A new location for the Wallingford Train Station

As published in the Record Journal, Monday June 11, 2012

By Laurie Rich Salerno

Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD — On Tuesday night, town councilors are expected to vote on where Wallingford’s next train depot should go — a decision that could affect downtown traffic and development for decades of years to come.

There are two sites being suggested by the state Department of Transportation: one at the intersection of the railroad tracks and Ward Street, called Judd Square, or Plan 1; and another near the intersection of North Cherry and Parker streets, referred to as Parker/Cerrito, or Plan 2. Town staff are primarily backing the Parker Street site, citing safety issues due to traffic interruption and a parking garage at the Judd Square location.

“Of all the sites discussed … it’s the optimal one at this point,” Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said of the Parker Street site, citing the concerns of emergency personnel.

The council’s decision is not binding, but according to John Bernick, the rail project’s supervising engineer, it will be heavily considered when the DOT gives recommendations to the Federal Rail Administration, which is funding the project. The DOT is soliciting public comments until June 22 on its environmental impact survey, available on its website.

Town Engineer John Thompson sought to have the council vote Tuesday night so the town could have a voice on the location.

“We didn’t want somebody outside of Wallingford deciding where the station should be,” said Thompson, who has been working with both the DOT and the town on the project.

The new passenger platform would serve the state’s proposed New Haven-to-Springfield high-speed rail service, which officials say could eventually bring 25 round-trip commuter trains — 50 trips — through town each day. It is scheduled to be completed in 2016 and begin with about 17 round-trip trains a day.

Neither depot would include an actual train station; rather, they would consist of parking lots or parking structures, platforms on each side of the track and a vaulted pedestrian walkway to connect the two. Riders would buy tickets on the train, as do now, or use automated systems on the platforms, engineers say.

The historic train station at Hall, Quinnipiac and Center streets will remain, but not as a train station. It won’t be used for the high-speed rail, according to engineers, because trains stopping there cut off access to not only those streets, but can clog Route 5 and close nearby Ward and Parker streets.

“It would literally tie up downtown,” Thompson said.

Judd Square

The Judd Square site was proposed as an alternative to both an initial Parker Street plan and a separate plan that would have placed a station across the tracks from Holy Trinity Church.

The depot there would feature one 200-space parking garage on the north side of Ward Street and the west side of the railroad tracks, along with 500-foot platforms on each side of the tracks and 200-foot shelters directly across from one another and joined by a raised pedestrian overpass, according to DOT schematics. Entrances to the lots would be both on Ward and South Cherry streets, and the parking structure would abut a parking lot belonging to the Judd Square condominium complex.

Having a more-than-300unit condominium right next door seemed like it would be a natural feeder for the service, Thompson said.

“When the Judd Square site was floated — that jumped out as being an absolute home run in terms of ridership potential,” he said.

But a town working group formed to analyze the sites after a public hearing last August found the site to be less than ideal in terms of traffic and public safety, according to Thompson.

Ward Street is a busy artery for east-west traffic, extending from North Elm Street on the east and joining with Quinnipiac Street on the west side, which feeds into Route 15. Trains stopping at Judd Square 50 times a day would close Ward, Hall and Quinnipiac — which engineers say are the town’s busiest streets — all at once. Trains stopping at Judd Square would make Parker, a short street that runs between North Colony and Washington, the nearest open road downtown. And that, Thompson said, could hamper the ability of emergency vehicles to quickly get to different sides of town.

Thompson said that one Sunday he saw this in action while sitting in his car at a crossing behind an ambulance as a train went by. “I’m watching an emergency vehicle with its lights flashing,” he said. “We just can’t let this happen 50 times a day.”

The working group also opposed the construction of a parking garage, citing public safety and aesthetic concerns.

“Most people find them difficult to navigate when getting off the train. The darkness of those places and the manner in which they’re designed is usually pretty intimidating,” said Police Chief Douglas Dortenzio, who attended some of the working group meetings. The chief said he’s not a fan of high-rise parking garages from a public safety standpoint — particularly those that do not have attendants — but he said he thinks there are subtle advantages and disadvantages to each site, and he isn’t a strong believer in either one.

Republican Town Councilor Craig Fishbein said he is leaning toward the Parker Street site because of Judd Square’s proposed parking garage.

“I don’t want to see the Wallingford landscape include a multilevel parking lot. I think it would turn the town of Wallingford into the city of Wallingford,” Fishbein said, though he is opposed to the high-speed rail project on the whole.

For the site to work as it has been designed, the state would need to acquire the Knights of Columbus building, a vacant industrial site and a private home.

Parker Street

The Parker Street depot would be a split site with two parking lots, one on each side of the tracks, totaling 210 spaces. One of the lots would be at the intersection of Parker and North Cherry streets on the south side of Parker and the west side of the tracks,with entrances on North Cherry. The land that would become the North Cherry lot is owned by the state. The second lot would be placed on North Colony Street, at the site of Cerrito’s used car lot.

The state would have to acquire property from only one owner to complete the Parker Street site, and though Cerrito’s owners did not return calls Friday, DOT officials said the town had discussed the proposed plans with them. Bernick said the state would pay for the property and relocation costs. “It’s a pretty fair shake,” he said of the process.

The two 500-foot platforms and 200-foot shelters would not be directly across from each other, but the ends would overlap in the middle, where there would be an overhead pedestrian walkway.

The distance between platforms is one of the reasons Republican Town Councilor John LeTourneau is a proponent of the Judd Square location, saying it could be difficult for handicapped, aged and other travelers if they need to get from one parking lot to the other side of the tracks.

