SOUTHINGTON Taxes
could rise as much as 6.62 percent in the next fiscal year, a result of inflation, rising rates, increased pension costs and previous low tax increases according to town officials.
In Town Manager Mark Sciota’s budget, spending
SOUTHINGTON
A Lebanon library leader will take over as head of Southington’s library and Barnes Museum this month.
Town leaders picked Matthew Earls, Jonathan Trumbull Library director, to take over the local role vacated by former li-
brary director Kristi Sadowski. She resigned in October citing health concerns.
Earls had been a library director in Lebanon for five years. In addition to experience running a library, the town’s human resources director Michelle Passamano said he’ll help guide the library
See Library, A9
increases total $12.5 million for general government, schools and debt service. To fund the proposed total budget of $173.2 million, the tax rate would have to rise by 6.62%.
Town finance officials say they hope to bring that number down but warned that residents will be paying noticeably more in taxes next year.
“I expect it to come down slightly, but I expect the remaining tax increase to be significant. I don’t see it going down to 2%,” said John Leary, the finance board chairman and a Republican.
“I believe that when we’re done with it,” he said, “it’ll be perceived by many to be a large tax increase.”
See Taxes, A14
SHELTON There was an upset special in the first round of the CIAC Division III ice hockey state tournament on Monday. It just didn’t belong to Southington-CoginchaugWestbrook.
On a night that saw the No. 15 Rocky Hill hockey co-op take down No. 2 New Milford, the No. 16 Southington co-op fell to top-seeded Masuk 8-3 at the Sports Center of CT. Senior Kyle Suftin led the See Hockey, A8
Record-Journal staff
NEWINGTON There was no three-peat Saturday at Callahan’s Bowl-O-Rama.
A group of area high school bowlers from Plainville’s Lessard Lanes was denied a third straight CIAC state bowling championship. The squad finished third behind 2023 champ Norwich Tech and runner-up Fairfield.
Competing against 25 teams from across Connecticut, the Lessard Lanes team combined high school bowlers from Southington, Waterbury, New Britain, Plainville and Bristol.
Lessard Lanes lost in the semifinals to Norwich Tech, 181-151. Norwich Tech, runner-up to Lessard a year ago, then beat Fairfield, 194-148, to claim the championship.
Maloney was also in the field Saturday. The Meriden school fielded five teams that finished fourth, eighth, 15th, 18th and 22nd.
The Maloney squad that finished fourth featured two bowlers from Platt, juniors Trevor Cannata and Tyler Cessario.
Cannata, the kicker on the Platt football team, won the 2021 Pepsi Youth individual state championship.
On Saturday, Cannata and Cessario were joined by Maloney seniors Dylan Miller, Thomas Sullivan and Kyle Valentine on the leading Maloney squad, which just missed advancing to the single-elimination semifinals, finishing 118 pins behind Norwich Tech after 10 games of qualifying.
Competing in the Baker-style alternating shot format, Maloney knocked down 1,699 pins in averaging just under 170 a game. Norwich Tech, with an average of 181.7, qualified as the No. 3 seed in the semifinals behind Fairfield (185) and Lessard Lanes (182.8).
Lessard Lanes was represented by three bowlers who were aboard for last year’s title: Southington sophomore Sean Buck, Waterbury Career Academy senior Joey Stango and Plainville senior Jeff Wasieleuski. Joining the trio this year were Southington senior Chase Krenke, Bristol Eastern sophomore Briana Provenzano and New Britain’s Tay Bernier, a freshman at Hartford’s University High School of Science and Engineering.
See Bowl, A7
Join this interactive class Wednesday, March 15, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. to learn more about how our body responds to stress/distress and different relaxation techniques. Presented by Christine Solimini-Swift, exercise physiologist. Registration required. Call 1-855442-4373 or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/VirtualClasses.
Cedar Mountain Commons, an independent and assisted living community located at 3 John H. Stewart Drive, Newington, will host an open house Sunday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration is recommended. To reserve a time, call 860-665-7901.
Arbor Rose at Jerome Home, an independent and assisted living community located at 975 Corbin Ave., New Britain, will host an open house Tuesday, March 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. Registration is recommended. To reserve a time, call 860-229-3707.
Mulberry Gardens, an independent and assisted living community located at 58 Mulberry St., Southington, will host an open house Wednesday, March 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. Registration is recommended. To reserve a time, call 860-276-1020.
The World Health Organization estimates that over 250 million people worldwide live with Lymphedema or chronic swelling. It is a disease that can cause pain, limit mobility and cause us to be insecure about ourselves. Friday, March 31,
from 11 a.m. to noon, join a Certified Lymphedema Therapist from Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network, to learn more about the causes and effects of swelling, ways to manage it. Call 1-855-442-4373 or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/ VirtualClasses.
