News

Local Town Clerk, Staff Still Hoping For Privacy Legislation

By John Voket

Published: May 24, 2013 12:00 am

May 22 marked exactly one month from the day that any action occurred on proposed legislation inspired by Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia, her staff, and other members of the state Town Clerk’s Association ...

Llodra, Rodgers Planning To Run For Reelection, Gaston Likely

By John Voket

Published: May 24, 2013 12:00 am

After helping guide Newtown through its darkest days post 12/14, leading a team of officials supporting a rebuilding site for Sandy Hook School, and four of the most challenging budget processes in me...

Esty Applauds $1.3m SERV Grant For Sandy Hook Elementary

Published: May 24, 2013 12:00 am

NEW BRITAIN – Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty released the following statement regarding news that Sandy Hook Elementary will receive a School Emergency Response to Violence (SERV) grant of $1.3 million ...

Superintendent Reed Begins Budget Advocacy Campaign With Video Message

By John Voket

Published: May 24, 2013 12:00 am

Less than 12 hours after the Legislative Council acted to reduce the school district’s budget request by another $300,000, Acting Superintendent John Reed was recording a two-part video message to the...

Bill Would Give Families Say Over Newtown Records

By Susan Haigh, Associated Press

Published: May 23, 2013 12:00 am

HARTFORD — A bill crafted privately by Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s office, Connecticut’s top prosecutor, and legislative leaders would require the written consent of family members of the Sandy Hook E...

Flash Flood Warning Issued

Published: May 23, 2013 12:00 am

The National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y., has issued a Flash Flood Warning for Fairfield County, in effect until 5:45 pm. At 3:44 pm NWS doppler radar indicated flash flooding from an area of thund...

Murphy, Blumenthal, Esty Introduce Bill To Authorize Funds For New Sandy Hook School

Published: May 23, 2013 12:00 am

WASHINGTON, DC — Connecticut’s US Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal along with Newtown’s Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty have introduced new federal legislation that would authorize federal fu...

Safe And Sound In Sandy Hook: Parents Seek More Focus On School Security

By Michael Melia (Associated Press)

Published: May 23, 2013 12:00 am

HARTFORD (AP) — The moment Alissa Parker learned of a shooting at her daughter’s school, she suddenly regretted not pointing out what she had seen as security gaps at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Mrs...

Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Authorize Funds For New Sandy Hook School

Published: May 23, 2013 12:00 am

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Connecticut’s US Senators Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal along with Newtown’s Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty have introduced new federal legislation that would authorize federal ...

Council Cuts Another $300,000 From Schools

By John Voket

Published: May 23, 2013 12:00 am

After about two hours of community input, deliberations and two failed amendments, the Legislative Council voted 9-3 to further reduce the school district’s budget request by $300,000. If approved at ...

P&Z Hears Applicant Rebuttal, Closes Public Hearing For 90 Mt Pleasant

Top Of The Mountain

Philip ‘Tony’ Berry

Boys’ Basketball Team Follows Up Big Road Win With Home Victory

Newtown Senior Center To Host Lunch And Learn With First Selectman

Having lived through the COVID era and high profile zoom bombings, describing this change to be "as easy as flipping a switch" far undersells the complexity of administering these meetings with a virtual component. Someone needs to run the actual meeting in accordance with Robert's Rules, take notes for minutes and now monitor the online portion, which adds another responsibility for the Chair. During COVID many people struggled with the technology, for example people did not know how to mute themselves, and it caused a lot of disruptions, both intentional, where members of the public would speak during the deliberations, and unintentional where someone would not know they were unmuted and had another conversation being picked up by everyone. Not every meeting space has the tech infrastructure for virtual meetings. On most boards the members are volunteers who may not be the most tech savvy themselves, and their first focus is on their duties rather than hosting virtual meetings. It can be done, but it is not a trivial exercise and puts a lot more on the members of the boards and commissions which already struggle to find people willing to serve.

Town Settles FOIA Complaint, Grants Greater Public Meeting Access

If you can’t follow “don’t stand in the crosswalk,” I’m not sure “save democracy” is going to be your strongest lane. Get out of the road — or at least don’t pose next to the sign that literally says you’re standing in the crosswalk. I’d love to see this finally enforced like it would be for anyone else, but based on what happened last time, I’m not holding my breath. Apparently it’s just their “right” to stand in the road and block traffic — and how dare anyone point it out.

Rock This Democracy Hosts ‘Free America Walkout’

Just a thought: "peacefully gather against the undemocratic abuses of our current government" "There's no real alternative. The alternative is to not speak out and give in to tyranny." These are pretty serious claims. Was there any follow up questioning if Mr Villamil could name one instance of "abuses of our current government or tyranny"? If these people are so serious about their cause you would think they would be able to name very specific examples.

Rock This Democracy Hosts ‘Free America Walkout’

Cute

Rock This Democracy Hosts ‘Free America Walkout’

Well said, Anne. Thank you. Michelle Embree Ku is about as stand-up a person, let alone a state house rep, as one could possibly hope for. I definitely will be supporting her -- as an Independent! Who (sadly) must register as a Dem in order to vote in primaries. Ah... so many other things to fix about our system! :)

Let’s Keep Local Politics Honest

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