“In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip.” ~ Daniel L. Reardon
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Bee Intelligencer Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown A FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
Volume IX, No. 26
Middlebury tax assessor resigns By MARJORIE NEEDHAM Middlebury Tax Assessor Daniel J. Kenny handed in his resignation to First Selectman Edward B. St. John Tuesday afternoon. “It took me by total surprise,” St. John said. He said Kenny will be leaving his position in Middlebury at the end of July to take the position of tax assessor in Bridgeport, Conn. “I’m going to have to see if we can get some people,” St. John said. “We have to have a grand list in place and updated by the end of October, so while we are searching we will have to find someone on a per diem basis until we get an opportunity to get a new assessor in place.” St. John said the Board of Assessors, a group dissolved by the state of Connecticut in recent years, used to be the group he would turn to in situations like this. They would go out and find an assessor. He said since the state did away with the Board of Assessors, the Board of Selectmen will have to find a replacement for Kenny. “Dan did tell me he felt there would be people available to help out and he would help, too,” St. John said. He said he was sure Kenny’s new position will pay substantially more than the town of Middlebury. However, he said, the responsibilities will be sub-
Daniel J. Kenny stantial, too. “Bridgeport is much larger,” he said. City-data.com lists Bridgeport’s 2011 population as 144,463 compared to Middlebury’s 2009 population of 7,394. St. John said of Kenny, “He’s very professional and knows his job well, so I figured one of the days he would move on to another position.” Tax Collector Jean Dawes said she found out Tuesday afternoon that Kenny is leaving. “Good for him,” she said, noting he is likely moving to a better position that pays more. Citing personal reasons, Kenny declined to be interviewed for this article.
New P&Z chair served as chair in past By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) at its July 3 meeting unanimously approved a downsized site plan for Pilot Seasoning, a zone change at 659 Middlebury Road, a sign repositioning for Shaker’s Family Ford, and a retaining wall change at Whittemore Crossing. It also approved tenant fit-ups at 819 Straits Turnpike and elected acting chairman Terry Smith as its chairman. 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 previously approved 22,000 square feet was unanimously approved. Land Surveyor Curt Smith of Smith & Company told commissioners approval had been unanimously voted by the Conservation and Economic and Industrial Development com-
missions, and changes were documented for bonding and asbuilt plan notes. A zone change to CA-40 from PO-40 for property across the street from Ledgewood Park owned by Joseph P. Yamin, d/b/a 659 Middlebury Road LLC, was unanimously approved. Attorney Pasquale Salvatore told commissioners the change would provide more options in terms of development potential, and Scott Meyers of Meyers Associates said the change in use would not increase the disturbance of the 150-foot-deep property. Town Planner Brian Miller noted the zone change was in conformance with the Plan of Conservation and Development. Susan Cebelenski, an owner of Tucker Hill Inn, questioned the appearance and size of the potential building along with the traffic impact, a concern also voiced by Joe Dinova, owner of
– See P&Z on page 3
Tax bills due now
Middlebury Tax Collector Jean Dawes reminds property owners real estate and motor vehicle tax bills are due now. If you did not receive a bill, please contact the tax collector immediately. Failure to receive a bill does not invalidate taxes or interest due. If you no longer have one of your motor vehicles, please contact the assessor’s office. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the tax collector’s office at 203-758-1373.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Customers count at Class Cycles By MARJORIE NEEDHAM Many businesses fail in their first year, but Class Cycles in Southbury is thriving nearly 30 years after owner Roy Rogan started it in 1984. Rogan previously had a shop in Bridgeport, but he said he opened a shop in Southbury because he had friends there and he liked the area. Rogan attributed his business’s success to good customer service. Store manager Greg Meghani agreed. “Most of our business comes through word of mouth from satisfied customers,” Meghani said. The store’s staff includes two full-time mechanics that assemble bikes, install bike racks and make any needed repairs. Those repairs aren’t limited to bicycles; they include medical equipment such as walkers and wheelchairs. The mechanics can make a number of repairs to them, fixing broken cables on walkers and repairing flats on wheelchairs. When people started bringing in these items and asking if they could be repaired, the shop responded by fixing them. The business may be close to 30 years old, but the interior looks as if it opened recently. That’s because Rogan and his employees completely renovated the interior in a marathon four-day makeover earlier this year. Wood laminate flooring replaced the carpet, spotlight bulbs were replaced with energy-efficient LED bulbs, a TV was installed to provide live-streaming of cycling events and the counter was relocated. A time-lapse video of the makeover is on the store’s Facebook page, Facebook. Left to right, mechanic Scott Reekie, owner Roy Rogan, manager Greg Meghani and com/classcycles. mechanic Robert Oliver stand below the Class Cycle’s TV. It is used to live stream cycling – See Class Cycles on page 3 events such as the Tour de France. (Marjorie Needham photo)
