Thursday, May 24, 2018
www.berlincitizen.com
Southington man gets GOP nod
New town manager can reside elsewhere
By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
With a call for decreased spending and lower taxes, a Southington Republican is running against Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz. “If I get into Hartford, I will not vote for any tax increases. I will not vote for any of these wild spending items. We need to get this under control and I think we need new leadership to do that,” said Steve Baleshiski, a 21-yearold political science student at Tunxis Community College, after being nominated to run in the 30th district, which includes parts of Berlin and Southington. When he finished speaking, representatives of the Berlin and Southington Republican parties gathered at Central Pizza to discuss the nomination. "Steven came to us with a passion for
By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Town Manager Jack Healy will be allowed to keep his Litchfield residency under an employment agreement approved by the Town Council. Steve Baleshiski accepted the nomination for the Republican ticket for the 30th district. Devin Leith-Yessian, The Citizen
state politics and national politics,” said Brian Callahan, chairman of Baleshiski’s campaign and the Southington Republican Town Committee.
“Steven was well versed in all the issues that are facing our state ...” See GOP, A6
Reduced budget sent for a vote By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
The Town Council voted along party lines to make further cuts to the general government and Board of Education budgets, which went to referendum Tuesday. Visit The Citizen online for more. The council, during a May 15 meet-
ing, reduced the town budget to $44.4 million, a $221,000 decrease, and the education spending plan to $43.6 million, a $250,000 reduction.
gle room,” said Mayor Mark Kaczynski. He estimated that the mill rate would increase by slightly under one mill after the revisions.
The figure still leaves the school system with an increase of approximately $600,000 over last year’s appropriation.
The largest cut was $125,000 slated for the replacement of phone systems in the elementary schools and at McGee Middle School. Board of Edu-
“I don’t think there’s much more wig-
See Vote, A7
THE FuTuRE oF CHILDCARE AND PRESCHooL IS HERE!
“We followed the charter, but we also allowed Mr. Healy some discretion,” Mayor Mark Kaczynski said at a council meeting Tuesday night, May 15. “Where he goes to sleep at night, I’m not so sure that has any bearing on the great job he’s done.” While the contract does specify that Healy must become a resident of the town within 12 months, it defines being a resident as “having a bodily presence in Berlin (in a place where Employee is physically located) for the term of this Agreement and where the usual conditions of household life exist.” “It is understood that residence does not mean ‘domiSee Manager, A3
Serving families since 1986
She thinks she made a flower— you think she’s destined for a career in engineering. 9 High Road, Berlin, CT 06037 l 860-580-5353 l www.EducationalPlaycare.com
79668-15
Volume 22, Number 14