The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 31, 2009

Cheshire: Looks like the powder puff game is out for the high school this year, which we guess is really too bad, since a lot of kids really liked it. But what should have been harmless fun became taken too seriously, from the sound of things, and that has ruined it for others.

Southington: the weather and the economy both set back Lake Compounce last summer, and that project for the state to bond a move of Mount Vernon Road was never approved. Well, let’s hope things improve. The park is a great place and good for local teens during the summer as an employer as well.

Southington: town decides to go to in-house bulky waste removal and hauling as a cost saving measure. Interesting that the move has been made in reverse but for the same reason in other communities. Vive la difference!

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 30, 2009

Cheshire: an interesting look at the librarian’s craft, taking as a starting point the controversial book about the murder.

Southington: bids for the extension of the linear trail have come in low and the process will be moving forward with vigor. There’s stimulus money involved.

Meriden/Wallingford: there are probably analyses to be made of campaign spending and even comparisons to be achieved about the efficacy of campaign efforts. However, no one, candidate or pundit, is too likely to completing such efforts until after Tuesday’s election results are known.

Wallingford/Southington: YMCA and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have issued grant to Ys to work out some sort of program to tackle obesity. We look forward to seeing what they come up with.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 29, 2009

Wallingford: it’s too bad that something could not be worked out with the people planning the path of the linear trail and the folks in the condo area near the river. It would seem to be a plus for any neighborhood.

Meriden: pawn shops under pressure. One of the things any good pawn dealer should develop a sense for is the legitimacy of his customers. If the customer doesn’t really match the goods being pawned, there’s a fair chance that they’re ill-gotten.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 28, 2009

Area (Meriden, Southington): while there seem to be sufficient HIN1 flu vaccine doses for those looking for them, the seasonal flu vaccine is in short supply. It’s tough to guess how people will react to warnings about the illnesses, and tough as well to predict how the manufacturers will proceed.

Southington: High rates of absence at middle schools suggests a wave of unhealthy kids, but it's not a cause for alarm. Parents are urged to follow routines to avoid spread of disease and to keep kids at home a day longer than symptoms.

Meriden (and other police departments): Taser warning to law enforcement departments isn’t the result of any new information, apparently, just relates to efficient use of these tools. There are some concerns about their use, but they do seem to stop "situations," as do firearms of course, but even if serious injury or death is a possibility with the Taser, isn’t that still preferable to shooting someone, who, if hit, is guaranteed serious injury or death, and who is not incapacitated quickly?

Wallingford: A move which will make town meetings more easily accessed by residents will be appreciated by those interested and concerned. Everyone will then have a chance to discover just how mind-bogglingly tedious a substantial portion of every public meeting is by nature. All the same, it’s good to be able to watch.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Oct. 27, 2009

Meriden: the Hub project reviewed. It seems a deal of money on this and that and planning and engineering, but anyone interested can check how the cost of any public school is put together. It’s a pretty safe bet that engineering and admin and planning costs make up a substantial part of the total . . . . which runs to tens of millions. Public contracts, with their multitude of requirements, protections, guarantees, and all the rest, cost a lot.

Southington: Two new Parks board members were named by the council; it's an awkward situation, given the suspension of the director. It would seem that his legal situation could be moved along more rapidly; limbo is a miserable place to be.

Wallingford: what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. If the mayor should be barred from using public funds to fight the charter revision questions, then it would seem that everyone else should be as well.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 26, 2009

Wallingford: It seems a little odd for either the Republican or the Democratic town chairs, or former chairs, to be serving on the Housing Authority board, since it’s not really a political job. Or it shouldn’t be. One task the new commission, whatever its composition, might do is to try to set up some skill sets needed for future commissioners.

Southington’s PZC should stop stalling on the VIP store. Extra months to carry out an examination of inventory . . . that’s really just delaying tactics. Under the rules, the store’s got a permit. How come no one was out protesting VIP’s competition, which has just closed up shop?