“Judd Square … I like because it can be a nice, neat, clean up-and-over to get from one platform to the other,” Le-Tourneau said. He said the public safety argument for Parker Street is thin — the increased frequency of trains could cause public safety issues no matter where the new station is. He believes auxiliary police and fire stations may eventually be necessary.

The town’s working group favors the Parker Street site, as there would be no parking garage and trains stopping there would close Parker, Hall and Quinnipiac, but leave the busier Ward Street open.

Having parking lots on both sides of the tracks would also minimize bottlenecks to one lot or side of the tracks, according to Thompson.

“It gives (riders) the ability to park on the side closer to them,” Thompson said, which “lessens traffic impact on the local roadway network.”

Democratic Town Councilor John Sullivan said he would wait until Tuesday’s meeting, which will include a presentation from town engineers, to decide which site to support.

Residents

There were few residents out near either location late Friday morning, but some weighed in on the possibility of having a train depot nearby. Leon Bernstein, who has lived in the Judd Square condominiums for about 15 years, said he did not want a train stop next door.

“I don’t really like the idea. I wish they would put it someplace else,” Bernstein said.

At the other location, residents of Parker Place condominiums, which would be directly across the street from one of the parking lots, were more enthusiastic about having a station so near.

“The convenience of having the station here — that would be great,” Carole Evon said. “I have a car, but I might use it.”

As for increased noise, Diann Burrill, who has lived in a unit facing the tracks for three years, said it likely wouldn’t make that much difference to her and her husband.

“We have gotten used to it,“ Burrill said of the train whistle and other noises. The location would be convenient for others in her building, she said, including her son, who lives in a separate apartment in the same complex.

“He and his girl might use it once in a while … go see the Red Sox and Yankees. I think people would use it,” Burrill said.

Above: A vacant parcel next at Parker and North Cherry streets is a proposed site for a new Wallingford train station.Below: A lot across the tracks behind Dairy Queen on Ward Street is a possible location for a parking structure to be part of a train station.

Photos by Christopher Zajac / Courtesy of the Record-Journal

Steve Fontana qualifies for public financing

As published in the Record Journal Thursday June 7, 2012

WALLINGFORD — Steve Fontana’s spokesman announced this week that the former North Haven state representative qualified for public financing for his campaign to unseat incumbent Republican Len Fasano in the 34th Senate District.

Fontana surpassed the necessary $15,000 in contributions. He received support from 300 people living in the district, which includes Wallingford, East Haven, North Haven and Durham, raising more than $18,000, according to staff.

“As a believer in reducing the influence of special-interest money in politics, I’m really pleased that we met the qualifications for this grant, applied for it promptly, and received approval so quickly,” Fontana said in a statement.

Wallingford GOP chairman guest on ‘Citizen Mike’

WALLINGFORD — Republican Town Committee Chairman Bob Prentice is a guest on the latest edition of the “Citizen Mike” public access TV show.

Former City Councilor Mike Brodinsky interviews Prentice about the Republican nominating convention for the U.S. Senate.

The show also features Brodinsky’s commentary on Town Council Chairman Bob Parisi’s handling of a possible council vote on approving the use of a portable stage during the Memorial Day Parade.

The show airs on cable Channel 18 today, Friday June 1, at 6:30 p.m.
and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 p.m.

Wallingford: ashamed – my letter to the editor regarding the veterans and the Wallingford ShowMobile

As published in the Letters to the Editor section of the Record Journal on Sunday May 27, 2012

Editor: Regarding the recent issue with Mayor Dickinson’s decision to deny the use of the showmobile to the veterans, I came to the Wallingford Town Council meeting expecting this to be solely a cost issue where Dickinson didn’t want to expend additional funds. I came prepared to make that payment to the town as I received pledges of a donation as part of the effort to resolve this issue and get the veterans use of the equipment.

The end result, when I specifically asked the mayor: “if there is a way to remove the additional financial component of using the showmobile for the ceremony, can the vets get the permission to use it?” — was that Dickinson responded “no.” His reason was “he doesn’t believe using the showmobile as a reviewing stand is the proper use for the stage” — but why does that matter? If the vets want to use it, and it is going to otherwise sit in mothballs for the day unused, and we had people willing to make the donation to remove additional monetary burden from the town, then why not let them use it?

The veterans served this country, protected its freedoms, and preserved this way of life we have today. All they asked for extra this day was the use of the showmoblie that is otherwise going unused. At the time they served, they were asked to give their everything — and, if needed, their lives. “All gave some, some gave all,” but Wallingford will not lend them use of a portable stage, now that they are in their 70s, to have them be a little more comfortable on a day we are supposed to be paying thanks to them and remembering the fallen that never returned.

That is not my Wallingford — and I am ashamed.

From the editor page of the Record Journal - Mayor and manager

As published on Monday May 21, 2012

True to personal governing principles, Wallingford Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. extends his well known brand of fiscal conservatism even to himself — for better or for worse. Over the last decade of his 28-year run in office, he has refused any salary raises. Annually, he earns $73,140, less than $1,000 more than his administrative aide, and half of what many fellow municipal administrators make. At a recent budget hearing, a debate centered on whether Dickinson’s wages represented a bargain, or a long-term detriment.

As mayor, Dickinson is no mere figurehead. His complex responsibilities include those of a town manager: overseeing all municipal departments, both in terms of functions and finances. Thus, an income discrepancy is even more manifest when compared with area civic leaders who perform analogous work. Next year, Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback will take in $149,000. Meriden City Manager Lawrence Kendzior is set at $139,027.

