Meriden: it’s hard not to approve of efforts to levy equipment taxes on unregistered local businesses, but it’s just as hard to think that the effort will produce a lot of revenue for the city.
Area: “home invasion” became a crime after the awful murders in Cheshire, but there is still some discussion about how good a tool the law is. It would seem that it is mainly another option for police and prosecutors to use in a variety of situations.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Feb. 13, 2010
Southington: the need to have qualified personnel available to step in when key personnel are out, whether sick or on vacation, is an urgent item in the budget. It’s also more efficient, a matter of some interest to residents.
Meriden: clearly, as Hunters reports a major increase in calls as do local fire departments, the emergency departments of hospitals are being used more and more as primary care physician. The need for radical health care reform grows and grows.
Meriden: clearly, as Hunters reports a major increase in calls as do local fire departments, the emergency departments of hospitals are being used more and more as primary care physician. The need for radical health care reform grows and grows.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Meriden: It looks as if the school resource officer issue may become part of a power demonstration between council and school board. That’s not the best strategy.
Meriden: discussion of Windsor’s anti-profanity ordinance, which has been revitalized but not yet used on an actual student. With a potential fine of $103, questions arise about inability to pay and alternate penalties, as well as the wonder that with the number of issues to face why there is a concern about profanity.
State: given the nature of the problem, it’s kind of a shock to learn that 9 of 16 domestic violence shelters in Connecticut are not staffed around the clock. That and other issues, including GPS tags for serious offenders, should be looked at for legislative remedy, but it’s a tough year.
Meriden: East Cemetery has available plots, it seems, but Corporation Counsel Michael Quinn is absolutely correct is suggesting that any revenue from sales should go straight into a maintenance fund.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Feb. 11, 2010
Middlefield: the Powder Ridge plan has once again been derailed, thanks to the withdrawal of the firm which was planning to redevelop the ski area. It’s “Back to the drawing board.”
Southington: a process to watch will be the redistricting plan for town elementary schools. There always seems to be considerable grief when such change is necessary.
Cheshire: should the town get into the cell phone tower business and own one which AT&T wants to build, or let AT&T install and rent the space on the waste water treatment plant? Betting is that letting AT&T own the tower is the way to go.
Southington: a process to watch will be the redistricting plan for town elementary schools. There always seems to be considerable grief when such change is necessary.
Cheshire: should the town get into the cell phone tower business and own one which AT&T wants to build, or let AT&T install and rent the space on the waste water treatment plant? Betting is that letting AT&T own the tower is the way to go.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Feb. 10, 2010
Middletown: questions rising, as they inevitably do, following the blast at the plant under construction.
Area: school systems. One begins to get the feeling that participants are ready to let what happens happen in terms of budget setting. At least in Meriden and Wallingford. After the anguish over givebacks and concessions, the feeling seems to be more “do it and get it over with.”
Meriden: The Recreation Facilities Task Force will reconvene soon to complete its report on projects deemed desirable in the city. That will be a useful document for councilors to have, even if there isn’t money to fund programs as they might wish.
State: if the state’s contribution to costs of running UConn, and students’ tuitions and shares keep rising, at what point does it cease to be a public university? This is worth thinking about as everyone scurries to save money.
Meriden: as the gates ceased to function on Tuesday afternoon, the city had another demonstration of why it might be wonderful to have the road go over or under the railroad.
Area: school systems. One begins to get the feeling that participants are ready to let what happens happen in terms of budget setting. At least in Meriden and Wallingford. After the anguish over givebacks and concessions, the feeling seems to be more “do it and get it over with.”
Meriden: The Recreation Facilities Task Force will reconvene soon to complete its report on projects deemed desirable in the city. That will be a useful document for councilors to have, even if there isn’t money to fund programs as they might wish.
State: if the state’s contribution to costs of running UConn, and students’ tuitions and shares keep rising, at what point does it cease to be a public university? This is worth thinking about as everyone scurries to save money.
Meriden: as the gates ceased to function on Tuesday afternoon, the city had another demonstration of why it might be wonderful to have the road go over or under the railroad.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Feb. 9, 2010
Wallingford: so the council chairman wants to appoint a tech committee? It will be very interesting to watch what comes from the effort.
Southington: It sounds like an interesting plan to try to bring the former Novick Orchard back into, well, fruition. The investigation into the possibilities is worth pursuing.
Southington: the school board is going forward with a 4.3 percent increase over the current year. The town certainly has those who feel taxes are high and it will be interesting to see the reactions when the budget is presented tomorrow evening.
State: It would seem that at the exploded plant in Middletown there will be a criminal investigation (which will no doubt take many months to complete) and much work to be re-accomplished. It’s a terrible thing.
Wallingford: school board approves a budget with a 4.7 increase and without the realignment. The realignment issue is one which may deserve discussion, but this did not prove an auspicious move.
Southington: It sounds like an interesting plan to try to bring the former Novick Orchard back into, well, fruition. The investigation into the possibilities is worth pursuing.
Southington: the school board is going forward with a 4.3 percent increase over the current year. The town certainly has those who feel taxes are high and it will be interesting to see the reactions when the budget is presented tomorrow evening.
State: It would seem that at the exploded plant in Middletown there will be a criminal investigation (which will no doubt take many months to complete) and much work to be re-accomplished. It’s a terrible thing.
Wallingford: school board approves a budget with a 4.7 increase and without the realignment. The realignment issue is one which may deserve discussion, but this did not prove an auspicious move.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Feb. 8, 2010
Middletown: that explosion was a jaw-dropping disaster. And that plant was almost completed. It would look as if there is a lot to be done again. This blogger heard and felt the bang from home on Meriden’s west side. Does it make anyone else speculate that perhaps it is a good thing that the power plant on Cat Hole Mountain was never completed?
Meriden: Mayor Rohde is on the state regionalization committee, looking for ways to streamline government and do things that could save money. It’s a long shot, with lots of snags in the form of unwillingness to yield local control. But in a sense, we already lost local control when we let the state begin funding so many local programs many years ago.
Southington: you cannot have homes with failing sewage systems, unless you’re prepared to let sewage seep into the environment; you cannot settle a sewer line without digging a trench; and you cannot dig a trench without clearing trees, brush, shrubs and whatever else is in the way. The town has undertaken to plant replacement trees, once the job is done and in time, the place will look much as it did before. Is there a better plan?
Meriden: Mayor Rohde is on the state regionalization committee, looking for ways to streamline government and do things that could save money. It’s a long shot, with lots of snags in the form of unwillingness to yield local control. But in a sense, we already lost local control when we let the state begin funding so many local programs many years ago.
Southington: you cannot have homes with failing sewage systems, unless you’re prepared to let sewage seep into the environment; you cannot settle a sewer line without digging a trench; and you cannot dig a trench without clearing trees, brush, shrubs and whatever else is in the way. The town has undertaken to plant replacement trees, once the job is done and in time, the place will look much as it did before. Is there a better plan?
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