A reduction – to zero – of the Tunxis Recycling Operating Committee processing plant in Berlin this July 1 and a reduction in the trash tipping fee at the Bristol Resource Recovery Facility of $2 a ton should be an assist to those whose waste is trekked to these facilities. There’s economics in there somewhere that someone is making money.
Wallingford Mayor Dickinson had it right about the latest (this one in Meriden) apparent suicide along the railroad tracks: “I hate to think that someone is in such despair that they feel the need to do that.” There’s not much anyone can do to stop a determined person.
Meriden Police Chief Jeffry Cossette explained the new encryption system, digitally organized, for sending police messages. It’s a big change, but so long as the system remains transparent and available – something we’ll have to see – it should be an improvement.
So Northeast Utilities and NStar, planning their merger, have agreed to buy the other half of the power to be generated by the wind farm long planned but under-financed in Nantucket sound? As with the merger, one hopes that all the questions are asked and answered.
Legislators are going to tinker with rules regarding electric utilities and imposing penalties for not getting power on quick enough after big storms, which is what consumers surely want. But how about changing the rules so that these giant corporations, which supply power to everyone in Connecticut yet are essentially investment tools, are obliged to cooperate in the public interest as well as shareholders?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Feb. 15, 2012
Because estimates were so badly wrong, Southington’s town council is considering how to ease impact on property owners along West Street, Williamsburg Drive and some other residential streets. While this may be a good idea, it could also set a precedent for aiding all sewer projects – which is maybe a good idea as well, but is certainly one for discussion.
Wilcox Tech in Meriden is embarking on a “like-new” make-over which will take a good three years plus. We wonder what square footage rules have been applied to Wilcox, considering the issues about Platt’s and Maloney’s auditoriums?
Giorgio Fareira certainly managed to sing for his supper at the right time and place (Wallingford’s Sonic). We hope the Fairfield man’s good luck is amplified into something lasting and good.
Wallingford added $5,000 to its Fuel Crisis Program at Mayor Dickinson’s request, following cuts in federal monies. We hope this will get people through the winter.
Meriden city council’s finance committee has recommended buying and razing two buildings along South Colony St. for the relocation of Harbor Brook in flood control efforts. This would be a sensible step in this long and expensive project.
Connecticut’s Supreme Court has okayed a secret list of UConn donors, in what amounts to a blow at the Freedom of Information Act. This has become standard for the court over the years.
Southington is trying out a Safety Camera Enforcement Pilot Program which will place cameras on school buses to record drivers illegally passing. That should definitely demonstrate whether this is a major problem or not, but it could also be used, one would think, to keep tabs on what goes on inside those school buses, where, from time to time, discipline can be a problem.
Meriden’s new augmented website includes a wealth of information not only about projects in various stages of planning but also with maps and various data sets which can answer just about all your questions.
According to some on the City Council, voting districts in Meriden are to be “slashed,” by which is meant reduced in number from 17 – admittedly a very odd number – to something more in line with what other cities have, with a resulting savings, it is thought, at polling places with election staff. It’s always good to save money, but one does wonder whether such a change would confuse voters and actually save enough to make it worthwhile.
Wilcox Tech in Meriden is embarking on a “like-new” make-over which will take a good three years plus. We wonder what square footage rules have been applied to Wilcox, considering the issues about Platt’s and Maloney’s auditoriums?
Giorgio Fareira certainly managed to sing for his supper at the right time and place (Wallingford’s Sonic). We hope the Fairfield man’s good luck is amplified into something lasting and good.
Wallingford added $5,000 to its Fuel Crisis Program at Mayor Dickinson’s request, following cuts in federal monies. We hope this will get people through the winter.
Meriden city council’s finance committee has recommended buying and razing two buildings along South Colony St. for the relocation of Harbor Brook in flood control efforts. This would be a sensible step in this long and expensive project.
Connecticut’s Supreme Court has okayed a secret list of UConn donors, in what amounts to a blow at the Freedom of Information Act. This has become standard for the court over the years.