In consideration of his manifold duties, Dickinson is unquestionably underpaid. “The bang that we’re getting for our buck should be envied by everyone in the state of Connecticut,” correctly proffered Republican Councilor Robert Parisi (R-J, 5-2). Wallingford’s mayor is more than an under-compensated workforce supervisor, though. He has kept his town on solid budgetary ground, even as recession-era realities necessitate making complicated, taxing monetary decisions. All the more reason to pay him well.

Logic of operating within contemporary economic constraints is essential to Dickinson’s argument in favor of static salary. “In an elected office . . . you become more of a weathervane for what the times require,” he stated, a thought-provoking observation from a seasoned town CEO who leads by example.

One might wonder, however, whether other local municipal officials — many who earn over $100,000 — may feel that their appropriately high salaries radiate a sense of indulgence in comparison. Furthermore, as reasonably suggested by R-J columnist Mike Brodinsky in his May 6 piece, Dickinson’s “unrealistically low” pay could deter potential mayoral-office-seekers from running. Quality candidates might think twice about pursuit of a position where small wages are discordant with extensive responsibilities.

Dickinson certainly has the right to keep his income down should he choose — he sets a benchmark of shared sacrifice in a difficult economic era. But, as also proposed by Brodinsky, town officials must begin contemplating a suitable salary now, because a time will come when the next mayor likely will expect fair compensation. By estimating what a market-level wage would mean for municipal finances — not much in light of the entire budget — leaders can employ Dickinsonian fiscal foresight in preparing properly for Wallingford’s future.

Dickinson denies vets use of ‘showmobile’

As published in the Record Journal, Friday May 25, 2012

By Laurie Rich Salerno
Record-Journal staff
lsalerno@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2235

WALLINGFORD — Some local veterans and town councilors are irked with Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. over his decision to not allow them to use the town’s mobile bandstand stage for Monday’s annual Memorial Day parade.

The town’s Veterans Memorial Committee sent a letter to Dickinson and town councilors this week asking the mayor to reconsider a prior decision to deny them the use of a canopied “showmobile” that the town owns and uses to hold bands and orchestras for municipal events, such as the town fireworks display, instead of an aluminum “reviewing stand,” a smaller platform that the vets have traditionally used.

At the Memorial Day event, the stage is used by local veterans at Doolittle Park during a post-parade military ceremony. The committee said the showmobile stage would be able to hold more people and its shade would keep older veterans out of the sun. The committee had used the showmobile once, in 2010, for this purpose.

File photo / Record-Journal

The portable stage is used for a concert in front of Wallingford Town Hall on July 21, 2010.

“We just thought it was safer for the older people,” said Elise Gallup, secretary of the committee, who sent the letter. “(The mayor) has done a lot for the veterans in town and we felt that to re-appeal to him was the proper thing to do.”

The letter was taken up by the Town Council at the end of Tuesday’s meeting and caused some heated debate between the mayor and councilors, along with veterans in the audience. Republican councilors Craig Fishbein and John Le-Tourneau respectively made and seconded a motion to vote to approve the use as a ceremonial nod of support to the veterans (the council can’t compel the mayor to allow use of the stage) but it never came to a vote.

“These veterans have given everything — I can’t think of a better thing to do, not that they asked for anything in a major way,” said Democratic Councilor Jason Zandri on Thursday. Zandri added the item to Tuesday night’s agenda.

Dickinson said Thursday that he means no disrespect to veterans, but declined the request for two reasons. He said he doesn’t believe using the showmobile as a reviewing stand is the proper use for the stage, and that using it would add significant cost to the event. The reviewing stand can be set up by town workers on Friday and taken down on Tuesday, while the showmobile needs to be set up and removed on Monday, which means double overtime pay for town workers. The town already gives about $3,300 for the event through its public celebrations committee, and that figure doesn’t include labor.

“We’ve always used a reviewing stand,” Dickinson said. “It’s been safe for many years. I just don’t see a need to change what our protocols and procedures are.”

Zandri said he figured it was a cost issue, and came prepared with pledges he’d received from people willing to fund the stage. But he said Dickinson’s statements that the use would be improper stopped him from bringing it up.

“There was nothing I could offer that would let them use it. There’s no solution because the mayor didn’t want a solution,”Zandri said. Vietnam veteran Jerry J. Kennedy has been on the committee since 1973, and said the mayor helped him secure the showmobile in 2010.

“Two years ago, we thought about it — ‘You know, it would be a much better venue to be in,’ ” Kennedy said. “That worked out real nice. It was a hot day. Kids on the field were dropping, but the ones on the stand were cooler.”

Kennedy said the need for a place for older vets to sit has increased — they’re not just talking about World War II veterans.

“You have to realize, your Vietnam vets are in their 60s and 70s now,” Kennedy said.

Pat Lizotte, president of VFW Post 591, was at the Tuesday meeting to see the outcome.

“I’m happy either way,” Lizotte said. “I think everything will go along smoothly.”

Kennedy said he hoped the mayor would reconsider the request someday.

“How much is the overtime compared to the cost of our freedom is what we’re asking. Everybody thinks you can put a price tag on everything,” Kennedy said. “We’re disappointed but not upset. All we can do is keep asking and maybe one day he’ll change his mind.”

