“Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.” ~ Pauline R. Kezer
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Bee Intelligencer
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Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Volume X, No. 24
Friday, June 13, 2014
Herbicide application postponed By MARJORIE NEEDHAM The Lake Quassapaug Association has postponed indefinitely application of the herbicide 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, commonly called 2,4-D, to Lake Quassapaug. Plans had been to apply the chemical as soon as the company that applies it received a permit from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The DEEP permit was issued May 20, 2014. Not long after that, those who swim in Lake Quassapaug heard of the planned application, and one, Jennifer Gowen of Southbury, started a petition on www. change.org asking the association not to apply the herbicide but to instead find alternative ways to control weeds in the lake. As of press time Wednesday, 1,679 people had signed the petition. Gowen said Wednesday she was thrilled the association had postponed its plans to have 170 gallons of 2,4-D dumped into the lake. “Hopefully, they will come up with another way to deal with the milfoil.” Association President Ingrid Manning explained Tuesday two forms of invasive milfoil are a problem in the the lake. She said the steps the association has taken to deal with the weed are outlined on its website, lakequassapaugassociation.org. The association hired Dr. George Knoecklein to study the lake and develop recommendations for handling the invasive weeds. The website states, “After a six month study of Lake Quassapaug, our consultant, George Knoecklein, Ph.D., provided an initial overview of the lake with recommendations for action in 2014.” Knoecklein said Lake Quassapaug has two invasive non-native weeds, variable milfoil and Eurasian milfoil. These weeds are both very aggressive and have already spread to cover 50 acres, crowding out the native plant species and creating a monoculture. If left untreated, he said the milfoils could soon extend
around the entire perimeter of the lake and extend outward to 15-foot depths. His recommendations for treatment were: • Handpull the three small areas of Eurasian milfoil. (One area near the dam completed in fall 2013). • Begin treatment of the variable milfoil with herbicide in Tyler’s Cove with monitoring and review of the herbicide effect at the end of 2014. Manning said a majority of the association’s board of directors voted to have the herbicide applied. Asked when she became aware of objections to the plan to apply the herbicide, Manning said “We certainly have always known that some people prefer not to use herbicides. It has become more vocal during the past two weeks.” In addition to postponing herbicide application, the association is postponing its annual meeting that was scheduled for June 24 until sometime in July. “There’s a lot of misinformation,” Manning said. “We’ll do more work on educating people about the invasive weeds and the options for treating the weeds.” In addition, the consultant will undertake another weed survey this month and then will review treatment options with the association board. Manning said the herbicide was to have been applied in May, but the permit didn’t get approved in time. She said of the application, “We wouldn’t do it if we thought there was any risk to those who swim in the lake.” Gowen, however, is concerned that applying the herbicide to the lake does pose a risk for swimmers. “I was shocked that, knowing what we know about pesticides and herbicides, we would dump them into water our kids swim in in the height of the summer season,”she said Gowen, who has been a diving coach at Pomperaug High School for 15 years, said “I know a lot of kids who use that for open
– See Herbicide on page 5
Acting Police Chief Richard Wildman, left, and Middlebury’s newly hired police chief, James Viadero, shake hands following the Police Commission meeting Monday night. Viadero will be on the job full time as soon as he completes the state’s certification process. (Marjorie Needham photo)
Viadero attends Police Commission meeting By MARJORIE NEEDHAM Two police chiefs attended Monday night’s Police Commission meeting – Acting Police Chief Richard Wildman and Middlebury’s newly hired police chief, James Viadero. Wildman’s last day on the job was to be June 2. That’s when he was leaving to start his new job as head of emergency services in Connecticut and Rhode Island (and sometimes Massachusetts) for the Salvation Army. The original plan was to hire an interim police chief for the period between Wildman’s leaving and Viadero’s start. That plan changed, and now Wildman works at his new job during the day and continues as acting police chief in Middlebury nights and weekends. Viadero is working his way through the state’s certification process, but he is present in town as often as he can be. Wildman said he told Viadero coverage of the Rev3 triathlon May 30 would start at 6 a.m., and he could be there if he wished to see how police handled the event. Wildman reported Viadero was there promptly at 6 a.m. Wildman said the Rev3 this year was a bit smaller than in previous years – there was no international component. One result was
there were fewer medical transports to deal with – only two compared to the usual 11 to 12. He said the gate installed by the Public Works Department has made access to the boat launch much easier than when rocks had to be rolled out of the way. Commissioner Ken Heidkamp has been supervising renovations at the police station that include new furniture, air conditioner improvements to keep the servers from overheating, and painting, all in anticipation of the new chief’s arrival. First Selectman Ed St. John, in attendance at the meeting, said the police station was built in 1975 and this was its first renovation. In addition, Wildman has been going through files at the station. He said he has made four trips to the transfer station, and Public Works picked up a truckload of material. Sensitive material will be shredded, and old computer drives will be destroyed. Wildman said he found files dating back to 1985. St. John said it hasn’t been scheduled yet, but the town will have a swearing-in ceremony for the new chief. “I feel 100 percent certain we made the right decision,” St. John said of the town hiring Viadero.
