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“As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools.” ~ Author Unknown

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

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Bee Intelligencer AN INDEPENDENTLY OWNED FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Informing the towns of Middlebury, Southbury, Woodbury, Naugatuck, Oxford and Watertown

www.bee-news.com

Volume X, No. 27

September 2014

Towantic power plant resurrected By MARJORIE NEEDHAM Nearly 15 years ago, the Town of Middlebury and some of its citizens loudly, and in some cases with legal action, protested the building of a 550-megawatt (MW) power plant next to Oxford Airport. The location placed it within 500 feet of the Middlebury town line and very close to Middlebury homes in the Washington Drive area. For years, no work was done on the plant. In the meantime, new project owners entered the picture – General Electric, manufacturers of the turbines to be used in the power plant, and a company named Competitive Power Ventures (CPV). CPV wants to build an 805-MW natural gas-fueled power plant and is in the process of getting the project permits updated accordingly. At its open house at Oxford High School Aug. 5, CPV provided information on the current project, which the company refers to as an “energy center.” Local opposition this time has sprung up in the form of a Facebook page, Citizens Against CPV Oxford Energy Plant. The page urges readers to go to a petition site and sign a petition opposing building the power plant in Oxford. At press time, 832 people had signed the petition. Statements on the petition site include, “This highly-polluting 805 megawatt plant will impact the environment, the community, and the health of our children … If built, the plant will affect neighborhoods up to 2-3 miles away with vibration, noise, and 30 months of heavy construction traffic. Air pollution will directly impact homes within a 10-mile radius … At its peak, the plant will consume over 80 million cubic feet of natural gas per

day. When natural gas is low, as it was this past winter, the plant will run on fuel oil … it will take one tanker truck full of fuel per hour, every hour to run the plant.” CPV spokesperson Will Mitchell said Wednesday the company likes to hear from all the members of the community. “We have an incredibly strong record across the country of working with local communities and look forward to meeting and working with folks,” he said. Mitchell said Oxford isn’t the only beneficiary of the project. The increased economic activity will benefit the entire area. “We’ve seen in other communities that large regions benefit from the construction and operation of these facilities,” he said. In sales tax alone, the state will gain $20 million. Introducing a new power system to the area will provide residents with a more robust power system and more reliable electricity. As for air pollution, he said both the state and federal government monitor the emissions to assure the plant has the lowest emissions possible. He said health and public safety are always considered. In addition, this project is going to replace older, much more polluting facilities in the region that run on coal and oil. As those plants are being phased out, air quality is improving. The significant improvement since 1994 is attributable to the change-out from oil and coal-powered technology to new technologies. This project will have 63 percent efficiency, Mitchell said, compared to the 20 percent efficiency of older technologies. Asked if the plant would have had to switch to higher-polluting

– See Towantic on page 11

Middlebury Police Chief James Viadero shows a Batshield to Middlebury Police Commission members at their August meeting. Viadero said he would like the department to invest in these so officers will have added protection in active shooter situations. (Marjorie Needham photo)

Chief notes deficiencies

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM Middlebury’s new police chief, James Viadero, spoke highly of the officers in the department when he attended the Aug. 11 Police Commission meeting, saying, “They are very proactive on patrol. I am extremely impressed with their response and how they handle themselves.” At his first police commission meeting since he was sworn in, Viadero did note deficiencies in the department’s policies and equipment. He also said the department needs a new police dog because J.J., the department’s current dog, is retirement age. Viadero said he is prioritizing the department’s needs starting with those of highest liability. He asked the commission to ap-

prove three policies, all related to the firearms officers carry while on duty. He said these policies are one of the first things state police look at when they have to conduct an investigation of a police officer who has discharged a firearm while on duty. He said policies need to be in place stating things such as the type of service revolver the officer must carry. Viadero presented three policies: a duty firearm policy, a back-up firearm policy and a patrol carbine policy. He told commissioners he had presented the proposed policies to both the union representing the officers and to the town attorney. Both approved the policies. After some discussion, the police commission also approved the policies. Viadero said he expects to present three to six policies to the commission each

month. For the September meeting, he expects to address the use of force, motor-vehicle pursuits and stopping vehicles. He said he is triaging the policies and working his way down from those involving the most liability to those involving the least liability. Viadero brought with him a piece of equipment called a Batshield so commissioners could see it. It is intended to provide additional protection to an officer in an active shooter situation. The shields cost $22,000 to $28,000 each, he said, but he said he would try to get funding for them through grants. Another piece of equipment he said is needed for officers is a light that attaches to the top of their firearms so they don’t have to juggle a flashlight and a firearm at