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Please make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to: Wallingford Fireworks Fund, c/o Jason Zandri,

35 Lincoln Drive EXT, Wallingford, CT 06492

My follow up email to the Council Chairman regarding the denial of use of the Show Mobile to the Veterans Memorial Committee for the Memorial Day services on May 28th at Doolittle Park

Please see the prior post at Letter to Mayor Dickinson from the Veterans Memorial Committee regarding his decision to not to let the use the Show Mobile for the Memorial Day services on May 28th at Doolittle Park for the details.

I sent the following via email to Council Chairman Parisi:

 

Mr. Chairman,

It is too late to add this item for discussion to the agenda formally but I believe we can waive rule 5 to add it for discussion.

If I am remembering this correctly then I would like to do this at tomorrow's meeting.

If this cannot be done via rule 5 please let me know and I will speak about it during public question and answer as a resident if necessary.

Thank you

Jason Zandri
Wallingford Town Councilor

 

We’ll see how I make out.

If this is something that concerns you or that you might support I encourage you to come to the Wallingford Town Hall tomorrow Tuesday May 22nd at 6:30PM for the regular Town Council meeting.

Letter to Mayor Dickinson from the Veterans Memorial Committee regarding his decision to not to let them use the Show Mobile for the Memorial Day services on May 28th at Doolittle Park

This is not an item on the agenda but I will be bringing it up at the Council meeting on Tuesday the 22nd to discuss as the Memorial Day services are less than a week of way.

More lead time would have been nice but I just got this via email tonight and they might not have gotten much lead time on this either.



WALLINGFORD VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

May 17, 2012

Honorable William W. Dickinson, Jr.
Mayor, Town of Wallingford
45 South Main St.
Wallingford, CT 06492

Dear Mayor Dickinson,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Veterans Memorial Committee. The committee recently had a discussion regarding your decision not to let us use the Show Mobile for our Memorial Day services on May 28^th at Doolittle Park.

We used the Show Mobile two years ago for our services. It not only gave our older veterans and members a shady place to sit with a flat, roomier surface to walk on, it lent a more “finished” appearance to the service.

We would ask that you reconsider your decision, as we feel this is a justified use for the Show Mobile, and there is overtime already being paid for chairs and podium to be put out, police services, etc. We appreciate all your support for the veterans over the years in Wallingford, and feel this small investment will produce a better experience for our aging veterans.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Elise M. Gallup
Secretary
303 Bassett Road
North Haven, CT 06473
(203) 605-8580
cc: Patricia Lizotte, Chairman, Veterans Memorial Committee
Wallingford Town Council

Cost of website gets candidate’s attention

As published in the Record Journal Thursday May 10, 2012

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

WALLINGFORD — When Greg Bachand heard the state planned to spend up to $180,000 on a website to highlight the route that the French general Rochambeau followed across Connecticut during the American Revolution, he decided to give it a try. Bachand, a Republican candidate for the 85th district state House seat, built a website using GoDaddy.com that links to the Wikipedia article about Rochambeau’s route. The total cost: $59.05.

“This $180,000 is the epitome of what’s wrong with the Connecticut legislature,” he said.

A bill passed by the state Senate requires the state Department of Economic and Community Development to create the website before January 2013 and include the trail, monuments, an interactive calendar and links to other websites featuring the trail. Half of the money would come from a state manufacturing grant fund and half from a matching grant from the National Park Service.

Bachand acknowledged that his creation – RomchabeauTrail.com – wasn’t an adequate substitute for a professional website, but said he doesn’t know where the state got such a high dollar amount.

According to the bill, the “actual cost will depend upon the complexity of the website, ranging from a minimal cost for a basic website, up to $180,000 for a complex interactive website.”

Mary Mushinsky, the Democratic incumbent in the 85th district who Bachand is challenging, said that the funding mechanism for the bill was changed on the Senate floor. The House has not yet voted on it.

“It was originally coming from historic preservation money,” she said. “And it was changed to come from manufacturing assistance.”

Mushinsky said she supported the idea behind the legislation, and that the website would help market businesses and restaurants along the route, but opposed using the manufacturing funds. “Tourism money is for tourism, but manufacturing money should be for manufacturing,” she said.

State Sen. Len Fasano, R-North Haven, whose district includes Wallingford, was one of four senators to oppose the legislation.

“$180,000 for a website when we’re running a $200 million deficit, it doesn’t make sense,” he said. “I respect the history and the legacy, but I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Fasano said he also opposed taking the funds from manufacturing money. Since Bachand announced the creation of his website in a press release Tuesday, he’s gotten a lot of feedback. “I think this hit a nerve with the public,” he said. Bachand is also challenged by fellow Republican Shauna Simon-Glidden. A Republican caucus to elect the party’s nominee for the seat will be held on May 24 at 6 p.m. at Brothers Restaurant, 33 N. Cherry St. It is open to all Republicans who live in the district. Both Simon-Glidden and Bachand are making their first run for elected office. Mushinsky has held the seat since 1981.

The Rochambeau trail begins in Newport, R.I., where the French general and his more than 5,000 troops landed. After crossing Connecticut, it continues south through New York, where the French met up with George Washington and the Continental Army, and then through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland into Virginia, where combined American and French troops forced British General Cornwallis to surrender in October 1781 at the battle of Yorktown.

Wallingford Town Council passes budget by 6-3 vote

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday May 9, 2012

By Laurie Rich Salerno
Record-Journal Staff
lsalerno@record-journal.com
203-317-2235

WALLINGFORD — After more than a month of sometimes contentious budget workshops, the Town Council passed Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr.‘s $145.1 million budget Tuesday night with comparatively little conversation.

