department has had to shift officers around and make changes, including reducing the size of the detective bureau, to get more uniformed officers on the street.

“We do the best we can with what we have,” Dortenzio said. But, he noted, “the town has grown, and we have not kept pace.”

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said that, in tough economic times, the town has had to cut back to avoid increases in taxes, and he doesn’t expect many new hires.

“Chances are, some, if not all of these positions will remain unfilled,” Dickinson said. “The police no longer has a DARE program; Public Works has lost positions that handled landscaping duties.” But John Sullivan, a Democratic town councilor, said he doesn’t think a surplus matters if it comes at the expense of public safety officers.

“I always have concerns about police, fire and emergency response,” he said.

According to the audit, public safety expenditures in 2010-11 were $708,000 below budget due to $412,000 less in police wages, “due to the time lag in replacing employees who retired or resigned and less overtime.”

Dickinson said that the town isn’t getting any new money, and that, short of a large increase in the grand list, services have to be trimmed.

He said the departments have been continuing to provide services but that they’ve had to “get back to core missions.”

“Just the essentials,” Dickinson said.

Sullivan said that other budgets have ended in a surplus for similar reasons, and the extra money isn’t always a good sign. “This is typical every budget year,” he said. “And who is the big loser? The people in Wallingford.”

Dickinson countered by saying that the $671,000 surplus didn’t tell the whole story, and that $4 million to $5 million of the town’s general fund was used to cover expenses and stave off a tax increase.

Wallingford Town Council - Swearing in Ceremony

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

Dickinson urged to activate insurance panel

2012-01-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Wednesday January 25, 2012

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — Town Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos made his case Tuesday night for the town to revive its long-dormant Insurance Commission.

The commission was created by a town ordinance in 1986 to assist the town in insurance matters, but has never had any members. A risk management office created in 1987 took over some of the duties that the commission had been tasked with carrying out.

But Economopoulos, a Democrat, said during a public hearing on repealing or amending the ordinance that insuring the town and its employees is a complex issue, and that those types of decisions should not be made by one or two people.

“Insurance is a very intricate and difficult thing to understand,” Economopoulos said. “Our premiums (for health insurance) are $45 million over the next two years. ... I think it’s a wise thing to add some more eyes.”

Health insurance is the second costliest item in the town budget after salaries, Economopoulos said.

The ordinance states, in part: “Due to conditions of instability and dysfunction in the procuring and maintaining of insurance coverage for the Town of Wallingford , the Town Council has determined that a separate and dedicated advisory commission in the area of insurance coverage is warranted and desirable.”

One of the responsibilities of the commission, which would comprise five members appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council, is to “investigate alternative sources for insurance coverage and/or evaluate options of self-insurance versus purchased coverage.”

The town became self-insured in 2008 when it faced an 8 percent rate increase by Anthem Blue Cross, a change that saved millions of dollars. But Economopoulos said that a study done 14 years earlier had referenced the potential change, and that the town “missed the boat” on millions of additional savings.

Self-insurance is generally cheaper than full insurance because the town, rather than the insurance company, accepts the risk of covering employees. Under self-insurance, the insurance company simply acts as a third-party claims administrator. Anthem was awarded the third-party administrator contract.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said the town analyzed self-insurance options in the 1990s, but there were some concerns about making the switch for “good, solid reasons,” and that it wasn’t in the best interest of the town at the time. The town needed to have sufficient money in reserves before it could make the switch to self-insurance.

“It did not sit well with the finance department at that time,” Dickinson said. “It was touch-and-go as to whether there were sufficient funds.”

Dickinson also said that health insurance is largely a collective bargaining matter, and not something for a group of laypeople to oversee. It’s a matter for paid experts, he said. The commission, Dickinson said, was originally established to handle property/casualty insurance, but not health coverage.

Two residents, Wesley Lubee Jr. and William Comerford, filed an ethics complaint in 2008 against Dickinson for not appointing anyone to the commission, but the complaint was dismissed when no probable cause was found. Both spoke in favor of filling the commission Tuesday night. Public comment at the meeting lasted nearly two hours.

“I think this was a great conversation here tonight,” Democratic Councilor John Sullivan said. “I have to commend Councilor Economopoulos for bringing this documentation and presenting it to the council. There is a lot here to review.”

The council will continue the public hearing at its Feb. 28 meeting.

Fontana to challenge Fasano for Assembly seat

2012-01-26T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Tuesday January 24, 2012

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — For the first time since he was voted into office in 2002, state Sen. Leonard A. Fasano, R-North Haven, will have an opponent as he seeks re-election.

Democrat Steve Fontana, a former state representative from North Haven, announced Monday on the steps of Town Hall that he will challenge Fasano in the 34th District, which encompasses Wallingford, East Haven and parts of North Haven and Durham.

“There are too many politicians in Hartford that aren’t helping,” Fontana told a crowd of supporters, including state legislators and local Democratic leaders.

Fontana said he wants to focus on rebuilding the middle class and “restoring the American dream for everyone.”

No stranger to politics, Fontana, 48, served for 14 years as the representative of North Haven’s 87th General Assembly District. He lost his seat to Republican Dave Yaccarino by a little more than 1,000 votes in 2010. Earlier he had served on a number of boards and commissions in North Haven, including the Board of Selectmen.

Wallingford Democratic Town Chairman Vincent Avallone said he was pleased to see a qualified candidate step up to challenge Fasano.

“I’m glad to see someone of Steve Fontana’s caliber running,” Avallone said. “He has a history of working with people. He’s come from modest means; he knows what the middle class is like.”

Walter Spader, vice chairman of the North Haven Democratic Town Committee, said Fontana is “a dream candidate.”

“You don’t often get that record of achievement and accomplishment,” Spader said. “He has a good record.”

Addressing the crowd, Fontana said it was “time for a change.”

“Let’s make it happen,” he said. “Let’s work together to make this a reality.”

Fontana said he decided to run because “I believe strongly in public service, in giving back.” He attributed his 2010 loss to voters being “frustrated, fed up and they wanted a change.”

A seat in the state Senate, Fontana said, will allow him to work on policy that will have a greater regional impact. He hopes to work toward reducing health care and energy costs, he said.

Reached by telephone, Fasano said he has a record of standing up for the middle class.

“I’ve always fought for the middle class,” he said. “The tax hikes Steve has voted for hurt the middle class. The billion dollar tax hike by the governor crippled the middle class.”

Fasano said he is working to make Connecticut more job friendly, that strict regulations and “an onerous tax burden” are driving businesses and jobs out of the state.

On a personal level, Fasano called Fontana “a good guy” and said he welcomed the challenge.

“Competition is healthy,” Fasano said.

Having an opponent won’t drastically change his campaign or his message to voters, Fasano said. “It’s not going to change what I do and who I am,” he said.

Will it be a lot — or not? Wallingford - Wooding Caplan

2012-01-25T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Tuesday January 24, 2012

Feasibility study on parking plan due in March

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — Town councilors will receive a report in March on the feasibility of converting the Wooding-Caplan property into a temporary parking lot.

In a letter to the council Jan. 13, Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said cost estimates and drawings would be produced by March 20.

“After discussion with the Engineering Department, we believe that information including estimates and drawings regarding improvements to the Caplan/Wooding property will be completed by March 20th this year,” Dickinson wrote.

Councilor John LeTourneau, a Republican, pushed for the report at the council’s last meeting on Jan. 10. Le-Tourneau said Monday that he is proposing the town use leftover millings from road work to create the temporary lot.

When new paving is done, the surface of the road is ground up, LeTounreau said. Those millings are kept by the town, with most sold back to Tilcon, a local paving company. LeTourneau said the millings could be held, reground and rolled out into a fresh, blacktop-like surface.

“It’s recycling the road surface,” LeTourneau said. “It’s cheaper and it’s temporary until we decide what to do.”

The town bought the Wooding- Caplan property, located downtown off Center Street, for $1.5 million in 1992, but it has remained largely vacant since. A referendum in 2006 overturned the Town Council’s decision to sell the property to a local developer.

Town Engineer John Thompson said the Engineering Department is “actively working” on the report, but there are factors that need to be examined before drawings can be done.

“We’re looking at all the opportunities and the constraints, and there are a number on both sides,” Thompson said. “The focus of what we’re doing is to come up with a scheme to analyze temporary parking.”

Some of the constraints Thompson mentioned included where the town property ends and where private property begins, easements, drainage and issues of access.

In 2008, the council received a space needs assessment that determined the parcel was big enough for a new 47,000 square-foot police headquarters, but at a cost of more than $20 million. No action has been taken since.

The report is in the early stages, and Thompson admitted “we don’t know where it’s going to end up going.”

Craig Fishbein, a Republican councilor, said temporary parking is good “for the time being,” but that he’d like to see development. He pushed unsuccessfully at the Jan. 10 meeting to have the Law Department review the 2005 request for proposal to sell the property and bring it back before the council next month.

“We as a municipality are privileged to own this property, it is a shame that it has been neglected,” he said. “I’m looking to reverse that wasteful course.”

Not all councilors were in favor of the temporary parking idea. Republican Thomas Laffin said that he’d rather see something more permanent. A temporary lot will create dependence, he said.

“People will get used to parking there,” he said. “You can’t just rip up the parking.”

Laffin said he’d rather have the council commit to a longterm plan.

“Not just a temporary plan while we figure things out. ... How about we figure it out now?” he said.

LeTourneau, who runs Wallingford Lamp and Shade on Center Street, said he hears often that there isn’t enough downtown parking available, particularly in the evening hours. The temporary parking lot is “a very high priority” for him.

But LeTourneau also said the fact that Wallingford is faced with a parking shortage is a good thing.

“It means that you have a vibrant downtown,” he said.

State of the town: ‘No time to relax,’ says Dickinson

2012-01-24T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday January 21, 2012

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

Wallingford Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. delivers his “state of the town” speech at Ashlar Village Friday.

Photo courtesy of the Record Journal

WALLINGFORD — While 2011 was a tough year, Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said Friday that the town fared well, but can’t rest on its laurels.

Displaying a photograph of the cruise ship that recently ran aground off the coast of Italy, Dickinson said running the town “requires constant effort” and vigilance.

“There’s no time to relax,” he said during his annual State of the Town address to members of the Quinnipiac Chamber of Commerce. “It can be exhausting. It takes patience and hard work. It’s nothing you can sit back and relax on.”

During the event at Ashlar Village, Dickinson said the town had “a lot to feel good about.”

“Tropical Storm Irene and Snowstorm Alfred taxed the limits of local government, but we came through those in good shape,” he said. “Our structures held up well.”

Also in 2011, the town received a AAA bond rating — higher, Dickinson noted, than the credit rating of the United States. “I never thought I’d see that,” he said.

The town’s fiscal health, Dickinson said, can be attributed to one factor. “People pay their taxes,” he said.

Dickinson also praised the school system, noting that test scores had increased and that reconfiguration of the elementary schools led to “a greater racial balance” across the district. The Electric Division, he said, has kept rates low and outages infrequent.

Dickinson praised the Economic Development Commission for bringing new businesses to town. Among the businesses that have opened or expanded are Paradise Hill Vineyards, CVS, United Concrete, Holo-Krome, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Burns & McDonnell.

James Augur, of Anthem, said that the company has moved 300 employees to its new offices at the Campus at Greenhill on Leigus Road. The remainder of its North Haven staff would move to Wallingford by the fall.

“Wallingford is our new home, and we couldn’t be any happier,” Augur said.

Dickinson said state and federal deficits burden municipalities, often going hand in hand with costly mandates that are partially funded or not funded at all. Some recent regulations being discussed, such as removing more nitrogen from rivers and streams, could cost the town millions and should be postponed.

Robin Wilson, president of the Quinnipiac Chamber, gave her assessment of 2011 and her outlook for the coming year in more blunt terms.

“I think 2012 is going to be a lot better than 2011,” she said. “It couldn’t be much worse.”

This Week in Wallingford

2012-01-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Monday January 23, 2012

WALLINGFORD — The Town Council will meet Tuesday to hold a public hearing on repealing an ordinance that established the town’s Insurance Commission.

Monday : No meetings scheduled.

Tuesday : Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Earley Auditorium, Town Hall, 45 S. Main St.

Wednesday : No meetings scheduled.

Thursday : Wallingford Housing Authority, 5:30 p.m., Housing Authority Offices, 45 Tremper Drive.

Friday : No meetings scheduled.

Insurance company closes its portion of Simpson Court parking lot to public

2012-01-23T08:45:00.000-05:00

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — Two months after a referendum overturned the Town Council’s decision to spend up to $500,000 to improve the parking lot behind the businesses on Simpson Court in exchange for keeping the lot public, one property owner has made good on his promise to close his portion of the lot to municipal parking.

When the new lease agreement with owners of the four properties abutting the lot was reversed, the town and the property owners reverted to a year-to-year agreement already in place that offered public parking in exchange for plowing and other maintenance by the town.

Jack McGuire, CEO of local insurance company Ferguson and McGuire, owns two of the four properties through a limited liability company, one at 2 N. Main St. and another at 26 N. Main St. He filed his notice to quit the year-to-year agreement in 2009. Shortly after that, he withdrew his notice orally, but not in writing.

“My response would be to treat my property as private property and restrict it to people who use my buildings, period,” McGuire said in August, when asked of his plans if the parking lot deal fell through. “Why should I be maintaining the property for other people? If the town is not going to come in and maintain it as a public parking lot, then I’m going to treat it as a private parking lot.”

McGuire was in Florida on Thursday and could not be reached for comment. But lines drawn on the asphalt at Simpson Court and new parking signs make it clear that the lot has been divided between private and public.

At the point where McGuire’s property ends is painted a white line, with “town” written on one side, and “private” written on the other. Public parking signs which used to sit alongside Center Street near the entrance of the parking lot have been moved to the property line, with arrows designating that public parking begins on the portion of the lot behind Gaetano’s Tavern on Main, 40 N. Main St.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said that McGuire contacted the town and requested that the Police Department move the signs last week.

“The signs were moved so it was clear that it was private,” he said. “He’s absolutely free to do that, he canceled the lease.”

It’s unclear what, if any, enforcement action McGuire will take against stray parkers, but Dickinson noted that, on private property, “the owner can have those cars towed.”

If any of the other businesses were to consider charging or limiting access to the lot, they would have to give the town a one-year notice.

Closing off the parking lot could also jeopardize a right of way that has existed between Center and Church streets, traveling through the lot and behind the buildings.

Dickinson said that McGuire has “expressed his consideration of closing that off.”

In a tough economy, Dickinson said losing any municipal parking “hurts the downtown area.”

“There’s no question it’s not a good direction,” he said. “Any change that can be potentially a discouragement to frequent an area is a natural subject of concern.”

Dickinson said that after Monday night’s snowstorm, the town did not plow McGuire’s lot.

Robert Gross, a resident who has run unsuccessfully for the council, started a petition drive a day after the council’s decision, raising the 2,491 signatures needed to force the referendum. Gross declined to comment Thursday on McGuire’s decision.

Nicholas Economopoulos, a Democratic councilor who worked with Gross on the petition, said Thursday he had no comment on McGuire’s decision beyond the fact that it “showed his character.”

“It makes me feel good that we didn’t go into a partnership with him,” he said.

Dickinson said that the full impact of the referendum vote hasn’t likely been seen.

“The potential for a more dramatic shutoff (of the lot) hasn’t been realized,” he said.

Wallingford 2012-2013 Initial Proposed Education Budget 01/09/12

2012-01-20T08:55:00.000-05:00

http://www.wallingford.k12.ct.us/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=89

Posted 01/10/2012 07:02AM

2012-2013 Initial Proposed Budget 01/09/12 Presented at the BOE Operations Committee Meeting (PDF)

WORKSHOPS FOR THE 2012-2013 EDUCATIONAL BUDGET

2012-01-20T08:45:00.000-05:00

http://www.wallingford.k12.ct.us/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=85

Meetings for the purpose of holding workshops for the 2012-2013 Educational Budget have been scheduled. The public is cordially invited to attend.

Schedule of Special Operations Committee Meetings for Budget Workshops

Saturday January 21, 2012
8:00 a.m. – Budget Review for all Departments
Wednesday January 25, 2012
6:00 p.m. – Budget Review (if needed)

All workshops will be held in the Community room at the Vo-Ag Department at Lyman Hall High school unless noted otherwise.

WHA board looks to avoid repeat

2012-01-12T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Thursday January 12, 2012

By Dan Ivers
Record-Journal staff
divers@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2275

WALLINGFORD — Members of the Wallingford Housing Authority board began crafting a job description for its next executive director Wednesday in the hope of avoiding many of the pitfalls that led the last director to leave the position.

The position has been vacant since Dec. 2, when 26year veteran Stephen Nere accepted a $130,000 buyout amid mismanagement allegations. Nere’s deputy director, Theresa Ravizza, resigned shortly thereafter.

Board Chairman Michael Misiti and members Thomas Mezzei, Robert G. Weidenmann and Patricia Hogan began writing the job description, which included a responsibility to meet all federal, state and local codes, a requirement to produce a detailed report at the board’s request, and to oversee and account for the use of all funds the authority receives.

A forensic audit of the agency’s financial records from 2006 to 2008, conducted last year, uncovered major gaps in accounting, as well as inconsistencies in purchasing practices and employee travel reimbursements.

Hogan also suggested that the description include a requirement to document all mileage expenses, although Misiti said that would be covered under the board’s policies. Nere had sued Hogan and other members of the board in 2010, alleging that they violated his contract when they revoked his use of a WHA vehicle to travel between work and his home in Guilford.

Town Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos, who has closely followed the developments surrounding the WHA, said after the meeting that he believed many of the items in the new description were aimed at ensuring that the director would be a diligent record-keeper who would comply with requests from the board.

“The job description is just an attempt to not have happen to them what happened to the last one,” he said.

The board voted late last month to begin advertising for the director position, and Misiti said it has already received “a lot” of applications, though he did not say how many.

“Only the five people here will know who’s applied, and how many have applied,” he said.

The board has stated that it hopes to fill the position quickly, and may begin conducting interviews as soon as next week. It is also accepting applications from property management companies, which could create cost savings. Nere was making about $100,000 at the time of his buyout.

Members of the media and the public were required to leave the meeting while the board discussed the applications it had received, after which the meeting was adjourned.

