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Bee Intelligencer Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown A FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Volume VIII, No. 2
Friday, January 13, 2012
MRTC and MDTC elect members MRTC
MDTC
By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
By CRISTINA COMMENDATORE
The Middlebury Republican Town Committee (MRTC) membership didn’t change much as a result of Tuesday night’s caucus. Four current members – Chairman Rita Smith, Nancy Robison, Jonathan Longo and Robert Bona – chose not to run for another term. The remaining 17 members who ran for re-election retained their seats. They were joined by four new members: Ken Heidkamp, Ned Love, George Moreira and Guy Tiso. Smith, who had served for the past two years, said her family asked her not to run for another term. “I need to put my family first,” Smith said. She nominated a slate that included the current members along with current alternate Mike McDonald and Joe Mancini. Attorney Bob Smith nominated George Moreira, Paul Bialobrzeski, and Bill Bellotti. Moreira, husband of attorney Dana D’Angelo, won a seat. MRTC member and recent first selectman candidate George Tzepos nominated Candice Graziano, Vullnet Zhuta, Terrence Manning, Joseph Bernardi, John Gagas and Chip Kuehnle. None of the Tzepos nominees won a seat. Selectman Elaine Strobel, who herself was up for re-election to the MRTC, nominated Guy Tiso, and he was elected. Ken Heidkamp nominated Ned Love, and Love returned the favor by nominating Heidkamp. Both won seats on the MRTC. Heidkamp has served on the MRTC in the past; Love is on for the first time and said of serving on the committee, “It’s a great town, and we need people to get involved. It’s about time I did.” Under rules explained at the start of the caucus, none of the nominees were allowed to speak before votes were cast. About 100 people attended the caucus, and 84 cast ballots, with each voter choosing up to 21 of the 32 candidates on the ballot. It took until 9:30 p.m. for the ballots to be hand tabulated by four tellers. Re-elected members are Rito Albini, Paul Babarik, Paul Bowler, Tony Bruno, John Calabrese, Frank Cipriano, John Cookson, Jim Crocicchia, Tom King, Ted Mannello, Terrence McAuliffe, Brian Shaban, Robert Smith, Terry Smith, Geoff Stowell, Elaine Strobel, and George Tzepos. Officers for the past two years have been Chairman Rita Smith, Vice-Chairman Paul Babarik, Secretary Terrence McAuliffe, and Treasurer Tom King. Alternates for the past two years have been Rich Nicol, Janice Kulpa, John Kotchian, and Michael McDonald. Both alternates and officers for the next two years will be chosen at the MRTC March meeting when those elected Tuesday night take office.
The Middlebury Democratic Town Committee (MDTC) elected three new members – Linda Herman, Ben Minichino and Richard Burton – Jan. 10. They will assume their new positions at the end of March. Twenty-three MDTC members sought re-election to the committee. Of them, only Michael Devino was not re-elected. Members Gordon Frohn and Ed Bailey did not seek re-election. Francis Barton Jr. nominated the current MDTC members, less Frohn and Bailey. Thomas McCormack seconded. Then Chairman Curtis Bosco read the names of people who expressed interest in joining the MDTC – Patrick Bona; Michael McCormack, who told Bosco during the meeting he would rather be considered for an alternate position when the time comes; Herman; Minichino; and Burton. Bona was not at the meeting, but Herman, Minichino and Burton were and briefly introduced themselves to the MDTC before they were added to the ballot. Herman, who was up first, said she had been a Middlebury resident the past seven years and prior to that lived in Southbury. A lifelong Democrat, she said, “I would like to get involved in whatever is going on in Middlebury, especially for the Democrats.” Minichino introduced himself as a new resident who moved here from New Haven a couple years ago. “I would really like to get involved in all the issues that face the town,” he said. “I want to take a recognition of what’s going on here in town, and I hope you’ll feel the same way.” Burton, like the other two, introduced himself and said he wanted to join the MDTC to give back to the town. All three plus Bona were added to the ballot. Then the MDTC members in attendance voted. After voting, Anastasia Persico, Brenda Carter and Patricia Fahey tallied the votes. MDTC members who will serve for the next two years are: Ralph Barra, Barton, Punyada Bhaduri, Bosco, Sharon Bosco, Burton, Carter, Michael Culhane, Armand D’Agostino, Robert Desmarais Sr., Fahey, Bryan Ferrucci, Stephen Ferrucci III, Dan Fitzgerald Jr., Alice Hallaran, Herman, Thomas McCormack, Michael McVerry, Noa Miller, Minichino, Persico, Mark Petrucci, Raymond Petrucci, Thomas Proulx and Stephen Ruccio. When new members come on at the end of March, the MDTC might modify a rule that says a maximum of 25 are allowed to serve on the committee so they can allow alternates.