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct. 25, 2009

Meriden, Wallingford, Southington, Cheshire: It’s hoped that voters in our communities will take advantage of the Voters Guide published in today’s Record-Journal. It is said that “all politics are local,” and this is the local campaign season, a time to figure out who the candidates are, which ones you like, and to plan to get to the polls and vote.

Meriden: The remainder of the money the city didn’t spend on demolition of the Hub, in the middle of downtown, is expected to be granted this week at the state bond commission. The grant should enable Meriden to get started on the future of this 14.4 acre parcel.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 24, 2009

Meriden: plans for the census raise counting issues involving demographics and a failure to respond rate. Efforts should be made to get people to respond, but it’s like voting and jury duty: if people feel uninvolved with the system, it’s going to be tough to stir them to participation.

State: the guy trying to sell T-shirts with the face of the UConn player stabbed to death recently is now in trouble for using state logos. Although the attorney general calls it shameless exploitation, the seller says it’s charitable intent to raise money for the player’s unborn child. Since no money has yet been raised and no shirts sold, it may instead be a tempest in a teapot. Why not help the guy comply with the rules?

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 23, 2009

Southington: the “good” overtime, “bad” overtime description of police costs for the Apple Harvest Festival is kind of intriguing, but there’s no question that officers need to be on hand during the event, and it costs what it costs, like electricity or running water. A defense of the spending shouldn’t really be necessary.

Southington: The teachers contract, which holds a freeze for the first year and sees contributions for health insurance rise significantly, should be a model for other districts. It seems to be a workable pattern.

State: the campaign finance law was ruled unconstitutional on the ubequal burden placed on minor party candidates. Interesting question. But the case is on appeal, and the ruling could well be amended. Better to wait and see what the final ruling is, and perhaps, with judicial permission, go ahead with the 2010 election as the law stands.

Meriden: issue of sign removal by city crews. There clearly needs to be some well-enunciated rules on the matter and these need to be well-explained to crews.

Wallingford/Cheshire: Interesting discussion between towns over designation of land use policy for adjacent properties with differing uses and the relation to home rule. At what point would it be appropriate for the state to step in to deal with a zoning issue or conflict between neighbors?

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 22, 2009

Tedious progress in the house invasion murder case which happened in Cheshire. We know due process is due process, but sometimes one wishes judges in this country ruled on motions from the bench as they do in Britain, so that the case can move forward.

Wallingford: Dickinson, with no opponent, is campaigning anyway, and focusing on the Charter Revision questions. No surprise. Democrats find it unfair that he’s doing so. What do they expect?

The Board of Education candidate forum in Meriden seems to have provoked some interesting give and take on a variety of issues Wednesday night.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 21, 2009

Southington: the PZC definitely made the right choice in deciding not to try to revoke the permit legally and correctly issued to VIP. It isn’t right to try and revoke a permit just because the permit is unpopular. That is not the rule of law. It violates civil rights as well.

MidState Medical Center celebrated the opening of its Outpatient Services Center at the site of the former theater complex off or Pomeroy Avenue, in Meriden this week. As noted, another move to bring services into the community occurred earlier in the month in Wallingford, as the hospital opened its walk-in center near the Stop & Shop Plaza in Wallingford.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Oct. 20, 2009

Meriden: sympathy from many quarters will be offered for the sad death of Police Officer Dan Jakiela III. It hurts a lot when such events happen.

Southington: Better bond rating means better bond rates. That’s good for a municipality which sometimes must bond willy-nilly.

Cheshire: the library we hope will stand firm behind its professional librarians and uphold the decision to stock that unpleasant and unwelcome book. Many people disagree with all sorts of books (from "The Wizard of Oz" to the "Chocolate War" and "In Cold Blood"), but that doesn’t mean a library should fail to stock them.

Meriden: Council’s decision not to leave the post of director of accounting open is a proper one, even in this economy.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 19, 2009

Southington: It’s pretty hard to object to a school building project which comes in ahead of schedule and under budget, two phrases people really appreciate hearing.

