Date: Fri 09-Jan-1998

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

selectmen-appointments

Full Text:

Selectmen Fill Board Vacancies

The Board of Selectmen made several appointments and reappointments at its

regular meeting Monday night.

Appointed as constables for the next two years were Democrats George Blantin

of 4 Aunt Park Lane and James R. Stiewing of 3 Taunton Lake Drive, and

Republicans Thomas Goosman of 15 Meadowbrook Road, Donald D. MacKenzie of 12

Housatonic Drive and Carl Swanhall of 16 Settlers Lane.

Robert E. Mitchell of 18 Bridge End Farm Lane, who is unaffiliated, and

Republican Donald MacKenzie of 12 Housatonic Drive were both appointed to

three-year terms on the Lake Zoar Authority.

Democrat Lawrence Haskel of Tamarack Road was appointed to a two-year term on

the Parks & Recreation Commission.

Appointed to two-year terms on the Pension Committee were Democrats Mark W.

Koratash of 18 Shepard Hill Road, Francis A. Krasowski of 3 Cherry Heights

Terrace and Thomas M. Murtha of 102 Boggs Hill Road. Also appointed were

Republicans Walter Pachniuk of 46 Gelding Hill Road and Dunham Smith of 31

High Rock Road.

Republican Wendy Beres of 15 Turkey Hill Road headed a list of members

appointed to two-year terms on the Persons With Disabilities Committee. Others

included the unaffiliated Patti C. Clay of 2 Anthes Avenue, Republicans Arthur

J. Bennett and John Deegan of 74 Flat Swamp Road and Independent Bob Berkins

of 20A Nunnawauk Meadow.

Democrat Frank Krasnickas was appointed to a four-year term on the Public

Building & Site Committee.

Republican Eugene Marks of 22 Grand Place was appointed to a three-year term

on the Commission On Aging, while Republican Norma K. Gray of 21 Great Hill

Road was appointed as an alternate.

Republicans C. Wesley Gillingham of 30 Hundred Acres Road and Susan Monks of

14 Budd Drive were both appointed to four-year terms on the Conservation

Commission.

Republican Helen Krueger of 41 Flat Swamp Road was appointed to a four-year

term on the Board of Ethics and Republican Paula Hopper of Boggs Hill Road was

given the nod to serve on the Charter Communications Advisory Council.

Track And Field Teams Compete At Masuk

‘Color Our World With Hope’ Filled Newtown With Music, Meaning, And Community Impact

Nighthawk Baseball Team Beats Conference Opponents

Late Goal By Ruddy Lifts Nighthawk Lacrosse Team To Victory, Showcases Chemistry In Midfield

Reed Intermediate Presents Sold-Out Performances Of 'Willy Wonka Jr'

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 09-Jan-1998

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