Volume 20, Number 2
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
www.TownTimes.com
Friday, May 22, 2015
School budget reduced after down vote at referendum By Mark Dionne
library. The Board of Education accepted more than $350,000 in reThe first regular Board of Ed- ductions to the proposed budget, ucation meeting after voters re- which had a 2.21 percent increase, jected the proposed 2015-2016 and voted to move a 2015-2016 school budget at the May 5 ref- budget with a net increase of 1.21 erendum was better attended percent to referendum on June 1. “We were extremely disapthan any other this school year. With more than 40 people in the pointed in the [referendum] audience for the May 13 meet- turnout,” said BOE chair Kerrie ing, some spectators began the Flanagan, repeating sentiments meeting standing in the doorway expressed just after the referento the Memorial Middle School dum. “It’s very difficult for us to Town Times
The archery fields were crowded all day at the Girl Scouts of Connecticut’s Fun Fest. | Mark Dionne / Town Times
Girl Scouts’ Fun Fest returns to fairgrounds By Mark Dionne On Saturday, May 16, the Girl Scouts of Connecticut held their Fun Fest on the Durham Fairgrounds, drawing thousands of Girl Scouts and their families and friends for a celebration See Fun / Page 18
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See Budget / Page 7
Student leaders honored By Mark Dionne Town Times
Natalie Charette and Garrett D’Amato were named winners of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Student Leadership Award for 2015. See Award / Page 17
Town Times
SPECIAL EVENT
determine what the community is thinking” with such low turnout. Only 1,100 people voted on the school budget question, and defeated it by a 30-vote margin, 565 to 535. That narrow margin and low turnout “leaves the board in a difficult position,” Flanagan said. “We have to be respectful of the vote we had and the referendum went down.” The BOE’s Education Re-
Garrett D’Amato and Natalie Charette were selected as winners of CABE’s Student Leadership Award. | Mark Dionne / Town Times
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Tuesday, June 2, 2015 For more information and RSVP: Jackie LaPak | (203) 317-2271 jlapak@record-journal.com