Wallingford: “Life Begins at 50” is the theme of a Senior Fair at the Senior Center on Friday, which only asks a donation of a single can of food for Master’s Manna, the food kitchen. Please note that you don’t need to be a senior to attend.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct. 18, 2009

Meriden: Gallery 53 may sell some of its collection to raise a little cash. That’s understandable, but we hope tat the need does not drive them so far they sell items which are of particular local significance. All galleries and museums make occasional acquisitions and, as they say, de-acquisitions.

Area: on-line reviews of restaurants and other businesses. The idea, as it was a few years ago with newspaper restaurant reviews, to be “in-your-face,” and that’s one thing if a review is signed and quite another if it is anonymous. Naturally, owners fight back if needed with reviews inspired by themselves.

Wallingford: Choate and the town. The whole business of Old Durham Road, whatever else it may have been, was a disaster for the relationship between the school and the town administration.

Meriden’s school breakfast program, which was such an issue of conscience a few years ago, has now been extended to the entire system, including, at last, the high schools. How strange that something which caused so much political heat at one time can, after a few tweaks of history, seem ordinary and usual.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 17, 2009

Southington: Director of Parks asked to resign over the business of the paving stones. One might think so public an embarrassment might so motivate the incumbent, but at this point, matters are still in negotiation. The value involved is trivial, but the head of a department must be an example.

Wallingford: A freeze – super or otherwise – for the school system suggests, at least, that people are taking expense control seriously. But since neither board nor administrators can alter the basic sum received by the system or refuse to pay contractual obligations, what this sounds like is a chance to pinch pennies in the few existing optional items in the school system. So, chairs break, they’re not replaced; electronic equipment goes on the fritz, they remain broken. etc.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 16, 2009

Legal tangle Department: White firefighters in New Haven sued over the promotion exam and won a major decision in the Supreme Court saying their test should not have been scrapped. Now a black firefighter has sued over the same test saying it was discriminatory and should never have been administered.

Meriden: New Life Church on Bee Street will host this year’s mayoral and council candidate forum, while Meriden Children First will be holding a forum at John Barry School. We are happy this election opportunity will not be missed.

Southington: two veterans are leaving the Board of Finance through their own decision not to seek reelection. The board will miss Phil Pomposi and Robert Triano who collectively had 32 years experience.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 15, 2009

Wallingford: Choate Rosemary is going to go and find another way to proceed, since the Town Council won’t consider an offer. It’s the town’s loss. Too bad.

The decision of all four local libraries to stock the reprehensible book about the home invasion murders in Cheshire is unpopular but correct. The book, by description only, seems both exploitative and violative of court orders, but that’s not a reason for censorship. Libraries carry Marx and Hitler, even though much therein is rejected by people.

Southington: youths congregating behind Derynoski. If they’re not doing anything illegal, beyond littering and smoking, is it worthwhile trying to chase them away?

Southington: Ethics complaints dismissed. Seem that most people would consider that there is something wrong with divulging the nature of an ethics complaint before it is heard; ultimately, what’s the point of secrecy?

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 14, 2009

Meriden: cancellation of the political forum, leaving citizens with no likely chance of seeing the candidates in action before the election. It’s getting down to the wire at this point, but surely something ought to be able to be worked out. The city needs a bona fide non-partisan “above-it-all” group which everyone respects and which can set up this sort of program.

Meriden: a three-cornered race for school board seats with four, five and two candidates from the three parties. Between the uneven numbers, the parties, and the minority party representation rules, which prohibit any party from holding more than six of nine seats, it’s a complex set-up this year.

State: it’s no use crying over spilled milk, that is, the taxpayer files stolen in a laptop two years ago from a car on a family weekend in Long Island. While the information was available to the thief, it’s fairly likely that said thief was more interested in signing on to Internet porn than in the trove of information on the computer. But procedures need to be in place. We suspect they are and that today's attitudes are far from "cavalier."