John Cookson and Middlebury Social Services Director JoAnn Cappelletti, left, accept a $1,000 donation from Paul Babarik, right, while standing in front of the old electric stove in the kitchen at Shepardson Community Center. The Knights of Columbus Council 3992 donated the money towards the purchase of a new gas stove to replace the old electric one. See article on page 5. (Marjorie Needham photo)
P&Z prepares to furlough zoning enforcement officer By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) at its Jan. 5 meeting prepared to furlough the zoning enforcement officer, approved a building at the corner of Clearview Knoll and Rte. 64, modified phasing and filing requirements for Ridgewood, accepted a permit application for beer and wine at a proposed Middlebury Station pizza restaurant, voted to require a café site plan for Whittemore Crossing and discussed a subdivision on Route 64 across from Bristol Road. Calling it a furlough rather than a layoff, P&Z Chairman Curtis Bosco told Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) Jean Donegan only about 20 hours remained in her salary account until June 30. Donegan’s hours per month were reduced to 40 from 80 Dec. 1 to help stretch the account cut in half by the Board of Finance (BoF) in its 2011-2012 budget. In an open review of her billing originally scheduled as an executive session, Donegan was criticized for itemizing 55 hours in December instead of the maximum of 40. She explained 10 of the hours were for Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) work and the remaining 45 necessary for ZEO duties. Commissioners then spent more than an hour discussing the legal interaction between volunteer boards such as P&Z, the ZBA and the BoF, and paid town employees. Bosco said he appeared before the BoF with the help of Chief Financial Officer Larry Hutvagner but was denied additional ZEO funds. Commissioner Terry Smith said commission chairmen were not department heads, and paid town employees must get the money to support what the voluntary commissions do. Commissioner William Stowell said the budget reduction had led to a crisis sit-
uation for the Board of Selectmen (BoS) to resolve. A resolution authorizing Bosco to present the financial situation at the Jan. 17 BoS meeting was approved unanimously. A site plan, excavation and grading permit for Robert LaFlamme d/b/a Pomeroy Enterprises LLC for a two-story 4,800-square-foot office building at 472 Middlebury Road on the north corner of Clearview Knoll was unanimously approved with the stipulation excavated material be offered to the town and trucks hauling the material not stack up and wait on Rte. 64 or Clearview Knoll. Bosco said he was sympathetic to public hearing comments by Clearview Knoll residents about being misled, but added the public hearing was not required and was only held to give residents an opportunity to speak. He said approved setback variances were considered in granting the decision and stated the grade of Clearview Knoll was not inappropriate for a driveway. A 180-day extension to file Mylar maps for Ridgewood at Middlebury was unanimously approved. Christopher J. Smith, land use attorney for Shipman & Goodwin, said litigation by current residents could cause changes to the approved plans and confusion if maps were filed before the issues were resolved. Smith initially asked for 90 days but was granted 180 upon advice of Town Attorney Robert Smith. A modification to the phasing plan for Ridgewood development also was unanimously approved. Christopher Smith said breaking of Phase 2 and 3 into 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b would allow work to proceed more slowly and allow for a lower bonding amount as the phases progressed. A special exception public hearing for a beer and wine permit at Middlebury Station was scheduled for Feb. 2. Devel-
oper Mark Gyolai said he was planning a 45-seat wood-fired pizza restaurant to the right of Dunkin’ Donuts at the 489 Middlebury Road shopping plaza. Gyolai told the Bee-Intelligencer his family-run restaurant would be called “8 Fifty Artisan Pizza” in reference to the temperature of the wood-fired oven he is importing from Italy that cooks an artisan-style pizza in about two minutes. He is hopeful the necessary business approvals will allow him to open this spring. In enforcement action, commissioners unanimously voted to instruct Whittemore Crossing owner Dean Yimoyines to submit a site plan showing the café currently operating in the building. A health department permit was issued by former health department official Dr. Maurice Falk, but the site plan was never updated to reflect increased café parking requirements. In other matters, a meeting to continue work on the Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) was set for Thursday, Jan. 12. State statutes require it be revised every 10 years, but recent legislation allows a slip to 2013. Bosco said last June the commission would get it done by year end 2011 because funds had been appropriated and partially spent, but work slowed, and planned public input sessions did not occur. A discussion with Toula Kaloidis on subdividing property at 2065 Middlebury Road led to the suggestion he find a way to allow individual driveway access even though he plans a common driveway. Kaloidis told commissioners the property was owned by his mother, who wanted to subdivide land for him to build a house. Terry Smith said it was P&Z practice that plans show an individual driveway if possible in case the land is eventually sold. The next regular P&Z meeting is Thursday, Feb. 2.
Adoptable pets.................8 Book Review.....................3 Career Coach....................3 Classifieds.........................7 Community Calendar.........2 Computer Tip....................8 Fire Log.............................2 Legal Notices....................7
Library Happenings............2 Library Lines......................2 Obituaries.........................5 Opinion.............................4 Parks & Rec.......................6 Puzzles.............................7 Reg. 15 School Calendar...3 Senior Center News...........3
Editorial Office: Email: mbisubmit@gmail.com Phone: 203-577-6800 Mail: P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762 Advertising Sales: Email: mbiadvertising@gmail.com
Upcoming Events
Inside this Issue
saturday Jan. 14
monday Jan. 16
Middlebury Congregational Church Junior and Senior Youth Groups’ Pasta Supper When: What: Where: Cost:
5 to 8 p.m. Salad, pasta with sauce, meatballs, bread and butter, and dessert Middlebury Congregational Church Social Hall $10 adults, $8 children ages 5 to 12 and seniors, free for children younger than 5
Martin Luther King Day All town offices, library, senior center and transfer station are closed
Wald exhibition opens at Fairfield University
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Mail: P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762 Published weekly by The Middlebury Bee Intelligencer Society, LLC - 2030 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT 06762 - Copyright 2012