Meriden: possibility that a change in policies may end the threat of termination over local dealership for General Motors, Alderman. We hope the good news comes through for the 85-year-old company.
State: we are pleased that Wallingford’s Jerry Farrell, Jr. is planning to participate in public financing this year as he seeks the office of Secretary of the State. While we don’t particularly agree with the premises of Judge Underhill in deciding the law unconstitutionally discriminated against minor parties, the legislature needs to fix whatever needs to be fixed to satisfy this jurist so that the program can continue.
Wallingford: while voters facing tax payments certainly appreciate any effort to keep the school budget under control, there is more to an individual town’s school system than often meets the eye or that can be described by the comparisons within the District Reference Group. If that becomes the standard for budgets, why not get rid of local boards altogether and let the state run the whole shebang. That way, it’ll all be the same.
State: all those people who are angry with the state for doubling the essentially reasonable fees for state park camping – where else can you stay the night for $22? – should ask themselves if they’d rather pay $11 more in income or sales or inheritance taxes.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Mar. 6, 2010
Meriden: Nothing wrong with gathering all the ideas available from local residents who may have good ideas about what to do with – how to develop, the various industrial remains which dot the city’s landscapes.
Cheshire: discontent between union officers and management staff on police force unlikely to improve following consultant report. Since a chief, by law, can’t be fired, and since the union has a contract and labor protections, a long stalemate seems likely. See Southington.
Southington: it’s time that Bradley Memorial became able to improve the reception and radio communications between ambulances and the emergency room. Fourteen years is too long to wait.
Area: reduction in assessment appeals seems to be a normal circumstance in non-revaluation years everywhere. It’s a shame that so much heat is generated every time revaluation takes place, as it tends to obscure the process.
Cheshire: discontent between union officers and management staff on police force unlikely to improve following consultant report. Since a chief, by law, can’t be fired, and since the union has a contract and labor protections, a long stalemate seems likely. See Southington.
Southington: it’s time that Bradley Memorial became able to improve the reception and radio communications between ambulances and the emergency room. Fourteen years is too long to wait.
Area: reduction in assessment appeals seems to be a normal circumstance in non-revaluation years everywhere. It’s a shame that so much heat is generated every time revaluation takes place, as it tends to obscure the process.
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Mar. 5, 2010
Southington: the fact that Alan DeBisschop, retired educator, to research and facilitate the redistricting process for the school system. There are no guarantees of smooth sailing and emotions can run high, but this addition to the process should help matters along.
Meriden: the proposed legislation regarding sober houses may not prove quite the remedy wished, but the wished-for remedy may not be possible. It is something which deserves some more attention and understanding.
Wallingford: it really seems unlikely that a single farm stand, no matter where its produce is grown, will pose a significant traffic hazard. If the zoning rules need amendment, the PZC should do so.
Southington: sounds as if the transfer station stickers are going to fly as residents pick them up well in advance of the required effective date. Still to be figured out is the possibility of charges.
Meriden: the proposed legislation regarding sober houses may not prove quite the remedy wished, but the wished-for remedy may not be possible. It is something which deserves some more attention and understanding.
Wallingford: it really seems unlikely that a single farm stand, no matter where its produce is grown, will pose a significant traffic hazard. If the zoning rules need amendment, the PZC should do so.
Southington: sounds as if the transfer station stickers are going to fly as residents pick them up well in advance of the required effective date. Still to be figured out is the possibility of charges.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Mar. 4, 2010
Southington: the glacial erratic wins, and that’s a good thing. The subdivision on Pleasant Street was approved with proviso that big rocks – 60 cu. ft. in this case – remain where they are as geologic features. Developer now asks to remove them. The rock stays, per PZC.
Cheshire: what good does it do to play hush-hush with a prominent police officer’s suspension, especially when there’s a big union/chief unrest going on and when the suspended officer is the president of the union? This is how to make talk get louder.
Meriden: Human Rights survey has some interesting results . . . they should be put together with a plan of action for the results to mean anything, but first it would seem that the questionnaire ought to get to more than 19 persons, most of whom are already workers in the social services network.
Wallingford: Housing Authority has enough issues without having commissioners show up and offer any comment whatever about the behavior of employees on the job. That’s the director’s responsibility, no matter what may have been expressed.
Cheshire: what good does it do to play hush-hush with a prominent police officer’s suspension, especially when there’s a big union/chief unrest going on and when the suspended officer is the president of the union? This is how to make talk get louder.
