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For the people of Wallingford...

For the People of Wallingford - It's your town; get informed, get involved

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

WALLINGFORD - Hurricane Recovery - Compost Center Expands Hours

As posted on the Town of Wallingford website:

The Wallingford Compost Center on John Street will observe expanded hours this week to accommodate residents who wish to compost yard debris generated by the recent storm.

The expanded schedule is as follows:
Monday - Saturday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

WALLINGFORD - Hurricane Recovery - Electric Division - Updated Information

As posted on the Town of Wallingford website as of 2PM 8/30:

The Wallingford Electric Division (WED) continues its efforts to restore power to all of its customers. The WED system sustained substantial damage from Hurricane Irene, with power lines down in a number of locations.

Safety remains our primary concern and our first priority has been to secure all downed wires and hazardous sites. In addition, beginning yesterday, we deployed our line crews and Engineering personnel to perform damage assessment and to begin making system repairs. The assessment phase is nearly complete. Restoration work began Sunday afternoon and is ongoing.

The first priority in the restoration process is to repair the distribution feeders that make up our system backbone. This approach enables us to provide power to the greatest number of customers in the most efficient manner. As we get the primary system conductors back in service our crews will begin repairing damaged service wires to customers. This process will continue after the completion of system backbone repairs until all customers are connected.

The WED provides electrical service to the Town of Wallingford and to the Northford section of the Town of North Branford. We estimate that approximately 9,500 WED customers were without power immediately following Irene. Since that time, we have restored power to approximately 8,500 of these customers.

Based on our assessment of the work remaining to be done, we anticipate that there will be less than 500 customers without electric service by the end of today, Tuesday, August 30. Due to the variety of problems that may affect individual customers’ service wires, we are unable to provide a precise time frame at this point for restoration of service to all customers.

The WED has called upon outside resources to supplement its regular work force in order to restore service in the shortest time feasible.

The work force engaged in the field with the restoration effort:

  • 7 WED line crews

  • 6 line crews from Thirau, LLC, the WED’s line emergency line restoration contractor (3 crews are on site and 2 crews are in-bound).

  • Line crews from neighboring municipal electric systems, through the WED’s Mutual Aid Agreement with the Northeast Public Power Association

  • 2 from Chicopee MA Municipal Light

  • 1 from South Hadley MA Electric Light Dept.

  • 1 from Westfield Gas and electric Light Dept.

  • 3 tree clearing crews from Asplundh Tree Expert Company

We ask our customers to remember that they are responsible for certain components of the facilities to which the WED delivers service. If any customer-owned facilities are damaged due to a storm or accident these facilities must be repaired by a licensed electrician before the WED can safely restore power. WED crews can only work on WED equipment.

Customers who have questions regarding which components of their electrical service are their responsibility should contact the WED Customer Service Group at 203-265-5055 or 203-294-2020.

To aid in the restoration of power, the WED has prepared a helpful diagram, entitled, What You Need to Know About Your Electric Service Connection.

Customers who use or plan to use a portable electric generator should follow basic safety guidelines detailed in the WED Home Generator Safety Checklist.

WALLINGFORD - Hurricane Recovery - Parking Ban is still in effect

This is not so much “are they enforcing it” (because we all know historically they do not) but rather “if you ARE actually towed – here’s why”

As posted on the Town’s Website (as of noon on 8/30):

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

A parking ban remains in effect in the Town of Wallingford on Tuesday, August 30, 2011.

The ban is necessary to facilitate the efficient and safe restoration of public utilities.

No vehicle shall be parked or allowed to remain on any public street while the ban is in effect.

Vehicles found to be in violation of the ban will be tagged and towed at the owner's expense. The parking ban will remain in effect until further notice.

Monday, August 29, 2011

PRESS RELEASE - Town of Wallingford Hurricane Irene Recovery

Town of Wallingford - Hurricane Irene Recovery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lieutenant Marc Mikulski
Wallingford Police Department
135 North Main Street
Wallingford, CT
(203) 294-2814

 

Wallingford Electric Division (WED)

The WED continues its efforts to restore power to all of its customers. The WED system sustained substantial damage from Hurricane Irene, with power lines down in a number of locations.

Safety remains our primary concern and our first priority has been to secure all downed wires and hazardous sites. In addition, beginning yesterday, we deployed our line crews and Engineering personnel to perform damage assessment and to begin making system repairs. The assessment phase is nearly complete. Restoration work began yesterday afternoon, continued through the night and is ongoing.

The first priority in the restoration process is to repair the distribution feeders that make up our system backbone. This approach enables us to provide power to the greatest number of customers in the most efficient manner. As we get the primary system conductors back in service our crews will begin repairing damaged service wires to customers. This process will continue after the completion of system backbone repairs until all customers are connected.

The WED provides electrical service to the Town of Wallingford and to the Northford section of the Town of North Branford. We estimate that approximately 9,500 WED customers were without power immediately following Irene. Since that time, we have restored power to approximately 5,000 of these customers.

Based on our assessment of the work remaining to be done, we anticipate that we will restore power to at least 85% of the remaining out-of-power customers by the end of the day, Wednesday, August 31st. Due to the variety of problems that may affect individual customers’ service wires we are unable to provide a precise time frame at this point for restoration of service to all customers.

The WED has called upon outside resources to supplement its regular work force in order to restore service in the shortest time feasible.

The work force engaged in the field with the restoration effort:

- 6 WED line crews
- 5 line crews from Thirau LLC, the WED’s line emergency line restoration contractor (3 crews are on site and 2 crews are in-bound).
- Line crews from neighboring municipal electric systems, through the WED’s Mutual Aid Agreement with the Northeast Public Power Association
-
2 from Chicopee MA Municipal Light
-
1 from South Hadley MA Electric Light Dept.
-
1 from Westfield Gas and Electric Light Dept.
-
3 tree clearing crews from Asplundh Tree Expert Company

We ask our customers to remember that they are responsible for certain components of the facilities to which the WED delivers service. If any customer-owned facilities are damaged due to a storm or accident these facilities must be repaired by a licensed electrician before the WED can safely restore power. WED crews can only work on WED equipment. Customers who have questions regarding which components of their electrical service are their responsibility should contact the WED Customer Service Group at (203) 265-5055 or (203) 294-2020.

We would all like to ask our customers to help keep our linemen safe as they work to restore power with the proper use of emergency generators. Please do not connect your home generator directly to your home or business’ wiring. The generator should be connected through an approved cut-off switch that will automatically disconnect the home or business from the power grid when the generator is being used. This work must be done by a licensed electrician.

 

Wallingford Police Department

The Wallingford Police Department received 205 calls for service between Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 8AM and Monday, August 29, 2011 at 8AM. The majority of the 205 calls for service were 71 calls for Public Hazards and 54 calls for residential and commercial alarm activations.

 

Wallingford Fire Department

The Wallingford Fire Department during the same operational time period responded to 60 calls for service. No one was transported by Wallingford Fire Department Town Ambulance for storm related injuries. Currently the fire department is experiencing normal call volume.

