DUI Incident

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Sep 29, 2006 12:00 am

DUI Incident

Police said they went to the parking lot of the Villa Restaurant at 4 Riverside Road in Sandy Hook Center about 9:15 pm September 25, after learning that a motor vehicle accident had occurred there.

Police said motorist Deborah Fitzsimmons, 50, of Monroe had backed out of a parking space and struck a parked vehicle.

After investigating, police charged her with driving under the influence, possession of cocaine, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and interfering with police.

During the course of the incident, Dennis Fitzsimmons, 64, of Southbury, who is Deborah Fitzsimmonâs husband, arrived at the scene, police said. Police said they charged Dennis Fitzsimmons with interfering with police.

Police released Dennis Fitzsimmons on $1,000 bail for an October 11 court appearance. Police held Deborah Fitzsimmons on $10,000 bail for a September 26 court appearance.

Scooter

On September 22, a silver-colored Roadstar-brand childâs scooter was found alongside the street near 160 Mt Pleasant Road. Police are holding the scooter for safekeeping. The owner should contact Sergeant Darlene Froehlich at the police station at 3 Main Street, telephone 426-5841, to claim the scooter.

Ford vs Mazda

Police report a two-vehicle collision near 57 Mt Pleasant Road about 10 am September 21.

Westbound motorist Francisco Viera of Prospect, who was driving a 1998 Mazda 626, slowed and was then struck from behind by westbound motorist Stephanie Mastri of Bridgeport, who was driving a 2004 Ford Taurus, police said. There were no injuries. Police issued Mastri a written warning for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Acura Vs Toyota

While traveling westward near 69 Berkshire Road in heavy stop-and-go traffic at about 7:45 am September 19, motorist Betty Check, 68, of 19 Paugussett Road, who was driving a 2003 Toyota Camry, stopped for traffic conditions, and was struck from behind by westbound motorist Lori Schmalkuche, 41, of Monroe, who was driving a 2006 Acura MDX, police report.

There were no injuries. Police verbally warned Schmalkuche for failure to drive a reasonable distance apart.

Flagpole Crash

Police report a two-vehicle accident at the Main Street flagpole intersection at about 5:15 pm September 26.

Police said the collision involved motorist Jeffrey Kane, 38, of Shelton, who was driving a 2005 Toyota Camry southward on Main Street, and motorist Brent Culligan, 25, of Oxford, who was driving a 2000 Jeep Cherokee westward on Church Hill Road.

There were no injuries. Police issued Kane a written warning for passing on the right.

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It’s important to clarify the tone and context of Derek Pisani’s remarks, particularly the satirical line about suing Newtown for "Gross Stupidity." This was clearly a tongue-in-cheek jab at the exhausting culture of legal threats that’s become a staple on the local Facebook Group forums. It was a reflection of frustration over endless regulatory hurdles and obstructionism, and the desire to avoid common sense solutions not an insult aimed at residents. Satire, is meant to provoke thought and highlight the absurdities. If we are unable to distinguish between satire and literal threats, perhaps the comment hit closer to the truth than we’d like to admit. Rather than focusing on Pisanis style, we should be discussing the substance of what he’s pointing out: that Newtown’s progress is being routinely blocked by a small but vocal contingent who seem intent on saying “no” at every turn. They are saying no to any development, no to common sense solutions to crowd control, etc. Newtown deserves leaders who are willing to call things as they see them, even if their language ruffles feathers. That doesn’t mean they lack respect for constituents—it means they care enough to challenge the Mob and push for solutions. Isn't that what we elect people to do? I applaud Pisani's dedication, he certainly has earned my vote. Regardless, let’s not reduce conversation to tone-policing and outrage. Let’s focus on the issues that matter.

Who is Calling Newtowners Stupid?

Thank you for pointing out the trail access provisions included in the BOS motion—it’s an important clarification that deserves more attention in this conversation. If the development is, in fact, required to provide permanent free public access and commit to ongoing maintenance of this section of the Rochambeau Trail, that is a remarkably beneficial outcome for the town. oIt’s not every day that a private project shoulders the long-term burden of preserving and caring for a public historical corridor at no taxpayer cost—especially one that previously had no formal access, upkeep, or visibility. Let’s be honest: the idea that the only way to protect history is by preventing any development nearby is a rigid and unworkable standard. What’s being proposed here appears to strike a rare balance—historic preservation, public access, and smart development all rolled into one. That’s not a loss its a win. So rather than allowing a handful of voices to derail progress under the banner of “historic purity,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the reality: this trail is better off with structured stewardship and visibility than remaining an overgrown ghost on old maps. Let’s move forward. Bring in the easement, bring in the public access—and yes, bring in the bulldozers!!! Progress and preservation can coexist. Let’s not let the NIMBY use fear or nostalgia keep us stuck in the past.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

I've heard that several people are under the impression that the public might be banned from the Rochambeau Trail. Points 2 and 3 from the BOS motion (included in full below) make it clear that public access to the trail is part of the requirements for the developer. From what I understand, it requires free public access to the trail in perpetuity. Technically, this could be argued to be a "payment-in-kind," that attempts to balance public good with overall town growth. We can argue about weather that balance is acceptable and how the trail may be affected, but with the understanding that the trail is expected to be maintained as a publicly accessible trail regardless. July 15, 2024 Board of Selectmen approved motion: Discontinuance of Reservoir Road: Selectman Cruson moved the resolution: Resolved, that the Newtown Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 2-115(d)(8) of the Town Charter and Conn. Gen. Stat. §13a-49, and subject to the conditions set forth below, hereby discontinues an unimproved portion of Reservoir Road described as “Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued “on that certain survey map which will be recorded on the Newtown Land Records titled “Map Showing Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued” dated August, 2023 and revised September 15, 2023, and certified substantially correct by Gregory Szyszowski of SLR (the “Survey Map”), said discontinuance contingent and effective only upon the completion of the following: 1. The approval of an application for the development of land in the manner described in a letter from Attorney Thomas W. Beecher to First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci and Members of the Board of Selectmen dated May 30, 2024, pursuant to the “Residential Open Space Development” regulations of the Borough of Newtown by the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission, and construction of that approval project within the timeframes required for special exception approval; 2. The inclusion of the discontinued portion of the road as part of the final Declaration of Conservation Restriction; 3. The conveyance of a mutually agreeable public easement to the Town of Newtown for pedestrian, bicycling, equestrian, and all other passive recreational uses (to exclude the use of motorized vehicles except as may be necessary by the Town or its designee to effectuate the purpose of the easement), and for municipal utility purposes; Be it further resolved, that Castle Hill Real Estate Holdings, LLC., its successors and assigns, shall not use any portion of the discontinued road as a vehicular road or access way to and from any developed portions of the property. Be it further finally resolved, that should any of the foregoing contingencies not occur, then the discontinuance contemplated herein shall not become effective and this resolution will become null and void. From: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif12216/f/minutes/bos_7-15-24_min-_att_final.pdf

Is this paper road (roads that only exist on paper map but not in reality) even owned by the Town? Many roads that predate the Town's road standards are privately owned and were never accepted by the Town, such as many of the nonconforming roads around the lake communities where the property owners own right to the center line. That is something we had to deal with when working on the Roads Ordinance a few years back. We also had to deal with a private road to run the utilities to the new SHS.

For anyone who wants to know, I cant post a link here, but Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has an entire website. Look up "HRRA whats in whats out"

I Get It!

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