Meriden: the map showing division of lands at the NRG site. Maps are maps, of course, but the portion reserved for open spaces looks drawn out and attenuated, as if it were not usable anyway, while the land potentially developed seems compact. Even if nothing happens in a lifetime, the division so far seems ample.
Southington: that $100,000 mistake regarding school maintenance would be trivial in any other year, as it is a small amount compared to the whole budget of the town or the school system. But there’s a signal crossed somewhere, since maintenance isn’t something to be ignored.
Meriden: the decades-old bond regarding a sidewalk on Bronson Ave., near the former VMMC, is handy for completing projects. But transforming $2,500 into $11,000 seems a little odd. If there are many of these items hanging around, they should be invoked with some sense of proportion.
Wallingford: it’s no wonder there are fewer farms in Connecticut, as more and more of the state becomes suburban neighborhoods. When one considers what urban homeowners must put up with constantly, without any redress, it seems odd that a neighborhood would have an issue with farming. So long as it is agricultural in nature, why object?
State: UTC plans to move as many jobs as possible out of Connecticut and out of the US. Thanks, UTC: it’s a real patriotic firm.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Sat., Mar. 13, 2010
Meriden: it does seem a shame that successful crime detection and prevention should lead to a union grievance, but it seems like more of a strategy in a tough budget year than anything else, aimed at the slow attrition.
Wallingford: Sophomores at Sheehan and schools elsewhere have finally finished the CAPTs, the Connecticut Academic Performance Tests. Although they cut terrifically into instruction time, they do nothing for students’ knowledge or grades but allow high officials to announce that insufficient progress is being made and that punitive steps will be taken.
State: the transportation plan as presented last week at a business breakfast in Meriden. The New Haven Springfield line in good working order with two complete tracks is simply a sensible step.
Tolls on the Connecticut interstates highways: a scheme with a differential for out-of-state drivers or vehicles raises some issues, but the idea needs open and honest discussion.
Wallingford: Sophomores at Sheehan and schools elsewhere have finally finished the CAPTs, the Connecticut Academic Performance Tests. Although they cut terrifically into instruction time, they do nothing for students’ knowledge or grades but allow high officials to announce that insufficient progress is being made and that punitive steps will be taken.
State: the transportation plan as presented last week at a business breakfast in Meriden. The New Haven Springfield line in good working order with two complete tracks is simply a sensible step.
Tolls on the Connecticut interstates highways: a scheme with a differential for out-of-state drivers or vehicles raises some issues, but the idea needs open and honest discussion.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Fri., Mar. 12, 2010
Cheshire: the continued silence about the suspension of police union president Kerry Deegan remains an unpleasant blemish on the town’s public image. No matter what the charge, it’s better to have it out in the open, because secrecy magnifies it all.
Wallingford schools are set to go greener, electrically speaking. With the help of an energy audit and federal and state stimulus aid and grants, the system might be able to save as much as half a million dollars a year.
Meriden has hired Rhode Island law firm, Rossi Law Offices, to chase delinquent motor vehicle taxes. Totaling around $2.5 million presently, any amount will certainly help the local budget.
Wallingford schools are set to go greener, electrically speaking. With the help of an energy audit and federal and state stimulus aid and grants, the system might be able to save as much as half a million dollars a year.
Meriden has hired Rhode Island law firm, Rossi Law Offices, to chase delinquent motor vehicle taxes. Totaling around $2.5 million presently, any amount will certainly help the local budget.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Thur., Mar. 11, 2010
Southington: Town Councilor John Barry has suggested closing the north end of Mount Vernon Road as a way of easing the Lake Compounce expansion, a project unlikely to be funded, as once hoped, by the state. It’s a lot larger a piece of road than Choate sought unsuccessfully to close in Wallingford last year, and Choate was willing to pay.
Wallingford: the mentoring program which is bringing together elementary-age students with adults and high school kids. After a loss of state funding, the program owes its current existence to the enterprise and effort of Rob Woytowich of the Ulbrich Boys & Girls Club and a small grant from United Way.
Wallingford: it’s tough to believe that it has been impossible to settle the fate of the former American Legion Building without an actual trial, but then, the council couldn’t manage to reach an agreement for many years either.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Tues., Mar. 9, 2010
Southington: solar energy panels being installed on the fire department HQ can be expected to last many years with low maintenance and minimize use of the water heater on sunny days.
Meriden: “nearly all fires outside of designated campgrounds are illegal.” Not many of them on residential properties. One knows that burning leaves and/or garbage in the backyard has been illegal for decades. How often seriously does any particular household need to hold a celebratory bonfire? Or does the city’s rule apply to outdoor cooking with charcoal?
State: Alcohol sales on Sundays should be decided not on the basis of who complains the most – the shops near the borders feeling competition or the shops which will have to spend more on wages – nor on the notion of a few millions in tax revenue, but on the principle of the perpetuation of the Blue Laws, an essentially religion-based rule.
Southington: the council gave the public a chance to comment on the proposed charter changes, one of the steps along the way to deciding which changes, if any, will make it to the ballot next November.
Meriden: “nearly all fires outside of designated campgrounds are illegal.” Not many of them on residential properties. One knows that burning leaves and/or garbage in the backyard has been illegal for decades. How often seriously does any particular household need to hold a celebratory bonfire? Or does the city’s rule apply to outdoor cooking with charcoal?
State: Alcohol sales on Sundays should be decided not on the basis of who complains the most – the shops near the borders feeling competition or the shops which will have to spend more on wages – nor on the notion of a few millions in tax revenue, but on the principle of the perpetuation of the Blue Laws, an essentially religion-based rule.
Southington: the council gave the public a chance to comment on the proposed charter changes, one of the steps along the way to deciding which changes, if any, will make it to the ballot next November.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Editor's Notepod, Mon., Mar. 8, 2010
Meriden: profile of Councilor Brian Daniels reveals a committed and thorough public servant, and his work on the high school situation is to be appreciated. The Housing Authority is a place where some work and coordination could be very useful.
Southington: glad to learn there is a woodworking club at Kennedy Middle School. Time was – long time, we guess – that “shop,” which meant woodworking, split junior high school time with printing (hand-setting type) as a required course for boys only. Times have certainly changed, and for the better.
Southington: glad to learn there is a woodworking club at Kennedy Middle School. Time was – long time, we guess – that “shop,” which meant woodworking, split junior high school time with printing (hand-setting type) as a required course for boys only. Times have certainly changed, and for the better.
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