 

Wallingford Department of Public Health

Any Wallingford restaurant that has lost power is required by state statute to notify the Health Department at 203-294-2065. Residents are also encouraged to throw all refrigerated foods if there has been no power for more than four hours. “When in doubt, throw it out!” Residents that are served by well water who do not have electrical power are encouraged to use bottled water. When power is restored to well pumps the water lines should be flushed for five minutes prior to use. At this point water is not available from the American Red Cross

The Wallingford Health Department has made arrangements with the YMCA to allow Wallingford residents impacted by Hurricane Irene (those without water) to use the YMCA shower facilities. Facilities will be available from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm.  This is a temporary agreement related to the storm.

The Wallingford Emergency Shelter closed at 9pm on Sunday August 28, 2011. Residents are encouraged to seek overnight accommodations, if needed with, family/friend who are not impacted by current electrical outages.

 

Wallingford Public Works

Wallingford Public Works continues to clear trees limbs and debris from the roadways.

Public Works Department will be conducting a town wide brush only pick-up, the week of September 6, 2011. Brush to be collected must meet the following conditions; brush must be no longer than 4’ long and 6” in diameter. It must be tied in bundles so that one person can pick it up.

This week the Town of Wallingford Compost Center will remain open every day from 8AM to 4PM through Saturday September 3, 2011.

 

Wallingford Superintendent of Schools

Wallingford Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, August 30, 2011.

*This will be the last press release from the Wallingford Emergency Operations Center regarding Hurricane Irene

Please visit www.town.wallingford.ct.us as well as Wallingford Government Access Television, Comcast Xfinity - Channel 20 and AT&T U-verse - Position 99 for up-to-date local Wallingford information.

Wallingford Public Schools will be closed tomorrow - August 30, 2011.

Wallingford Public Schools will be closed tomorrow - August 30, 2011.

All teachers, secretaries, and custodians should report at their regular times.

Professional development will be conducted for all teaching staff.

All staff should check their district email for more information.

Please check back to this site for any changes.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

President Obama has signed the Connecticut Emergency Declaration

President Obama has signed the Connecticut Emergency Declaration. See email from the White House below.

Please contact Colleen Flanagan with any questions.

Colleen Flanagan
Director of Communications
Governor Dannel P. Malloy
Colleen.Flanagan@ct.gov
860.770.8090

 

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2011

President Obama Signs Connecticut Emergency Declaration

The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Connecticut and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Irene beginning on August 26, 2011, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in all counties in the State of Connecticut.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent federal funding.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Gary Stanley as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT: FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@DHS.GOV

###

WALLINGFORD – Updated Hurricane Irene information via the town website - Hurricane Irene - Shelter Information

Credit where credit is due – the town has done a good job of providing information regarding the upcoming storm.

Here are the links as provided by the Wallingford Municipal Website.

As originally published - Hurricane Irene - Shelter Information

Wallingford Police Department
Shelter Information

EMERGENCY CALLS
9-1-1

Routine Police and Fire Department Services
203-294-2800

Routine Electric Power Outages
203-265-5055

The shelter for Hurricane Irene, if and when declared open, will be Mark T. Sheehan High School 142 Hope Hill Road, Wallingford, CT. 06492.

 

WHAT TO BRING TO A SHELTER

• Photo identification (Driver's License)

• Baby food/formula, diapers, wipes, teething gel, ointment

• Change of clothing

• Blankets

• Food& snacks, non-perishable, 3-day supply

• Sleeping bags

• Cell phone

• Pillows

• Flashlight& extra batteries

• Hygiene or sanitary products

• Battery powered radio & extra batteries

• Medications, prescription & over-the-counter

• Eyeglasses

• Entertainment (toys, books, games, etc.)

• Dentures

• Cash, checkbook, credit cards

 

Important Papers:

• Social security cards

• Proof of residence (deed or lease)

• Insurance policies

• Birth certificate

• Marriage certificate

• Stocks, bonds, and other negotiable certificates

• Wills, deeds, copies of recent tax returns

WALLINGFORD – Updated Hurricane Irene information via the town website - Hurricane Preparation Recommendations

Credit where credit is due – the town has done a good job of providing information regarding the upcoming storm.
Here are the links as provided by the Wallingford Municipal Website.
As originally published - Hurricane Preparation Recommendations
Hurricane Watch
Hurricane conditions are a threat within 36 hours. Review your hurricane plans, keep informed and be ready to act if a warning is issued.

Hurricane Warning
Hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours. Complete your storm preparations and leave the area if directed to do so by authorities.

Preparations
Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service.
Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).
Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.
Fill your car’s gas tank
Create an evacuation plan
Plan routes to local shelters
Clear catch basins near your home to prevent flooding

Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices, foods for infants or the elderly, snack foods, non-electric can opener, cooking tools / fuel, paper plates / plastic utensils

First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs
Flashlight / Batteries
Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio
Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery
Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
Keys
Documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag (insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc).
Pet care items for home and evacuation to a shelter. Proper identification / immunization records / medications, ample supply of food and water, a carrier or cage, muzzle and leash

WALLINGFORD – Updated Hurricane Irene information via the town website - Huracán Irene - Recomendaciones para Prepararse para el Huracán

Credit where credit is due – the town has done a good job of providing information regarding the upcoming storm.

Here are the links as provided by the Wallingford Municipal Website.

As originally published - Recomendaciones para Prepararse para el Huracán

FYI – I don’t know Spanish so I am taking this off the website as is; if there are any clarifications or anything needs to be appended I am sure one of my friends that knows Spanish will help me out. (Where are Dora and Boots when you really need them?)

Departamento de Policía de Wallingford

Información sobre refugio

Llamadas de Emergencia 9-1-1

Para reportar pérdida de energía eléctrica 203-265-5055

Servicios Rutinarios de los Departamentos de Policía y Bomberos 203-294-2800

El refugio para el Huracán Irene, en caso de y cuando se declare la emergencia será
Mark T. Sheehan
High School
142 Hope Hill Road, Wallingford, CT. 06492.

QUE DEBE TRAER AL REFUGIO

• Documento de identificación con foto (Licencia de conducir)

• Comida para bebés/formula, pañales, pañitos húmedos, gel para las encías, pomada

• Mudas de ropa

• Cobijas

• Alimentos & refrigerios, no perecederos con suministro para 3 días

• Sleeping bags

• Teléfono celular

• Almohadas

• Linternas y pilas adicionales

• Productos de limpieza sanitaria

• Radio de pilas con pilas adicionales

• Medicinas recetadas y sin receta médica

• Anteojos

• Objetos para entretenerse (juguetes, libros, juegos, etc.)

• Dentadura postiza

• Dinero en efectivo, chequera, tarjetas de crédito

Documentos Importantes:

• Tarjeta de Seguro Social

• Prueba de Residencia (escritura o contrato de arriendo)

• Pólizas de Seguro

• Certificado de Nacimiento

• Certificado de Matrimonio

• Acciones, bonos y otros certificados negociables

•Testamentos, escrituras, copias recientes de formularios de impuestos.

Consejos/Recomendaciones Para Prepararse Para el Huracán

Conozca la Diferencia

Estar Pendiente de la Tormenta (Hurricane Watch)

Las condiciones del huracán representan una amenaza en 36 horas. Revise sus planes para el huracán, manténgase informado y esté listo para reaccionar si se emite una advertencia.

