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?).
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
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.
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.
Monday, February 6, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
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.
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.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
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 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.
Friday, February 3, 2012
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.
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.
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