Wallingford: No powder puff football movie this year, even though the town’s is the oldest continuously running program. Policies have to be observed regarding all sorts of things – which is no reason they cannot all be dealt with by next year. These things take time.
the possibility of the closure of Old Durham Road. This should get matters off of a dead standstill, and that’s progress.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Oct. 13, 2009

Quinnipiac River: Mary Mushinsky is looking for Fiends of the River – that’s the Q River, of course – to adopt “best practices” along the banks. Allowing vegetation, cleaning basins, containing garbage: these are all among the steps the Executive Director urges businesses to take to help improve the river’s life.

Southington: the T3, a competitor for the Segway, a single-person vehicle for police use, was tried out at both weekends of the festival. It’s pricey, at $12,000, but the officer has the advantage of height, which can be useful in crowd situations. It’s hard to think, though, that either the Segway or the T3 would provide much stability in a dense crowd, and the need for hands to control it would limit some uses.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 12, 2009

Area: expansion of WIC food options to include produce items and others. This should help improve the diets of many youngsters in the region. It’s fascinating to realize how much information gets processed at the grocery check-out counter.
Congratulations to the winner of the Southington Icon, the singing contest at the Apple Harvest Festival.

We have nothing but admiration for our reporter Andrew Perlot for participating and finishing the Hartford Marathon last weekend. And we have nothing but gratitude for the reality that we are not required to run shod or unshod anything like 17 miles through Hartford or Meriden or anywhere else. Ever.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct. 11, 2009

Southington: the closing or relocation of The Hartford’s offices will have a deleterious effect upon the town, unavoidably . . . but the town is resilient.

Cheshire, Southington, Meriden: Chiefs of police and no-confidence votes. The issue of reining in a chief, whether by a town manager or mayor or by union membership is kind of interesting. Present protections no doubt stem from practice of firing a chief every time there was a change of administration – a municipal “spoils” system.

Elementary and middle schools are institutionalizing good behavior through the Positive Behavior Support Program, with posters shown at Nathan Hale. This is what “civility” in public life has to do with, and Meriden is doing its part in encouraging its return.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 10, 2009

Cheshire/Southington: bitterness over the conduct of the 2008 Powder Puff game between the two towns’ high schools has apparently led to a scheduling change: Southington will play in New Britain, while Cheshire will play in-house. Too bad a tradition had to end in such a way.

Meriden: It would be good, if unlikely, that parties will stick to issues. Democrats should not boycott, even if people are a little upset with process, unless something of substance. Meriden Democrats are up to the verbal challenges.

Southington: the substance of the issues about that football fund seems as ephemeral as the original allegations. Sorry, while people may not much like old-fashioned and informal bookkeeping (which includes a surprising sum of cash) it’s not yet illegal. Move on.

National: it is something of an indictment of the fierce partisanship which has beleaguered American presidential politics that the award to the president of the United States of the Nobel Prize for Peace should be seen by so many fellow citizens as a negative achievement.

Wallingford: while there might be something interesting in the ordinance line to be done regarding vicious dogs, it would seem that the animal control officer has sufficient power. There are, sadly, always going to be situations where something unfortunate occurs. Another law enforcement power won’t remedy the situation which already occurred.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 9, 2009

Congratulations to Shelley Chordas of Meriden’s Lincoln Middle School, named Teacher of the Year.

East Cemetery in Meriden poses a bit of a problem for the city. No one wants to ignore the graveyard, which has been the city’s since 1845, but no one wants to spend any money either. Then there’s the fence which is (or is not) on David Went’s property: since there are no markers, apparently, on the dubious ground, if no written proof can be found of burial, and nothing shows up with a judicious use of modern instrumentation, the city should have the decency to forget about it. Or, pick up the fence and move it back to where the property line really is.

Everyone is looking forward – but not too much – to the next Town Council meeting in Wallingford in the hope that something will happen in the impasse over Old Durham Road. Talk about making a throughway out of a country lane!

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 8, 2009

Southington: It would seem to be the case that any attempt, as reported, to close the Bristol Court would be as ridiculous as closing the operation in Meriden. Respectable cities need court facilities. If it costs something to rent a court house, or build one, or whatever, it needs to be done.