Advertencia de Huracán (Hurricane Warning)

Las condiciones del huracán se esperan dentro de 24 horas. Complete sus preparaciones para la tormenta y salga del área si las autoridades así lo indican.

Recomendaciones para Prepararse para el Huracán

  • Escuche la estación de radio “NOAA Weather” para recibir importante información del Servicio Nacional del Estado del Tiempo.

  • Guarde adentro de la casa todo lo que pueda ser levantado por el viento (Bicicletas, muebles del patio etc.)

  • Ponga el termostato de la nevera en el punto más frío y manténgalo cerrado lo máximo posible, de esa manera los alimentos durarán más tiempo si se pierde la energía eléctrica

  • Llene el tanque de gasolina de su vehículo

  • Prepare un plan de evacuación

  • Planee rutas al refugio local

  • Agua – Por lo menos un gallón diario por persona de 3 a 7 días

  • Alimentos – suficiente para por lo menos de 3 a 7 días empacado de manera no perecedera o enlatada/jugos, alimentos para bebés o ancianos, refrigerios, abridor de lata no eléctrico, materiales para cocinar/combustible, platos/cubiertos de plástico

  • Botiquín de Primeros Auxilios / Medicinas / Medicinas con Receta Médica

  • Linterna / Pilas

  • Radio de pilas y en la estación de “NOAA Weather”

  • Teléfonoscompletamente cargados y con batería adicional

  • Dinero en Efectivo (con billetes de cantidades pequeñas) y tarjetas de crédito- Bancos y cajeros automáticos no estarán disponibles por algún tiempo

  • LLaves

  • Documentos – en un contenedor o paquete a prueba de agua o (seguros, documentos médicos, número de cuentas bancarias, tarjeta del seguro social, etc.).

  • Objetos para el cuidado de las mascotas para el hogar y para la evacuación hacia un refugio. Identificaciónadecuada / información sobre inmunizaciones / medicamentos / gran cantidad de alimentos y agua, una caja o cargador de mascotas o jaula, bozal y correa

Areas Propensas a Inundaciones

Esta tormenta pronostica producir una cantidad aproximada de 10 pulgadas de agua de lluvia, en algunas aéreas puede llegar a 14 pulgadas. Esto ocasionará enormes crecimientos en las quebradas y los ríos que pronto ocasionarán inundaciones en sus riberas. Esto pone a los residentes en el área en una situación muy peligrosa al igual que a los trabajadores de la seguridad pública. Las personas que viven en estas áreas más propensas a las inundaciones deberían hacer planes de evacuación de manera voluntaria.

Vehículos Cruzando en Agua en Movimiento

La mayoría de los carros flotarán (y se irán arrastrados) en niveles de de 18 a 24 pulgadas de agua en movimiento.Camiones y camionetas no resisten más de 6 a 12 pulgadas adicionales. Quebradas y ríos pueden crecer rápidamente y el fondo de las vías también puede desaparecer haciendo el agua más profunda de lo que parece.

Control del Tráfico

¡Suspensiones en el servicio de energía eléctrica significan que los semáforos no estarán funcionando!

Los oficiales de la policía no podrán estar presentes en todas las intersecciones. Los conductores deben parar en todas las intersecciones que tengan semáforos que no estén funcionando, para cerciorarse que es seguro seguir adelante.

WALLINGFORD – Updated Hurricane Irene information via the town website - Precautions During Storm Conditions

Credit where credit is due – the town has done a good job of providing information regarding the upcoming storm.

Here are the links as provided by the Wallingford Municipal Website.

As originally published - Precautions During Storm Conditions

 

Power Outages

This storm is expected to arrive this weekend with the strongest winds forecast between Sunday, 4:00 a.m., through midnight. Power outages will occur. Prepare to be without power for 3 - 5 day, perhaps longer.

To report an outage, please call the Wallingford Electric Division at: 203-265-5055. If busy, please wait a few minutes and try again. Only call if your power is out.

If you encounter any downed wires, assume that they are live and stay away at 25 feet.

 


Flooding Prone Areas

This storm is forecast to produce an average of 10 inches of rainfall. In some areas more the 14 inches will fall. This will cause extensive flooding of streams and rivers that will quickly overrun their banks. This causes an extremely dangerous situation for residents as well as public safety workers. Plans should be made to voluntarily evacuate these flood prone areas.

 

Vehicles Crossing Moving Water

Most cars will float (and be swept away) in 18-24 inches of moving water. Trucks and SUVs are not much better with only 6 - 12 more inches of clearance. Creeks and rivers can rise very rapidly and the road bottoms can also wash away making the water much deeper than it appears.

 

Traffic Control

Power outages mean traffic lights will be out of order.

Police officers will not be able to respond to every intersection.

Motorist must stop at all intersections that have inoperable traffic lights to make sure that it is safe to proceed.

Wallingford Police Department Hurricane Information

I had this forwarded to me from Town Councilor Vincent Cervoni (thanks Vinny) and I thought it made sense to get it out to everyone so I am cross posting it to my blogs, Facebook and the Record Journal forums.

The full details of this can be downloaded HERE

What is important to note immediately is that there will be a parking ban in effect as of 11PM Saturday the 27th.

There is additional information within the PDF so I would suggest that everyone read through it in detail.

image

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

REMINDER - Wallingford Democrat Town Committee Karaoke night

all_kids_crop

As you may be aware by now, I am running for the Wallingford Town Council.

We are having a little get together at Gaetano's Tavern on Main on Tuesday, August 23 · 7:30pm - 10:30pm.

The informal invent is intended to get folks together to meet the candidates and to just have an overall good time (it is NOT a fundraiser – it is a meet and greet).

Please feel free to come on down to speak with me, meet other people that are running for Town Council and the Board of Education. Vin Testa, our candidate for Mayor, is schedule to be there as well.

So there will be plenty of people to meet and talk to and perhaps, if you’re so inclined, you might consider singing a song or two.

Hope to see you there!

Proposed Changes in Fares on New Haven Line

http://www.mta.info/mta/news/hearings/

The public is invited to comment on fare increases proposed by the Connecticut Department of Transportation ("CDOT") for travel between Connecticut and New York stations on MTA Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, as well as for travel between stations within Connecticut on that line. The fare increases, which are proposed to become effective on November 1, range from 0% to 30% (with most fares increasing 14% to 18%), with additional proposed increases of 1% per year for the years 2013 through 2018.

CDOT also proposes to increase certain bus and Shore Line East rail fares, which would cause a corresponding increase in UniTicket and UniRail fares. More detailed information on the proposed fare increases will be available on or about August 15, 2011, on CDOT's and Metro-North's websites at www.ct.gov and www.mta.info or at Metro-North's Customer Service Center (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.) located on the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, and at the offices of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, 3rd floor of Union Station, 50 Union Avenue, New Haven.

Time & Place of the Hearings

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
4:00 to 6:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM
General Re Auditorium
University of Connecticut, Stamford Branch
One University Place, Stamford, Connecticut

Wednesday, August 24, 2011
4:00 to 6:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Hall of Records, Room G-2
200 Orange Street, New Haven, Connecticut

Tuesday, August 30, 2011
2:00 to 4:00 PM and 5:00 to 6:00 PM
Downstairs Hearing Room, Silas Bronson Library
267 Grand Street, Waterbury, Connecticut

Simpson Court and Downtown Parking – the ongoing struggle for the truth

Without a doubt, the current earmark of $500,000.00 to expend on private property and the petition drive to stop it is going to be a polarizing issue as we enter into the local elections.

