By Charles Stannard
ESSEX— The turnout was small and the response was mixed, but the idea of Essex joining the Connecticut River Area Regional Health Districrt also drew expressions of support at a public hearing Monday.
About 30 residents turned out for the informational hearing that was scheduled after the board of selectmen decided to reconsider the option of joining the three-town district that was established in the summer of 2006. The district is comprised of the towns of Clinton, Old Saybrook and Deep River, with offices in Old Saybrook. The selectmen declined to consider joining the district at its inception after many residents expressed opposition to the idea at a June 2006 public hearing.
First Selectman Phil Miller said cost savings is one reason to reconsider the issue after a study committee report completed last year showed the town could save about $60,000 on health-related expenses by joining the district. Essex currently employs a full-time environmental analyist, a part-time certified sanitarian, a part time registered sanitarian, a part-time restaurant inspector, and a part time health director, a position that must be filled by a medical doctor accordingt to state requirements.
Miller said he has spoken recently to Clinton First Selectman Willie Fritz and Deep River First Selectman Richard Smith, with both indicating they are pleased with the operations of the health district. The district, which has a full-time director/sanitarian and three full-time registered sanitarians, directs inspections of septic systems and coordinates a variety of health services, including vaccinations.
On hand to explain the operation of the district was Wendy Arnold, an Ivoryton resident who works as one of the district’s sanitarians. Arnold said district staff are prompt in performing inspections of septic systems, usually completing reports within ” a few days”. She said the town’s water pollution control authority could continue running the local sewer avoidance program if Essex joins the district. The program, established nearly a decade ago, requires pump outs of residential septic systems at least once every five years.
Selectman Norman Needleman said he is now leaning toward participating in the regional district. “There is a value to the comprehensiveness of being involved in the health district,” he said.
But Alvin Wolfgram, a member of the WPCA, said residents would “find it easier to work with a local sanitarian.” Edward Cook noted that fees for services in the regional district are higher than current fees in Essex.
Lois Ely contended “the playing field,” in the regional district is not level because the larger towns of Clinton would have more votes on the district’s board of directors than Essex and Deep River. Town representatives to the district’s board of directors are appointed by the first selectman, who also has the option of serving as the town representative.
Campbell Hudson, describing the district as “a reasonable thing to try,” said internal conflicts where the representatives of Clinton and Old Saybrook would impose something on Essex are unlikely. “Most major health problems are likely to be resolved on a regional basis,” he said.
The selectmen are expected to hold at least one more informational hearing before deciding whether to recommend joining the district. The final decision on whether to join would be made by residents at a town meeting, or possibly by a referendum vote.
Links:
CT River Area Health District
By Charles Stannard
ESSEX— The board of selectmen has agreed to seek a new location for a private sign that had stood at the entrance to Falls River Drive in the Ivoryton section.
The board agreed Wednesday to ask resident George Washburn if he would agree to have the sign installed on the town road right-of-way near his 8 Bracket Lane property. The removal of the sign marking the entrance to the Fall River Drive development by resident Cory Dolinsky earlier this year had sparked a neighborhood dispute. The sign had been located on town property directly in front of Dolinsky’s 1 Bracket Lane home.
The removal of the sign drew objections from resident Gary Mitchel, whose family developed the Falls River Drive neighborhood. Mitchel noted the sign had been in place for nearly 50 years with no objections from anyone.
First Selectman Phil Miller said he does not favor returning the sign to the original location in front of Dolinsky’s property. “It’s on town property but it’s an imposition on them,” he said. Miller said Washburn, who is out of state this week, may be willing to accept the proposed new location that would still be visible near the entrance to the neighborhood.
Selectman Norman Needleman said he favored a new location for the sign, adding that Dolinsky should not have removed the sign without first contacting the selectmen’s office. “Let’s wipe the slate clean and put it back in a place that’s amenable to everybody,” he said.
The board agreed to allow the sign to be installed in the new location if Washburn is in agreement upon his return. Mitchel said he and other residents who liked the sign could accept the proposed new location.
By: Charles Stannard
ESSEX— The board of selectmen will become involved in a dispute over the removal of a sign at the enterance to the Falls River Farms neighborhood in the Ivoryton section.
The private sign, identifying a neighborhood that was first developed in the late 1950s, was located at the entrance to the road off Main Street in front of the 1 Bracket Lane home of Cory and Amanda Dolinsky. The Dolinskys removed the sign earlier this year.
Gary Mitchel and William Foster, members of the family that developed the neighborhood, appeared before the board Wednesday to ask that the sign be returned to the location where it stood for nearly 50 years. They presented the results of a neighborhood survey where 31 property owners indicated thet wanted the sign returned, while 15 either did not want the sign returned or had no opinion.
First Selectman Phil Miller suggested relocating the sign a short distance further down the road, near a bridge over the Falls River. Mitchel said the location near the bridge was not suitable and would create a sight line problem for motorists.
