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 study committee report on the Deep River Visiting Nurses Association has left the board of selectmen and board of finance asking for additional information on the exact number of residents served by the association.

The report was submitted to the two boards at a joint meeting Wednesday. The six-member study committee, chaired by former Selectman Russell Marth, was formed last summer to review the costs and services provided by the town-sponsored association, and the option of joining a regional visiting nurses association. The review was prompted by rising expenses for the association that are not covered by revenue from fees.

Smith said the selectmen and finance board want detailed information on the “client base,” specifically the exact number of residents served by the association each year. The two boards are expected to make decisions on funding for the association during preparation of a town budget for 2010-2011 this spring.

The association currently employs three registered nurses, one clerical aid,, and 17 part-time contract employees, including nurses, therapists, social workers, and home health aids. The association shares space with the Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau in a building on High Street that was constructed with grant funding in 2002.

The report confirmed that along with a variety of nursing services and clinics, the association also provides social services for the town. The social services coordinated by the association include distribution of fuel, food, and clothing assistance for needy residents. The neighboring towns of Chester and Essex have a part-time town employee coordinating social services.

The report shows the cost gap between revenue generated from the association through fees and reimbursements and the total town expense for the association had increased from $163,921 in the 2007-2008 budget year to $199,000 in 2008-2009.

The study committee gathered information from two regional visiting nurses associations, the Centerbrook-based Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley Inc. and the Guilford-based VNA Community Healthcare. The Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley Inc. estimated annual unfunded expenses for Deep River at about $18,000, with an additional $7,000 for townwide blood pressure and flu vacine clinics. The Centerbrook organization would not coordinate social services for the town.

The study committee recommended hiring an independent auditing firm to provide a fiscal analysis of all Deep River Visiting Nurses Association financial records, and an administrative review to determine if the association is being run as efficiently as possible.

But the committee provided no direct recommendation on whether the town should continue funding the association, or join a regional group such as the Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley Inc.

Smith said the board of selectmen would discuss the report further at a meeting Tuesday, with the finance board expected to continue its discussion of the report and nursing service options for the town at a Jan. 26 meeting.

Links:
Deep River Visiting Nurses Association

By Charles Stannard

DEEP RIVER— Democratic First Selectman Richard Smith is cruising uncontested to a record 11th term as three candidates, a Democrat, a Republican, and an unaffiliated incumbent, compete for seats on the board of selectmen.

Smith, 58, said he believes a “20-year track record of accomplishment,” along with the fact that many of the issues from 2007 are now resolved, has enabled him to run unopposed this year. Two years ago, debate over downtown redevelopment and town hall and firehouse expansion projects fueled the formation of the Deep River Independent Party. Smith defeated John Kennedy, a Democrat who ran as the independent party candidate for first selectman, by a wide margin.

Smith, who also serves as a part-time police officer, was first elected in 1989. He was uncontested by town Republicans in 1995 and 1999, while defeating a series of Republican challengers during other town election years over the past two decades.

Smith said most residents are satisfied with the Main Street commercial projects, a Walgreen’s pharmacy and a new and larger Cumberland Farms store, that were controversial in 2007. Smith said there are no plans to revive a town hall expansion project that was rejected in a 2007 bonding referendum, though a scaled-back firehouse expansion project could be presented in the next two years. Voters rejected a more costly firehouse expansion project in November 2007, only weeks after Smith was re-elected for a tenth term.

Smith has a new running-mate for board of selectmen this year, with Democratic Selectman Richard Daniels stepping aside after 18 years as Smith’s partner on the board. Arthur Thompson, a retired educator who has served as tax collector since 1993, is the Democratic nominee for board of selectmen.

Thompson, 75, said 48 years as a Deep River resident has given him “a good feel for what’s bothering people and what people are looking for in town.” A married father of three grown daughters, Thompson served during the 1980s as a member and chairman of the board of finance and the inland-wetlands commission. He is also the current chairman of the Deep River Democratic Town Committee.

Selectman Russell Marth, Kennedy’s running-mate on the Deep River Independent Party line, was elected in 2007, a year when town Republicans did not nominate candidates for first selectman or board of selectmen. Marsh, 52, is a Chester native who has lived in Deep River since 1990. Marth, who is married without children, works as a publishing consultant for Circulation Specialists of Norwalk.

