“Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together.” ~ Vista M. Kelly
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Bee Intelligencer Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Volume X, No. 6
Friday, February 7, 2014
Selectmen work on town budget By MARJORIE NEEDHAM Meeting Tuesday night after their Monday night meeting was postponed due to a snowstorm, the Middlebury Board of Selectmen conducted routine business, approved a revised technical services librarian job description, set bonds for two building projects, and heard a presentation on an elderly tax relief proposal from Paul Babarik before moving into a budget workshop session. First Selectman Edward B. St. John presented the proposed 2014-2015 budget to Selectmen Elaine Strobel and Ralph Barra and asked them to share their input before he takes the proposed budget to next Thursday’s Board of Finance (BoF) meeting. The BoF will meet Thursday, Feb. 13, due to the Feb. 12 Lincoln’s Birthday town holiday. St. John said the proposed budget is “strictly bare bones with no frills attached.” Gesturing at the budget sheets, he said, “There are a lot of things in here that aren’t going to weather the storm.” Then he looked at Babarik, who is chair of the Region 15 Board of Education Finance Committee and said, “Unless, of course, as a member of the Board of Education you could help us out here.” The proposed budget presented at the meeting is nearly $11 million, an 8.3 percent, or $909,646, increase over the 20132014 budget of $10.1 million. That is the town side of the budget only, without Region 15. Chief Financial Officer Larry Hutvagner presented a sheet listing items totaling $711,129. He said the listed items were the major contributors to the budget increase. The first was $42,000 for the Planning and Zoning Commission, $30,000 for zoning revisions and $12,000 for the plan of conservation and development. Fire department increases totaled $22,000, $12,000 for mandatory air breathing tank replacements and $10,000 for new
hose. The list said 6,000 feet of new hose, but St. John, a former fire chief, said he thinks the department’s total inventory is 6,000 feet and the number is supposed to be 600 feet of new hose. Police department increases total $204,243. They include $88,008 for the new chief’s salary and $116,235 for overtime. Selectmen asked how much of the overtime amount was for regular overtime and how much was for overtime needed for school security following the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. Hutvagner checked and reported the police department asked for $60,000 for regular overtime, $13,000 for special duty administrative overtime (which is paid by third-party vendors) and $94,852 for school security overtime. Region 15 will pay $40,000 towards the school security cost. Hutvagner estimated the cost of employee medical insurance will increase $120,224, which is a 10 percent increase. However, St. John said Southbury First Selectmen Ed Edelson said the increase was likely to be 11 percent. Capital expenditures in the proposed budget total $239,812. The funds are for town infrastructure repairs and routine annual repairs for bridges, culverts and 65 miles of town roads. St. John said two culverts need extensive work, one on Bioski Road and one on Ravenwood Drive. He said if the one on Bioski fails, traffic can be rerouted, but Ravenwood Drive has only one way in and one way out, so the road would be closed if the culvert there fails. Four union contracts are or will be in negotiation, and $35,000 is budgeted for increases expected as a result of new contracts. The final item on the list is $47,850 for police cars. This is the one-year cost of leasing three new police cars. The town, at the request of the BoF, last year switched to leasing rather than purchasing vehicles. However, St.
– See Budget on page 5
Snowstorm Ordinances First Selectman Edward B. St. John reminds residents parking on the street is not allowed during snowstorms while the public works department is sanding roads and removing snow. He said this has been a problem, especially on Yale Avenue, Middlebury Terrace and Highview Avenue. St. John said vehicles in violation will be towed. Also, residents are not allowed to shovel, snow blow or plow snow from their property onto public roads.
Inside this Issue Nuggets for Life.............. 6 Puzzles........................... 7 Region 15 School Calendar....3 Senior Center Events....... 3 Sports Quiz..................... 7 Varsity Sports Calendar.... 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
Feb. 8
Upcoming Events
Adoptable Pets................ 8 Book Review................... 2 Classifieds....................... 7 Community Calendar....... 2 Fire Log........................... 2 In Brief............................ 4 Library Happenings.......... 2
saturDAY wednesDAY Feb. 12
saturDAY Feb. 22
The Middlebury Public Library Connecticut History Room coordinator, librarian Joan Arnold, holds the information pamphlet for the room as she stands in front of the room’s new mural. The computer on the table beside her is dedicated to genealogical research.