Cytec second on EPA list of state’s top polluters

2012-01-11T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Tuesday January 10, 2012

By Dan Ivers
Record-Journal staff
divers@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2275

WALLINGFORD — A local chemical plant has found itself near the top of a list of the state’s top polluters.

Cytec Industries, at 425 S. Cherry St., landed second on the list, behind only the AES Thames power plant in Uncasville. The list was compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency, using 2010 records of toxic releases required to be disclosed under federal law.

According to the EPA, the plant reported releasing 254,927 pounds of toxic materials at the plant during 2010, and another 18,425 off site. Most of the releases were chemicals such as trichloroethane, acrylamide and acrylic acids. The plant managed more than 2.6 million pounds of waste.

Brett Giles, the site manager for the Wallingford plant, said it is one of a handful of specialty chemical plants in New England, which inherently produce more toxic material than other industries. He stressed that the company is in full compliance with all of its state-issued permits, and has significantly reduced its chemical emissions in recent years.

“We’re committed to protecting our environment,” he said. “The state of Connecticut has very stringent permit conditions, and those permits are based on human health assessments. We work inside of those permits.”

A statement issued by the EPA along with the list noted that 287,337 fewer pounds of pollutants were released by New England companies in 2010 than in 2009, largely due to efforts to reduce damage to the environment.

EPA officials said the report did not mean the high levels of pollution were violating any law, but wanted to make the information public for those who might live or work close to the plants. The 250-acre Wallingford Cytec plant is adjacent to a largely residential neighborhood.

State Rep. Mary Mushinsky, who lives on South Cherry Street close to the plant, said that emissions at the plant have likely become less harmful to the environment as the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection steps up permitting requirements and other regulations.

“It’s actually gotten better over the years. The complaints have certainly dropped off as the permits are ratcheted up,” she said.

Nevertheless, emissions from the plant have been the object of concern from the community. In 2003, Wallingford Little League abandoned Cytec Field out of concern over the effects of contaminated soil. The only other area company to land on the list is a Tyco Healthcare Group facility in North Haven, which ranked just behind Cytec as the third highest polluter. Cytec’s Wallingford plant employs 150 people, and ranked 10th on the town’s list of biggest taxpayers, paying more than $13.3 million last year. Formerly known as American Cyanamid, it has been operating on the same site since 1941.

Menzo seeks 9% hike in school budget

2012-01-10T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Tuesday January 10, 2012

By Ibrahim Hirsi
Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD — School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo presented his 2012-13 strategic budget proposal to the Board of Education Monday night at Lyman Hall High School.

At $94,576,853, the proposal represents an increase of nearly 9 percent from last year. Menzo’s 2012-13 sustained budget total — $90,188,979 — comes in at nearly 4 percent more than 2011-12’s. The sustained budget represents the minimum required to maintain services at the previous year’s level; the strategic budget reflects the funding needed to act on the school system’s strategic plan.

Last year, the final school budget came back from the mayor’s office with an increase of only about 2 percent over the year before.

Some teachers and parents at the meeting said the increase in the budget request is much needed and should be a priority.

“The country spends billions on wars,” said Lou Faiella, a Wallingford teacher. “Our children are very important and deserve to be spent on. With the sustained budget, the increase that [Menzo] is asking for is a reasonable amount of money.”

Though the new budget would cut 10 elementary and middle-school teacher positions due to enrollment decreases, it would allocate more teachers to the high schools and language programs.

Menzo’s plan includes the acquisition of new and replacement equipment, as well as the continued upgrade of wireless access points and servers throughout the school district; maintenance initiatives that include replacement of the outdoor track and indoor bleachers at Lyman Hall High School; and curriculum development and career readiness resources.

The proposed budget sounds expensive, said Sharon Dooley, a Wallingford teacher, “but the technology is expensive, too. And getting that technology in the hands of the students is important.”

This week in Wallingford

2012-01-09T10:27:00.002-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Monday January 9, 2012

WALLINGFORD — Superintendent Salvatore Menzo will unveil the 2012-2013 school budget proposal at the Board of Education Operations Committee meeting tonight - Monday January 9, 2012

Monday : Board of Education Operations Committee, 6 p.m., Lyman Hall High School, Vo-Ag Community Room, 70 Pond Hill Road.

Tuesday : Regular meeting of the Wallingford Town Council, 6:30 p.m., Town Hall, Auditorium, 45 S. Main St.

Wednesday : Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, 5:30 p.m., Savage Commons, Community Room.

Thursday : Conservation Commission, 7 p.m., Town Hall, Basement Conference Room, 45 S. Main St.

Friday : No meetings scheduled.

Linda Bush to retire - Wallingford town planner since 1983 was sometimes controversial

2012-01-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday January 4, 2012

By Mary Ellen Godin
Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD — The town’s no-nonsense town planner — who is isn’t afraid to butt heads with developers, zoning violators and town officials — is retiring after 28 years on the job.

Linda A. Bush said Tuesday that she is ready to return to her native Massachusetts to help care for her elderly father and stepmother, care for birds and resume traveling. She has been town planner since 1983.

“Now I can spend more time with my hobbies,” Bush said with a chuckle.

Bush, 60, has received praise for her work in creating the town’s interchange zone, which helped spur economic development, her work overseeing Route 5 expansion and more recently as a pioneer on housing incentive zones — or worker housing — along the planned commuter rail line.

“I have always had a very positive relationship with Linda,” said Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman James Seichter. “She is very knowledgeable, dedicated and diligent; she’s a very valuable employee of the town.”

Seichter praised Bush’s skill at creating regulations that fostered healthy economic growth in the town’s industrial parks and along Route 5 when he first joined the commission in the mid-1990s.

“That was a very positive step the town took,” Seichter said. “I’m sure Linda was the point person.”

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in zoology, Bush quickly learned that teaching high school and middle school students wasn’t for her. She went to graduate school at Antioch University’s New England Graduate School in Keene, N.H., where she received a master’s degree in resource management. While in school, she supported herself as a bartender.

“It was the best job I ever had,” Bush said.

She completed an internship at a regional planning agency in Keene and discovered she enjoyed the work. She worked as a planner for the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Council, based in Lebanon, N.H. She later got a full-time planning job in Watertown, N.Y., as a state employee assisting up to 18 communities in Oneida County but returned to her hometown of Westfield, Mass., after the death of her mother. Her sister, who lived in Meriden at the time, found the Wallingford town planner vacancy.

Bush applied and was hired by former Mayor Rocco J. Vumbaco. During her tenure, she’s been faced with routine and controversial applications, including a large horse track in the North Farms Road area, later auto auction, and more recently a disputed mosque on the east side.

The first few years were a challenge. Bush was hired to replace a planning coordinator and aide who had been fired for failing to report alleged conflicts of interest.

“The office was a mess,” Bush said. “It took a lot of time, but we returned it to professionalism and respect. We get compliments all the time from people who come to our counter. I’m straightforward and these are the rules.”

“Everybody has their own opinions,” Seichter said. “When you are someone who has to enforce the regulations, sometimes when you tell people ‘No,’ they take it personally.”

Joan Molloy, a local attorney who represents developers, said she and Bush didn’t always agree on everything, but she always knew where Bush stood. She said Bush’s departure is the town’s loss.

“I always felt I could discuss an application or the possibility of an application and she would respond,” Molloy said. “We treated each other as professionals. I always felt there was an honest discussion.”

Bush has been criticized for being prickly with the people she works with and was suspended for a week last year on a harassment complaint.

“There are different standards for different people in town,” Bush said about the suspension. “And the town can’t say otherwise.”

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Bush said the next town planner will have to pay attention to the impact commuter rail is expected to have on the town and in updating the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development.

“I wished we had the incentive housing zone in place,” Bush said. “I hope we have something in place soon, so we don’t miss the opportunity created by the commuter rail.”

$671G surplus up in Wallingford, but mayor still cautious

2012-01-05T08:42:00.000-05:00

As published online at NHRegister.com on Wednesday, January 04, 2012

By Luther Turmelle
North Bureau Chief
lturmelle@nhregister.com
Twitter: @lutherturmelle

WALLINGFORD — The town finished fiscal 2011 with a $671,000 surplus, compared to $406,000 during the previous fiscal year, according to the annual municipal audit.

Usually, even a modest surplus is reason for some cheer among town officials. But Mayor William Dickinson Jr. said Tuesday that without significant new revenue coming in, the surplus doesn’t tell the whole story.

“I think the town is in sound fiscal health,” Dickinson said. “But our fiscal decisions are dependent upon the local taxpayer footing the bill and the worry is there is not an indication of new revenue coming in. So, we’ve got to be very cautious about how we spend.”

Dickinson acknowledged he won’t know for certain whether the town’s tax revenue will increase until the end of this month, when Wallingford files its grand list with the state. Last year, for the first time since Dickinson took office in 1986, the town’s overall value of taxable property went down.

The audit also revealed that the town’s net assets — which represents the combined dollar value of government and business activity — increased by $3.43 million to $353.48 million in fiscal 2011, which ended last June 30, said James Bowes, Wallingford’s comptroller.

“The fact that out assets are still growing, given the difficult nature of the economy, is good news,” Bowes said.

The town’s debt load decreased by nearly $2.74 million in fiscal 2011.

Call Luther Turmelle at 203-789-5706 or follow him on Twitter @LutherTurmelle. To receive breaking news first, text the word NHNEWS to 22700. *Msg+data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.

Christmas tree pickup starts Monday January 9, 2012

2012-01-04T09:51:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday January 4, 2012

WALLINGFORD — The town’s Public Works Department will begin picking up Christmas trees in all sections of town on Monday, Jan. 9.

Residents are asked to place their trees at the curbside on Sunday, Jan. 8. Trees are to be clean of ornaments, bows, tinsel etc. No plastic bags or wreaths will be picked up.

This is a one-time pick-up.

Those who miss the deadline may bring their tree to the town’s compost area at no charge until Jan. 14 during normal business hours for the recycling center: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

The compost area will be closed from Jan. 16 to March 15.

McKay to chair Wallingford school board

2012-01-04T08:43:00.001-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday January 4, 2012

— Ibrahim Hirsi

WALLINGFORD — The Board of Education elected Roxane McKay chairwoman, Joseph Marrone as vice chairman and Michael Votto secretary Tuesday night during an organizational meeting.

McKay, 53, said after the election that she is honored and proud to have been elected the chairwoman of the Board of Education. “I appreciate the confidence that you have shown and voting for me,” McKay said. “At this point we all know that we are here for the same reasons and its collaborative efforts.”

Marrone, a father of three who is serving his second term in the Board of Education, said it was humbling to be elected.

Swearing in ceremony - Wallingford Town Council Jan 2, 2012

2012-01-04T08:30:00.000-05:00

Pictures from the Swearing in ceremony for the Wallingford Town Council can be seen via my Facebook page as well as publicly over on Live.com on my SkyDrive.

WALLINGFORD - Parcel’s fate still fuel for debate

2012-01-03T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Monday January 2, 2012

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said recently that construction of a new police station isn’t likely next year on the town-owned Wooding-Caplan property, and town councilors have differing opinions on the future of the parcel.

The town bought the 3.5acre property for $1.5 million in 1992, but it has remained largely vacant since. A referendum in 2006 overturned the Town Council’s decision to sell the property to a local developer.

In the five years since the referendum, the fate of the property has continued to be a hot topic. A space needs assessment conducted in 2008 determined that the parcel was big enough for a new 47,000square-foot police headquarters, but at a cost of more than $20 million. No action has been taken since.

“I don’t think the economy is in the condition to support a major project,” Dickinson said. “It’s unlikely this coming year.” But some councilors questioned the need for a police station downtown at a time when officers use vehicles rather than walking a beat, and most want to see action on the land, and soon.

Councilor John LeTourneau, a Republican, said he’s “totally against the police station” on the property, and would like to see it sold to a developer. In the meantime, he’s proposing the town work to create a temporary parking lot on the land. Craig Fishbein, a Republican, said he wants to see the new council take up the issue.

“It’s my intent to have Wooding-Caplan come before the Town Council very soon,” Fishbein said.

Fishbein said he’d like to see a panel study the property and come up with a proposal or “put it out to bid and sell it,” he said.

“I’d like to have the property developed in some manner,” Fishbein said. “I’d like to see the property added to the downtown. The time has come.”

Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos, a Democrat, in October had proposed a town wide Wooding-Caplan

commission, but it was never started. Economopoulos said this week he’d still like to see that commission created.

“We need to have some kind of committee brainstorm to see what they want to do,” he said.

Asked for his own proposal, Economopoulos said he’d like to see moderate housing there for “empty-nesters.”

“I’m close to being an empty-nester myself,” he said. “I’d like to be back downtown.” Democratic Councilor John Sullivan said the town must “fish or cut bait,” on the police station proposal.

“If it’s not going to be a police station, something needs to be done,” he said.

Sullivan said it was another example of the town “dragging its feet on a property,” and pointed to how long it took before action was taken on the building at 390 Center St., which the town bought in the early 1990s. It was finally demolished in 2008.

Jason Zandri, a Democrat elected in November, also wants to see Wooding-Caplan revisited. If the decision is made to locate the police station there, something Zandri said should be investigated further, the town should at least keep up the property better, he said.

“For far too long it has been left in a deteriorating state,” Zandri said. “We could do a little maintenance, put up some lights.”

Personally, Zandri said he’d like to see a park with a parking lot on the Wooding-Caplan property, but he’s open to all options and wants to get input from residents on what they’d like to see there. Zandri said that the 2006 referendum didn’t mean voters didn’t want the council to take action on the property, but rather that the proposal brought forward wasn’t something palatable.

“Don’t blame the voters,” he said. “The council never came back with anything else. They never sat down and discussed it again.”

Thomas Laffin, a Republican who will be sworn into the council on Monday, said the parcel has “sat long enough.”

“I want to see a plan,” he said. “If nothing right away, at least to know when.”

Laffin said he is open to the idea of a police station, but he is “partial to development” on the property. He added that he would like to see plans of either before he makes a decision, but ultimately wants some action taken.

“As long as we know where it’s going,” he said. “Right now, it’s just sitting.”

Parisi to serve as council chairman

2012-01-03T07:55:00.001-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Tuesday January 3, 2012

By Jesse Buchanan
Record-Journal staff jbuchanan@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2230

WALLINGFORD — Town Council Republican Robert F. Parisi was elected chairman at Monday night’s swearing-in ceremony, but not without opposition from two council Democrats.

Parisi — on the council for more than three decades and with 16 years’ experience as chairman — was chosen on a 6-2 vote. Democrats Nicholas Economopoulos and John J. Sullivan voted against him.

Parisi was in Madrid, Spain, on Monday.

The vote took place at a special Town Council meeting during which Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., town councilors, Board of Education members and Town Clerk Barbara Thompson were sworn in. Republicans nominating Parisi praised his service to the community both on and off the council. Republicans hold six of the nine council seats.

"Bob has been a mentor to myself and others," said Republican Vincent Cervoni. "He’s been a leader in many instances."

"As long as he wants to serve the town, we are fortunate," said Republican Rosemary Rascati.

Sullivan said there were other qualified Republicans he would have preferred as chairman. He said he wanted to see a fresh face as chairman and someone who could "strongly lead this council."

"I'd like to see progressive government," Sullivan said. "I think Bob has had his time."

Jason Zandri, a Democrat elected in November and taking his seat on the council after his second campaign, voted in favor of Parisi. Zandri said he might have voted for another nominee if one had been put forward.

"I wanted to vote for someone," Zandri said. "No one put anybody else up to consider, and I wanted to vote."

Zandri and Thomas Laffin, a Republican, took their seats on the council for the first time on Monday. Both said they were excited to take office and begin tackling town issues.

Laffin said he had worked hard to get elected, but that he knew the work "was only just starting."

Zandri said he’s hoping to help resolve issues downtown. "I don’t want this stuff to sit anymore," he said. "We should be discussing it and making plans."

Cervoni, in his second term as councilor, was elected vice-chairman by unanimous vote Monday. "He has brought stability and common sense to the table," said Rascati, adding that the councilor "plays a mean guitar."

Republican John LeTourneau also praised Cervoni. "He doesn’t say a lot on the Town Council, but when he does speak, he speaks volumes," LeTourneau said.

Dickinson addressed the audience after being sworn in, speaking about the seriousness of serving the town, although lightening his remarks with humor.

WALLINGFORD – The week ahead

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Monday January 2, 2012
WALLINGFORD —The Town Council will hold a special meeting today (Monday, January 2, 2012) to swear in new members and to hold an election for chairman. Town Council, 8 p.m., auditorium, Town Hall, 45 S. Main St.
Tuesday : Public Utilities Commission, 6:30 p.m., Electric Division, 100 John St.
Wednesday: Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, 7 p.m. Town Hall, Room 315, 45 S. Main St.
Thursday: No meetings scheduled.
Friday: No meetings scheduled.

Wallingford school board: Welcome Back Patrick Reynolds

2012-01-02T08:52:00.001-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Tuesday December 27, 2011

Reynolds glad to be back after defeat in 2009

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — After two years off the Board of Education, Patrick Reynolds is eager to rejoin the panel he was first elected to in 2007.

Reynolds, a Democrat, served on the board for one term before he lost his re-election bid in 2009. This time around, Reynolds said he plans to be a more active participant. “I’m going to be a bit more vocal,” he said. “I sat back my first term because it was all new to me. I want to free up my schedule to offer my services for some more committees.”

Reynolds, 58, teaches science at New Britain High School, Central Connecticut State University and Tunxis Community College. While there are no specific burning issues he wants to see addressed, Reynolds said it’s important to make sure that Wallingford’s students continue to be hard workers.

“I’m behind 21st-century technology, but we can’t get ahead of ourselves,” he said. “We need to make sure our young people have a 20th or 19th-century work ethic.”

Reynolds said that as a college professor he’s seen students show up for class unprepared or not show up at all. While he doesn’t see this as a specific problem in Wallingford, he wants to make sure that doesn’t become the case.

“It’s everybody’s responsibility to make sure students come to school and that homework is done on time,” he said. Reynolds said he’s happy with the education that his family has received from the town, but added that “there’s still work that needs to be done.”

As a member of the school board that hired School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo, Reynolds said he was also looking forward to working with the administrator.