Marth said he was able to put aside some of the rancor of the 2007 campaign to work effectively with Smith and members of both political parties over the past two years. Marth, who acknowledges the now completed Walgreen’s and larger Cumberland Farms that were issues two years ago “look fine,” said he has focused some of his efforts as a selectman on helping a volunteer committee working on improvements to Veterans Memorial Park.

David Oliveria is the Republican candidate for board of selectmen. Oliveria, 52, is a 14-year town resident who works in business development for Kamen Precision Products of Middletown. The married father of a college-age son and daughter, Oliveria is an alternate on the planning and zoning commission and ran unsuccessfully for board of finance in 2007. He also helps videotape board of selectmen and board of finance meetings for showing on the Comcast public access channel.

Oliveria, who is friendly with Marth, said he would bring “more checks and balances,” to the board of selectmen. He acknowledges Smith “has done some good things for the town,” while adding that in supporting him and Marth, voters have a “unique opportunity” to elect a board of selectmen comprised of a Democrat, a Republican, and an unaffiliated independent.

But Smith is urging voters to return Marth to the third seat on the board because “Russ has worked very well with us.” Smith said it’s too soon to say whether the 11th term would be his last. “I still love the job and I’m still willing to listen to the residents,” he said.

All four candidates for board of selectmen agree on one issue, expressing general support for a plan to pursue a full regionalization of Region 4 schools in 2010. Smith, who was opposed to a full regionalization of the schools in the 1990s, said he has changed his view and now believes the schools system would save taxpayer dollars operating under a single elected board of education for the Chester,-Deep River-Essex district.

Along with the contest for board of selectmen, the offices of town clerk, tax collector, and town treasurer are also contested this year.

Democrat Nancy Talbot, who won her party’s nomination in a September 15 primary, is competing with Republican Amy Winchell for the town clerk position. Democratic Town Clerk Jeanne Nickse is retiring after holding the office since 1993.

Thompson’s move from the tax collector position has set up a contest between Democrat Lisia Bibbiani, who has been a clerk in the tax office since April 2008, and Republican John Townsend. Longtime Republican Town Treasurer Thomas Lindner is facing a challenge from Democrat John Dickson.

By: Charles Stannard

DEEP RIVER— Town Republicans have nominated David Oliveria for selectman while leaving Democratic First Selectman Richard Smith apparently uncontested for a record 11th term.

Oliveria, a planning and zoning commission alternate who drives an electric vehicle and video tapes board of selectmen meetings for the Deep River Taxpayers Association, was unanimously nominated at the party caucus Tuesday. His nomination sets up a contest for two seats on the board between Oliveria, Democratic candidate Arthur Thompson, and incumbent minority Selectman Russell Marth, who was elected in 2007 under the banner of the Deep River Independent Party. Marth filed for re-election on the Deep River Independent Party line earlier this month.

But the caucus results leave Smith, who was first elected in 1989, uncontested for a record 11th term. Smith was also uncontested for re-election by town Republicans in 1995 and 1999.
Town Clerk Jeanne Nickse said Wednesday any other prospective challengers to Smith, including anyone seeking to run on the Deep River Independent Party line, must file petition signatures representing one percent of the total vote cast for first selectman in 2007 by an Aug. 5 deadline.

Republicans nominated Amy Winchell, a 12-year resident who works as a special education aide in the Region 4 preschool program, for town clerk. Winchell will compete with the winner of an expected Sept. 15 Democratic Primary between caucus-endorsed candidate Nancy Talbot and challenger Stella Beaudoin.

Republicans nominated incumbent Town Treasurer Thomas Lindner for a new term. Lindner, who was first elected in 1989 and has been uncontested by town Democrats in recent years, faces a challenge in the Nov. 3 vote from Democrat John Dickson. Republicans nominated John Townsend for tax collector, a position that is is left open this year as the Democratic incumbent, Arthur Thompson, runs for board of selectmen.

Republicans nominated William Ballsieper for a full six-year term on the board of finance, with Joyce Metz nominated for a four-year vacancy term on the finance board. Laurie Tomlinson was nominated for Region 4 Board of Education. She served previously on the board in the late 1990s.

Incumbent Mark Malcarne and Karen Nelson were nominated for the local board of education that supervises the operation of Deep River Elementary School. Darlene Pollock was nominated for board of assessment appeals.