Looking for a safe space? Talk to a professional about questions and concerns you may have regarding dementia, Fridays from 2 to 3 p.m. This call-in support group is facilitated by Kristine Johnson, dementia specialist, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging. Call 1646-876-9923 (Meeting ID 92408181873#).
Are you a caregiver and feeling overburdened? Are you responsible for making financial decisions, managing changes in behavior or even
helping a loved one get dressed in the morning? Join this call-in support group Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. Facilitated by Michelle Wyman, dementia specialist. Call 1-646-876-9923 (Meeting ID 92408181873#).
Every
3/26
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With over 35 years of experience as a PA, he prides himself on his kind and empathetic care.
Stephen is excited to join doctors Peter Harris, David Roy, Oosman Tariq and Ashley Bogue, PA-C to continue to serve the Plainville community.
For an apponitment, call 860.747.5766 or visit starlingphysicians.com for information.
By Keith M. Phaneuf
The Connecticut Mirror
Connecticut hospitals faced their worst year financially in 2022 since before the coronavirus struck, facing shrinking revenues, sicker patients and surging labor and other costs, according to a new study released Tuesday by the Connecticut Hospital Association.
Hospitals lost money in 2022, with expenses outpacing revenues by about 1%. Across the industry, that’s down $164 million from 2019, when hospitals enjoyed a positive operating margin of 4.6%.
“Hospitals and health systems are navigating unprecedented financial challenges, and the pandemic
continues to have a lasting impact on health care across the state,” said Jennifer Jackson, hospital association CEO, who unveiled an analysis from Kaufman, Hall & Associates, a Chicago-based health care management consulting firm, during an online news conference.
“With any business, there’s only so long you can go with not having a profit or having a negative margin,” said Susan Martin, chief financial officer for the Middlesex Health.
Both Jackson and Martin said these pressures are forcing hospitals to curtail programs and defer capital investments, even as many communities are asking them to offer more.
“The pressures are continuing. They feel unrelenting,” Jackson said. “We do need to be concerned about what’s down the road.”
Several factors have combined to squeeze hospitals
since the coronavirus arrived in 2020, and while case rates have declined, fiscal challenges aren’t retreating, according to the report.
The Kaufman Hall report found annual expenses by 2022 were up $3.5 billion across all Connecticut hospitals compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Labor costs in general are one of the worst culprits. Salary and benefits costs are up 20%, as workers in all fields not just in health care are less apt to accept the health care risks of working in a hospital. A 40-year high in inflation, reached in the summer of 2022, also put significant pressure on compensation, pushing salary and benefit costs more than $1.3 billion above pre-pandemic levels.
Contract labor costs for hospitals are up $519 million or 61% from those in 2019.
Inflation also has taken a toll on drug and medical supplies which are up $1.1 billion annually from prepandemic levels while two major revenue sources
Press Release
Plainville Community Schools is excited to offer another year of the district’s preschool program at no cost to families.
The Plainville Community Schools’ NAEYC accredited preschool program is designed to prepare students for the transition to kindergarten at age 5. Children who will be 4 years of age by Dec. 31, 2023 are eligible for preschool. Children who will be 5 years of age by Dec. 31, 2023 are eligible for the kindergarten program.
Preschool and kindergarten classes will follow the elementary school hours, 8:50 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the school district calendar beginning on Thursday, Aug. 31.
Transportation for preschool and kindergarten students will be provided based on school district transportation guidelines for Plainville elementary schools. Stu-
dents who live or attend private daycare or other child care programs outside of the designated busing zone for their school will not be provided with transportation.
Preschool class placement is on a first-come, first-served basis. If the preschool program reaches capacity, children will be placed on a waiting list in the order in which the completed registrations are submitted.
Students on the waiting list may be offered a seat at a different school from their geographic “home school” and will need to provide their own transportation if they accept that seat.
Registration information may be found on the school district website, plainvilleschools.org, under the Student Registration icon. If you are interested in registering your child for the 2023-2024 school year, contact Central Registration at 860-793-6301, option 3.
To our valued existing and soon-to-be patients: Your health is very important to us. Your loyalty to us is reflected in our loyalty to you. We know your names and your needs because we are the community pharmacy.
We wouldn't be doing our job to the best of our ability if we were only available part of the time. We have two full time pharmacists on duty.
When you need a prescription filled or have a question, we're here for you. Always.