“I’m looking forward to working with Menzo,” Reynolds said. “We’ve been in touch since the election and I’m looking forward to sitting down and talking with him.”

Among the first tasks for Reynolds and the Board of Education will be the 2012-13 school budget. A workshop scheduled for Jan. 9 will be the first time the panel gets a look at Menzo’s proposal.

“I think the last few budgets have gone as smooth as you can get,” Reynolds said. “I know as a board we have to really watch the pennies, from the administrators down to the department heads and the teachers.”

Roxane McKay, the Republican vice chairwoman, said she is looking forward to working with Reynolds again.

“He’s a good guy, and he brings a nice perspective being in the education world,” she said. “He’s very thoughtful and hard-working. He gets all the facts before he makes a decision; he does his homework.”

Kathy Castelli, a Democrat, said she is excited to have Reynolds back.

“He has great perspective,” she said. “He’s so involved with education. He helped me to broaden my own perspective.”

Reynolds said there is a good group on the school board, and that the panel isn’t overly political. He said he is looking forward to rejoining the members he previously worked with.

“I liked the people,” he said. “You couldn’t tell the Republicans from the Democrats. There were no personality conflicts, it was all for the kids.”

Though he could have called it quits after losing his re-election bid, Reynolds said that he still had a desire to serve.

“I grew up in Wallingford, my daughters went through the school system and my grandsons are in it,” he said. “I wanted to give something back.”

Wallingford school board: Welcome Christine Mansfield

2012-01-02T08:10:00.001-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Tuesday December 27, 2011

Mansfield: Budget is school board’s No. 1 priority

By Ibrahim Hirsi
Record-Journal staff
ihirsi@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — When Christine Mansfield ran for public office for the first time in November, she got the second- most votes, winning a seat on the Board of Education.

“It was a dream come true,” said Mansfield, 42, a Republican. “I wanted to run for office. I have the ability to bring people together. I can instantly work with people across the aisles.”

Even though Republican Town Committee Chairman Bob Prentice doesn’t know Mansfield well and hasn’t worked with her in the past, he noted that “everyone likes her.”

“I am very excited to see that she is involved in the local politics,” Prentice added. “She is going to be a great asset to the Board of Ed.”

President and chief executive officer of a technology training company in Wallingford, Discovery Training Services, Mansfield said she will bring her work experience to the school board by building on technological advancements and partnering with businesses and the community to give students some real world experience.

“Focusing on our needs to educate kids in the foundation including reading, literacy, math and critical thinking skills” is important, Mansfield said, adding that those skills can be enhanced by technology.

“I’ve done it for private schools all over the map. And now I get the chance to do it as a board member.”

While the district may be facing another year of low growth in its budget due to a sluggish local economy, Mansfield said a better school system is possible with better money management.

“We have got experience, we’ve got people in place, we’ve got money, we know the needs, and we have to spend as wisely as we can against aging facilities,” Mansfield said.

The budget is the biggest issue before the board this year, Mansfield said, and the first one it needs to tackle.

Federal and state funds used for special education programs just aren’t there anymore, Mansfield said.

“When you look at the funding models that are in place, the superintendent never gets 100 percent of the fund, the district never gets it, and the town never gets it. You just don’t have enough money,” Mansfield said.

Mansfield, a mother of three, said she could see that the board needed her and that’s why she decided to jump on the campaign trail only two days before the deadline to apply for the board member position.

“It wasn’t to be the leader,” she said. “It was to play a role I dreamed of, and I won.”

But the victory was only possible because of extremely hard work and organization, said Mansfield, who shared debate stages with veteran politicians including incumbents Michael Brooder, Joe Marrone, Chet Miller, Roxane McKay from her party, as well as Democrats Jay Cei, Kathy Castelli, Michael J. Votto and Patrick Reynolds.

“It was a lot of work and bringing a lot of people and a lot of good ideas together in a very short period of time,” Mansfield said.

Mansfield is very intelligent and very civic-minded, Prentice said. “She is heavily involved with the kids and church. I hope she will stay involved.”

Mansfield said the campaign was a learning experience.

“It was amazing to meet so many people and eye-opening to hear so many voices in different needs and people so rudely wanting to tell you everything that you can do to change something,” she said.

Mansfield’s 7-year-old daughter and 9- and 11-yearold sons don’t attend public schools, instead attending Holy Trinity School, a Catholic school in town. Mansfield said she noticed that some voters have issues with that.

Her decision, she said, is “by no means to disservice the public school system. It was a decision I made when I was pregnant with the first child. I wanted them to have a piece of faith in this world.”

Remap to shift voting districts

2011-12-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday December 24, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

While the recent redistricting of the state House and Senate districts for Meriden, Wallingford, Southington and Cheshire didn’t result in radical changes, local registrars of voters say the new lines will require shifts in local voting districts. The changes will be in effect for the Republican presidential primary in the spring.

Now that the redistricting plan has been approved at the state level, local officials are beginning the process of realigning precincts and districts to fit into the new legislative districts.

Republican Registrar of Voters Chet Miller said voters in five of Wallingford’s nine districts — Districts 1, 3, 5, 6 and 9 — may have to go to new polling places the next time they go out to vote.

“A portion of District 3 is moving into 9,” Miller said. The outer edge of District 9, near the Durham line, is moving into District 1.”

Other changes include a chunk of voters in District 1 near Pond Hill School moving into District 9, and some voters in District 5 will be moved to District 6.

The local shuffles become necessary because ballots must be the same at each polling place. With the new boundaries, some voters in a district will be electing new state lawmakers in the 2012 elections.

Miller said letters will be sent to voters who are affected by the change, and anybody who has a question about their polling place may contact the registrars of voters office.

“Once the plan has been settled, we’ll inform those people that have changed,” he said. “If there’s no change, you won’t receive a notice.”

Redrawing districts could also affect the makeup of the local town committees. Vincent Avallone, Wallingford’s Democratic town chairman, said the party is allowed one town committee member for every 75 registered Democrats in a district.

“It could impact the number of town committee members,” he said. “We could have members move or move members in another district.”

But Avallone said he didn’t think there would be a very great impact. Democrats will meet Jan. 11 to elect new committee members.

Miller said that for Republicans the new districts could pit incumbent town committee members against each other.

“In district one, everybody but one person on the committee is moving into the 9th District,” Miller said. “And some members in the ninth are still there. There could be competition for the seats.”

State Rep. Emil A. “Buddy” Altobello, D-Meriden, who participated in the last two local redistricting efforts in Meriden, told the Record-Journal this month that the city could look to cut the number of voting precincts from 17 to either 16 or 12, which would save money.

Lillian (Toni) Soboleski, the city’s Republican registrar, said Meriden officials were waiting for final maps from the state before they began redrawing boundaries in the city. “Our changes depend on the changes the state makes,” she said.

Soboleski said that “it would be nice to cut down on some of the precincts if that’s something that could be done.”

Anyone who has their polling place changed will be notified, she said.

In Cheshire, Republican Registrar of Voters Susan Pappas said new voting maps hadn’t been completed yet but that there shouldn’t be any major shifts in voting districts.

“A few voters might be changed, but overall there were very little changes for us,” she said.

In previous years, the Meriden City Council, which must approve any district changes, has tried to avoid having incumbents face each other because of new boundaries.

Cheshire and Meriden both have area representation on their local governing bodies, while Southington and Wallingford elect all their councilors at large.

The state must reconfigure its congressional, legislative and local government districts, based on the U.S. census, every 10 years. A legislative committee was charged with forming 151 House districts with near equal portions of the state’s population of 3,574,170.

The next election that local municipalities are preparing for is the Republican presidential primary, scheduled for April 24. Miller said that according to state law, all of the town’s polling places must be opened.

WALLINGFORD LEGAL NOTICE - CAUCUS TO ENDORSE CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO THE DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE OF WALLINGFORD

2011-12-29T10:25:00.000-05:00

TO: ENROLLED MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF THE TOWN OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT

Pursuant to the rules of the Democratic Party and the state election laws, you are hereby notified that District [caucuses] will be held on January 11th at 7 P.M. at Dag Hammarskjold Middle School, 106 Pond Hill Road, Wallingford [Voting Districts 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 9] and at James Moran Middle School, 14 Hope Hill Road, Wallingford [Voting Districts 5 – 6 – 7 – 8] to endorse candidates for election to the Democratic Town Committee and to transact such other business as may be proper to come before said caucus.

“Any resident of [this] Voting District whose name appears on the last completed Democratic enrollment list may have his or her name placed on the ballot at [this] caucus by filing with the Democratic Registrar of Voters not less than five [5] days prior to the caucus a signed statement that he or she desires to have his or her name to appear on the ballot. Any such resident may also have his or her name placed in nomination from the floor at the caucus itself.”

SECTION 3 CALCULATION OF TOWN COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP; EACH VOTING DISTRICT SHALL HAVE ONE [1] MEMBER FOR EVERY SEVENTYFIVE [75] REGISTERED DEMOCRATS RESIDING IN THE DISTRICT AS OF THE LAST PRINTED LIST IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER PRIOR TO THE TOWN COMMITTEE CAUCUS FOR THE ELECTION OF NEW TOWN COMMITTEE. IF THE BALANCE OF REGISTERED IN THE DISTRICT IS THIRTY- EIGHT [38] OR MORE, SAID DISTRICT WILL BE ENTITLED TO AN ADDITIONAL MEMBER.

DATED AT WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT, THE 28TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2011.

Democratic Town Committee of Wallingford By Vincent A. Avallone, Chairperson 1 Ashford Court, Wallingford, CT 06492

Lyman Hall and Sheehan bands still in running for Pepsi grant

2011-12-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Tuesday December 27, 2011

By Melissa Chicker
Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD — The marching bands at Sheehan and Lyman Hall high schools have teamed together to encourage the community to vote in a contest that could result in a $50,000 grant for new uniforms.

“Combining our efforts gets more people of the community involved,” Sheehan band director David Giardina said. “We thought if we combine the two schools in this competition, we will get a lot more votes and give us a better chance to win the grant.”

The schools are competing as one against 322 other groups around the country in a contest sponsored by the Pepsi Refresh Project, which gives away millions of dollars each month. The top 10 groups in the competition that ends on Saturday will receive $50,000.

“Grants are for wide-reaching ideas and with groups and organizations putting in significant time and effort,” officials said on the Pepsi Refresh Project website.

The grant would go toward about 125 uniforms for each of the two marching bands. Each new uniform costs at least $500, setting a steep total price of up to $140,000.

Uniforms, said Giardina, typically last 10 to 13 years. Sheehan’s uniforms are between 15 and 17 years old.

The Sheehan and Lyman Hall bands were in second place Monday — they have been among the top five the entire time, including some time at No. 1. Giardina believes the effort to get out the word is the key.

“We spread the word through our band parents’ organization and throughout the schools,” he said. “Word has spread quickly and I think this is why we have been so successful so far.” The competition began Dec. 1, and both band groups have been working since the start to urge people to log onto the site and cast their vote. Supporters have passed out fliers at Stop & Shop on weekends, created a Facebook page and sent emails to family and friends.

“The schools have always been rivals, and while it’s good to have a rivalry, this is a great way to foster the community spirit and work together for a common goal,” said Heidi Belcourt, co-president of the Sheehan Music Parents Association.

Voters can vote up to three times per day until Saturday.

2010 Dickinson dinner would have been illegal

2011-12-29T08:30:00.001-05:00

State agency issues ruling on canceled event

As published in the Record Journal, Monday December 19, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — The State Elections Enforcement Commission has ruled that a $40-per-ticket dinner planned for February 2010 in honor of Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. would have been a violation of state election laws, but because the event was ultimately canceled, no action will be taken.

In a decision dated Dec. 14, commission Chairman Stephen F. Cashman wrote that “as planned, the event, had it occurred, would have violated General Statute 9-609(b) as a ‘testimonial event.’ ” Because the event was ultimately postponed indefinitely, the commission ruled that no laws had been violated.

According to state statute: “No testimonial affair shall be held for a candidate, or for an individual who holds any such office during the term of such office, except to raise funds on his behalf for purposes authorized in this chapter. A testimonial affair which is held by an organization duly organized for charitable purposes shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.”

The issue was brought to the SEEC by Democratic Town Committee Chairman Vincent Avallone, who said Tuesday, “The Republican Party should be grateful to me for filing the complaint because they would have been guilty of breaking the law if they held the party.” Avallone said that, before he filed the complaint, he sent a copy of the statute to Republican Town Committee Chairman Robert Prentice as a courtesy.

Prentice could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Dickinson said Tuesday he was aware of the decision, and that while he understood the rationale for the state’s wanting to keep track of money raised, he questioned its ability to say who can and cannot hold a social function.

“To say people can’t plan an event, there are bigger issues there,” he said. “You can tell people what they need to do with the money, but to tell them an event can’t be held seems to be overreaching.”

The statute was amended in the past legislative session to allow testimonials to raise money for “party committees” as of January 2012, but Cashman wrote, “The event planned for February of 2010, however, preceded this change in the law, so the law as previously written would apply to the testimonial that was the subject of this complaint.”

The event was scheduled to be held at Villa Capri on North Colony Road and was to include a buffet dinner , music by the Johnny Bass Band, speeches and dancing.

Republican organizers of the event said the money was to go the Wallingford Center for the Arts. Mary Ellen Kingsland-Eckels, director of the Wallingford Center for the Arts, has said that organizers of the event had contacted the organization about receiving profits from the dinner, but that the organization was still in the process of obtaining nonprofit status and would not have been eligible to receive the funds.

Republican Councilor Rosemary Rascati, who helped organize the aborted event, said she wasn’t aware of the recent SEEC ruling, but said the event had been canceled because organizers hadn’t gotten a clear answer as to its legality.

“We made the decision since we did not get an answer,” she said. “We thought it was best to cancel the party and return the money.”

Rascati said they had offers from other charitable organizations to participate in the event, “but we thought the best thing was to cancel it.”

Avallone said Tuesday that his decision to file a complaint was based on his belief that the mayor and his supporters should abide by the law as written.

“The purpose of the complaint was to emphasize the fact that no one is above the law, not even a sitting mayor in office for 28 years,” he said.

The complaint was originally filed Jan. 26, 2010, and Avallone said that he didn’t receive the ruling until Monday.

Rascati said there are no plans for any other events to honor Dickinson while he remains in office. “If and when [the mayor] retires, and we’re still around, we’ll have a party,” she said.

Special Town Council Meeting - Swearing In Ceremony

2011-12-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

Special Town Council Meeting
Swearing In Ceremony
Monday, January 2. 2012 8:00 P.M.

AGENDA

1. Color Guards:
American Legion Shaw-Sinon Post #73
American Legion Siedlicki Post #187
VFW Major Raoul Lufbery #591
YEW Stanley Budleski Post #9965
AMVETS Post #83
Wallingford Elks Lodge #1365
Knights of Columbus
Edison Division Sea Cadet Corps
Dean DellaVecchio and the Lyman Hall High School Jazz Ensemble
Posting Colors — Past Commander Roy Cannon, American Legion Shaw-Sinon Post #73

2. Invocation — Reverend Anne Bracket, Yalesville United Methodist Church

3. Pledge of Allegiance — Lorraine Devaney, Public Celebrations Committee National Anthem - Dean DellaVecchio and the Lyman Hall High School Jazz Ensemble

4. Swearing in of Mayor William W. Dickinson, Jr. by Judge of Probate Phillip A. Wright, Jr.

5. Remarks by Mayor William W. Dickinson, Jr.

6. Swearing in of the Town Council by Judge Wright
Vincent Cervoni
Robert F. Parisi
Nick Economopoulis
Rosemary Rascati
Craig C. Fishbein
John J. Sullivan
Thomas Laffin
Jason Zandri
John LeTourneau

7. Roll Call Mayor William W. Dickinson, Jr.

8. Mayor Dickinson Presiding at Election of Town Council Chairman

9. Remarks by Town Council Chairman

10. Election of Town Council Vice-Chairman

11. Swearing in of the Board of Education by Judge Wright
Michael Brooder
Roxane M. McKay
Kathy Castelli
Chet Miller
John J. Cei, Jr.
Patrick Reynolds
Christine Mansfield
Michael J. Votto
Joseph Marrone

12. Appointment of Town Clerk and Swearing in by Judge Wright

13. Benediction - Reverend Anne Bracket, Yalesville United Methodist Church

14, Prepare to Retire Colors — Past Commander Roy Cannon, American Legion Post #73

15. God Bless America by Junior Vice Commander James Dunn, American Legion Shaw-Sinon Post #73

A joint housing agency?

2011-12-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Friday December 23, 2011

It could be done - Both Wallingford and Meriden have questions, though

By Mary Ellen Godin

Record-Journal staff
mgodin@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2255

The Wallingford Housing Authority can’t afford to pass up a recent offer of help from its counterpart agency in Meriden, according to Wallingford Town Councilor Nick Economopoulos.
“I consider it a nice gesture,” Economopoulos, a Democrat, said Thursday. “I think our commissioners are confused right now. I don’t think they should be hiring a new director or an outside management company. When you are under the pressure they are under, it’s a recipe for failure” The WHA is operating without an executive director, and its deputy director is also leaving. The authority has been plagued in the last year with management issues, tenant complaints, partisan bickering and the turnover of four of its five commissioners.

Meriden Housing Authority Director Robert Cappelletti extended a hand to WHA board members and town officials several weeks ago through a letter offering to help the authority get through the many changes. Cappelletti suggested a partnership between the two agencies.

“We should invite him to our next meeting,” WHA board member Thomas Mezzei said Thursday. “It’s a courtesy to talk to him.”
Both housing authorities are overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development but generally accept some input from local officials. According to HUD officials, collaboration between authorities is permitted.

“We do allow it,” said Julie Fagan, director of the HUD field office that oversees the housing authorities. “As long as they ensure they have the staff and resources to meet the needs of tenants.”

Fagan said any arrangement would have to be approved by the local boards of commissioners but would not need
HUD approval.

Craig Fishbein, a Republican town councilor in Wallingford, said he would leave the decision whether to accept Cappelletti’s offer to the WHA board members. But he would question the structure of any potential partnership and the level of commitment from Meriden, he said.

“I was a little surprised that the executive director of Meriden (Housing Authority) would have the time,” Fishbein said. “But I’ll leave it to the commission’s expertise.”

