Middlebury Bee 042514

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“No good deed goes unpunished.” ~ Oscar Wilde

Bee Intelligencer

FR EE

Prst. Std. U.S. Postage Paid Naugatuck, CT #27

Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Volume X, No. 17

Friday, April 25, 2014

BoS moves proposed leash ordinance to referendum By MARJORIE NEEDHAM As a leashed dog lay under the table, Middlebury selectmen conducted a public hearing on a proposed leash ordinance for the town and then, during their meeting, voted to move the ordinance to referendum. It will appear on the May 7 ballot along with the proposed 20142015 town and Regional School District 15 budgets. First Selectmen Edward B. St. John surprised some in attendance by announcing that Acting Police Chief Richard Wildman will resign June 1. St. John said Wildman had a “once in a lifetime” opportunity he could not let pass by. He said Wildman will become head of emergency management for the Salvation Army for Connecticut and Rhode Island. St. John said the ongoing search for a new police chief will not be complete by June 1. The initial field of 10 candidates chosen by the search committee has been narrowed down to five candidates, but the police commission is still conducting interviews to determine which of the five it will present to the BoS as its recommended candidate. St. John said this means the town is searching for an interim police chief to serve between June 1 and the time the new chief has been selected and starts serving, which may be 30 to 60 days after Wildman steps down. The meeting was preceded by two public hearings, a 5:30 p.m. hearing on adopting a new ordinance on creating and joining the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (COG) and a 5:45 p.m. hearing on adopting a leash ordinance for the town. At the COG hearing, St. John explained the state ordinance being considered was a result of the state legislature’s push toward regionalization. The COG has for many years comprised 13 towns: Beacon Falls, Bethlehem, Cheshire, Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Prospect, Southbury, Thomaston, Waterbury, Watertown, Wolcott and Woodbury. Those towns will be joined by Seymour, Derby, Ansonia, Shelton, Plymouth and Bristol for a total of 19 towns in the new COG. St. John noted there is strength in numbers and Middlebury has benefited from being a member of COG. He said Middlebury’s vote will not be diluted because each town has one representative and one vote. COG is very involved in regional planning, particularly when it involves I-84, St. John said. “Nothing to do with transportation in our area moves forward without COG approval,” he said.

Buddy visits the Middlebury Board of Selectmen during their Monday night meeting. Circumstances forced Selectman Elaine Strobel, left, to bring her “grand-dog” to the meeting, which included a public hearing on the proposed leash ordinance. We can report Buddy was on leash while on town property. First Selectman Edward B. St. John, right, conducted the meeting, also attended by Selectman Ralph Barra. (Marjorie Needham photo) At their meeting following the public hearing, selectmen unanimously approved adoption of the proposed change in COG. The hearing on the proposed leash ordinance initially elicited no public comment. St. John explained it applies only to dogs on town property, i.e., the Greenway, town parks and property with town buildings or facilities. The copy of the ordinance handed out at the hearing states those who are found guilty of violating it shall be punished

by a fine of not less than $90 nor more than $250. Asked by this reporter how the ordinance would affect a town dog park, which resident Beverly Dassonville is hoping to make a reality, St. John said he didn’t see a town dog park in the near future, but if the town got one, the ordinance could be amended so dogs in the dog park could run off leash. Glancing at Selectman Elaine Strobel, who brought her “grand-dog” Buddy to the meeting with her, St. John said,

“You’ve got him leashed on town property. You’re doing the right thing, Selectman Strobel.” St. John said people have very strong feelings about the ordinance one way or the other. “We need to let residents decide if they want it or not,” he said. “It’s up to the residents to give a thumbs up or a thumbs down.” Eric Fiske, a resident whose child was bitten by a loose dog, didn’t realize the hearing was scheduled before the BoS meeting and so showed up just as the