We have a lot of heavy hitting on the support side of the project and the Council decision to move forward with this. (Councilors Fishbein and Economopoulos voted against it).

There is strength in the opposition as well as the petition efforts pick up steam.

Steve Knight, a former Town Councilor and co-writer of the Record Journal’s FROM WALLINGFORD column came out in support of the council’s decision (please see FROM WALLINGFORD - Vision and sophistication)

The Record Journal ran a story this morning titled “Small says Wallingford isn't on hook for $500,000” 

I’d like to review a few things that Steve wrote, and mind you, those are his opinions and like mine are going to differ. As an op-ed piece you don’t need to be objective – the whole point is to offer an opinion.

So I’ll start with:

“First of all, who benefits from the improvements? Opponents would have us believe that only the four property owners do. Nonsense. We all do, because a viable town center benefits each and every one of us, whether it’s in the property values of our homes or the quality of life we all wish to have. And that viability only exists because people want to come downtown. And they will only drive downtown if they know to a certainty that safe, convenient parking is available for their car. No parking? No people. No people? No successful downtown.”

I have said this before and I’ll say it again, there is plenty of parking downtown other than this one lot that is available for public use. The way that this gets outlined it makes it sound like there is no parking at all if we give up or lose the rights to use this lot as public parking that the entire downtown collapses.

I would like to see the study of how many cars use this lot on a daily basis as public parking in that they are not patronizing one of the businesses there.

The thing is, you won’t see it because there hasn’t been one. It is all done on estimation and assumption that there are users in this fashion and there probably are. I would argue they are a very small minority and at such a low use level that it can be equally argued that the spaces available at Town Hall and on the Wooding-Caplan property would suffice.

Next is:

“Secondly, let’s look at this investment. Yes, the Town of Wallingford is spending taxpayer money improving a piece of private property. But we are leasing this property. The owners are giving up control of the property. For thirty years”

I agree with Steve on the first part – we would be spending taxpayer money improving a piece of private property, something I don’t support out of the box.

We would be leasing the property but to say the owners are giving up control is more than a stretch. They are still able to pretty much do anything they currently are allowed to do but about the only things they will not be able to do is back out of the agreement on short notice as this would be a 30-year agreement and not a short term one. The other thing that they are effectively giving up is the ability to say “this is parking for my business only and all others will be towed.”

Now I am not sure what Steve was referring to with his next statement of “Frankly, I think it took a real leap of faith on the part of the four owners to make this deal. Without the parking behind their buildings, their property is worth zilch. It is a credit to them, and to the town government, that there is enough trust between the parties to enter into such a sweeping and lengthy arrangement” – Is he suggesting that the town could potentially take the property by eminent domain? I wouldn’t support that either and it is completely unnecessary as we have Wooding-Caplan and all the parking we should need if we would just fix that lot. I haven’t had the chance to speak with him so I am not entirely sure of his point here.

Someone else commented somewhere and I forget if it was a letter to the editor or someone I spoke with but they inferred that if we are leasing that property and it is in disrepair and if that someone was injured the town could be sued and if found liable, we might be on the hook for medical bills, pain and suffering and all that.

Could be the town and the property owners both in a situation like that.

So what do you think happens when someone sustains the same injury on the Wooding-Caplan parcel? We own that outright and it is in equal or worse disrepair right now. That’s right, the town, and only the town gets sued. The point here is we are at risk of being sued in both places and that is always a matter of risk but if we have this money I argue that we use it to repair our own property that is being used currently in the same manner (public parking).

Steve’s next point was:

“Okay, so the Town of Wallingford spends money on the parking lot. It directly benefits every single merchant downtown, and it indirectly benefits every single property owner in town because the downtown remains vibrant. You don’t need to be a professional urban planner to see the bright line connecting this investment with the benefits to the entire community. It’s obvious.”

So I am not sure how this is a direct benefit to every single merchant downtown; if people won’t park at town hall and walk one block to eat or go shopping why can anyone assume they’ll park there and walk down the hill? Be that as it may, then I could apply the same argument to the Wooding-Caplan property – if you fix it, a property that we already own – then you are providing a direct benefit to every single merchant downtown two fold; you have fixed a dilapidated public property and added net new parking to downtown.

Tomorrow I will write some additional comments with respect to the story in the Record Journal - “Small says Wallingford isn't on hook for $500,000”

Monday, August 22, 2011

Wallingford Democrat Town Committee Karaoke night

Jason SuitAs you may be aware by now, I am running for the Wallingford Town Council.

We are having a little get together at Gaetano's Tavern on Main on Tuesday, August 23 · 7:30pm - 10:30pm.

The informal invent is intended to get folks together to meet the candidates and to just have an overall good time (it is NOT a fundraiser – it is a meet and greet).

Please feel free to come on down to speak with me, meet other people that are running for Town Council and the Board of Education. Vin Testa, our candidate for Mayor, is schedule to be there as well.

So there will be plenty of people to meet and talk to and perhaps, if you’re so inclined, you might consider singing a song or two.

Hope to see you there!

More opinions on the Wallingford Parking controversy and the petition drive

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday August 21, 2011

parking

Friday, August 19, 2011

Proposed Changes in Fares on New Haven Line

http://www.mta.info/mta/news/hearings/

The public is invited to comment on fare increases proposed by the Connecticut Department of Transportation ("CDOT") for travel between Connecticut and New York stations on MTA Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, as well as for travel between stations within Connecticut on that line. The fare increases, which are proposed to become effective on November 1, range from 0% to 30% (with most fares increasing 14% to 18%), with additional proposed increases of 1% per year for the years 2013 through 2018.

CDOT also proposes to increase certain bus and Shore Line East rail fares, which would cause a corresponding increase in UniTicket and UniRail fares. More detailed information on the proposed fare increases will be available on or about August 15, 2011, on CDOT's and Metro-North's websites at www.ct.gov and www.mta.info or at Metro-North's Customer Service Center (8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Mon.-Fri.) located on the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, and at the offices of the Connecticut Department of Transportation, 3rd floor of Union Station, 50 Union Avenue, New Haven.

Time & Place of the Hearings

Tuesday, August 23, 2011
4:00 to 6:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM
General Re Auditorium
University of Connecticut, Stamford Branch
One University Place, Stamford, Connecticut

Wednesday, August 24, 2011
4:00 to 6:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Hall of Records, Room G-2
200 Orange Street, New Haven, Connecticut

Tuesday, August 30, 2011
2:00 to 4:00 PM and 5:00 to 6:00 PM
Downstairs Hearing Room, Silas Bronson Library
267 Grand Street, Waterbury, Connecticut

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

State Attorney General George Jepsen will be at the Wallingford Democrat Town Committee meeting tonight–Wednesday August 17, 2011

State Attorney General George Jepsen will be at the Wallingford Democrat Town Committee meeting tonight–Wednesday August 17, 2011.

The public is invited to come meet the State Attorney General as we welcome him back to Wallingford.