Meriden City Councilor Hilda Santiago is the council’s liaison to the Housing Authority. She also questioned the amount of time Cappelletti could devote to Wallingford, given the many projects on his plate in Meriden. “I feel there is a lot of projects he’s working on in Meriden that are worthy of his time,” said Santiago, a Democrat.

The MHA was given a failing grade for its physical inspections at federal housing projects earlier this month. Cappelletti is under a deadline to appeal some of the points made in the evaluation and return the appeal to HUD. It was also cited two years ago for faulty financial reports under a prior administration and is correcting deficiencies.

Economopoulos said he had heard Cappelletti had a “top shelf” reputation, but any potential blemishes would need to be reviewed by the WHA prior to making a decision to work together.

Under Cappelletti , work has progressed on the nearly $27 million redevelopment of Chamberlain Heights after more than six years of talking, failed applications and delays. About $1.4 million has been put into renovations of Mills Memorial Apartments and just short of $1 million into Yale Acres. The authority has also teamed with the city to apply for a grant to study redevelopment of Mills, and plans for a veterans’ housing project on Hanover Street are progressing.

Without knowing specifics, Meriden City Council Majority Leader Brian Daniels said Cappelletti’s offer is an example of municipalities collaborating to share resources and solve problems. He points to the city’s challenge several months ago when its health director abruptly left her post and Southington’s health director, Charles Motes, filled in for the interim.

“Communities help each other out,” said Daniels, a Democrat. “That’s what they do. But I know nothing about the arrangement or if it’s apples to apples or apples to oranges.”

Santiago said the difference between the two scenarios is that city Development and Enforcement Director Dominick Caruso was placed in charge of the Health Department and Motes signed off on necessary paperwork.

She believes the vacancies at WHA would put more responsibility on Cappelletti.

Economopoulos said he’s impressed that the MHA handles its own Section 8 program in house and wants the WHA to do the same. The Wallingford authority outsources its Section 8 program to the Hamden Housing Authority and he’d like to see it get more training in finance.

Whether the WHA accepts Cappelletti’s offer or not, Economopoulos said he thinks it’s a mistake for the board to make any rash decisions on hiring a new director or outsourcing the operation. Instead, it should hire an interim director and study its options.

“Right now, all we can think about is getting our ship ruddered straight,” Economopoulos said.

Pepsi Refresh Challenge: FINAL WEEK. Replace parts of 17 yr old band uniforms at 2 Wallingford High Schools

2011-12-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

VOTE VOTE VOTE

http://pep.si/vTCmA8

We slipped to third place this morning (Tuesday December 27th). This is a make or break week.

Not only is it the last week but MANY people who might otherwise vote are not online as much as they might normally be as they are off from work. (Our supporters included).

If we can stay organized, focused and keep getting the word out we can do this!

Vote every day. Email the link to your family and friends.

VOTE NOW WALLINGFORD!

YOU CAN VOTE ONCE EACH DAY!

Housing director extends aid offer to WHA

2011-12-27T08:30:00.000-05:00

Cappelletti says partnership could also help MHA

As Published in the Record Journal, Thursday December 22, 2011

By Dan Brechlin

Record-Journal staff

MERIDEN — Noting the challenges faced by the Wallingford Housing Authority in the last year, the Meriden Housing Authority has reached out to offer assistance. The WHA’s longtime executive director, Steve Nere, recently accepted a buyout and Deputy Director Teresa M. Ravizza announced that she would be leaving due to the increased workload. The Wallingford agency has also had to deal with management issues, tenant complaints, partisan bickering and the turnover of four of its five commissioners.

“We want to try to get them through their crossroads of changes,” said Meriden Housing Authority Director Robert V. Cappelletti. “We asked how we can help them while they have nobody available to help them.”

Cappelletti wrote a letter to Wallingford housing officials asking whether they wanted help with the transition. He offered to work part time in the Wallingford office, if necessary. Becoming a property manager for the WHA was also an option Cappelletti floated.

Cappelletti said he did not want to consolidate the two housing authorities, but wrote in the letter that the two could partner.
“The MHA could assist in a number of ways, from combining our purchasing power, providing technical assistance with modernization planning and construction management,” he wrote. “Other efficiencies can be gained through combining certain administration or property management functions.”

Since sending the letter, dated Dec. 2, Cappelletti said he has received no response and has assumed that the board and WHA officials are moving in a different direction. Wednesday afternoon, however, WHA board member Thomas Mezzei said he had not been told about the letter. Calls to Ravizza and board Chairman Michael Misiti were not returned.

WHA tenant commissioner Patricia Hogan said she received the letter and that the WHA is “considering all options,” including the MHA’s offer. All of the information, she said, would be discussed at a future board meeting.

Over the last year, Cappelletti said, he has been following the turnover on the WHA board and other challenges, mostly through newspaper articles. He said it would make sense for the Meriden authority to help its neighbor.

“I figured we have worked a lot with Wallingford and the homelessness program,” Cappelletti said. “It makes sense to step up and help.”

MHA board Chairman Cornelius J. Ivers said the offer was something he was aware of and agreed it could help the WHA and possibly generate revenue for the MHA.

“We’re getting squeezed on the revenue side from the government,” Ivers said. “We have to generate some more revenue and could help the WHA with their mission.”

Ivers said he had discussions with Cappelletti about the possible aid. MHA tenant commissioner James White, however, said he had not been in on discussions and was concerned that a decision could be made without the board’s vote. Ivers said he was sure Cappelletti would have let the board know at its monthly meeting, which was canceled this week. “Nothing will happen without the commissioners voting on it,” Ivers said. “It may come to nothing and Wallingford could say, ‘We’re not interested in you guys.’ ” Board member Scott Griffith said the board had discussed the possibility of Cappelletti’s filling in for a few months and simply saw it as a “neighborly gesture.” Such collaboration is something that is done around the country, he said.

Thomas Laffin - New Wallingford town councilor seen as ‘a gentleman all the way’

2011-12-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Wednesday December 21, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — When Thomas Laffin interviewed Town Council Chairman Robert Parisi for a college assignment about local politics, he never thought that nine years later he’d be serving on the council alongside him.

Photo by Dave Zajac – courtesy of the Record Journal

Laffin, 31, will be sworn in and join the council next month. Active in the Republican Party since he graduated from college, Laffin said he never had grand political aspirations.

At my very first Republican Town Committee meetings I sat with the town councilors, but I had no desire at all to join them,” he said. “It wasn’t until years later that people approached me and suggested that I run.”

At the age of 22, Laffin was appointed to the Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission, and three years later was elected to the Board of Education in his first try. After four years on the school board, Laffin was endorsed by the party for a council run. He was unsuccessful in 2009, but earned a seat in November.

Laffin said that the most important lesson from his first council campaign was to knock on as many doors as possible and increase fundraising.

"The first time, I spent about $1,000, and I fell short," he said. "I was outspent by the next Republican by several thousand. This time I had a goal of raising, and spending, between $4,000 and $5,000, and I probably spent a little over $4,000."

Laffin said he spent every weekend from Labor Day to Election Day going door to door.

A political science major at Siena College, Laffin was president of the Student Senate. He is between jobs, but most recently worked for Edible Arrangements as a new store coordinator. He has two children, Jack, 5, and Abby, 3, with his wife, Heather, who is a former Board of Education member.

Laffin said that as a school board member he learned a lot about the school budget, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of the town's entire annual spending. When it comes time for the council to hear the school board's proposal, Laffin said, the experience will help.

"I know there are great people on the Board of Education and a great administrative team that will get it done," he said. "I'm not worried. You have to be cautious, but at the end of the day we'll be fine."

Laffin credited Town Clerk Barbara Thompson, a former Republican town chairwoman, for keeping him involved with the party, despite his youth. At 31, Laffin is the youngest person to join the council since Jerry Farrell Jr. was sworn in 16 years ago at 28. Parisi said he can't recall a councilor younger than Farrell since he joined the panel in 1970.

"I was a believer of youth," Thompson said. "It's an important aspect to build the young people as part of the party."

Thompson said that Laffin is "a quiet, thoughtful person" and that she hopes he'll "bring a lot to the table."

"I've known him since he was 22," she said. "I respect him; he's a hard worker."

Laffin said that he sees his youth as an obstacle, but one he thinks he can overcome.

"It's an extra hurdle to go over, but I was a hurdler in high school; I'm used to it," he said.

Republican Town Chairman Robert Prentice said he was happy when Laffin joined the slate of council candidates and sees his election as a way for the party to continue reaching out to young people.

"As a group, we're looking to get the younger group involved," Prentice said. "We're looking for young people to get involved and put the effort in to help the town."

Prentice said that Laffin "moved up the ranks," and hoped he would bring some new ideas to the council.

"There are always better ways to do things, and I hope he'll help with that," Prentice said.

Nicholas Economopoulos, a Democratic councilor who served on the Board of Education with Laffin, said he was "a pleasure to serve with."

"He's a gentleman all the way," Economopoulos said. "He's very open-minded. Never did he seem to have a personal agenda; he was always for the kids."

Through his time in politics, Laffin said he has grown to appreciate serving, a desire to give back he traces to his early days as a Boy Scout. Laffin said the town is going in the right direction, and he wants to be part of the conversation to make sure that continues. To that end, he's willing to make sacrifices, including spending time away from his young children.

"I would come home from work, throw on a tie and be off to a meeting," Laffin said. "It's hard to hear the kids when they want you to stay and play. But I think someday they'll understand the sacrifices you have to make."

Vincent Avallone defends record as Democratic town chairman

2011-12-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday December 18, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — Since Vincent Avallone was named chairman of the Democratic Town Committee in 2008, municipal elections have not gone in the party’s favor, but Avallone says he’s the man to lead the town’s Democrats for the next two years and is optimistic about the future.

“I think it’s going in the right direction,” he said. “The core is as together as I’ve ever seen it on the town committee.”

Avallone will seek re-election as chairman in March and, so far, nobody has come forward to challenge the local attorney. He had thoughts about stepping down from his time consuming role, noting that his daughter, Joy, recently joined his law practice, but Avallone still he feels there is work that needs to be done.

The Democrats had a 5-4 majority on the Town Council after municipal elections in 2007, but Republicans regained a 6-3 advantage in 2009 and held the same majority in November’s election.

Republican William W. Dickinson Jr. has held the mayor’s seat since 1983.

While people can judge him on the outcomes of the last two municipal elections, Avallone said that there’s more to the role of chairman than simply being a campaign manager. Avallone said that more work needs to be done to get the Democrats out to vote.

In the most recent election, 3,314 Democrats came out to vote, 45.8 percent of the 7,232 registered in town. By comparison, 49.4 percent of registered Republicans came to the polls. Unaffiliated voters, the largest segment of the electorate in town at 13,025, came out at a rate of 32.8 percent. Vincent Testa Jr., the Democratic candidate for mayor, garnered 3,551 votes to Dickinson’s 6,210. Avallone admits that there was a divide in the party in the 1980s and 1990s — following a 1983 primary, in which Democratic then-Mayor Rocco J. Vumbaco lost to Pat DeBaise, who lost handily in the general election to Dickinson — but said that no such rift exists today.

File photo – courtesy of the Record Journal.

“Since those days, the makeup of the town committee has changed,” he said. “We’ve turned it around. There’s been about 60 or 65 percent turnover.”

Avallone acknowledges that it’s tough to campaign against the longtime mayor, but pointed to the election in 1989, when Democrat Peter Gouveia lost by only 31 votes, as an example of how close the party has come. With the council and school board, Avallone said that having Dickinson at the top of the ticket is a boost.

“The biggest difference in the parties is Bill Dickinson,” he said. “There’s a coat-tail effect running on a ticket with Bill Dickinson.”

But Stephen Alexander, a Democrat who moved to town a couple years ago and is not a member of the Democratic Town Committee, said he thinks the local party needs to do better.

In a letter to the editor published in the Record-Journal on Dec. 11, Alexander contended that “Democrats in Wallingford deserve a new leader who can win elections.” “There are a lot of new people in town,” Alexander said in an interview. “We’re a lot more Hispanic today than we were before. We have more renters in town. These are people that traditionally vote Democratic.” John Sullivan, a Democrat councilor, defended Avallone and said that it’s up to candidates to win elections, and that Avallone, and the town committee, are just there to offer support.

“You can’t judge a person by their record,” he said. “The candidates need to do it; it shouldn’t fall on the chairman’s shoulders.” Sullivan said he knows of nobody on the town committee who has come forward to challenge Avallone, and lauded the chairman’s fundraising efforts.

Avallone says the party is making an effort to reach out to new members while strengthening its base. He used the example of Jason Zandri, who ran as an independent for Town Council in 2007, but was convinced to join the Democrats. He also mentioned Christian DeCarlo, who planned an independent run for mayor this year before folding his campaign and joining the Democrats.

Samuel Carmody, the Democratic registrar of voters and a district leader on the Democratic Town Committee, said he thinks Avallone has helped bring the party together in his years as chairman.

Carmody, 25, has been involved with the party for nine years.

“We are unified, the party internally has become more unified,” he said. “There’s more momentum building within the party. I have hopes for the future as well.”

Carmody said that Avallone has also made efforts to reach out to young Democrats, and used the example of David Leonardo, a 24-year-old who ran in November for Board of Education and is expected to take a seat on the town committee.

The Democrats will caucus next month to elect new committee members. Avallone said he has a good group together that he hopes to build on, and wants the party to be in good position for the day when the mayor’s seat becomes vacant.

“You can’t give up, you have to keep trying,” he said. “You keep pushing. It’s difficult to beat the incumbent.”

Councilor-elect Zandri eager to begin his term in Wallingford

2011-12-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Sunday December 11, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — After an unsuccessful run for Town Council in 2007 as an independent, Jason Zandri ran as a Democrat this year and won. He’s eager to join the council in January.

Zandri, 42, a computer systems engineer for Bloomberg, said he’s spent the month since the election studying the issues before the council.

“I’ve been attending meetings since then, and getting the information packet that the councilors get,” he said. “I’m going over the rules, the procedural stuff. I’m trying to get in that mode.”

Even before he began campaigning, Zandri had already made himself known to many in town through a number of different efforts. He has maintained two blogs, “Wallingford Politico” and “Jason Zandri for Town Council,” has written “From Wallingford” for the Record-Journal’s opinion pages, and has helped in the fundraising effort for the town’s Fourth of July fireworks celebration. John Sullivan, a Democratic councilor, closed up his political blog after he was elected, but Zandri said he plans to keep both his blogs up and running as a source of information for residents.

“I look at the blog as an ability to communicate with people,” he said. “On Wallingford Politico, I post stories, with very little editorializing. But on my own blog, I’ll express a little detail, some of my thoughts on an issue. It’s a prudent way to get information out there.”

Zandri has a long lineage in Wallingford, and his four children represent the fifth generation of Zandris living in town. He also has a history of political service in his family. His father, Geno, was a town councilor for 10 years.

Democratic Town Chairman Vincent Avallone Jr. said he hopes Zandri will bring some fresh ideas to the council.

“He’s extremely energetic,” Avallone said. “He’s someone that, when he starts a task, he wants to see it completed.”

A year before his 2007 run as an unaffiliated voter, Zandri left the Democratic Party. After his failed council bid, he took some time to evaluate his options.

“I had to think about whether to try for another shot,” he said.
Zandri was able to work out his differences, get involved with the Democratic Town Committee and eventually got on the Democratic ticket for 2011.

“I sat down with Vinny Avallone and I worked out my differences with the party, and became an active part of the group,” Zandri said.

“I’ve known him since he was young,” Avallone said. “He felt comfortable with me.”

Zandri commutes to his job in New York City, and he acknowledged that balancing work, family life and the council will be a challenge. But he said he can handle the time commitment to the council.

“I think being able to campaign for the fireworks allowed me to see if I could handle the burden of both,” he said.

Zandri said he doesn’t expect to put items on the council agenda right away, and wants to take the first four or five months — most of which will be spent on the budget process — to get his feet wet.

But he added that he has a good working relationship with the eight other councilors and won’t be afraid to engage in debate.

“I don’t feel like I can’t express my thoughts and have a discussion,” he said. “We may not agree all the time, but I don’t think it will be an issue. I want to build bridges and work across the aisle.”

Though he understands that he’ll be a freshman councilor in the minority party, Zandri has already identified a few areas he’d like the council to examine.

Zandri said he hopes to see the council look toward adding voicemail and email to Town Hall and also to see action taken on the Wooding-Caplan property. The town purchased the 3.5-acre parcel for $1.5 million in 1992 and it has remained vacant since. A 2006 referendum overturned a decision to sell it to a developer. Other ideas that have been proposed include a parking lot or a new police station.

“If we’re going to put the police station there, I’d like to see that outlined,” he said. “I’d like to see a plan.”

Republican Town Councilor Craig Fishbein, who worked with Zandri on the fireworks campaign, called him “a gogetter.”

“He’s full of ideas and energy,” Fishbein said. “He’s not afraid to speak his mind, and roll up his sleeves to get the job done.”

Sullivan said that Zandri is “an extremely dedicated person” and he’s looking forward to working with him on the council.

“After the election, the council isn’t Democrats and Republicans, it’s nine people that need to work together,” Sullivan said. “I think Jason can be a bridge builder.”

Zandri said he will bring a “can get done” attitude to the council.

“Of course we should be careful and cautious, but if there’s something we want to try to accomplish, we need to look at how we get it to completion,” he said.

Fishbein redistricted out of 85th

2011-12-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

By Dan Ivers
Record-Journal staff
divers@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2275

WALLINGFORD — The recent remapping of state House and Senate districts has left local Republicans without a clear choice to oppose longtime Democratic representative Mary Mushinsky in next year’s election.

Craig Fishbein, a second term town councilor, had indicated an interest in running for state office, but the new districts place his Grieb Road home out of Mushinsky’s 85th District. He is now a resident of the 90th District, which also includes portions of Cheshire and is represented by Democrat Mary Fritz.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Bob Prentice said he was disappointed Fishbein would not be able to challenge Mushinsky, who has held the 85th District seat since 1981.

“It’s unfortunate, because I know he was talking pretty heavily about it. We’re not sure how it’s all going to pan out at this point,” said Prentice.

Mike Vitali, who opposed Mushinsky in 2008 and 2010, has also been moved out of the district, although Prentice said Vitali had informed committee members that he was unlikely to seek the nomination again next year.

