Volume 17, Issue 4
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
Friday, May 7, 2010
Education budget down by 18 votes How does your garden grow? By Sue VanDerzee Town Times
An abysmal turnout of around 22 percent of the voters in District 13 narrowly defeated the District 13 $34.8 million education budget by a vote of 876-858. As has been customary in recent years, Durham voters approved the budget, 611-485, but Middlefield voters defeated it, 247-391. The margin of defeat was 18 votes. Board of Education chair Tom Hennick said that he was “saddened, both by the defeat and the poor turnout.” “When a budget is defeated so narrowly by such a small percentage of those eligible to vote, it is difficult to determine the message,” he explained. “I’m disappointed because I thought we presented a fair budget. I feel that some people who voted no did it on the basis of misinformation, and that’s too bad,” he concluded. Superintendent of Schools Sue Viccaro said after the vote, “We’ll look at everything and listen to what the residents have to say at our board meeting
next week, and then we’ll go from there.” She expects Hennick to allow a longer public comment session during this meeting to help set the board’s direction. Last year the budget was defeated twice, with Middlefield voters twice defeating the proposal by a greater margin than Durham voters approved it by. On the third try, both towns passed the budget. The defeated proposed net budget of $32.04 million, the amount needed to be raised by taxes, represents an increase over the current year’s net budget of 2.53 percent. However Middlefield’s share would rise by 2.9 percent because Middlefield’s proportion of students in the district has risen. The board will decide whether to cut the defeated proposal, and if so, where those cuts will be made, at their regular meeting next Wednesday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Coginchaug High School library. (This is a change in venue to accommodate more people.) They will also schedule a second referendum at that time.
Very well, thank you, if you happen to be a Master Gardener like Deb Carras, whose garden is pictured above, or Tina Gossner, whose garden is below. More starting on page 3.
State Senate approves ‘Fair’ bill
The State Senate unanimously approved legislation introduced by State Representative Matt Lesser (DDurham/Middlefield/Middletown) and State Senator Ed Meyer to assist the Durham Fair and other agricultural fairs across the state. Rep. Lesser introduced the legislation earlier this year at the request of the town of Durham and Durham Fair officials. It makes small but important changes to Connecticut’s 40-year-old ‘mass gatherings’ law, that would apply to about two dozen agricultural fairs beginning this year. “I am grateful that the Senate acted before the legislative session ends tomorrow—now we can all look forward to a successful fair this year,” he said. Meyer added: “My hope and expectation is that Gov. Rell will sign this popular and bipartisan bill and that the Durham Fair and other state fairs will benefit from its provisions.” The bill (HB 5446) would: Exempt towns and fairs from adopting onerous licensing requirements; Provide the town of Durham with additional information to ensure that
health and safety at the fair are protected; Allow towns to waive the mandatory bond requirements ($4 per attendee, an estimated $1 million bond for the Durham Fair); and Change the statutory requirement that one security guard be hired for every 750 attendees (an estimated 300 security guards per day for the Durham Fair) to a number arrived at in consultation with local police. At a public hearing held in March, State Senator Ed Meyer, Durham First Selectman Laura Francis and Durham Fair Association president Eugene Chiappetta provided testimony in favor of the bill. The Durham Fair is the largest agricultural fair in Connecticut and the largest fair in North America without a paid manager or staff. It is owned and operated by the Durham Agricultural Fair Association, Inc., a private, not-for-profit organization. This year, the Durham Fair will be held September 23, 24, 25 and 26. For more information, visit: www. durhamfair.com. Compiled by S.V.
Top photo by Stephanie Wilcox; bottom photo by Judy Moeckel
In this issue ... Arts.............................................26-27 Calendar ...........................................4 Devil’s Advocate........................15-22 Durham Briefs ...............................12 Honor Rolls.....................................34 Libraries.........................................32 Middlefield Briefs .....................13-14
Mother’s Day .............................24-25 Obituary .........................................28 Real Estate......................................28 Spotlight .........................................29 Sports ..............................................35 We’re on the web at: www.towntimes.com