News

All-Star Transportation Full-Service Facilities Receive Blue Seal Of Excellence

Published: March 13, 2017 12:00 am

WATERBURY - All-Star Transportation's three full-service facilities that repair and maintain its fleet of school buses have each received a Blue Seal of Excellence from the National Institute for Auto...

Governor Declares Civil Preparedness Emergency, Travel Ban Ahead Of Blizzard

By John Voket

Published: March 13, 2017 12:00 am

At a brief 5 pm press conference, Governor Dannel Malloy announced that he signed a declaration instituting a Civil Preparedness Emergency, and instituted a travel ban ahead of a late winter blizzard ...

Red Cross Issues Safety Reminders Ahead Of Winter Weather

Published: March 13, 2017 12:00 am

Connecticut is expecting winter weather tomorrow with Newtown among the large section of the state under a Blizzard Warning, while other parts of the state are under a Winter Storm Warning. Large snow...

Moving 'Newtown Forward' Is Focus Of New Advocacy Group

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: March 12, 2017 12:00 am

Since November, the local advocacy group Newtown Forward has been expanding, but it may not have started without a Facebook post. Rebekah Harriman-Stites felt discouraged the day after the national el...

Beginning March 13: Alternating Traffic Flow Planned Near Sugar Street Bridge

Published: March 10, 2017 12:00 am

Preliminary aerial utility relocation work, which is required for the replacement of the Sugar Street (Route 302) bridge, near its intersections with Elm Drive, South Main Street, Glover Avenue, and M...

Gun Lawsuit Reinstatement Sought At State Supreme Court

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: March 10, 2017 12:00 am

HARTFORD - The families of nine people killed in the December 2012, Sandy Hook School shooting incident and one of the survivors are seeking to have the Connecticut Supreme Court reinstate their "wron...

BOF Approves, Moves 1.6 Percent Budget Increase To Council

By John Voket

Published: March 10, 2017 12:00 am

Facing more unknowns than certainty about potential state cuts in revenue - and with a wary eye on what the school superintendent called "chaos" in Hartford, Newtown's Board of Finance unanimously app...

Proposed Assisted-Living Zoning Rules Under Review

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: March 10, 2017 12:00 am

Borough Zoning Commission (BZC) members are reviewing a set of proposed zoning regulations on assisted-living facilities, which, if approved, would provide a regulatory mechanism for a developer to se...

Community Center Design Concepts Reviewed With Selectmen, PBSC

By John Voket

Published: March 10, 2017 12:00 am

This report was updated at 9:15 am on March 11 linking the meeting minutes containing anÃÂ updated community center presentation fromÃÂ Quisenberry Arcari Architects beginning on Page ...

Insurance Fraud Charge Added In Package Store Incident

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: March 10, 2017 12:00 am

DANBURY - In state Superior Court on March 2, prosecutors added an eighth charge of insurance fraud, which is a felony, to the seven criminal charges pending against the proprietor of a South Main Str...

Hawley Elementary School Returned To 5 Church Hill Road For Annual Walking Tours

Friends Of The C.H. Booth Library Book Sale Turns 50

Connecticut Reports First Case Of Measles In 2026

Newtown Bridge Club Raised Funds For Alzheimer’s Association

Newtown Allies Travel To Connecticut’s Only African American History Museum

To add a bit more context: the adopted Borough budget was for just under $300,000 [https://boroughofnewtownct.gov/borough-of-newtown-budget-approved/]. $58,000 in legal fees (to date) means a significant cost must be shouldered by Borough residents and businesses, increasing taxes noticeably. Many of those pushing the lawsuits were not subject to the added costs because they do not reside nor do business in the Borough.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

Well said. Unfortunately, we are back to more of the same and we know how this will end. However, it gives us an opportunity to question many ways in which the DTC failed residents, voters, candidates, everyone. Brandon Moore was the first candidate to voice interest in running. A strong and well prepared candidate that the town republicans did not want to run against. They made it clear they wanted Ku to be the candidate. We all know you endorse the candidate you have no concerns about. Once Ku decided to try to unseat Bolinsky again, the DTC should have done what it can do and that was choose a candidate or put a good process in place to set up forums and get the caucus over and done smoothly, fairly, and ethically. It did neither. and this is what resulted: The Young Dem Debate became a Ku strategy to claim Ku being victimized, and it backfired; Ku's previous campaign committee went with Brandon Moore in hopes of finally flipping the seat; the DTC delay in organizing any candidate forums led to an inability to get the information out to all (as we see in complaints from new residents regarding lack of information); the DTC was severely split by the caucus chaos and some did not fully participate as a result; and we are back to square one with the candidate Alex Villamil preferred, and the same old guard and the same chance of flipping the seat.

Brandon Moore vs. More of the Same

Wholeheartedly agree with your concerns. There were many troubling issues raised about access to the democratic caucus process.

Democratic Caucus — Tremendous Turnout Meets Poor Planning

Welcome and thank you for your insightfulness. I agree wholeheartedly, however, you will soon learn that the intention is to contain participation. I believe the new residents and the new families are invaluable and hope that you will attend a DTC meeting. You will learn a great deal. Second Thursday of the Month and tonight, June 11th, 7 pm, it is at the Edmond Town Hall. : )

Connecting The Vote In Today’s Age

Mr. Ackert’s letter leaves out an important point: many of the legal expenses he references exist because of the legal challenges and complaints he and his facebook group has chosen to pursue. It is not fair to blame the Borough Zoning Commission Chair for costs that were driven, in large part, by Mr. Ackert’s own actions. Taxpayers should understand that litigation and FOIA complaints do not appear out of nowhere. They are initiated by individuals who decide to take those matters forward. Public officials should absolutely be held accountable, and the Borough should follow proper procedures at all times. But accountability should run both ways. If someone repeatedly challenges the Borough through legal channels, then points to the resulting legal bills as proof of poor leadership, the public deserves that context. Reasonable people can disagree about zoning decisions, development, and procedure. However, turning every disagreement into a legal fight has consequences, and those consequences are paid for by Borough taxpayers. Before assigning blame for legal expenses, Mr. Ackert should acknowledge his own role in creating them.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

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