Spring 2023 Registration for
Spring Teams now forming for the 2018 SEASON
Boys & Girls born between 2016 & 2020
Boys & Girls born between 1999 & 2014
Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church, 200 Summer St., Plantsville, is selling homemade pierogi (cheese, sauerkraut, potato and cheese, and sweet cabbage).
Call Kathy at 860-977-5010 to place your order.
The Plainville Wind Ensemble presents an all-John Williams concert Sunday, March 12, 2 p.m., at Plainville High School, 47 Robert Holcomb Way. Directed by Ken Bagley, “A Tribute to John Williams”
will encompass several popular pieces, including four from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Harry Potter Symphonic Suite and A Hymn to New England. The theme from “Schindler’s List” will feature guest violin soloist Shannon Webster. Attendees at the performance will be greeted at the door by Darth Vader’s storm troopers and other Star Wars characters. Also, concert-goers are encouraged to come dressed as a character from a John Williams movie. Admission is free.
The 50th reunion planning committee for the Plainville High School Class of 1973 is looking for classmates. If you are a 1973 PHS graduate, or know of one, email contact information to crczellecz@ comcast.net.
The Town of Southington Veterans Service Office is located in Town Hall, 75 Main St. Veterans may seek assis-
tance with an array of issues. Office hours are Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, and the first and last Thursday of the month, 5 to 7 p.m. To make an appointment outside of these hours, leave a message at 860-276-6299 or e-mail veteranscommittee@southington.org.
Main Street Community Foundation invites nonprofit organizations serving Bristol, Burlington, Plainville, Plymouth, Southington and/or Wolcott to apply for grants through its General Grant Cycle. To learn about the application process, guidelines and eligibility criteria, visit mainstreetfoundation.org. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 24.
From A2
None of the Lessard Lanes bowlers go to schools that field a bowling team. As a result, the CIAC allowed Lessard Lanes to sponsor teams of high-school age kids, all of whom bowl in the alley’s junior league.
Lessard Lanes fielded a second team for the CIAC championships. That squad finished seventh. It included Skyler Scott, Ryan Fontaine, Marykate Stango, Cayden Mulanny, Gavin Kremers and Tyler Jordan.
The five Maloney teams featured a total of 26 bowlers representing the Meriden area.
Comprising the eighth-place team were Logan Brazel, Madelyn Fitzgerald, Dylan Marchittto, Alex and Ethan Nedinski, and Josh Scaramuzzo. This group averaged 138.4.
Finishing 15th were the Maloney fivesome of Isaias Barreto, Braeden Crispino, Colin Mayhew, Tyler Owen and Anthony Valerie.
The defending state champs from Plainville’s Lessard Lanes huddle up during Saturday’s CIAC bowling championships.
Ron Buck, Special to the Record-Journal
Platt’s Will Berthiaume, along with Maloney students Griffin DePalma, Mason Jones, Ayden Jones and Aiden Valerie, finished 18th.
Maloney also took 22nd with Emily Asplund, Rylie Benigni, Addison Markoja, Leah Marrero and Peyton Pulaski.
Last month, Maloney hosted a tournament at Apple Valley Lanes in Plantsville and the same team that finished fourth Saturday was fourth in the pre-CIAC championship event.
From A1
Panthers with a hat trick. Nicholas Kondub, Angelo Michetti, Christian LaBella, Luke Kondub and Colin Deering added single goals as Masuk improved to 18-1-2 and advanced to the quar-
terfinals to face No. 9 Hall (12-9-0).
Senior Drew Nafis led the Blue Knights with two goals. His twin brother Jake also scored as Southington’s season came to a close at 6-15 after an 0-11 start.
Both Nafis brothers scored in the second period to cut a
Captain Drew Nafis, sitting between teammates Kyle Merritt, left, and Jackson Bafundo, scored two goals in the Southington Coop’s seasonending loss to No. 1-seeded Masuk in the CIAC Division III state hockey tournament Monday night in Shelton.
Bill
“We expected to come out on top,” said Southington coach Bob Allan. “We’re a lot better team than our
Shettle, Special to the Record-Journal
seed showed. I think we showed that in the second period, coming back in the game, narrowing the gap to two goals.
“Our guys didn’t quit,” Allan added. “We played against the top team and just weren’t able to overcome their fast start.”
Indeed, the Panthers wasted little time getting on the board. After the teams exchanged a shot on net in the first minute, junior Nicholas Kondub scored in the second minute of play. Senior Andrew Scalia was credited with the assist.
A mere 36 seconds later, the Panthers extended their lead to 2-0, with Suftin scoring
See Hockey, A15
construction project. Southington is designing a new library to replace the aging building on Main Street.
“He has expertise in library design, library construction, and landscaping,” Passamano wrote in a statement on Earls’ hiring.