– See Chief on page 5

P&Z approves Ridgewood, Quassy changes By TERRENCE S. MCAULIFFE The Middlebury Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) at its Aug. 7 meeting approved parking area changes at Ridgewood and a new covered train platform at Quassy. It also discussed condemnation of a Crest Road property and Ridgewood construction dust issues. An application by Toll Brothers II Limited Partnership for a Ridgewood at Middlebury site plan modification was unanimously approved. Professional Engineer Thomas Daly of Milone & MacBroom said parking behind several units was unappealing and infringed upon the privacy of residents. He showed revised plans in which the parking would be relocated to the site of a gazebo, and the gazebo would exchange locations with a playscape recreational area, adding that the change had been approved by the Conservation An artist’s drawing shows how the train at Quassy Amusement Commission June 24. The overall Park will pass under the proposed covered train station. The size of the recreation space will station will have the look and feel of a structure from the early not change nor will the number of parking spaces. After approval, 1900s.

Inside this Issue Library Happenings.......2, 3 Library Lines...........................2 Obituaries..............................7 Puzzles................................11 Senior Center Events....4, 5 This is a Hammer........... 12 Winning Ways................. 8

Editorial Office: Email: mbisubmit@gmail.com Phone: 203-577-6800 Mail: P.O. Box 10, Middlebury, CT 06762 Advertising Sales: Email: mbiadvertising@gmail.com

Monday

Labor Day Holiday:

tuesday

Middlebury Police Chief Swearing-in Ceremony

Sept. 1

Upcoming Events

Book Review................... 2 Classifieds..................... 11 Community Calendar....... 5 Fire Log........................... 7 It Happened in Middlebury...8 In Brief............................ 6 In The Garden............... 11

The proposed covered train station at Quassy Amusement Park, shown here, will protect passengers from the weather when they board or disembark from the train. (Drawings courtesy Andrew Peklo Design & Joinery PC) Chairman Terry Smith requested station, so when the train pulls that any future applications con- in the passenger cars will be sheltain more details, including a tered from the weather. He said narrative along with plan draw- the architecture of the station will ings so commission members mirror other improvements recould be better prepared. cently made within the park and Quassy Amusement Park Pres- will be slightly smaller than the ident Eric Anderson reviewed existing platform. Smith replans for a covered train platform quested that future applications with commissioners and received contain more details, including unanimous approval. The new a narrative along with drawings structure will replace the current showing existing and proposed open platform with a covered plans.

Sept. 16

SUNday

Sept. 28

In enforcement matters, Zoning Enforcement Officer Curtis Bosco told commissioners he and Building Inspector Oliver Leduc had visited a blighted property at 70 Crest Road and determined condemnation was warranted. Bosco also discussed a complaint of Ridgewood construction dust from nearby Bona Road resident Robert Berger, who said Toll Brothers was not watering daily. Smith suggested calcium chloride be utilized on a daily basis for dust control and instructed Bosco to manage the situation. In other matters, Smith announced that Brian Miller would have a draft of the long-awaited Plan of Conservation and Development for the September meeting. He also asked commissioners to come up with ideas of what might be done with the land on Triangle Boulevard in the event the town could somehow acquire the land back from the state. The next regular P&Z meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m. at Shepardson Community Center.

All town hall offices, library and senior center are closed.

Audition for “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

What: Formal swearing-in ceremony for Middlebury’s new police chief, James Viadero When: 7 p.m. Where: Westover School Auditorium, 1237 Whittemore Road, Middlebury

Pies and Pints 5K Ta-Ta Trot What: When: Where: Info:

Fundraiser for the American Cancer Society breast cancer research. Walkers welcome. 10 a.m. Pies & Pints, 1 Store Road, Middlebury Register by Sept. 7 for tee shirt and $5 off coupon; more at www.facebook.com/TaTa5k

Page 5

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P.O. Box 10, Middlebury CT 06762

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