The 2012-13 budget reflects an increase of $3,669,201 from that of the current fiscal year and will raise the town’s tax rate to 25.98 mills, up 0.76 mills. When presenting the package in early April, Dickinson said a resident who owns a house assessed at $191,000 will now pay $145 more each year in property taxes.

The mayor blamed the tax increase on an overall poor economy in an interview after Tuesday’s meeting. He said reduced state and federal revenue — along with little growth in the town’s grand list, fewer fees for construction permits and lower interest rates on investments — amounted to significantly less revenue for the town.

“All of those things contribute to not as much money — we’ve had to reduce staff, cut back on a number of areas in expenditures. So far I don’t see a change in that, which is troubling,” Dickinson said. The final vote was 6-3 in favor of the budget. Republican Councilors John LeTourneau, Craig Fishbein, and Democrat Nicholas Economopoulos voted against the budget. Fishbein and Economopoulos had said they planned to reject it due to philosophical differences. LeTourneau, following the meeting, said he had voted no in error during a lengthy list of roll call votes.

Passage of the plan, along with an ordinance the council unanimously approved earlier in the meeting, established an enterprise fund for the town’s ambulance service. The move separates the emergency transport service’s finances from those of the Fire Department, and calls for putting a second town ambulance into service during 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

The measure has been warmly received by town councilors of both parties since Dickinson presented it in April.

“This is a fantastic proposition, setting it up to be as self sustaining as much as possible. It’s absolutely needed when you consider the aging population of the town,” said Democratic Councilor Jason Zandri.

Some residents called into question the new ambulance division’s stated plans to start enlisting a collection agency to retrieve funds from non-paying customers. Currently the Fire Department has only a billing service.

“We’re hitting these people who can least afford it,” said Wes Lubee during a public hearing on the ordinance during the meeting, saying that people who aren’t paying are uninsured, and that insurance companies likely negotiate prices to less than the uninsured pay. “We cannot operate with a system that is based on only billing insurance companies,” Dickinson said. “If we do that, insurance companies will not continue to pay.”

Councilors removed a $1,000 addition that they had previously approved in budget workshops for Internet in the Planning and Zoning Department with an amendment proposed by Republican Tom Laffin. Many said that they believed in providing greater Internet access for town staff, but that $1,000 is not enough for a real effort in that direction.

“This is like shooting a single flare into a cave,” said Republican Councilor Vincent Cervoni. “This isn’t the appropriate way to get technology into Town Hall.”

Asked by Sullivan whether he would allow an earmarked $1,000 to be used for Internet access in Planning and Zoning, Dickinson said he would not.

Several councilors said they planned to pick up the issue later on, citing interest in establishing a five-year plan for technology. The amendment passed 7-2, with LeTourneau and Fishbein as the no votes.

Laffin received strong pushback when making a second amendment to cut the other addition councilors had made to the budget, having the R Band play at the town’s Fourth of July celebration. The performance would cost $5,000 — the money would not be an addition to the budget, but use most of a $6,000 savings provided by a low bid on portable toilets already budgeted at a higher rate for the event.

Councilors voted Laffin and Cervoni down 7-2 to retain the band.

“This is our nation’s birthday,” Fishbein said. “That’s important to me, and a traditional thing that we’ve done for many decades.”

William Tong to drop out of U.S. Senate race

Posted: May 01, 2012 9:30 AM EDT Updated: May 01, 2012 9:32 AM EDT

By WFSB Staff 

 

EAST HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) 

 

United States Senate candidate William Tong is dropping out of the race, according to an unnamed source.

A press conference has been scheduled for Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. at Goodwin College in East Hartford.

According to a press release, Tong will join Gov. Dannel Malloy, Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, state Rep. Tim Larson and United States Rep. Chris Murphy to discuss the race.

No other information was released.

Town skateboarders

As published in the Record Journal on Friday April 27, 2012

Without a skate park in Wallingford, skateboarders and bikers will continue to ride around town center and other public places. But establishment of one central location for these youths requires municipal dollars not expected to be available anytime soon. Outside fundraising, therefore, is necessary for completion of this worthwhile project.

In 2008, over 125 individuals attended a meeting in support of creating a skate park. People scouted locations and drafted designs, but after cost estimates topped $250,000, town officials applied the brakes to further efforts. However, many locals — including youths, who are also residents deserving of appropriate municipal accommodation — reasonably still want this facility added to Wallingford.

A park would reduce riders in other areas of town, a change which everyone likely would support. Eric Ferrauola, 13, stated that when he takes his bike to Wallingford locations with ramps and other features pertinent to his hobby, he often is met with complaints, or police who instruct him to leave (R-J, 4-17). “It’s hard to ride . . . they think we’re bad kids,” he lamented, a look into the unfair reputation which these youths encounter.

While bikers and skateboarders, overall, do not warrant such stigma, it is reasonable for fellow residents to prefer that riders not zip past them at fast speeds within community areas. Especially for older locals must proceed slowly and carefully, thinking that youths wheeling around rapidly could be a potential safety concern or public disturbance is understandable.

Thus, many people would benefit from a new facility. A town-owned, 6.11-acre Garden Road property is, reportedly, a prime candidate for the site. Onsite flooding issues apparently keep the parcel from containing larger structures, problems which obviously would require consideration before any construction.

But the chief difficulty thwarting a new park is finances, lack thereof. In a town long managed through fiscal conservatism, any project without municipal-government backing will eventually lose momentum. “The money is just not there,” argued Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. about a park.