ZBA approves variances, accepts applications By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) at its July 10 meeting unanimously approved setback variances on Dwyer Road and Nick Road. It also accepted applications for variances on White Avenue, Green Hill Road and Mirey Dam Road. John R. and Ursula R. Mobilio’s side setback variance to add a new garage and remodel the existing garage at 53 Dwyer Road into a music room was unanimously approved. Commissioners agreed with attorney Michael McVerry that the high water table and patio in back and the water and sewer service in front made a side placement the only reasonable alternative for expansion. A letter from adjoining property owner Sandra Young said she had no objection to the proposed east side addition. James Christiano’s side setback variance to add a 28-by-30-foot garage at the rear of 72 Nick Road and a driveway to the road also was unanimously approved. He said
the lay of the land, steep drop-off and ledge were hardships requiring the garage to be closer than the required 25 feet to the property line. He told Commissioner Kenneth Long the proposed paved driveway would start from where the existing curb ends and radius into his property. An application by Howard K. and Denise A. Sturges of 130 White Ave. to replace a pressure-treated deck with a Trex deck was accepted for public hearing Aug. 7. Howard Sturges told commissioners the one-thirdacre property was in an R-40 zone that allowed only 1,500 square feet of coverage, an amount already used by his house, addition and shed. He said the existing deck exceeded the allowed lot coverage and asked for a variance with up-zoning as the hardship. Commissioner Ray Caruso commented many other homes in the same area were granted similar variances if neighbors had no complaints. A front porch addition for John and Sheila Holmes of 126 Green Hill Road also was
accepted for public hearing Aug. 7. Kevin Robinson of Sullivan Builders told commissioners the lot coverage situation was similar to the Sturgeses’ with the existing house, pool and structures using all permissible area in the R-40 zone. He also cited upzoning as the hardship. He said a proposed porch would extend 8 feet from the front of the house but not to either side. A first-floor bedroom addition for Diana Troiano and Anthony, Marco and Joseph Nardelli at 75 Mirey Dam Road also was accepted for public hearing Aug. 7. Attorney McVerry told commissioners the proposed bedroom would extend into the setback area and require a setback variance. In legal matters, commissioners entered executive session for updates from town counsels Stephen Savarese and Dana D’Angelo on the Rolando Trocchi and Gilda and Michael Rinaldi lawsuits. The next regular ZBA meeting will be Wednesday, Aug. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall conference room.
CC OKs pool, considers drainage plans By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Conservation Commission (CC) at its July 9 special meeting unanimously approved a swimming pool on Watertown Road and also provided comments on Whittemore Crossing drainage plans. A permit for Louis Persico to construct a pool at 642 Watertown Road was unanimously approved with the condition wetland markers would be installed and bushes planted. Attorney Michael McVerry told commissioners a Town of Middlebury conservation easement on part of the property was not applicable to the area intended for the pool. Persico had been instructed June 25 to get a letter from the town approving his plans and also to stake out the property and
provide drawings showing the topology. At that meeting, Mike Cosmos of Connecticut Pool & Spa said the 20-by-40-foot pool would be 51 feet away from wetlands and require no backwash, adding that all excavated material would be removed from the site. He said Persico was eager to have the pool installed this summer, and commissioners agreed to set the July 9 special meeting so he didn’t need to wait a month. A proposal by 1365 LLC, d/b/a Whittemore Crossing, for running a drainage pipe from 1.88 acres of property it recently acquired from Tara Perrotti into a proposed drainage pipe approved in June 2011 was reviewed for commissioner comments. Woodbury professional engineer Mark Riefenhauser of Smith & Company told commissioners the pipe would deliver the
same amount of water as was being sent through the existing trench, and a velocity reduction device and outlet protection area would slow the flow to control erosion. Smith & Company owner Curt Smith answered concerns Commissioners Thomas Proulx and Terry Manning had about a possible failure of a downstream 12-inch drainage pipe by reminding them it was the same amount of water slowed to or below current flow with velocity reduction capacity sized for future expansion. Commissioner Mary Barton noted the downstream pipe might eventually fail anyway since the same amount of water was flowing. The next regular CC meeting will be Tuesday, July 30, at 7:30 p.m. in Room 26 at Shepardson Community Center.
Adoptable Pets................ 8 Book Review................... 2 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
monday
July 22
JULY & AUGUST
Middlebury Democratic Town Committee Special Elections Meeting When: 7:30 p.m. What: MDTC members choose candidates to support in the fall elections. Where: Shepardson Community Center, Room 26
Forest faeries, woodland wizards at Flanders
Page 4
Hunger Doesn’t Take A Summer Vacation Food Drive What: Where:
Middlebury Congregational Church, St. George’s Episcopal Church, St. John of the Cross Church and Word of Life Family Church collect and distribute food during the summer months when the hungry have less food available. Within each church. Representatives are listed in “In Brief” on page 4.
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