By Charles Stannard

DEEP RIVER— The joint meeting between the board of selectmen, board of finance, and the board of directors of the Deep River Visiting Nurses Association has been rescheduled for Feb. 23.

The session had been set for Tuesday night, but was postponed because Richard Daniels Jr., president of the association’s board of directors, was out of town. The selectmen and finance board are reviewing the operations of the town sponsored assiciation after a study committee report confirmed the gap between town expenses for the association and revenue from fees and reimbursements had increased to $231,123 in the 2008-2009 fiscal year, or $199,000 in 2008-2009 with the exclusion of expenses related to the building on High Street the association shares with the Ti-Town Youth Services Bureau. The association employs three nurses and 17 part-time contract employees, along with clerical support.

Daniels’ absence did not prevent the selectmen from continuing a discussion of the association at Tuesday’s meeting. First Selectman Richard Smith, who served with Daniels on the board of selectmen from 1991 to last year, said he has learned the association served about 110 residents last year, with some receiving multiple visits for varying assistance.

Along with visiting nurses services and occasional townwide health clinics, the association also coordinates social services for the town, including distribution of food, fuel, and clothing assistance to needy residents. Smith said he believes the social services element of the association’s work should be transferred to a part-time employee.

Smith also reported the association’s memorial fund, a separate account comprised of private donations made over the years, has been audited by the town’s auditing firm, M.C. Gladrey and Pullen of New Haven, with a report and recommendations expected befopre the Feb. 23 session. Smith also expressed concern about rising expenses in the association’s $35,580 budget account for clerical support because the association has been paying two part-time clerical employees for the work in recent weeks.

Selectman Arthur Thompson, who replaced Daniels on the board after last November’s election, said the visiting nurses program is “the most expensive program we operate in town other than the schools,” and that costs for the current operation would continue to increase. Thompson said he believes a regional visiting nurses association, such as the Centerbrook-based Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley Inc., could provide nursing services to the town at a lower cost.

“The question is whether there is something we would lose in terms of services if we go somewhere else,” Thompson said. “I believe comparable services are available but I am willing to listen at the joint meeting.”

Selectman David Oliveria said the final decision on whether to continue funding a town-sponsored visiting nurses association should be made by voters at a town meeting. Smith said he would hold an informational town meeting on the issue sometime after the joint meeting on Feb. 23.

By: Charles Stannard

DEEP RIVER– Town Democrats and Republicans have selected new town committees for the 2010-2012 term at party caucuses held this week. Democrats named a 28-member town committee that includes eight new members. Republicans picked a 20-member town committee with seven new members.

The town committee reorganizations come after a municipal election last year where Democratic First Selectman Richard Smith was uncontested for a record 11th term.

Republicans regained a seat on the board of selectmen that was lost after the local party failed to nominate candidates for the board in 2007. Republican Selectman David Oliveria outpolled Russell Marth, who had been elected to the minority seat on the three-member board in 2007 under the banner of the Deep River Independent party. Democrat Arthur Thompson, who had been serving as tax collector, was elected to the board, replacing former Selectman Richard Daniels Jr.

But the biggest change from last year’s election was the two-vote victory of Republican Amy Winchell for the position of town clerk over Democratic nominee Nancy Talbot. Winchell, whose four-year term began Jan. 4, replaces Democrat Jeanne Nickse, who had served as town clerk since 1994.

Incumbents returning to the Democratic town committee include Sarah Adams, John Bairos, Carmela Balducci, Leigh Ann Balducci, Richard Balducci, Mary Jane Daniels, Richard Daniels Jr., Nancy Fischbach, Joanne Grabek, Jonathan Kastner, Mary Maraschiello, Jeanne Nickse, Valerie Nucci, Alice Proctor, Jean Ressler, Donald Sampson, Smith, Patricia Strange, Nancy Talbot, and Thompson.

New members include Lisa Bibbiani, who was elected tax collector last year, John Dickson Jr., Bruce Edgarton, George Howard, Robert Jenkins Ann Joy, Mark Reyher, and David Talbot. Leaving the committee are Wendie Colvin, Fred Hellmers, Betsy James, Marilyn Malcarne, Shaun McNally, and Karol Tulp-Magee.