Passamano announced the hiring on Thursday, March 2. Library board members were on the selection committee that evaluated candidates.
Tina Riccio, library board chairman and Republican, said the prospect of overseeing the library’s move into a new building was part of what drew Earls to the job.
“He comes with a lot of experience, a lot of enthusiasm,” she said.
Riccio said the incoming director was eager to establish programming that tapped the interests of residents.
“I think the community is really going to like him, I think the li-
brary staff is really going to like him,” she said.
Earls wrote that he was honored to lead Southington’s library.
“I think the library is the most important building in town,” he wrote. “The library is a great place already with programs, a wonderful collection and a center of the community.”
“Visit the library every week, and something magical happens. Kids become readers. Neighbors become friends. The library has something for everyone, ” Earls wrote.
Joanna Kelleher, a library board Democrat, said she was excited about his hiring.
“As the director of the Early Childhood Collaborative of Southington, I love his quote that referred to the kids,” she said.
Following Sadowski’s resignation, Town Manager Mark Sciota took over as library and Barnes Museum director. Earls will start on March 17.
jbuchanan@record-journal.com
203-317-2230
Twitter: @JBuchananRJ
The Connecticut Mirror
Unexpected fault lines emerged Monday in Connecticut’s urban gun-control coalition during a 12-hour hearing that tested the General Assembly’s appetite for new restrictions on firearms and its willingness to confront illegal gun possession.
Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, emerged as an obstacle to the Democratic mayors trying to target repeat offenders that police and prosecutors say are responsible for a majority of gun violence.
The mayors of Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury, where 80% of fa-
tal and non-fatal shootings occur, are seeking passage of legislation aimed at people accused of gun crimes while on probation or free on bail.
“In 2022, the percentage of individuals arrested for fatal and nonfatal shootings in Hartford who were on pretrial release, probation or parole was a staggering 58%,” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin said. “In Waterbury, that number was 70%.”
Legislation proposed by the mayors would create a new crime of “serious firearm offense” and subject repeat of-
fenders to a higher threshold for bail and an immediate revocation of probation or parole.
In sharp exchanges with Bronin and New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, Winfield complained that the bill was too broadly drawn and would create legal jeopardy for the many men who carry illegal firearms for their own protection.
“What person on the streets of Hartford who’s spending time out there, or who was in a neighborhood who used to spend time out there,
doesn’t have an illegal firearm?” Winfield asked Bronin.
Bronin seemed incredulous.
“Senator, I don’t know how to answer that,” he replied.
“There are many people in my community who are not carrying illegal firearms.”
“Not everybody in your community,” Winfield conceded, but the ones “who might be out on the block, as we say, who might be doing things we don’t want them to do, but are not the people that are shooting up the community. We know those people. I would assume the mayor of Hartford would know what I’m talking about.”
The mayors’ bill was one of four before the Judiciary Committee: Two, including one proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont, would impose new restrictions and requirements on the sale and possession of firearms. A third proposed by Republicans would give gun owners and prospective gun buyers new rights.
Bronin, who testified via video, as did Elicker, said new gun controls were pointless without action
See Gun, A11
against repeat gun offenders.
“If we don’t believe that the violation of those laws repeatedly should carry consequences, then I think those provisions are empty gestures,” Bronin said.
The mayors’ bill, House Bill 6834, would not deny bail, which would violate the Connecticut Constitution.
But it would allow prosecutors to require certain defendants to post at least 30% of a bond set by a judge not the 7% often required by bail bond companies, which guarantee the rest.
It would define a serious gun offense as “possession of a stolen firearm or a firearm that is altered in a manner that renders the firearm unlawful, criminal possession of a firearm after having been convicted of a felony or the act of brandishing or shooting a firearm while threatening another person.”
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Winfield, whose home in New Haven once was struck by gunfire, told Elicker that illegally possessing a gun on the streets of New Haven or Hartford should not expose young men to higher bail or the loss of parole.
“There are young folks who are out there who, whether for their sense of protection or for other reasons, have a gun,” Winfield said. “I don’t think any of those guns are legal. If they get in trouble two times with that gun, they fall under this.”
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Culminating their hard work in completing a research project and presentation, second graders at Plainville’s Frank T. Wheeler Elementary School recently enjoyed a non-fiction reading celebration. The Wheeler students researched information about inspiring people such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, and many more, and created biography projects to answer text-dependent questions and to retell non-fiction books. At the conclusion of the project, families were invited to Wheeler to view the students’ projects via presentations. Pictured above: Reese Lindley and her father.