Which is why this pecuniary obstacle actually could represent an opportunity for youngsters who would frequent a facility. They could band together and fundraise to afford equipment and other costs necessary to open and maintain a park. Moreover, facing an unfair, negative reputation, skateboarders and bikers could demonstrate in this undertaking that they are contributing, helpful members of the town.

We recommend that anyone who wants a skate park built in Wallingford collaborate in fundraising — doing so would display a dedication and community spirit which could get all residents onboard.

Unemployment benefits to shrink in Connecticut

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday April 25, 2012

By Mark Pazniokas

© The Connecticut Mirror

This story originally appeared at CTMirror.org, the website of The Connecticut Mirror, an independent, nonprofit news organization covering government, politics and public policy in the state.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy warned Tuesday that Connecticut is about to pay a price for its improving unemployment rate: Those claiming unemployment no longer will be eligible for the full extended benefits available in states with higher jobless rates.

By the end of the year, the state is likely to have 75,000 unemployed residents who will have exhausted their unemployment compensation, which is a blend of state and federal benefits, Malloy said.

The unemployed now can collect 93 weeks of compensation: 26 weeks of state benefits, 47 weeks of federal emergency compensation and 20 weeks of federal extended benefits.

As a result of the jobless rate dropping for eight months to 7.7 percent, the extended benefits will shrink from 20 to 13 weeks, taking an estimated $83 million out of the state economy, officials said.

Malloy announced at his monthly commissioners meeting that he has asked the commissioners of Labor and Social Services to prepare to guide the unemployed to other services for which they might be eligible, such as food stamps.

“We want to have people start to plan for the end of their benefits,” Malloy said.

In 2009, as a result of congressional action, the unemployed were eligible for up to 99 weeks of benefits, but the federal share of aid has been shrinking as the economy and jobless rates have improved.

Emergency unemployment compensation, which was reduced last month from 53 to 47 weeks, will disappear completely at the end of December. Starting at the end of May, about 450 will exhaust their benefits every week.

Republicans, meanwhile, used the state's latest jobs figures to make a case against raising the minimum wage. The state actually lost 2,700 jobs last month, but the unemployment rate dipped as residents left the job market.

House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. said the state’s unemployment rate could appear to improve as recipients lose their benefits.

“The state stops counting those who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. The unemployment rate has gone down over the past few months because fewer people are actually counted in the overall job market,” Cafero said. A bill before the House would raise the $8.25 minimum wage by 50 cents in each of the next two years.

Wallingford Town Council passes school roof solar panel plan

As published in the Record Journal Friday April 27, 2012

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

WALLINGFORD — The town’s high schools are planned to have solar panel arrays as part of a two-year roof replacement project following a Town Council vote Thursday.

Councilors voted unanimously chose 25-year roofs for the high schools and middle schools and to put solar panels on the high school roofs. The cost for all five schools with the lowest bidders is $9,174,000.

Michael Brodinsky, chairman of the School Roof Building Committee, said he is pleased with the number and quality of bids, which were opened last week.

“The bids were very favorable, very fair,” he said. “They were good numbers.”

The committee was formed to guide the town in replacing aging roofs on 11 of the town’s 12 schools.

Brodinsky asked the council Thursday to choose between 20 and 25 year roofs for the schools. He also asked the council to decide how many, if any, schools were built with solar panels.

School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo said the panels would be integrated into the curriculum and students could check energy savings online. “Science curriculum at both the middle schools and high schools has a great foundation in the whole concept of energy conservation,” Menzo said.

Councilors questioned the economic feasibility of the solar panels which, if installed on two high schools and two middle schools, would cost several hundred thousand dollars.

The roof project committee provided information on the panels, which have an estimated 33-year payback and a lifespan of between 20 and 30 years.

Town Councilor Thomas Laffin asked Menzo if solar panel kits bought at toy stores would provide the same educational benefit. He said the solar panels would be a poor financial decision which would also send a message to students.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. was also concerned about the financial aspects of the solar panels.

“If this were purely a biz decision, we wouldn’t be discussing this. That troubles me,” Dickinson said.

Menzo said he’d never presented the panels as a moneymaking endeavor for the district, but as a way to put into practice energy-saving principles.

The council discussed adding solar panels to the two high schools, which would add $120,000 to the project after receiving nearly 50 percent reimbursement from the state.

Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos said the cost of the panels is only a small portion of the total project.

Councilor Jason Zandri tried to add solar panels to two middle schools, but the motion failed with only Economopoulos supporting him.

Councilor Craig Fishbein said the town could fund the solar panels through fines levied against Covanta by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Fishbein said the department may give the fines, totaling more than $400,000, to the town for energy conservation projects.

Wallingford ethics panel clarifies councilors’ participation in votes

As published in the Record Journal Thursday April 26, 2012

By Laurie Rich Salerno
Record-Journal staff
lsalerno@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2235

WALLINGFORD — The Board of Ethics ruled unanimously Wednesday night that two of three town councilors with various ties to town funded agencies could vote on those organizations’ individual budgets during budget workshops.

The board decided that Republican Councilor John Le-Tourneau and Council Chairman Robert Parisi could vote on budgets for organizations while they are on that organization’s board of directors because they do not receive any personal financial gain from the agencies. The board ruled that Republican Councilor Rosemary Rascati needs to recuse herself in decisions on the budget for an organization that employs her daughter.

The ruling was initiated by the three councilors, who sent letters to the board asking for a review of their affiliations in regard to the town’s code of ethics.