Last month, Fishbein told the Record-Journal that he would be open to possibly running for state office in the future, fueling speculation he would challenge Mushinsky next year. However, Fishbein said he never committed to a run and had yet to take any steps to prepare a campaign.

“I have thought about running for state rep,” he said. “But I can tell you categorically that I have not asked anyone to be on my team for any run in 2012.”

Fishbein indicated that the prospect of ousting a longtime incumbent such as Mushinsky is not a primary factor in his plans, and that he would not be opposed to challenging Fritz if he runs.

“That’s not the way I do things. If I was to run, it wouldn’t necessarily be because of potentially unseating someone. It would be because I think I would do a good job,” he said.

Cheshire resident Richard Abbate has already indicated that he plans to oppose Fritz this year, according to Prentice, but official discussions on nominations will not begin until early next year.

Mushinsky, who has announced her intention to seek a 16th term, called Fishbein a “very active councilor.” Despite being members of rival parties, they recently found common ground in their opposition to a plan to upgrade the Simpson Court parking lot using $500,000 of taxpayer dollars. Fishbein broke with other Republicans on the Town Council in opposing the deal.

Mushinsky has gone through the redistricting process three times since being elected, and said the 85th District has undergone at least a minor shift each time. This year, its borders moved slightly to the south and the west, toward Cheshire.

“There generally is some kind of boundary moving every time redistricting happens,” she said.

Mayor names Small to big post

2011-12-19T08:30:00.000-05:00

Wallingford Law Dept. shuffle involves three

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday December 17, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — The town’s new corporation counsel is a familiar face in the Law Department.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. announced Friday that Town Attorney Janis Small would be taking over as corporation counsel, filling a vacancy created when Adam Mantzaris retired after 37 years. Small has been town attorney since 1988.

The appointment comes amid a shuffle of personnel in the Law Department. Assistant Town Attorney Gerald E. Farrell Sr. will take over the duties of town attorney, but on a part-time basis, and local attorney Geoffrey T. Einhorn was named the new assistant town attorney.

In her new role, Small, 53, will have more job security. Both the town attorney and the corporation counsel are appointed by the mayor, but the mayor also has the power under the charter to remove a town attorney. Corporation counsel is a classified service job, meaning that if a new mayor were elected, he or she could not remove Small.

“Full-time classified positions, those job openings don’t come along very often,” Small said. “I enjoy the work; it’s an area of law I want to remain in. This was a good opportunity for me.”

Dickinson said that while the town attorney is the head of the Law Department and oversees the corporation counsel, the duties of the two are very similar.

Town Councilor Jerry Farrell, Jr., a Republican who did not seek re-election in November and is the son of Gerald E. Farrell Sr., had expressed interest in the open positions in the

Law Department, but ultimately told Dickinson he no longer wanted to be considered.

“I started my own business, and that’s occupying me full time,” he said. “I don’t know that I would have the time.”

Farrell Jr. added that if he were appointed to a position in the office, his father would have had to leave the office because of nepotism policies.

“I didn’t want the mayor to have to make that choice,” he said. “Him staying on is best for the town.”

Farrell Sr., 69, has been assistant town attorney for 28 years, and was retained as counsel for the town before that, in the 1970s. Dickinson said that Farrell has spent a number of years doing legal work for the town’s utility departments, and he didn’t want to lose that experience, necessitating the shift to a part-time town attorney position.

“Gerry wasn’t interested in a full-time position,” Dickinson said. “We didn’t want to lose that expertise.”

Farrell Sr. said that while he couldn’t commit full-time and drop his private practice, he wanted to continue “to see the town move forward.”

“I’ve lived in town for 45 years; I’m proud of the town and I want to see it continue,” he said. “Being involved with helping that come about is important to me.”

Einhorn, who operates a private practice on Route 5, will join the Law Department as a part-time employee. He has been practicing law for 12 years, including 10 for a firm in Hamden and more recently at his Wallingford office. He has been a resident of Wallingford since 2002.

“The mayor is a very persuasive guy,” Einhorn said of his decision to take the job. “It’s an honor to be asked. It seems to complement my practice.”

Einhorn, 39, said that he had worked on cases in which the town was a defendant and had experience with Small and Farrell Sr.

Dickinson said the Law Department is “an important asset,” and he was happy to say there would be “no major changes” in service.

“They bring a lot of experience and legal knowledge to the town,” he said.

Small will make $136,162 in her new job, Farrell Sr. will make $25,000 in his part time role and Einhorn will earn $23,166, according to Personnel Director Terrence Sullivan. The new appointments will take effect Jan. 3.

Editorial Cartoon from the Record Journal, Sunday December 18, 2011.

2011-12-18T09:23:00.001-05:00

This editorial cartoon appeared in the Record Journal on Sunday December 18, 2011.

I have a saying I am fond of “there are only 36 hours in a day to get done what I need to do”; if I could really have that it would be awesome because I could get more done.

POLL RESULTS - How much should the town be responsible for regarding Wallingford Center Parking?

2011-12-17T09:20:00.001-05:00

Sixty votes in total. This is the sentiment of just those 60 respondents for whatever it is worth.

The majority of the respondents in this poll felt that if Wallingford is going to make any type of investment it should be as close to equal as the property owners

Obviously this is not a full representation of the wishes of the voters.

The referendum, just six days after the municipal election, drew 6,888 voters, with 2,768 in favor of the lease and 4,120 against.

There is no way to say just what the nearly 6,900 voters would want unless you could poll them all.

I do expect this issue to come up again so with that I will be trying to solicit the input of the voters and I will be reaching out to try to do that.

For those that would be willing to proactively reach out to me I can be reached at Jason@Zandri.net or by phone at 860 614 6069

The Federal Budget in simple terms

2011-12-16T17:18:00.001-05:00

Not much more to say here; either you understand this or you do not.

If you click on the image it will enlarge for you.

For more information please see:

National Debt Clock

Debt Clock for Connecticut

Debt Clocks from around the world

Pepsi Refresh Challenge: we are back in first place. HELP KEEP US THERE.

2011-12-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

We slipped last night to 2^nd place but as of this morning (12/15) we are back to first.

Help keep us there! VOTE EACH DAY!

http://www.refresheverything.com/wallingfordbands

Bagged leaf collection to begin in Wallingford

2011-12-15T08:45:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal on Wednesday December 14, 2011

WALLINGFORD — Residents will have their bagged leaves picked up by the town’s Public Works Department starting Monday December 19. All leaves to be picked up must be placed at the curb in paper bags, sealed with masking tape only, if needed. Bagged leaves need to be at the curb no later than Sunday.

This is a one-time pickup of leaves only; brush, trash and garden waste will not be accepted.

Residents who miss the pickup may take leaves to the compost area on John Street at no charged.

Compost hours until Saturday will be as follows:

8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Wednesday and Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

The compost area will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 15. The area will be closed from Jan. 16 to March 15.

Last day for the poll - How much should the town be responsible for regarding Wallingford Center Parking?

2011-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Cast your vote at http://wallingfordpolitico.blogspot.com/

100 percent of the cost
75 percent / 25 percent should come from the property owner
50 percent / 50 percent should come from the property owner
25 percent / 75 percent should come from the property owner
zero; all of the costs should come from the property owner. It is their property

Council approves principals’ contract

2011-12-14T07:46:00.001-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Wednesday December 14, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — The Town Council approved a new, three-year contract Tuesday for the school district’s administrators that runs from 2012 to 2015 and includes pay raises totaling more than $130,000.

The pay increases over three years, including general wage increases and step increases, amount to 4.79 percent, according to Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Jan Guarino: 0.75 percent in the first year, 2.09 percent in the second and 1.95 percent in the third, for a total of $130,930.

But the raises are coupled with higher insurance co-payments for the bargaining unit, the Educational Administrators Association of Wallingford, which includes the town’s principals, assistant principals and other school administrators. Currently, the copayment is 16 percent, Guarino said. In the first year of the new contract, the amount contributed by the administrators increases to 18 percent, in the second year 19 percent and in the third year 19.5 percent.

School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo said additional insurance-related savings include co-payments for services that used to be cost-free to employees.

“Zero dollars was common across the co-pays,” Menzo said. “We’ve made significant changes; this is something we cannot continue to offer in these economic times.”

Menzo said this year’s contract is less costly to the town than past agreements.

“There is a significant reduction in terms of total cost,” he said.

The three previous contracts for administrators contained increases of $373,000, $266,000 and $234,000, Menzo said. The multi-year raises amounted to 15.05 percent, 10.65 percent and 12 percent.

Menzo said he was pleased with the outcome of the negotiations.

“We do feel that we made growth in the contract,” he said. “There are a lot of areas. This is a challenging contract with many aspects that are unique to Wallingford that we have to work through over time.”

“I want to thank you for your diligence and negotiating hard,” said Democratic Councilor Vincent Testa. “You’re seeking out areas of potential savings that may have been overlooked in the past.”

Councilor John Sullivan, a Democrat who voted in favor of the agreement, said there were still some aspects he didn’t agree with, including longevity payments and an insurance waiver that allows administrators to get cash payments in lieu of taking benefits.

Before the council began talks on the contract, there was a debate about the agenda item, which called for a temporary adjournment of the meeting for the purpose of discussing the agreement.

Town Attorney Janis Small said such talks in the past were held in executive session, but pursuant to Freedom of Information laws the council meeting can be temporarily adjourned and the matters can be discussed in a “non-meeting.”

Sullivan said he has gone into executive session before, not to discuss strategy, but specific questions about the contract that eventually were asked again in public. He said he was in favor of discussing the agreement entirely in public.

An initial motion to recess the meeting and hold a “non-meeting” failed, but after an hour of public questions, a second motion to go behind closed doors, made by Republican Councilor John Le-Tourneau, who said he had strategy questions, passed. Sullivan and Democrat Nicholas Economopoulos, who opposed both motions, remained in the auditorium during the closed-door discussions.

Tuesday’s vote came after the contract was tabled at the council’s last meeting on Nov. 30, when several councilors said they received backup material just a day before the meeting. Tuesday’s meeting was the last for Republican Vice Chairman Jerry Farrell Jr. and for Testa.

Wallingford mall project reborn

2011-12-13T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Monday December 12, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — Dominick DeMartino said that when his family bought property on South Colony Road, the plan was always to have a complete retail plaza alongside the family’s business.

When the economy began to turn for the worse, those plans were put on hold, but DeMartino says he has been hard at work the last six months and hopes to have the retail plaza at 920 S. Colony Road completed by next September.

Please see the entire story on MyRecordJournal.com

Stevens School's Brophy is in tune with his students

2011-12-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Monday December 12, 2011

By Jesse Buchanan
Record-Journal staff
jbuchanan@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2230

WALLINGFORD — On occasion, Stevens School Principal Nicholas Brophy can be found in the school’s lobby, greeting incoming pupils with “Oh Susanna” or “She’ll Be Coming ’Round the Mountain” on his guitar. Brophy, who recently joined a barbershop quartet and dabbles in recording, said the students appreciate getting to know their principal’s interests and hobbies.

Brophy sat down with the Record-Journal for an interview Friday.

Read the entire article on MyRecordJournal.com

Work week extended for brush cleanup

2011-12-12T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Friday November 25, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — Town officials are looking into hiring outside contractors and having public works staff work overtime to finish clearing brush and tree debris left by last month’s early winter storm.

Public Works crews have been slowed by vacations and holidays like Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, said Henry McCully, department director. The crew of 31 will work six days a week starting next week until the brush is picked up, he said. The curbside collection began Nov. 7. “It’s just a lot of brush, and we’re going to see if we can get some help,” he said.

A town-wide parking ban starts Monday at 7 a.m. to allow crews to maneuver the large equipment needed to remove debris, which is especially challenging downtown, he said. The ban will end when the brush is cleared.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said the extended work week would mean more money for overtime hours, as would hiring outside contractors and renting equipment.

“We are looking to increase the resources in order to get it done quicker,” he said. “If you could possibly move it yourself and take it to the compost area it would be much appreciated. If you’re waiting for public works, you have to be patient and we’ll get there as soon as we can.”

The town is attempting to clear all the brush away before another snowfall. The town has applied for federal financial assistance with the cleanup, he said. Hours have been extended and the compost center on John Street is open an extra day to help handle the debris, McCully said.

While the storm at the end of October all but cancelled Halloween festivities and caused long-term power outages in most of the state, customers of the Wallingford Electric Department fared better than Connecticut Light and Power Co. ratepayers and most had their power restored within a few days.

Tree specialists working for the electric department are still cutting downed limbs and clearing debris from electric lines, and will continue to do so for some time, said George Adair, director of public utilities.

Tree crews only cut the limbs, and do not clear debris, he said.

“Anytime we’re cutting something clear of our power lines, that’s all we’re going to do,” he said. “Our objective is reliability of our electric wires, whether it be the distribution system or service lines. Removal of any of that debris is the responsibility of the property owner and or the town.”

Pepsi Refresh – Let’s keep Wallingford’s schools at the top through 12/31

2011-12-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

You can vote daily. Let’s all try to do this and get this money for Wallingford’s high schools and their bands!

We are in first place – c’mon Wallingford; let’s keep us there!

VOTE! http://pep.si/vTCmA8 VOTE!

CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute Airs Sun 12.11 8PM ET

2011-12-07T18:05:00.001-05:00

CNN, the worldwide leader in news, announced that Kid Rock will perform a special live version of "Care" from his platinum selling album, "Born Free", on CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, hosted by Anderson Cooper live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, on CNN, Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 8:00 PM ET. In addition, CNN announced that Miley Cyrus has also been added as a celebrity presenter along with Dancing with the Stars winner, J.R. Martinez, The Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am, global maternal health advocate and founder of Every Mother Counts, Christy Turlington Burns, and NFL Super Bowl champ and MVP quarterback Kurt Warner, all of whom were confirmed last week.

CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute honors individuals who are making extraordinary contributions to help improve the lives of others. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, the multiple Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondent for CNN, will be doing exclusive backstage interviews live on CNN.com during the show.

This news comes on the heels of CNN announcing that J.R. Martinez will also be co-hosting the live pre-show, Showbiz Tonight @ CNN Heroes, with AJ Hammer, host of HLN's evening show, Showbiz Tonight. Holly Robinson Peete will be hosting the social media suite on the red carpet. Showbiz Tonight's correspondent, Kareen Wynter, will also be part of the pre-show, interviewing the arriving celebrities on the red carpet. The Showbiz Tonight @ CNN Heroes pre-show will air live on CNN and HLN at 7:00 PM ET.

Fans are encouraged to vote up to 10 times a day, every day, for this year's "CNN Hero of the Year". Voting continues through Wednesday, December 7, 2011, at midnight PT, and the "CNN Hero of the Year" will be announced live at this year's CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute show. Fans can also make a direct charitable donation to their favorite Top 10 CNN Heroes' nonprofit using Google Wallet, through December 31, 2011. Google is waiving all transaction fees enabling 100 percent of the donations to go directly to the heroes' non-profit organizations. Visit CNNHeroes.com online or on your mobile device to learn more about the 2011 honorees, cast your vote and to donate.

Kelly Flynn is the Senior Executive Producer for the "CNN Heroes" initiative and CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. This year's show will be produced by Ian Stewart and Hamish Hamilton of Done and Dusted.

Pepsi Refresh Project - Replace parts of 17 year old band uniforms at 2 Wallingford High Schools – HELP KEEP US IN FIRST PLACE!

2011-12-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

VOTE NOW WALLINGFORD!

YOU CAN VOTE ONCE EACH DAY!

Registrars lament low turnout in municipal elections

2011-12-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Thursday November 24, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

Turnout for the Nov. 8 municipal election was similar to two years ago and that’s the problem, according to local registrars of voters. Not enough people participate, they say. Wallingford led area towns with 39.56 percent of registered voters coming out to the polls, followed by Cheshire at 30.48 percent, Southington at 29.33 percent and Meriden at 23.62 percent. Statewide, 30.67 percent of the 1,940,432 eligible voters cast ballots. Samuel Carmody, Wallingford’s Democratic registrar, said that, even though the town was almost 10 percent better than the statewide average, it was still not a noteworthy accomplishment.

“Below 50 percent, that’s nothing to be proud of,” he said.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said she hoped voter turnout would rise in future elections.

“I hope in the future we can help all of Connecticut’s citizens understand the importance of choosing the right leaders in their communities so we can see more people going to vote,” she said in a statement. Turnout in Wallingford was up from 2009, when it was 35.6 percent, a year that Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. ran unopposed. In 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007, turnout was 43.1, 49.9, 47.6 and 45.7 percent, respectively. Dickinson had an opponent in each of those years.

Carmody said it was hard to predict the reasons for turnout in a given year.

In Southington, 8,041 voters came out to decide the makeup of the Town Council, Board of Finance, Board of Education and Planning and Zoning Commission. Turnout was about the same as 2009, when 8,317 voters came out, or 29.8 percent of the electorate.

Southington’s Democratic registrar, Edward Malczyk, said there “were no burning issues in town” that might have driven people to the polls.

“I think that played into it,” he said. “The snowstorm, the power outages worked against us. I thought the middle school referendum would have brought more people out though.”

Despite a rare October snowstorm that left much of the city in the dark for up to a week, Meriden voters came out in numbers similar to past municipal elections. In elections for mayor, City Council and Board of Education, 7,557 voters cast ballots, compared to 7,845 in 2009. Percentagewise, turnout increased by a fraction of a percent.

But the city’s Democratic registrar, Maureen E. Flynn, said the numbers were still disappointing.

“The lowest voter turnouts are municipal,” she said. “People have to vote for the president, but not during the municipal elections. But who are you going to call if there’s a pothole? You should vote for the people you complain to.”

Flynn said that if Meriden had a strong mayor the turnout could have been higher, but she added that it was similarly low this year in cities that have that system of government.

In Cheshire, turnout was about 6 percentage points below 2009. That year, 6,624 people, or 36.3 percent of registered voters, cast ballots.

Aleta Looker, Democratic registrar of voters, said she felt the snowstorm could have had an impact on Cheshire’s electorate.

“I think it’s partly because of the aftermath of the storm,” she said. “They had too much on their plate already.”

Looker said that she’d like to see more voters in local elections, but “you can’t legislate people’s behavior.”

