The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Feb. 16, 2012

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Feb. 9, 2012

Again, regarding its two high schools (and thank goodness there’s no law which says each municipality must have one school no matter how large), Meriden built its schools at the same time, so their similar needs now is no surprise. No matter when improvements are carried out, people will complain about the price, so it makes sense to pick a course and stick to it.

More money for Meriden and anywhere else, as proposed by Governor Malloy, for schools under the Education Cost Sharing system, is wonderful and welcome. But observe that the $1.78 million suggested must be applied to a gap of $4.5 million.

Northeast Utilities owns nearly 15 square miles of Connecticut, larger than several of the state’s municipalities. We are glad for this and other reasons that the Connecticut Fund for the Environment has asked to intervene in the regulatory review of the proposed purchase by NU of NSTAR, the giant holding company which owns Boston electrical operations.

The homeless woman who enrolled her son in Norwalk schools last year using her babysitter’s address instead of in Bridgeport where she could be said to have “lived,” is going to plead guilty to theft of $15,000 of services and the prosecutor is recommending 5 years in prison. Considering what some bank embezzlers receive, many of them people who might be thought to know better, that recommendation seems cruelly excessive.

It will be interesting to learn how Meriden’s new and functioning police communications system can be made accessible for those who want to listen in. It’s an important capability in keeping police activity transparent to the public it serves.

The Wallingford Education Foundation will give town adults – parents, politicians, teachers, professionals – a chance to demonstrate their spelling skills. Or not. The event, which is designed to be fun rather than competitive, is in aid of the Foundation’s project of upgrading the Mahan Planetarium at Sheehan High School, a project of great vision (what else?).

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Feb. 8, 2012

Concern over the size regulations and reimbursements at Meriden’s high schools is legitimate, especially in regard to costs. Yet it does seem silly if the whole project rises or falls depending on the number of seats in the auditorium, and even sillier that such a standard sets the limit at one-third of the student body: in that regard, note Washington Middle School.

David Ellis, the “barefoot hiker” who is president of Wallingford’s Land Trust, is a great asset to that organization and a devoted hiker, and that’s wonderful. Yet though we are very glad to hear that in a decade of barefooted hiking he has seldom incurred cuts, though our apelike ancestors eschewed shoes, there are articles on even the forest floor we’d not care to step on: he’s welcome to walk au naturel, but we’ll keep our shoes on, thanks.

It would seem that in a terrible economy, the existence of a minimum wage rule might deter some employers from hiring, yet since a minimum already exists, an increase in minimum which amounts to $20 in a 40-hour week wouldn’t seem difficult for a healthy firm. In general, a healthy economy generates jobs, regardless of minimums; minimum wages are but one of a number of costs related to employment in Connecticut's civilized economy.

It is excellent news that the state forensic lab in Meriden has won accreditation back, but of course that hasn’t really helped its caseload. That will take an accretion of trained and experienced workers, a process which Connecticut will accomplish in its own magisterial way.

Southington is changing its report cards again, in response to parental input and anxiety. Sometimes it seems that it would be better to abandon the things altogether, particularly in younger grades where teachers can actually talk with parents and report verbally.

The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Jan. 7, 2012

Southington’s library has digitized old newspapers, and these are now available to the public. This is a fine step for the library to have taken.

Glad to read that councilors and Meriden and Wallingford politicians have taken to Twitter to keep in touch with constituents, with news and with each other. The practice should help keep them out of trouble.

Meriden has decided to bill for water and sewer quarterly instead of every six months. It’s hoped that this change will reduce delinquency and keep city cash flow up.

Cheshire had its discussion about Veterans Day holiday at a board of education meeting last night. Nothing became heated, and we guess the idea is still somewhere near the drawing board.

Although there’s clearly more information to come, initial discussion about charter school siphoning off funds from urban school districts doesn’t sound like much of a plan. We’d like to see this notion worked out better before Connecticut goes off on this sort of tangent.

We guess it’s a good thing for everyone’s snow clearing budgets (Meriden and Wallingford and probably Southington and Cheshire, too) that we’ve been having a mild winter, since costs of Irene and Alfred have accounted for most of that money well before the season began.

The new Bubble is up in Cheshire Community Pool at Bartlem Park. The pool isn’t open yet, but this is very welcome progress.

The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Feb. 6, 2012

Courts in Connecticut and police departments in Meriden, Southington and no doubt elsewhere, are dealing with the CSI Effect, in which jurors and victims expect regular use of technology to collect evidence. This is actually a good development, though with costs, if you consider earlier expectations of defendant confessions or less reliable evidence.

Colony Street in downtown Meriden needs life and may eventually get it from the revived rail service and the attendant walkways and park. But right now, the key would seem to be to bring in some sort of foot traffic.

Connecticut’s legislature has a lot on its plate when the session opens Wednesday, but that is pretty standard. There should be some interesting debates and there could be some interesting laws made.

The Editor's Notepod, Sun., Feb. 5, 2012

It’s interesting to note that the difference between having to fund only an additional $25 million of the cost of the two high school projects which Meriden must complete somehow, and funding an extra $40 million is only about $40 a year per taxpayer. Nobody wants to pay an additional $65 annual or an extra $105 a year, but these are more tolerable costs than one might expect.