He is scheduled to speak regarding the recent judgment against Covanta Energy which has been ordered to pay a $400,000 fine and upgrade one of its incinerators as terms of a settlement with the state over emissions violations last summer.

The meeting starts at 7:30pm and is held at 350 Center Street in Room 212.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

900 sign petition against Simpson Court plans

As posted online at MyRecordJournal.com and as published in the Record Journal, Tuesday August 16, 2011

Robert Cyr
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD - Town Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos was out on a rainy Monday afternoon, talking to voters in front of Stop & Shop on Route 5, but he wasn't campaigning to retain his seat on the council.

Economopoulos was collecting signatures, as were others circulating the petition to force a referendum on a council decision last week that entered the town into a 30-year, $500,000 agreement with four North Main Street businesses to pave and maintain their collective parking lot in return for free municipal use.

The intent is to create a safer, more attractive municipal parking lot that will continue to provide an alternative to the often crowded parking area in front of the Simpson Court businesses. Economopoulos, a Democrat, voted against it, saying the town should not pay to upgrade private property.

Robert Gross, a local man who has run for council, started the petition drive Wednesday and has until Sept. 8 to collect 2,491 signatures, or 10 percent of the town's registered voters. That's the amount needed, by town law, to force the council to reverse its decision within 30 days or go to a town-wide vote on the matter.

Economopoulos was in good spirits and said he's gotten a positive response so far. A small group of people had collected about 900 signatures over the weekend. In his hand were three full pages of official signature pages, with 50 signatures on each page.

"People have been great and they really want to find out what's going on," he said.

Holding more pages at the store's other entrance, local resident Robert Hogan said he was confident the signatures would come and a referendum would take place.

"Everyone I talk to has been unbelievably responsive to what we're doing," he said. "When we tell them what has happened, they are awestruck - they can't believe it."

Petition supporters, who have called it an example of "democracy in action," included 24-year-old Troy Livingston. While he works in New Haven, he was born and lives in town, he said.

"I don't think it's really necessary for the town's money to go to something like a parking lot," he said. "We could be using that money for something more important in town."

Scott McLean, professor of political science at Quinnipiac University, said Wallingford's case of petitioning for referendum has a rich tradition in American history and is an example of a government process that once astounded foreign visitors who were accustomed to turmoil in Europe.

Among visiting dignitaries was 19th century French historian Alexis de Tocqueville, whose book "Democracy in America" is still read today.

"He thought it was remarkable that Americans were so involved in their municipalities," McLean said. "It was very different in Europe at the time, when revolutions were sweeping across Europe, but Americans put their political interests very close to home."

Whenever a community petitions for a referendum to overturn a government decision, they are evoking the spirit of early America, he said.

"Of course the right to petition the government is in the First Amendment and it's a very fundamental idea, a right that goes back to Colonial days," he said. "There's a long tradition of seeing petitions as vital to the health of democracy in America."

Simpson Court project may go to referendum

As published in the Record Journal Sunday August 14, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff

WALLINGFORD — Business owners are expressing support for the Town Council’s decision to make a half million dollars’ worth of improvements to the parking lot behind Simpson Court, while opponents of the project planned to spend the weekend collecting signatures in hopes of sending it to referendum.

The Town Council approved an agreement with four property owners last Tuesday night, giving the town the authority to make $500,000 in improvements to the lot while extending public use for the next 30 years. Under the agreement, the town will also provide maintenance, including snow plowing.

The intent is to create a safer, more attractive municipal parking lot that will continue to provide an alternative to the often crowded parking area in front of the Simpson Court businesses.

Debbie Pacileo, owner of Gaetano’s Tavern at 36 N. Main St., spoke to customers on the restaurant’s sunny sidewalk patio Friday afternoon, saying she had heard of the drive to reverse the council’s decision.

“I think anything they do uptown is good for the town, and everyone knows how bad the lot looks,” she said. “People tell me all the time they want to come here but don’t have the time to look for a place to park. Businesses are hurt in this town for a lack of good parking.”

The improvements, first planned more than a decade ago, will include paving, installing lights, marking off 130 parking spaces, and reconstructing a concrete wall that borders the lot and Holy Trinity School on Center Street. The project has stalled over the years because the building’s owners have not always agreed with the use agreement.

Next door to Gaetano’s, at 48 N. Main St., was a busy Half Moon Cafe, where tables were packed with local lunch-goers.

Amy Lipper, a Guilford resident who owns wholesaler Lipper International on Washington Street, said the improved parking would benefit not just the businesses abutting the lot, but would make it easier to access shops across the street as well.

“There isn’t a whole lot of parking in town, and that one gets a lot of use,” she said. “I realize it’s private, but it really services the whole town. If it wasn’t free to park there, I would expect who­ ever charged to park there to pay for the paving.”

The cost of the project, which has more than doubled since the inception of a plan a decade ago due to material and added labor costs, will be covered by annual contributions the Electric Division makes to the town for capital improvements. The Public Works Department, which was once slated to perform the work, will be replaced by a private company that will be able to work on sections of the lot while businesses remain open. Ernest Frattini, treasurer of the Masonic Temple Corp., is one of three principal owners of the building that houses the Half Moon. He said the lot has been a municipal space since 1961 and the recent agreement is a continuation of that arrangement, which has so far benefitted the town.

“I believe it’s going to bring people in and give them a safe place to park,” he said. “I know the price went up, but my concern is our tenants. To shut the whole place down and repave it, they would be hurt. I think it will improve the town. If people see it, they might start redoing their own parking lots.”

Some who lived in Wallingford in the early 1960s remember the lot and its usefulness in accessing the shops along North Main Street.

Bart Bramby, 63, sat talking with a friend at a cafe table, lunching while visiting from Dallas, Texas to see his mother, Jean Bramby.
Bart Bramby said he left town for college in 1965 and returns often to visit family.

“My perception is that helping the businesses right here — this is a wonderful location — helps the town as a whole,” he said.

The deal was met with opposition a day after the council’s decision.

Two town councilors voted against it, and one who supported it, Jerry Farrell Jr., was accused by a local man, William Comerford, of a conflict of interest because his recently opened business is in one of the four buildings. Farrell said he has no relationship with John McGuire, the building’s owner.

“I’m there as a guest of the tenants, David and Jane Smith,” he said. “I don’t believe that my presence or absence has any effect on what gets paid to Mr. McGuire by the Smiths.”

Robert Gross, a local Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for the council, started a petition Wednesday to get the issue sent to referendum to overturn the council’s decision. The argument against the project is that the town should not use its money to improve private property.

Gross has until Sept. 8 to gather signatures from 10 percent of the town’s registered voters, which works out to 2,491. He said Friday that he and others who circulated the petition had collected more than 100 signatures per day since Wednesday, and would be collecting more Saturday morning at various locations throughout town.

“It’s a tough battle,” he said. “We have to get a lot of signatures really quickly.”

Monday, August 15, 2011

RECORD JOURNAL FORUMS - Aug. 11, 2011: Residents petition parking lot agreement

There is a thread over on the Forums pages of the Record Journal website titled Aug. 11, 2011: Residents petition parking lot agreement where there is some very sharp but engaged opinion and viewpoint on the current subject and I recommend people take a look at the thoughts that are being expressed there. (In case people are unfamiliar with my screen name I am GUNDERSTONE on the board.)