SOUTHINGTON - Ann
PLAINVILLE - Gary F. Sirois, lifelong Plainville resident and proud Army veteran, entered eternal rest in Heaven on March 1, 2023.
Gary was born on August 4, 1968, son to Gisele (Lizotte) Sirois and the late Reginald Sirois. He enlisted in the United States Army, serving for over 20 years and retiring from the U.S. Army Reserve as a Command Sergeant Major. He was a highly decorated Veteran; among many other awards, he also received the Bronze Star Medal for his service at Camp Victory, Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He will be remembered for his sparkling smile, sharp sense of humor, devotion to his family, and commitment to keeping everything “dress right dress.” He enjoyed exercising, spending time outdoors and by the family pool, cruising in his classic car and on his motorcycles, and listening to Led Zeppelin. He leaves his family and friends with many cherished memories and a legacy of love.
Gary is survived by his mother, Gisele Sirois; his brother, Scott Sirois, and his wife Liz; his daughter, Samantha Pawloski, and her husband Dave; his daughter, Melissa Sirois, and her boyfriend Klajdi Bajlliu - along with many close friends. He
is predeceased by his father, Reginald Sirois.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 or by going to www. woundedwarriorproject. org are welcomed.
Family and friends gathered on Monday, March 6 from 5 to 8 PM at Plainville Funeral Home, 81 Broad St., Plainville.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, March 7 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 94 Broad St., Plainville. Military honors were accorded following the Mass. Burial in the CT State Veterans Cemetery will be held privately. For more information or to leave online expressions of sympathy, please visit www. PlainvilleFuneralHome. com.
Ann M. Greene
M. (Shabon) Greene, 96, of Southington, beloved widow of the late Constantinos “Connie” Greene, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the Southington Care Center. Ann was born in Southington on May 11, 1926 and was the daughter of the late Michael and Anna (Gladke) Shabon. Ann had been a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church where she also belonged to the Immaculata Women’s Club. Along with her husband, Ann owned Greene’s Toy and Hobby Shop in Milldale, and later, Greene’s Coins, Stamps, Art Supplies in the Oxley Building on Center Street.
SOUTHINGTON-AnnM. (Shabon) Greene, 96, of Southington, beloved widowofthelateConstantinos “Connie” Greene, passed away peacefullyon Thursday, March2, 2023,at the Southington Care Center. Ann was born in SouthingtononMay 11,1926and was the daughterof the late Michaeland Anna (Gladke) Shabon.
Ann had been a parishioner ofImmaculate Conception Church where she alsobelonged totheImmaculata Women’s Club. Along withher husband, Ann ownedGreene’s Toy and Hobby Shopin Milldale, andlater, Greene’s Coins,Stamps, ArtSupplies inthe OxleyBuilding on Center Street.
Ann was very talented, was a member of the Southington Arts and Crafts Association, and loved to oil paint. She also worked for The Step Saver for a time, illustrating ads.
Ann was very talented, was a member of the Southington Arts and Crafts Association,and
In her leisure time, Ann enjoyed spending time in her backyard with her children and grandchildren and was known for her green thumb as she tended her gardens.
Ann is survived by her six children: two sons, Russell and Bruce Greene, both of Southington, and her four daughters: Deborah Kania, Rebecca Lamarre (Nelson), both of Southington,
loved tooil paint.She also worked for The Step Saver for a time, illustrating ads.
In herleisure time,Ann enjoyed spendingtime in her backyardwith herchildren and grandchildren andwas knownforher greenthumbasshetended her gardens.
Annissurvivedbyhersix children:two sons,Russell and BruceGreene, bothof Southington, andher four daughters: DeborahKania,
Jessica Penfield (Ken) of Niantic, and Lydia Demers (Forrest) of Newington. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Ann was pre-deceased by her sisters, Marie Patla, Helen Brouillard and Kathleen Greene; grandson, Damian Greene; and by her sonin-law, John Kania. At the family’s request, all services will be held privately. Ann’s family would like to thank the staff of the Southington Care Center for the compassionate care they
The DellaVecchia Funeral Home, 211 N. Main St. Southington, CT 06489, is honored to be assisting the family with Ann’s arrangements. To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.
Rebecca Lamarre(Nelson), both ofSouthington, JessicaPenfield(Ken)ofNiantic, and LydiaDemers (Forrest) of Newington.She also leavesbehind ninegrandchildrenand severalgreatgrandchildren, nieces and nephews. Ann was pre-deceased byher sisters, Marie Patla, Helen Brouillard andKathleen Greene; grandson, Damian Greene; andby hersonin-law,John Kania. Atthe family’s request, all services will be held privately. Ann’s family wouldliketothankthestaff ofthe SouthingtonCare Centerforthecompassionate care they provided.
