“If you don’t like something, change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.” ~ Mary Engelbreit
Prst. Std. U.S. Postage Paid Naugatuck, CT #27
FR EE
Bee Intelligencer Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown A FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Volume IX, No. 24
Middlebury man sentenced to federal prison Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Deirdre M. Daly and Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kimberly K. Mertz announced June 12 that David Moffa, 53, of Middlebury was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 24 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release for participating in a scheme to direct illegal contributions into the campaign of a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. Moffa, who is a former president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, also was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2011, the state of Connecticut applied for a court order enjoining Roll Your Own (RYO) smoke shops from continuing to operate without complying with state law governing tobacco manufacturers. RYO smoke shops are retail businesses that sell loose smoking tobacco and cigarette-rolling materials and offer customers the option of paying a “rental” fee to insert the loose tobacco and the rolling materials into a RYO machine, which is capable of rapidly rolling large quantities of cigarettes. Customers did not pay a tax on the RYO cigarettes when rolled by the RYO machines, in contrast to cigarettes purchased over the counter. Paul Rogers and George Tirado co-owned Smoke House Tobacco, a RYO smoke shop with two locations in Waterbury. Fearing the Connecticut General Assembly would enact legislation harmful to RYO smoke shop owners’ business interests during the 2012 legislative session, Rogers, Tirado, Moffa, Harry Raymond “Ray” Soucy, Benjamin Hogan and others engaged in a scheme to direct conduit contributions into the campaign of Christopher Donovan, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. At the time, Donovan was the speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives. As part of the scheme, the co-conspirators recruited multiple individuals to serve as conduit contributors to the campaign. These individuals permitted checks to be written in their own names to the campaign, and certain conspirators reimbursed them with cash, thereby concealing the fact that RYO smoke shop owners were contributing to the campaign. The investigation revealed that, on Nov. 2, 2011, Moffa, Rogers, and another RYO smoke shop owner met at Smoke House Tobacco in Waterbury, and Moffa advised the other attendees that Soucy could help the RYO smoke shop owners prevent the enactment of harmful legislation. Moffa then called Soucy and, shortly thereafter, Soucy arrived at Smoke House Tobacco and joined the meeting. Soucy stated that he was a “friend” of Donovan’s and could assist in arranging a meeting between RYO smoke shop owners and Donovan.
On Nov. 30, 2011, Moffa met with Soucy, Rogers, and another RYO owner at Smoke House Tobacco. During the meeting, Moffa discussed with the RYO smoke shop owners that they should make a $5,000 contribution to the Donovan for Congress campaign at a fundraising event to be held Dec. 8, 2011. Moffa volunteered to serve as a conduit contributor in order to conceal the fact the RYO smoke shop owners were actually financing the contributions. On that date, Moffa told the RYO smoke shop owners, “You give me the money; I’ll give you a check.” At a meeting at Smoke House Tobacco Dec. 8, 2011, Rogers and another RYO smoke shop owner provided Moffa with $2,500 in U.S. currency. Moffa then wrote a check for $2,500 in his wife’s name to Donovan for Congress and provided Soucy with his wife’s biographical information so Soucy could fill in a contribution envelope provided by the campaign. Soucy, Rogers, and the other shop owner then went to the fundraising event, where they delivered two $2,500 contributions, including the contribution in Moffa’s wife’s name to the campaign. Following the event, Moffa met the group for dinner. On approximately Jan. 31, 2012, the Donovan for Congress campaign submitted to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) a report of the campaign’s receipts and disbursements for the period Oct. 1, 2011, through Dec. 31, 2011. The report falsely reported it had received a $2,500 contribution from Moffa’s wife when, in fact, neither Moffa nor his wife had made a contribution to the campaign. On June 1, 2012, FBI special agents investigating this matter interviewed Moffa. During the interview, Moffa falsely stated he did not receive any cash in exchange for writing the check to the Donovan for Congress campaign. On Nov. 2, 2012, Moffa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to make false statements to the FEC and to impede the FEC’s enforcement of federal campaign finance laws. Soucy, Rogers, Tirado, Hogan, Waterbury business owner Daniel Monteiro, and Donovan for Congress campaign manager Joshua Nassi also pleaded guilty to charges related to this scheme and await sentencing. In addition, on May 21, 2013, a jury found Robert Braddock Jr., the campaign’s finance director, guilty of one count of conspiring to make false statements to the FEC and to impede the function of the FEC, one count of accepting more than $10,000 in federal campaign contributions made by persons in the names of others, and one count of causing a false report to be filed with the FEC. He also awaits sentencing. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher M. Mattei and Eric J. Glover.