“We wanted to get a definitive answer,” LeTourneau said. He and Rascati were both in attendance. In years past, the councilors have recused themselves from certain votes presuming there could be a conflict of interest, but in talking decided that they should get a judgment from the board.

LeTourneau is on Wallingford Center Inc.’s Board of Directors and said he did not vote on the organization’s budget when it was work shopped last year.

“It troubled me for the whole year, whether I did the right thing by recusing,” LeTourneau said.

From now on, he should feel free to vote on that budget, according to the ethics board, as neither he nor family members receive financial gain from it. The same goes for Parisi, who is on the board of directors of the Spanish Community of Wallingford and the Wallingford Girls’ Softball League. The board asked the two to clearly state their roles with the organizations in budget workshop discussions on them.

Two members of the public, Robert and Debbie Gross, questioned this decision, saying that it seems like a conflict of interest for LeTourneau to help create the Wallingford Center Inc. budget as a director and then turn around and approve it as a town councilor. “Conflict of interest isn’t just dollars, it’s perception of the public on a particular item,” Robert Gross said. “I think there should be an arm’s length.”

Dean Warburton, chairman of the Board of Ethics, said that having LeTourneau state his involvement during a hearing would be transparent enough.

“I think for you to say openly ‘I am a member of the Board of Directors of Wallingford Center Inc.’ — that should clear any concerns,” Warburton said.

Rascati must recuse herself from voting on the individual budget of Wallingford Center Inc. during workshops, the board said, because her daughter, Elizabeth Landow, is the executive director. The town prohibits town councilors from voting on matters that have any possible financial benefit for a relative, and Landow’s salary is part of the town allocation.

Rascati, also a board member of the organization, said she abstained from voting on it last year.

Though it wasn’t part of the ruling, LeTourneau said he continues to abstain from votes on personnel decisions for the Electric Division because his wife works there, he said. Rascati can vote on the town budget in May, even though it would contain Wallingford Center’s budget.

Wallingford council OK’s grant pursuit, hears update on housing authority

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday April 25, 2012

By Laurie Rich Salerno
Record-Journal staff
lsalerno@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2235

WALLINGFORD — The Town Council gave staff a unanimous green light to pursue a 2012 Small Cities Community Block Development Grant to fix basement flooding issues in about 75 Wallingford Housing Authority units at its Tuesday night meeting — a session that also featured a status report from both the authority’s chairman and new property manager.

The town is seeking $500,000 from the state in what would be its fourth grant of this kind since 2007, Wallingford Program Planner Don Roe said, presenting the resolution.

Wallingford received money to fix the flooding issue in its $700,000 grant award from 2011, which identified three separate projects, including reroofing and emergency alarm systems in Housing Authority properties. Roe said that after the two other projects intended for the award went out to bid, only about $190,000 was left. Alone, that’s not enough to start the project, according to Roe.

“The balance was to be used for basements. This proposal to seeks to continue with that work,” Roe said.

The requested sum,$500,000, is the largest request the town can make this year, as federal money given to states for these grants has shrunk, Roe said.

Most of the units to be worked on are in the Ulbrich Heights “moderate rental” development, Roe said.

Republican Councilor Craig Fishbein asked if there were ways the general government could benefit from this grant other than the flooding mitigation.

Roe said the grant request needs to show a clear benefit for low- and moderate-income residents. His office looked at a streetscape and trail project in the area of the Senior Center, but discovered that they would have to do a census-like project and find out the income data of each home on a block-by-block basis — a project too labor intensive to pursue at this time.

Fishbein also asked if the project would end water issues for the Housing Authority.

“No, I do not think that each and every water problem will be addressed. I do think that this is an effort to take a major step,” Roe said.

Housing Authority Chairman Michael Misiti said, “I can promise we’re going to make the best of every dollar, with Maria on board.”

Misiti and new property manager Maria DeMarco gave a report to the Town Council earlier in the evening, providing updates on how the transition has been now that De-Marco’s firm, DeMarco Management Corp., took the reins for the Housing Authority units in February.

DeMarco talked about updating the department’s waiting list, telling councilors that by calling people on the list she has managed to purge 60 to 70 names because their situations have changed.

She also reported that about 30 units are open. Fifteen of those are renovated and available now; another 15 need renovation. Efficiencies are the most readily available, with one-bedrooms second.

Councilors seemed pleased with the new manager’s progress.

“I think you’ve all done a great job, it shows, not getting the calls and emails I used to get,” Council Chairman Robert Parisi said.

Misiti told councilors that DeMarco’s firm was on a six month trial that ended in July. He said the Housing Authority will address retaining the firm at its next meeting Thursday.

Merrill Releases Turnout Figure from 2012 Republican Presidential Preference Primary

Romney Wins All 25 Delegates at Stake

Secretary of the State Reports Turnout of 14.4% Among Registered Republicans; Lowest Percentage Since Current Presidential Preference Primary was First Used in 1980

Hartford:  Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today released voter turnout figures from yesterday’s 2012 Republican Presidential Preference Primary in Connecticut.  Figures reported by Republican Registrars of Voters show that a total of 59,969 registered Republicans cast ballots out of a total of 415,725 active registered Republicans in the state, for a turnout percentage of 14.4% statewide.  The figure represents the lowest voter turnout for a presidential preference primary in Connecticut since the current system was first established for the 1980 presidential election and a sharp drop from the 2008 turnout figure for Republicans of 36.7%.  Secretary Merrill, who will certify the results to the State Republican party within days, is also reporting that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will be awarded all of the 25 delegates at stake in yesterday’s contest, according to party rules. 