Miller said his own survey of property owners closer to the entrance of Falls River Drive off Main Street showed most wanted the sign relocated. The sign had been located on town property.
Selectman Norman Needleman, noting that Miller has been trying to “mediate” the situation, suggested the board review all information on the sign dispute, and consider the matter at its Jan. 6 meeting. The board has authority over the placement of roadside signs on town property in its role as the town’s traffic authority. “Anything, including no sign at all, could be voted on,” he said.
In other business, Miller announced that repairs to a deteriorated floor outside the entrance to the town clerk’s office on the first floor of town hall would cost about $19,000. The repairs would include rescrewing the existing flooring and covering it with playwood and new laminated flooring. He said additional work to reconfigure the entrances to offices on the first floor would cost about $14,785, and could be done at the same time the floor is repaired.
Miller said he would discuss the floor work with the board of finance at a meeting this week. He said funds are available in the current town budget to pay for the work
By Charles Stannard
ESSEX– The Board of Selectmen began discussion of a possible town anti-blight ordinance Wednesday in the final meeting of the board’s current two-year term.
It was the last meeting for Selectman Vin Pacileo, who was out-polled in Tuesday’s election by his running-mate, Republican First Selectman candidate Joel Marzi. Marzi received 1,061 votes to Pacileo’s 1,041 in an election where Democrat First Selectman Phil Miller and Democratic Selectman Norman Needleman were re-elected for a fourth term. Pacileo has served on the board since 2003. Miller, Needleman and Marzi will take office for the 2009-2011 term on Nov. 10.
Miller said he was raising the proposed anti-blight ordinance at the request of several residents who live near three vacant homes that remain standing after being severely damaged by fires over the past two years. One of the damaged homes is in the Ivoryton section, two are in Essex.
Miller said he is reviewing several anti-blight ordinances from Connecticut cities and towns that were provided by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. Miller said he would favor an ordinance that includes a penalty if the property owner does not respond to repeated town requests to clean up a property.
The board agreed to resume a discussion of the proposed anti-blight ordinance at its Nov. 18 meeting, after Marzi has joined the board. An anti-blight ordinance would require approval from voters at a town meeting.
LocalOnlineNews.TV reported on Guilford’s anti-blight ordinance this past February. Watch our video story below:
By Charles Stannard
ESSEX– The Board of Selectmen clashed Wednesday over a prospective police dog that was acquired by a town officer without a formal authorization from the board.
The issue was placed on the agenda by Republican Selectman Vincent Pacileo, who questioned Officer Sal Bevilacqua about the status of the dog that Bevilacqua picked up from a breeder in Ohio last January. Pacileo contended that Democratic First Selectman Phil Miller had acted on his own to initiate a police K9 program because he allowed the town to pay for Bevilacqua’s gasoline expenses for a 12-hour ride to Ohio to pick up the dog. “Clearly this is a town dog and you know what dogs can do,” he said. “There is a liability here either expressed or implied.”
The board had received a presentation from town officers on a possible police K9 program at a meeting last December. Pacileo and Democratic Selectman Norman Needleman expressed concerns about the cost of the program during a tight budget year, and there were no votes taken to authorize a local police K9 program.
But Bevilacqua travelled to Ohio in January to pick up the German Shepherd named Primo, and has been keeping the dog at his residence in Deep River. The dog has been treated at the Essex Veterinary Hospital, with Miller sending a letter to Veterinarian Robert Olsen offering thanks for helping “to take care of our newest police recruit, Primo the alsatien puppy.”
Under questioning from Pacileo, Bevilacqua said he spent $600 in personal funds to acquire the dog, and believed the dog would eventually be sent for police K9 training sponsored by the town.
But Bevilacqua, who was hired as one of the town’s four police officers in 2007, also acknowledged that he “can’t recall any commitment” from the First Selectman that Essex would start a police K9 program. Bevilacqua said he has also incurred additional personal expenses from keeping the dog at his residence over the past eight months.
Needleman said he “was never comfortable with the idea of getting a dog,” and suggested that Bevilacqua should have understood “the town was not going to assume any liability for this dog.” Needleman urged Bevilacqua to present a formal claim for reimbursement if he believes the town owes him for expenses related to the dog. Bevilacqua said after the meeting he is considering the option of making a claim to the town for reimbursement of expenses related to the dog.
Miller said Thursday he had “erred in judgement” by having the town pay for Bevilacqua’s gasoline expenses for the ride to Ohio to pick up the dog. He said the Board of Selectmen would consider any claim for reimbursement made by Bevilacqua. “I’ll do whatever I can to try and make this right,” he said.
By: Charles Stannard
ESSEX— Democratic First Selectman Phil Miller and Republican challenger Joel Marzi received rousing nominations from party supporters Wednesday night to face off for the town’s top job in the Nov. 3 town election.
Miller, seeking a fourth term in the town’s top job, drew support from five top state Democrats in accepting the nomination from about 60 supporters gathered on the front lawn of town hall.