Scrapbooks of newspaper clippings about Middlebury and Connecticut were collected by Helen Benson and are kept in the Connecticut History Room at the Middlebury Public Library. The clippings shown are dated 1928.
This lion figurine is among the sculptures displayed on top of the cabinets in the Connecticut History Room at the Middlebury Public Library. (Marjorie Needham photos)
Room focuses on Connecticut history, genealogy By MARJORIE NEEDHAM One of the many gems in the newly renovated Middlebury Public Library is the Connecticut History Room. Librarian Joan Arnold, the Connecticut History Room coordinator, and Library Director Jo-Ann LoRusso talked Tuesday about the room’s renovations and what the room offers patrons, particularly those interested in Middlebury history, Connecticut history and genealogy research. Arnold said, “When you look into the room through the new glass door, it’s a lot like looking into a sugar Easter egg. Between the combination of the beautiful painting of Fenn Pond and the history books, it’s like a little jewel in the library.” LoRusso said, “The key to your future is your past.” She said the goal of renovations to the room was to make the collection in the room accessible but protected. During the library renovation, contractors painted the room and put down new carpet. They also installed the door with a clear glass inset that allows those walking by the room to look into it and see the mural covering the wall on the far end of the room. Stretching from left to right and from ceiling to floor, the mural by local artist Sue Healy depicts Fenn Farm and Fenn Pond in a lush green summer setting.
Locking glass doors also were installed on the front of the shelves. Before the renovation, the collection housed in the room had not been fully cataloged, and it sat on open shelves. LoRusso said Arnold’s cataloging skills made her the ideal person to organize the room. She was a technical services librarian for many years before coming to the Middlebury library and had extensive cataloging experience in that position. Arnold said of the work she did organizing the collection, “I really enjoyed it. It was very interesting. One of the reasons I became a librarian is my mother took me to libraries all over the state as she worked on our family genealogy. A lot of the material is familiar to me.” As a result of Arnold’s work, the collection is now organized into neatly labeled sections: Connecticut history, Middlebury history, Connecticut towns, and New England and miscellaneous. Also in the room are a few topographic maps of Middlebury, scrapbooks collected by Helen Benson and Middlebury history books by the late Delia Bronson. There also is a special collections section that includes copies of the state statutes, rare books by Connecticut authors, a 1911 set of the Encyclopedia Britannica, and 1895 editions of Town and City.
Arnold said the Middlebury Historical Society (MHS) collaborates with the library, and MHS President Dr. Robert Rafford, who also is a professional genealogist, was very helpful when she was going through the room’s genealogical materials. Those materials include books for New Haven and Fairfield counties and a number of issues of Connecticut Nutmeggers, which is published by the Connecticut Society of Genealogy. A small table in front of the mural holds a refurbished computer dedicated to genealogical research. Arnold said Rafford has suggested appropriate software for the computer. Through iconn.org, the Connecticut database, patrons can access Heritage Quest, Connecticut history, the Connecticut digital collections and the history reference center. The computer also links to the Connecticut State Library, which offers access to Ancestry.com. To protect the collection, the room and the cases in it are kept locked. However, those wishing to use the materials in the room can check in with Arnold when they arrive at the library or can call the library at 203-758-2634 or email Arnold at Jarnold729729@gmail to make an appointment with her.
World War II Documentary - “Two Who Dared - The Sharp’s War” What: When: Where: Cost:
Film about a Massachusetts couple who saved thousands from persecution during World War II 5 p.m. Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society at 122 S. Pomperaug Ave. in Woodbury Free will offering; for more information, call Christine at 203-267-6772
Lincoln’s Birthday
Third-period blitz unhinges Lady Panthers
Page 6
All town offices, library and transfer station are closed.
Harwinton Congregational Church Annual Chicken Barbecue What: When: Where: Cost:
Barbecued chicken, cole slaw, baked potato, roll and pie, eat in or take out Seatings at 4:45 and 6 p.m.; Take-out 4:45 to 6:30 p.m. Harwinton Congregational Church at Route 4 and North Road in Harwinton. $14 adults; $8 children under 12. Call 860-485-9308 for reservations and information.
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