hearing was about to end. St. John invited him to make a statement on the proposed ordinance. Fiske said there are many responsible dog owners who live here or who use the Greenway and he applauds them. The reality, though, is current statutes state the owner must have the dog under control and some think that means voice control when that would not stop their dog if a squirrel ran by. He said of the ordinance, “It’s not as much as I would have liked to have seen, but I think it’s a good start.” He said a leash shows the owners are making an attempt to control their dog. “It may also protect the owners because they are liable for the damage their dog does,” Fiske said. He said he felt the proposed ordinance promotes an atmosphere of responsibility. Residents will vote to accept or reject the proposed ordinance at the Wednesday, May 7, referendum. The BoS formally accepted three resignations, that of Joan M. King as a member of the Library Board of Trustees, that of Gerry D. Matthews as a member of the Economic and Industrial Development Commission and that of Paul D. Shea as a member of the Land Preservation and Open Space Committee. St. John said he thanked all three and appreciated their service to the community over the years. The BoS then filled several board vacancies. They appointed Ronald G. Clark to fill a vacancy on the Library Board of Trustees resulting from Michele Paquet Finn’s resignation earlier this year. Clark was appointed to serve from April 21, 2014, through Nov. 3, 2015. Finn’s term was to expire in 2019, but state statute requires election of a permanent replacement at the next election, which is in 2015. The person elected next year will then serve out the balance of Finn’s term, which was to end Dec. 2, 2019. Terrence S. McAuliffe was appointed as a member of the Economic and Industrial Development Commission for a term from April 21, 2014, through March 6, 2015, and Justin S. Stanziale was appointed as a member of the Conservation Commission for a term from April 21, 2014, through April 21, 2018. In other business, the BoS approved a title change to Library Assistant from Librarian for a job description they recently approved and voted the hours for the May 7 referendum shall be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting will be Monday, May 5, at 6 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room.

Nicol joins Hall of Fame By JAMES REDWAY Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) member and former chief of the department, Richard H. Nicol, is the first member of the MVFD to be inducted into the Connecticut State Firefighters Association Hall Of Fame. He was one of 12 firefighters to receive this high honor during a ceremony at the Aqua Turf in Southington, Conn. The event was attended by approximately 800 firefighters along with their families and friends. Nicol said, “I was very happy and very humbled to get the award. The people who are selected are people who made maMiddlebury Volunteer Firefighter Richard Nicol, front, second from left, is shown at his induction jor contributions to fire service into the Connecticut State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame. Middlebury First Selectman Edward in Connecticut over the years, B. St. John is to the left of Nicol. Nichol has served on the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department for and I felt very humbled to be included in that group.” 52 years. (Dave Bunnell photo)

Inside this Issue Library Happenings.......... 2 Obituaries....................... 6 Region 15 School Calendar....3 Senior Center Events....... 3 Sports Quiz..................... 6 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

April 26

Upcoming Events

Adoptable Pets................ 8 Book Review................... 2 Classifieds....................... 7 Community Calendar....... 2 Fire Log........................... 2 In Brief............................ 4

saturDAY

Nicol has been a member of the department for 52 years, joining in 1967. He is a past lieutenant, past captain, past drill master, past deputy chief and past chief and currently is the deputy fire marshal. He also has served as a state commissioner on fire prevention and control (senior member) since 1986. He said the 14 commissioners are appointed to threeyear terms by the governor. He also serves or has served as a member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Education Committee, the Connecticut State Firefighters Instructors Association, the Connecticut Fire Chief’s Association, and the New Haven County Fire Chief’s Association and is a member and past president of the Waterbury Area Fire Chief’s Association and the Connecticut Parade Marshals Association.

Nicol said he started with the department as a junior firefighter and just stayed with it over the years. “It’s actually very rewarding to help the public and your neighbors when they are in trouble,” he said. Besides Rich’s family members and friends of the MVFD, also attending the event were Chief Paul Perrotti, Deputy Chief Tony Bruno, Deputy Chief Brett Kales, Lt. Jim Redway, former Chief Ed Bailly, former Deputy Chief Bob Dawes, Secretary John Jungen, Treasurer Gregg Perrin, Engineer/Operator Dave Bunnell, Firefighter John Polmon, Firefighter Nick Santos, Ladies Auxiliary members Jean Dawes and Liza Redway, First Selectman and former Chief Edward B. St. John, Selectman Ralph Barra, and Honorary Member Malcolm Todt.

Indoor Church Flea Market and Bake Sale What: When: Where:

Over 30 vendors selling antiques, collectibles, household items, jewelry, toys, books, crafts and more. White elephant room. Bake sale. Free admission. 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. North Congregational Church at 11 Main St. N. in Woodbury.

Panthers’ offense stalls

Earth Day Greenway and Parks Cleanup

sunDAY

April 27

What: When: Where: Info:

Waterbury Chorale Spring Concert What: When: Where: Info:

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Pick up litter along the greenway and in town parks. 1 to 3 p.m. Meet at Meadowview Park Pavilion to get supplies. Dana Dowling, Middlebury Community Women’s Club, 203-627-9580. “The Genius of Mozart” concert will feature the “Great Mass in C minor, K 427.” 4 p.m. St. John’s Episcopal Church on the Green in Waterbury. Tickets $20 in advance; $25 at the door. Purchase from chorale members or online at www.waterburychorale.org.

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