www.southingtoncitizen.com
Volume 19, Number 8
END OF THE ROAD
Friday, February 25, 2022
SOUTHINGTON TOWN COUNCIL
Councilors clash over appointments, new laws & charter By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal staff
SOUTHINGTON — Debate arose last week on a host of issues facing the Town Council, including plans to revise the town charter, enact ordinances on flags and cannabis use and fill vacancies on local boards. Republicans, who hold a majority on the council, and Democrats clashed over the issues at a heated meeting Monday night, Feb. 14. Here’s an overview of the decisions facing council members.
Charter revisions
A solid couple weeks of play recently wasn’t enough to propel the Plainville High School boys basketball team into the state tournament. The Blue Devils, who won three of their final five games and pushed another to overtime, ended their 2021-22 campaign with a record of 6-14. Eight wins are needed to advance to the postseason. Pictured: Plainville’s Joseph Vasques battles Maloney’ s Justice Hanna in Meriden. Aaron Flaum, Record-Journal
Mother launches custom design business By Nicole Zappone Special to The Citizen
PLAINVILLE — For local resident Kaitlyn Cote, the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it financial strain. The young mother needed to earn some extra income, but with two chil-
dren to care for – including a newborn – her options were limited. So Cote put her energy into creating unique shirts, cups, signs, car decals, and more, which she sells online. She calls the enterprise Katie’s Custom Designs. And since
the small business is run out of her home, she’s able to watch her kids while she works. Cote’s story brings to mind the old saying: Necessity is the mother of invention. See Design, A2
Town Council Chairwoman Victoria Triano, a Republican, plans to form a charter revision committee and had the town attorney outline the procedure for doing so. She referred to charter issues she’d like to address but didn’t specify them at the meeting. Democrats questioned why Republicans weren’t talking about the charter changes they had in mind.
“I think we’re a council of nine. The conversation should be held among nine of us,” said Chris Palmieri, a Democratic councilor. He suggested the town reconsider minority representation rules, which determine the maximum number of members one party can have on a board. Triano said the council will discuss charter issues at the upcoming meeting and that she didn’t want to add more items to an already full agenda. On Thursday, Feb. 10 Triano said she didn’t want to reveal the “one or two” charter issues until the next meeting so council members could hear the issues together. The charter question angered Jack Perry, a Democratic councilor. “You obviously know what the intent is … This gets back to a dictatorship. This is not a democracy. Southington needs to wake up,” he said. “This is like our See Council, A8
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