Meriden: The Center Congregational Church is going forward with a Parish Nurse Health Center. What a good idea for approaching health issues of people with modest service needs.

Southington: Seems that nothing criminal occurred in the football coach’s management of the Blue Knights checking account. Several things going on here: management practices, central control, and possibly disaffection between coach and assistants. Close the book, for goodness sake.

Cheshire: so the police no-confidence vote turns out to be about management style. There ought to be a better way of dealing with such situations.

State: the suit about potential enforcement of the law against assisting a suicide – call it what you will. Is the climate right for such a case? Very doubtful: it pokes a stick into Roman Catholic theology or teaching, which is already exercised over the same-sex marriage issue not to mention the bill filed earlier this year which would have required all hierarchical clergy to set up local corporations to manage their church’s cash.

Although anyone would deplore the accident last week which involved Wallingford’s Fire Department Rescue Truck, the two firefighters of that damaged vehicle, suffering themselves, showed their mettle by tending first to the others injured in the three-vehicle smash.


Don’t argue about the name on the shirts, folks, just focus on the mayor’s clean-up. Since many Meriden volunteers are repeaters, it’s not unlikely that some will have Mark Benigni’s name on them

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Oct. 7, 2009

Southington: Hearing on the moratorium regarding adult specialty stores. How come no one asks whether the Planning and Zoning Commission is prepared to close down existing adult stores?

Area: school systems prepare for flu and for swine flu. It seems that for the most part the disease, although it focuses on younger people, is not often serious unless there is an existing medical issue. Therefore the focus on not spreading the disease would seem to be sensible.
While it is possible to be critical of some of the decisions of the Wallingford Housing Authority over the last few years, it is questionable if it makes any sense at all to transform a decision to appoint someone to a new term into a competition.

Cheshire: Let’s see now: the letter expressing no confidence in the chief was signed by every officer and reflects long-standing grievances. There have been talks, but no one can talk about them because they are personnel issues and privacy prevents discussion. Isn’t there something vaguely inconsistent about going public with complaints which cannot be discussed?

State: The bridges – of many entertaining and fascinating styles – along the Merritt Parkway in Connecticut are now on the endangered architecture list. We’ve noticed over recent years that some of these notables have indeed been refurbished, but probably more do, and it’s also likely that with today’s traffic and patterns, some of them, however beautiful, are less useful than they might be and built in a style which would be prohibitively expensive today.

Meriden: The grievance filed over the hiring of crossing guards during the summer to fill other jobs for the city illustrates how difficult it is to maneuver within union contracts. It often ties the hands of city managers, and it also obligates unions to object to perfectly reasonable labor decisions because of the need to protect their contract positions.

Meriden: Of course it makes sense to bring a new accounting director on board before the present person retires. That’s called advance planning, and for jobs which involve specialized knowledge, not planning for transition almost guarantees confusion, annoyance and perhaps worse. Leaving a job like this empty for 90 days is being penny wise and pound foolish.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Oct. 6, 2009

Cheshire: the unanimous police union vote of no confidence It’s a pretty tough stance, and there seems to be little or nothing in the files to suggest such a situation developing. We await further details as they come to light.

Southington: the Republican boycott of the first candidates’ forum is hard to understand. Was there a thought that Concerned Citizens are out to get Republicans more than Democrats?

Wallingford: there’s no reason that a group should not form to oppose the Charter Revision Package. The push from the beginning has been – at least in some eyes – to blunt the power of the mayoral veto. Since so many voters on Election Day ignore any and all questions on the ballot, it’s good to bring focus on the issue. The more people who wind up voting, win or lose, the more the result will reflect public opinion.

Meriden: the vote to spend all $50,000 on the Lincoln library is not only simple fairness and a wise move, but the notion that busy councilors will reliably appropriate $10,000 for each of the next four years to finish the job is kind theoretical – and while no one should ignore a sum of $50,000, it’s really a tiny portion of the total city budget.

