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–Voters at a town meeting Tuesday confirmed six appointments to the planning and zoning commission and the zoning board of appeals. Appointments to the two land use boards are made by the board of selectmen, subject to confirmation by voters at a town meeting.
Jonathan Kastner and Leigh Ann Balducci, both incumbents, were confirmed for new three-year terms on the planning and zoning commission. John Attridge, also an incumbent, was confirmed for a new term as planning and zoning commission alternate. Kastner, who works as an aide at town hall, has served as chairman of the commission in recent years.
Edward Judd and Charles Raynor were confirmed for new three-year terms on the zoning board of appeals, with Lenore Kuhn confirmed for a new term as zoning board of appeals alternate. All of the appointments were approved at the meeting on unanimous voice votes.
By Charles Stannard
DEEP RIVER– Voters at a town meeting have approved the formation of a design advisory board to provide input to the planning and zoning commission on commercial and industrial projects.
The new board was approved on a nearly unanimous vote of residents at a June 9 town meeting. The board would be comprised of five members and two alternates appointed by the board of selectmen.
Jonathan Kastner, chairman of the planning and zoning commission, said the formation of a design advisory board was recommended in the 2007 update of the town’s plan of conservation and development. Kastner recalled the commission had previously utilized an informal advisory board of interested residents during the 2006 review of the Walgreen’s Pharmacy project.
Kastner said the board would meet with applicants for projects in commercial and industrial zones after the planning and zoning commission accepts an application for a project. A review by the advisory board would be required for new construction and modifications to existing buildings in the town’s commercial and industrial zones. He said any recommendations from the advisory board would be in hand at the time the commission opens a public hearing.
“It’s strictly advisory and not intended to hold up the process,” Kastner said. He said the new board could be helpful to both applicants and the commission.