“Republicans in Connecticut got to have their say yesterday, as did their counterparts in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s chief elections official.  “I will be certifying these results shortly, according to our state laws, and notifying the Republican party so the appropriate delegates can be awarded to former Governor Romney.  Now that this primary is behind us, we look forward to an exciting election season this year with a statewide primary in August and a major Presidential Election in November.”

Republican former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the support of 67.5% of the primary voters yesterday, while Ron Paul won 13.5%, Newt Gingrich won 10.3%, and Rick Santorum won 6.8% support.  Some 2% of those voting yesterday chose the uncommitted slot on the ballot.  The town with the highest voter turnout percentage yesterday was Wethersfield, where 41.1% of Registered Republicans voted.  The city of Bridgeport had the lowest voter turnout, saw just 7.7% of registered Republicans cast ballots.  A complete listing of the 2012 Republican Presidential Preference Primary results and a letter explaining the awarding of delegates is attached to this news release. 

Previous Presidential Primary Turnout

2012 Republican               14.4%

2008 Democratic               51.1%

2008 Republican               36.7%

2004 Democratic               20.4% 

2000 Republican               40.8%

2000 Democratic               28.8%

1996 Republican               28.4%

1992 Democratic               26.2%

1992 Republican               21.9%

1988 Democratic               36.8%

1988 Republican               23.8%

1984 Democratic               33.0%

1980 Democratic               33.2%

1980 Republican               43.3%

Av Harris
Director of Communications
Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill
(860) 509-6255 ofc
(860) 463-5939 cell

av.harris@ct.gov

DEEP flexible on phosphorus rules

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday April 25, 2012

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

Officials say a coalition of cities and towns facing new state phosphorus regulations has gained some ground in their fight to change phosphorus limits proposed by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback said DEEP has agreed to town-requested phosphorus limits for seven to nine years, although the department wants municipalities to move to more aggressive limits after that time. He said a lobbying firm hired by the towns and work with state legislators have been effective in arguing the case for easing phosphorus limits.

“DEEP is willing to work with us on that,” Brumback said. “The coalition has had its value. Our legislative delegation has had its value.”

DEEP spokesman Dennis Schain said the department was working with municipalities and understood the “need to balance environmental objectives with the financial constraints facing all levels of government.”

Southington, Wallingford, Meriden and Danbury are some of the 45 towns in the state that will face restrictions on the amount of phosphorus that can be discharged from wastewater treatment plants into rivers. Municipal officials say the limits are too stringent, too expensive and haven’t been shown to be necessary.

DEEP officials said the effort to remove phosphorus, which can cause algae blooms and depletion of oxygen in the water when present in excessive amounts, is being led by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Schain said the department is proposing to allow Southington and Wallingford seven years after the issue of the upcoming wastewater treatment plant permit to achieve 0.2 parts per million. Meriden would have nine years after the next wastewater treatment plant permit to achieve 0.1 parts per million. Brumback said Southington is now at 2.8 parts per million. Wallingford Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said that, while there has been some progress, the main issue of expensive upgrades to water treatment plants hasn’t been resolved. He said the 0.2 parts per million phosphorus limit which could be required by DEEP would cost Wallingford $60 million.

“I continue to have a concern about signing off on something with that kind of a price tag,” he said. “That’s a lot to commit to.”

Dickinson said the lobbying firm, Gara & Markowski Government Relations, of West Hartford, has been instrumental in getting the towns’ message to state officials. The firm was hired jointly by the towns at a cost of $25,000.

“I think that has been a very important piece of this to organize efforts,” he said.

Brumback said he’s hoping DEEP will allow towns to get to the 0.7 phosphorus limit — which would cost Southington $50,000 — and see if that improves water quality before mandating the 0.2 limit. He said the lower limit would cost the town $18 million.

Brumback said he’s concerned with the piecemeal approach to cleaning up the waterways taken by DEEP and the EPA. He said the town has spent money removing nitrogen and in doing so used phosphorus. The town is now faced with removing phosphorus, and the easiest way to do so is by using metal salts. Brumback said those metal salts are next on regulators’ lists of materials to be taken out of the water.

“There’s not an approach there that makes any sense,” Brumback said.

He said the towns are trying to set up a meeting with EPA Regional Administrator Curt Spalding to talk about what the agency wants.

Brumback said he wants a “science-based strategy that defines what our goals are for our waterways and what are economically feasible ways to achieve those goals.”

“We don’t know what the target is. We don’t even know what they’re contemplating,” Brumback said.

“Wastewater treatment standards have been constantly evolving since the 1960s,” Schain said. “We believe the phosphorus limits we’re talking about will continue to move us forward to achieve water quality standards outlined in the Clean Water Act, and that’s the objective.”

Wallingford polling places for today’s Republican presidential primary

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

Wallingford Polling places, open from 6AM to 8PM  for today’s Republican presidential primary:

District 1: Pond Hill School, 297 Pond Hill Road.

District 2: Stevens School, 18 Kondracki Lane.

District 3: Moses Y. Beach School, 340 N. Main St.

District 4: Dag Hammarskjold School, 106 Pond Hill Road.

District 5: Cook Hill School, 57 Hall Road.

District 6: Parker Farms School, 30 Parker Farms Road.

District 7: Yalesville School, 415 Church St., Yalesville.

District 8: Wallingford Senior Center, 238 Washington St.

District 9: Rock Hill School, 911 Durham Road.