Southington is trying out a Safety Camera Enforcement Pilot Program which will place cameras on school buses to record drivers illegally passing. That should definitely demonstrate whether this is a major problem or not, but it could also be used, one would think, to keep tabs on what goes on inside those school buses, where, from time to time, discipline can be a problem.
Meriden’s new augmented website includes a wealth of information not only about projects in various stages of planning but also with maps and various data sets which can answer just about all your questions.
According to some on the City Council, voting districts in Meriden are to be “slashed,” by which is meant reduced in number from 17 – admittedly a very odd number – to something more in line with what other cities have, with a resulting savings, it is thought, at polling places with election staff. It’s always good to save money, but one does wonder whether such a change would confuse voters and actually save enough to make it worthwhile.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Feb. 14, 2012
Wallingford’s proposed school budget shows part of the difficulty of receiving grants – regardless of source – in one year, then needing to do without the next. It would have been better if the school board had been permitted to split its federal grant, it would appear.
Southington’s panel has decided on going for an artificial turf field, which has a lot of advantages including fewer football injuries and more potential events. It has been suggested, though, that there are some athletes, particularly those who play soccer, who do not feel the artificial turf is beneficial, and this is a point to clear up.
The state is going to begin charging towns (which are already paying salaries) for training given at the Meriden Police Academy. This surely makes sense to state budgeteers, but just as clearly does not do so for municipal budget-makers.
Cheshire Community Pool is back in operation with a new bubble, replacing that which collapsed last year during the heavy snowfall. Let’s all hope for a continuation of our snowless winter.
Southington’s panel has decided on going for an artificial turf field, which has a lot of advantages including fewer football injuries and more potential events. It has been suggested, though, that there are some athletes, particularly those who play soccer, who do not feel the artificial turf is beneficial, and this is a point to clear up.
The state is going to begin charging towns (which are already paying salaries) for training given at the Meriden Police Academy. This surely makes sense to state budgeteers, but just as clearly does not do so for municipal budget-makers.
Cheshire Community Pool is back in operation with a new bubble, replacing that which collapsed last year during the heavy snowfall. Let’s all hope for a continuation of our snowless winter.
Monday, February 13, 2012
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Feb. 13, 2012
It is strange to make such an observation, but the recent homicide on Olive Street, Meriden, seems to underline the city’s low homicide rate during the last decade and under community policing’s influence. With such small numbers, of course, a single death makes a statistical difference as well as an impact on the community.
Twenty hardy souls accompanied wildlife biologist Peter Picone on a tramp through Quinnipiac River State Park along Route 15 on Sunday afternoon. It was blustery and cold, but nature, walkers could attest, persists.
The fact that more men than women are arrested for using cell-phones or texting while driving in Connecticut doesn’t necessarily mean that more men than women use their phones while driving. Whoever uses them, though, we don’t believe they are not distracted and we wish they’d stop.
Twenty hardy souls accompanied wildlife biologist Peter Picone on a tramp through Quinnipiac River State Park along Route 15 on Sunday afternoon. It was blustery and cold, but nature, walkers could attest, persists.
The fact that more men than women are arrested for using cell-phones or texting while driving in Connecticut doesn’t necessarily mean that more men than women use their phones while driving. Whoever uses them, though, we don’t believe they are not distracted and we wish they’d stop.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Feb. 12, 2012
For someone who spent 20 years in a Connecticut prison for a crime he evidently did not commit in Wallingford, Kenneth Ireland is remarkably calm. It’s hard to understand who the state did not offer him compensation for his wrongful conviction and why he is obliged to sue for his supper.
Meriden councilor Brian Daniels and landlord Ross Gulino make interesting comments on downtown property usage based on census data which reveal that there isn’t enough income among downtown dwellers to support small restaurants and shops. This places proposals by Housing Authority to buy the former “Professional Building” at 137-42 West Main and turn it into permanent housing for the homeless in a different light.