The news story itself can be found via Wallingford residents petition parking lot agreement

I have stated my thoughts on this; I still do not believe it is in the best interest for the town to leverage $500,000.00 in tax money to improve private property for the use of municipal parking.

We have had an agreement in place for years there that never involved a major investment like this and I believe we could come to a new agreement along similar terms – I don’t believe the deal needs to be sweetened.

If we are interested in using $500,000.00 in tax money to further augment and improve available municipal parking downtown we have the entire Wooding-Caplan lot that could use some serious maintenance and upkeep. Investing the money there, on our own property, would go a long way towards making sure there are more available spaces to use for patrons of the businesses there.

I am open to a better argument as to why using the money on the private parking area behind Simpson Court makes sense and has benefits down the road but I haven’t heard it.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Muscular Dystrophy Fundraiser - No more Jerry, but Jim Zandri is still raising funds for MDA

As Published in the Record Journal, Tuesday August 9, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff

rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — Jim Zandri said it was Jerry Lewis who inspired him to start his own muscular dystrophy fundraiser, which continues for its 15th year next month.

“His involvement inspired me to do what I did,” Zandri said.

Lewis, who has been the face of the Muscular Dystrophy Association for nearly 60 years. won’t be hosting this year’s national telethon for the first time since 1966, but Zandri said he doesn’t think the departure will hurt fundraising efforts.

“The cause is still there, this is still needed,” Zandri said.

Before last week, when Lewis’ departure was announced, the MDA had already prepared changes to this year’s telethon. The event, which used to last 21 hours, will shift to prime time, from 6 p.m. to midnight on the Sunday before Labor Day. Traditionally, the telethon began Sunday night and continued into Monday.

Steve Fredrickson, executive director of the MDA’s New Haven district, said the changes were adopted for a number of reasons.
“We wanted to bring it into prime time,” Fredrickson said. “It’s the 21st century; we’re trying to capitalize more on Internet donations.”

Fredrickson has been with the MDA since January. He said he joined because he believed in the organization’s mission.

“Sunday I had my first chance to go to an MDA summer camp, and really see our funds at work,” Fredrickson said.

Zandri said that Lewis’ departure didn’t change too much in the planning of the event, and that he’d expected Lewis, 85, to step down from the association in the next few years.

“At some point it had to continue on without him,” Zandri said.

In a statement, R. Rodney Howell, MDA chairman of the board, said, “Jerry Lewis is a world-class humanitarian and we’re forever grateful to him for his more than half century of generous service to MDA. We will not be replacing him as MDA national chairman, and he will not be appearing on the telethon.”

The MDA has become synonymous with Lewis, Zandri said, but it was important that the organization create its own identity. It’s been a slow transition, but Zandri said that he thinks people are aware of the MDA for reasons other than Lewis.

“There’s a need for a transition,” he said. “It’s a new generation. My kids don’t know who Jerry Lewis is.”

Zandri expects turnout for the event to be the same as in years past.

“Most people come regardless,” he said. “I don’t expect anybody to abandon the cause because Jerry Lewis is gone. People support the cause because they’re affected personally by it.”

Fredrickson said that the MDA is expecting viewership of the telethon to be up this year because of the primetime hours.

Zandri’s telethon party will be hosted at Zandri’s Stillwood Inn, 1074 S. Colony Road, from 5:30 p.m. to midnight on Sept. 4. For a $50 donation to the MDA, guests have access to a buffet, an open bar, dancing and a silent auction. Zandri said that in 14 years, the local event has raised more than $300,000.

“There’s no gimmick,” Zandri said. “It’s just a donation, and it’s a good time.”

Simpson Court parking deal and why it really isn’t a deal

Recently the Town Council approved an agreement with four private property owners giving the town the authority to make improvements worth $500,000 to the rear parking lots behind Simpson Court businesses. The agreement also requires the town to provide maintenance for 30 years at taxpayer cost.

There have been two articles in the Record Journal about it recently:

Some object to Simpson parking deal - Petition campaign seeks to force referendum

Nothing new about parking plan - Simpson scheme has been around more than decade

If we really wanted to do this we should have executed on it ten years ago when times were better and the project cost half as much. In true Wallingford fashion we waited and we’re trying to do it now when it costs much more.

In either situation I wouldn’t agree this is the best use for this money.

The Mayor is fond of saying when it comes to ball fields for Little League that if we build it for them, other sports teams would want facilities of their own too.

This has been one of his key points to the argument all these years which is one of the reasons why to this day there still is no single facility.

So if we spend tax dollars that benefit (even if it is a shared benefit) private property owners, wouldn’t we expect other private property owners to want the same benefits in the future?

I patronize many of the businesses in the Simpson Court area and this is nothing against them at all; I simply feel that it is a mistake to commit taxpayer dollars in this fashion.

We already consume tax dollars annually with the small degree of maintenance and support to the parking area already. This comes in the form of snow plowing in the winter and so on. This is in exchange for the use of the area for the businesses as well as “municipal parking.”

Obviously, people that patronize the businesses will use the rear parking – that would be expected. The agreement for the “municipal parking” use comes into play, as an example, when people park their cars there and go to the Twilight Tunes on the Parade Ground.

So in that effect the give and take is arguable, it’s been something we’ve been doing for a long time and as long as the overall and ongoing maintenance and support to the parking area stays manageable I don’t see any reason why the mutually beneficial agreement couldn’t continue.

I can’t support the use of funds to upgrade / improve their property however. At a bare minimum, after the improvements are made it could potentially make the respective properties more valuable. That’s great for the tax base I suppose but if the property owner, for example, sold the property and profiteered additionally as a direct result of tax dollars being used to upgrade and improve their parking area I don’t think I would be happy with that even knowing that the town still gets to use the area for parking out of the new owners. 

If $500,000.00 is available to address parking downtown then we should commit that to the Wooding-Caplan property. The town already owns that and it would be spending the dollars on the upgrading / upkeep of its own property rather than the private property of four business owners.

I support the petition that is being circulated which is calling for a public referendum on the item. If enough signatures are collected then it would go on the ballot for people to vote on. Additionally, it would be wise to put it on the general ballot in November as it would make it so there is no additional cost to the town anyway since there is a general election taking place.

At referendum, if the majority of the voters approve the measure to spend the money on the private property of four business owners, then the council would be realized to have made the correct vote on behalf of the citizens in the first place with respect to the project. Nothing will change and the effort can go forward – case closed.

If the citizens vote it down then they will have NOT agreed with the council’s vote and they will have had their say. The project will not occur and something else will have to be voted upon.

Democracy in action.

You’ve heard my thoughts on this - take some time to read through the articles in the newspaper and get the information for yourself.

Consider signing the petition which only sets up the referendum and allows it to happen.

Then, make your choice – yes or no – do we, as a town, want to spend $500,000 in this manner.

It’s your town – get informed and get involved.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

REMINDER - Masonicare offers summer concerts

As originally published in the Record Journal, Sunday July 24, 2011

WALLINGFORD — Masonicare’s free summer concert series will take place from 6:30PM to 8:15PM Thursdays on the grounds of the health care center, 22 Masonic Ave .

