Volume 21, Number 45
Thursday, December 28, 2017
www.berlincitizen.com Berlin schools Superintendent David Erwin, right, and Assistant Superintendent Brian Benigni talk about Benigni taking over next month, after Erwin retires. Ashley Kus, The Citizen
Hello and goodbye at Berlin schools By Ashley Kus The Citizen
After eight years as superintendent of schools, David Erwin is retiring and passing the torch to Assistant Superintendent Brian Benigni.
“I have great fondness for this community,” Benigni said. “I think we’ve made progress, but there’s still room to grow.” A resident of East Hampton with his wife and three children, Benigni, 48, has been an educator in
Berlin for the last 25 years. He grew up in Meriden the oldest of three brothers. Mark Benigni is superintendent of schools in Meriden. John Benigni is CEO of the Meriden, New Britain and
YEAR IN REVIEW
2017 brings big changes to the town By Ashley Kus The Citizen
The town saw many changes throughout the year, from several staffing changes and a church merger to the high school ribbon cutting and a new fair date. Here are the biggest stories The Citizen reported on in 2017.
January The Town Council agreed to a separation agreement with Town Manager Denise McNair, who had been in the position since 2008. McNair signed the six-page agreement in a closed-door executive session. The council voted 4-
See Superintendent, A4
See Year in review, A2
Questions remain on anniversary of train station fire A year later, the cause of the fire is “undetermined.” The site is now set to be paved over in time for the start of expanded service at the new station 20 feet away.
Last December, just a few days before Christmas, the town’s19th century train station on Depot Road was “They’re not willing to commit to destroyed by an early morning fire. The brick building was deemed a to- the same location,” Acting Town Manager Jack Healy said. “They tal loss and was later demolished.
don’t want anything there.” The brick station was owned by Amtrak and leased by the state Department of Transportation. Since the fire, the town has been discussing the future of the site with DOT and attempting to get answers. The Historical Society circulated an
THE FUTURE OF CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOL IS HERE!
online petition to rebuild the station while the town held Transit Oriented Development meetings and discussed ideas for the site. DOT assistant rail administrator John Bernick attended one of the meetings in January and spoke See Fire, A5
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By Ashley Kus The Citizen