Area: Police dealing with jaywalking issues, which is fair enough. Notice, though, that not all zebra crosswalks are the same. Where there is no light, a pedestrian has priority and vehicles must yield. Where there are traffic signals, both pedestrians and motorists must obey the signal.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Oct. 5, 2009

Southington: family resource center at the First Years First, now celebrating its first year of operation, has a grant to expand. It’s a key factor in efforts to prepare youngsters for school.

Wallingford: the opportunity to honor firefighters in a public way at a service at SS Peter and Paul Church Sunday was one enthusiastically accepted by grateful and appreciative residents.

Fine weather which helped everyone on Sunday to live up to the hopes for the local festivities.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Oct. 4, 2009

State: new laws regarding young drivers now in effect. One is inclined to agree with the folks who are tired of coping with all the rules and suggest making the driving age 18. On the other hand, just as the difference between being 20 years, 11 months and 30 days old and being 21 years old doesn’t train a person to use alcohol wisely, neither does giving them a license at age 18, give or take a few seconds, make them a better driver than they were the day before, aged 17.

Meriden: The question about when a non-profit organization becomes a lobbying organization is an interesting one, philosophically. At the moment, groups advocating reform of health care rules are at issue: how much may they spend in furtherance of a legislative cause. The rules are in place. All sorts of organizations have had, at one time or another, to separate their general advocacy activities from their specific lobbying activities, and most everyone figures out how to live with it. There’s always the chance that people who oppose the sort of goals a non-profit espouses may call a group out, in which case it is good to be prepared.

State: some of the measures passed Friday as being “budget related” are slight eyebrow-raisers. For instance: raising the age at which kids may drop out of high school by a year (it’s a good idea in theory, but was there discussion? What is the cost? Who will enforce?); allow food banks to give away food not prepared in an unlicensed kitchen (this idea would provoke reactions from local health directors, one would think?); bar approvals of state funding for new magnet schools (sort of pulling the rug out from under the idea, isn’t it?); allow substitute teachers for up to 10 days who do not have bachelor’s degrees (there aren’t enough unemployed college graduates?)

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Oct. 3, 2009

Wallingford: reservoir silt, from MacKenzie Reservoir or elsewhere, is hard to dispose of. It isn’t something everyone wants in his or her front yard, although there appears to be nothing particularly offensive about it.

Meriden: It is good that residents will have another chance to ascend to Castle Craig in the dark. The view is to be enjoyed. Let’s hope for clear weather.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Oct. 2, 2009

Southington: A study committee for land use along West Street for “proper” use, since the land is not being used “properly.” The aim is to change zoning to allow more light industrial sites along what is now mainly a residential zone. Patterns have changed, and this is a far more heavily travelled road than formerly . . . but what do current residential owners think? Better to ask now than after the zoning is changed.

Cheshire: Having trimmed staff in the school budget, the concern now is over class size. It does stand to reason that the two have some relationship to each other.

Wallingford: changes in Story time at the Public Library to help reflect modern attention and concerns. The public library, not only in Wallingford but in every community, offers about the best governmental bang for the buck.

Wallingford: paying extra to print the charter revision questions on the ballot. There shouldn’t be any whining about the cost, but it was the same in Meriden over the primary. If the logic of the objectors is accepted, the nominees should be limited to those which short names to reduce the cost of printing.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Oct. 1, 2009

Cheshire: To name or not to name, that is the question when it comes to identifying kids arrested for illegal under-age possession of alcohol. There are several considerations, including shaming, punishing, disciplining evoked in school, conviction vs. accusation, comparison with other transgressions.

Meriden: Atty Mazzariello does justice in the streets. Students of legal history may recall (or may not) that it was by offering better justice that the early English kings established the common law and displaced the tyrannies of baronial courts. Will it now be the case that suppliants at Judge Mazz’s “street court” will draw people because of the chance to proceed informally, cheaply, and without the centuries of encrusted legal precedents and rules?

State: water bottles, as in bottled water, now subject to deposit. It’s a good thing, since at very least it provides a way for a number of down and out folks to survive – by collecting and returning empties other people are too careless to bother with.