Incumbents returning to the Republican town committee include Gregory Alexander, Douglas Dopp, Margot Gamerdinger, William Harris, Town Treasurer Thomas Lindner, Oliveria, Rolf Peterson, Donald “Skip” Routh, Cleon Springer, Grace Stalsburg, Cynthia Stannard, and Rosemary Unan.

New members include Louise Cowen, Robert Edgeworth, Janice Kmetz, Joyce Metz, John Townsend, Winchell, and Mary Brownleen. Leaving the town committee are former Selectman Richard Faust. Frances Strukus, Kenneth LaRoche, Henry Hotkowski, Laurie Grieder, and Patrick Gilbert.

By Charles Stannard

DEEP RIVER— A recount is set for Monday in a close race for town clerk where Republican Amy Winchell led Democrat Nancy Talbot by two votes, 702-700, in the result from Tuesday’s election. The recount will be held at 10 a.m. at the Deep River Public Library polling place.

The apparent town clerk result, and another victory for a Region 4 Board of Education seat, were bright spots for town Republicans in an election where Democratic First Selectman Richard Smith was unopposed for a record 11th term, and Democrats won most other contest races on the ballot.

Talbot, who currently works as the town’s park and recreation director/building department clerk, had won the Democratic nomination in a September 15 primary over Stella Beaudoin. Talbot had been the unanimous pick of the Deep River Democratic Town Committee to replace Democratic Town Clerk Jeanne Nickse, who is retiring after holding the office since 1993.

Smith received 1,088 votes Tuesday. Democrat Arthur Thompson, ther current tax collector, with 716 votes, and Republican David Oliveria, with 401 votes, were elected to the board of selectmen. Oliveria outpolled incumbent Selectman Russell Marth, an unaffiliated voter who ran on the Deep River Independent Party line. Marth, who received 313 votes, was elected in 2007 after town Republicans did not nominate candidates for first selectman or board of selectmen.

Democrat Lisa Bibbiani was elected tax collector over Republican John Townsend on an 873-521 vote. Thompson has served as tax collector since 1993. Republican Town Treasurer Thomas Lindner was returned for a new term, defeating Democratic challenger John Dickson Jr. on a 996-421 vote.

In the Region 4 contest, Republican Laurie Ann Tomlinson, who served previously on the board in the late 1990s, defeated Democrat Patricia Conwell on a 707-628 vote. Conwell had been appointed to the regional school board last spring to fill a vacancy.

Incumbent Democrats George Eckenroth and Richard Balducci were re-elected to new terms on the board of finance, with Democrat Nichole Coutant winning a two-year vacancy term on the finance board over Republican Joyce Metz on a 702-634 vote.

Democrat Leigh Ann Balducci was elected to a full term on the board of assessment appeals, defeating Republican Darlene Pollock on a 692-644 vote. Democrat Mark Reyher was uncontested for a four-year vacancy term on the board of assessment appeals.

All four candidates for the Deep River Board of Education will be seated on the board, including Democrats Elizabeth Tracy and Arthur Robbins, and Rpublicans Mark Malcarne and Karen Nelson-Oliveria. Democrats Alice Proctor, James Davis and Mary Maraschiello were elected as library trustees, with Republican Rolf Peterson elected to a two-year vacancy term as a library trustee.

By: Charles Stannard

DEEP RIVER— Nancy Talbot won the Democratic nomination for Town Clerk at Monday’s party caucus but is expected to face a Sept. 15 primary challenge from Stella Beaudoin.

Talbot, a Board of Assessment Appeals member who works as the town’s park and recreation director/building department clerk, won the caucus endorsement on a 50-21 paper ballot vote.

Beaudoin, who currently works as a clerk for Essex Judge of Probate Deborah Pearl, said after the result was announced that she would petition for a primary to decide the nomination. To force a Sept. 15 primary, Beaudoin must submit petitions signed by five percent of the town’s registered Democrats by an August 5 deadline.

Talbot, who is the sister of Democratic Selectman Richard Daniels, was nominated by Town Clerk Jeanne Nickse, who is retiring after 16 years in the position. Beaudoin was nominated by resident Maura Carver. Talbot had received a unanimous endorsement from the Deep River Democratic Town Committee earlier this month.