People are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets. In addition to free parking, the grounds will be available for picnics from 5 to 6:30 p.m. In the event of rain, or if it appears rain is imminent, concerts may be canceled. In those instances, those planning to attend may call (203) 679-5900 after 3 p.m.

The remainder of the concert schedule will be as follows:

Aug. 11, Airborne Jazz, sounds of jazz
Aug. 18, Broadway tunes
Aug. 25, season finale, The Troubadours, sounds of Sinatra.

Friday, August 5, 2011

Wallingford Gardeners Market – Saturdays through Sept. 17

The Wallingford Gardeners Market runs on Saturdays and will be open from 9AM to noon each through Sept. 17

What: Wallingford Gardeners Market.
When:
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon.
Where:
Railroad station green.
Who:
Farmers, artisans, merchants, music and more.

AGENDA - SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

TOWN OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT

SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Town Council Chambers

TUESDAY

AUGUST 9, 2011

6:30 P.M

AGENDA

Opening Prayer – Reverend Dean Warburton, First Congregational Church of Wallingford

1. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call

2. Correspondence

3. Consent Agenda

3a. Note for the Record – Mayoral Transfers FY 2010-2011

3b. Note for the record – Anniversary Increases FY 2010-2011

3c. Consider and Approve Tax Refunds (#20 - #75) totaling $10,085.99 Acct. # 001-1000-010-1170 - Tax Collector

3d. Consider and Approve Use of the Parade Grounds by the First Congregational Church for the Annual Catch the Spirit Sunday on Sunday, September 11, 2011 from approximately 9:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. – Chairman Robert F. Parisi

3e. Consider and Approve Rescheduling the November 2011 Town Council Meetings to November 15, 2011 and November 29, 2011 – Chairman Robert F. Parisi

3f. Consider and Approve an Appropriation in the Amount of $528 to Council on Substance Abuse to Expenditures Acct # 23240150-58830 and to Revenue Acct # 2324002-49000 FY 2011-2012 – Youth and Social Services

3g. Consider and Approve an Appropriation in the Amount of $210 to Youth and Social Services Special Fund Operation Fuel to Donations Acct # 2324002-47010 and to Expenditures Acct # 23240100-58830 FY 2011-2012 – Youth and Social Services

3h. Acceptance of Donation from Wallingford Foundation and Appropriation in the Amount of $1,500 to YSS Science and Technology After School Club (formerly Young Astronaut Club) to Donations Acct # 2264002-47010 and to Expenditures Acct # 22640150-58830 FY 2011-2012– Youth and Social Services

3i. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $350 FY 2010-2011 to Telephone Acct # 001-5015-201-2000 from Utilities Acct # 001-5015-201-2010 – Public Works

3j. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $5,579 FY 2010-2011 to Town Clerk-Wages $3,616 Acct # 001-6030-101-1000 and to PUC-Wages $1,963 Acct # 001-7045-101-1000 from Health Insurance Acct # 001-1602-800-8300 - Comptroller

3k. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $540 FY 2010-2011 to Regular Wages & Salaries Acct # 2030-101-1000 from Replacement Pay Acct # 2030-101-1500 - Fire Chief

3l. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $875 FY 2010-2011 to Professional Services-Ambulance Revenue Recovery Acct # 2030-901-9035 from Utilities Acct # 2030-201-2010 – Fire Chief

3m. Set a Public Hearing for September 13, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. to consider Repeal of existing Ordinance and enactment of revised Ordinance regarding Open Burning, Chapter 93 of the Code of the Town of Wallingford - Co-Chairmen Cervoni and Farrell, Ordinance Committee

3n. Set a Public Hearing for September 13, 2011 at 7:15 p.m. for Repeal of Ordinance #513 dated 2003 leaving in its place the new Private Sewage Disposal Systems Ordinance #566 adopted on September 28, 2010 – Town Attorney

3o. Consider and Approve a Budget Amendment in the Amount of $21,840 to Appropriation from Cash and to Outside Services Acct # 43100923 – Water Division

3p. Consider and Approve a Budget Amendment in the Amount of $18,540 to Appropriation from Cash and to Outside Services Acct # 43100923 – Sewer Division

3q. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $3,400 FY 2010-2011 to Taxes Acct # 408 from Interest on Customer Deposits Acct # 431 - Electric Division

3r. Consider and Approve a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a contract with the Connecticut State Library for a State Public Library Construction Grant - Grants Administrator

3s. Consider and Approve a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a FFY 2010 State Homeland Security Grant Program Region 2 Memorandum of Agreement regarding use of state funding and custodial ownership of regional assets in Region 2 – Fire Chief

3t. Consider and Approve an Appropriation in the Amount of $36,250 to School Roof Committee Acct # 100800350-58835 from Contingency-General Acct # 10019000- 58820 – Chairman, School Roof Committee

3u. Consider and Approve an Appropriation in the Amount of $36,250 School Roof Projects (New Fund) to Revenue-Trans in from G/F Acct-new line to be established and to Owner’s Rep (Expenditures) Acct-new line to be established – Chairman, School Roof Committee

3v. Approve minutes of Regular Town Council meeting of July 12, 2011

3w. Approve minutes of Special Town Council Meeting of July 19, 2011

4. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda

5. PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER

6. Report out from the Chairman of the Wallingford Housing Authority Board – Councilor Nick Economopoulos

7. Consider and Approve Request for Proposal-Defined Contribution Plan Service Provider for Town and Board of Education - Personnel

8. Consider and Approve Request for Proposal-Legal Services for Defined Contribution Plan Provider – Town Attorney

9. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $158,000 FY 2010-2011 to Self- Insurance-Workers’ Compensation Acct # 0011602-800-8310 from Property/Casualty Insurance-Gen. Gov’t $44,000 Acct # 001-1603-800-8250 and from Property/Casualty Insurance-Education $14,000 Acct # 001-1603-800-8260 and from Police Heart and Hypertension $100,000 Acct # 001-1602-800-8400 -Personnel

10. Discussion and Possible Action on Pension Cost of Living Adjustment of 1½% - Personnel

11. Consider and Approve an Appropriation of CRRA Funds in the Amount of $142,463 to Roof-Fire Headquarters (Expenditures) Acct # 200803505700010011 from CRRA Distribution –Revenue Acct # Fund 200 – Fire Chief

12. Consider and approve 30-year lease agreements with four property owners in Simpson Court authorizing the Town to construct rear parking lot improvements - Mayor

13. Consider and approve a temporary construction easement as shown on the attached map and approval of a Bid Waiver to allow Department of Engineering to engage contractor to undertake minor wall repairs to existing retaining wall between Holy Trinity School property and Simpson Court rear parking lot - Engineering

14. Report on the Wallingford Landfill and CRRA property contamination issues - Councilor Vincent Testa, Jr.

15. Discussion and possible action on adding language to the School Roof Committee's charge regarding energy conservation measures and incorporating solar energy technology - Councilor Vincent Testa, Jr.

16. Discussion and possible action to request that the Town petition the State D.E.E.C. to earmark all, or a portion, of the fund established from the recent Covanta $400,000.00 fine for energy conservation projects in Wallingford. - Councilor Vincent Testa, Jr.

