“Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.” ~ William James
Prst. Std. U.S. Postage Paid Naugatuck, CT #27
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Bee Intelligencer Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown A FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Volume VIII, No. 37
Selectmen discuss police radio issues and more By KATHLEEN RIEDEL The Middlebury Board of Selectmen (BoS), meeting Tuesday night due to the Monday Labor Day holiday, considered appointments and resignations, resident Polly Wilson’s letter concerning her paper street, Winchester Electronics’ application for the town’s first business tax incentive, proposed revisions to the Town of Middlebury Charter and changes to the Middlebury Police Department radio system. The subject most likely of interest to readers – problems with the Middlebury police radio system – was not discussed until public comments, the last item on the agenda. Reporters asked the BoS about the status of changes being made to the Middlebury Police Department radio system to correct problems with faulty transmissions in some parts of town. A memo about the police radio problems Officer Edward C. Demers sent to Police Chief Richard Guisti on behalf of the rank and file of the Middlebury Police Department May 25, 2012, was included in Tuesday night’s handouts. The memo said copies went to the police commissioners and First Selectman Edward B. St. John, but St. John said he did not receive a copy until July 25, 2012. St. John said he took action as soon as he became aware of the problems. The memo said the safety of officers and residents was at risk because information from dispatchers was being distorted and garbled by the new high-band radios. It said sometimes there is no communication because the portable radios don’t function properly. Officers then have to use their cell phones to communicate. That means they can be unable to communicate at all if they also are in a cell phone dead zone. On Aug. 29, at the second of two meetings St. John called, the BoS, Motorola (Northeast Communications), and police, fire and public works department
representatives determined the Breakneck Hill Road transmit-and-receive site was not working properly due to interference from foliage. St. John said that site has been taken offline and relocated to the police station. He said transmit-receive equipment will be moved to the tower at town hall, but the town is waiting for a proposal from Motorola before proceeding. He said the fire department and public works already use the tower at town hall for radio transmissions. The impact of the move to town hall will be assessed, and then the goal will be to have simulcast capabilities from three or four sites in town, St. John said. Multiple simulcast sites will ensure there are no dead zones in town. St. John said, “Whatever we do to correct this problem, we will spend nowhere near the amount of money that was originally proposed for the project.” He said the project is made easier and less expensive because it mostly entails relocating existing equipment rather than purchasing new equipment. St. John said he hoped the project would be completed before winter. Earlier in the meeting, Richard H. Nicol’s (R) resignation from the Greater Waterbury Cable Council was approved, but his appointment as a Northwest Connecticut Public Safety Communications representative to replace Brett Kales was tabled because two Republicans are seeking the one position. The appointment will be referred back to the Middlebury Republican Town Committee for resolution. Added to the agenda were the appointments of Terrence S. McAuliffe (R) to the Greater Waterbury Cable Council, Joseph Mansini (R) to the Beautification Commission and Paul Dente (R) to the Water Commission. All were approved. The Board also approved James G. Crocicchia’s reappoint-
Friday, September 7, 2012
First Day of School
Region 15 bus driver Sherry greets, left to right, Cooper, Kira and Sophia as they get ready to board the bus for their first day of school. Summer vacation may have ended, but the trio seems happy to be headed back to the classroom. (Frank Gilroy photo)
ment to the Conservation Commission for the term of July 1, 2012, through July 1, 2017. Resident Polly Wilson sent a letter to the BoS asking that ownership of her paper street be turned over to her. A paper street is a street that appears on maps but does not exist in reality. Wilson said she had maintained the street, which goes nowhere but to her home, since 1969. She said the town currently gets no taxes from the land and would benefit by getting taxes for the land if she owned it. St. John said of Wilson’s request, “It takes a substantial amount of time to do these things.” He suggested her request be tabled until needed approvals from town commissions and officials can be obtained. Next, the BoS considered a recommendation from the Economic and Industrial Develop-
ment Commission (EIDC) that the Winchester Electronics’ Tax Incentive Application be reviewed and approved by the BoS. It would then go to a special town meeting for final approval and implementation. St. John said he and his executive secretary, Barbara Whitaker, attended the special Aug. 27 EIDC meeting, at which the EIDC determined the application was “comprehensive, complete, filed appropriately and in compliance with the Tax Incentive Policy requirements.” St. John said the matter appears very straightforward, but he asked selectmen to defer any further discussion until the next BoS meeting so the EIDC can have representatives at the meeting to make a formal presentation for approval by the BoS. St. John said the BoS intends to work with “the utmost of professionalism and diligence to