Talbot said she has been anticipating a primary contest for the open nomination. “I think the Democrats spoke tonight but I am ready and willing to do what I have to do to secure the nomination,” she said.

The contest for the town clerk nomination overshadowed a unanimous nomination for First Selectman Richard Smith to seek a record 11th term. Smith was first elected to the top job in 1989.
Democrats nominated Arthur Thompson, the current tax collector and chairman of the Democratic town committee, to be Smith’s running mate as a candidate for Board of Selectmen. Thompson, who has served as tax collector since 1993, replaces Daniels, a 14-year incumbent who decided not to seek a new term.

Democrats nominated Lisa Bibbiani, a lifelong resident who currently works as an assistant town clerk, for Tax Collector. John Dickson was nominated for town Treasurer.

Democrats nominated incumbents Richard Balducci and George “Bud” Eckenroth for new six-year terms on the Board of Finance. Balducci is a former Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives from Newington who moved to Deep River in 1996. Eckenroth served on the Board of Selectmen during the 1980s. Nicole Coutant, who served previously on the Region 4 Board of Education, was nominated for a four-year vacancy term on the finance board.

Balducci’s daughter, Leigh Ann Balducci, was nominated for a six-year term on the Board of Assessment Appeals. Mark Reyher was nominated for a four-year vacancy term on the Board of Assessment Appeals.

Patricia Conwell was nominated for Region 4 Board of Education. She was appointed in May to fill a vacancy on the board. Elizabeth Tracy and Arthur Robbins were nominated for the local board of education that supervises the operation of Deep River Elementary School. Incumbents Mary Ann Maraschiello and Alice Proctor were nominated for Library Board of Directors, along with new candidate James Davis.

Town Republicans are scheduled to nominate candidates for the Nov. 3 election at a caucus scheduled for Tuesday July 28 at 7 p.m. in the Liberty Bank meeting room.

By Charles Stannard

DEEP RIVER— Democratic First Selectman Richard Smith will seek a record 11th term this fall with current Tax Collector Arthur Thompson as his running-mate for board of selectmen.

While Smith hopes to stick around, another long-serving Democratic incumbent, Town Clerk Jeanne Nickse, has announced plans to retire this year. Thompson’s move would also create an opening in the tax collector position.

Smith, 58, said Tuesday he had never considered not seeking an extension of the 20-year tenure that has made him the longest serving first selectman in Middlesex County, and one of the longest serving chief elected officials in the state. “I still love the job and there’s a lot more to do,” he said.

Smith, who also serves as a part-time town constable, was elected in 1989. He has won new terms in each of the succeeding town elections, running uncontested in 1995 and 1999. Smith won his tenth term in 2007, defeating local architect John Kennedy, who was running under the banner of the Deep River Independent Party.

Town Republicans did not field candidates for First Selectman or Board of Selectmen in 2007. The independent party challenge was fueled by opposition to several Main Street projects supported by Smith, particularly the new Cumberland Farms store with gasoline pumps. Kennedy’s running mate, Russell Marth, was elected to the minority seat on the three-member board of selectmen.

Richard Daniels, Smith’s running-mate and the the incumbent Democratic Selectman since 1991, is not seeking a new term this year. Smith said Daniels, a pharmacist, has decided to focus more time on his family and private sector job.
Smith said Thompson, a frequent moderator at town meetings, would bring continuity to the board. A long-time resident, Thompson has been tax collector for 16 years and served previously on the Board of Finance.

Smith said the nominating committee of the Deep River Democratic Town Committee has interviewed two prospective candidates for the town clerk position. The town committee is expected to make an endorsement before the party nominating caucus in late July.

Smith added that Marth has told him he plans to seek a second term on the board this fall, but was uncertain whether the Deep River Independent Party would nominate a candidate for first selectman.

Nickse was elected town clerk in 1993 after serving previously as tax collector After her initial election, she was cross-endorsed by both town Democrats and Republicans in succeeding elections.

Town Republicans have not announced candidates for first selectman or board of selectmen. The Republican nominating caucus for candidates in the Nov. 3 election will also be held in late July.