The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Mar. 10, 2010

Meriden: MidState is beginning to do robotic surgery, which certainly seems to be a technological advance.

Wallingford: it’s an interesting fact that so many of the town’s Spanish-speaking community, served by SCOW, are from the same area of Mexico. The circumstance provides an excellent opportunity to provide passport services via the Consulate on Wheels.

Wallingford: we do not suggest that there’s any choice about it, but we’ve certainly come to a pretty pass in this country when we have to evacuate a whole school like Lyman Hall because some girl (presumably) wrote threatening graffiti in the girls’ toilet.

Cheshire: Perhaps the majority doesn’t like the notion of teachers offering loan days as a concession, and perhaps there are legal issues. But where’s the need to get huffy about it and start calling the offer an insult. If the goal is building mutual sacrifice, the way to go is not to escalate the fighting words.

Southington: the sewer rates will rise about $60 a household this year as a 20 percent increase is approved. While it is to be understood that tradition plays a large role in how towns organize various accounts, it does seem a little odd that water and sewer systems, which are basic municipal services, should need to be any more self-sustaining as a matter of principle than garbage pick-up or the fire department.

Wallingford: with revaluation nearing completion, it’s time to start preparing residents for whatever shocks may be in store for them. Somewhat unusually, this year, values may drop, given the economy, which means that mill rates will need to rise to keep the tax revenues even with what they have been. That’s perfectly logical, but it will cause anguish all the same.

Cheshire: town council going into executive session not to discuss the police department situation but without the two men involved present is really a bad plan. If there’s a beef or a bone of contention, better to do it in public so that rumors don’t make the whole situation worse than it already is.

Southington: the easiest way to make major changes in departmental operations (as in the idea of eliminating the job of park director) is when the job is empty. But the problem is making sure the plan is efficient in terms of management, not just cheap.