Friday, December 13, 2019
www.northhavencitizen.com
Volume 12, Number 38
Selectmen discuss Board of Finance public comment policy By Everett Bishop The Citizen
What began as an administrative meeting of the Board of Selectmen became a platform for First Amendment and free speech issues.
North Haven youth soccer players attended their first winter training session on Wednesday, Dec. 4. Photo by Everett Bishop, The Citizen
For serious soccer players, off-season is a thing of the past By Everett Bishop The Citizen
These girls may be young, but they take their sport seriously. North Haven Soccer Club coach Dan O’Connor hosted the first post-season training session for a group of 35 girls ranging in age from 9 to 14 recently. These sessions will take place once a week throughout the winter months at MB Fitness in Northford. At the first session, held Wednesday, Dec. 4, O’Connor invited some special guests to talk to the girls about what it means to be a leader and an athlete. First Selectman Michael Freda highlighted the importance of sportsmanship and acting as an “ambassador”
for one’s community.
to work on your skills.”
“When I see how our athletes represent themselves, their team, their families and their town by how you play the game, with respect and dignity … that makes people like me very very proud,” Freda said.
O’Connor told the troops: “We really wanted to build the girls’ side of the program. So if you’ll notice, there’s no boys here. That’s on purpose. This is about you guys getting better.”
North Haven High School girls soccer team captains Katie Chieffo and Erika Holle talked to the girls about proper training and the transition to high school competition. “A big thing in high school soccer from summer going into the start of your season is how fit and prepared you come into the high school season,” Chieffo said. “So during practices you’re not going to want to spend a lot of time doing running and fitness. You’re going to want
During public comment, resident Mary White addressed the BOE to discuss her concerns with a policy adopted by the Board of Finance at its Nov. 20 meeting. The policy, introduced by Chairman Richard Monico, would limit public comment to five minutes per individual. Those who had used their time would be allowed to speak again for five minutes after others were given a chance. “I was recently bothered, troubled, when I listened to the Board of Finance
discussion during the November meeting,” said White. “At first the chair wanted to eliminate public comment altogether, stating public comment often goes longer than their actual meeting.” White argued that public comment was “the people’s opportunity to exercise free speech.” According to First Selectman Michael Freda, the finance board’s new policy, adopted in a 6-1 vote, never aimed to eliminate public comment, as White suggested. “[Monico] was trying to do what many towns do and what the state does … put a time limit on public comment. It was his feeling that there was discussion that was beyond the purview of the Board of See Selectmen, A12
This winter training is part of O’Connor’s mission to “develop a platform … so they can achieve their goals and see what’s possible on and off the field.” “At this age we as coaches are able to provide the necessary tools so they can just play, so when they play at the next level they are as prepared as we can get them for those coaches/teams,” O’Connor said. “Our hope is that with what we are doing now they can join those teams and make an immediate impact.”
The North Haven Board of Selectmen: William Pieper, Michael Freda and Sally Buemi. File photo