TheDellaVecchiaFuneral Home, 211 N.Main St. Southington,CT 06489,is honored tobe assistingthe familywith Ann’s arrangements. Toleave anonline condolence forthe family, please visit www.dellavecchiasouthington.com.
The usual causes of increased taxes, such as contractual raises for town and school employees, were joined by a host of other factors.
Just like households in Southington, town government is also paying more for supplies, fuel and everything else due to inflation. School bus transportation will cost about $1 million more next year while costs for town vehicle fuel will rise nearly $200,000.
As the pandemic ended, town and school employees scheduled more doctor’s visits which increased the town’s self-insurance costs. Those costs are expected to rise $3.4 million next year.
Southington’s employee pensions are part of the Municipal Employees Retirement System which is man-
aged by the state. Town officials are expecting that the state will require an additional $605,000 to the system than originally budgeted.
Leary said without that additional contribution, the tax rate increase would be closer to 6%. He’s looking into the reason why the state is requiring more money but expects that its due to the stock market downturn and the declining value of the system’s assets.
Rising interest rates also affect the town’s debt, a portion of which is variable. There’s both more debt due to previously approved projects and higher payments on some of that debt, resulting in $2.3 million in additional debt service payments next year.
Kevin Beaudoin, a finance board Democrat, called this upcoming fiscal year a “ perfect storm” of hits to the
town’s budget. A large tax increase follows years of low or no tax increases which he said has caught up to Southington residents.
“We’ve had for the last four years almost a zero, close to no increase in taxes,” Beaudoin said.
Both town and school officials told finance leaders that the budgets presented just fund what’s currently offered and don’t expand programs.
“There’s no new employees,” Beaudoin said. “Both budgets that are presented to us, they say this is keeping services as is. This is the cost of the increase of everything going up this year.”
The tax increase would be even worse if it wasn’t for healthy economic development in town.
“We’re just fortunate that our grand list (the total of taxable property) keeps going up about 2% each year,” Beaudoin said. “Even in a downturn, we still do well with business activity.”
Finance officials can adjust the budget before sending it for final approval to the Town Council.
“We would never pass that as is. That’s a major impact to the taxpayer,” Beaudoin said of a 6.6% tax increase. “I don’t think anyone thinks this is going to pass.”
“I don’t think that’s possible, to have a 6% increase in one year, ” he said.
Ed Pocock Jr., a finance board Republican, was unsure how much of an increase residents could handle. While he understood the cost spikes facing the town, he’s familiar with the situation of elderly residents as a Calendar House bus driver. He’s also already gotten emails from concerned taxpayers.
“There are some irate people out there, and rightfully so. It’s very hard to keep managing a home,” he said, with these rising costs.
his first of the night assisted by junior James Cybart.
Masuk made it 3-0 with a little under three minutes left in the first period. Senior Angelo Michetti recorded that goal off assists from Suftin and senior Colin Deering.
The Panthers outshot the Blue Knights 10-4 in the first period and continued to push the attack to start the second. Just over two minutes in, freshman Luke Kondub scored to give Masuk a big 4-0 lead. Deering earned his second assist on the play.
Though down by four, Southington was not down and out. The Blue Knights got two much-needed goals in a four-minute span. With
6½ minutes left in the second period, Drew Nafis scored an unassisted goal.
Southington maintained the mojo and scored another goal four minutes later, with Jake Nafis scoring off assists from his brother Drew and junior Tyler Schmarr.
“We knew we could [get back into the game]; I don’t think the belief ever stopped for this team right up until the final buzzer,” Allan said.
“They played us really tough in the first period; they took us out of our game. We came out in the second period, played our game, and then we got the results for it in the period.”
Its lead halved to 4-2, and with social media abuzz about Rocky Hill’s budding 3-0 upset in New Milford, Masuk responded with urgency in the third period.
Suftin scored his second goal one minute into the final frame to restore a threegoal lead and, 90 seconds later, sophomore Christian LaBella made it 6-2 off a feed from Suftin.
Two minutes later, it was Deering lighting the lamp for a 7-2 lead.
With 4:20 left in the game, the Blue Knights scored their last goal of the night and, as it turned out, of the season. Drew Nafis got it on the power play assisted by Gabe Mohr and Nikolas Allan.
Suftin answered with his third goal, completing the hat trick on the power play off assists from Deerin and LaBella.
The Panthers haven’t lost since suffering a 7-6 loss to Branford on Dec. 21. They set a program record with their 17 regular-season wins.
As for Blue Knights, they will look to prepare for next season.
