The HK Baseball and Softball teams returned to their winning ways with wins over Coginchaug on Friday afternoon. The Baseball team won, 6-5, with Peter Rynkowski on the mound. The Cougars had 12 hits and no errors in the field. The Softball team won, 2-1 with Chelsea Griswold on the mound. Danielle Vitali hit in both of the Cougar runs.

Agenda
Regular Meeting of the Board of Selectmen
Monday, April 25, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.
Town Office Building

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting held April 18, 2005
3. Visitors:
    a. Howard Pfrommer re Res. Rd. Bridge
    b. Field Study Committee
    c. PAYT Committee
    d. RSD 17 Representative
    e. Others
4. Tax Abatements & Refunds
5. Appointments/Vacancies:
    a. WPCA
    b. KLA
6. Old Business:
    a. Lovers Lane
    b. Reservoir Road Bridge
    c. Library repairs
7. New Business:
    a. TBA
8. First Selectmen's Announcements
9. Selectmen's Concerns
10. Executive Session: Land Acquisition, KMEA Contract, Pension Administrators
11. Adjournment
Agenda as of 1:45 p.m., Friday, 4/22/05
Printable version

The HK High School Baseball team dropped its first two games of the season this week to fall to 5-2. On Monday the Cougars lost, 0-7, to Morgan of Clinton. Senior John Presto was on the mound. HK was held to just four hits and committed 5 errors. In Wednesday's, 7-3, loss to Old Lyme, the Cougars held the game at a three-three tie through seven innings but gave up 4 runs in the eighth for their second loss in three days. Tyler Riordan was on the mound. Read more about this game in the Middletown Press. Read a conversation with Coach Mark Brookes in the Clinton Recorder.

The HK Girls Lacrosse team fell to Mercy, 3-16, on Tuesday. Shannon Kenney, Jess Bellonio and Ashley Smith scored for the Cougars. HK lost to Hamden, 3-12, on Thursday. Kaeli Deane (2)and Ashley Smith scored. HK is 2-3 on the year. Read all about this game in today's Middletown Press. Also read praise for first-year coach Lindsey Matteo in today's Press.

On a more positive note, HK Softball's Jenna Webber was named Honorable Mention Player of the Week by the New Haven Register. Webber finished last week 8 for 11 with nine runs scored, seven RBIs, two walks, two doubles and a triple.

Killingworth Elementary School will be collecting new or gently-used children's books (for ages preschool-7th grade) for Read to Grow, a local non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literacy and the joy of reading through a variety of programs. The books will be distributed to children in doctors' offices, health-care clinics, hospitals, community dining rooms, shelters and schools serving children in need. New and used books can be dropped off at Killingworth Elementary School in the main lobby beginning Monday, April 25 - Friday, May 6 during school hours. Used books should be in good shape, without torn pages or writing in them. Thank you for supporting this literacy initiative. Last year Killingworth had one of the most successful book drives in the state, collecting over 800 books. To find out more about Read To Grow volunteer opportunities, please contact the office at (203) 488-6800 or visit www.readtogrow.org.

According to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice website, Chief State's Attorney Christopher L. Morano announced the arrest of Killingworth Building Inspector Richard Leighton today for allegedly defrauding four Middlesex County communities. He is accused of overbilling the municipalities for training expenses related to his job as a building official, and conducting personal business on computers owned by the Town of Essex while employed there.

The investigation is the result of a complaint filed with the Office of the Chief State's Attorney in July 2004.

Leighton was released on a Written Promise to Appear, and will be arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court, G.A. No. 9, on May 4, 2005. The case will be prosecuted by the Public Integrity Bureau of the Chief State's Attorney's Rocky Hill office.

The report emphasizes that the charges against Leighton are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The family of a Haddam-Killingworth High School junior expelled for an alcohol-related incident on school grounds back in January recently filed suit against the District in Middlesex Superior Court. According to the family, on April 15 the Region 17 Board of Education, Schools Superintendent Gary Mala and HK High School administrators Charles Macunas, Connie Bombaci and Jill MacDiarmid were served with the complaint that stipulates a "violation of the student's Constitutional Rights to Due Process under the 5th and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution and under the Constitution of the State of Connecticut". The lawsuit includes reinstatement of the student and expunging of the student's record. The student, represented by attorney Ronald J. Piombino of Burdick & Piombino in Madison, is requesting unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and attorney's fees.

A small group of concerned parents met with Schools Superintendent Gary Mala, substance abuse counselor Andy Buccaro and members of the Board of Education Tuesday night to further discuss the Board's disciplinary policies. The parents group first met with the Board in early March to outline their concerns over what they called the "excessive length" of recent student expulsions.