“When people vote, that’s their right and privilege,” she said. “But not everyone sees it that way.”

Nere’s deal is buyout, not firing by WHA

2011-11-30T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Tuesday November 22, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — Attorneys for the Wallingford Housing Authority and housing director Stephen Nere say that Nere was not fired last week by the housing board, but is leaving voluntarily with a six-figure severance package agreed on with the authority.

Nere’s attorney, Jaime Mills, and Warren Holcomb, the housing board’s lawyer, said an article in Saturday’s Record-Journal inaccurately stated that Nere was fired by the board and offered a severance package of $130,000. His contract was set to expire Aug. 31, 2012.

“Mr. Nere was not terminated,” Mills said. “There has never been any claim that there was cause to terminate him. In fact, they’re buying out his entire contract, which I think any of us would agree to if offered by our employer the full amount that is owed to us.”

The resolution approved by the housing board Friday night states that “it is in the best interest of the Authority to terminate Executive Director Stephen Nere’s written employment agreement early on December 2, 2011, to accept his retirement effective December 2, 2011, and to approve the Separation Agreement and General Release submitted.”

Nere said Friday night, after the resolution, he was too young to retire and was concerned about ongoing health issues. Holcomb said poor health was the primary reason Nere and the board reached an agreement for him to end his contract 10 months early and retire. “He was not fired,” Holcomb said. “If you fire somebody, you fire them for cause and they don’t usually get anything. He (Nere) also indicated that he had some health issues, so it was a situation where the parties sat down and said it would be in their best interests if they went their separate ways.”

Nere and the Housing Authority have been immersed in controversy for more than a year amid allegations of mismanagement, with scrutiny from local, state and federal officials. Nere, 60, has been director for 26 years and earns about $100,000 a year. The cost of the settlement and the severance package will be covered by the roughly $200,000 remaining in the “Ridgeland” account, Misiti said. In 2003, the authority sold its housing units on Ridgeland Road to a New Haven company for $1.2 million.

The authority operates 317 low- to moderate-income and senior housing units with an annual budget of about $1.5 million.

Board Chairman Michael Misiti was not available for comment.

Fishbein broke from party line

2011-11-29T08:45:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal Monday November 21, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — One of the most high-profile opponents of a Republican-backed parking lot lease agreement was a Republican town councilor, Craig Fishbein.

Fishbein campaigned against the agreement despite the possibility of upsetting his fellow Republicans. He found himself on the winning side last Monday when residents rejected the deal in decisive fashion.

Elected to his second term on the council this month, Fishbein aspires to higher office.

Asked if he was considering a run for state representative next fall, Fishbein did not rule it out. He lives in the 85th House District and would be running for a seat Democrat Mary M. Mushinsky has held since 1980.

“At some point in my life, if the stars are aligned, I would have to say yes,” he said. “At this exact point, I have my role, as frustrating as it is to act it and stay in, I have my role. Six months from now is when I’ll start to actively think about it; that district is very tough.”

Mushinsky, 60, is a lifelong Wallingford resident who, like Fishbein, voted to repeal the controversial parking agreement.

“I was changing my mind even as I was walking up the driveway to the voting place,” she said. “I think it’s critical to have a lively downtown, and that was weighing in my mind, but so was the apparently one-sided nature of the deal.”

The 30-year arrangement between the town and commercial property owners on North Main Street stipulated that up to half a million dollars from an Electric Division fund for nonrecurring projects would be used to upgrade the privately owned lot with assurances that it would remain available for free public use for the life of the lease.

Fishbein and other lease opponents said it is inappropriate for the town to spend public money on private property. The one-issue referendum drew 28 percent of eligible voters to the polls. In comparison, 39.8 percent of voters turned out for the municipal election just a week earlier.

“I think we need to look at a differently structured deal, and find another way to make the parking happen that’s more acceptable to taxpayers and keep these downtown merchants satisfied,” Mushinsky said. “It would be really tragic if they started charging for parking.”

Bob Stern / Record-Journal
Craig Fishbein, carrying a sign opposing the parking lot lease agreement last Monday, talks with with voter Carole Koty outside the polling place at Lyman Hall High School. Fishbein is a Town Council Republican, but he broke with his party on the lease issue.

She said she had heard that Fishbein might run against her next year.

“No matter; I put my record out and I run on my record,” she said.

Fishbein and Democratic Town Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos voted against the agreement when it came before the council. Economopoulos announced at a Democratic Town Committee meeting last week that he plans to run for mayor in two years.

Fishbein said his position on the issue was not politically motivated. “I just thought it was the right thing to do,” he said.

“People have to understand that I am not a politician. That’s not my base,” he said. “I don’t usually do things with ulterior motives.

I usually tackle issues as they come to me. I wasn’t even on the Republican Town Committee when I was elected in 2009.”

Fishbein, 46, has been a lawyer since 2001, following in his father’s footsteps after a stint working in retail after college, he said. He became involved in politics in 2007 when he saw what he called the downward spiral of the U.S. economy. But he met resistance from his party at first, he said.

“I found myself yelling at the TV and I knew I had to stop doing that, so I started attending meetings,” he said. “I did have some very high up Republicans tell me I should not run because I had not done enough for the party. I had not been a good soldier.”

Republican Town Chairman Robert Prentice said he was not happy with Fishbein’s campaigning against the agreement. Fishbein handed out flyers and talked to voters outside polling places.

“I think he went a little too far, but that’s not the opinion of the party, it’s my opinion,” he said. “He took it a little too far with some of the things he did. But he’s still a Republican and still on the council, and hopefully he’ll make the right decision next time.”

Fishbein registered as a Republican in June 2003, a switch from his previous registration as a Democrat, according to Samuel Carmody, the Democratic registrar of voters.

Open Mike with Michael Cuomo Wednesday November 30, 2011

2011-11-29T08:30:00.000-05:00

From the Open Mike with Michael Cuomo promo: “A very special reminder ladies and gentlemen, that this Wednesday’s guest on "Open Mike" with Michael Cuomo will be Jason Zandri! The show starts at 8PM Live on Comcast Ch18 and AT&T Uverse channel 99 and live on the web at wpaa.tv. Call in (203) 265-6310 to talk to myself and Jason Zandri! Thanks everybody.”

Wallingford board seeks parent input on school budget

2011-11-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

By Russell Blair

Record-Journal staff

rblair@record-journal.com

(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD - Parents who want their voices to be heard as theschool budget is built for 2012-13 are encouraged to attend a forumnext week.

On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., a parent budget forum will be held atthe Lyman Hall High School's vo-ag community room. Board ofEducation member Chet Miller said it's important to get parentinput as the school board prepares its budget.

"They're more in touch with specific problems and issues they feelare in danger than we are at the board level," said Miller, aRepublican. "We see things on a broader spectrum, whereas theymight be in touch with a sport or an activity."

Miller said that parent input is crucial because the budget processwill be beginning shortly.

"We like to know going in if there are areas that need attention,"he said. "It's harder to change things after the fact."

School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo said he hopes to hearspecific areas of the budget that parents would like to beexamined.

"We want them to share with us areas they'd like us to consider inthe process," he said.

Menzo said that the district uses its strategic plan to help buildthe budget. The six areas covered by the Wallingford plan includecommunity outreach, curriculum and instruction, district climate,facilities, finance and technology.

"We're taking each one, and want to see things that they wantcontinued and possible changes," he said. "We use that as anotherpiece of information."

Menzo said last year's budget forum for parents was the first, andwhile only about a dozen parents attended they all came with ideasand questions.

"It's so important to hear from parents," Menzo said. "This is notmy budget, it's not the Board of Education's budget, it's thetown's budget for the children."

The 2011-12 education budget was $4,779,296 less than the$91,573,029 the board had proposed to the mayor. Mayor William W.Dickinson Jr.'s budget represented a 0.42 percent increase over the2010-11 budget; the board has sought a 5.95 percent increase.

School officials have said that if the district receives noincrease in its budget for the next year, it could face a shortfallof several million dollars.

FROM WALLINGFORD - Town Council closes the door

2011-11-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday November 20, 2011

This week’s FROM WALLINGFORD was written by Mike Brodinsky a former town councilor from Wallingford, chairman of the School Roof Building Committee, and host of public access show “Citizen Mike”

The Citizen Mike show airs on cable Channel 18 at 9 p.m. every night, except Sunday. It can also be viewed on demand at wpaa.tv. Comments or suggestions can be sent to citizenmiketv@gmail.com.

If you can’t catch the show on TV you can catch it online on their Video On Demand page.

After spending more than an hour behind closed doors on Tuesday night, the Town Council summarily considered a very big collective bargaining agreement between the Board of Education and the teachers’ union. Unfortunately, the Council did not follow an open and transparent process.

One of the precepts of a democracy is that people have the right to watch their government in action and learn how and why their officials make decisions. Usually, that is done through a free press which reports on the doings of government.

If too much is done behind closed doors, however, voters cannot know how thorough and thoughtful their representatives have been. Were the public officials acting honestly and reasonably under the circumstances? Was the public interest protected? Were the outcomes scripted and orchestrated?

It’s not that easy to be a public official. The decision-making process can make a legislator/councilor uncomfortable, in part because the public search for information, logic, and wisdom can appear clumsy. An unguarded comment made, or question asked in good faith in the course of the legislative process, can be seized upon, taken out of context, and published. In tackling an issue, as new data develops, positions can change. An approach that seemed very reasonable one hour, may look embarrassing the next. And unfortunately, some in politics use the public arena to make themselves look good by making another look bad. A politician, therefore, can be made to pay a price unfairly. Yes, democracy is sloppy.

I understand why some public officials may want to keep their work as private as possible. It’s a matter of self protection. They may want a more comfortable venue for decision making. On occasion there could be more sinister reasons for wanting privacy. But no one wants the perception that the real work of legislators is done in a “smoke filled room.”

To address abuses, years ago, the Federal government and state legislatures enacted “open meeting laws” that require the public’s business be done in public except in very narrow circumstances that have nothing to do with the comfort level of the public officials. In Connecticut, these rules are collected in the Freedom of Information Act. It states that meetings of a public body, like a Town Council, generally speaking are to be open to the public.

The Act lists exceptions to this rule which are intended to be in the public’s interest, too. One of the exceptions is that if a Town is engaged in labor negotiations it shouldn’t be required to publicly talk about the negotiations and give away its strategy to the other side. That talk can be done in private, in what we call an “executive session.”

By Tuesday night, however, the Board Of Education’s negotiation strategy on the collective bargaining agreements had already run its course. The Wallingford Board of Education and the teachers’ union already had a signed agreement. It called for an increase in salaries of 6.21 percent over three years, costing $2.75 million, and lots of other complicated terms. Having placed the matter on the agenda for consideration, the Council’s job was to debate and decide in public whether the labor contract was good enough to accept or bad enough to reject. I would have expected a rigorous questioning and some public debate airing all sides of the issue.

Instead, the Council and representatives of the Board of Education spent more than an hour behind closed doors. Maybe they spent the entire time talking strategy. But if they had a full and frank discussion about what the agreement provided and what it didn’t provide, and the costs and savings associated with various provisions, that conversation should have been in an open meeting. The public needed to hear it all. Obviously, the Council disagreed.

Just one week after the election, I am looking for a public official who will champion open government. Better luck next time.

Economopoulos: A strong, active political voice

2011-11-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday November 20, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — He’s one of the most vocal members of the Town Council and can often be heard at council meetings sharply criticizing the mayor and long-standing town practices. Recently elected to a third term, Democrat Nicholas Economopoulos last week announced he’s going to run for mayor in two years.

It’s been little more than a week since Democratic Councilor Vincent Testa Jr. lost his second bid for the office, and Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., the second-longest-serving chief elected official in the state, won his 15th consecutive term.

Voters have had little reason to oust Dickinson, who presides over a $141 million budget that saw a less than one percent tax increase this year. Municipal cash reserves are healthy and the town’s credit rating is the highest possible. Those assets can be kept and improved on, Economopoulos said.

While many say Dickinson can’t be beat, Economopoulos says the mayor can be matched and the town can be modernized and run more efficiently and intelligently.

“He’s very humble and that’s one of the things I love about him and the public loves about him,” Economopoulos said. “But as far as running the town, I’ll have people helping me; he tends to do things on his own and that’s where he has a problem.”

Economopoulos said if he wins he’ll institute a series of commissions to research and help plan town projects, an idea he floated at a council meeting earlier this year that councilors overwhelmingly disapproved of.

“I want to stress that our weakness right now is that we don’t have plans,” he said. “Consequently, we get caught in the short straws. If a committee brings the mayor some choices, then he can make a decision.”

An example of a committee would be a group to research possible uses for the town owned Wooding-Caplan property, a 3.5-acre space the town bought in 1992 for $1.5 million that has been vacant ever since. While talk has circulated of the site being a possible home for a new police station, nothing definite has ever formed for the parcel.

Economopoulos, 62, retired in 2006 after teaching accounting at Sheehan High School for 34 years. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central Connecticut State University and moved to Connecticut from Westbury, Long Island, for good when he was hired at Sheehan in 1971.

Since then, he’s made a large family with his wife of 34 years, Susan. He has five children, including one foster child, now 21, who he said was a homeless seventh-grader when they took her in. His children are now grown and are either in college or teaching, he said.

With famed Long Island politician Robert Moses as something of an inspiration, Economopoulos served two years on the Board of Education in 2006 and 2007 before being elected to the council. His greatest inspiration in life, however, has been his father, James, a short-order cook turned real estate salesman who died in 2000 at the age of 75.

“I had a strong Greek upbringing, and the way he treated people was unbelievable,” Economopoulos said. “He was big-hearted and I just saw how much he was looked up to, and I thought that was the way I should be.”

Economopoulos, a well known local basketball coach, has a specific list of things he’d like to improve in town and has spent the past year scrutinizing members of the housing authority, requesting financial documents and even calling for the resignations of the housing director and board of commissioners over allegations of mismanagement. On Friday the authority’s board of commissioners voted to fire Executive Director Stephen Nere.

“What has happened at the housing authority is an absolute blemish on our town,” Economopoulos said. “Technology- wise, we’re an embarrassment to the state. Our priorities are all messed up. I don’t want to invest a dime until we have a plan as to what we’re going to do.”

Economopoulos announced his bid for mayor at last week’s Democratic Town Committee meeting. Dickinson, 64, said he has no plans to even start thinking about running for mayor again, but would welcome any challenger.

“I need to enjoy a little while the election that just ended a week ago,” he said. “But the office is a natural focal point for a lot of decision making and in most circumstances it’s unavoidable.”

In the meantime, Economopoulos said he’ll be keeping watch on the council and speaking his mind about Dickinson’s decisions.

“Even if I don’t win it’s going to be a good two years of making sure he’s on the right path,” he said. Vincent Avallone, chairman of the Democratic committee, said this week he was surprised but glad Economopoulos has announced his run so early. It’s the earliest he’s seen anyone declare a run, but an early start might just be what it takes to unseat Dickinson, he said.

“Nick (Economopoulos) is a respected councilor and a respected person in the community,” he said. “And he’s going to need an early start to raise enough money.”

But Economopoulos isn’t the only outspoken member of the council. Republican Craig Fishbein has often found himself on the same side as Economopoulos, and the two were the only councilors to vote against a controversial parking lot deal that was overturned by a referendum last week.

“I hope that he faces issues as a good councilor and not with future aspirations in mind,” Fishbein said. “If that’s what he wants to spend the next couple of years working on, more power to him.”

Busy month for Wallingford Politico

2011-11-21T08:30:00.000-05:00

You can click on the image below to get a better view at all the details but November, specifically the 8th, was a really big traffic day for the site (as one might expect).

We are not a huge site (yet) but we usually average about 100 plus visits a day.

Election day was over the top at nearly 700.

As time goes on I am sure we’ll grow some more.

Thanks for all the support to date.

Avallone: Economopoulos wants to run for mayor

2011-11-21T08:01:00.001-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday November 19, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — Just a week after municipal elections, Town Council Democrat Nicholas Economopoulos, a retired schoolteacher, has announced his intention to run against longtime Republican Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. — and he’ll need the two years to build a strong campaign, said Democratic Town Committee Chairman Vincent Avallone Jr.

“It’s nice to see someone realize that in order to run a good campaign, you have to start early,” he said. “Whoever is going to challenge (William) Dickinson has to raise a significant amount of money to get the message out, and get an organization going very early.”

Town Councilor Vincent Testa Jr., also a Democrat, lost his second run at the office last week against Dickinson, the second-longest serving mayor in the state, but the defeat doesn’t have him ruling out another try for the office, he said. Testa said he was surprised to hear of Economopoulos’ intentions.

“No one has asked me what my intentions are; I knew it could require consecutive efforts to be successful,” Testa said. “It will be long time before the party decides, but I haven’t taken myself out of it.”

Republican Town Chairman Robert Prentice was not available for comment.

In his 16 years on the Democratic committee, with the past two as chairman, Avallone said it’s the earliest he’s ever seen anyone announce a run for any office, and it might be what is needed to defeat Dickinson, a 64-year-old lawyer.

“Testa started later; I would think that Eco learned from that,” he said.
Robert Parisi, council chairman, said he was surprised by the early announcement and expected it might mean more verbal sparring between Economopoulos and Dickinson during council meetings.

“He’s always been pretty outspoken anyway, but I imagine it could increase,” he said. “But I didn’t expect anyone to be running for mayor right after an election. If he wants to run for mayor, he can run for mayor. He must have his own timetable.”

WHA board fires Nere, offers him $130,000

2011-11-21T07:58:00.001-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday November 19, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — The Wallingford Housing Authority board of commissioners voted Friday at a special meeting to fire longtime Executive Director Stephen Nere and offer him a separation package of $130,000. Board Chairman Michael Misiti said the decision was made to avoid costly legal proceedings to remove Nere.

Nere and the Housing Authority have been immersed in controversy for more than a year amid allegations of mismanagement, with scrutiny from local, state and federal officials. Nere, 60, has been director for 26 years and earns about $100,000 a year. His contract is set to expire next year.

The board rejected two offers from Nere earlier this year to have the Housing Authority buy out the remainder of his contract. Misiti said the draft report of a recent forensic audit had nothing to do with Friday’s decision. The draft report found large holes in financial records at the authority and auditors were unable to complete their investigation.