Coach Allan is anticipating the return of key players such as Tyler Schmarr, starting goalie Max Scirocco, Jack Ford, Jasen Hurley and Nik Allan among other underclassmen.
Southington will graduate Mohr, the Nafis twins, John Frechette, Tom Czarkosky, Eli Vernick and Cody Pettola. The team had a turnaround season toward the end of the year after a 2-18 season a year ago and has hopes of being better in 2023-24.
Our Annual Best of Awards reader’s poll is back. This is your chance to nominate and vote for your favorite people, places and businesses in your local area. It’s a great way to support your local businesses.
NOMINATE: Nominate your favorite businesses online March 9 through March 19.
VOTE: Online voting begins April 13 and ends Sunday, April 23.
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In a tax impact analysis from Sciota, he wrote that taxes for a home assessed at 200,000 would rise from $5,826 to $6,212 with the 6.62% tax increase.
While hopeful that the increase could be mitigated,
Leary said the town could only dodge so many of the costs coming at it.
“There’s not much that’s going to be done to make this budget in line with past budgets,” he said. “This is going to be a significant increase from what people are used to.” jbuchanan@record-journal.com
from the public sector continue to lag well behind the cost of doing business.
Jackson said the federal Medicare program for the elderly currently covers about $1.1 billion less than the service costs Connecticut hospitals incur.
Medicaid, a federal program administered and funded partly by states to serve poor patients, yielded a similar $993 million gap in 2022. Further complicating matters, hospitals in general are dealing with sicker patients, with the average length of stay up 9% since 2019.
Labor shortages sometimes prevent the timely discharge of patients from hospitals, leading to increased expenses for facilities without a matching boost in revenue.
Many people avoided physicals, screenings and other wellness visits during the pandemic, allowing health care problems to advanced unnoticed, said Dr. Syed Hussain, chief clinical officer for Trinity Health of New England.
And while Hussain said there’s no definitive evidence yet that the coronavirus pandemic has dramatically worsened chronic lung and heart ailments, he added that chronic diseases are on the rise.
This mix of wellness, operational and fiscal challenges doesn’t come with an easy solution.
But Jackson said a fix almost certainly will take years, and the industry and state officials must begin developing a holistic solution now.
Some of the initial steps are easy, she said. These include revisiting Medicaid rates and avoiding some proposals that would place more fiscal pressure on hospitals.
Jackson cited several concepts advanced this year by Gov. Ned Lamont or by legislators, including new restrictions on the facility fees
that hospitals can charge, imposing new staffing ratio mandates and capping costs hospitals can recoup for services delivered by providers outside of a patient’s insurance network.
Lamont’s budget spokesman, Chris Collibee, said Tuesday that “The governor is committed to driving down the cost of healthcare for our residents while improving the quality of care they receive. Hospitals and insurance companies must be a part of the solution. We look forward to ongoing conversations that achieve those goals.”
The co-chairs of the General Assembly’s Public Health Committee, Sen. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, and Rep. Cristin McCarthy-Vahey, D-Fairfield, both said greater investments in the health care workforce development are essential.
Calling it the “first big ripple effect of the pandemic,” Anwar, who is a physician, said the entire spectrum of the
health care workforce is facing rising labor costs and staff shortages a problem so severe the industry alone cannot correct it.
And McCarthy-Vahey added the state needs to look not only at ways to help hospitals with staffing issues directly but also to invest in higher education.
“We know that this is going to have to be an all-systems approach to the issue,” she said.
It wasn’t clear Tuesday whether that approach would include revisiting a controversial state tax on hospitals first enacted in 2011 that led to a multi-year lawsuit waged by the industry.
Connecticut levied hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes against hospitals starting in the 2011-12 fiscal year, but it was supposed to be a tax in name only.
The state originally pledged to redistribute and return all of those funds to the indus-
try as part of a complicated system that most states employ to leverage more federal Medicaid dollars.
But over time hospitals began to pay far more than they received back, while the state came out far ahead.
The lawsuit was settled in 2019. Yet, as Jackson noted Tuesday, the industry still gets back most of the $850 million it pays annually but doesn’t come out ahead.
The state gains roughly $600 million in extra Medicaid funds from Washington.
And while Jackson didn’t say Tuesday whether the indus-
try is looking for the report to spark tax reform, she added that “Hospitals remain one of the largest taxpayers in the state of Connecticut” and yet Medicaid payments to hospitals fall nearly $1 billion short of covering the cost of treating poor patients.
On February 28, 2023, the Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission took the following actions:
APPROVED a Site Plan Modification application for Jewett Construction Co. (Gengras VW) for a service canopy in the rear of an existing auto dealership at 245 New Britain Avenue in a GC Zone.