The parents continued to argue that the length of the punishments was the major issue not the fact that the students were disciplined. The parents raised concerns that the "block scheduling" policy in the high school doubled the negative impact on the student's education and that the initial benefit or "jolt" the students felt from the 10-day suspension was reversed with the additional days out of school. Denise Zanardi, mother of an HKHS senior, said the impact on the families was devastating; the students and their families grew to "hate HK". Mary Murray, mother of four children in the school system, said she considered 45 days too long.

Board of Education Chair Roberta Guilfoile said the Board did not have a set of guidelines for student sanctions. She said the Board listens to recommendations from the school administration and decides the consequences for infractions on a case by case basis. Guilfoile said the Board had no intention of changing the disciplinary policy itself right now, but would discuss the consequences. She said the Board has not yet had an opportunity to meet as a whole on this issue. Mala said he believes in giving the student alternatives regarding sanctions and allowing the student to be a part of the decision process.

The meeting Tuesday was arranged to present and discuss research on other schools' disciplinary policies. The group discussed positive alternatives to lengthy expulsions and ways to make students more aware of the consequences to their actions. Parent and former substance abuse counselor John O'Leary presented disciplinary models from schools across the country and praised the parents for their ideas on positive educational alternatives. In addition to alternatives already available, the group favored follow up drug testing, family counseling and substance abuse assessments for students who have been identified as being at risk.

Town Sponsored Rabies Clinic
The Town of Killingworth will conduct a low cost rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats on Saturday, April 30, from 1:00 - 3:00 P.M. at the Killingworth Fire Station on Route 81. There are no residency requirements.

Connecticut General Statutes Section 22-339b requires all cats and dogs, three months of age and older to be vaccinated against rabies.

This clinic is sponsored by Killingworth Animal Hospital and Killingworth Animal Control. All proceeds will go to the "Atti Fund" for shelter improvements.

The cost is $15.00 per animal. CASH ONLY. Written proof of prior vaccination for rabies must be presented to qualify for a three year vaccination. (Tags are not acceptable) All others will be issued a one year vaccination. Tags and certificates of vaccinations will be provided as required by law. All dogs MUST be on leashes and cats MUST be in carriers. For additional information, call 663-2439.

Resident Eric Auer attended the Board of Selectmen's meeting last night to update the Board on the Bethke Road ball field project and inform the Board that the Inland Wetlands Commission's initial impression of the proposal to build two full-sized soccer fields on the Bosco property was not positive.

According to Auer, the IWWC found important wetlands on the parcels he had laid out the two soccer fields. Auer said the alternative was to consider putting baseball fields in those areas because they would require less space. He said the IWWC needed to further evaluate the site of the proposed multi-purpose field near the front of the property.

Auer requested the Board approve the transition of the Bethke Road project's open space area from passive to active recreation and send a letter documenting this to the Town Planning & Zoning Commission so they can consider and approve this transition, and send it off to the State's Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal who must sign off on any alternative use for designated open space. Once Blumenthal signs off on the transition, the PZC can consider the application to build the field as a municipal improvement.

The Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the transition of the area for the proposed field and agreed to immediately draft the letter so the project can move forward. Auer also wanted to give the Board the heads-up that he would probably be coming back to them in June to request funding. Auer's proposal is to build the field at a cost of $45,000 to taxpayers. All the work to date has been done and paid for by volunteers. Town funding will go towards items like fencing materials and a professionally installed backstop. The bulk of the project will be accomplished by Town employees and volunteers' time and resources.

The Board of Selectmen voted last night to rescind the previously established Charter Revision Committee and seek the legal opinion of Town Council instead of moving forward with a committee whose composition may open the Charter revisions up to challenge.

The 10 member committee appointed by the Selectmen on March 28 included John Amport, Richard Cabral, Peter Venuti, James Cutler, Diane Gladstone, Michael Board, Michael Sanders, Edward Sipples, Richard Albrecht and Deborah Griswold. The State statue says that,"not more than one-third of whom may hold any other public office in the municipality". Town Clerk Susan Adinolfo said she asked the Secretary of the State for clarification on the definition of "public office" but was unable to get a definitive answer on anything other than elected offices, boards and commissions. Four appointees fall into that category; Amport and Sipples, Board of Finance; Cabral, Board of Education and Albrecht, Assessment Board of Appeals. Two of the remaining 10 as well as Rick Berzon, who stepped forward recently to volunteer, serve on appointed town committees: Peter Venuti, PAYT; Michael Board, Field Study and Berzon, Reg. 17 Building Committee. Their representation as "public office" holders is what needs to be clarified. The Selectmen had 30 days or until April 28 to swear in the committee members.