“After a lot of meetings with lawyers, this was the best solution for the Housing Authority,” Misiti said. He added that attempting to fire Nere without a severance package could have led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees if Nere decided to fight termination.

Nere has 21 days to sign the resolution, Misiti said.

Nere said he was “surprised yet pleased” when the board asked him “out of the clear blue” last week if he would work on a separation agreement. He said he was more concerned now with improving his poor physical health.

“I’d say that this is something the board and I have reached a mutual accord on,” he said. “I’ve had some serious health issues, and I’m going to try to move forward with making myself feeling better. I’m way too young to retire, and I think it’s really sad that I have to leave my position now. I sincerely hope that things go well for the authority and its tenants. I’m sure I’ll look for something else.”

Nere said the terms of the severance package were reached between his lawyer and attorneys for the Housing Authority. His last day will be Dec. 2.

Board member Thomas Mezzei, who cast the only vote against the resolution, suggested his own language for Nere’s separation agreement and proposed $75,000 as a severance package. The motion was not seconded.

“I don’t think he should get a dime,” he said. “But if we’re going to have to give him something, it should have been a lot less than what we voted on.”

A separate resolution at the meeting approved settling a lawsuit with Nere out of court, paying him $15,000 to withdraw the claim. The suit, brought by Nere last year against Mezzei and board members Patricia Hogan and former Chairman William Fischer, alleged that they violated his contact when they disallowed him use of a Housing Authority vehicle to travel between work and his home in Guilford. While the board has since reinstated the vehicle privilege, Nere claimed the loss of the vehicle cost him thousands of dollars in travel expenses.

Town Councilors Nicholas Economopoulos, a Democrat, and Craig Fishbein, a Republican, who have been investigating allegations of mismanagement at the authority for more than a year, attended the meeting.

Economopoulos, who recently announced his intention to run for mayor, has called publicly for Nere’s resignation and called the resolutions “sad.”

“It is the Town Council and (housing) commissioners of the past that let it get to this level,” he said.

Fishbein was recently elected to a second term on the council and said he had spent about half of his time in his two years as a councilor looking into issues at the Housing Authority. “I think it looks like a proper resolution to a long battle between a lot of different people,” he said.

The cost of the settlement and the severance package will be covered by the roughly $200,000 remaining in the “Ridgeland” account, Misiti said. In 2003, the authority sold its Ridgeland housing units to a New Haven based company for $1.2 million.

The authority operates 317 low- to moderate income and senior housing on an annual budget of about $1.5 million.

Letter to the Editor of the Record Journal by Christopher Rourke

2011-11-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

The following is a letter to the editor, published on Thursday November 17, 2011 as written by Christopher Rourke

Editor: In the referendum this past Monday, I could not help but notice in the days and weeks preceding it a huge temporary sign in front of what used to be the library saying “Vote No.”

My understanding is that the building is now owned by one of the people who would profit from the referendum being turned down by voters.

It was allowed to stand, even though a very similar sign was erected in the same spot a few years ago in reference to the Wooding-Caplan property referendum.

This sign was ordered torn down by Mayor Dickinson (citing town ordinance).

Is it just coincidence that the sign ordered torn down and the one allowed to stand is based on whether Mayor Dickinson agrees with what is on it, or not? I think so. Cronyism and the “good old boys” need to end in Wallingford!

Letter to the Editor of the Record Journal by Michael Gagne

2011-11-20T08:15:00.000-05:00

The following is a letter to the editor, published on Thursday November 17, 2011 as written by Michael Gagne

Editor: In my travels in Wallingford the other day, I noticed a huge sign in front of the former library building currently owned by Fred Ulbrich. This sign urged voters to vote “no” on overturning the parking deal — a deal which I believe would financially benefit Ulbrich. The last time there was a referendum in town, it concerned the Wooding-Caplan deal. At that time there was also a sign posted on that site.

The sign was opposed to the mayor’s position on the deal. At that time, public works employees were sent there to take down that sign as it was erected on town property.

This time, Ulbrich’s sign was untouched and unquestioned. The only difference this time was that the sign was in support of the mayor’s position. It seems that there is a different set of standards, and you can ignore the town ordinances if you agree with the powers that be.

Letter to the Editor of the Record Journal by Chet Miller

2011-11-20T07:47:00.001-05:00

The following is a letter to the editor, published on Thursday November 17, 2011 as written by Chet Miller the Republican Registrar of Voters in Wallingford.

Editor: The registrars of voters would like to thank all poll workers for their work on Election Day and also to those who also worked the referendum just six days later. For the benefit of those people upset that this could not be on the election ballot and saw none of the explanations elsewhere, here is the true explanation. State Statute 9-369a prevented its being on the ballot. A second polling place on the same day as election was not feasible because SS9-289 requires one privacy booth for every 250 voters eligible to vote at a poll, which we don’t have (they cost $175 to $200 each and we were 80 short).

We also were lacking space, trained and certified poll workers to staff the second poll, and lacked the required number of scanner machines to operate legally. The old machines could not be used due to SS9-240a.

While I was personally attacked and blamed for this, understand that there are two registrars who work together and must agree on all decisions. There was no “clandestine meeting” as charged. Our job is to administer elections to comply with the law. We do not set dates or decide arbitrarily who can and can’t vote. We follow the law and our town charter, even if it may sound silly to some. We work with the school system and Senior Center to minimize disruption of programs. We kept traffic out of the elementary schools, which were in session, for safety’s sake. It never was a matter of what was convenient for us, but what was economically prudent and what complied with the law.

If law allowed things to be eliminated, combined or staff reduced, it was done.

Consolidation of polls saved $14,000, offset by the cost of $5,100 for the notification postcard.

Original parking pact still in place - Any changes will require notice

2011-11-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Thursday November 17, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — The future of a parking lot off Center Street remains unclear after voters overturned the town’s decision to enter into a 30-year lease agreement with property owners to upgrade the lot in exchange for continued free public parking.

Town Attorney Janis Small said a year-to-year lease agreement to keep the lot behind the buildings on Simpson Court public in exchange for plowing and other maintenance from the town remains in place, and that only one property owner, John McGuire, has given the required one-year notice to quit the arrangement. For any of the other property owners to consider charging or limiting access, they would have to file similar notice.

McGuire , who owns two of the four buildings involved, filed his notice to quit in 2009. Shortly after that, he withdrew his notice orally, but not in writing. He has said he would consider restricting access to his lots and possibly charging for parking if the 30-year agreement fell through. He was not available for comment Wednesday.

But Ernest Frattini , treasurer of the Masonic Temple Corp. and one of three principal owners of the building that houses the Half Moon Cafe, said he doesn’t think charging for parking is feasible.

“You’d have to pay someone to work there, and it would hurt the businesses in the area,” he said.

Councilor John LeTourneau, a Republican who owns Wallingford Lamp and Shade on Center Street and supported the lease agreement, said that it’s possible a new lease could be negotiated.

“There are always alternatives,” he said. “It can be renegotiated, the term of the lease, the amount of the improvements.”

LeTourneau said that despite the outcome of the referendum Monday, he wasn’t afraid to re-enter negotiations with the property owners.

Craig Fishbein, a Republican councilor who opposed the lease agreement, said that future negotiations would require “all parties to come to the table.” Fishbein said he didn’t think it was fair for the town to foot the entire bill for repairs.

“I’d like to see fair, open and frank discussions,” he said.

Fishbein said there was still some anger over the referendum, and that he would “wait for the smoke to clear” before bringing up any alternatives for the lot.

Frattini, however, said he believes opponents of the council’s earlier decision would be against any spending by the town on the lot.

“No matter what we do, it’s still tax dollars being spent on private property,” he said. “How can we negotiate?”

But Robert Gross, the local resident who started the petition drive that forced Monday’s referendum, said he didn’t want to comment about any future lease agreements for the parking lot.

“It’s tough to speculate when it’s not on paper,” Gross said.

Gross said that any future lease agreements were something that the town and the property owners would have to work on.

The referendum, Gross said, simply puts the situation “back at square one.”

“That’s all it does,” he said.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said he felt the council’s lease agreement “had the best prospect of success.” The agreement overturned by the referendum was negotiated for nearly 10 years, he said.

While opponents of the lease agreement said the money could be spent to improve the Wooding-Caplan property and make a parking lot there, Dickinson said that does nothing to help the Simpson Court area.

“I don’t see Caplan-Wooding as replacing Simpson Court,” he said. “I don’t think one lot is adequate or convenient enough to be a solution for the loss of any parking.”

3rd Annual Wallingford Emergency Shelter FUNraising Banquet

2011-11-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

Dear friends of the Shelter,

Since this time last year, the Shelter Board and various committees have been working non-stop toward making the dream of emergency housing for families a reality.

We are preparing to break ground this November on the Martin B. Rubin Family Center

Please consider joining us on November 18th for our third annual “fun” raising event at Zandri’s Stillwood Inn, located at 1074 South Colony Road from 6PM to 10PM

This year’s program will be more relaxed and casual and will include a wide variety of activities including a DJ for great music and dancing, fun and exciting games, a tea cup raffle and silent auction. And of course there is the full dinner at Zandri’s which is guaranteed to be great.

Tickets are $45.00 each.

Checks should be made out to Wallingford Emergency Shelter Inc.

Additional information is available online via http://www.wallingfordshelter.org

You can also email for more details to matt@wallingfordshelter.org

Townwide vote overturns Wallingford parking deal

2011-11-15T06:05:00.001-05:00

Mayor sees ‘negative effect,’ with parking ‘not replaceable’

As originally published in the Record Journal, Tuesday November 15, 2011
By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — Voters turned out in near-record numbers Monday night and overturned the Town Council’s controversial decision to enter into a 30-year lease with downtown property owners to upgrade their common parking lot behind Simpson Court in return for free parking.

The referendum, just six days after the municipal election, drew 6,888 voters, with 2,768 in favor of the lease and 4,120 against. To make the process binding, 20 percent, or 4,956 people, needed to vote. More than half that number had already voted by 1 p.m., with polls closing at 8 p.m.

The referendum drew almost 28 percent of the 24,780 registered voters in town; the Nov. 8 election drew 39.8 percent.

Supporters of the lease, including Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. and the owners of four buildings along North Main Street, fronting Simpson Court, considered the defeat a loss for Wallingford.

Dickinson said it was a major setback for economic development and he didn’t know what would be next for the parking lot or the continuation of free parking at the lot, which the public has used since 1961.

That year, the town entered into a year-to-year lease with the owners of the properties that stipulated that the town would maintain the lot. Five years ago, when owners said the town was not holding up its end of the agreement, the town began working on contract language that went into the current lease agreement: The town would spend up to $500,000 in set aside Electric Department revenues to repave and install lighting and landscaping at the lot between Church and Center streets, in return for continued free parking.

“There will be a decided negative effect and it will be difficult to move in any direction,” Dickinson said. “I know people have lots of other suggestions for use of the money, but if we should lose those parking places, that’s not replaceable by anything else.”

But lease opponents, including two members of the Town Council, said it was inappropriate to invest town money in private property. Robert Gross, a resident who has run unsuccessfully for the council, started a petition drive a day after the council’s decision, raising the 2,491 signatures needed to force a referendum.

Lease opponents have also said that the money should be used to repair the Wooding-Caplan property, a town-owned lot sitting vacant behind the Police Department and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on North Main Street, close to the shops on Simpson Court. The parcel has been a proposed site of a new police station.

At least one property owner threatened to pull out of the year-to-year lease if the 30year agreement were to be overturned. John McGuire, who owns two of the four buildings involved, has said he’d consider restricting access to his lots and possibly charging for parking. He was not available for comment Monday.

The opposing camps set up large gatherings on opposite sides of town Monday night to await the final count. Christopher Diorio, vice chairman of the Republican Town Committee and head of the political action committee supporting the lease, reserved the lounge of Michael’s Trattoria on Center Street.

Diorio was joined by several town councilors, including Jerry Farrell Jr. and John Le-Tourneau, who owns Wallingford Lamp and Shade, down the street from the restaurant. LeTourneau said he knew voter turnout had been high early in the day.

“I guess it was steady all day,” LeTourneau said.

Diorio said he was disappointed by the results but glad so many had shown up for the vote. He has spent the past several weeks trying to garner support for the leases and getting people to the polls, he said.

“The other side definitely got their vote out and the townspeople spoke,” he said. “Life’s going to go on, and the town of Wallingford will move forward. This will go on to the town government and property owners, and we’ll see what happens.”

Inside the bar and lounge of the Italian restaurant, local business owners — including some who were part of the lease agreement — talked of a vague future.

Fred Ulbrich is chairman of the board of Ulbrich Steel and owner of the former library building at 60 N. Main St., one of the four buildings with a lease agreement. He said he did not know what he would do with the 22 parking spaces allotted him in the nullified lease but said he would consider charging for parking. The leases outlined 130 parking spaces with 90 passes for the buildings’ owners to give to businesses and employees.

“If I have to charge, yes,” he said.

The town has had an easement through the parking lot to connect Church and Center streets since 1961, and that may have to change now, he said.

“There’s going to be a real push to take away that right-of-way. It served its purpose,” he said.

Across town, at the Gross residence on Long Hill Road, the street was packed with cars and a party was in full swing to celebrate the win. It isn’t the first time Gross has teamed up with Geno Zandri, owner of the Zandri’s Stillwood Inn, on a referendum.

The pair successfully petitioned and forced a referendum on the Wooding-Caplan property five years ago. And although they lost their push to have a local developer build in the lot, more than 7,000 people went to the polls, Gross said.

“I had anxiety going into today — you never know how the voter’s going to vote,” he said.

Zandri, chairman of the PAC that fought the leases, said he was glad the referendum was over.

“We put a lot of hard work into this, and we’re happy with the results,” he said.

Wallingford votes today on 30-year lease agreements

2011-11-14T07:15:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Monday November 14, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — As voters head to the polls today to decide whether or not to support the town’s 30-year lease agreements for a municipal parking area behind Simpson Court, groups that back either side of the issue will make their final push to sway residents to cast their ballots in favor of their viewpoint.

The Town Council in August approved the lease agreements, which say the town will supply up to $500,000 in upgrades and maintenance to the parking area owned by four building owners in exchange for municipal use of the lot. A successful petition drive forced today’s referendum.

The Simpson Court parking deal has been a hot-button issue since the council’s action, and signs from two political action committees far outnumbered campaign signs for candidates in last week’s municipal elections.

Republican Councilor Craig Fishbein, one of two councilors who voted against the lease, said he would be handing out leaflets to encourage people to vote “yes,” which would repeal the lease agreements.

“I’ll be out there telling people what they need to know about this — there seems to be a lot of confusion,” he said.

Christopher Diorio, vice chairman of the Republican Town Committee and head of the political action committee Support Our Downtown, said more than 400 signs have gone up at homes and businesses and a staff of a half-dozen volunteers would spend the last days calling up registered voters. Support Our Downtown is in favor of the 30-year lease and improvements to the parking area. A final effort will be made today to hand out flyers at post offices and grocery stores, in addition to ads in local newspapers, Diorio said Friday.

“It’s certainly been a challenge because people are very confused, and they want to know why it’s not on Election Day, and they’re confused about the yes and no situation,” he said. “It’s less of a challenge than a process.”

A “No” vote keeps the leases in place.

Council members voted to hold the referendum on a separate day after the Republican Registrar of Voters Chester Miller told them it would be a strain on the voting system due to the limited number of ballot machines and minimum space needed.

VOTING LOCATIONS listed incorrectly in the Sunday Edition of the Record Journal

2011-11-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

The polling locations as listed in the Sunday edition of the paper were incorrectly listed.

The proper locations can be found via http://wallingfordpolitico.blogspot.com/2011/11/wallingford-parking-lot-referendum.html and / or http://www.500kparkingdeal.com/html/voting_locations.html

WALLINGFORD NOTICE OF REFERENDUM

2011-11-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

http://town.wallingford.ct.us/images/customer-files//RefPollPlaces111411.pdf

OFFICIAL BALLOT Referendum WALLINGFORD, Connecticut November 14, 2011

2011-11-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

http://town.wallingford.ct.us/images/customer-files//RefBallot111411.pdf

Wallingford to hold referendum on lease agreements Monday

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday November 13, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — A referendum on the lease agreements for a series of adjacent parking lots in the center of town is set for Monday, just five days after the municipal election.

In August, the Town Council agreed to enter into 30-year lease agreements with the owners of four commercial buildings along North Main Street. The leases stipulate that the town will spend up to a half-million dollars to repave and refurbish the parking area behind the buildings with the guarantee that the property will remain open for free municipal parking.

A group of residents collected enough signatures to force a referendum on repeal of the council resolution. While the signatures of only 10 percent of registered voters were needed to force Monday’s referendum, the Town Charter requires voter turnout of at least 20 percent for the referendum to be successful. On Election Day, 39.8 percent of registered voters went to the polls.

Two political action committees have formed over the issue — one supporting the lease agreements and one against the plan — and the opposing signs quickly became common throughout town. The town had been in a similar, year-to-year lease with property owners there since 1961.

Town Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos, a Democrat who opposes the deal, says it’s inappropriate to spend town money on private property and supports using eminent domain to secure a section of the parking area and void any lease agreements. It’s the latest idea in a cauldron of talk between residents.

“It’s a heck of a word and I don’t like to use it,” he said of eminent domain, “but if you’re just taking a piece of land and you’re going to use it for what it was used for in the first place, it’s not as bad.”

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. and lease supporters have called the parking deal vital to the attractiveness and business health of the downtown area. The money for the improvements would come out of a fund given to the town by the Wallingford Electric Division every year for capital non-recurring projects.
One property owner in the lease, John McGuire, has said he would bar public parking if the referendum overturns the agreements. McGuire, who headed a push for the agreements after he said the town was not maintaining the lots properly, said the town is really spreading up to $500,000 over the years since 1961 until 30 years from now.

The lease stipulates that business owners will be able to give out up to 90 parking passes to their employees to use any of the planned 130 parking spaces for more than four hours. Public parking will be restricted to four hours.

Republican Town Councilor John LeTourneau, who owns Wallingford Lamp and Shade on Center Street, supports the lease agreements.

“We have to have a clean, vibrant, well-lit area to attract businesses,” he said. “How can we ever think of wooing a business when our downtown doesn’t look good? It’s our front yard.”