move the process as quickly as possible.” All revisions to the Town of Middlebury Charter, as recommended by the Charter Revision Committee, were approved by all three selectmen for the Nov. 4, 2012, ballot. Selectman Ralph Barra confirmed completion of projects to help Richardson Drive residents enter Route 63 – clearing of vegetation, rearrangement of the signage and the police department’s plans to patrol the area. He said it was not possible to have a stop sign installed at the intersection. Barra said phase one for the new soccer field project at Mary I. Johnson Park is waiting for soil test results. Then he announced a “Lights on the Greenway” meeting will be held the fourth Wednesday of the month (Sept. 26) at 7 p.m. at Shepardson for
those interested in joining the committee. The committee will work on getting lights installed on portions of the Greenway. During public comments, Selectman Elaine Strobel said the transfer station is for Middlebury residents only, and that rule will be enforced. All residents are to display their stickers on the windshields of their cars. If they prefer to keep their permit in their glove box, Strobel said they should place it on their dashboard, much like a parking lot permit, before they enter the facility. Strobel said it saves the town money when the transfer station handles only Middlebury’s solid waste and not that of other towns as well. The next regular BoS meeting will be Monday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room.
It Happened in Middlebury
William Martin Shepardson (1864-1944) By DR. ROBERT L. RAFFORD Among Middlebury’s most illustrious citizens, William Martin Shepardson ranks high on the list. Most Middlebury residents know his name because the community center building is named in his honor, as is the Shepardson Haven picnic area on Route 64. William was born in Sharon, Mass., in 1864, the son of David Martin and Lucy (Belcher) Shepardson. He married Olive Gertrude Hamlin, a native of Plantsville, in 1901. William spent most of his boyhood in Warwick, Mass.; he was graduated
William Martin Shepardson
from the Powell Institute in Bernardston, Mass., and from Massachusetts Agricultural College with a bachelor’s degree in science. In 1895, he came to Middlebury to work as a landscape gardener on the estate of John Howard and Julia (Spencer) Whittemore, who had built their summer home on the eastern shores of Lake Quassapaug. He then became superintendent of Tranquillity farm. According to his obituary in the Waterbury Republican, he continued in that capacity for many years and also “helped with the planning and development of Laurel Beach, Milford.”
J. H. Whittemore was instrumental in the founding and building of Westover School in 1909, so Shepardson planned and supervised the grading and planting; he also supervised the planting along Whittemore Road, at Hop Brook Park and many of the buildings in Naugatuck, projects no doubt spurred on by Whittemore’s great interest in the improvement of our two towns. Shepardson devoted a great deal of time to the acquisition of land for the Naugatuck State Forest and building roads at High Rock Park. Like his employer, J. H. Whittemore, Shepardson was very involved in the improvement of our commu-
nity and served as first selectman for 16 years; he also was chairman of the school board for many years, where, no doubt, he had much collaboration with Mary I. Johnson, another member. William and Olive had two daughters, Florence and Esther. Esther was the mother of Lewis Shepardson “Shep” Clark and Malcolm S. Clark, our former first selectman. Rafford is the Middlebury Historical Society president and Middlebury’s municipal historian. Visit MiddleburyHistoricalSociety.org or call Rafford at 203-206-4717 to join the society.
Book Review.....................2 Adoptable Pets..................8 Classifieds.........................7 Community Calendar.........2 Computer Tip....................4 Fire Log.............................2 In Brief..............................4 Library Happenings............3
Library Lines......................2 Nuggets for Life................6 Obituaries.........................5 Puzzles.............................7 Region 15 Calendar..........3 Senior Center News...........2 Varsity Sports Calendar......6 Watertown Events.............5
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
Sept. 8
SUNDay
Sept. 9
Trap Falls Kennel Club’s Responsible Dog-A-Tuck Day When: What: Where:
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Obedience rally and various demonstrations. Contests include best dressed, best kisser and best trick. St. Francis Church field at 318 Church St. in Naugatuck
Block Party and 9/11 Ceremony
When: 4 to 8 p.m. What: Sponsored by the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) Where: MVFD firehouse on Tucker Hill Road
Mark Morris Dance Group presents Dance for PD®.
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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