Incumbent Louise Cowen and Janice Kemetz were nominated for library board of directors, with Rolf Peterson nominated for a two-year vacancy term on the library board.

By Charles Stannard

DEEP RIVER– The Democratic Town Committee has endorsed Nancy Talbot for the party nomination for the open position of town clerk.

Talbot, 40, received a unanimous endorsement from the town committee Tuesday. The endorsement is subject to confirmation at the party nominating caucus scheduled for July 27 at 6:30 p.m. in town hall. Democratic Town Clerk Jeanne Nickse is not seeking re-election this year after nearly 16 years in the position.

Talbot, a lifelong town resident, is the sister of Democratic Selectman Richard Daniels, a nine-term incumbent who is not seeking re-election this year. The married mother of two children ages 8 and 10, she currently works as the town’s building department clerk and park and recreation director.

Talbot holds a bachelors degree in communications from Central Connecticut State University and serves on the town’s elected Board of Assessment Appeals. She also serves as a deputy Democratic Registrar of Voters and is a volunteer for the Shoreline Soup Kitchens and Meals on Wheels programs.

Talbot is one of two Democrats to express interest in the town clerk nomination after Nickse announced her decision to retire. The other prospective candidate is Stella Beaudoin, who is currently the clerk for Essex Judge of Probate Deborah Pearl. Beaudoin has worked as a probate clerk in Essex for about 11 years, and was an assistant town clerk in Haddam for about 5 years during the 1990s serving under longtime Haddam Town Clerk Ann Huffstetler.

Beaudoin said Wednesday she was never formally interviewed by the town committee after submitting a written declaration of interest in the town clerk position. Beaudoin said she is undecided on whether to pursue her candidacy at the caucus, where nominations from the floor are permitted, or by petitioning for a Sept. 15 Democratic Primary to decide the nomination.

Democrats are expected to nominate First Selectman Richard Smith for a record 11th term at the caucus, with current Tax Collector Arthur Thompson expected to receive the nomination as the party’s candidate for board of selectmen.

Town Republicans are also expected to hold a nominating caucus between July 21 and July 28. The GOP is expected to nominate candidates for board of selectmen, town clerk, and other positions, but has not announced a challenger to Smith for the First Selectman position.

Selectman Russell Marth, who was elected under the banner of the Deep River Independent Party in 2007 after Republicans failed to nominate candidates for First Selectman or Board of Selectmen, is expected to seek a new term on the independent party line. The Deep River Independent Party has not announced candidates for first selectman or other positions on the Nov. 3 ballot.

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.

By Charles Stannard

DEEP RIVER— The board of selectmen will appoint a five-member committee to review the operations of the town-sponsored Deep River Visiting Nurses.

First Selectman Richard Smith said the review was suggested by members of the board of finance during preparation of the 2009-2010 town budget earlier this year. He said the town is spending about $500,000 for the nursing service, which is also expected to generate about $370,000 in revenue for the town during the next fiscal year. The nurses share space with the Tri-Town Youth Services Bureau in a town-owned building on High Street that was constructed using grant funds in 2002.

Smith said the nursing agency, which also coordinates social services for the town, remains a net expense despite the annual revenue because the town is paying health and related benefits for the agency staff. The staff includes a nurse supervisor, two full-time nurses, and a part-time clerical employee.

Smith said the nurses are “very much aware” of the planned review that could lead to a recommendation to merge the town sponsored operation with another area visiting nurses group, such as the Essex-based Visiting Nurses of the Lower Valley Inc.

Smith said the committee would include Selectman Russell Marth, a board of finance member, and three resident volunteers. The group would present a written report to the selectmen and finance board by December. Selectman Richard Daniels, the other member of the three-member board of selectmen, also serves as president of the nurses agency board of directors.

Candy Marien, nurse supervisor for the agency, said Thursday she is not troubled by the planned review. “I welcome a review because I think it’s going to be a real eye opener for the town,” she said.

Marien said residents and board of finance members may not be aware of the “scope of services,” the agency provides for the town. She noted that social services, ranging from winter heating assistance to counseling referrals to holiday gift baskets for needy families, are coordinated by a full or part-time employee in many other area towns.

Marien also noted the nurses provide home health care to all Deep River residents, from infants to the elderly, regardless of whether the resident has health insurance coverage. She said the nurses served at least 600 residents for health assistance and at least 150 for social services assistance during the current fiscal year that ends June 30.