APPROVED a Special Exception application for Dan Covaleski for a 2,400 square foot automobile repair facility at 0 Neal Court in a GI Zone.
Respectfully submitted, Matthew Weimer, Secretary, Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission. Dated at Plainville, CT this 1st day of March, 2022. R259567
On March 1, 2023 the Town of Plainville Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission took the following action:
Approved a permit for activity within the upland review area (Pump Station Rebuild) for the Town of Plainville at 0 Shuttle Meadow Road (MBL 43-J-18).
Respectfully submitted, Patrick Kilby, Chairman Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission
Dated at Plainville, CT this 2nd day of March 2023
R259599
Planning and Zoning Commission
The Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chase Auditorium of the Plainville Public Library, 56 East Main Street, Plainville, CT to consider the following items:
1. PZ 01-23 #02 – Site Plan and Special Exception for the Town of Plainville to construct/reconstruct a sanitary sewer pump station at 0 Suttle Meadow Road (MBL 48J-18) in an R-11 Zone.
2. PZ 01-23 #03 – Special Exception for Premier Cricket Academy LLC to operate an indoor recreation facility at 86 Whiting Street in a GC Zone.
3. PZ 01-23 #04 – Zoning Text Amendment for Fahey & Landolina Attorneys LLC to revise Art 9 and Sec 2.02.12.7 to define and add car wash use to the GC Zone.
4. PZ 02-23 #05 – Zoning Text Amendment for the Town of Plainville to revise Art 9 and Sec 2.04.A to define and amend drive through facilities regulations where permitted.
Information is available for public inspection in the Planning Department. At this hearing, interested persons may appear and be heard, and written communications may be received. Respectfully submitted, Mathew Weimer, Secretary, Plainville Planning and Zoning Commission. Dated at Plainville, CT February 21, 2023.
R259208
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Skrips Auto Body is offering a unique opportunity to an entry level, detail-oriented individual that is willing to grow with our company. We are looking to train someone who has some basic automotive knowledge, and a strong willingness to advance in the Auto Collision Industry. We offer a clean, safe, and up to date facility that has a commitment and strong desire to share our knowledge of this ever changing automotive industry to the right candidate. We offer health insurance, 401k, uniforms, paid vacation as well as continual ongoing training to keep you in the know.
Skrips has been a well-respected and recognized leader in the collision industry for 45 years, and we plan on continuing on the same path, and hopefully you can assist in our goals..
Skrips Auto Body Inc.
104 Cheshire Rd. Prospect 203-758-6605
Bob@Skripsautobody. com
Contact Tony at 203-807-9908.
Skrips Auto Body is searching for a qualified collision A or B tech, that is detail oriented, and interested in working in high quality shop. Applicant should be capable of performing quality repairs on a continual basis. We are a Non DRP shop using only OEM parts. We offer health ins, 401k, paid vacations, holiday pay, ongoing training, etc.
Skrips has been a well-respected and recognized leader in the collision industry for 45 years, and we plan on continuing on the same path, and hopefully you can assist in our goals..
Skrips Auto Body Inc.
104 Cheshire Rd. Prospect 203-758-6605
Bob@Skripsautobody. com
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By Nicole Zappone The Citizen
PLAINVILLE – Sidelined for three years due to the pandemic, the Plainville Fire Company’s popular hot air balloon festival will return to Norton Park this summer.
Lieutenant George Davey, co-chairman of the 2023 festival, said the fire department expects big crowds for the 36th installment of the family-friendly event, which is slated to take place Aug. 25 and 26.
Usually held over three days, the hot air balloon festival draws thousands of spectators to Norton Park, and serves as the fire company’s biggest fundraiser.
The event usually brings in about $20,000. The funds go to help run the department, but are also donated back to the community.
Town Manager Mike Paulhus said, “The town is proud to partner with the Plainville Fire Company in organizing this festival.”
“This event is very popular and one that showcases the Plainville community as host to one of the largest and last remaining balloon festivals in the northeast,” Paulhus said.
Along with the balloons, the festival features entertainment, various vendors, a car show and a fireworks display. Admission is free.
Back in 2019, Santo Galatioto, former president of the Connecticut Lighter than Air Society, said the pilots and crew who bring their balloons to the festival view it as a way to engage the community and as a reunion to catch up and discuss their unique hobby.
Having so many disparate balloons lifting off from one place creates a unique spectacle as well.
"It's an incredible feeling and it's incredibly beautiful sight to see all of the different patterns on each balloon, because in this part of the country it is rare that you see two balloons that look alike," Galatioto said.