The Selectmen struggled with the decision to spend town funds on the attorney's research and opinion, but voted unanimously to dissolve the committee in order to avoid any future problems with the representation on the committee and to give the Town Attorney time to formulate an opinion.

Once an opinion has been reached, the Selectmen will revisit the committee's composition. According to the Statute, the Selectmen must appoint a committee, "not fewer than five nor more than fifteen electors, not more than one-third of whom may hold any other public office in the municipality and not more than a bare majority of whom shall be members of any one political party".

The truck bay of the Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company headquarters was filled to capacity Saturday with residents and visitors looking for bargains. They found many, but also had a fun day mixing with neighbors and helping the fire company with its annual fundraising goals. The man of many hats, Fire Chief and Selectman, Fred Dudek put on his auction calling hat, a tan fedora, and spent the day coaxing interested bidders just a few dollars higher to help the fire company pay for extra training and equipment. The fire fighters, the auxillary and their families spend many hours making this annual event a success. If you would like to donate to the KVFC please call 663-1785.

If you didn't have a chance to attend or haven't yet cleared the cobwebs from your garage or attic, you have another opportunity to donate household items and help a worthwhile cause.

The Killingworth Historical Society will hold its ANNUAL SPRING TAG SALE on Saturday, May 7 at the Black Rock School on Route 81 and Recycle Way. The sale will be held rain or shine from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The Society is currently seeking quality items for the sale. Household items, collectables, tools and antiques are needed. Please call 663-2327 or 663-2360 to arrange for pickup.

The Clinton Recorder reported that the newly appointed Charter Revision Committee has been stalled while Town Officials consult with the Town Attorney as to whether the State Statute on Municipal Charter and Special Acts (see text below) will prohibit the committee's current configuration. The appointment of the committee had been delayed in order to comply with the political affiliation requirement in the statute, however the section stating that, "not more than one-third of whom may hold any other public office in the municipality", was not clearly addressed. Of the 10 appointed members (five democrats, five republicans), six are currently serving on Town or regional committees or commissions. The issue has been placed on the agenda for Monday's Special Meeting of the Board of Selectmen.

Chapter 99 - Sec.7-190. Commission: Appointment, membership, duties, report, termination. (a) Within thirty days after such action has been initiated by vote of the appointing authority or by certification of a petition, the appointing authority shall by resolution appoint a commission consisting of not fewer than five nor more than fifteen electors, not more than one-third of whom may hold any other public office in the municipality and not more than a bare majority of whom shall be members of any one political party, which commission shall proceed forthwith to draft a charter, or amendments to the existing charter, or amendments to the home rule ordinance, as the case may be.

b) The appointing authority shall direct the commission to consider those recommendations included in the petition and may make other recommendations to the commission. The commission may also consider other items for inclusion in the proposed charter, other changes to the charter or home rule ordinance and such other items as it deems desirable or necessary. The commission shall in its reports comment on each recommendation which it has been directed to consider, if any, and on such other changes or items. The appointing authority shall specify by resolution when the commission shall submit its draft report, which shall be not later than sixteen months from the date of its appointment.

(c) The commission shall terminate upon acceptance or rejection of its final report by the appointing authority.

The six kindergarten classes at Killingworth Elementary School each put on a one-act play on Friday as part of the annual 'Short Tales' presentation. The school's youngest thespians performed folktales and adapted stories for their parents and peers. In the morning session Mrs. Slowik's class performed "The Trolley Ride", Miss Milardo's class performed "This is the House that Jack Built" and Mrs. Atwood's class performed "Hattie and the Fox". At the afternoon performance, Miss Milardo's p.m. class also performed "This is the House that Jack Built", Mrs. Isleib's class performed "Mrs. Wishy Washy" and Mrs. Atwood's class performed "The Terrible Tragadabas".

The Sailor's Alphabet
by Michael McCurdy
ISBN: 0395841674

The text of this beautifully detailed alphabet book is based on an old sea chanty (or shanty), a song sailors sang while working at sea. The song originates sometime in the 1800's, and focuses on the forecastle, or bow, of the ship. Chantys often related to a specific area of the ship, such as the capstan or the halyards, but could also be sung about a type of ship, such as a whaling ship.

The illustrations in The Sailor's Alphabet are based on a United States Navy frigate. The artist Michael McCurdy has created dramatic and colorful scratchboard drawings for each letter of the alphabet, which together create a tour of the ship. The book serves as a wonderful and memorable history lesson for boat lovers of all ages.

Michael McCurdy is an award-winning artist who has illustrated many children's books, including Giants in the Land, and The Gettysburg Address.

Susan Miller will be taking a short hiatus from her book reviews to transition into a new and exciting position. We look forward to her return. You may still reach her to comment at covertocover@killingworthtoday.com