State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal was joined by two Democratic gubernatorial candidates, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, in expressing admiration for Miller’s record over the past six years. Also on hand were state Sen. Eileen Daily, D-Westbrook, and state Rep. James Spallone, D-Essex, with Spallone declaring Miller had provided “innovative and responsive leadership in Essex.”
Democratic Selectman Norman Needleman was nominated to seek a fourth term as Miller’s running-mate for Board of Selectmen. Needleman said Miller, who was uncontested for re-election by town Republicans in 2007, had shown “he is ready to make the hard decisions when he has to,” in the current difficult economy.
Marzi, a six-year board of finance member and former member and chairman of the zoning commission, was nominated by about 30 Republicans gathered in the town hall auditorium. In prepared remarks, Marzi questioned decisions made by Miller in February that included reorganizing town hall staff and laying off the town sanitarian, Carol Lord. He described Miller’s moves as an “unwarranted disruption” that was based on “misguided budgetary planning.”
Republicans nominated incumbent Selectman Vincent Pacileo for a fourth term as Marzi’s running-mate for board of selectmen. Pacileo accused the board’s Democratic majority of a “failure to communicate and a failure to reach out to others.”
Miller also referred to the February reorganization in his prepared remarks, describing it as “a tough decision for difficult economic times.’ Miller said he welcomes the Republican challenge, declaring “I’m glad it is a contested race this year so that we can present all of the pertinent issues to our residents.”
Both parties nominated new candidates for tax collector to replace Republican Tax Collector Nancy Stadalnik, who is retiring after nearly two decades in the job.
Democrats nominated Megan Dwyer Haskins, an Essex native who returned to town ten years ago after working in the financial services industry for A.G. Edwards and Sons and the local Ferrucci Company. Haskins, 37, is the mother of twins. Republicans nominated Mark Pratt, a retired Hamden firefighter. Pratt, 61, is a Vietnam War veteran and the first male member of the Essex Garden Club.
Republican Town Clerk Frances Nolin and Republican Town Treasurer Robert Dixon were cross-endorsed by Democrats for new terms. Nolin has served as town clerk since January 2000, Dixon has been town treasurer since 2003.
Democrats nominated incumbents James Francis and Fred Vollono for new six year terms on the Board of Finance. Francis has served as chairman of the finance board since 2003. Republicans nominated Jeff Woods, a member and former chairman of the Zoning Commission, and Roger Kern for Board of Finance.
Democrats nominated Jennifer Clark, who is a medical doctor specializing infectious diseases and wound care, for a six-year term on the Region 4 Board of Education. Republicans nominated Gregory Cassells for the six-year term on the Region 4 board. Republican Terry Stewart, the current chairman of the three-town board, is not seeking re-election.
Democrats nominated Chris Riley for a two year vacancy term on the Region 4 Board of Education. Riley was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board in May. Republicans nominated Philip Reynolds for the two-year term on the Region 4 board.
Democrats nominated Lon Seidman for a new term on the local Board of Education. Seidman currently serves as board chairman. Republicans nominated Don Fitton for a full six-year term on the local Board of Education, with incumbent Suzanne Helchowski nominated for a two-year vacancy term on the local Board of Education.
Democrats nominated incumbent Anne Dougherty for a new term on the Board of Assessment appeals. Republicans did not nominate a candidate for board of assessment appeals, but formed a vacancy committee that could endorse a candidate before a July 29 state ballot deadline.
Links:
Essex Democrats
Joel Marzi’s Website
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By: Charles Stannard
ESSEX— The board of selectmen is moving to renew an ordinance authorizing expanded property tax relief for elderly homeowners that expired last month after five years in place.
First Selectman Phil Miller, who supported the tax relief program soon he was first elected to the top job in 2003, said the ordinance that became effective in 2004 had always included a provision requiring review and renewal after five years. Selectman Norman Needleman described the renewal as a “formality” during discussion at the board’s meeting Wednesday.
But the renewal process will require a written report and recommendation from a five-member committee, along with new authorizations from the selectmen, board of finance, and voters at a town meeting. Miller said three members of the original committee that drafted the ordinance have volunteered to serve on the renewal committee, including Carl Ellison, Susan Feaster, and Alexandra Matthiesen.
The ordinance provides for a town match of the tax relief that is already provided to elderly and disabled homeowners under the state’s Circuit Breaker Program. The tax relief is provided as an actual reduction in the property tax bill, not the property assessment. The town match begins at 20 percent for a homeowner who has lived in Essex for at least two years, rising to a 100 percent match of the state tax relief for a homeowner who has lived in town for more than 10 years.
Tax Assessor Jessica Graves said 63 property owners are currently receiving tax relief under the program, nearly all of them elderly homeowners who have lived in Essex for more than a decade. She said the tax relief would continue for the 2009-2010 fiscal year even though the ordinance expired in June.
Miller said the town needs to renew the ordinance before the next grand list of taxable property is filed in January 2010 to continue the relief in subsequent years.