But Republican Town Councilor Craig Fishbein said last week that the money from the Electric Division should be put toward repairing the town-owned Wooding-Caplan property for use as a municipal parking lot.

Polling places for the referendum will be open Monday at the Lyman Hall High School Vo-Ag Center, Moran Middle School and the Wallingford Senior Center from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wallingford Final election results as published in the Record Journal

2011-11-13T18:00:00.000-05:00

Click on the image to enlarge

Thank you again for the support!

Wallingford Parking Lot Referendum November 14, 2011 VOTING LOCATIONS

2011-11-13T12:20:00.001-05:00

Thank you

2011-11-09T08:45:00.000-05:00

I wanted to thank everyone who came out to vote yesterday, first and foremost. Whether you supported me or not, you decided it was important enough to invest the time to come out and be part of the process.

And it is very important.

Beyond that, I want to thank everyone who offered their encouragement, support and who gave me their vote.

Those votes I received, unofficially 5,542 in all, landed me in the #2 spot within my party, just 29 votes behind #1 John Sullivan and and 5th overall.

Those votes were based entirely on faith and goodwill as I have no formal prior record of service to the Town of Wallingford.

Now that the campaigning is over, I will spend the next few weeks prior to being sworn in further preparing to take office and serve the town and all her people to the best of my ability – just as I had promised prior as part of my campaign.

My first pledge now formally as a Wallingford Town Councilor (elect) will be to work hard enough to earn each of those votes I received this past November 8th.

Thank you again.

2011 Election Results from Wallingford

2011-11-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Click on the image to enlarge.

Winners are highlighted in yellow.

Totals at this point are unconfirmed.

The unofficial counts from Democrat Headquarters

2011-11-08T20:48:00.001-05:00

BOLD denotes the winner

MAYOR
Dickinson (R) 6,213
Testa (D) 3,558

TOWN COUNCIL
DEMOCRAT
Sullivan              5,571
Hettrick                      4,095
Harwood                    4,878
Zandri                  5,542
Reynolds                    4,687
Eco                      5,370

REPUBLICAN
Fishbein             5,642
LeTourneau       5,728
Parisi                  5,809
Rascati               5,270
Cervoni              5,531
Laffin                  5,195

BOARD OF EDUCATION
DEMOCRAT
Cei                      5,632
Castelli               4,985
Reynolds           4,790
Leonardo                  4,304
Ford                           4,667
Votto                   5,277

REPUBLICAN
Bachand                    4,600
Miller                   5,094
Brooder              5,094
Mansfield            5,297
Mckay                  5,237
Marrone               5,065

Election totals are coming in…

2011-11-08T20:18:00.001-05:00

I am at headquarters and collecting totals on the fly.

If the Record Journal has them first I’ll let you know.

You can check in there via http://www.myrecordjournal.com/election/2011/wallingford/

Record Journal Voter Guide - Wallingford polling places

2011-11-08T16:00:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday October 30, 2011

WALLINGFORD — Here is the list of polling places for the Nov. 8 election.

District 1: Pond Hill School gym, 297 Pond Hill Road.
District 2: Stevens School gym, 18 Kondracki Lane.
District 3: Moses Y. Beach School gym, 340 N. Main St.
District 4: Dag Hammarskjold Middle School gym, 106 Pond Hill Road.
District 5: Cook Hill School gym, 57 Hall Road.
District 6: Parker Farms School cafeteria, 30 Parker Farms Road.
District 7: Yalesville School cafeteria, 415 Church St. (Route 68).
District 8: Senior Center, 38 Washington St.
District 9: Rock Hill School cafeteria, 911 Durham Road.

Voter information: (203) 294-2125

From the Editorial Page of the Record Journal: Vote with confidence

2011-11-08T09:15:00.000-05:00

As published in the Record Journal on Election Day, Tuesday November 8, 2011

Voting is Democracy’s bedrock — a truly American activity which should not be taken for granted.

Elsewhere on this planet other societies don’t have it so well. In recent Arab Spring uprisings, thousands risked lives to demonstrate in favor of ballot-based elections, rather than further remain subjects beneath despotic leaders who abuse authority and employ violence to retain power. For centuries we have enjoyed what these modern protestors fight for. Today we can celebrate their efforts, and our first-world freedoms, by exercising one of a U.S. citizen’s most important rights — voting.

At last, Election Day has dawned. Local political clamor will soon yield to results. In copious political opinion letters to the Record-Journal, readers have expressed preferences for individual candidates and thoughts on pertinent issues in oft-times unequivocal terms. But mistake not the numerous political-letter- writers as enough interested individuals to decide an election. Every vote counts, and it is your responsibility — not someone else’s — to register your opinion.

As our country continues preparations for next year’s presidential race, municipal voting comes to have its own unique flavor in comparison. People familiar with one another in the same community get to express support, or lack thereof, for local candidates who are neighbors, and not TV personalities or names in a newspaper. It’s a chance for civic leaders to see what sits well with voters — issues and allegiances come into political alignment.

Campaign season is a long haul, and even though many candidates enjoy getting out and meeting people, it’s just possible some have rung enough doorbells by now. Nevertheless, let’s not forget that extensive efforts by political hopefuls and their supporters add impetus to the fullness of Election Day’s turnout and significance. Underscore this point: voting — it’s part of a great American tradition and the exercise of a powerful right in democracy — a freedom not to be wasted or squandered.

And before exercising such rights, residents should fulfill their responsibility to make informed, confident decisions. Do research. Learn not only about candidates as community members but also where they stand on important issues. For instance: in today’s entrenched fiscal stagnation, those running for municipal office have by now expounded personal financial and economic development policies of all sorts. Citizens should identify which proposed monetary measures they believe as best suited to propel more expeditious economic recovery, and vote accordingly.

In coming days, supportive signs will swiftly dwindle from front lawns and political ads will disappear from television air time. Election Day will fade into tomorrow. But the results — candidates authorized to take office, some replacing incumbents while others gaining additional terms — will last for two or more years. Thus, we hope that all voters participating in today’s election have done reasonable, if not thorough, homework. Make that vote count — know your mind. Vote with pride.

ELECTION DAY Locations to vote in Wallingford

2011-11-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

District 1: Pond Hill School gym, 297 Pond Hill Road.
District 2: Stevens School gym, 18 Kondracki Lane.
District 3: Moses Y. Beach School gym, 340 N. Main St.
District 4: Dag Middle School gym, 106 Pond Hill Road.
District 5: Cook Hill School gym, 57 Hall Road.
District 6: Parker Farms School cafeteria, 30 Parker Farms Road.
District 7: Yalesville School cafeteria, 415 Church St. (Route 68).
District 8: Senior Center, 38 Washington St.
District 9: Rock Hill School cafeteria, 911 Durham Road.

If you need additional information:

Registrar of Voters

45 South Main Street, Room #211
(203) 294-2125

Registrars:
Samuel Carmody
Chester Miller

http://www.town.wallingford.ct.us/Content/Registrar_of_Voters.asp

Jason Zandri Candidate for Wallingford Town Council

2011-11-08T07:30:00.000-05:00

VOTE TODAY – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2011

Goals as your Town Councilor:

If elected, I will listen to town residents first before I make a decision and I will execute to the best of my ability the responsibilities of the office for the good of Wallingford and her citizens.
Background:
- Born and raised in Wallingford; attended Pond Hill Elementary, Moran Middle School and Mark T. Sheehan High School
- Married father of four children; two are in the public school system
- President of the Wallingford Fireworks Fund
- Auction Manager for Wallingford’s annual MDA Party for a Cure
- Information Technology Professional - Senior Systems Engineer with 13 years experience in the field; responsible for operational support, service management, and technical planning
- Avid writer, wrote the FROM WALLINGFORD column for the Record Journal for three years through spring of 2011
- Involved with the local political scene since the late 1980s
- District 4 leader, Wallingford Democratic Town Committee

Record Journal Voter Guide - Wallingford polling places

2011-11-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Vinnie Testa Candidate for Mayor of Wallingford

2011-11-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

VOTE TODAY – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2011

About Vinnie Testa

Vinnie Testa for Mayor - http://videoalive.com/vinnietesta/
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vinnie-Testa-for-Mayor/118934548181765
vtesta@comcast.net

Born in Wallingford; / Wallingford Public Schools;
B.S. Fairfield University;
1 son in college, 1 teaching in Washington, D.C.
Current Minority Leader, Wallingford Town Council
Wallingford Town Council – 8 years, 1 term as Vice-Chairman
Wallingford Board of Education – 8 years
Wallingford Wetlands Commission – 2 years
CCD Teacher and Lector Most Holy Trinity Church
Wallingford Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors
Child Guidance Clinic Board of Directors
Yalesville Little League Executive Board
Baseball, basketball, soccer coach, founding coach of Wallingford Lacrosse
Cub Scout Leader
Wallingford Dream Foundation (Founding member)
Wallingford Education Foundation
Golf Tournament Committee
Business Network International Development Ambassador

Modernizing Government

With 20 years experience in local government, Vinnie knows how we can save money by:

Reducing costs and creating efficiencies through the smart use of technology
Sharing services between Town and the Board of Education
Eliminating wasteful spending to ease the burden on taxpayers

Leading Economic Development and Creating Jobs

Based on 25 years of success in corporate business development, Vinnie has a specific plan for bringing new businesses to Wallingford by:

Establishing our industrial parks as a clean energy research and development hub
Recruiting new corporate taxpayers that are essential to rebuilding our diminishing grand list

Ensuring Public Safety

Restoring critical paramedic services
Strengthening our police force by retaining those we train

Providing a Great Education for Our Kids

Vinnie served on the Board of Education, helped develop the long-term strategic plan for our schools, and he teaches in the Wallingford school system. He understands the challenges we face in preparing our children for success in the 21st Century.

“I am proud of my service and commitment to our community. It would be an honor to serve you further as your mayor. It’s time we moved forward, together, to make this town we love an even better place to live and raise our families.

Sincerely,
Vinnie Testa

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 8, 2011, is Election Day

2011-11-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

It’s not often that you get your chance to have your say, really have the opportunity to voice your mind and thoughts.

You do get an optimum chance on Election Day more so than any other time of the year.

There is no body of government that can affect you as much and that you have as much effect on as your municipal government.

Your municipal leaders regulate your ordinances, set the local budget for the town and the schools, as well as maintain and manage the tax base of the town.

If you voted in the federal election in 2008 you were one voice in 169 million registered. (About 133 million showed up to cast a vote).

86 million democrat - 55 million republican - 28 million others registered.

Of those voters there were 132,645,504 total voters out of an eligible voting age population of 212,702,354, which gives you a 62.4% participation rate.

For the elections held at the state level here in Connecticut as of 2010 the total number of registered voters is a hair over 2 million.

The largest group of registered voters in Connecticut is unaffiliated, accounting for 831,962 voters. There are 743,580 registered Democrats and 413,854 registered Republicans.

So when 73 percent of the state voters turnout, your voice is one in 1.46 million.

You as the voter in Wallingford during a municipal election are one of about 25,000 registered. During our last municipal election only 35.6 percent of the registered voters turned out.

Your voice there is one of about 8,900.

Where do you think your voice is the loudest?

Where do you think your voice is best heard among all the noise?

Wallingford is your town – get informed, get involved and VOTE on Tuesday November 8th

Wallingford Ballot for the November 8th municipal election

2011-11-07T08:30:00.000-05:00

For the office of Mayor you may choose only one of the two candidates.

For the seats on Town Council you can vote for any nine of the twelve running. You may vote for people that are one above the other – it is for ANY nine regardless of position on the ballot.

For the seats on the Board of Education you can vote for any nine of the twelve running. You may vote for people that are one above the other – it is for ANY nine regardless of position on the ballot.

The Secretary of the State website contains additional information which will provide you with important election details.

Wallingford Democratic Candidate for Mayor Vincent Testa

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

About Vinnie Testa

Vinnie Testa for Mayor - http://videoalive.com/vinnietesta/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vinnie-Testa-for-Mayor/118934548181765

vtesta@comcast.net

Modernizing Government

With 20 years experience in local government, Vinnie knows how we can save money by:

Reducing costs and creating efficiencies through the smart use of technology

Sharing services between Town and the Board of Education

Eliminating wasteful spending to ease the burden on taxpayers

Leading Economic Development and Creating Jobs

Based on 25 years of success in corporate business development, Vinnie has a specific plan for bringing new businesses to Wallingford by:

Establishing our industrial parks as a clean energy research and development hub

Recruiting new corporate taxpayers that are essential to rebuilding our diminishing grand list

Ensuring Public Safety

Restoring critical paramedic services

Strengthening our police force by retaining those we train

Providing a Great Education for Our Kids

Sincerely,

Vinnie Testa

Wallingford’s Possible Mission (a little fun with this local election)

2011-11-07T07:45:00.000-05:00

GoAnimate.com: Wallingford's Possible Mission by gunderstone

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Running for office has been a lot of work so I decided to have a little fun with it.

FROM WALLINGFORD – Hey kids, it’s time to show up

2011-11-07T07:30:00.000-05:00

As originally published in the Record Journal Sunday, September 27th, 2009

It was also cross posted to my personal blog – From the Mind of Jason Zandri

The item regarding the Charter Revision vote is out of date and no longer relevant but the rest of it as timely as it ever was.

According to some research I have done recently, in the 2008 Presidential election the number of Wallingford people registered to vote aged 18 to 30 that came out and voted was about 2,800.

For people aged 60 to 72 that number was a little more than 4,000.

Both age sets encompass a span of 12 years.

In 2008, 22,000 of the nearly 26,000 registered voters in Wallingford generated an 85 percent voter turnout rate.

In the 2007 local election the number of people aged 18 to 30 that came out to vote in Wallingford was about 500.

Of the nearly 4,200 people aged 18 to 30 that were registered to vote only 500 showed up—that is a paltry 12 percent.

For people aged 60 to 72 that number was about 2,800 out of 4,700 or 60 percent.

When we talk about the impact for better or worse of the largest voting block the discussion always focuses around the older folks but it is not just because they are larger in size (as they are so by only about 500 voters) but rather due to the fact that they show up in greater numbers. In order to get to 2,800 voters showing up in a voter block for the 2007 local election you have to include everyone aged 18 to 47 — a bracket of 29 years.

That is a total of 11,400 registered voters to yield the same 2,800 turnouts.

Let me say it again— you have to leverage 11,400 registered voters from the 18 to 47 demographic to get the same turn out number of people aged 60 to 72 where 2,800 out of 4,700 showed up.

2,800 people aged 60 to 72 out of 4,700 is 60 percent.

2,800 people aged 18 to 47 out of 11,400 is 25 percent.

I understand that the numbers in total drop below 50 percent for local elections; in 2007 voter turnout was 46 percent.

The reason for this is mainly due to the younger generation of people not showing up.

This is especially concerning tome as a parent of four little children. At 40 years old I am in with a group of people that seem not to be willing to take control of their own destiny for themselves or their families.

Say whatever you want about how you can’t change things, politics is all dirty and it caters only to this group or that group or whatever— it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy when you don’t show up to vote.

I feel that local elections impact you more than any other election you could participate in. All the voters are from Wallingford, there is no other election that you could have a greater impact on by just voting.

In a Presidential election you are casting your important vote among millions of others; in Wallingford it is one vote of about 12,000 or so.

Your locally elected officials directly affect everything from what you are charged in taxes by way of the budget and what allocations get handed off to support the schools that your children are attending and so on. They provide the platform and funding for or removing it from all the local services you may use.

There are many changes offered to the voters in the 2009 election from the incumbents that are running for office again to all the newcomers throwing their hats into the ring.

There are changes being proposed to the Town Charter. This document dictates the guidelines of how elected officials are to discharge their duties in service to you and the town and it is the first time any changes are being offered in 18 years.

You as a voter directly get your say as you get the opportunity to vote “yes” or “no” to each of the proposed changes.

Democracy at its best— all you need to do is show up.

Record Journal Voter Guide for Wallingford: Democratic Candidate for Board of Education Valerie N. Ford

2011-11-06T13:00:00.000-05:00

Age: 61.

Address: Judd Square, South Cherry Street

Occupation: Individual medical underwriter, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Education: B.A., liberal studies, Quinnipiac University.

Platform: the best possible education for each student; a safe and healthy environment in each school; cooperation between the board, school staff and parents; sound fiscal management; looking out for the best interests of students, challenging them and district personnel.

Misc.: Seeking 9th term; first elected in 1991; board secretary and former chair of various committees; member and board liaison for Vo-Ag Building Committee; board representative in last three teacher contract negotiations; married to Brian Ford; mother of three graduates of town schools.

Record Journal Voter Guide for Wallingford: Democratic Candidate for Board of Education Michael Votto

2011-11-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

Age: 61.

Address: 377 N. Elm St.

Occupation: Principal, St. Aedan/St. Brendan School, New Haven.

Education: B.S., education, Southern Connecticut State University; M.S. plus 30 credits, education, Southern Connecticut State University and University of New England.

Platform: Continue initiatives of new superintendent, including middle school team changes and stronger foreign language program; hire and work with new Pupil Services director, which supervises special education; advocate for parents of special needs kids.

Misc.: Board member since 1999; board secretary; former board chairman; taught middle school for 36 years in North Branford; teaches history/social studies in Choate's summer program.

Town of Wallingford – Historic Election results

2011-11-06T07:54:00.001-05:00

Let’s make 2011 the year of 50.1 percent turnout.

In 2009 the number dropped to 36% (and I have been telling people incorrectly 37%)

Vote November 8th

Record Journal Voter Guide for Wallingford: Democratic Candidate for Town Council Jason M. Zandri

2011-11-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

Age: 42.

Address: 35 Lincoln Drive

Occupation: Computer systems administrator, Bloomberg LP

Education: Mark T. Sheehan High School

Platform: Raise new revenue sources for town beyond raising taxes; more efficient use of town capital and resources; proactive and strategic multi-year planning for town operations and growth; solicit input from residents and business professionals regarding town decisions.

Misc.: Helps lead annual fundraising for town's fireworks display as president of the non-profit Wallingford Fireworks Fund; ran unsuccessfully for council in 2007 as an independent.

Website: www.jasonzandri.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gunderstone

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/gunderstone