Viadero thanked everyone for welcoming him and said he looks forward to working with everyone. After the meeting, Viadero talked about his move from supervising 85 detectives in a 400-plus-officer department in Bridgeport to becoming chief of police in an 11-officer department in Middlebury. “It’s going to be a change, no doubt, but I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “In some ways it will be very different, but you still use the same skills, just at different times.” Viadero said he found it appealing that the chief’s job description included 15 percent time in the community. “As you go up in rank you get further removed from the community,” he said. He is looking forward to getting out into the Middlebury community and getting to know people along with working with the community, its businesses and the board of education. “I will be out there, and I will be visible,” he said, noting he plans to attend community events. Within the department, he said he hopes to bring in lots of technology-based programs that allow officers to do a better job. “Through technology, we can enhance officers’ performance despite budget cuts,” he said.
P&Z handles multiple matters By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) at its June 5 meeting denied a zone change on Straits Turnpike, approved an accessory apartment on Watertown Road, tabled a decision on a Middlebury Road pizza business and approved a restaurant expansion at Middlebury Consignment. It also heard about a planned South Street bed and breakfast and successful elimination of illegally parked vehicles at 199 Park Road Extension. A zone change to CA-40 from R-40 for a lot owned by William Zarillo at 1628 Straits Turnpike was denied by a 3-2 vote. Attorney Curtis Titus, representing Zarillo, told commissioners the surrounding area was zoned LI-80 for many years when Timex owned the property, with the four corners at the Park Road and Straits Turnpike intersection zoned
CA-40 to service expected businesses. He said Timex never built on Straits Turnpike, but development of the Middlebury Edge office complex across the street changed everything. A letter from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments said the proposal was not in conflict with the regional plan of development, but might lead to a change in use and cause degradation to other residential properties along Straits Turnpike. A letter from Waterbury City Planner James Sequin said neither the planning nor zoning commissions had comments and no action was anticipated. Middlebury town planner Brian Miller said the residential properties east along Straits Turnpike were attractive, and some had seen significant investment, unlike deteriorating residential areas adjoining commercial development in other towns that cried for redevelopment.
Inside this Issue Legal Notice.................... 7 Library Happenings.......... 2 Obituaries..............................5 Parks & Recreation.......... 6 Puzzles..................................7 Region 15 School Calendar....3 Senior Center Events....... 3
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Miller said he wouldn’t recommend the zone change if it were in an isolated area, but in this case he said rezoning 1.5 acres adjacent to a commercial corner could not be considered spot zoning. He then asked where the line should be drawn on further zone changes. Titus said a 50-foot buffer between commercial and residential was the only requirement in the regulations. In voting to deny, Commissioner William Stowell said a zone change along Straits Turnpike should be a whole section, not one lot at a time. Erika Carrington and Ronald Kulpa agreed and also voted to deny. Chairman Terry Smith and Commissioner Paul Babarik voted to approve, saying the change was properly publicized with no objection from neighbors. An accessory apartment over the garage in a home owned by Jessica Widman of 94 Watertown Road was unanimously approved with the stipulation the septic
system capacity would be increased for the 5.3-acre R-40 zoned property and certified by the health district. Attorney Michael McVerry told commissioners the apartment would be used by visiting adult children and relatives. Chairman Smith, a nearby neighbor, recused himself from the vote. A decision on issuing a certificate of zoning compliance for Blarney Stone Pizza LLC to operate using the rear entrance of the Mobil Mart owned by Oreste Bona d/b/a 492 Middlebury Road LLC was held over until July 3. Attorney McVerry, speaking for Blarney Store owner Blair Daily, told commissioners the convenience store had been used by many businesses over the years, including a deli, a Chinese restaurant, Milano’s pizza, Brenda’s Kitchen and Eggplant’s, a restaurant with 14 indoor tables for patrons. McVerry showed a site plan approved by P&Z in 1997 that included 26
parking spaces, which he said were more than enough for the proposed use. Commissioner Stowell said he was not opposed to the concept but wanted to see a site plan with enough detail to show property lines, easements, rights of way, parking spaces, and required and provided square-foot parking calculations. Smith told Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) Curtis Bosco a certified A2 survey was not required so long as the site plan included details, sizes and dimensions. He told Bona inside dining changed the dynamics of the pizza business, making takeout an ancillary use and putting the application in a gray area. Expansion of the dining room at Middlebury Consignment into 266 square feet of space formerly used for kitchen equipment retail sales was unanimously approved. Owner Dr. Dean Yimoyines
– See P&Z on page 3
Happy Father’s Day Middlebury’s Best; 26 years and counting
S.M.A.R.T. Inc. Open House What: When: Where:
Southbury and Middlebury Acting Responsibly Together discussion of Project Purple and other initiatives/events the group is working on 5 to 6 p.m. Southbury Town Hall, Room 201
Pomperaug High School Graduation What: Congratulations to all the graduates! When: 6:30 p.m. Where: Pomperaug High School
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