Friday, June 21, 2013
Library taking shape By MARJORIE NEEDHAM Rain was pouring down last week as we toured the Middlebury Public Library with Library Director Jo-Ann LoRusso, Library Board of Trustees Chairman Joan King and Board member Michele Finn. Standing under the new covered entry area, we chatted without getting wet. Finn said of the ongoing renovations at the library, “It’s going to be so nice. It’s a jewel in the crown of this community, a place for people to flock to.” Brick pavers inscribed with donors’ names will be placed on either side of the walkway where we stood and then in other areas around the library. Forms for the pavers are at the library’s temporary location at 199 Park Road Extension and at Town Hall and also can be downloaded at middleburypubliclibrary.org. Pavers come as a standard 4-by-8-inch brick for $100 and a larger 8-by-8-inch brick for $175. Small pavers hold three lines of text; large pavers hold six lines of text. Text can honor people, pets or special occasions like an anniversary or a birthday. Inside the library a few things will be the same – the front desk and the children’s department
desk have been left in place and carefully protected during renovations – but many new features will greet library patrons. One is a room with a fireplace! As seen in the upper picture here, the fireplace is shaping up nicely on one wall of the Irene Walker Reading Room, a room made possible by a bequest from Walker. Periodicals will reside in this room. Comfortable chairs will offer what LoRusso described as “intimate seating,” and 42-inch high stacks will define “cozy nooks.” Just past that room are three of the five small rooms with WiFi access where patrons can study or hold a small meeting. Glass
– See Library on page 7
P&Z fires ZEO, hires former chairman By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) at its June 6 meeting unanimously approved tenant fit-ups at 590 Middlebury Road, 338 to 344 Middlebury Road and 900 Straits Turnpike. It also accepted an application to downsize the site plan for Pilot Seasonings and change the zone for property at 659 Middlebury Road. The Plan of Conservation and Development was accepted and scheduled for public hearing Sept. 5, and, after a brief executive session, the commission voted to fire Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) Jean Donegan, accepted the resignation of Chairman Curtis Bosco, and then hired him as the new ZEO. Commissioners present at the June 6 meeting were Matt Robison, William Stowell, Terry Smith and Chairman Curt Bosco. Commissioner Erika Carrington was absent, as were alternates Ronald Kulpa and Paul Babarik. Tenant fit-ups is a term used by P&Z to describe changes in the use of a property
that don’t require a site-plan modification. Certificates of zoning compliance for such changes formerly were approved administratively by the ZEO, but in May 2012 the commission decided to require them to come before the board for review. Three changes in use were unanimously approved and issued certificates of zoning compliance: a change in tenants for Joseph Dinova for medical offices at 590 Middlebury Road Suite A, an expansion for the Defining Moments salon at 338 to 344 Middlebury Road into the adjoining space, and a change in tenants at The Crossroads at 900 Straits Turnpike. Mary Volpe’s application to downsize Pilot Seasoning Company’s plans for a pre-engineered building at 68 North Benson Road to 15,360 square feet including future expansion from the 22,000 square feet previously approved was accepted for public hearing as a site-plan modification. Land Surveyor Curt Smith of Smith & Company told commissioners the 15 parking spaces in front of the building would not be built, leaving that area undisturbed. Architect
June is dog license month June is the month to license your dog. Licenses are $8 for dogs that have been neutered or spayed and $19 for those that have not. Licenses purchased after June 30 are subject to a $1 per month late fee. Dogs six months and older must be licensed per state law. Proof of up-to-date rabies shots must be shown, as well as a certificate of neutering or spaying if your dog has not been registered before.
Registering dogs also can be done by mail. Middlebury residents who wish to register by mail can mail a check and the paperwork to Town Clerk, 1212 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762. The Middlebury Town Clerk’s office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call 203-758-2557 with any questions.
Kevin Bennett of Bennett Sullivan Associates showed a view of the building from Benson Road to illustrate how natural vegetation would shield most of it from sight, answering a concern from nearby residents. Smith was instructed to notify adjoining property owners of the changes. An application by Joseph P. Yamin d/b/a 659 Middlebury Road, LLC, to change the zone of property across the street from Ledgewood Park to CA-40 from PO-40 was unanimously accepted for public hearing July 3. Attorney Pasquale Salvatore told commissioners market improvements encouraged Yamin to develop the property, which was approved for a two-story 8,800-square-foot professional office building in January 2008. The final draft Plan of Conservation and Development (POCD) was unanimously approved for referral to the Board of Selectmen, and a public hearing was set for Thursday, Sept. 5. Chairman Bosco said state statutes called for a 65-day review in which
– See P&Z on page 2
Bee Intelligencer July Schedule
Publication Dates July 5 & July 19
Deadlines
Ads are due in by Friday, June 28, for the July 5 issue and by Friday, July 12, for the July 19 issue. Editorial content is due in by Monday, July 1, for the July 5 issue and by Monday, July 15, for the July 19 issue.
Adoptable Pets................ 8 Classifieds....................... 7 Community Calendar....... 2 Fire Log........................... 2 In Brief............................ 4 Legal Notice.................... 7
Library Happenings.......... 2 Nuggets for Life.............. 6 Obituaries....................... 5 Puzzles........................... 7 Senior Center News......... 3 Sports Quiz..................... 6
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
tuesday
June 25
thursday July 4
Lake Quassapaug Association Annual Meeting, Speaker on Invasive Weeds When: What: Where:
6:30 p.m. First annual meeting of new organization; Environmental Scientist Greg Bugbee to speak. (See more in “In Brief” on page 4.) Shepardson Community Center, Lower Level, Room 5
3-D Fireworks Display at Quassy Amusement Park When: Park opens at 11 a.m., fireworks display will be at 10:15 p.m. What: Parking on July 4 will cost $7. 3-D viewing glasses will cost $1 each. Where: Quassy Amusement Park on Route 64 in Middlebury
Quassy offers 3-D Fireworks July 4
Page 4
Send mail to
P.O. Box 10, Middlebury CT 06762
203-577-6800
Visit us at 2030 Straits Turnpike, Suite 1 Published weekly by The Middlebury Bee Intelligencer Society, LLC - 2030 Straits Turnpike, Middlebury, CT 06762 - Copyright 2013