Volume 20, Number 4
www.TownTimes.com
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
Friday, May 16, 2014
Computerized poll book comes to Durham By Mark Dionne
Electronic poll books, or e-poll books, allow election workers to check in voters At the school budget ref- electronically on a tablet or erendum on May 6, voters in laptop. The conversion from Durham were among the few paper to computer seems in Connecticut checked in by simple enough, but according to Karen Cheyney, Demelectronic poll books. Town Times
ocratic Registrar of Voters in Durham, the e-poll books have several advantages beyond the obvious. “It allows you to check-in people quicker and more See Poll / Page 18
‘Unfortunate’ budget error changes Middlefield allocation By Mark Dionne Town Times
Mackenzie Geraci’s parents hope to raise awareness of her rare genetic disorder, Prader-Willi Syndrome. | Submitted Photo
Durham parents raise awareness of rare disorder By Mark Dionne
parents Christine and Andrew Geraci of Durham was not scientific. “He said When twin sisters Mack- she seemed ‘sloppy,’” said enzie and Cameron Geraci Christine Geraci.. At one month of age, were born on March 27, 2013, they were eight weeks around the same time Mackenzie first opened her early. Mackenzie experienced eyes, the diagnosis became difficulty right away. She more scientific - Pradhad to go on a ventilator, er-Willi Syndrome. Prader-Willi Syndrome and her lungs did not seem to get stronger. The doctor’s initial impression for See Awareness / Page 2
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A mistake in an Excel spreadsheet resulted in Middlefield town officials planning the 2014-2015 budget with a 2013-2014 figure for the town’s allocation. That outdated figure left Middlefield’s proposed budget about $144,000 short of the amount the town will need to pay for the RSD13 budget. Middlefield was informed of the mistake on Friday, May 9. At the town meeting to approve the budget on May 12, town officials decided to delay any decisions about how to alter the budget to a newly scheduled town meeting on Monday, May 19. Middlefield Board of Finance chair Bob Yamartino said that the delay would allow time for the public to absorb the information and for the BOF to consider options
MON-6:35PM
Moderator Ed Bailey stands with First Selectman Jon Brayshaw at a town meeting where Middlefield officials discussed a mistake that leaves their budget $144,000 short. at its meeting on Thursday, May 15. “What is in our budget is about $144,000 short of what our actual assessment is going to be,” Yamartino said. Central Office and the Board of Education took responsibility for the mistake. BOE chair
TUE-6:35PM
Kerrie Flanagan spoke at the town meeting and began by apologizing for the “unfortunate error.” Flanagan said, “The budget dollars that were communicated in the flier and voted
WED-6:35PM
See Budget / Page 17
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