It makes excellent sense that places like the Meriden Humane Society and Best Friends for Life Animal Rescue in Southington ask would-be pet adopters a number of questions. This process can disappoint some people, but shelters need to try and protect the animals in their care from casual adopters who might not treat animals as most of us would like them treated.
Connecticut’s Supreme Court has issued an order adopting congressional redistricting with minor changes from present lines, as Democrats had asked. It is good to get this process done and the state is lucky to have three out of five districts which are potentially competitive.
Meriden councilor Brian Daniels and landlord Ross Gulino make interesting comments on downtown property usage based on census data which reveal that there isn’t enough income among downtown dwellers to support small restaurants and shops. This places proposals by Housing Authority to buy the former “Professional Building” at 137-42 West Main and turn it into permanent housing for the homeless in a different light.
It makes excellent sense that places like the Meriden Humane Society and Best Friends for Life Animal Rescue in Southington ask would-be pet adopters a number of questions. This process can disappoint some people, but shelters need to try and protect the animals in their care from casual adopters who might not treat animals as most of us would like them treated.
Connecticut’s Supreme Court has issued an order adopting congressional redistricting with minor changes from present lines, as Democrats had asked. It is good to get this process done and the state is lucky to have three out of five districts which are potentially competitive.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Feb. 11, 2012
It might be a great fit for a new Board of Education central office in Wallingford, but the school system hasn’t planned on such a move – involving a considerable outlay – in this lean fiscal climate. Now, if the Town Council wanted to buy that property on South Main and turn it over to the school system, it might be a different thing.
A major component of the teacher evaluation reform in Connecticut seems to be some measure of student academic progress. While there’s a good deal of talk, so far no description of how academic progress is to be defined, and if it rests merely on year-to-year scores on standardized tests, that will be an insufficient method.
It is good to read that Meriden Principal Tom Brown has made some progress medically, and we continue to wish him the very best in his recovery process.
A major component of the teacher evaluation reform in Connecticut seems to be some measure of student academic progress. While there’s a good deal of talk, so far no description of how academic progress is to be defined, and if it rests merely on year-to-year scores on standardized tests, that will be an insufficient method.
It is good to read that Meriden Principal Tom Brown has made some progress medically, and we continue to wish him the very best in his recovery process.
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Feb. 10, 2012
It was good to see Governor Malloy paying another visit to Meriden schools on Thursday. There’s a lot of reform work on tap for this session of the legislature, and he’s working hard to present his ideas.
Warm winds have kept January and February dry and definitely snowless (at least until this weekend, maybe), but as we have seen they’ve not been good for those who plow snow or those who sell oil. Now we see that it’s not good for sports equipment stores (yet Play It Again Sports in Southington is selling golfing gear), either, so tonight and tomorrow may indeed produce an ill wind that brings someone good news.
Approval is moving nearer for a construction recycling transfer operation on Gracey Avenue in Meriden. One positive aspect is its activation of a rail spur so that materials may be brought in and taken out by train.
A resolution of Connecticut trooper staffing laws, now under litigation, by a biennial assessment of needs by an independent commission with input from both union and administration, to be approved by the legislature. An arbitrary number of required troopers, as now exists, momentarily too few or too any, is an absurdity.
Warm winds have kept January and February dry and definitely snowless (at least until this weekend, maybe), but as we have seen they’ve not been good for those who plow snow or those who sell oil. Now we see that it’s not good for sports equipment stores (yet Play It Again Sports in Southington is selling golfing gear), either, so tonight and tomorrow may indeed produce an ill wind that brings someone good news.
Approval is moving nearer for a construction recycling transfer operation on Gracey Avenue in Meriden. One positive aspect is its activation of a rail spur so that materials may be brought in and taken out by train.
A resolution of Connecticut trooper staffing laws, now under litigation, by a biennial assessment of needs by an independent commission with input from both union and administration, to be approved by the legislature. An arbitrary number of required troopers, as now exists, momentarily too few or too any, is an absurdity.
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