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

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

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

 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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’

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

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

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.