17. Consider and Approve a $21 Million Refunding Bond Resolution with respect to the authorization issuance:

RESOLUTION WITH RESPECT TO THE AUTHORIZATION, ISSUANCE AND SALE OF NOT EXCEEDING $21 MILLION TOWN OF WALLINGFORD GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS, AUTHORIZATION COMBINING INTO ONE ISSUE AND MAKING DETERMINATIONS WITH THE REFUNDING BONDS ANY OTHER AUTHORIZED BUT UNISSUES BONDS OF THE TOWN, AUTHORIZING AGREEMENTS FOR THE INVESTMENT OF REFUNDING ESCROW AND ITS REINVESTMENT OVER ITS TERM, AND REPEALING ALL PRIOR REFUNDING BOND AUTHORIZATIONS

-Comptroller

18. Consider and Approve a Bid Waiver to negotiate directly with the leading underwriting firms - Comptroller

19. Executive Session pursuant to Sections 1-200(2) and 1-225(f) of the Connecticut General Statutes with regard to strategy and negotiation with respect to Collective Bargaining – Board of Education

20. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(D) of the Connecticut General Statutes with respect to the purchase, sale and/or leasing of property – Mayor

21. Executive Session pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §1-225(f) and §1-200 (6)(B) to discuss the following cases:

DiNatale Realty LLC v. Town of Wallingford

Ives Road LLC v. Town of Wallingford

22. Possible Action on DiNatale Realty LLC v. Town of Wallingford; Possible Action on Ives Road LLC v. Town of Wallingford

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Secretary Merrill, AG Jepsen Announce $1.3 Million in Penalties Against Businesses Operating without Legal Authority in CT



HARTFORD: Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill and Attorney General George Jepsen today announced that during Fiscal Year 2011, a joint effort by their offices resulted in the collection of more than $1.3 million in fines from out-of-state companies operating in Connecticut without legal authority to transact business. The penalties collected during FY 2011 were paid by nearly 330 out-of-state firms, and represents the highest such figure since 2007, when more than $1.7 Million in fines were collected.

“It is hard enough for Connecticut businesses to make a profit in this economic climate, without unfair competition from out-of-state companies who fail to register with the state,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s Chief Business Registrar. “We have heard from Connecticut companies who are being undercut by outside firms who escape accountability by not obtaining a certificate of authority from our office to do business here. This needs to stop. We hope these fines send a deterrent message, as well as improve accountability for Connecticut consumers. Connecticut businesses should also know that we will do whatever we can to ensure fair competition in the marketplace. ”

Attorney General George Jepsen agreed, “As Attorney General, it is my responsibility to ensure a level playing-field for all businesses. Each year, many out-of-state businesses choose to violate the law in order to gain unfair advantages. Today, we are sending a message to those businesses. Connecticut is open for businesses that operate honestly and in good faith. We will continue to vigorously enforce the law in order to crack down on unfair competition in the marketplace.”

Under state law, business corporations, nonstock corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, and statutory trusts formed outside of Connecticut must obtain a certificate of authority to transact business in Connecticut by registering with the Secretary of the State’s Office and paying the statutorily established fee. More than 50,000 of these foreign entities have properly filed with the Secretary of the State’s Office.

The requirement to obtain authority to do business exists to protect domestic organizations from unfair competition and place domestic and foreign organizations on an equal footing. The law also protects consumers with a grievance against an out-of state firm by requiring businesses to appoint an agent for service of process in Connecticut to accept legal papers if court action is taken. Companies that violate the law face a fine of $300 for every month the company is transacting business in Connecticut without legal authority. In addition, some companies are required to pay the annual license fee required by statute for years they should have been registered with the Secretary of the State’s office.

The joint, multi-year enforcement effort between the offices of the Attorney General and Secretary of the State in Connecticut has aggressively pursued thousands of delinquent out-of-state businesses, bringing legal action when necessary. During FY 2011 this joint effort recovered $1,313,104.13 in fines from 328 out-of-state companies for violating the statutory requirement to register with the state. As a part of a legal settlement with the Attorney General’s office, each of the companies that paid a penalty and continues to transact business in Connecticut is now in full compliance with the law. Fines and penalties collected from each business in FY 2011 range from $40.00 to more nearly $27,000.

The five largest settlements came from:
1. DAN Services, Inc. $26,955.00 NC
2. The Providence Journal Company $22,192.50 RI
3. Global Med Technologies, Inc. $20,910.00 CO
4. Harris Environmental Systems, Inc. $20,842.50 MA
5. Superior Technical Resources, Inc. $20,685.00 NY

Secretary Merrill added, “Through this enforcement action the Attorney General and I are sending a clear message to any company thinking of making a quick buck and operating illegally in Connecticut: we will fine you and we will publicize the name of your business if you try to skirt the law. We have zero tolerance for business practices that take advantage of Connecticut consumers and or businesses who do play by the rules.”

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President Paulette Scarpetti, said, “I don’t know why any company would choose not to register with the Secretary of the State’s Office. There is no reason why any company or individual should be doing business illegally in the State of Connecticut.”

Assistant Attorney General Thomas Crean represented the Attorney General in these matters, working with Staff Attorney William Silk from the Secretary of the State’s Office.

REMINDER - Masonicare offers summer concerts

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday July 24, 2011

WALLINGFORD — Masonicare’s free summer concert series will take place from 6:30PM to 8:15PM Thursdays on the grounds of the health care center, 22 Masonic Ave .

People are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets. In addition to free parking, the grounds will be available for picnics from 5 to 6:30 p.m. In the event of rain, or if it appears rain is imminent, concerts may be canceled. In those instances, those planning to attend may call (203) 679-5900 after 3 p.m.

The concert schedule will be as follows:

Aug. 4, Eight to the Bar, jazz band
Aug. 11, Airborne Jazz, sounds of jazz
Aug. 18, Broadway tunes
Aug. 25, season finale, The Troubadours, sounds of Sinatra.

REMINDER - Informational meeting regarding the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail project is TONIGHT

As originally published in the Record Journal Friday July 22, 2011

WALLINGFORD — The office of Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. will sponsor a public information meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 4 in the Town Council chambers at the Town Hall, 45 S. Main St.

Representatives from the Connecticut Department of Transportation and their consultant team will provide an update on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail project and its impact on Wallingford and possible station locations, including the property on South Cherry Street next to Judd Square Condominiums.

After the presentation, a question-and-answer session will be open to all attendees.

For information, call the mayor’s office at (203) 294-2070 or the engineering department at (203) 294-2035.

REMINDER - Information meeting set Aug. 4th regarding the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail project

As published in the Record Journal Friday July 22, 2011

WALLINGFORD — The office of Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. will sponsor a public information meeting at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 4 in the Town Council chambers at the Town Hall, 45 S. Main St.

Representatives from the Connecticut Department of Transportation and their consultant team will provide an update on the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail project and its impact on Wallingford and possible station locations, including the property on South Cherry Street next to Judd Square Condominiums.

After the presentation, a question-and-answer session will be open to all attendees.

For information, call the mayor’s office at (203) 294-2070 or the engineering department at (203) 294-2035.