Meriden: Human Rights survey has some interesting results . . . they should be put together with a plan of action for the results to mean anything, but first it would seem that the questionnaire ought to get to more than 19 persons, most of whom are already workers in the social services network.
Wallingford: Housing Authority has enough issues without having commissioners show up and offer any comment whatever about the behavior of employees on the job. That’s the director’s responsibility, no matter what may have been expressed.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Wed., Mar. 3, 2010
Cheshire: It’s hard to feel much compassion for the defendants in the home invasion murder case and it is irritating to have to watch defense tactics which result in stalling and expenses and this and that. Never the less, this is the way our criminal defense system works and it is the best and fairest in the world.
Meriden: It is good that the buses with which students at Wilcox and other technical schools will be replaced. A school bus isn’t the epitome of luxury in the first place, and when they’re being driven with “issues” involving safety, they need to be replaced.
Southington: town’s insurance consultant has been receiving bids for various sorts of health insurance from various companies, pursuant to instructions. Bids seem not to be strictly comparable so far, and one wonders how comparisons are to be made.
Meriden: It is good that the buses with which students at Wilcox and other technical schools will be replaced. A school bus isn’t the epitome of luxury in the first place, and when they’re being driven with “issues” involving safety, they need to be replaced.
Southington: town’s insurance consultant has been receiving bids for various sorts of health insurance from various companies, pursuant to instructions. Bids seem not to be strictly comparable so far, and one wonders how comparisons are to be made.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Mar. 2, 2010
Meriden: Council voted to go the hybrid route, as expected, but not with complete unity. That’s to be expected, too, and no doubt the public will continue to hear about the single school option as well as the “do nothing” option.
Area: It seems sort of absurd that although every school in the area is spending several full days, as required, subjecting everyone to the CMTs and the CAPTs, and that somehow no results (which are of no benefit to individual students and do not impact their grades) are received until after school ends in June, three months or more from now.
Meriden (and other towns): one has to wonder at budget season each year, how things would be if school boards, instead of going hat in hand to councils, were given the authority to set their own tax rates. It could be a disaster, but it might also mean we stopped playing games about surpluses.
State: both large and smaller liquor outlets locally seem opposed to ending the ban on Sunday sales of alcohol, although there are border town shops which think it would be helpful and there are estimates of increased tax revenues (which assumes more sales). The matter should be debated.
State: Speaker Donovan wants to create a power authority in the state to purchase for small utilities. Why not go all the way and re-regulate electricity, both in generation and transmission? The deregulation seems not to have worked.
State: The economy, as explained by various politicians, is terrible and can only get worse. But you notice that no candidate suggests programs or services to cut. Donovan’s optimism may have some “rose tint” in the glasses, but it’s still a refreshing break from gloom and doom.
Area: It seems sort of absurd that although every school in the area is spending several full days, as required, subjecting everyone to the CMTs and the CAPTs, and that somehow no results (which are of no benefit to individual students and do not impact their grades) are received until after school ends in June, three months or more from now.
Meriden (and other towns): one has to wonder at budget season each year, how things would be if school boards, instead of going hat in hand to councils, were given the authority to set their own tax rates. It could be a disaster, but it might also mean we stopped playing games about surpluses.
State: both large and smaller liquor outlets locally seem opposed to ending the ban on Sunday sales of alcohol, although there are border town shops which think it would be helpful and there are estimates of increased tax revenues (which assumes more sales). The matter should be debated.
State: Speaker Donovan wants to create a power authority in the state to purchase for small utilities. Why not go all the way and re-regulate electricity, both in generation and transmission? The deregulation seems not to have worked.
State: The economy, as explained by various politicians, is terrible and can only get worse. But you notice that no candidate suggests programs or services to cut. Donovan’s optimism may have some “rose tint” in the glasses, but it’s still a refreshing break from gloom and doom.
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Mar. 1, 2010
Hands-on demonstration provided by Ben Stafford of the Children’s Museum in West Hartford to students at John Barry School in Meriden of how to build a bridge. It wasn’t the Brooklyn Bridge, of course, but perhaps there was a student among them who will mature into a famous structural engineer.
Southington: the new kids on the block – that’s goats, just so there’s no doubt – are pushing the limits for the goat herd in the neighborhood. When the next new arrival comes, the maximum will be reached. Are there residents who are interested in hosting a goat?
Southington: the new kids on the block – that’s goats, just so there’s no doubt – are pushing the limits for the goat herd in the neighborhood. When the next new arrival comes, the maximum will be reached. Are there residents who are interested in hosting a goat?
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