Signs of spring include a completed list of performers for Meriden’s Daffodil Festival. It’s great to think of all the music which will greet the crowds who step of the buses.

The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Feb. 4, 2012

Wallingford Housing Authority has hired a management firm to run its apartments for low income residents. While one can easily see the attraction of such a plan in light of recent experience, it doesn’t sit very well to make such a decision without notice and debate.

The warm weather, relatively speaking, is producing a curious February after an interesting January, almost without snow. What seems to be bad for skaters, especially at the portable skating rink in downtown Meriden is producing fun for city golfers.

Yet another hospital pairing is taking shape, this one between Backus Hospital in Norwich, and Hartford HeathCare, parent of Hartford Hospital, MidState in Meriden and several others. The increasing size of our health care providers – the other large player is Yale and its affiliates – should at least be cause for debate, just as we should be debating whether the merger of CL&P parent NU and the Boston utility is a good idea.

Governor Malloy’s plan to create a school board which will run Connecticut’s vo-tech schools sounds like a good plan. We’ll see how it fares with solons.

FEMA has awarded a grant to Meriden’s Fire Department for half the cost ($600,000) of a new ladder truck. This will replace a 24-year-old truck and will continue the city’s good record of winning grants for important fire equipment.

The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Feb. 3, 2012

The predicted shift in Meriden of the tax burden from residential properties to commercial properties merely reverses what has been going on for the last couple of revaluations. This is, as it were, the down side of regular revaluation; if one had a fixed initial property value which never changed actually or relatively, think of the consequences for fossilized municipalities.

Meriden leaders make good points about the need for space in our high schools to serve the community as well as the schools themselves. That’s fine, but it will be better if we actually know our exposure, since hoping for statutory assistance is a little nervous-making.

In this connection, it will be interesting to see how various efforts to secure waivers for Meriden will play out through our delegation in Hartford.

Those familiar with Meriden Family Zone Promise Neighborhood and those who may benefit from it were out this week at the Augusta Curtis Cultural Center to give the program and Children First executive David Radcliffe, which won a $465,000 Promise Grant from the US Department of Education. This is a triumph for Meriden and could significantly help kids raise reading skills as they enter the school system.

Connecticut must carefully consider on-line betting and how or whether to work our matters with the state’s tribes and their casinos, which have been contributing a substantial amount to the state for years. It’s important to understand the finances of gambling as well as the interests of all the players.

Governor Malloy is asking $12 million additional for Connecticut pre-school programs, which he is making part of his legislative focus this year. We will be watching eagerly to see how the various reforms fare with legislators.

The paternity case decided by Connecticut’s Supreme Court which allows a husband to dispute his paternity of a daughter now 19 years old. Regardless of DNA, we agree with earlier court rulings which held that it was against public policy to let a father disinherit his putative child.

School-provided desktop computers at Sheehan in Wallingford (and at many other schools there and elsewhere) have issues and can result in much wastage of time and effort when computers won’t boot or crash. It s good that the town has come up with $100,000 to resupply some of those with big problems, but a part of the difficulty is that many of these machines are used by more than one person, creating an endemic problem for everyone.

The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Feb. 2, 2012

It appears that Meriden’s two high school projects have hit something of a snag regarding reimbursement rates from the state for these $220 million worth of renovations. If the city cannot qualify as a new project – because it isn’t – and cannot qualify as a renovation – because it’s too large, we’d better get ourselves back to the drawing board.

Questions being raised concerning flood control and stream maintenance in downtown Meriden are matters which have had every chance of being raised over the last dozen years. One serious focus of the entire process is and has been to bring the brook out from underground through the Hub and to make an attractive cityscape there

The lateness of Southington’s Grand List is an annoyance or not, depending on one’s point of view, but it’s not cause for serious concern, since there’s quite a while before anyone needs to fix the tax rate. New software is, alas, always a problem.

Chris Donovan’s push for a hike in Connecticut’s minimum wage is something apt to set off shock waves for the Meriden legislator seeking nomination for the 5th Congressional district, particularly if Governor Malloy is less-than-enthusiastic. But the real underlying question is one of cost: how many jobs would such an increase affect and how much would it cost?

It is good to see physical and health education teacher Chris Puzio at Parker Farms School in Wallingford using a Smart Board to good effect. The incorporation of technology into the educational process is essential to health of both gadgets and schooling.

The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Feb. 1, 2012

There is a long way to go between the idea of turning the former Professional Building on West Main Street (opposite Cook Avenue, Meriden) into apartments for homeless persons and the reality of such a plan. It’s fair to ask questions and raise issues, so long as such questions include “if not there then where?”

During Super Bowl weekend, Americans will eat 1.25 billion Buffalo wings, a truly mind-boggling statistic. We hope that local patrons at such places as Archie Moore’s in Wallingford, Sliders Sports Bar and Grill, in Plantsville, and all the other places where they’re sold do well by them during this national event.

Another car chase, this one from Hamden into New Haven, resulted in the car being chased winding up on top of a man sleeping in his bedroom, when the vehicle landed up inside. The innocent victim suffered burns and the suspect escaped, raising again a question about when to chase and when not to endanger people’s lives.