www.northhavencitizen.com
Volume 18, Number 46
Friday, November 17, 2023
GOP remains in control of leadership By Michael Savino Special to The Citizen
First Selectman Michael Freda will serve an eighth term in office after a successful election night for Republicans. Republican Town Committee Chairman Vincenzo Gallo promised “consistent customer service” after his party maintained control of the town’s boards and commissions.
“It’s an unpaid service, but we have a lot of great candidates with a lot of background that fits in several single section we put them in,” he said. Freda’s win was a formality, as he ran unopposed. Second Selectman William Pieper helped Republicans maintain control.
Republican J. Stacey Yarbrough also ran unopposed for town clerk and tax collector. Democratic Vice Chairman Frederick Rodriguez said his party needs to continue to get more engagement from Democrats in town.
“Democrats don’t come out and Democrats ran one candidate for the vote, you can just see it in the numslate: Third Selectwoman Sally Bue- bers,” he said. mi, who maintained her seat. He said Democrats tried to build
more support by door knocking, asking questions and even trying to use their website to interact with voters. Rodriguez said it hasn’t been enough yet. The town committee decided to leave some races uncontested if they couldn’t find qualified candidates. “We need people to be engaged in the party so we can have good canSee Election, A2
Budget referendum date may be changed
HELPING LOCAL VETERANS
By Michael Savino Special to The Citizen
Selectmen could push back the budget referendum date before it’s officially set in order to give voters more time to learn about the eventual proposal. Originally, the Board of Selectmen was looking at a May 14 referendum, but that would only be one day after the annual town budget meeting on the budget. That date could change to May 21, following a suggestion Third Selectwoman Sally Buemi made during the Board of Selectmen’s Nov. 2 meeting.
The 2023 Veterans Day Project brought up dozens of volunteers on Saturday, Nov. 11, each ready to help veterans around North Haven. The Project aims to clean up the yards – raking leaves and more – of local men and women who served in the Armed Forces. The volunteers met at 8:30 a.m. at North Haven High School and then spread out around the community, raking/blowing leaves and helping vets for free. Photo courtesy of Veterans Day Project, Facebook
“Nine hours, I don’t think, gives our voters enough time to learn about the budget,” Buemi said, referencing the fact that the annual town meeting can often last until 9 p.m. Polls for a budget referendum open at 6 a.m. The town charter sets the annual town budget meeting for the second Monday in May, which will be See Referendum, A2